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GOING TO BOOK CLUB
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FEEDING THE HUNGRY
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SHINING SOL
prince william living October 2018
The premiere lifestyle magazine of Prince William and Greater Manassas
Fall Celebrations PAGE 4
princewilliamliving.com
Hot and Cold: How Your Local Water Stays Clean PAGE 21
Sweeto Burrito: Wrapped Deliciousness
PAGE 30
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table of contents October 2018 | Vol. 8 | No. 10
FEATURE STORY Fall Celebrations
4
DEPARTMENTS FROM THE EDITOR IN CHIEF Celebrating Fall
18
22
3
ON A HIGH NOTE Puppet Periodical Pushes Poet into Publishing
10
DESTINATIONS Going to Book Club
14
GIVING BACK Feeding the Hungry
18
LIFELONG LEARNING Hot and Cold: How Your Local Water Stays Clean
21
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS Starving No More, These Artists Offer Shining Sol to Manassas and Beyond
22
FAMILY FUN Fall Fun with Leaves
24
LOCAL FLAVOR Sweeto Burrito: Wrapped Deliciousness CALENDAR
30 34
COLUMNS THE FASHION FOLDER
24
30
HEALTH & WELLNESS HOME & HEARTH YOUR FINANCES
prince william living October 2018
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prince william living Rebecca Barnes
PRINCE WILLIAM LIVING PUBLISHER rbarnes@princewilliamliving.com DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Amanda Causey Baity
Kim Howard, CAE EDITOR IN CHIEF khoward@princewilliamliving.com
VICE PRESIDENT OF CONTENT MARKETING Katherine Gotthardt, kgotthardt@princewilliamliving.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Amy Falkofske, Katherine Gotthardt, Jennifer Halter, Carole Keily, Jennifer Lazzo, Roxy Rowton, Ashley Claire Simpson, Marianne Weaver, Bennett Whitlock
ONLINE SUBMISSION MANAGER Carole Keily
COPY EDITORS Apryl Motley, CAE and Peter Lineberry
GIVE BACK PRINCE WILLIAM INITIATIVE Caitlin Stephens, caitlin@givebackpw.org Melissa Payne, melissa@givebackpw.org Johnnie Barnes, johnnie@givebackpw.org CLIENT CARE SPECIALIST Diane Puigdomenech, dpuigdomenech@princewilliamliving.com
PHOTO EDITOR Amanda Causey Baity PHOTOGRAPHERS Delia Engstrom, Mark Gilvey and Kathy Strauss GRAPHIC DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Alison Dixon/Image Prep Studio
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Vanessa Vega Braun, vbraun@princewilliamliving.com
Prince William Living, the premiere lifestyle magazine of Prince William and Greater Manassas, is published monthly by Prince William Living, Inc. The opinions expressed in the magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Prince William Living. Š Copyright 2018 by Prince William Living, Inc. All rights reserved. Materials may not be reproduced or translated without written permission. Visit the Prince William Living website at www.princewilliamliving.com for reprint permission.
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October 2018 prince william living
from the Editor in Chief Celebrating Fall
I
don’t believe that anyone I know has ever criticized the month of October. In our area, the weather is generally cooler, and the leaves are starting to change. Crisp air. Apple cider. Scarf and boot weather. As Goldilocks said, “It’s not too hot, and it’s not too cold.” Yet. So, whether you love pumpkin spice, the first month of the last quarter of the year offers fun, seasonal events for you and your family. This month’s cover story, written by Amy Falkofske, “Fall Celebrations” delivers a variety of things that you can do. Pumpkin patch? Check. Haunted house? Check. Fall recipes? Check. This article has it all. For details, see page 4. Book clubs are still going strong, even with our increased consumption of digital content. Whether you read on a device or paper, belonging to a book club is a beautiful way to read books and discuss them with your friends or peers. Hollywood released a movie this year appropriately called “Book Club” that profiles four lifelong friends who read a book that catapults them into a series of comedic outrageous life choices. I am not sure if our local book clubs have this sort of impact on its participants, but find out on page 14 how our local book clubs started, what they read and how they stay together in “Going to Book Club” by Carole Keily in this month’s Destinations.
In keeping with our book and writing theme from Destinations, this month’s On a High Note introduces you to an author, poet, teacher and business owner. Jennifer Lazzo’s article “Puppet Periodical Pushes Poet into Publishing”, on page 10, shows you how Katherine Gotthardt expanded her passion and skill for writing into other areas. Clean water is something that we take for granted in our area. This month’s Lifelong Learning shows you that there’s more to clean water than turning on the tap. Ashley Claire Simpson profiles the Prince William Water Authority’s second annual Water Academy in “Hot and Cold: How Your Local Water Stays Clean” on page 21. Read our October issue. Drink your pumpkin spice. Carve that pumpkin. Collect those fall leaves. Start that book club. Enjoy the fall season. Kim Howard, CAE Editor in Chief
prince william living October 2018
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Fall Celebrations By Amy Falkofske
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October 2018 prince william living
Photo courtesy of Cows-N-Corn and Patty Leonard
At Cows-N-Corn in Midland, children enjoy riding the cow train.
T
he craziness of summer has come and gone. School is back in session, and most of us have settled back into a routine. For some, that may bring sadness. For others, it’s their favorite time of year. But no matter which category you fall into, there is much to appreciate about this time of year. The leaves are changing into beautiful colors. The air is cooler and crisper, and soon there will be little ghosts, goblins and princesses trekking through our neighborhoods looking for a sweet treat or two.
She usually has a fire pit in the backyard, and at one gathering, she gave out little packages with ingredients to make s’mores. It was the hit of the party.
The fall also ushers in new opportunities for families to participate in yearly traditions and for friends to gather. Prince William resident Victoria Johnson began a tradition with her family 10 years ago when they first moved here. Every year they visit Stribling Orchard in Markham (in neighboring Fauquier County) to pick apples and then spend a day making and canning apple butter from her own recipe.
She also has suggestions for what kinds of food and drinks to provide, such as stew, hot dogs in pastries (pigs in a blanket) and cider. “Food-wise, think of something warmer,” she said. For drinks, she suggested carving out a big pumpkin, filling it up with ice and putting drinks in it.
Maria Loveless, a Manassas resident and interior designer, celebrates the season by having a few friends over. “I usually try to host a little gathering of the people who I have not seen over the summer, and we play (card) games. Everybody gathers around and drinks cider, and they reminisce about their summer escapades and get back in the mindset of their normal routines,” she said. Loveless also greets the fall season by changing her décor. “Traditionally, October is our season of welcoming the fall, and everybody knows I’ve changed over because the pumpkins arrive. I create a cute little ‘pumpkinscape’ by my front door,” she said. Manassas resident Carrie Davis says that while her four sons are aging out of Halloween activities like trick-or-treating, her family still carves and decorates pumpkins together. But that’s not all they do. “We still enjoy a family trip to Fields of Fear at Cox Farms (in Fairfax County) or a visit to the pumpkin patch there during the day,” she said. The family also participates in a Halloween party with their neighbors and friends. There’s usually a bonfire, and one of Davis’ neighbors decorates her whole house as a haunted mansion.
Entertaining and Decorating Tips If you plan on entertaining this season, you might find these tips from Loveless helpful.
“We filled up little gift packages with everything you need to make a s’more, and we handed them to our friends as they came in,” said Loveless. “Everybody was making the s’mores and conversing around the fire. That was the fun part.”
