Prince WIlliam Living April 2011

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A HOME FOR THE BLUEBELLS

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LEADING BY EXAMPLE

AND ALL THAT JAZZ, ER, BLUEGRASS

prince william living April 2011

The premiere lifestyle magazine of Prince William and Greater Manassas

Prince William Celebrates Earth Day PAGE 6

Reducing, Reusing and Recycling in Prince William County PAGE 8

From Farm to Table www.princewilliamliving.com

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table of contents April 2011 Vol. 1 No. 4

FEATURES Reducing, Reusing and Recycling in Prince William County ....................................6 From Farm to Table ..............................................8 How Does Your Garden Grow? ..........................12

6 DEPARTMENTS from the president ..................................................3 postcards from prince william ..............................5 destinations A Home for the Bluebells to Roam ......................14 family fun e Arts Come to Life in Prince William County ........................................18

8 Photo by Linda Hughes

local flavor Hot, Hot, Hot Southwestern Cuisine is the Spice of Life at Mateo’s ..............................................................20 giving back 1 by Youth Changing ings for the Better ..........22 going places Leading by Example ............................................24 on a high note And All at Jazz, er, Bluegrass ............................26 tambourines and elephants He Looks Chinese ................................................30 calendar ..............................................................31

26 Photo courtesy Mike Freeland

distribution sites ................................................33

prince william living April 2011 | 1

The premiere lifestyle magazine of Prince William and Greater Manassas

Prince William Living Editor in Chief and Publisher Elizabeth Kirkland ekirkland@princewilliamliving.com Prince William Living President Rebecca Barnes rbarnes@princewilliamliving.com Contributing Writers Maria Bosack, Cindy Brookshire, Elizabeth Federico, John Fiess, Jennifer Rader and Casey Rives Copy Assistant Marya Wright Unrath Photography Rebecca Barnes, Kim Hosen and Linda Hughes Graphic Design and Production Alison Dixon/Image Prep Studio Senior Advertising Account Executive Eileen Classick-Terry Advertising Account Executive Yahaira M. Stewart Prince William Living, the premiere lifestyle magazine of Prince William and Greater Manassas, is published monthly by Prince William Living, Inc. e opinions expressed in the magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Prince William Living. © Copyright 2011 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.

Subscription rate is $12 (U.S.), one year. International subscribers add $12 each year. Change of address notices should be sent to Prince William Living President Rebecca Barnes.

Reprints and Back Issues: To order article reprints or request reprint permission, please visit the Prince William Living website: www.princewilliamliving.com. Order back issues by calling Prince William Living President Rebecca Barnes at (703) 232-1758, ext. 1.

For further information about Prince William Living, visit www.princewilliamliving.com, or contact 2 | April 2011William prince william Prince Living living at (703) 232-1758.

Prince William Living 4491 Cheshire Station Plaza, PMB 55 Dale City, VA 22193 Phone: (703) 232-1758 Efax: (703) 563-9185 Editorial offices: (703) 232-1758, ext. 2 Efax: (703) 563-9185 Advertising offices: (703) 232-1758, ext. 1 Efax: (703) 563-9185 Editorial Have a story you’d like our staff to cover? Contact Prince William Living Editor in Chief and Publisher Elizabeth Kirkland, either by phone at (703) 232-1758, ext. 2, or by email at ekirkland@princewilliamliving.com.

Advertising Prince William Living accepts display advertising.

For complete advertising information, please contact Rebecca Barnes, Prince William Living president, either by phone at (703) 232-1758, ext. 1, or by email at rbarnes@princewilliamliving.com.

Distribution If you are your business’ decision maker and you have a waiting room or other place your customers and employees would appreciate finding a copy of Prince William Living, please call Prince William Living President Rebecca Barnes and ask about how your business can become a free distribution site for Prince William Living. Rebecca can be reached by phone at (703) 232-1758, ext. 1, or by email at rbarnes@princewilliamliving.com. By becoming a distributor of Prince William Living, your business will be mentioned on the Prince William Living website and in future issues of Prince William Living.

Social Media

Prince William Living can be found on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

w

from the president

e’re now four months into publishing Prince William Living magazine, and as president of Prince William Living, I’d like to take this opportunity to share with you some information about this wonderful publication, as well as some feedback we have received.

I’ve been asked this question a lot: How many copies of Prince William Living do you print? I’m very proud to say that we are now printing 10,000 copies of Prince William Living each month, and those copies are distributed at various points throughout the county (see page 33 for the full list of distributors), and are also mailed directly to subscribers and to Prince William Chamber of Commerce members each month.

But did you know that Prince William Living is also on Facebook? We can also be found online at www.princewilliamliving.com.

If you know me, you know that I—having lived in Prince William County my entire life—am committed to this community and am thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase Prince William and Greater Manassas with Prince William Living

Advertiser’s Index Adco ..............................................................................16 Ameriprise Financial ....................................................11 Appliance Connection....................................................4 Bargain Relo ................................................................25 City of Manassas Park/Parks & Recreation ................29 Darby Brooke Nutrition................................................32 HomeCleaners4You......................................................32 lia sophia ......................................................................32 Peggy and Bill Burke, Long & Foster Realtors ..........25 Pink Lipstick Women Emplowered..............................32 Lustine Automall ..............................Inside Front Cover Mary Kay/Marti Hall ....................................................32 Minnieland....................................................................32 Potomac Place ..............................................................32 Prince William Chamber of Commerce ......................11 Shear Scapes ................................................................29 Stackhouse & Associates ............................................19

magazine. Please let me know if you know of people, places or things you think we should feature and I will be sure to pass this information on to Prince William Living Editor-in-Chief and Publisher Elizabeth Kirkland. Do you have an event you would like posted to our calendar? Send it to ekirkland@princewilliamliving.com for consideration.

We welcome your feedback regarding our magazine, and we want to create a publication that reflects our community.

Here are just a few of the many comments we have received from readers about Prince William Living. ank you for providing a relevant publication that looks to be a tremendous instrument to further magnify the assets/qualities of the Greater Prince William County region. Best of luck in your efforts.

– Catherine Moretta I saw a display of Prince William Living in the lobby of Wegmans last night and picked up a copy. I couldn’t believe it was a free publication. e writing and photography are superb! As a member of the Prince William County Historical Commission, I was especially interested in the well-written article on Occoquan (March 2011). ank you for a first-class publication with local interest.

– Elaine S. Yankey Can I just say how much I LOVE Prince William Living?

I thought, “Oh my gosh it’s like Southern Living (my all time favorite magazine) but for ME (Prince William County folks)!!

– Annemarie Landry It is with great interest that a copy of your new magazine—Prince William Living—came across my desk.

It looks fantastic—you have done a fabulous job and I wish nothing but the best for you and your endeavor!

– Joel C. Westphal We hope that you enjoy reading Prince William Living magazine, and we look forward, in the years to come, to continuing to bring you the best of what Prince William and Greater Manassas have to offer. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have at any time, either via email at rbarnes@princewilliamliving.com, or by phone at (703) 232-1758, ext. 1.

Respectfully,

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Rebecca Barnes Prince William Living President prince william living April 2011 | 3

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postcards from prince william Have an opinion you’d like to share with us? This is the forum in which to do it! Here’s just some of the feedback we’ve received since our January launch.

ant ing a relev for provid u o y k a an e h b T s to n that look to further publicatio t en m ru st s in tremendou sets/qualities of the e as County magnify th nce William ur efforts. ri P o Greater y t of luck in region. Bes e Moretta – Catherin

It is with great interest that a copy of your new magazine Prince Wil liam Living came across my desk. It looks fantastic—you have done a fabu lous job and I wish nothing but the best for you and your endeavor!

– Joel C. Westphal

VE Prince Can I just say how much I LO my “Oh t, ugh tho I ng?

William Livi (my all ng Livi n ther Sou like It’s ! gosh ME time favorite magazine) but for s)!! folk nty Cou liam (Prince Wil – Annemarie Landry

I just finished reading “My Daughter is Gifted” (January 2011).

I could not stop laughing! I have two teenagers now and I can remember like it was yesterday sitting in cafeteria or gym watching award programs or plays. The parents should have been the ones on stage. My husband used to bring gum, and when he saw signs of the first parent leaning over to me, out came the stick. It was exhausting hearing how “gifted” these children were. I thought there was something wrong with my kids just because they sat there and did what was asked of them. My kids would call their teacher “ma’am” or use the words like “excuse me” or “may I.” Not rocket science. What happened to that?

The day every parent hates: the phone call from the principal. It was early one morning, when the phone rang; it was the principal. He asked if I could stop by that morning. Everything was going through my mind. I walked into his office and sat down. He began the conversation by saying, “Is everything okay at home?” I replied, “Yes, why do you ask?”

“Well, your son for the past couple weeks has not had lunch,” he said. I asked him if he was sure he had the right child, and he said yes.

“But he leaves the house everyday with a lunch,” I told the principal. But the principal told me he doesn’t have it during lunch time. I left the principal’s office vowing to get to the bottom of the mystery of the missing lunch, and that night at the dinner table I asked my son what he was doing with his lunch. He broke down into tears and said, “Mom, I give it to a little girl in my class who never comes with lunch.”

I asked, “Does her mommy not make it?” He told me no—that they were too poor to afford to make a lunch for the little girl.

It broke my heart. Here my son is giving his lunch away, not saying a word because the little girl was too ashamed to ask for help. So I told my son this would be our secret and I would make an extra lunch. To this day they are still friends and we pack an extra sandwich just in case.

So, is my child gifted? Yes, to me he is gift from God. Does he clean his room without being told or bring in the trash? No. But I wouldn’t change it for the world—well maybe the trash part. LOL. – Jody Brumbaum

I saw a display of Prince William Living in the lobby of Wegmans last night and picked up a copy. I couldn’t believe it was a free publication. The writing and photography are superb! As a member of the Prince William County Historical Commission, I was especially interested in the well-written article on Occoquan (March 2011). Thank you for a first-class publication with local interest.

Submissions to Postcards from Prince William may be emailed to ekirkland@princewilliamliving.com; mailed to Prince William Living, ATTN: Postcards, 4491 Cheshire Station Plaza, PMB 55, Dale City, VA 22193. Questions? Call (703) 232-1758.

