Of Note

SOME CURIOUS THOUGHTS

Whenever I speak about the media business to high school and college students, invariably the question is asked: “what’s the No. 1 attribute a journalist should have.” Easy answer. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but in my mind, it’s the most valuable trait for anyone involved in print or broadcast news gathering. I’m also a firm believer in what one of my professors said years ago in an introductory journalism class at my alma mater, the University of Wisconsin.

Me and Jack

“There’s no such thing as a stupid question,” Professor Vernon Stone said. “Especially if you don’t know the answer.”

That’s why, when I interviewed Jack Nicklaus for The Washington Post a few weeks ago at Creighton Farms, where he came in for a charity event benefitting his foundation, my first question was “what’s up with the cane?” The Golden Bear had tripped playing pickle ball of all things, but the good news was that the cane was only temporary. He’ll ditch pickle ball, too.

By the way, my wife, author and journalist Vicky Moon, grew up in Fort Lauderdale and lived just across the canal from the Nicklaus family home for many years. She’s also the curious type. She was at the Middleburg Training Center one recent early morning when she noticed a rider getting off a horse who looked far older than any of his colleagues. He was. She asked “how old?”

So check out the cover photo and read all about 74-year-old Harris Tracy, a gifted local riding legend still galloping horses after all these years.

A few months ago, in the parking lot behind Common Grounds in Middleburg, Mark Metzger, the gregarious proprietor of Highcliffe Clothiers, was loading a U-Haul trailer with fishing gear. I had to ask him why?

His answer turned into a story in this issue on Mark’s particular passion—carp fishing. Who knew?

In our summer issue, we ran a short profile on Peter Pejacsevich, co-founder of Middleburg Real Estate/Atoka Properties. During the interview, I noticed a color photo of a race car on his office wall and asked, what’s that about?”

Turns out, Peter and three Middleburg friends have formed an endurance auto racing team, competing at some of America’s most iconic motorsports tracks. For the story and photos, keep turning the pages.

Our writers and photographers at Country ZEST often suggest stories and photos sparked by their own curiosity. This edition is loaded with them, and I’m certain they didn’t ask any“stupid questions” either.

So add a little ZEST to your reading pleasure, and if you’ve also got that curious gene and come upon what you think might make an interesting story, let us know. We may even want you to ask the questions and then write it, byline included. Leonard Shapiro

Editorbadgerlen@aol.com410-570-8447

More than 350 cyclists participated in the Land Trust of Virginia’s round trip Tour de Conservation Easement Gravel Ride from Buchanan Hall in Upperville. Forty volunteers spearheaded by Mariette Vanderzon and Michael Catlett helped make it all a huge success, with more than $30,000 raised.

Photo by Lisa Catlett