Loveless also gave decorating tips for both entertaining and just giving your home some nice fall décor. She suggested starting with plaids using a fall scheme of burgundy reds and yellows. “Pick a plaid pattern that you love and make that your tablecloth. Complement everything with the accent colors of the plaid. If you have a picnic table with benches, you can put the blankets on the side, so your guests can grab them to keep warm,” she said. You can also throw blankets on the chairs around your fire pit and use nice fall candles on the tables and outdoor lighting on your trees or deck if you have them, according to Loveless. For Halloween, Loveless says it’s all about pumpkins. “If you have little kids, it’s a lot more animated. You can have more of those fun décor pieces, but for an adult version, I would say pumpkins. My décor style is mostly pumpkins, gourds and candles, but if you have little kids, scarecrows and things like that are always fun,” she said. Flower arrangements are also a great way to decorate for the fall, according to Loveless: “Create a beautiful flower arrangement with fall flowers in [fall] colors and place them in mason jars to make centerpieces for your tables.” And one last tip: “Carve out little pumpkins and put candles in them for cute little accents throughout your home or your backyard,” Loveless said. (continues on page 6) prince william living October 2018
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(continued from page 5)
Fall Recipes If you’d like to try the apple butter that Johnson makes with her family every year, here is the recipe. Old Fashioned Apple Butter Yield: About 5 cups Ingredients: 12-14 sweet-tart apples (Winesap or Jonagold), washed, peeled, cored and quartered 2 cups apple cider Sugar Ground cinnamon Ground allspice Ground cloves Ground nutmeg Directions: 1. Place prepared apples in a slow cooker, stir in cider. Cover and cook on high for 2–4 hours, or until apples are soft. 2. Using a food mill or food processor, purée fruit and cider. 3. Measure purée back into the slow cooker. For each 2 cups of purée, add ½ cup of sugar, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon each of cloves, allspice and nutmeg. Adjust seasonings to taste if desired. 4. Cover and cook on high for 6–8 hours, stirring every 2 hours. Uncover after 3 hours to allow the apple butter to thicken. 5. Can or freeze apple butter. And here is Loveless’s stew recipe. This is a recipe that she has used over the years and says, “It’s hearty and very warming to the soul. It’s like comfort food. And as the winter is approaching, it’s a good transition from the craziness of the summer.”
Slow Cooker Pumpkin Beef Stew This easy slow cooker beef stew is made extra special and festive with the addition of pumpkin purée, and then it’s served inside of roasted sugar pumpkins. Prep Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 9 hours Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil + extra for the pumpkins 2 pounds boneless chuck roast or stew beef (cut into 1-inch cubes) 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 4 cups cubed red potatoes (when using mini red potatoes, halved or quartered is fine) 4 carrots, peeled and sliced 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 large sweet onion, chopped 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, quartered 3 cups beef broth 3 tablespoons tomato paste 3/4 cup pumpkin purée 3/4 cup red wine 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme 2 bay leaves 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme + extra for serving Chopped flat leaf parsley for serving 4 sugar pumpkins Directions: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil. Season the beef with paprika, salt, and pepper. Add to the skillet and sear on all sides until browned, about 4 minutes. Transfer the beef to your slow cooker. Add the red potatoes, carrots, garlic, onion, mushrooms, beef broth, tomato paste, pumpkin purée, red wine, dried thyme and bay leaves to the slow cooker and stir to combine. Cook on low for 8–9 hours or on high for 5–6 hours. Once finished cooking, stir in the fresh thyme. Season to taste with salt and pepper. When the stew has 1–2 hours left, roast the pumpkins. Preheat oven to 350o. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Very carefully carve the tops off of the pumpkins using a very sharp knife or pumpkin carving tools. Scoop out the seeds and “guts” and discard. Rub the outside and inside of the pumpkins, as well as the tops, with olive oil and season the inside with a couple pinches of salt and pepper. Place pumpkins on baking sheet, cut side up, as well as their tops, and roast for 30 minutes. Flip the pumpkins and roast for an additional 30 minutes or until pumpkins are slightly tender and golden. You still want them to keep their shape! Serve stew inside of pumpkins and garnish with fresh thyme and chopped parsley. Loveless also suggested that once the stew is finished, you can transfer it to a large, carved out pumpkin for serving.
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October 2018 prince william living
Photo courtesy of Burnside Farms and Mike Dawley
Burnside Farms, a local sunflower farm in Haymarket, is now open for its inaugural Fall Festival. Photo courtesy of Cows-N-Corn and Patty Leonard
Fall Fun If you’re looking to start a new family tradition, or just looking for ways to celebrate the season with your friends or family, here are some activities that are going on in and around Prince William. n Boo Bash: Potomac Mills Shopping Center, October 31, 5–7 p.m., Store-to-store trick-or-treating, Reptiles Alive show, Disney Jr. Playdate featuring a Disney Vampirina activity n Trick-or-Treating: Bristow Center Shopping Center, October 20 1–3 p.m., shopbristowcenter.com n Trick-or-Treating: Bull Run Plaza, October 28, Noon–2 p.m., shopbullrunplaza.com n Trick-or-Treating: Manassas Mall, October 31, 5–7 p.m. manassasmall.com/trick-or-treat/ n Fall Festival: Tackett’s Mill Shopping Center, October 13, 1–3 p.m., tackettsmill.com n Community Fun Fair: Linton Hall School in Bristow, October 13, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., photo booth, petting zoo, face painting, hayrides, bounce houses, tot lot, carnival rides and games, kids arts & crafts, science activities, shopping, raffle and food. Tickets: $5 per person or $20 per family n Yankey Farms: Now through October 30, you can pick pumpkins, get lost in the corn maze scavenger hunt, ride the cow train or play fun farmyard activities. No charge for admission. yankeyfarms.com/pumpkin_patch.htm n Cows-N-Corn in Midland: Open September 14-October 28, pumpkins, corn maze, farm tours, meet a cow and other animals, play area, Moo Bounce, cow train, butter making, puppet show, hand-dipped ice cream featuring fall flavors, cows-n-corn.com n Burnside Farms in Haymarket: Fall Festival (inaugural season), Mid-September through first weekend of November, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., sunflower maze, corn maze, pick your
Cows-N-Corn in Midland is open until October 28 for fall festivities from corn mazes to pumpkin picking.
own sunflowers, pick your own pumpkin patch, cow train, farm animals. Farm Market at home farm in Haymarket, over 40 varieties of pumpkins and gourds (pre-picked), prepicked apples, fresh pressed apple cider, mums and other fall decorations, pick your own sunflowers. facebook.com/burnsidefarms or burnsidefarms.com n Buckland Farm Market in Warrenton: Fall activities beginning the first weekend in October, barrel train rides and hayrides on the weekends. Playground and corn maze during daylight hours. For more information: 540-341-4739 n Stribling Orchard in Markham: Fall season opened Labor Day weekend and runs through the first week in November, apple picking, bakery that serves pastries, pies and bread on the weekends, live music most weekends. For more information: 540-364-3040 Amy Falkofske (afalkofske@princewilliamliving.com) is a freelance writer and photographer who lives in Bristow with her husband, two sons and two Beagle dogs. She has a Master of Arts degree in Film-TV from Regent University. prince william living October 2018
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October 2018 prince william living
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prince william living October 2018
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on a high note
Puppet Periodical Pushes Poet into Publishing By Jennifer Lazzo
F
or as long as Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt can remember, she’s been writing. Once her mother taught her to read and write, Gotthardt pulled out her trusty pen and wrote her first masterpiece: Puppet Gossip, a magazine that covered all the latest “talk” of the town—for puppets, by puppets. From that point on, it was just a matter of time before Gotthardt Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt published her first book in 2009, Poems from the Battlefield, a collection of poems inspired by her visits to battlefields and museums in Greater Prince William. “For me, it was my way to wrap my head around it [the Civil War],” said Gotthardt. “I never really thought about it until I moved here [in 1999]. It was a re-education for me.” The attention she has received for “Battlefield” was a pleasant, and welcome, surprise. As someone who grew up in
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Massachusetts, Gotthardt was more familiar with the heroes and stories of the Revolutionary War—and the works of Henry David Thoreau. When asked which writers most influenced her, Gotthardt’s immediate response was Thoreau. After all, she has a sketch of him hanging on her dining room wall. Thoreau—an American poet, philosopher, naturalist and social reformer— is best known for his book about living alone for two years, two months and two days at Walden Pond, a pond where Gotthardt used to swim.
A Subject Matter Expert in Many Areas Many of the themes he touched upon can be found in Gotthardt’s works as well: conservationism, social inequality and social reform. To date, she has written five books: a novel, a children’s book, and three collections of poems. Furbily-Furld Takes on the World, an illustrated, epic children’s poem, was inspired by a painting of a mythical creature. She describes it as being focused on themes such as responsible rural development, conservation and anger management among others. “I didn’t sit down to write a book. It just happened organically,” she said. The same can be said about her poetry. “I don’t focus on writing a book. If I were to focus on that, it would never get done!” Gotthardt said. “For the three poetry books, I wrote a little at a time.”
Her latest missive, Bury Me Under a Lilac, is a summation of her exploration of grief. After her mother and mother-in-law died within two years of each other, writing poetry was “a way for me to synthesize things. The titular poem is a process poem while the rest [of the poems] are whole lifespan, from birth to death.” “I realized that in death, energy isn’t destroyed, it just goes on to something else,” she continued. “I selected the poems that I’d written throughout the years for the rest of the book. The end of the book isn’t the end; it’s the idea of recycling.”