– Elaine S. Yankey

prince william living April 2011 | 5

Reducing, Reusing and Recycling in Prince William County

l

By Casey Rives, Contributing Writer

ast year, Prince William County celebrated its 40th anniversary of Earth Day—a day dedicated to preserving the environment and educating residents about how to decrease their pollution output and conserve energy, water and other natural resources. is year, the county will be celebrating Earth Day once again in the hopes of getting the attention of county residents and educating them about how to better treat the Earth.

reduce their waste by recycling and, overall, conserve our environment. We help to educate by doing.”

“We have a program that starts in March called ‘Six Weeks to Make a Difference,’” said Deb Oliver, public outreach and education director of the Prince William County Department of Public Works. “Basically, residents have the opportunity to volunteer within the county and help conserve the environment.

Anyone can volunteer and it’s free.”

“I think it’s important to show people that they can make a difference,” said Oliver. “We help show people where they can get involved.”

e Six Weeks to Make a Difference program consists of activities for residents and families, including tree planting, litter pick-up and graffiti removal. Anyone can help; there’s no age restriction for volunteers. According to Oliver, “e events help residents build a connection with the environment.” e county’s Public Works office offers many events throughout the year to teach locals how to clean up their county and help preserve the environment. In November 2009, Prince William County was awarded a platinum level excellence award for completing the Green Government Challenge. e challenge is provided by the Virginia Municipal League’s Go Green initiative (GoGreenVa). (“Green” guidelines can be found online at www.gogreenva.org.)

“Our green programs are year-round, really,” explained Oliver.

“We sponsor a green initiative by helping to ensure that government employers and coworkers are educated in energy conservation. We want our employees to drive wiser and carpool,

6 | April 2011 prince william living

Education e first aspect of Earth Day is to create a sense of community among Prince William County residents through events, presentations and volunteer work.

Last year, Prince William County Public Works did a workshop with local students and concentrated on their views of the environment. Students were asked to express their worries for the environment and how they though those problems could be solved.

“It was surprising to see how concerned the youth of today are for our environment,” said Oliver. “ey really understand. e majority of students were concerned about wildlife and what the future of our wildlife would be. And these ideas came from a large variety of Prince William County youth—we had homeschoolers, high school students, Cub Scouts, and 4-H members.”

Both Public Works and the Prince William Clean Community Council believe in educating children at a young age.

“Habits start at a young age and I think the more we educate children in school or while they’re still young, the more the idea of protecting the Earth will come natural to them,” said Kayne Karnbach, director of programs for the Prince William Clean Community Council. e clean council offers a variety of programs for both adolescents and adults. Families are

encouraged to take part in the Adopt a Spot program, which allows for volunteers to be responsible for picking up litter from the adopted area within the county.

“Anybody can volunteer; we have so many different programs to educate the community,” said Karnbach. “Our new storm drain program focuses on placing plaques or stencils on storm drains to politely remind residents that items placed in the drain will end up in local waters—polluting them.”

Many schools take part in Earth Day and have incorporated earth-friendly activities in which students can engage in the days leading up to the April 22 celebration.

“For Earth Day, we read books about taking care of the Earth and the importance of recycling or reusing,” said LeAnn Nelson, a kindergarten teacher at George Mullen Elementary School in Manassas. “We walk around the school building looking for trash—I let the students point out the trash and I place it in a bag for disposal. We discuss that not only is trash ugly but it is harmful to the birds and squirrels.”

Public Works offers a Youth Ambassadors’ Conference on the Environment annually so that the youth of the county can also have a hand in keeping the environment clean.

“Our county is beautiful—kids should get outside and enjoy every aspect of it,” said Oliver. “ere are so many great parks and nature is a source of rejuvenation for people—we need it. Our Public Works site has a page dedicated on ways to get kids out and about in the environment.”

How to Make a Difference It is important to conserve energy, water and other natural resources year-round, and Earth Day should serve as a reminder for everyone to do their part in making that happen. Many energy saving processes can be found online at www.pwcgov.org, but Oliver suggests the following: ■ Conserve energy. Turn off lights, cut heat back and unplug unused electronics. Not only do such energy-saving techniques help protect the environment, they also help to save money on electric bills.

■ Plan driving trips. Keep cars well-maintained, buy energysaving vehicles, and know where you are going. If possible, carpool. e idea here is to reduce pollution in the environment.

■ Reduce Waste. Recycle as much as possible. e more we recycle, the fewer landfills we have to create.

■ Use the correct amount of fertilizer. Use only a small amount to ensure that runoff does not end up in the county’s watersheds, which lead to the Chesapeake Bay. In addition,

residents are encouraged to plant native plants to prevent erosion.

“A lot of the conservation initiatives are just thinking about things to change a natural behavior,” said Oliver.

Local businesses can also help in preserving the planet by participating in energy saving processes. “ere are many new tax benefits out there for individuals who choose to be energy friendly and ‘go green,’” said Donna Wood, CPA/PFS, CFP®, with Wood Smith Associates LLC, in Haymarket. Last year, the IRS added many additional tax credits for households and businesses that were either using energysaving appliances or recycling.

Chip Ashton, owner of Speedy Green Car Wash in Manassas City, an all-green business that collects all used water, recycles and reuses it, said more businesses should recycle.

Ashton’s new carwash facility offers a special filtration system which filters storm drain water on the building’s lot. “It cuts down on sewer system usage and conserves water,” he said. “e filtration system helps keep waste from entering the local creeks and streams.”

Why Recycle and How? Recycling helps to reduce pollution and limit the amount of landfills needed—leaving more room for open space, playgrounds and parks.

“Recycling is extremely important because so many materials are reusable,” said Karnbach. “It’s something that everyone can do and it benefits everyone as a whole.”

Many disposal services offer recycling programs and additional containers can be provided for recycled materials.

Glass bottles, aluminum cans, plastic jugs and newspaper are just a few of the many recyclable items used by the average household, (continues on page 16)

prince william living April 2011 | 7

Photos by Linda Hughes

A

By Cindy Brookshire, Contributing Writer

ll across Prince William, farms are stirring with the first bounty of the season: bedding plants and blooming flowers for eye-catching hanging baskets. Even before the first strawberries ripen and zucchini abound, the open air markets in Dale City, Haymarket, Manassas and Nokesville are (or soon will be) stocked with meats, cheeses, eggs and poultry, baked goods and honey, jams and jellies, roasted nuts and goat’s milk soaps and lotions—the first wave of the abundance that is to follow.

“We get a lot of feedback on how good the plants are,” said Jennifer Preli, manager of the Haymarket Farmers Market. “We want to support Virginia’s farmers.”

Betty Finney, manager of the Dale City Farmers Market, which boasts 40 vendors at peak season, said, “I could think of a hundred reasons to eat local, but to put it in a very enticing way, it’s a cornucopia.”

“The marinara must be done in advance and left to simmer a full 24 hours, so that everything comes together,” Barolin said. “Our customers are always looking for what’s new—the specials of the day from the market.”

The benefits of eating local are manifold: healthier families, more nutritional value for your food dollar, a better environment and economy and self-sufficiency because we buy what we produce.

“This year we’re expanding to 30 vendors on Saturdays,” said Robyn Goodwin, manager of Historic Manassas, Inc.’s Visitor’s Center at the Train Depot, and the coordinator for the Manassas Farmers Market. The Manassas Farmers Market, which is now entering its 26th year in Old Town Manassas, offers in-season green beans, raspberries and everything in between—all produced within 150 miles of the heart of Old Town.

Chef Robert Barolin, a native of Uruguay, crosses the railroad tracks in Old Town Manassas to buy Photo by Linda Hughes

8 | April 2011 prince william living

fresh herbs at the Manassas Farmers Market for his City Square Café. Later in season, he’ll shop for tomatoes for bruschetta—an appetizer of tomatoes and garlic on bread toasted with olive oil— and his staple marinara sauce. A variety of the market’s seasonal vegetables will accompany his salmon en papillote or filet mignon.

“In the early spring, it’s the flowers and herbs,” Goodwin said.

“We’ve got a new meat vendor, and a guy who does only goat cheese. Everyone loves the fresh loaves of bread and now I have several new bakers, (who bake everything) from cookies to pies.

But what everyone’s waiting for is the star every year: the tomatoes and sweet corn—the late summer crop.”

Supporting Families and Boosting the Economy Matt Benson and Erick Bendfeldt, two community viability specialists with the Virginia Cooperative Extension, have done the math: If each household in Virginia spent just $10 a week of their total food budget on local food and farm-based Virginia products, the state economy would get an annual boost of $1.65 billion dollars.

But it isn’t just the buying of foodstuffs that helps the state’s economy; buying inedible goods helps, too. Katie Dawley—one of three generations including her mother, Leslie, running Burnside Family Farms in Haymarket—understands this. She and her family are using 30 years of growing and floral design experience to provide flowers for weddings and corporate events. Local brides praise the Burnside blooms for staying fresh twice as long.

Burnside’s 100 floral and plant varieties include unique and unusual plants that don’t hold up well to shipping long distance, including Katie’s beloved and brightly colored dahlias.

“Last year we grew 25 colors of just dahlias,” she said. “They’re an astonishing flower.”

Adding Value to Your Food Dollar Because local produce is picked within 24 hours of coming to market, one not only gets exceptional taste with everything from sweet blueberries to juicy cantaloupe, but also increased nutritional value.

“You’re eating healthier because the produce isn’t shipped in from Venezuela or Chile,” says Julie Stadig, manager of the Nokesville Farmers Market. “All of our produce is grown within 50 miles of Nokesville.”

For the second year, USDA-administered SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—formerly the Food Stamp Program) program recipients will be able to buy local, fresh produce at the Manassas Farmers Market by using their electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards to purchase tokens at the Visitors Center first. Participating vendors accept the tokens like cash, then get reimbursed by Historical Manassas, Inc. “It’s such a good program for people with low income,” said market manager Robyn Goodwin, “It’s huge in Charlottesville.”

Eating Local Means Breathing Cleaner Air Eating local cuts the distance food travels to your table, saving fuel and cutting down on the resulting pollution and damage acid rain does to spruce trees on Virginia’s Shenandoah ridges.

