Around Clarke County March/April 2016

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March

12

Blue Ridge Hunt

Point to Point Races. 490 Woodley Lane. Berryville. 67th running. Welcome in spring with the first race of the season at the lovely Woodley Farm. Gates open at 10:30am. Post time 12 Noon. 11 races. General Admission is $20/Car. For more information or to reserve front row parking call Jenny Irwin at (202) 664-4664.

16

Pruning Small Trees

Blandy Experimental Farm. The State Arboretum of Virginia. 400 Blandy Farm Lane.  Boyce. 1–3 pm. Scott Johnston, ISA Certified Arborist. This workshop begins with an introduction to proper pruning and tree care. We will then go outside for demonstrations and hands-on practice, with plenty of time for Q and A. Dress for the weather. FOSA members $10. nonmembers $12. For information call 540-837-1758 Ext. 226 or visit http://blandy.virginia.edu.

17

Trivia Night

with the Clarke County Historical Association. Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Court, Berryville. Doors open at 6pm. Event starts at 7. How smart do you think you are? Grab your thinking cap and a few friends and come join us the night of St. Patrick’s Day for the Clarke County Historical Association’s second-ever trivia tournament! Categories will once again include History, Literature, Virginia, Science, and Television. Prizes will go to the top three teams and there will be raffles between rounds. Funny team names are encouraged! $5 for CCHA and BORH members. $8 for non-members. For more information visit www.barnsofrosehill.org.

18

-20 CCHS Spring Musical

“Oh, the thinks you can think!” CCHS Auditorium. 627 Mosby Blvd, Berryville. 7:30pm Friday and Saturday and 2:30 Sunday. Mark your calendars for the 16th annual CCHS Spring Musical as we take a journey into the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss with Seussical the Musical! Make plans to come hang out with The Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McPhuzz, JoJo, Mayzie Le Bird, and a host of crazy Seuss characters! Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for students. Contact Andy Kiser, Artistic Director, at 540-955-6130 x.7446 for additional information.

18

Berryville Drum Circle

My Neighbor and Me. 15 E. Main Street. Berryville. 7–8:30pm. Free. Leader: Jona Masiya.  540-955-8124.  www.myneighborandme.com.

19

Summer Camp Fair

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. 181 Kernstown Commons Blvd. Winchester. 9am–12:30pm. Learn about a variety of camps and programs available at this integrated summer camp fair.  Participants will have several chances to win great prizes. Prize packs include complimentary admission to local pools and museums, movie tickets with popcorn, river tubing passes, discounts off camps and more valued over $400! Shenandoah Valley Kids Trail and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema will have their prize wheels to spin for more prizes and giveaways. Free admission and children’s activities. For more information call Tracey Pitcock at 540-955-5149 or email tpitcock@clarkecounty.gov.

19

Squirrels

Love’em or Leave’em. Blandy Experimental Farm. The State Arboretum of Virginia. 400 Blandy Farm Lane. Boyce. 2–4 pm. Love them or not, everyone has a squirrel story: their playful antics, or how they eat your bird seed or dig in your garden. This family event begins with a short illustrated talk that includes squirrel crafts, games, and activities and ends with observation of Blandy’s squirrels. For the whole family, but no dogs please. FOSA members $10. nonmembers $12. Member family $20. Nonmember family $25. For information call 540-837-1758 Ext. 226 or visit http://blandy.virginia.edu.

19

Soup and Sandwich Luncheon

Boyce Volunteer Fire Company. 7 S. Greenway Ave. Boyce. 11am–1:30pm. Free will offering to benefit Relay for Life of Clarke County. Sponsored by Stepping Stones Community Action Team.

19

Watercolor Workshop

with Julie Read. Fire House Gallery. 23 E. Main Street. Berryville.  9am–12pm. Back by Popular Demand! Learn from a master. Each of Julie’s watercolors tells a story with their tone, perspective, and subject matter. Her paintings include incredible scenes of flowers grown in her garden, pigs, whimsical chickens, cows, lovely local landscapes, and trees. $40 includes materials, but 2 brushes needed, and feel free to bring your own paints! To sign up and get more info, please email info@firehousegalleryva.com or call 540 955 4001. Spaces are limited!