Expanding into Other Professions Using Writing Skills Gotthardt is not just an independent author. She’s a teacher (higher and adult education); a business owner (All Things Writing, content development and marketing); a founding member of a Virginia Writers Club chapter (Write by the Rails); and vice president of content marketing for Prince William Living. She has been nominated twice to be Prince William County Poet Laureate. As described by the Prince William County Arts Council website, the selected candidate promotes an awareness and enhances appreciation of poetry; participates in public gatherings to initiate dialogue; and undertakes a project to make poetry more available and accessible.
Although Gotthardt did not win this year, she decided to pursue the project she submitted for consideration anyway. Gotthardt and Write by the Rails are running a hashtag campaign with the goal of flooding Facebook and other social media channels with poetry and short literary lines using #WbtR, among other hashtags. “It [social media] has turned so negative that I’d like to turn it around,” she said. “I truly believe this is an important project that needs to be done.” “In college, I’d have told you I’d want to be an immortal poet,” said Gotthardt. “Now, I just want to leave a legacy. I want to leave something that’s enduring, that has made a difference, that has inspired somebody.” For more information on Katherine Gotthardt and her books, visit katherinegotthardt.com or email her (poetry@ katherinegotthardt.com). To learn more about Write by the Rails, visit virginiawritersclub.org/wbtr.
Jennifer Lazzo (jlazzo@princewilliamliving.com) is a freelance writer and editor who earned a B.A. in technical journalism and political science from Colorado State University. She lives with her husband and twin girls in Montclair.
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the fashion folder The Autumn Roster: Your Closet Essentials Guide By Roxy Rowton
T
ransitioning to the structured routines and schedules that come with the onset of autumn can be complex, but deciding which clothing to wear for a new season shouldn’t be. Stocking your cold-weather closet with an assortment of foundational and dependable core garments yields a simpler approach to tackling the question of “what to wear” for a variety of autumnal activities, as well as those capricious weather conditions. Moving toward a wardrobe that dresses to your best sartorial advantage requires a foundation of essentials. Piecing together the closet essential collection rests on two pillars: staples and basics. Each performs a significant role within the seasonal wardrobe and merits consideration. Staples are the indispensable main garments of the closet essential collection and building blocks of the seasonal wardrobe. Look for quality fabrics and textiles, main and neutral hues, thoughtful and practical details, suitable and comfortable cuts, as well as better grade craftsmanship and construction. To effectively stock your cold-weather closet, start from the bottom up with an assortment of basic and dependable core garments. Identifying which garments are your best closet essentials makes a substantial transformation in your wardrobe. Below is a compilation of garments to consider as you select closet essentials for your cold-weather wardrobe. This is not to be confused with a universal “must haves” list. Rather it is an assortment of potential garments to keep in mind as you form the foundation of your cold-weather wardrobe.
The Autumn Roster of Closet Essentials
Skirts: leather, suede, midi, tweed, flannel, pencil, pleated Footwear: pumps, brogues, driving moccasins, booties, ankle to over-the-knee boots, sneakers, loafers. Wardrobe and style consultant Roxy L. Rowton (rlrowton@ everydayrefinement.com) spends much of her workweek in the closet or the fitting room helping women look and feel their best. She has two-plus decades in the fashion, apparel and beauty industries.
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Layering pieces: turtlenecks, camisoles, tees, tanks, polos, rugbies, sweatshirts Tops: classic button-down shirts, silk blouses, tie-neck blouses, camp shirts, denim/chambray shirts, flannel shirts, Oxford shirts, tunics Trousers: chinos, cords, capris, cargo pants, jeans, leggings and joggers Knitwear: boyfriend cardigans, shawl cardigans, wrap cardigans, pullover sweaters, roll-neck sweaters, Fair Isle sweaters, cricket sweaters, shawl-collar sweaters Dresses: shirtwaist, wrap, slip, sweater, drawstring, sheath, tee, denim
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October 2018 prince william living
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Annual Fall Festival Saturday, October 13th 10:00am-3:00pm Located inside the Manassas Park Community Center. Arts, crafts, local businesses, games, and more! Vendors needed. Contact Kaitlyn at K.Collier@manassasparkva.gov
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destinations
GOING TO BOOK CLUB By Carole Keily
G
oing to book club often means getting together with like-minded people to discuss a book the group has chosen. There’s usually food and drink involved and lots of talking. We reached out to a few area book club members to find out what their group does, and the connections they’ve made, when they “go to book club.”
A Common Work Bond Former Prince William business owner Debbie Mullan and her friend Terri Rittenhouse of Manassas are members of a book club celebrating its 14th anniversary this month. “Our book club started because of a conversation Terri and I had years ago,” said Mullan. “We included friends that were in the banking/mortgage business because that’s primarily what we’d end up talking about–other than the book, of course. Since 2004, we have become close and comfortable with each other.” Their book club has read more than 80 books together. When they read Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi, two of the members arrived at a meeting dressed as characters from the book, surprising and delighting everyone. This book club meets in members’ homes every other month for dinner on Saturday evenings. The six members each host one meeting every year. After catching up with one another and eating a delicious meal, they talk about the book–although sometimes they have to remind themselves to discuss the book. The hostess chooses the next book the club will read.
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“Some of us have retired, so we seem rarely to speak of work anymore. Now there is more interest in eating and discussing the joys of aging, politics and the books we’ve read,” said Mullan. Most Recent Book: The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
Neighborhood Book Clubs The MF Bookers in Gainesville have met every month since 2011. The club takes its name from the neighborhood, Morris Farms, where most of the 13 members live. This group also starts out their meetings with socializing, talks about the book, and then they eat. “We have spent as little as five minutes discussing the book or as long as thirty minutes,” member Beth Anderson said. Although members take turns hosting book club, one member always hosts the December meeting, which features a cookie exchange and brunch for dinner. Sometimes members have tied the food served to the story they’ve just read. When the group read Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes by Karen Rose Smith, they enjoyed a variety of teas and tea cakes as they discussed the book. Member Tammy Hinkle said, “I am an avid reader. Being a member of a book club where someone else picks the book each month has been a great experience. I have found stories I love that I might not have ever picked up on my own and new authors whose works I can’t put down.”
In keeping with their more structured approach, the members of the club vote each month on the next book they’ll read. They also hold a vote on any new members. This 13-member group has been meeting for 21 years and has taken a few trips together to the beach. One of the members drives down from Pennsylvania each month just for book club. Most Recent Book: A Criminal Defense by William L. Myers, Jr. “I love reading, which is a major bonus to being in a book club, but really book club is more about the connections I have made and the time I have spent with friends,” said Anderson. Most Recent Book: The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena Another Gainesville book club, this one in the Heritage Hunt neighborhood, has been meeting for ten years. The club’s members were mainly a group of hikers who wanted to continue getting together in the winter, so they formed a book club that meets on Thursday afternoons once a month. Each spring, they choose books and meeting hostesses for the next year. Member Judy Smith recalled that one of the club’s most memorable meetings featured a discussion of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. “The book deals with the original line of stem cell research and the ethical issues involved,” said Smith. “One of our members had been a scientist involved in this research; she brought a wealth of information and added depth to our insights. Another memorable book discussion was On the Wings of Morning with noted local author Dan Verner. It was a tremendous experience interacting with Dan as he enlightened us about the novel and his role as an author.” “Our group is enriched by many different points of view, but our love of books unites us,” continued Smith. “We often go on excursions to extend our reading. After we read My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor, a few of us went to Washington, DC to hear her book talk. Last year we read Notorious RBG, the biography of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and enjoyed the film RBG at the Angelika Film Center. We all agree that our book group is one of the highlights of our time together each month.” Most Recent Book: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
A More Structured Approach Many book clubs have a fluid setting, with conversation topics bouncing around between the book, members catching up with one another, and enjoying a meal or refreshments. Lindajo Marshalonis of Manassas Park is a member of a book club with a more structured approach to meetings. Marshalonis’s book club meets the third Sunday of each month in members’ homes. A facilitator greets members as they “check in” at the start of the meeting, where members have 10-15 minutes to catch up. Then the discussion moves on to the book the club has just read with the facilitator leading the discussion. The facilitator is responsible for researching information about the author and the book and keeps the discussion on track. After the discussion is complete, the host serves dinner.