“Every last egg we use comes from local farms,” announced Nokesville resident Pablo Teodoro, who, along with his wife Lynda, owns the Great Harvest Bread Co. in Warrenton, Va. He sells baked goods at four open-air markets, including the Nokesville market he helped start five years ago.

“We’d like to use a local dairy, but the milk has to be transported up to Pennsylvania for bottling,” he said. “The biggest problem for local producers is getting their product to the customers. That’s one of the reasons we decided to open a retail storefront.”

Pablo supports other local producers and farmers by buying coffee from a local roaster, bottled honey from a beekeeper in Remington, Va., and every three weeks, 55 gallons of honey (about 700 pounds) from Gunter’s Honey in Berryville, Va.

Eating Local Supports Local Farms and Green Spaces When you buy from your farming neighbors, you give them an economic reason to continue producing and being self-sufficient without developing their land.

“I get phone calls every day from people wanting to get away from all those chemicals in their food,” said Leigh Smith, a member of the century-old Smith Family Farm in Gainesville. The farm owns and operates more than 2,000 acres of pastureland and crop fields (continues on page 10) prince william living April 2011 | 9

Photo courtesy Great Harvet Bread Co.

“Flowers are grown around the world, but after they’re cut, they sit in buckets from auction to wholesaler to florist,” explained Katie.

“By the time you receive them, they’re already dying.”

In fact, Charlottesville’s City Market uses the EBT system on site for anyone with a debit or SNAP card. According to Wholesome Wave Foundation, farmers markets in cities around the country the size of Charlottesville (43,000+ residents) have seen market revenues increase $40-60,000 during the first year of adding an EBT system. “Our sales increased by $26,000, mostly due to debit cards,” said Stephanie Anderegg-Maloy, Charlottesville’s market master.

(continued from page 9)

Eating Local Builds Community Relationships “Relationships are the best part of anything that develops around a farmers market,” said Pablo. “You deal with if not like-minded people, people who are operating around a similar set of food values. It’s community.”

Photo courtesy Smith Family Farm

In every culture, food means hospitality and sharing. Sharing builds community.

in Northern Virginia. Because they are a certified Virginia qualityassured beef producer by the Virginia Department of Agriculture, they are a popular draw at the Dale City Farmers Market for steaks, roasts and ground beef, as well as pork, lamb, chicken, turkey and eggs.

“I tell people to try a pound of ground beef and see for yourself,” said Smith. “If you go to the grocery store, your meat could be coming from China. You don’t know what the animal’s diet was or how they were handled during processing. If you buy from me, it’s from one cow, and the package actually has a number on it, so that I can identify which animal it came off of. It’s not mixed in with any other cow or anything. And there’s no junk sprayed on it.”

According to Smith, first-timers usually come back wanting more.

“People are utterly amazed at the flavor in the meat, because it’s so different from the grocery store. You can’t even compare.”

The Manassas Farmers Market encourages socializing with people like homeschooler Daniel Glenn—a local teenager who plays acoustic guitar for tips, and Coco Kallis and Lafe (short for “Lafayette”) Dutton, a retired couple from San Diego who stop by the Manassas Farmers Market on occasion to entertain and take song requests.

The Nokesville Farmers Market sells “local barbecue that you can eat right there,” heralded market manager Julie Stadig. “It’s a friendly environment, kid-friendly, and often there’s some sort of activity going on.”

The Dale City Farmers Market offers live music the first Sunday of August in honor of Virginia Farm Market Week, and plans to add something special in the fall as a reminder that even though school is back in session, the market continues. This year, the Dale City market will remain open until Dec. 11. Even the Manassas market has winter hours.

“I’ve gotten calls asking why we don’t go year-round,” said Finney of the Dale City market. “Some of our vendors have greenhouses and grow regardless of the weather.”

Desiderio Italian-American Grill in Gainesville encourages the rela-

Area Farmers Markets Dale City Farmers Market

Old Town Manassas Farmers Market

Dale City Commuter Lot (next to Center Plaza Shopping Center on Dale Blvd.)

Open Sundays, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. April 3 – Dec. 11 (closed Sunday, Nov. 27)

Open Thursdays, 7 a.m.–1 p.m. March 31–Nov. 3 at the Harris Pavilion in Manassas Open Saturdays, 7:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. April 2–Oct. 29 at the corner of Prince William and West Streets in Manassas

Haymarket Farmers Market

For more sources of sustainable locally-grown food in our area, visit www.LocalHarvest.org.

Town Hall Parking Lot (15000 Washington Street, Haymarket) Open Saturdays, 8 a.m.–2 p.m. April 30–Oct. 29

Corner of Route 28 and Fitzwater Drive in Nokesville Open Saturdays, 8 a.m.–12 p.m. May 21–Oct. 29

10 | April 2011 prince william living

Photo by Linda Hughes

Nokesville Farmers Market

Please note, dogs are not allowed in farmers markets by order of the Virginia Health Department.

tionships that come from eating local by offering quarterly dinners called “For Locals Only� at the two-year-old restaurant.

Buying local-grown food is rich soil for a wonderful story. Whether it’s a farmer harvesting apples or a baker kneading bread, knowing the story behind your food is a powerful part of enjoying a meal.

“We bring in a guest chef and prepare the meal entirely, or as much as we can, from local ingredients from, say, Buckland Farm and the Winery at La Grange, or other local sources,� said restaurateur Rick Marrero. “Our stuffed pork loin is made with local pork and fresh herbs.� Desiderio makes its own mozzarella cheese on site as well.

“We have very loyal customers who, for years, have come every single Sunday. They seem to have their own preferences for one particular vendor or another,� said Finney. “There’s something for everyone there.� “Open markets build friendships,� concurred Pablo. “You’re agreeing on this one aspect of life, and you’re building supportive relationships around the idea of local healthy food and products.�

“Customers keep coming back because we live here, we’re family-owned. My partner, Victor, and I work in the kitchen six, seven days a week and either I or my wife Karen is in the front greeting guests and getting to know them.�

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Prince William Living contributing writer Cindy Brookshire is a freelance writer. She makes her home in Manassas.

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prince william living April 2011 | 11

How Does Your

Garden Grow?

d

By Elizabeth Federico, Contributing Writer

o you love to garden but are overwhelmed with all the new “green” talk about “sustainability”? Do you want to include some of this “new” technology in your own backyard, but just aren’t sure how to go about it? Or have you never gardened in your life and just want to try a few veggies in that sunny little corner in the back of your yard?

Our very own Prince William County Government outreach and education system is miles ahead of the curve in making all of the necessary information not only available but easy to understand and navigate. e partnerships which have been formed at the local, state and federal level are truly something to be proud of, and you can find just about all of the information you need to get started online at the Prince William County Government website.

You have options once you are on the homepage at www.pwcgov.org. ere are tabs across the top; under the “Residents” drop down menu, you can click “Environment,” or do the same in the “Business” dropdown menu. Alternatively, in the “Government” dropdown menu, just click “more topics,” and on the left you will see “Virginia Cooperative Extension.” From there, go to “Environment and Natural Resources” (www.pwcgov.org/vce/enr). ere, you’ll find all kinds of wonderful information.

And if you have questions (we know you do), help is available.

Email the contact at the bottom of the page, or make a phone call during regular business hours. Or, attend a Master Gardener Clinic at a local garden center. One more option: just pick up your unidentifiable bug and walk it into the Virginia Cooperative Extension office located at 8033 Ashton Avenue, Suite 105 in Manassas. (Put him in a baggie or jar please; you wouldn’t want to lose him on the way; and please be careful not to squish him, as squished bugs are difficult to identify.) “e Virginia Cooperative Extension is almost a secret in Prince William County vast county—and underused,” said Paige E. acker, director of the Prince William County Office. acker graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Horticulture and knows a thing or two about gardening and plants. She is familiar 12 | April 2011 prince william living

with all the questions, critters and regulations that go along with having a yard and garden. acker works with a large network of master gardeners and professionals, and if she can’t answer your question, she’ll find someone who can.

In addition to county residents, property managers or those who work within HOAs may need assistance with turf and water use regulations. It’s not unheard of for an HOA representative to call with “I have residents that are insisting they cannot grow grass, but my bylaws are insisting they do. How can I make everyone happy?”

“We can make recommendations for your HOA’s common area landscape contracts and make suggestions about the bylaws for your community,” said acker. “We can also take soil samples and assist residents with determining how to grow the best turf on your property.” e Virginia Cooperative Extension program is a joint program of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and state and local governments. e Prince William Office really does have a true partnership with Prince William County Government and everyone is willing to help with everything from taking care of your lawn to getting you the permits you need for a major “do-over.”

But let’s not forget our children. Prince William County, which is home to a great many historic sites including Brentsville’s historic courthouse and the Rippon Colonial Lodge, is partnered with Prince William Forest Park (a Department of the Interior National Forest, federally owned property), Leesylvania State Park (part of our state parks network) and Metz Wetland, offering many great opportunities for educational experiences.

“We have some very beautiful natural areas in Prince William County and we all can play a role in being good stewards in protecting our resources,” said Deb Oliver, the public outreach and education coordinator for Prince William County. “We aren’t just here; we are a part of ‘here,’” Oliver takes seriously her responsibility to educate not just

children but families. She firmly believes that everyone is responsible for the health and well being of the community as a whole. Part of that is being a responsible gardener, using resources such as water and fertilizer wisely and remembering we are not living on this earth alone. (Read more about how Prince William County is celebrating this year’s Earth Day on page 13.) ere are many opportunities for children in Prince William and Greater Manassas when it comes to learning about gardening and conservation. rough the VCE there are Saturday in the Garden classes available for adults and their children (most classes are free; some require a $5 supply fee). ese classes take place at the Teaching Garden at St. Benedict Monastery in Bristow at 9535 Linton Hall Road. Topics for the first two programs in April are Preparing for Spring (April 9) and Pollinators (May 14).

For additional information about Prince William County Extension office classes, activities and events, call (703) 792-7747, or visit their website at www.pwcgov.org/vce/enr. For more general resources, visit www.ext.vt.edu. You can also sign up for a free lawn, landscape and garden update via email at www.pwcgov/eServices/eNotifications.