19

Prize Bingo            Fundraiser

John H. Enders Fire Hall, 9 S. Buckmarsh St, Berryville. Doors open at 1pm and Bingo starts at 2. Event benefits the non-profit Blue Ridge Center for Therapeutic Horsemanship.  $20 in advance. $25 at the door. 14 prize-filled games. Raffles for very special Thirty-One prize, 50/50, and themed baskets.  Chili, snacks and beverages available. Proceeds will provide scholarships for students with special needs and funds to help care for our therapy horses and ponies. Tickets can be purchased online at marchbingofundraiser.bpt.me or by contacting us at 540-533-2777 or brcthinc@hotmail.com.

 

20

Guild of Fabric     Artists

Clarke County Parks and Recreation. 225 Al Smith Circle. Berryville. 2–4pm. Designed to support and facilitate the creation and exhibition of members’ fabric art. A different study, will be explored each month. Everyone will be asked to show & tell about works in progress and completed work.  $1. Ages 18 and up. Leader: Joyce Badanes. For information call 540-955-5140.

20

Corda Nova Baroque

Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Court, Berryville. Doors open at 3pm. Show starts at 4. Corda Nova Baroque is an early music ensemble that focuses on bringing lesser known Baroque works to wider audiences in a historically informed manner. Corda Nova Baroque‘s successful first season included programs of German Stylus Fantasticus works and Italian sonatas in Washington DC, Middleburg, VA and  Philadelphia. The ensemble’s second season included performances with soprano Rebecca Mariman and French Baroque selections performed in Washington DC, Princeton NJ, and the group’s New York City debut on the GEMS Midtown Concert Series. $20 in advance. $25 at the door. For more information visit  www.barnsofrosehill.org.

22

Why Poverty?

Documentary night at My Neighbor and Me. 15 E. Main Street. Berryville. Film “Stealing Africa”. One hour film followed by group discussion. 7–9pm. Free. Leader: Christina Kraybill. 540-955-8124. www.myneighborandme.com.

23

Volunteer Training

for Therapeutic Riding. Blue Ridge Center for Therapeutic Horsemanship. 644 Lime Marl Lane. Millwood.  BRCTH invites enthusiastic and caring individuals to become lesson volunteers for 8-week spring session which begins the week of April 11.  Must be at least 14 years of age.  Equine experience required for the position of horse leader, and is preferred, but not required for side-walkers.  Trainees attend Orientation at 6pm on Weds, March 23, and then one of several hands-on trainings being offered over next several days. Contact Margie Youngs at brcthinc@hotmail.com or at 540-533-2777.

23

Full Moon Walk

Blandy Experimental Farm. The State Arboretum of Virginia. 400 Blandy Farm Lane. Boyce. 7:30–9 pm. Explore the Arboretum under the full moon. Wear comfortable shoes, bring a flashlight, and explore the natural world at dusk and after dark. FOSA members $10. nonmembers $12. Member family $20. Nonmember family $25. Reservations Required. For information call 540-837-1758 Ext. 226 or visit http://blandy.virginia.edu.

26

Community Health Forum

Living and Dying with Our Choices: Community Impact of Risk Behaviors and Narcotics. The presentation will take place at 10:30am and will be followed by a question and answer period with our panelists.

26

Easter Shop and Hop

Participating Retail Stores. Downtown Berryville. Join Berryville Main Street and participating Berryville merchants for our first Easter Shop and Hop! 11am–4pm. Mom can shop and kids can look for  hidden eggs with special letters in them. When all the letters collected spell EASTER, the kids can come down to the Firehouse Gallery to receive their prize! Participating merchants are The Firehouse Gallery, Modern Mercantile, My Neighbor and Me, Sweetpea’s, Berryville Treasures, Blue Ridge Hospice Thrift Store, and Berryville Auto Parts. For info call Berryville Main Street, 955-4001.

