It Takes A Village

It Takes A Village

At this festive time of year, Country ZEST likes to feature children on the cover. Enter three-year-old Pierce McPherson, first spotted all dressed up as a policeman on a mid-fall Wednesday at the Buchanan Hall Farmer’s Market. He’s the third generation of his family to live here. Later we invited Hannah Fitzgerald and Lola Adeane Gomez-Boyce, both age two and, bingo we had our cover. Lola is the fourth generation of her family in Middleburg and her great grandfather was a local publisher.

Policeman Pierce McPherson.

Photo © by Vicky Moon

Then, we wanted to add a bit more meaning and a purpose with another layer. Enter Punkin Lee, who has deep roots here and is the nonstop dynamo and president of the Middleburg Business and Professional Association.

Punkin Lee accepted the donation for “Tiny Tim for Toys” from The Fun Shop with pleasure.

She’s coordinating with the Middleburg Police and Seven Loaves under the banner of “Tiny Tim for Toys” to collect and distribute new toys to under-served children in the area. The toy drive will run from Dec. 1-16 and donations can be dropped off at police headquarters or Journeyman Saddlery, both on Federal Street, or at Seven Loaves at the Middleburg United Methodist Church.

Next, we contacted Betsy Allen Davis and her sister, Page Allen, Middleburg natives and owners of The Fun Shop on West Washington Street. Their colorful and popular shop was established by their late parents, Nancy and Howard Allen, in 1956. “Would they like to donate toys we could use on our cover?” YES, YES. Hooray. So many thanks for the Night Sky Projection kit, The Shape Factory and the very popular stuffed toy dinosaur. Punkin Lee accepted the donation with pleasure.

Photographer Doug Gehlsen has a chat with Pierce McPherson.

Thereafter, we went to visit Sandy Abbott at Little Lambkins with The Shaggy Ram on East Washington Street in the village. She supplied Pierce’s red jacket and the red and green flair coats on the girls. These adorable outfits of Merino wool are made in Spain by Marae and are literally fit for Royalty. They often are worn by Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Wales.

Finally, the big day for photos arrived and we all met up at the studio of Middleburg Photo with photographer Doug Gehlsen and his wife, Karen Monroe, who created the clever set. Oh, and did we mention…although born in Australia, Karen grew up in Middleburg, attended Middleburg Elementary and Banneker and is a graduate of Loudoun Valley High School.

Here’s to many more generations in Middleburg. Ho, Ho, Ho!!