Happy Gardening!

Elizabeth Federico is a horticulturist for the U.S. General Services Administration in Washington D.C. She is a graduate of Virginia Tech’s horticulture program and a lifelong resident of Prince William County.

Save the Dates (Information courtesy the Virginia Cooperative Extension)

Saturday in the Garden Adult and Children’s Program April 9, May 14, June 11, July 9, August 13, September 10, October 8 Teaching Garden at St. Benedict Monastery 9535 Linton Hall Road Bristow All programs are free and run from 9:30 a.m.–Noon, unless otherwise noted. Cost: Adults free; $5 per class per child.

Master Gardener Clinics at Local Garden Centers April 9, 16 and 30, and May 14 and 21 10 a.m.–1 p.m.

Call (703) 792-7747 for clinic locations and for more information.

Horticulture Class: B.E.S.T. Lawns: Building Environmentally Sustainable Turf Learn turf fertilization, maintenance practices, and timing that prevents problems.

Enrollment cost: $25. Questions? Call (703) 792-7747.

(continues on page 28) prince william living April 2011 | 13

destinations

By Jennifer Rader, Contributing Writer

f

or any serious “birder,” naturalist or conservationist, or for the education-focused parent, the Merrimac Farms Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is a virtual playground.

Located off the beaten path at 15020 Deepwood Lane in Nokesville, Merrimac Farms WMA is surrounded by all sorts of wildlife, as well as numerous horses and cattle.

mitment to two life interests: the Marine Corps and conservation. e purchase of the land by a private owner prevented encroachment on the neighboring Quantico Marine Corps Base.

And, Colonel McDowell was known to invite hunting and fishing on the property as he treated his homestead’s 300 acres as a wildlife refuge during his residence. With his untimely death in 2001 and Mrs. McDowell’s failing health, the future of Merrimac Farms faced a change.

In 1959, the land was purchased by LTC Dean “Mac” and Mary McDowell. Combining the new owners’ names, the property became known as Merrimac Farms.

e McDowell children and extended family were committed to upholding Colonel McDowell’s love of conservation, and their dedication to their father’s memory was the beginning of a model partnership between federal and state agencies with a local nonprofit organization and private citizens. Together, the McDowell family, the Marine Corps Base Quantico, Prince William Conservation Alliance (PWCA), the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries with support from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, coined as the Merrimac Farm Conservation Partnership, joined parties to permanently conserve the property for public use, and, on January 16, 2008, Merrimac Farms became Merrimac Farms Wildlife Management Area.

LTC McDowell was a Marine Corps officer and an avid conservationist. rough Merrimac Farms, he demonstrated his com-

“It was incredible how these agencies worked together toward saving this property,” said Kim Hosen, PWCA executive director.

For a first-time visitor the Merrimac Farms WMA could be considered intriguing and mysterious. ere is so much information and there are many treasures to discover on the farm’s 300+ acres.

Merrimac Farms WMA’s past is vague, but what is known is that in 1737, the property, which then took up more than 1,000 acres, was parceled and changed hands several times over. Known previously as “Brent Town” and “Green Level,” the property was destined for a greater purpose.

14 | April 2011 prince william living

Photos courtesy Kim Hosen

A Home for the Bluebells to Roam

e Merrimac Farms WMA hosts the Stone House Visitor Center—the residence on the property—a cemetery, and a barn and spring house, whose histories are still unidentified. Year-round activities such as hiking, hunting, fishing, nature photography, birding and exploring can be found and more opportunities are expected to be developed.

With 100 acres of contiguous wetlands that include one mile of frontage along Cedar Run and 200 acres of hardwood forests and upland meadows, Merrimac Farms offers Prince William County and Northern Virginia a real naturalist’s paradise.

Under the eye of the Merrimac Farm Conservation Partnership, the future for Merrimac Farms is one of new opportunities to provide to the public. PWCA is currently raising funds for a conservation landscape project at the Stone House Visitor Center. A passionate member has put up a challenge to match community contributions for this project up to $5,000 in total. e project will build on and enhance the existing landscape in the area behind the Stone House—already a wildlife hotspot—by adding layers to the habitat through herbs, shrubs, understory and canopy to attract wildlife during all seasons. is project can then be demonstrated to the public for replication in their own green spaces.

“Our objective is to conserve wildlife habitat and allow people to enjoy the wildlife that’s on it,” said Jerry Sims, wildlife biologist manager with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, a Merrimac Farms WMA partner. “We are pleased to offer these opportunities in an area that’s so close to the metro area.”

“Mystical” is one word that can be used to describe Merrimac Farms, and that’s especially the case during the annual Bluebell Festival—the first of which was held in April 2008 to celebrate the acquisition and new future of the property. Virginia bluebells can bloom as early as late February and are gone by the end of April. ey love moisture and full sun, making the wetlands and banks of Cedar Run at Merrimac Farms a perfect home for them. ey are unique in that they live exclusively under the tree canopy, but they bloom before the trees due to their attraction to the sun. e peak blooming period for bluebells is mid-April, which will be just in time for this year’s 4th Annual Bluebell Festival, scheduled for April 10 at Merrimac Farms WMA. e Bluebell Festival is a free family event that will showcase naturalist-led tours through the floodplain wetlands to the bluebells. Children’s activities and organizational displays on the lawn of the Stone House Visitor Center as well as a nature art show inside the visitor center will also take place during the one-day festival.

Photos courtesy Kim Hosen

On an overcast day in early March, while walking the forested, upland wetland—a rapidly disappearing habitat across the country—upland chorus frogs could be heard singing for the first time this year. Hosen pointed out several bird species that would make their presence known during the tour and we treaded lightly looking for the first signs of the popular Virginia bluebell.

Front porch of the Stone House Visitor Center at Merrimac Farm, taken at a previous Bluebell Festival

“e Conservation Partners have continued to host an annual Bluebell Festival to highlight the importance of Merrimac Farms WMA, provide people with the opportunity to view the stunning display of bluebells that carpet the floodplain along Cedar Run and a fun outdoor event for families,” said Hosen. e hundreds of Virginia bluebells are a remarkable site to behold, so visitors are encouraged to bring their cameras. One festival visitor remarked upon viewing the lush carpet of Virginia bluebells, “It’s like Oz.” Merrimac Farms Wildlife Management Area can be considered a destination gem in the Prince William County treasure chest; each April certainly proves it. Experts consider the site a “habitat mosaic,” revealing a diversity of species. Hosen explains it this way: “Merrimac Farms is a model for the type of public and private involvement Virginia localities can use to ensure communities have high quality green spaces that are open to the public to enjoy.” PWCA’s blog title brings it all together and sums it up perfectly: “Your Piece of the Planet.”

Merrimac Farms Wildlife Management Area is located at 14710 Deepwood Lane in Nokesville. e 4th Annual Bluebell Festival will take place on April 10, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission and parking are free. For more information on Merrimac Farms WMA, the Bluebell Festival and additional events, visit www.pwconserve.org.

A nonprofit development director for 10 years, Jennifer Rader now works as a freelance writer and consultant. She lives with her son and husband in Manassas. prince william living April 2011 | 15

(continued from page 7) and Prince William County offers many drop-off sites for recycled materials throughout the county, including the following: ■ Birchdale Recreation Center: 14730 Birchdale Ave. Dale City, Va ■ Balls Ford Road Compost Facility: 13000 Balls Ford Rd. Manassas, VA ■ Commuter lot at Route 123 and Old Bridge Road in Occoquan/Lake Ridge area It’s important to remember that, prior to placing items into recycling bins, caps should be removed from bottles any bottles that once contained chemicals should be rinsed out. “e less we put in landfills, the less trash there is out there,” said Sandi Kern, office manager of Charlie & Son Trash Service, in Woodbridge, which offers curbside recycling services to its clients.

“If we keep throwing everything away then landfills will have to close and more will be created.”

Kern said people recycle more now than they used to. “I think there has become a higher awareness of what recycling is,” she said. “e environment is important and recycling is a great place to start. Other places are having problems with space—we don’t want that, we want to have plenty of room for our kids to grow and play without pollution.”

Volunteering to Improve the County While volunteer efforts have increased over the past few years, both Prince William County Public Works and the Prince William Clean Community Council need additional residents who are interested in volunteering. Many opportunities are available for volunteers and many programs open to volunteers have no set schedule.

“Volunteering to improve our county is something that makes people feel good,” said Oliver. “We have many returning volunteers—students who come back and bring family members, and that’s what we need. We need word of mouth so others want to come out and help, then we can educate more people.”

Prince William County is a unique place in Northern Virginia.

While many cities are located within the county, there is still an enormous area of rural communities and land. Wildlife protection and litter removal are only two things needed to preserve the community in which you live. For more information on how to help, contact Deb Oliver at (703) 792-6819.

Writer Casey Rives, who resides in Haymarket, Va., is a communications major at George Mason University. Her expected graduation date is December 2011.

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Earth Day Activities

Earth Day Maracas

April 2, 2011

Materials Needed:

Wildflower Project at Rippon Lodge History Site

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

April 9, 2011 Clean up along 14 miles of the Occoquan River by picking up debris and litter

Two plastic water bottles Two to three sheets of recycled paper Markers Uncooked rice and/or beans Glue

April 16, 2011

Instructions:

Earth Day and River Clean Up at Leesylvania State Park, and Community Tree Planting at Innovation in Manassas

1. Allow your child to help you pick out two used water bottles to use for the project. Be sure to talk with them about recycling, and let them know that if bottles were thrown away, they would never be available for reuse.

April 30, 2011 Clean up at Metz Wetlands in Woodbridge For more information on any of the above Earth Day activities, contact the Prince William County Department of Public Works at (703) 792-6819.

It’s Easy to Go Green ■ Protect the water by controlling runoff, in turn preventing erosion and reducing pollutants and nutrients entering local streams.

■ Reduce the impact of storm water by using groundcover and plants to reduce runoff, and by sweeping or disposing of materials that might wash into storm drains.

■ Manage solid waste. Look for ways to reduce waste, and cover trash to keep wind and animals out of it.

■ Be aware of toxins in your home and dispose of hazardous waste properly ■ Reduce, reuse and recycle. Purchase items that use less packaging. Donate unwanted items, and recycle where possible.