Book Club that Started in the Bookstore Eight years ago, Bob Chase of Manassas was the store manager of Prospero’s Bookstore in Historic Downtown Manassas when one of his customers suggested that he and Bob start a book club with the store’s customers and employees. The 12 members of the Old Town Book Club have in common their love of books and the desire to socialize, according to Chase’s wife, Inga. This book club even has a few men in the group. “We meet one Sunday evening a month at Grounds Central Station in Manassas, where we can enjoy delicious sandwiches, hot coffee and scrumptious desserts while we talk,” said Inga Chase. The person who recommended the book for the month also leads the discussion. The Old Town Book Club has read more than 80 books together. “Curt Schaeffer, author of Escape with One’s Life, came to visit and discussed his book about a plane crash he survived,” said Ms. Chase. “We also recently read Chocolat by Joanne Harris and enjoyed chocolate cake.” “What is so memorable about this book club is that over the years we have become true friends,” she said. “We sometimes share our deepest darkest personal secrets by making some confessions, which usually relate to the subjects in the book we are discussing. I would say that besides making friends, there is also a therapeutic benefit to belonging to the book club.” Most Recent Book: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Library Resources Many of the county’s libraries hold monthly book club meetings. Some of the book clubs discuss a specific genre of books. Central Library in Manassas takes it one step further. Members read a book which has been made into a movie, meet at the library to watch the movie on the fourth Monday of the month, and then discuss both. The library system also offers a book club kit, with 10 books, a discussion guide, author biographies and discussion questions to help get a book club started. Visit pwcgov.org/government/dept/ library for more information on the library’s book clubs and Books to Go kits.
Carole Keily (ckeily@princewilliamliving.com) is Prince William Living’s Online Editor. She has been a member of a book club since 2004. prince william living October 2018
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October 2018 prince william living
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giving back
Feeding the Hungry By Marianne Weaver
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ccording to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food insecurity is the lack of “assured ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.” Based on 2016 Bureau of Labor Statistics data, Feeding America, a nonprofit, nationwide network of 200 food banks, found that six percent of the people living in Prince William—that’s more than 26,000 people—are food insecure. “Roughly one in 15 people in Prince William County is at risk for hunger,” said Whitney Richardson, director of agency communications for Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS). “According to the Virginia Department of Education, during the 2017-18 school year, 42 percent of students in Prince William County were on a free or reduced fee lunch program; that number increased to 56 percent in Manassas City Public Schools and 62 percent in Manassas Park Public Schools. When school is out, resources, such as the Hunger Resource Center, become that much more critical to ensure children and their families have access to meals.” Across the region, nonprofit organizations have stepped up to provide food—and sometimes additional services—to families and individuals who don’t always know where to find their next meal.
The Hunger Resource Center The Hunger Resource Center, 10058 Dean Drive, Manassas, is owned and operated by Northern Virginia Family Service, a private nonprofit that serves more than 35,000 individuals annually across the Northern Virginia region. NVFS was founded in 1924 to provide basic needs such as coats and coal to families in need. In 2009, NVFS merged with SERVE, which was founded in 1975 by a group of volunteers from 17 churches and 14 local organizations in Prince William.
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Today, said Richardson, the merged organization “empowers more than 35,000 people annually to improve their quality of life and to promote community cooperation and support in responding to family needs.” Since the merger, NVFS expanded services to include a 92-bed facility, an Early Head Start classroom, home-visiting services, housing and health access programs, and the 8,000-square-foot Hunger Resource Center. “The Hunger Resource Center serves nearly 5,000 people each year, predominantly from the Greater Prince William area,” said Richardson. “Families comprise the majority of our clients with an even mix of two-parent and single-parent households. Most are renters and have moderate access to stable housing but are struggling to make ends meet and need help ensuring there is healthy food for their families to eat.” The center offers a variety of produce, non-perishables and refrigerated items, including fresh fruits and vegetables, canned goods, condiments, pasta and cereal, as well as other basic necessities, such as diapers and wipes, toilet paper and laundry detergent. The center has forged partnerships with local grocery stores, including Giant, Wegmans and Food Lion, but also relies on volunteers to both fill the shelves and stock them. Donations can be dropped off Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesdays 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 to 11 a.m. For more information about volunteering, go to nvfs.org/get-involved/volunteer.
Haymarket Regional Food Pantry The Haymarket Regional Food Pantry (HRFP), 6611 Jefferson Street, Haymarket, was founded in 2005, while operating out of a closet in St. Paul’s Anglican Church.
“Over the years, the St. Katharine Drexel Mission and the Town of Haymarket joined the board of directors to provide parishioner support and leadership,” said Kim Golub, marketing volunteer. In 2010, the HRFP was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. “After years of support, our board of directors has expanded to include representatives from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, St. Katharine Drexel, Town of Haymarket, Gainesville United Methodist Church, and Park Valley Church.” Golub said as of July 2018, HRFP has served 412 active registered clients, which is roughly 1,718 people per month. Often, she said, clients find themselves seeking help after “major unexpected expenses,” such as job loss, car/house accident or medical bills. “Clients may come as often as once per week and are given enough food to supplement their registered household size for three days,” said Golub. “In summer months when we have additional produce (donated by local farmers and grocery stores), they may get extra produce.” Through donations from nearby grocery stores, the pantry can offer shelf-stable items, such as canned meats and vegetables, peanut butter, and jelly. Golub said HRFP has also forged relationships with local farmers and hunters, making it possible to provide fresh produce and frozen meat. The pantry is 100-percent volunteer operated. It relies on donations of time, talent and resources. “We have a professional chef who comes in once a week for cooking demonstrations,” said Golub. “He uses food from the pantry and shows how to make healthy and creative food. This makes the shopping experience a lot more enjoyable.” Donations can be dropped off weekdays 10 a.m. to noon, as well as Mondays 1 to 3 p.m., Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 3 to 5 p.m., and Wednesdays 4 to 7 p.m. Food is distributed Tuesdays and Thursdays 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to noon. “Give early; give often,” said Golub. “Thanksgiving is a time when everyone donates. But in March and April, people forget about it. Think about us all year.” For more information, visit haymarketfoodpantry.org.
House of Mercy Like the Haymarket pantry, House of Mercy, 8170 Flannery Ct., Manassas, began with humble beginnings. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization was founded in 2005 in Bristow. “The founders, Fr. Jack Fullen and Kellie Ross, began this ministry from her basement, by taking food to those sleeping on the streets of Washington, D.C.,” said Jessica Root, executive director. “They decided to start this ministry a little closer to home as there are many people in need in Prince William County.” Today, the pantry serves any family or individual in need. “This area has a particularly high cost of living; therefore, it is
Shelves at local food pantries need donations year-round.
even more difficult for families to earn enough income to pay for the basic necessities,” said Root. “Many of the families and individuals we serve are working-class poor. They just can’t make ends meet. This could be for a variety of reasons, some being a recent loss of a job, recently moving to the area, or being here for a long time but not being able to keep up with the growth and increase in cost of living.” Food is provided at no cost, every other week. The standard wish list includes canned soups, tuna, chicken, green beans, corn, diced tomatoes, pasta and pasta sauce, macaroni and cheese, cereal and peanut butter. “We wish we could offer more fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, dairy and financial assistance,” she said. “We just don’t get enough donations to help everyone. For instance, we can usually provide a pair of shoes for each child during the backto-school shoes program, but we strive to give additional items like backpacks, school supplies, new underwear and a new outfit. This year we were only able to provide them to about half our clients.” Root said about 50 regular volunteers keep the organization running. “We could not survive without our volunteers. They are the heart and soul of the House of Mercy operations,” she said. “We also have many other volunteers who help on a onetime basis, or more sporadically. We always need more help!” To learn more about how to volunteer or donate, visit houseofmercyva.org.
The Good News Community Kitchen The Good News Community Kitchen (TGNCK) is a 501(c)3 organization that provides hunger relief to veterans, students, (continues on page 25) prince william living October 2018
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health & wellness October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
2-for-1 Admission! Skate rental not included. Not valid on Friday night. Cannot be combined coupon per customer.