27

Pancake Breakfast

John H. Enders Fire and Rescue. 9 South Buckmarsh Street, Berryville. 7am–12 noon. Come Support your fire and rescue squad and enjoy the finest Pancake Breakfast in the area! Pancakes, Sausage, Eggs, Sausage Gravy, Baked Apples, Coffee, Milk, Hot Tea, Apple & Orange Juice. Adults $8. Children $4. Children under six eat for FREE. For Information Call 540-955-1110 or visit www.endersfire.com.

28

Food Drive

Through April 8. Clarke County High School. 627 Mosby Boulevard, Berryville. Join the Clarke County High School Student School Climate Committee in a Fill the Bus Food Drive to benefit FISH. Bring donations to the main office at Clarke County High School to help fill the bus! The bus will be packed on April 8. Contact Joanne Wolfe at wolfejo@clarke.k12.va.us or 540.955.6130.

April

2

Mark and Maggie O’Connor-American Classics

Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Court, Berryville. Doors open at 7pm. Show starts at 8. Don’t miss Grammy-winner Mark O’Connor and his wife, Maggie, as they perform a broad and interconnecting collection of American music through violin solos and duos. American Classics identifies the cornerstones of repertoire, style and wonderful diversity of A New American School of String Playing. $20 in advance. $25 at the door. For more information visit www.barnsofrosehill.org.

5

Why Poverty?

Documentary night at My Neighbor and Me. 15 E. Main Street. Berryville. Film “Education, Education”. One hour film followed by group discussion.  7p-9p. Free. Leader: Christina Kraybill. 540-955-8124. www.myneighborandme.com.

6

Arboretum Walking Tour

Blandy Experimental Farm. The State Arboretum of Virginia. 400 Blandy Farm Lane. Boyce. 2–3:30pm. Come enjoy flowering trees, shrubs, and wildflowers in all their spring glory! Dress for the weather. Free, but Reservations Required—Space is Limited. For information call 540-837-1758 Ext. 226 or visit http://blandy.virginia.edu.

7

BuzzWords Trivia Night

Handley High School’s  Patsy Cline Theater. Hosted by Literacy Volunteers of the Winchester Area. 6:30pm. LVWA offers ESL, computer and basic literacy classes for adults in the Clarke/Frederick area. For more information please visit LVWA.org.

9

Berryville Yard Sales

Downtown Berryville. Rain Date is Saturday, April 16.

 

9

/10 Estate Sale

Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Court, Berryville. Second annual “Estate Sale Fundraising event– Fine Art and Home Furnishings” at the Barns. People may consign their artwork, antiques, furniture and home furnishings, or they may want simply to donate a good item to help the Barns raise funds. Items must be clean and in good repair. Suitable items include antiques, fine textiles, silver, china, original works of art, furniture in good repair, lamps, statuary and jewelry.  All items must be delivered to the Barns. Barns staff will be accepting items beginning Saturday, April 2.  Complete information is available at barnsofrosehill.org, or by calling 540-955-2004 between noon and 3PM, Tuesday through Saturday.

9

Kathy’s Art and Spring Dinner

Crums United Methodist Church. 2832 Crum’s Church Rd. Berryville. Join us in support of Kathy Hopson. A very courageous woman battling a mix Oglioastrocytoma, who discovered painting as an outlet for recovery. Presented by the Crum’s United Methodist Women. Free Will Offering Dinner 5–6:30pm with Silent Auction and Sale ending at 7:30pm. Cash or good check. Donations or questions please contact Shawn Nicholson at forothers@rocketmail.com.

9

Book Talk

with the Clarke County Historical Association by Historian John R. Maass: The Road to Yorktown.

Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Court, Berryville. 2pm. Join us as military historian John R. Maass discusses his recent book – The Road to Yorktown: Jefferson, Lafayette and the British Invasion of Virginia – which explores the 1781 British invasion of central Virginia in the campaign leading up to the Siege of Yorktown in October 1781. $3 for BORH and CCHA members. $5 for non-members. For more information visit www.barnsofrosehill.org.