■ Don’t litter, and pick up litter in your area. Keep a litter bag in your car or boat.

■ Protect air quality. Reduce driving when possible, reduce use of oil-based products, reduce use of gasoline-powered devices.

Tips on how to reduce your waste provided by the Prince William County Department of Public Works.

2. Clean and dry both water bottles well.

3. While water bottles are drying, collect two or three sheets of recycled paper. Any color paper will do.

4. Help your child cut the recycled paper into sections the same height as the water bottles.

5. Allow your child to create a design, picture or color scheme on the recycled paper using markers.

6. Dab just enough glue onto the bottles to adhere the paper to each water bottle. Explain how important it is to conserve—use only the amount of paper and glue needed for each bottle.

7. Allow glue to dry.

8. After the glue has dried, insert a handful of uncooked rice and beans into the recycled water bottles.

9. Using the finished maracas, help your child invent a song about the Earth and why it is important to protect it.

Reusing Materials Consider donating your used goods to facilities which can recycle them for reuse. Couches, clothing, furniture and other household materials in good condition should not waste space in landfills. Instead, consider donating these items to the Salvation Army or other charity. Local Salvation Army facilities can be found at the following locations: Salvation Army rift Store 13287 Gordon Blvd. #D Woodbridge Salvation Army Manassas 11201 Balls Ford Rd. Manassas

prince william living April 2011 | 17

family fun e Arts Come to Life in Prince William County

By Jennifer Rader, Contributing Writer

a

rts are alive in Prince William County, and the Prince William County Arts Council—the only comprehensive arts member association in the area—is stepping out in a big way to show it by taking their annual event to a new level.

Arts Alive! has previously been an annual gala for member organizations and their constituencies. But on April 30 from 11 a.m.–4 p.m., at the Sean T. Connaughton Community Plaza, which is located in the center of Prince William County at the County complex between the James J. McCoart Administration Building and the Development Services Building, Arts Alive! will be shared with the public through a full day arts festival.

“Same name, very different event—it’s not just arts with arts,” said Kathy Bentz, Prince William County Arts Council (PWCAC) liaison.

“We want the public to experience arts in Prince William County,” added Sheyna Burt, PWCAC vice-chairperson of marketing. (Let people know) you don’t have to drive north.” In the past, Arts Alive! was a very insular event that took place at the Heritage Hunt Golf Club, and few outside of the member organizations knew about it.

But beginning this year, through an exciting organizational rebranding process, the board of PWCAC is pursuing a much more public image by inviting the community to join in their passion.

18 | April 2011 prince william living

Family Focused and Fun A family-focused, fun event, Arts Alive! will feature performances and interactive activities by PWCAC member organizations.

Performances will take place on two stages in the Sean T. Connaughton Community Plaza. ose who will be featured at Arts Alive! include the Bull Run Cloggers, Castaway Repertory eater, the Center for the Arts of Greater Manassas/Prince William County, the Manassas Chorale, New Dominion Choraliers, the NOVA Manassas Symphony Orchestra, the Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra, Prince William Chorale, the Prince William Community Band, the Woodbridge Dance Company, the Woodbridge Flute Choir, the Woodbridge Music Club and the Youth Orchestras of Prince William. Cabin Branch Quilters, Manassas Art Guild, Prince William Art Society, Stone House Quilters and Manassas-Warrenton Camera Club will display and sell their works in the Development Services Building. Various food vendors will also be present for the event.

Many of the 30-member organizations of the Prince William County Arts Council will also provide hands-on experiences and demonstrations both indoors and outdoors for kids and adults. e Manassas-Warrenton Camera Club will host a presentation on photography skills. e Center for the Arts of Greater Manassas/Prince William County, Pied Piper eater will provide a Sound of Music sing-along for families to join. Bull Run Cloggers

will invite guests to try clogging—an 18th century, social Appalachian folk dance. e Manassas Art Guild will have kids’ art activity stations. And Youth Orchestras of Prince William will bring a unique twist with their “instrument petting zoo,” where children can see, touch, hear and try out instruments with orchestra members.

Excellence in the Arts e Kathleen Seefeldt Awards for Arts Excellence will be presented between performances. e only local awards program for the arts, the Seefeldt Awards recognize individuals and organizations that have contributed to the strength and success of the local arts.

Awards are given for such efforts as newly created art programs and services, exceptional volunteerism and philanthropy within the Prince William arts community and those individuals or groups that have worked to expand the reach of the arts in the community. ese awards are named for Kathleen K. Seefeldt, a champion of the arts who exemplifies the standards for public and community service. As a Lake Ridge resident and former Prince William County Supervisor, Seefeldt has been an avid supporter of the arts in the Prince William community. She has long recognized the arts as a catalyst for the local economy, education and quality of life. As an elected official, she supported the creation of competitive grant funding for local arts organizations and laid the foundation for arts organizations’ partnerships with Prince William County Public Schools. Most recently, she continued her work with the arts as cochair of the Partnership and Development Committee for the Hylton Performing Arts Center.

According to Burt, the one-day festival being held at Connaughton Plaza in Woodbridge is the start of a renewed purpose for the Arts Council since its establishment by the Prince William County Park Authority in 1992. PWCAC serves as an advisory council to the Park Authority, and their mission is “to promote and support the cultural arts in and enrich the quality of life in Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park.” e Arts Council does this by hosting free development workshops for the membership biannually on topics such as marketing, fundraising and board development. ey provide the membership a centralized scheduling port for use of Prince William County school facilities; act as a combined marketing effort on behalf of the membership through press releases, the website and social media resources; distribute small technical assistance grants; hosts events for membership participation; and represent the arts at local outreach venues.

Both Bentz and Burt emphasized that the rebranding process of Arts Alive! will more intently focus on outreach and membership support—the ultimate goal is to engage the Prince William County community to become more involved in the artistic value and diversity of the county. e Arts Alive! event will reintroduce the Arts Council and put their member organizations in the spotlight in order for residents to experience the uncovered treasures of the Prince William region’s arts community.

Two additional public and member benefits of the Prince William County Arts Council’s transformation will include a new website, which will have a calendar function, and the rollout of an expanded membership program. e Art Council’s new website will bring more information about the Council and its members as well as the ability for Arts Council members to log their individual organization’s events. is will create a single source for the public to find, support and attend arts events in Prince William County.

Additionally, the Prince William County Arts Council membership structure has been opened up to all aficionados of the arts. In the past, membership was limited to local nonprofit arts organizations. e recent rollout includes category expansions to individual artists, friends of the arts, for-profit arts organizations and business supporters of the arts. Speaking on behalf of the Arts Council, Bentz said, “We really believe this expanded membership will enhance the Arts Council’s ability to promote and support the arts in Prince William.”

For more information about Arts Alive! and joining the Prince William County Arts Council, call (703) 792-4244, or email Kathy Bentz at kcbentz@aol.com.

A nonprofit development director for 10 years, Jennifer Rader now works as a freelance writer and consultant. She lives with her son and husband in Manassas.

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local flavor

Hot, Hot, Hot Southwestern Cuisine is the Spice of Life at Mateo’s

By Casey Rives, Contributing Writer

a

s summer approaches, everyone is in search of a way to cool off. Mateo’s Santa Fe Café, located at 5081 Waterway Drive, in Dumfries is a great place to do just that, and indulge in a Southwestern-style chicken salad that can be enjoyed on a covered, outdoor patio.

Or, if it’s too hot to sit outside, the cozy ambience and Spanish music might persuade you to come indoors. Stucco walls surround the interior of the restaurant, giving diners the sense that they have truly escaped to New Mexico. And unlike some restaurants, intimate seating rather than cramped table settings abounds.

“We want customers to enjoy eating their food, to relax and feel comfortable,” said Matthew Valdez, owner of Mateo’s Santa Fe Café. “I want people to enter my restaurant and feel like they’re stepping into New Mexico.”

Valdez’s passion for cooking began at a young age, and he learned how to perfect his skills with help from a family friend.

He opened Mateo’s in August 2003.

“One of my mom’s friends owned a restaurant in New Mexico and she let me work there with her and learn the business,” explained Valdez. “She taught me some of her techniques and gave me a few traditional recipes. I just fell in love with cooking and took it from there.”

20 | April 2011 prince william living

Why New Mexican Cuisine?

Valdez wanted to bring a taste of New Mexico to the Virginia area after realizing there were not any Santa Fe-style restaurants around.

“New Mexican food is different from Tex-Mex or other Spanish cuisine,” said Valdez. “e flavoring of the food makes other food taste bland.”

Mateo’s flavors come from a mixture of ingredients, but what truly gives this café’s food a kick of flavor are the chiles he imports from Hatch, N.M.—a place known specifically for its one-of-a kind peppers.

“Hatch Chiles aren’t the hottest chiles in the world but are known for having the most flavor,” explained Valdez.

Hatch’s local residents claim that it is their unique climate that makes the chiles so sought-after. Hot days and cold nights allow for the peppers to retain a distinct flavor only found in Hatch.

“Locals always say ‘I have to get my chile fix,’ and this just means that once you start eating the chiles, you become addicted,” said Valdez.

Almost all of Mateo’s menu items contain a topping of red or green chiles—giving a full New Mexican experience to all customers.

The Menu Valdez admits that the idea of Santa Fe cuisine was a new concept for Virginia locals.

Photo courtesy Rebecca Barnes

“It took a little while for people to catch on because it was different,” said Valdez. “But now, people come in regularly and they say the food is different—it tastes fresh.”

Occasionally, New Mexicans will drop by his restaurant, too. “I think it’s great when somebody from New Mexico comes in and says they feel like they are at home,” said Valdez. “e food is flavored to perfection and exactly like the food in New Mexico, so you get to taste authenticity without having to travel.” e fresh taste of Mateo’s cuisine is no coincidence and many menu options are made from scratch. All bread, desserts, dressings, sauces and salsas are made individually by Mateo’s chefs.

While Valdez’s hometown of Albuquerque, N.M., shines through on the clever Santa Fe-style menu, there are also choices for patrons who crave something else.