Expires Oct. 31, 2018 Youth & Adult Hockey Figure Skating Lessons for All Ages Public Skating Parties/Meetings
Fundraisers Scout Badges Broomball Curling Pro Shop & Cafe
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t’s estimated that one in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. That’s why October has been named Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to the American Cancer Society, the most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass. Other symptoms may include swelling, dimpling and/or pain in the breast, nipple discharge or retraction, or a thickening in the skin around the breast. Many women may find a lump themselves before visiting their physicians, receiving mammograms and learning their official diagnosis. “When a woman is first told she has breast cancer, she feels very frightened and out of control,” said Dr. Susan Boylan, a radiation oncologist for Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center and medical director of Potomac Radiation Oncology Center, “If breast cancer is caught early, it’s usually a very treatable disease.” Dr. Boylan offers her patients reassurance and options. “I strongly encourage them to ask questions of their healthcare providers because each breast cancer diagnosis is unique,” she said. “Just as every human is unique, every tumor is unique, and the right treatment for a particular patient may not be the perfect treatment for the woman sitting next to her in the waiting room.” To help patients in their cancer fight, Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, along with the Sentara Cancer Network, has developed a resource center. The center comforts and welcomes patients by offering them patient navigators, educates them in educational workshops, such as Yoga for Healing, and provides materials that will inform and support them, their families and friends in their journey to beat cancer. To learn more about the Sentara Cancer Network or services available at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, call 1-800-Sentara or visit Sentara.com.
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www.pwice.com (703) 730-8423
lifelong learning Hot and Cold: How Your Local Water Stays Clean By Ashley Claire Simpson
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ou can’t learn everything on the internet. While a Google search may yield an inordinate amount of information on seemingly every topic, there are certain concepts you can’t fully grasp without human guidance. Fortunately for local citizens, the Prince William County Service Authority (PWCSA)—the region’s dominant water and wastewater management services provider— makes it a priority to educate the public about what goes on behind the spigots. “We provide drinking water and treat wastewater for about 348,000 residents of Prince William County,” said Kathy Bentz, PWCSA’s deputy director of communications. “We were established 35 years ago and are now the largest combined water and wastewater authority in Virginia. Part of our Service Authority Board of Directors’ vision is to provide exceptional customer service and to focus on community outreach.” PWCSA executes a number of outreach programs to educate people about its operation. During the summer of 2018, the Service Authority held its second annual Water Academy, a fiveweek intensive educational program for interested locals.
Clean, running water has been standard in American households for longer than a century, and now, 2018 Water Academy graduate Chris Caseman has a newfound appreciation for what many simply see as a utility. “I’ve been a county resident for 38 years, and I was astounded at how much I had taken for granted,” Caseman said.
“The Water Academy was a natural extension of our existing community outreach programs like classroom education, community presentations and tours,” Bentz said. “We were already participating in a lot of community events. We have a mobile unit called the Aqua Van with taps that we can hook up to hydrants and provide water while we engage with locals. We’re all about helping people understand who we are and what we do in the community. We’ve for a long time had a classroom focus, too. Last year alone, our classroom presentations reached about 9,000 students in Prince William County Public Schools.”
Navigating the Complexities of Water Management
Going with the Outreach Flow
The Service Authority will continue to keep the Water Academy classes small; collaboration is not only possible, but encouraged. “Our goal is to have as many as 30 participants each year, so the class remains small enough for everyone to participate and be fully engaged,” Bentz said. “The best part is that they represented all facets of the community—students, young professionals, teachers, engineers, business owners, retirees and community volunteers.”
PWCSA provides services to 92,000 residences and businesses. As simple as the water system may seem to the people in these homes and offices, it actually would take going through a program like the Water Academy for most of them to understand how drinking water is distributed for everyday access and how wastewater is treated and returned to the environment. In the works for quite some time, the Water Academy took form in 2017 as a unique classroom opportunity for adult learners to learn the intricacies of an age-old system. “Of course we want people to turn on their taps in the morning without having to think about it, but we also want to show people what happens behind the scenes,” said PWCSA Copywriter Kipp Hanley. “So many people who have attended the program have told us, ‘Wow, I didn’t know how much is involved with water that comes from the tap or what happens to it after a toilet flushes.’”
According to biologists, a human couldn’t survive longer than a week without water. Digest that, and it’s easy to see that it is vital for laymen to understand the services like those provided by PWCSA. “We have a few goals with the Water Academy,” Bentz said. “They are to make sure our customers and community understand what the Service Authority does; highlight the Service Authority’s role in sustaining our community’s economy, health, and environment; and to encourage Water Academy participants to help others understand the Service Authority’s mission.”
And the results are in. The Water Academy’s success is undeniable. This year, Prince William County awarded the PWCSA with a 2018 Green Community Award for the reach it has achieved through the Water Academy. For more information, visit pwcsa. org/water-academy. Ashley Claire Simpson (asimpson@princewilliamliving.com) is a corporate communications professional by day, but her real passion is learning more about this community and the world by writing. She has been crafting features and human interest stories since her college newspaper days at the University of Virginia. prince william living October 2018
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taking care of business
Starving No More, These Artists Offer Shining Sol to Manassas and Beyond By Katherine Gotthardt | Photos by Rob Jinks
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here’s a reason why Shining Sol Candle Company in Manassas is a multi-award-winning business, and it’s not all about numbers.
While Founder Pete Evick and his team are certainly businesssavvy, since 2012 hundreds of thousands have been drawn to their soy candles because of a production process engineered by dedication, creativity and optimism. Art and science have pushed this local business into overdrive. “Candle making certainly is an art form,” says Evick, who is also an award-winning musician and author. “The process of candle making is like being a musician. And there’s a science. For example, the size of the wick is the most unexamined part of candle making for hobbyists. People want full burn pool, and we take pride in our candles offering them this.” He explains the basics of candle wicks: “Too big and the candle burns too fast. Too small, and the wax won’t burn to the bottom of the jar.” It took several years for Evick to create the perfect wick. That doesn’t include the time it took to formulate the scents and name them. Then there’s the color. “The color is done in layers. It’s like a painting, such as in our Artisan Collection and the best-selling Mermaid Cove candles.”
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Pete Evick is the founder of Shining Sol Candle Company.
Evick gives Sarah Rodriguez, a long-time friend and business partner, credit for a big part of the artistic vision: “Sarah goes above and beyond with design. For example, she’ll include a wax mermaid fin, a wax turtle or multi-colored wax in the artisan designs.” The third partner, childhood friend Deron Blevins, has a twenty-
Shining Sol is located in Historic Downtown Manassas and offers “free sniffs.”
plus year background in graphic and web design, as well as marketing. He creates the attractive labels featured on the candles. “It takes all three of us to create a work of art,” Evick says.
The Reality and Education of the Starving Artist Coming from a music background, Evick knows about starving artists and the kind of sweat equity needed to make it in any creative industry. “The starving artist thing weeds out who should be there and who should not,” Evick says. “What I mean by that is there are people who don’t want to put artistic effort and work in. There is an element of suffering for art. “As soon as someone who truly isn’t passionate about something is financially uncomfortable, he or she usually leaves the business, making way for those who are willing to starve for the art.” Evick says all three partners of Shining Sol grew up in workingclass families, and there’s an inherent aspect of suffering and determination that comes from that. Evick’s mother was ill most of her life. According to him, she lived because she had a will to survive. Evick’s father served in the military and worked as an auto mechanic. “Work ethic is very important,” he says, and that has contributed to his attitude about business and hard work. Evick said of his father, “My dad woke up and worked until he couldn’t anymore. Then he went to bed, woke up and started again. He didn’t pass many things on to me, but this he did, and it was the greatest gift I could have been given.” Also fueling his motivation has been Evick’s long-ago chosen educational path. He did not pursue the traditional college route once graduating from high school, opting instead for art and entrepreneurism. Evick sees his children heading in the same
direction and doesn’t want their options to be limited. Shining Sol has become as much of an educational vehicle as it has a business. “I didn’t take the college and schooling route aimed at music and noticed both my children are of that [same] mindset,” he says. “We have always tried to put them in good schools, but they seem like they will take this other path, working straight out of high school. I’d be a hypocrite if I didn’t support them.” Evick’s friends went to college during the dot-com bust. He saw them study to enter jobs that suddenly didn’t exist. “The job you trained for probably won’t be there once you graduate,” he says. “That idea scares me so much for my children that I want to show them entrepreneurial skills. I want them to see you can start something from the ground up. I want them to understand that if you sell a candle for $25, you don’t make $25.” Evick’s secret to staying positive and avoiding being overwhelmed? “When I went into music, I decided I was going to give it everything I had. It’s the same thing with this business,” he says. “I had to succeed; it is all the way to the top or nothing. I’ve never once in my life experienced the feeling of ‘I want to give up.’ I’ve never felt like it wouldn’t work. It has to, or I don’t eat or pay my mortgage.” Even so, Evick offers this advice for managing that determination and not getting discouraged: “Early on, I realized you shoot for the stars, but you take one step at a time. You climb those stairs one step at a time. By doing that, I’ve found no goal is unachievable.”