9

Joan and Joni

A tribute to Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell. Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Court. Berryville. Doors open at 7pm. Show starts at 8. Joan & Joni is a tribute to Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell performed by singer/songwriters Allison Shapira and Kipyn Martin. Allison and Kipyn are both classically trained musicians from the DC-area folk music scene. In Joan & Joni, Allison and Kipyn bring to the stage many of Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell’s well-known originals and folk songs, as well as a few hidden gems. They also highlight the impact these legendary women have had on their own songwriting and performance. $15 in advance, $20 at the door. For more information visit www.barnsofrosehill.org.

14

Benefit Fashion Show

What Goes Around, Comes Around! Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Court, Berryville. 6:30pm. This fashion show will take you back in time through current fashions with a comparison of what we’re wearing now with possibly what your mother or grandmother wore many years ago as their own current fashion. The memories of the slideshow will take you down memory lane while the models on the runway bring you back to the 21st century with a feeling of nostalgia. “Fashion has always been a repetition of ideas, but what makes it new is the way you put it together” Carolina Herrera, designer. Fashions will be provided by Chico’s of Creekside. There will be a Silent Auction, cash and checks only, to benefit The Clarke County Humane Foundation. Donation of items to the Animal Shelter are also welcome. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door, $10 for students. For more information or tickets please call 540-955-2004, or visit www.barnsofrosehill.org.

15

Rhythm Future Quartet

Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Court. Berryville. Doors open at 7pm. Show starts at 8. The acoustic jazz ensemble, Rhythm Future Quartet, has a straightforward agenda: to keep the spirit of Gypsy jazz alive and expanding in today’s musical universe. The virtuosic foursome, named for a Django Reinhardt tune, offers up a newly minted sound, influenced by the classic Hot Club of France, yet wholly contemporary. Led by violinist Jason Anick and guitarist Olli Soikkeli, the quartet performs dynamic and lyrical arrangements of both Gypsy jazz standards and original compositions that draw upon diverse international rhythms and musical idioms. With Max O’Rourke on second guitar and Greg Loughman on bass, Rhythm Future is dedicated to expanding the boundaries of a vital musical genre. $15 in advance, $20 at the door. For more information visit www.barnsofrosehill.org.

15

Mindfulness in Nature

Guided Walking Meditation. Blandy Experimental Farm. The State Arboretum of Virginia. 400 Blandy Farm Lane. Boyce. 6:30–8:30pm. Shell Fischer, Insight Meditation Instructor. Learn to slow down and draw on nature through guided meditation, silent walking, and reflection. Dress for the weather. Ages 16 and older. FOSA members $10. Nonmembers $12. Reservations Required. For information call 540-837-1758 Ext. 226 or visit http://blandy.virginia.edu.

16

Cash Party

John Enders Fire Hall. 9 South Buckmarsh St., Berryville. Doors open at 5:30. Crazy Cash Party and BBQ Dinner. Grand Prize $1500. Only 275 tickests. Call 540-955-1110 or email secretary@endersfire.com.

In Memory: JoAnna Williams Schulz

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This is the day the lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. — Psalm 118:24

On Sunday, January 3, family and friends gathered to share the life of JoAnna Williams Schulz. If it wasn’t clear before, it couldn’t be missed after … JoAnna loved fiercely and was fiercely loved.

“Beginnings are scary, endings are very sad; it’s everything in between that makes it all worth living.” — Sandra Bullock, Hope Floats

JoAnna didn’t have an easy life, but she had a lot to live for. Her brothers shared of a family divided, but bound by a deep unspoken love. For JoAnna, she found her emotional voice with the love of her life, JD. Their union created two precious children, Alecia and Ted.

“This is one of the miracles of love: It gives a power of seeing through its

own enchantments and yet not being disenchanted.” — C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed

JD’s too soon departure left a great void in their small woven tapestry. With determination and without complaint, JoAnna raised her children to fly on their own, never missing a chance to encourage, prod, redirect, cheer on…or laugh. JoAnna knit together a family, not just by blood, but in community. Her laughter, her joy in friendship and family, her faith will be missed…but it lives on in those who shared her life. Everything in between is what makes life worth living and meant everything to JoAnna! She was loved deeply and will be missed fiercely. Through JoAnna we found it is okay to say “I Love You”!