“We have everything on our menu,” said Valdez. “I wanted it to be a cuisine from New Mexico but with American influence so there is something for everyone. We have one chef from America, one from Mexico and one from New Mexico so we all blend our styles together to create something different.” e menu offers a variety of fajitas, enchiladas and salads.

Customers can also choose to create their own quesadilla by selecting their preferred fillers.

In addition, selections of hamburgers are offered with a traditional side of French fries. e burgers still display a unique taste and incorporate the Santa Fe flavor of the restaurant by offering a choice of Swiss or Monterey Jack cheese, or a chile con queso topping.

For first-time visitors looking for a true Santa Fe experience, Valdez suggests an order of enchiladas, which are topped heavily with Monterery Jack cheese, lettuce, tomato and a red or green chile.

“We serve our enchiladas in blue corn tortillas, which is much different than the regular corn tortillas that most restaurants have,” said Valdez. “Blue tortillas are a tradition and custom in New Mexico.”

No matter what patrons choose to order from the Mateo’s menu, though—whether it’s American or Santa Fe-style cuisine—lightly salted tortilla chips and homemade salsa are served to all.

If, after visiting Mateo’s, you find your need for their flavorful Southwestern-style food becomes too overwhelming, stop by the front and ask for a Mateo’s Lunch Card. It’s great for regulars. “ere are seven marks on the card and every time you come in for lunch—we mark one of the numbers,” said Valdez. “Once all seven numbers are marked, you get a free lunch entrée.”

For those with busy schedules who may not have time for a weekday lunch or dinner, Mateo’s offers a weekend brunch with a special menu designed specifically for Saturday and Sunday.

Brunch-goers can indulge in anything traditional, from French toast to Eggs Benedict. Or, for those in the mood for something a bit different, dig in to a carne papas burrito—a flour tortilla filled with home-style potatoes, Monterery Jack cheese, scrambled eggs and your choice of jalapeño mesquite sausage or ham.

Events Mateo’s Santa Fe Café holds entertainment every Saturday night and live jazz music on Friday nights. Listeners can relax and unwind while enjoying one of Mateo’s famous margaritas.

“We make our own margarita mix—we squeeze our own limes, lemons and oranges,” said Valdez. “Most people tell me they’re the best margaritas they’ve ever had.”

If music and margaritas aren’t your style, though, perhaps you’d prefer to enjoy a great meal deal on one of Mateo’s customer appreciation days. Tuesdays, Mateo’s offers half-price tacos; Wednesday evening the restaurant sells wine at half-price wine; on ursday, tequila is half-price; and on Sunday, all kids’ entrees are half-price. Or, come in any day of the week from 4–7 p.m. to enjoy a happy hour that includes half-price appetizers and drinks.

“I try to always have something going on,” said Valdez. “I do fundraisers for schools, live music and entertainment. I like to be a part of the community.”

While Valdez hopes to one day expand his restaurant, he is concentrating on providing great service and food to people at his current location.

“I love seeing my customers smile,” Valdez said. “I like to know they’re having a good time.”

Writer Casey Rives, who resides in Haymarket, Va., is a communications major at George Mason University. Her expected graduation date is December 2011. prince william living April 2011 | 21

giving back

1 BY YOuTH Changing ings for the Better

By Casey Rives, Contributing Writer

o

n May 14, volunteers from 1 By Youth—a national organization that puts local church groups, neighborhood volunteers and city officials together in order to better neighborhoods—will come together to erect a gazebo in memory of Sgt. John D. Connor, III, the only Manassas City police officer ever to die in the line of duty.

e gazebo will be built in a three-acre field in front of the Point of Woods townhomes, the neighborhood in which Sgt. Connor was shot and killed on July 24, 1988, after responding to a call.

Connor had been told a man was sitting on his porch in the neighborhood shooting a rifle into the air. He approached the suspect from the rear of a townhouse and exchanged shots with the man. He was shot three times before the suspect was taken into custody.

Following the incident, Sgt. Connor was taken to a local hospital and then flown to a trauma center where he later died of his injuries.

“A man who I only knew for five years of my life, yet is in my mind every day,” writes Sgt. Connor’s son, David A. Connor, on the Officer Down Memorial Page (online at www.odmp.org), a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring America’s fallen law enforcement heroes. Connor was just five years old at the time his father was killed.

“I have large shoes to fill and his inspiration pushes me forward every day,” David writes. ank you everyone for your kind words and thank you for those who made this website to remember a wonderful man and father.”

Sgt. Connor was described by friends and family as caring, loving and heroic, and responsible for making Manassas a safer place. It is for that reason that 1 By Youth has decided to dedicate this year’s project to him.

22 | March 2011 prince william living

“We will be building a gazebo, replacing playground equipment, creating community gardens and removing graffiti,” said Jeff ompson, executive director of 1 By Youth, a national organization that puts local church groups, neighborhood volunteers and city officials together in order to better neighborhoods. To decide what projects to do, the Point of Woods HOA created an online poll for residents.

“We got a lot of great feedback and tons of responses,” said Ian Lovejoy, vice president of the Point of Woods HOA. “People are excited and I think this will help put us in the right direction.”

Last year, nearly 1,500 volunteers came together to repair a local, aging neighborhood—Georgetown South—in Manassas City.

Georgetown South was built in the 1960s and after a few years of being a sought-out neighborhood, it soon became a high-crime area with a negative reputation. However, a year after a neighborhood renovation, the townhouse community has seen positive improvements.

“I think it has started a momentum for people to want a change,” said Kisha Wilson-Sogunro, the Manassas City Neighborhood Service Manager. “e project that 1 By Youth organized and provided for Georgetown South has truly set a pace for the residents to do different and showed them how they can further improve their community.”

1 By Youth, which participates in park clean-up and playground equipment improvement projects, building and home repair, will be working with the mayor’s office in Manassas on this year’s project. “ey know the needs of the area very well and each year select the neighborhood where we will serve,” said ompson. “We will do whatever is needed to help bring real, transformational change to the neighborhood selected.”

Photo co urtesy Cin dy

Brookshire Photo courtesy Cindy

Photo

Brookshir e

e Point of Woods neighborhood consists of around 440 townhomes, and the recent housing crisis and foreclosures has hit it hard. Graffiti, trash and broken fences can be seen around virtually every corner.

courte sy Lyn n Grizz ard

How to Get Involved Volunteers are the most important part of 1 By Youth Projects— helpful people are what make the projects possible.

“In 2009, a handful of homeowners stepped forward to make a difference by restoring entrance walls, abating graffiti and starting a small neighborhood watch,” said Cindy Brookshire, a volunteer with the 1 By Youth project.

“Each person pays $29 for the event and that includes a T-shirt, lunch, all service supplies and materials needed,” said ompson.

“People should begin serving around 8:30 a.m. and groups will spread out all across the Point of Woods neighborhood to work on their assigned project for the rest of the day.”

Cleaning Up the Neighborhood

After all assignments are accomplished—around 3 p.m.—a block party will take place in celebration of everything accomplished and to help neighbors join together.

While neighborhood engagement has begun to take place, an overall clean-up and restoration of the neighborhood must occur and will require many volunteers. “e HOA leadership has changed in Point Of Woods and there are a lot of people on board who want the neighborhood to change for the better,” said Wilson-Sogunro. “We can help change it and they can help keep it that way.” e Point of Woods project will concentrate on making an aging neighborhood beautiful again.

Lovejoy moved into the neighborhood in October 2009 and joined the HOA to help the neighborhood improve. “You know, it’s an older neighborhood—about 30 years old. It’s showing signs of wear and tear,” he said.

While the planning process has taken a long time, organizing members say what they need most are volunteers.

“It’s taken about eight months to plan everything. We had to tap into what neighbors wanted and then decide what was possible,” explained Wilson-Sogunro. “We need volunteers—the more, the better. e new chief of police, Douglas Keen, will be there supporting our efforts and so will the community police.”

A long list of proposed projects will lead the way for the 1 By Youth Volunteers on May 14, 2011. Building the gazebo, fixing playgrounds, installing trashcans, painting neighborhood benches and repairing broken fences are only a few of the many things 1 By Youth plans to accomplish.

“It’s one of the best feelings ever,” said Rebecca Alvey, a volunteer for last year’s 1 By Youth Project. “When the day is done, you get to see how much can be accomplished simply by working together.

It’s amazing.” Alvey, who lives in Centreville, plans to volunteer in this year’s 1 By Youth Project for Point of Woods.

Many local businesses, including Walgreens, Lockheed Martin, Lowes, Habitat for Humanity, Mark Garcia Construction and Old Town Landscaping will also be helping with the upcoming 1 By Youth project as well, either by volunteering, by providing supplies, or both. Others who want to volunteer on May 14, 2011, can expect to make a difference in the lives of Prince William County residents, too.

“Our organization has been doing youth service events and mission trips for over 30 years and we’ve never quite seen the level of interest and desire to serve that exists within today’s teenagers,” said ompson. “We have the amazing opportunity to serve with over 25,000 students each year and this current young generation naturally wants to make a difference.”

To find out more information about volunteering for 1 By Youth, visit www.1byyouth.com, or email Kisha Wilson-Sogunro at kwilson@ci.manassas.va.us.

Writer Casey Rives, who resides in Haymarket, Va., is a communications major at George Mason University. Her expected graduation date is December 2011. prince william living March 2011 | 23

going places Leading by Example

t

By John Fiess, Contributing Writer

hroughout neighborhoods in America, many citizens are aware of improvements or tasks that would help make streets and cul-de-sacs more welcoming and beautiful. Whether it’s cleaning up debris, organizing common areas or landscaping, keeping up the community takes a lot of effort and dedication. For the past six years, Connie Moser has volunteered her time and hard work to help make her community—Dale City—a better place.

Moser was recently awarded State Advocate of the Year at the 11th Annual Statewide Neighborhood Conference in Roanoke, and intends to continue her work for many years to come.

mulch donated by supporters.

“She really cares about her community and has the resources to get things accomplished,” Gosnell said.

Moser wants to make Dale City a place that people from other areas come to visit. “We need more ability for economic growth,” she said. She encourages anyone with ideas to better Dale City to attend a meeting of the Community Revitalization and Beautification Committee.

