Entries by vaobserver

The Red-Tail

By Doug Pifer The crowd gasped as the released hawk flew strongly to a perch twenty feet up a tree. After looking around to get its bearings, it launched itself once again and flew away across the countryside. The group had assembled  at Claytonville Farm, near Millwood , to witness the release of a red-tailed […]

Giving Locally A Great Holiday Gift

One Christmas when I was in grade school, I received a letter from a local charity thanking me for a donation. I was more than a little puzzled because I hadn’t made a donation, and had no idea what the group did. Actually, I’d never even heard of giving to charity at all. This was […]

Before things start getting crazy around here

By JiJi Russell As the holiday season picks up momentum, I have been pondering many topics of health and wellness to find a nugget of advice that might help people find balance and ease during the “season of joy.” When I consider the landscape of copious social interactions, abundant food, busy shopping—and keeping pace with […]

Berryville Gets Two New Pharmacies

After several months of having no pharmacy in downtown Berryville, the town will see the opening of two in December and January. Both will be pharmacies in the traditional sense: rather than operating as small grocery or general stores, each will focus on prescription services, patient care, over-the-counter medicines, and health-related products. First to open […]

Nature The Teacher At Oak Hart Farm

by Annie Young When is a farm more than a farm? When it’s a classroom! At  Oak Hart Farm the fields, hoop houses, kitchens, and streams are all places where learning happens. “Let nature be your teacher” is their mission. The whole family brings the philosophy into everything they do at the farm. Shawna Hartsook, […]

Ennobling Energy Of The Fire House

In the three short years since the Fire House Gallery opened in the old fire house on Berryville’s Main Street, the gallery has already become a vital arts and economic engine that many people can’t imagine life without. This meteoric rise from neat idea to regionally known craft and art space might surprise some people, […]

Keep Your Pet’s Christmas Merry

It’s holiday time. Pine trees, twinkling lights, shiny ornaments, brightly wrapped packages. And vomiting cats, obstructed dogs . . . Oh my! There are always unsuspected dangers around the house, but especially during the holidays. Tinsel, garland, ribbon. These are dangerous to both dogs and cats. Eating enough of any of these objects can cause […]

En Garde!

by Claire Stuart As a child, David Copeland was fascinated by the swordplay in Three Musketeers and the light sabers in Star Wars. He did not outgrow his enthusiasm. He has been fencing for about 20 years, first competitively, and for 15 years as a fencing teacher and coach. He and his family live in […]

Buying Local Is Good For You

by David Lillard There are two hardware stores nearby. One is a big name-brand store that has everything I need, often at lower prices, open seven days a week. The other has hours — they close at noon on Saturdays — and prices are a little higher. They don’t have nearly the same selection either. […]