“What we once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, For all that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” — Helen Keller

 

Around Clarke County

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February

13 Self-Defense Basics

Clarke County Recreation Center, 255 Al Smith Circle, Berryville; 6:45–8:45pm. Learn awareness of one’s surroundings, how to create escape routes, hit & run tactics, releases from holds, fighting strategies and use of common objects as self-defense tools. Ages 16 and up. 1 class. Instructor: Steven LaForce. $13 For information call 540-955-5140.

 

15

Red Cross Babysitter Training

Clarke County Recreation Center, 255 Al Smith Circle, Berryville; 9am–3:30pm. This course can help participants care for children and infants, be a good leader and role model, make good decisions and solve problems, keep the children you baby-sit and yourself safe, handle emergencies such as injuries, illnesses and household accidents, and more. Bring a packed lunch. Successful completion of final tests is required for certification. Ages 11–15. $70. 1 class. For more information call 540-955-5140.

 

20

Furnace Mountain

w/ Julie Miles Art Exhibit Opening. Barns of Rose Hill, 95 Chalmers Ct., Berryville. A special evening of music by Furnace Mountain and artwork by Julie Miles. Furnace Mountain is Aimee Curl on bass and vocals, Danny Knicely on mandolin and fiddle, Dave Van Deventer on fiddle, and Morgan Morrison on guitar, bouzouki, and vocals. The band creates music that is at times lively and raucous, with spirited fiddle melodies weaving in and around the powerful rhythms of the bass and bouzouki, and other times poignant and poetic. Exhibit opens at 7. Music starts at 8. $15 in advance $20 at the door. For information visit www.barnsofrosehill.org.

 

20

4-H Spaghetti Dinner & Auction

Clarke County Ruritan Building. Dinner is from 5–7pm (including silent auction). Live auction starts at 6:30. Auction items typically include homemade cakes, wine tastings, Rubbermaid products, home & garden items, sporting goods, restaurant gift certificates, collectibles, toys, gift baskets, live trees and much more! The funds raised will help the Clarke County 4-H Volunteer Leaders’ Association (VLA) improve and enhance opportunities available to 4-H members. VLA directly supports the 4-H youth and its educational programs such as 4-H camp scholarship assistance, regional, state and national educational competitions, and higher education scholarships. The mission of 4-H is to empower youth to reach their full potential, working and learning in partnership with caring adults.

21

Terra Voce

Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct., Berryville. Terra Voce is a flute and cello duo known for lively and creative programs combining the diverse and the unexpected. Cellist Andrew Gabbert and flutist Elizabeth Brightbill thrill audiences with their virtuosity, engaging, conversational style of presentation, and their genre-expanding programs that explore musical styles ranging from Baroque to Brazilian choro, contemporary tango, Irish traditional, and beyond. Concert starts at 4pm. doors open at 3:30. $20 in advance. $25 at the door. For information visit www.barnsofrosehill.org.

 

26

Salam Neighbor

Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct., Berryville. Salam (Hello) Neighbor is a film and campaign to connect the world to refugees. Immerse yourself into the life of a Syrian refugee through the journey of Chris and Zach as the first filmmakers allowed to be registered and given a tent inside of a refugee camp. In Syria alone, more than 4 million people have fled the country to escape the atrocities of war. Movie starts at 7. Doors open at 6:30. There is a suggested donation of $10; 70% of proceeds go to Save the Children www.savethechildren.org. For information visit www.barnsofrosehill.org.

 

28 Winter Film Series

Mistress America, at the Barns of Rose Hill, 95 Chalmers Ct., Berryville. College freshman Tracy Fishko (Lola Kirke) is having trouble adjusting to college life at Barnard. On her mother’s advice she contacts her soon-to-be stepsister, who also lives in New York, Brooke (Greta Gerwig). Tracy is immediately entranced by Brooke and her life-style, and becomes wrapped up in Brooke’s dream to open a restaurant. The Winter Film Series is presented by Barns of Rose Hill and Magic Lantern Theater. Film starts at 4. Doors open at 3:30. $5 for BORH and Magic Lantern members. $8 for non-members. For information visit www.barnsofrosehill.org.