One area in Dale City that economic growth will soon come to is located just off of I-95 and Dale Boulevard in Ashdale. Some 70 acres behind the KMart shopping center has been donated by the Hylton Family for the American Wartime Museum. Moser is a member of the American Wartime Museum Regional Steering Committee and is very optimistic about the popularity of the future attraction.

What began for Moser as a simple act of goodwill—painting over a graffitiDale City resident Connie Moser was recently covered fence—has evolved into much awarded State Advocate of the Year at the 11th more, and through her actions, she has Annual Statewide Neighborhood Conference in become a role model and leader in her Roanoke. community. By networking and Photo courtesy Julie Cochran creating new avenues to address concerns, she has not only been able to gain attention, but also “is museum is state of the art. It will be interactive and make get results. the history realistic for families. is will be like no other museum “I believe in my community and I believe in getting things done,” says Moser. “If no one will do it, then I will, and I make sure it happens.”

Moser is serving her second term as president of the Dale City Civic Association. She has been working with the association to promote growth and address the interests of Dale City residents.

Within the association, Moser has also created the Community Revitalization and Beautification Committee, which consists of businesses and residents who strive for new ideas and ways to make Dale City a more productive and prosperous place.

“Connie is a very passionate woman,” said friend and fellow Dale City Civic Association member Linda Gosnell. Last April, in celebration of Earth Day, she and Moser, along with other volunteers, planted 44 rose bushes at the commuter parking lot in Dale City. Together, the volunteers were able to get topsoil and 24 | April 2011 prince william living

people have seen. It’s very exciting” Moser said. e museum is expected to bring an average of 300,000 visitors per year once it opens in November 2014. (For more information, visit www.nmaw.org.)

Along with her business skills, Moser also brings a passion for people and culture. She is very involved with her local neighborhood of Lindendale. She maintains a relationship with her neighbors and encourages others to do the same.

“When I grew up, we knew everyone in my neighborhood. With the way the economy is and the housing market situation, people’s schedules are changing. I try to help my neighbors when I can and keep people informed with local news and issues. I treat the kids of the neighborhood as if they were my own. Parents these days work a lot and an extra person who cares is important,” said Moser

e term “actions speak louder than words” seems to be naturally instilled in Moser. She has what seems like enough tools for a landscaping company—lawnmowers, edgers, and snow shovels— and she’s been known to shovel snow from sidewalks and edge neighbors’ lawns when needed.

Photo courtesy Rebecca Barnes

Staying busy is a key to accomplishing goals and Moser is always on the move. She is well connected and has an army of supporters.

Her mind is full of great ideas for the community and some are currently in the works. She is happy to share news and insight of upcoming projects.

We are all part of our community and we each play a role. Only we can determine what will come in the future. What is next for Dale City?

By maintaining her own community website for Lindendale, Moser keeps residents up to date with monthly newsletters, crime alerts, and property code violations.

Freelancer John Fiess has written for both the Stafford County Sun and for AOL’s Patch.com. He is a resident of Lake Ridge.

“Dale City is large, and has very few homeowners’ associations,” Moser said. “is makes it hard to keep everyone on track with repairs and maintenance. ere’s no way to get an HOA set up, so we do it ourselves.”

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on a high note

And All at Jazz, er, Bluegrass

By Maria Bosack, Contributing Writer

c

hris Sexton. You may have heard his name before. He is a nationally acclaimed classical and bluegrass performing artist and has been a member of the Nothin’ Fancy bluegrass band for 13 years. He’s also a classically trained violist who owns his own music studio (aptly named Sexton Music Studio), located in Old Town Manassas, and makes a living playing and teaching music in Prince William and the greater Manassas area.

“I am having a great time playing music and teaching music and I hope to continue riding this train as long as I possibly can” said Sexton. “I use that analogy because I love that fact that Manassas is a train town.”

Sexton is a true music lover. Raised in the Chantilly and Woodbridge areas, his father, Buster, played the banjo in a band called Wayne Yates and Company—a highly regarded bluegrass band during the 1970s and ‘80s. Now retired, Buster occasionally plays with Patent Pending.

Chris’ mother likes to talk about how Chris used to keep himself entertained singing to himself and by teaching himself how to play the piano. Soon, he moved to the violin, which became his instrument of choice, and he joined the school orchestra and began taking violin lessons.

His love of classical music came as a surprise to his parents, both lovers of bluegrass.

From 1993-1997, Chris majored in music performance at Shenandoah University, with a concentration in violin. He focused on his classical violin training and played with several orchestras. Soon, he found himself teaching in the Prince William County schools. en he returned to Shenadendaoh to earn a master’s degree in violin pedagogy. “at really was the impetus behind me opening my studio,” Chris said. “I worked really hard to make my master’s degree pay off and I knew with my experiences teaching in the schools and working in music stores, I could make it work.”

26 | April 2011 prince william living

Sexton Music Studio focuses primarily on the violin, viola, cello and piano. Since opening his studio in January, he has already added a voice instructor, John S. Murray, to his studio. Murray, who is also a hockey player, is expected to receive his master’s of music in vocal performance and opera later this year.

“John is probably the only opera singer/hockey goalie you will ever meet,” Chris said.

Photo courtesy Nothin' Fancy

Whether music is opera, classical, bluegrass or another style, though, Chris believes all styles and types of music should be given some consideration.

“My students always ask me which type of music is my favorite, and I tell them that picking my favorite is really quite limiting,” he said. Musicians are always looking for their own style—their own way of expressing themselves through music. Chris says he feels his job as a musical instructor is to help his students find their own love of music, and not worry about what genre it is.

Bluegrass Beginnings Chris has played violin and viola in several area orchestras, but never closed the door on his bluegrass beginnings. Since he was four years old, Chris had accompanied his father on jam sessions, and shortly after Chris completed his undergraduate degree, his father’s band asked him to perform. at ultimately led Chris to the world of bluegrass music full-time.

Musical lineage is a common theme in bluegrass music.

“It is not considered unusual that Chris would come from an accomplished bluegrass family,” said Brian Pace, Nothin Fancy’s marketing consultant. “ere is not emphasis in the music world on bluegrass music; in fact, the emphasis in college is on classical and jazz music.

“What makes Chris unique in the world of bluegrass music in that most are not educated with a master’s degree, but there is an emerging recognition that this is part of our history and worth studying,” Pace said.

The Nothin' Fancy bluegrass band (pictured here), of which Manassas resident Chris Sexton is a member, has been recognized internationally for their music. Members of Nothin' Fancy include (from left to right): Tony Shorter, Mitchell Davis, Gary Farris, Sexton and Mike Andes.

Nothin’ Fancy has been recognized internationally for their music, capturing the title of Bluegrass Entertainer of the Year in 2008, 2009 and 2010—an award given annually by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America. e band has played all over the world. Last year, they performed during a festival in Norway.

“We were treated like royalty and really accepted by everyone there,” Andes said. But you don’t have to travel far to see Chris and the Nothin’ Fancy band. You can purchase one of the band’s eight CDs.

Once the band started to take off, said Nothin’ Fancy lead singer/songwriter and mandolinist Mike Andes, they brought in Chris.

Pace also suggested catching one of Nothin’ Fancy’s concerts. e band is booked to play in many bluegrass festivals throughout 2011, and has already been booked to play some dates in 2012.

One upcoming performance of the Nothin’ Fancy Bluegrass Band will be during the 11th Annual Nothin’ Fancy Bluegrass Festival, which will be held at the Harris Pavilion in Old Town Manassas, beginning at 11 a.m. on September 22, 2011.

“We brought him in for our second CD to perform as a studio musician,” said Andes. “But we knew this band was special, so we kept him.” at was 13 years ago, and the members have been together ever since.

“You will laugh and be entertained by Nothin’ Fancy, plus you might fall in love with bluegrass music,” Chris said. “Our shows are always varied, the order of the songs or the stories that we tell, just come see us—it is never the same show twice.”

At least two other members of “Nothin’ Fancy also played in Buster’s band. In fact, Chris has known the other members of Nothin’ Fancy since he was a teenager.

Chris said, “It’s been an interesting ride, playing clubs, and festivals and even playing overseas in Norway and Holland. I am doing what I love and paying my bills. It doesn’t get better than this.”

“I’m 35 now, and have been with the band for 13 years, but still feel like they see me as a little kid,” Chris said. “e band has all the original members—it’s all the same guys.”

As a freelance writer, Maria Bosack has written for a variety of websites as well as for several newsletters. She makes her home in Manassas.

“I plan to keep playing with the band as long as things keep on chugging along” Chris said.

prince william living April 2011 | 27

(continued from page 13)

e Garden Calendar Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t garden year-round.

It’s a passion, and where there’s a will, there’s a way. is garden calendar will help you keep your garden growing all year long.

January

June/July e buddleja is in full flower, the basil that hasn’t been attacked by slugs is now ripe enough to be made into a nice pesto, and the cherry tomatoes are ripening.

Watch for emerging snowdrops and crocuses.

August

February

Seek shade from the hot August sun under a dogwood and enjoy your hostas, which are now in full bloom.

Wait for a clear, somewhat warmer day to get your evergreen shrubs and dormant trees under control with a good pruning.

Don’t remove a lot—just anything that is impeding a walkway, driveway or getting too close to the house for comfort.

Clipping a good 18 inches should do the trick to provide for new growth in the spring. Do not prune azaleas, rhododendrons, dogwoods or hydrangeas now unless you are looking to seriously limit flowering this spring.

September Enjoy the cooler weather and rescue what remains of your raspberries. By the end of the month, most of the leaves will be down from the trees.

October Pumpkin Time! Roast some seeds and prepare a pie or two.

And whatever leaves you didn’t get up prior to now can be used as mulch.

In addition to pruning, look for early signs of spring regardless of what the silly groundhog says. Daffodils will begin peek up around the end of the month. If it’s been a warm winter, they sometimes arrive as early as Valentine’s day. Winter jasmine (jasminum nudiflorum) is already in full bloom looking much like a lazy forsythia in that it drops over the edges of walls and is evergreen. Witchhazels are blooming as well, smelling wonderfully fragrant with their fuzzy small yellow or orange flowers.

Put any fall bulbs, including tulips, daffodils, and hyacinth, in the ground now for spring flowering. Interested in growing your flowers indoors? Be sure the box states “for forcing indoors.” Most bulbs have a cold requirement that has to be met or they won’t flower.