Katherine Gotthardt, M.Ed.,(kgotthardt@princewilliamliving.com) is an author and poet, as well as the vice president of content marketing for Prince William Living. prince william living October 2018
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family fun
Fall Fun with Leaves By Jennifer Halter
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ctober is here and that means cooler temps and more opportunities to enjoy all the beautiful sights and sounds of the new season. Northern Viriginia offers no shortage of fabulous fall foliage to admire during this time. As a family, we try to explore the outdoors as much as possible before the cold winter months have us wanting to hibernate. One of our favorite things to do has always been to collect leaves of various shapes, sizes and colors and use them for a variety of fun and educational activities. Here are a few that you can try: 1. Leaf rubbings. A great way to get kids involved with collecting leaves is by using their findings to create leaf rubbings. Have the children pick out leaves, including freshly fallen leaves and ones that may be a bit more crunchy and curly. Leaf color doesn’t matter for this project. Place the leaf on a hard surface with the vein side up and cover with a sheet of paper. Grab some crayons (old, broken ones will work great for this!) and remove the wrapper. Lay the crayon flat on its side and rub gently over the paper with the leaf underneath. The leaf shape will start to appear as you work the crayon around on the paper.
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2. Leaf pressing. This is an easy way to create decorations that can be displayed around your home without dealing with any mess from drying leaves. Collect dry leaves (avoid collecting after rain or early in the morning when dew has built up on them). Color does matter for this activity, so have children choose their favorites. Place your leaves between two pieces of waxed paper and place on an ironing board with a towel on top (Parental supervision is strongly recommended for this project). Use an iron on a medium heat setting to press over your leaves to seal the waxed paper. This should only take about 4–5 seconds, but it is recommended that you check your leaves before you finish ironing to ensure the wax sealed properly. Repeat ironing if necessary. Allow the leaves to cool completely before cutting them out, making sure you leave a bit of an edge around the leaf to keep it sealed in the waxed paper. Leaves can be used for anything from window decorations to a fun mobile created with string. 3. Nature scavenger hunt. Do your children like to play I-Spy? You can create your own nature version to (continues on page 26)
HUNGRY (continued from page 19) senior citizens, survivors of domestic violence and families who identify being food insecure and/or in need in the Northern Virginia and DC Metropolitan areas. The office is located at 308 Poplar Alley, Occoquan, and services are offered by appointment only. “People in need, military servicing organizations or other community leaders contact our office letting us know of a need. We coordinate the pickup at our office. Our services are free,” said Mercedes N. Kirkland-Doyle, founder/executive director. “I love when my service members or mothers in transition get on their feet and then come back to help us help others. That warms my heart because I know my underlying motive of paying it forward is working!” Families are permitted emergency meal units twice a month. “But if I have the resources and supplies, and someone has a need for the third time…we’re helping them,” said Kirkland-Doyle. “Even if we don’t have it, my amazing TGNCK family in PWC, NOVA, DC and other states comes together to respond to our needs via social media.” According to Kirkland-Doyle, the most requested items are pinto beans, green beans, corn, vegetable soup, creamy peanut butter, saltines, and Chef Boyardee pastas. “We also prepare full-course ‘Sunday’ dinners that include a protein, vegetable, clean carb, water and a dessert,” she said. “I really wish I could offer natural juice and fresh vegetables. I have a lot of elderly clients with chronic illnesses, and I usually buy them fresh vegetables out of my own pocket.” TGNCK also provides workforce development through women’s empowerment sessions and interview workshops. For more information on how to volunteer or donate, visit tgnck.org. Marianne E. Weaver (mweaver@ princewilliamliving.com) is a freelance editor and writer. She earned a BA from the University of Pittsburgh and an MJ from Temple University.
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FALL FUN (continued from page 24) see who can find items based on clues you give. You don’t have to stick to just leaves for this game. You can include other items, such as rocks, tree branches or even insects that you may encounter on your outdoor adventure. For younger children, you can make this game a bit easier by having them find leaves based on descriptions you give like a yellow leaf, a pointy leaf, a leaf with red and yellow, etc. 4. Leaf journaling. Encourage children to keep a leaf journal where they can write or draw about leaves that they find. They can share where and how they found each leaf, what the weather was like the day it was found and the texture and color of the leaf. They can then tape or glue the leaf into their notebooks or sketchpads as a keepsake of the season. 5. Tree color progression. This one is a family favorite. Take a photo of a tree each day of the season as the colors of the leaves change. You can use a digital camera or smartphone for this. Save all of the photos in
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a file and create a slideshow to watch the progression of the leaves and how they change in color and eventually fall to the ground. Tip: Be sure to take your photos in the same spot each day. Jennifer Halter (jenniferh@macaronikid.com) is the founder of Macaroni Kid in Woodbridge and Gainesville.
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INVEST IN YOUR LOCAL HISTORY Support the Prince William Historic Preservation Foundation and the Brentsville Jail Room Sponsorship Project
Contributions of $250 or more will put your name on the jail wall (no incarceration required)! Make yourself a part of history by donating today. Contribute at preservepw.org or call 703.792.4754.
3 Acres of Pick Your Own Pumpkins
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home & hearth 6 Tips for Making Your Next Move More Affordable and Less Stressful By Marcia Goodman
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ore than 11 percent of Americans—35.1 million people who make up some 15.3 million households—move to new homes every year, according to the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA). That’s a lot of boxes. About half of those moves happen from June through September. So this is a great time to review some tips to help you make moving less stressful, less expensive and more organized. And that doesn’t mean bribing your friends into DIYing it for pizza and beer. Here are six key considerations as you plan for a move: 1. Budget for inevitable costs. It’s expensive to move, although there are plenty of ways to save money—from gathering free boxes to getting rid of stuff you don’t want to take with you. A typical in-state move costs $1,170, while moving to another state adds up to $5,630 on average. These expenses come on top of the cost of selling your house, so it’s essential to plan in advance for them. 2. Decide who’s going to help you move. There are several factors to consider as you weigh the pros and cons of begging your friends to help you or hiring professionals. How far are you moving? How much time do you have to devote to the moving process? Can your friends handle the logistics or keep from breaking your valuables? How you answer those questions will help you determine whether you should take the DIY approach or invest in hiring professional packers and movers. 3. Do comparison shopping. Even if you are considering doing the move yourself, you should get at least three written estimates, so you can make an informed choice. These should be free, so there’s nothing to lose, and you’ll have a realistic idea of the options. Get those estimates in writing, and make sure you have all the information about how each company works, plus your rights and responsibilities. And, as the AMSA points out, if the mover asks for a large down payment or full payment in advance, that is usually a warning sign. 4. Know your rights. If you’ve decided to go with a moving company, it’s important to know how the process works and a key part of that is understanding your rights. You can reference all of this information in two federal government publications, Ready to Move? and Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move. (Visit fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move for more information.) 5. Take valuables with you. It should go without saying, but just in case: You should take your cash, coins, jewelry, photographs and important papers with you. 6. Make communication a priority. No matter if you’re moving yourself or using a pro, make sure everyone has your cell phone
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number to reach you during the move. Also make sure you have the driver’s full name and truck number. If you have any questions about any part of the moving process, you should ask them and make sure you are satisfied with the answers. Ultimately, taking these steps, both big and small, to plan every step of the moving process can make it so much easier. And that can make all the difference when it comes to smoothly moving into your new home. Marcia Goodman, a realtor with Samson Properties, Gainesville, is a highly credentialed, experienced staging realtor specializing in residential real estate. To learn more about how she can help you prepare for your next move, or to receive her free staging eBook, contact her at 703-819-4776.
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local flavor
Sweeto Burrito Wrapped Deliciousness By Marianne Weaver | Photos by Mark Gilvey
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weeto Burrito isn’t your traditional burrito joint, and owner Mike Sarago is not your typical restaurateur.