 

March

 

2

Russian Duo

Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct., Berryville. Russian Duo is an international project, born out of a love of traditional music and classical elegance. Oleg Kruglyakov, balalaika virtuoso, and Terry Boyarsky, masterful pianist, have teamed up for exuberant performances of soulful, passionate music. Music starts at 8. Doors open at 7:30. $20 in advance $25 at the door. For information visit www.barnsofrosehill.org; see article on page 16.

4

The Plank Stompers

Barns of Rose Hill, 95 Chalmers Ct., Berryville. Plank Stompers do not like to think of themselves as a group; but rather, as a movement. Before knowing Plank Stompers, you must first know the Preamble to the Stompstitution: “We, the Stompers of the United Planks, in order to form a more funky union, establish ruckus, insure intergalactic stank-quility, and provide listening pleasure to whoever we may encounter along the way, do hereby proclaim: If sound was butter, and the last 250 years were a biscuit, then Plank Stompers would be the hypothetical knife that smears, scrapes, and swirls all of the sounds from the past together. Pickaxes and pianos, war whoops and woodwinds, fiddles sawin’ and crows cawin’, bass drones and mobile phones, all getting pushed into a greasy noise anthology.” Music starts at 8. Doors open at 7:30. $15 in advance $20 at the door. For information visit www.barnsofrosehill.org.

 

4

/5 Trunk Art Show

by Cosmic Harvest! Fire House Gallery. 23 E. Main Street. Berryville. 5–7pm Friday. 11am–4pm Saturday. Local artists Keith and Kelli Patterson will share not only their art, but their philosophy in our first Trunk Art Show. They believe in supporting sustainable agriculture and will be donating part of their proceeds to a local organization (as yet undecided). Keith works with acrylics, using his own “drip and splatter” technique and bold color palettes that blend to create a unique vibrancy on his paintings. Kelli works in mixed media collages and incorporates vintage and repurposed items into her pieces. For more information visit Firehousegalleryva.com or call 540-955-4001.

 

5

Book Signing

Best selling local author Forrest Pritchard at the Fire House Gallery, 23 E. Main Street. Berryville; 1-3 pm. the author of Growing Tomorrow and Gaining Ground will be at the Gallery to sign books and answer questions about sustainable farming and life as a farmer/writer from Clarke County. Refreshments will include nitrate-free beef sticks and other delicious foods from the author’s Smith Meadows Farm. For information visit Firehousegalleryva.com or call 540-955-4001.

10

Sketch This!

A Drawing Workshop with Tia Maggio, Fire House Gallery. 23 E. Main Street. Berryville; 7pm. Learn how to draw what you see, not what you know, with artist and teacher Tia Maggio. Tia is an artist based in Millwood with 15 years experience as an art educator. With creative exercises in a relaxed environment, master the basics of drawing. Supplies included. $40/session. More classes coming in April. No prior experience necessary—artists of all levels are welcome. For information visit Firehousegalleryva.com or call 540-955-4001.

 

13

Madeline MacNeil Concert

Barns of Rose Hill, 95 Chalmers Ct., Berryville. Join Madeline MacNeil for an evening of tunes and songs. Since 1972, when she began performing in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park, MacNeil has brought listeners into the song. Her interest in stories first brought the mountain and hammered dulcimers to her attention, for they are part of this country’s musical history. She’s been honored by folk organizations and festivals across the country. Music starts at 6:30pm. Doors open at 6. $15 in advance. $20 at the door. For information visit www.barnsofrosehill.org.

Clarke County Harriers Run a Unique Race

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By Tracy Smith

On a Friday night when the Clarke County Eagles have a home game, Wilbur M. Feltner stadium fills with students, parents, and friends of the football team. Among the crowd is a small group of fans that knows that when the sun comes up the next day, they will be headed for their own competition. These are the student athletes who make up the Clarke County cross-country team.