March

December

Take care of any crape myrtles now. Cut them back hard and clear off extra shoots that make you crazy. Pruning a crape myrtle is not a necessary thing, but many enjoy their patterned bark as much as they do the flowers. It’s purely a personal preference.

Watch for buds on cherry trees to swell. Star magnolias will flower during March, too, and they’ll be followed by saucer magnolias, if they haven’t been hit with a late frost.

April Azaleas bloom this month, cherry trees are covered in pink blossoms and the phlox below is beginning to bloom with blue flowers. Dogwoods will also begin blooming this month.

American dogwoods are notorious for anthracnose, which creates dark spots that aren’t particularly attractive on the bark.

Alas, it’s all part of the charm of the Virginia state tree.

May Lily of the Valley—with its fragrant, bell-shaped flowers—will bloom this month. Also in bloom: roses.

28 | April 2011 prince william living

November

e amaryllis will be in full bloom by Christmas. Healthy bulbs will give as many as three flowers. e flower will bloom right through January, up to about the time you should look for snowdrops to peek up through the soil.

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prince william living April 2011 | 29

tambourines and elephants He Looks Chinese

By DeeDee Corbitt Sauter It’s April! Spring became official just last month, flowers are blooming, bugs are getting back into action, and one year ago this month our youngest son came to the United States from China. Many of you actually know me and my family. Although our first-born son kept us on our toes, we really wanted to dance with the stars and sought the means to enlarge our family. This is not the story of the journey but a brief window into what has happened since we came home as a family of four.

We knew that people would have questions, and we prepared ourselves to answer them. It’s a natural process. You do something that not everyone else does and people want to know details. Makes sense, but we were unaware of how many people actually wanted our fertility history and rationale behind adoption. Always learning something.

On March 29, 2010, our Ox (We’ll call him Ox since that is his Chinese Zodiac sign) was placed in our arms and our lives were forever altered. Like I said, we came home, proceeded with our routine, anticipated some questions and went about changing diapers and baby proofing the first floor.

At first, I thought some of the questions were ludicrous and people were joking. But many of the queries were actually repetitive, signaling to us that we should stop laughing and become serious. So in light of our one year anniversary and because the questions have not stopped, I have decided that a short FAQ sheet is necessary. Perhaps this will help others who have adopted; maybe it will just help my friends. Maybe nothing will change.

Does he speak Chinese? Seriously? When our Ox became a member of our family, he was 10 months old. Cute as a button, he did not have his debating skills finely honed. He enjoyed food and bottles, clean nappies, his crib and Tylenol. He did not like vaccinations, people leaving the room and loud noises. He did not give his opinion in spoken Chinese or English; we could tell by his actions. I am not saying that your children were not speaking in full paragraph form by the time they were 10 months old but Ox was not. He was less than a year old. He was making baby noises and learning how to walk. I am proud to say that he has developed a fine temper-tantrum at 22 months and he jabbers more than my oldest did at his age. He babbles to little cars and Fisher-Price people in toddler-ese. No, I do not think he is speaking Chinese. I seriously doubt I will need a professional to evaluate his Chinese language skills.

He looks Chinese. Not so much of a question; more like stating the obvious.

Mostly he looks Chinese because he is Chinese. He was born in China and one can only assume his birth parents were Chinese. I am going to guess, at this point, that he is Chinese. But, he is 100 percent American.

Does he like Chinese food? Ironically, our Ox loves Chinese food. In fact, he loves all food. He prefers rice and oatmeal in his hair (I can only assume it’s a special treatment), but most other things taste best in his mouth. Oh, I lie; he does not seem to like yellow cheese and raspberries. Throwing those two things from the highchair is great sport though and if they land straight in the dog’s mouth, it’s even better. He is a great eater for now, but he’s not yet two and has not yet become overly finicky. So, yes, he likes 30 | April 2011 prince william living

Chinese food—and Mexican and Indian and American and Thai. Frankly, it has nothing to do with his heritage.

Boy, he is probably going to be really smart because all Asians are smart. I like that stereotype. I am not sure if it is true. I hope our Ox likes books as much as food. Everyone hopes their kid is smart, but assuming that he will be smart because of a cultural genetic predisposition is tiring. When he stuck a waffle to his left ear and started talking into like it was a cell phone, I shook my head and thanked my lucky stars that it wasn’t pizza. A friend who was with me proclaimed his brilliance and said he had a perfect imagination (same incident, differing viewpoints). Our oldest son thinks the baby will be smart because Ox will be copying his brother. (Obviously he has self-esteem issues.) I hope he has manners. But, since I am writing this, he will end up being like a rude Einstein—who has straight hair…and is Chinese.

Do you know anything about his real parents? Yes, in fact I know a great deal about his real parents. His real father and I have been married for almost 13 years; we actually met in college. If you are referring to his birth or biological parents, then no, I do not know anything about them. I think they are Chinese because I have been told he looks Chinese.

Does he have any disabilities or is he developmentally delayed? He looks normal. I know why I am asked; often children are placed up for adoption if the parents feel the infant may have too many challenges or medical problems. Hey, I’ll tell you if you tell me about your kids! Let’s compare them side by side, and then let’s talk about our own issues… Wait, this is an FAQ about our Ox, so I’ll just answer the question. No, I don’t think he has many issues. If he does, we have not yet figured it out but we are watching him carefully. Thank you for your concern. I think. (Your child, by the way, does not look normal.)

I am not sure what type of questions I expected to answer. I can certainly continue with this list because I had no earthly idea that people were that curious…or strange. By the way, he has flat feet because he is a baby, not because he is Asian. His arches will develop in the next year or so. These comments keep popping up.

Our Ox is cute and funny and mischievous and active. He climbs and runs and torments the dog and his brother. He says words, is demanding and loves to chew a good board book. Oh, and although he has been in the United States and with us longer than he was with anyone in China, I do want to say thank you to the person who said the Chinese have done a great job raising him. Basically, I think he is developing without a problem so far.

He does not speak Chinese and does not need a professional. Yet.

DeeDee Corbitt Sauter is a resident of Prince William County. Her column, “Tambourines and Elephants,” appears monthly in Prince William Living.

23rd Annual Potomac River Watershed – Quantico Creek Clean-Up April 9, 8 a.m. – Noon Quantico Creek | Dumfries Rain or shine! All volunteers who support this event will receive a free T-shirt and lunch for their participation. For more information, please contact Dumfries Assistant Town Manager Cathy Holtzlander, either by phone at (703) 221-3400, ext. 115, or by email at choltzlander@dumfriesvirginia.org. For more information, visit www.dumfriesvirginia.org/events.html#23rd.

Prince William Art Society Annual Spring Art Show

calendar Easter Egg Hunt April 23, 11 am. – 3 p.m.

Rippon Lodge 15500 Blackburn Road | Woodbridge Cost: $7. In addition to the egg hunt, children can also enjoy crafts, games and other activities. Bring a basket for egg collecting; last egg hunt begins at 3 p.m.

Civil War Weekend and Calvary Ride

April 9, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Tall Oaks Community Center 12298 Cotton Mill Drive | Lake Ridge View and buy affordably priced works of art from local artists.

For more information, call (703) 494-7708, email pwas2@yahoo.com, or visit www.PrinceWilliamArtSociety.org.

April 30, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre 12229 Bristow Road | Bristow Visit www.virginia.org/site/description.asp?attrid=69315 for more information.

4th Annual Kyle Wilson 10K Walk for Fitness

Confederate Encampment and Infantry Demonstrations

April 16, 9 a.m.

C.D. Hylton High School 14051 Spriggs Road | Woodbridge Cost: Free. Donations to the event will be accepted in Kyle’s honor and all proceeds will go to the Kyle Wilson Memorial Scholarship Fund. is fund has been set up to benefit students who wish to attend the George Mason Athletic Training Program. For more information, visit www.kylewilsonmemorial.com.

April 30, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Henry Hill at the Manassas National Battlefield Park Manassas Demonstrations will include musketry firing and 27th Virginia and Stonewall Brigade impressions.

April 16, 11 a.m.

Merchant Park Corner of Duke and Cameron Streets | Dumfries Join the Town and the Dumfries-Triangle Rescue Squad as they welcome spring. Activities will include an Easter egg hunt, face painting, and the Old Mine Ranch Traveling Petting Zoo. Be sure to bring your Easter baskets and don’t forget your cameras to have your picture taken with the Easter Bunny!

Lake Ridge Eggstravaganza April 23, 9 a.m.

Lake Ridge Parks and Recreation Association Office 12350 Oakwood Drive | Lake Ridge Meet the Easter Bunny and hunt for eggs at the annual Lake Ridge Eggstravaganza. All children 0–10 are eligible to participate; parents must pre-register children by Wednesday, March 31 in order to participate. e cost is $3 for LRPRA members and $5 for nonmembers.

Annual Easter Egg Roll April 23, Noon – 3 p.m. e National Museum of the Marine Corps 18900 Jefferson Davis Highway | Triangle For more information, visit www.usmcmuseum.org or call (877) 635-1775.

April 30, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Sean T. Connaughton Community Plaza | Woodbridge For more information, call (703) 792-4244, or email Kathy Bentz at kcbentz@aol.com.

Small Business Expo: A Prosperous Ladies Empowerment Event

april

Super Egg Hunt

Arts Alive!

April 30th, 5 p.m. – 9pm Holiday Inn Quantico 3901 Fettler Park Drive | Dumfries For more information, visit www.plwe.eventbrite.com.

Manassas City Police Association 5K Memorial Run May 7, 8 a.m.

Church & West Streets | Manassas Cost: $20 per runner/walker; $100 per team (public safety only); day of race, add $5. Event in memory of Manassas City Police Department Sgt. John D. Conner, III, father of four, killed in the line of duty on July 24, 1988. Funds raised go to scholarships that benefit children of MCPD personnel who are college-bound/attending college. Register online at www.runwashington.com.

Have an event you’d like to publicize? Contact Prince William Living Editor in Chief and Publisher Elizabeth Kirkland at ekirkland@princewilliamliving.com.

prince william living April 2011 | 31

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