Entries by vaobserver

Save The Earth, Eat Your Steak

By David Lillard Next time you go food shopping, save yourself the aggravation of hauling all those bags full of groceries home. Instead, take $40 of the hundred you plan to spend, and throw it in the trash—or nearest compost pile. If you’re like most Americans, as much as 40 percent of the food you […]

The Marcheses And Their Bees

By Annie Young Life has stung for honeybees since 2005, when Colony Collapse Disorder hit hives and killed bees at astonishing rates. Beekeepers were unsure what was even causing all the deaths, and the numbers kept climbing. There are many potential reasons, from chemicals used to invasive mites to heavy commercial transporting of hives for […]

Barns of Rose Hill Follows The Green Path

By Jennifer Lee Kermit the Frog sang that it wasn’t easy being green, and though he was referring to his complexion, the same could be said for “living green” in an age of immediacy, convenience, and lots of disposable stuff. Not so, says Cheryl Ann Ash, executive director of Barns of Rose Hill in Berryville […]

Faraway Places at the Fire House

Faraway Places at Fire House Gallery Sometimes it’s a bucketful of seashells gathered by a child. Or the photograph of extended family at a picnic that time when everyone took vacation together lakeside. Or the menu from a café. The photographs, the postcards bought but never sent, or that commemorative cocktail glass from a mountain […]

Long Branch Hosts Vintage ‘Base Ball’ Doubleheader

DC Area “Ballists” will recreate an early version of America’s pastime as “Cranks” cheer them on! Historic Long Branch will host a vintage base ball (originally two words) doubleheader May 11, from 10am until 2pm. Visitors to the event will take a step back in time as they watch the Chesapeake Nine of Baltimore take […]

Around Clarke County April-May

Maggio & McCagg A show featuring artists Tia Maggio and Winslow McCagg runs through April 27 at the Duvall Designs Gallery in Millwood, with a closing reception on the 27th, from 4pm till 6pm. Maggio works with pastels and Winslow with oil paint on canvas. Both have been musing and applying themselves in their work […]

Walk Through Grief To Begin Nature Walks

A new community service organization called Walk Through Grief meets every Saturday for hour-long nature walks using the trails in Franklin Park. The weekly schedule will alternate between a widow’s group and a general participation group. In addition to the nature walks a series of seasonal events will be offered and volunteers are welcome. The […]

Reggae Party @ factoryBstudio

Lively Up Yourself! Get your groove on (and your island wear) and enjoy great dance tunes, Carribean-style food and libations, and jam with your friends! Hosted by The Observer and factoryBstudio. All proceeds benefit Berryville Main Street & the Fire House Gallery. May 3, 6-9pm. At factory B, 23 East Main Street, Studio 201, above the Fire House […]

Preserving Farmland For Clarke’s Future

Conservation Easement Authority Begins Next Ten Years Quick quiz. What’s a conservation easement? A)       A technique for maintaining the state or feeling of comfort or peace, as in the archaic “time brings easement.” B)      A voluntary, legally binding agreement that limits certain types of uses or prevents development from taking place on a piece of […]