“We are not authentic Mexican, and we don’t claim to be,” said Sarago, managing member of Sarago Group Holdings, which holds the rights to develop Sweeto Burrito restaurants throughout Virginia. “We use the tortilla as a vehicle to deliver awesome food.” The menu offers burritos, tacos, salads, wraps and bowls filled with a wide range of traditional and not-so-traditional options: pork, chicken and steak, but also fried eggs, cheeseburgers, bacon, tater tots and French fries. There’s also a deep-fried cheesecake burrito. “My background is in finance. I swore that I would never go in the restaurant business,” Sarago said. Then five years ago, he caught an episode of Food Paradise on the Travel Channel. The show featured the owners of North Dakota-based Sweeto Burrito, who took their crazy burritos on tour in a red food truck to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota. The food truck, with its menacing lucha libre mask logo, was surrounded by bikers of all ages eating burritos fatter than their tailpipes. “It was so interesting that I reached out to them to see if they were franchising,” Sarago explained. “I went out there for a tasting, and by the end of the week, I had the license to build locations throughout Virginia.” So far, he’s established three Sweeto Burritos in Woodbridge: 5540 Staples Mill Plaza, 12531 Dillingham Square and 14313 Potomac Mills Road. “We are the only ones east of the Mississippi, with the exception of a truck in Jacksonville,” he said, noting that most of the restaurants are in Utah and Washington State.
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Although Sweeto Burrito is a franchise, Sarago was quick to point out that he does not consider his restaurants competitors of the other chains found at the exits along I-95. “I look at each one as a one-off that needs to integrate into the local community,” he said. “We have to differentiate ourselves Mike Sarago is the owner of from the other brands. Sweeto Burrito. That is the hurdle in metro areas that are saturated with concepts. Our strength is our relationship with our customers. Almost like a Cheers, we want people to know one another and our staff when they come in. We are a local community restaurant.” As a single father, he said he was eating out most nights when his now – college aged kids were busy with high school activities. With jam-packed schedules and long hours logged commuting, he didn’t want to travel far from home to feed the family. In selecting the first restaurant location, he bet other families were in the same bind. “The Staples Mill location is half a mile from my house,” he said. “And the third location in Dillingham Square is in a large community-based plaza, so people don’t have to go far from home.”
The Dillingham Square location is owned and operated by Ray Pettis, who was introduced to the restaurant in 2015 when he tasted the Carnivore. “In 2015 I ate at the Staples Mills location, and after I finished eating, I was taken aback. I asked Mike what I needed to do to get one of these restaurants,” said Pettis. “The quality of the product is what stood out to me. A burrito is a burrito, but the quality of the contents in that one separated it from any establishment I had eaten at before.”
Not Your Average Burrito Sweeto Burrito was born on Nov. 28, 2011, when a red trailer filled with tortillas and fillings rolled into towns in western North Dakota to feed workers driving oil trucks and working on the rigs. The workers, who had previously eaten whatever was available at gas stations, loved the burritos. According to the company website, “Sweeto Burrito was born from the streets to take hunger to the mat with flavor worth fighting for.” “Our logo is a wrestling lucha libre mask,” said Sarago. “The premise is that in the old days, the Mexican wrestlers had no rules. We are not pigeonholed into one type of food. We put all types of different food in a tortilla.” All the restaurants draw on the lucha libre theme. Each catchy burrito name is linked to a wrestling logo, which is featured in the restaurants’ décor. From the burrito wraps and cups to the art hanging on the walls and decorations on the tables, the restaurants embrace the theme wholeheartedly. The original Sweeto Burrito contains slow-cooked sweet shredded pork with lime rice, black beans, pepper jack cheese topped with “neato sauce” (salsa) and cilantro ranch.
According to Sarago, the most popular item—at all three Virginia locations—is the Carnivore, which is grilled steak, smoked chicken, bacon, pepper jack cheese, white rice, cilantro ranch and a “kiss” of sriracha. Two chicken burritos tie for second. The Buff Chick is a tortilla filled with boneless crispy chicken, tater tots, cheddar cheese, cilantro ranch and sweet hot sauce or traditional hot sauce. The White Chick is marinated chicken, lime rice, black beans, pepper jack cheese, fresh lime, cilantro ranch, sour cream and salsa. Most menu items are less than $8 each. Woodbridge resident Joanna McCleland stumbled upon the Potomac Mills location and decided to give it a try. “I got the Break Neck burrito, and it’s the best breakfast burrito I’ve found since moving here from Colorado three years ago,” she said. “I like that it’s not a typical burrito place with standard ‘southwestern’ burritos. Who thinks to put a cheeseburger and fries or a BBQ pork plate in a burrito? The selection is varied enough to satisfy anyone, and the burritos are a real deal for the amount of stuff they cram into them.” That’s the sort of review Sarago said he strives to achieve. “We make all food, with the exception of our fried goods, in-house,” he said. “We have good quality steaks that are hand cut at each store. We cook pork butts overnight. And we smoke chicken in-house with hickory chips. We also make all of our sauces inhouse as well.” For more information, including menus, visit sweetoburrito.com. Marianne E. Weaver (mweaver@princewilliamliving.com) is a freelance editor and writer. She earned a BA from the University of Pittsburgh and an MJ from Temple University. prince william living October 2018
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your finances 5 Financial Mistakes to Avoid When You Have Money in the Bank By Bennett Whitlock, CRPC® Private Wealth Advisor
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ven people who are financially secure can fall into money traps that put their futures at risk or miss out on opportunities to further strengthen their financial position. Here are five common mistakes financially accomplished people make—along with a few tips to counteract them. 1. Overspending. You’ve worked hard to get where you are. Don’t abandon the budgeting strategies that helped you get this far. Give your discretionary fund a boost if you must, but continue to keep an eye on what you spend each month. You can easily fall behind in your financial goals by consistently overspending in small amounts, which add up to large sums over time. 2. Not having an emergency fund. If you earn a healthy sum each month and have money set aside in investments, you may not think you need other savings. However, having a workplace plan [like a 401(k) or 403(b)] or an IRA is not an emergency fund. Withdrawing funds earmarked for retirement prematurely can incur costly tax penalties and make you lose potential future earnings. Instead, store away three- to-six months’ worth of income in liquid savings to provide a cushion in the event of job loss, natural disaster, illness or another unexpected event. 3. Prioritizing saving for college over retirement. As the cost of a four-year degree in the U.S. continues to rise, it may be tempting to put your child’s tuition ahead of your own future. Yet, boosting your retirement savings should take priority. Your child has an array of options for financing college tuition, including job earnings, merit-based scholarships and various loan programs. When you retire, you simply won’t have access to these external sources of funding if your retirement savings come up short. If you are on track with your retirement savings and want to set aside funds for your budding student, be strategic and diligent about creating a plan to achieve both goals. 4. Being underinsured. Take a critical look at what you own. How easily could you replace those items if an unexpected event occurs? Standard policies may not cover as much as you think, especially if you’ve recently upgraded your home or added to your art collection. Check in with your insurance agent and upgrade your coverage as needed. If you live in an area prone to severe weather, you may be able to add a rider for flood or storm damage. Bump up your life insurance if it makes sense and review your potential need for disability income and long-term care coverage. 5. Failing to diversify. You heard it a million times growing up: don’t put all your eggs in one basket. If your money is tied up in your home, or if your investments are over- or
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under-weighted in one sector of the market, you may be on risky ground. Work with your financial advisor to evaluate your level of diversification within the context of your goals. Annual or more frequent reviews are recommended to help ensure a productive portfolio that’s within your tolerance for risk. Bennett Whitlock, CRPC ®, is a private wealth advisor and managing director with Whitlock Wealth Management, a franchise of Ameriprise Financial Services Inc. Learn more at WhitlockWealth.com or call 703-492-7732.
Take charge of your financial future. Since 1894 Ameriprise Financial has helped millions of Americans feel more confident about their financial future. As an Ameriprise financial advisor, I remain true to our vision of always putting clients first. Discover the one-to-one attention you deserve, call me today at 877-WHITLOCK. Bennett C Whitlock III, CRPC® Private Wealth Advisor Whitlock Wealth Management A private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. 12848 Harbor Dr, Ste 101, Lake Ridge, VA 22192 9073 Center St, Manassas, VA 20110 877-WHITLOCK bennett.c.whitlock@ampf.com • whitlockwealth.com CA Insurance #0F32105
Whitlock Wealth Management whitlockwealth.com
Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. The Compass is a trademark of Ameriprise Financial. © 2017 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. (8/17)
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calendar Historic Manassas Farmers Market
Thursdays & Saturdays 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. The Farmers Market can be found on Thursdays in the Harris Pavilion in Historic Downtown Manassas and Saturdays, across from the new Baldwin Elementary School (1978 Eagle Way).
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Potomac Mills Farmers Market
Saturdays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Potomac Mills Mall 2700 Potomac Mills Circle, Woodbridge Join us on Saturdays for the local Farmers Market in the parking lot near Matchbox. Shop more than 40 local vendors.
Prince William Living Presents Breakfast with an Expert Thurs. Oct. 4 | 8 a.m. PWAR 4545 Daisy Reid Ave., Suite 150, Woodbridge Join us for a cup of coffee, a bagel and information from an expert who will give you actionable advice you can put to work immediately in your business. RSVP princewilliamliving.com/ breakfastwithanexpert/.
Fireside Ghost Stories at Ben Lomond
Fri. Oct. 5 | 7 – 8 p.m. Ben Lomond Historic Site 10321 Sudley Manor Drive, Manassas Come for an exciting and eerie evening around the campfire to hear some of the ghost stories associated with Ben Lomond Historic Site. $5 per person.
Waterways Clean-up
Sat. Oct. 6 | 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Julie J. Metz Neabsco Creek Wetlands Preserve 15875 Neabsco Road, Woodbridge Trash is dangerous to natural environments. Help clean up the Neabsco Creek Wetlands, protecting the area and its natural resources. Bring safety goggles, gloves, and wear appropriate boots and clothing. Register at 703-499-9812.
36th Annual Manassas Fall Jubilee
Sat. Oct. 6 | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Historic Downtown Manassas This year’s Jubilee will include an assortment of fun for both kids and adults with over 100 crafter and community booths, live music and entertainment, and more! Bring your family out for a day of fun—play games, shop at unique crafter booths, and so much more! Stop by the museum lawn for more fun. There will be a Beer, Wine & Spirits Garden to take a break and sample delicious drinks.
Party on Wheels! Mobile Mammo Event
Mon. Oct. 8 | 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Potomac Mills Mall 2700 Potomac Mills Circle, Woodbridge Join Sentara Healthcare in Celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month with Potomac Mills Mall (entrance to Costco/ Saks). Sentara Healthcare’s Mammovan (mobile mammography unit) with 3D imaging will be on site at Potomac Mills Mall for ladies to get their annual screening mammograms. Registration is not required but is encouraged. To schedule your screening mammogram, or for more information, call (703) 523-1560.
Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra Fri. Oct. 12 | 8 p.m. Hylton Performing Arts Center 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas Travel back to the era of big bands and dance halls when Benny Goodman was “The King of Swing” with “Renaissance” clarinetist Eddie Daniels and Northern Virginia’s treasured favorite, the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra. Tickets: hyltoncenter.org.
Linton Hall School Community Fall Fun Fair
Sat. Oct. 13 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Linton Hall School 9535 Linton Hall Road, Bristow Activities include a rock climbing wall, inflatable bounces, face painting, petting zoo, tot lot toddler play area, photo booth, carnival ride, hay ride, fallthemed games and activities, food trucks, cotton candy and popcorn, Swirlies Ice Cream Truck, Live Music with School of Rock, silent auction and raffle, and more! $5 per person or $20 per family. Tickets available at the door or online at lintonhall.edu/follow/events/fun-fair/.
PetOberfest @ Stonebridge
Sat. Oct. 13 | 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center 15201 Potomac Town Place, Woodbridge Enjoy free family and pet-friendly activities including a pet parade/costume contest, pet-friendly exhibitors, children’s entertainment, store discounts, prizes, and much more. Pet photo booth donations will benefit the Prince William SPCA. All pets in attendance must be leashed. For more information, visit sptcpetoberfest.com.
Fall Festival at Parkridge Center
Sat. Oct. 13 | 2 – 5 p.m. Parkridge Center 11096 Bulloch Drive, Manassas This family-friendly free one-day event, featuring music, seasonal treats, games for all ages, a stationary hot air balloon ride, a petting zoo and more will take place outdoors in the parking lot of Parkridge Center. This event is rain or shine.
American Red Cross Blood Drive
Mon. Oct. 15 | 1:30 – 6:30 p.m. Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center 2300 Opitz Blvd., Woodbridge Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center is hosting a blood drive with the American Red Cross. Please call 1-800-RED-CROSS or go to redcrossblood.org to schedule your lifesaving donation.
Have an event? Visit princewilliamliving.com/events to submit details to our online calendar.
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Prince William Living’s Lunch with the Publisher
Wed. Oct. 17 | 11:30 a.m. Prince William Chamber of Commerce 9720 Capital Ct., #203, Manassas Are you an advertiser with Prince William Living or interested in becoming one? Meet the people behind greater Prince William’s premiere lifestyle magazine, as you learn about: Getting your press releases published, tying into the power of our social media presence, creating visibility packages that increase your reach to targeted consumers, and focusing on your message. Lunch provided by Okra’s. RSVP at princewilliamliving. com/lunchwiththepublisher.
Floating Gourd Night
Fri. Oct. 19 | 7 – 8:30 p.m. Manassas Park Community Center 99 Adams Street, Manassas Park (Ages 5-11) Pumpkin picking with a twist… a pumpkin patch in the pool. So suit up, jump in, and pick your pumpkin! Children will be able to take their pumpkin home and decorate it! $5 per child. Call 703-335-8872 to register.
Spirits at Brentsville
Fri. Oct. 19 | 7 – 9 p.m. Sat. Oct. 20 | 7 – 9 p.m. Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre 12229 Bristow Road, Bristow Come experience a unique opportunity to tour Brentsville’s historic buildings and grounds by candlelight, meet several historical characters along the way and hear their tales of sadness and triumph. Guided tours on the hour. Not recommended for children under 12. Reservations strongly recommended; $10 per person.
Dracula, The Ballet
Fri. Oct. 19 | 7:30 p.m. Sat. Oct. 20 | 7:30 p.m. Sun. Oct. 21 | 3 p.m. Hylton Performing Arts Center 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas Manassas Ballet Theatre opens its 2018-19 season with the ultimate vampire storyDRACULA! Theatrical and seductive, the Hylton stage becomes Transylvania after dark, where just one taste of blood guarantees eternal youth. Tickets: hyltoncenter.org
Run and Beer Happy 5K/10K Sat. Oct. 20 | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Prince William County Fairgrounds 10624 Dumfries Road, Manassas The first annual Run and Beer Happy 5k/10k race! The race has on-site parking at the start/finish line, Prince William County Fairgrounds. All runners receive official race t-shirts and medals. There will be a food truck and beer festival for finishers and friends/family. The race is stroller and dog friendly. Visit moremilesraces.com/run-and-beer-happy5k-10k for more information.
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Sat. Oct. 20 | 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Harris Pavilion 9201 Center Street, Manassas The nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. The walk length is one and three miles around scenic Historic Downtown Manassas. Our walk is a family, stroller and pet friendly community event. Highlights include free parking, refreshments, face painting for the kids, mascots entertaining the crowd and group photos. Visit the walk website to register act.alz.org/2018vtcwalk.
Write by the Rails Fall Workshop: Back on the Tracks
Sat. Oct. 27 | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Trinity Episcopal Church 9325 West Street, Manassas Learn, network, get motivated! If you are a writer, published or unpublished, you’re invited to join Write by the Rails (WbtR) for a half-day workshop. The event will include a panel on marketing and breakout groups. $10 contribution ($15 for non-members). Email WritebytheRails@gmail.com for more information or visit WbtR.org.
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Trunk or Treat
Wed. Oct. 31 | 5:30 – 7 p.m. Manassas Park Community Center 99 Adams Street, Manassas Park All sorts of spooky things are out and about during Halloween. Come out to the Community Center for an evening of fun and safe trunk or treating! Decorated vehicles will fill the parking lot with their trunks open and full of treats to hand out.
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Vintage Moving & Storage Moving Your Life’s Treasures
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There’s a very good chance she could leave it all to the dog. We’ll give you a leg up.
At Thrive Senior Living, we’re a lot like any family. Which makes us a whole lot less like other senior living communities. We treat your parents like they’re our parents. We get to know them, not as
patients or as residents. But as
people. We do more than care for them. We care about them. That’s what makes us Thrive. That’s what makes them thrive.
Tribute at The Glen 4151 Old Bridge Road, Woodbridge, VA 22192 571.402.1870 | ThriveSL.com/TheGlen A Thrive Senior Living Community
COME TO LIVE HERE.
TM