They will be on the bus at 7am for an invitational cross-country meet. The bus arrives well before the start of the first race. The tent goes up; the tarp goes down. Unless there is thunder and lightning, the race goes on.

The runners walk the course, then warm-up and stretch. As the start time approaches, the running shoes get replaced with spikes, layers of clothing are shed and the mental preparation begins. The clock winds down and the teams take their places at the starting line. Runners and spectators are focused and listening for the sound that tells them to run. “Pop” goes the starting gun and they’re off —a blur of sights and sounds; legs pounding and loud cheers from the crowd.

Cross-country running is defined as open air running over natural terrain. For the next 3.2 miles these Clarke County Eagles will follow a course that may include grass and earth, hills and flat ground, as well as mud and gravel.

Cross-country is both physically demanding and mentally challenging. It is both an individual and team sport. Runners are judged on individual times and teams are awarded points based on the runner’s placement. Every bit of effort contributes to the team’s success.

At last, the final leg of the race. Fans flock to the finish line that brings runners to the end. As the runners come closer, the crowd goes wild. The competition is close and so tangible. The muscles flex, the sweat drips and grit that comes from deep inside erupts as a runner sprints toward the finish line. At this point, the Eagles are flying!

Under the guidance of Coach Jeff Webster, thirty-six students train six days a week beginning in August. Their season runs for 10 weeks with seven meets and three invitational races. Most years a runner or two from Clarke County will reach the state competition.

This year is different.

Yes, these cross-country Eagles are soaring. They have medals and trophies to prove they are enjoying a winning season.

More importantly, though, this team is running with a mission in mind and pink socks on their feet. The current group of student athletes ran in October to raise awareness for breast cancer.

The idea came from senior, Ian Dors, and his family. “We know lots of people who are affected by breast cancer, so we like to show our support when we can,” says Pam, Ian’s mother. Ian and his teammates also replaced their usual white headbands with pink ones.

“This is a terrific group of kids,” says Coach Webster. “Most people wouldn’t expect to see the runners sporting pink; but this October, that is one more thing that makes this year’s team unique.”

Cross-country is one of the few sports that is equally enjoyed by young women and men, and is open to anyone who wants to run. A student may join the team regardless of prior experience. And, with determination and hard work, runners improve.

Before you close the paper thinking cross-country is all sweat and strain, there’s another side to running with the Eagles that makes it worth the effort.

“This is my first year on the team,” says senior Mark Ulbrich. “It was hard work, but it was also fun. Coach Webster is the best coach I have ever had in any sport.”

The cross-country team meets for dinner before Saturday meets. This year they came together at the first Bluegrass concert to sell raffle tickets and help with concessions.

“I started running last year because I was new to Clarke County High School and I wanted to meet people,” explains sophomore Catherine Lewis. “We spend so much time together it’s hard not to make friends.”

The cross country team has completed its regular season. The post-season competition includes a conference tournament, a regional championship, and, hopefully, a state competition.

If you see a group of students running though Berryville next fall, you can be sure you’ve witnessed Eagles in flight!

Meet La Tasha Do’zia-Earley

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By Victoria L. Kidd

 

Every student who has ever been involved with a theater program is familiar with the iconic symbol of drama. The two masks—one smiling to represent comedy and another frowning to imply tragedy—could also stand as the symbol of adolescence. One’s youth is often a time period of excitement tempered with vulnerability and enthusiasm curbed by doubt. An outlet many students use to come to terms with these conflicting emotional states is theater, and students from all over the region have benefited from the tutelage of La Tasha Do’zia-Earley.

A resident of Winchester, Do’zia-Earley is an accomplished local actress and director who seems to have inexhaustible passion when it comes to introducing kids and young adults to the arts. In addition to working with municipal recreation programs and camps, Do’zia-Earley is the drama teacher for the Independent School of Winchester, a well-respected school with innovative programs for students in kindergarten through 10th grade (with 11th and 12th grade classes scheduled to begin for the 2016/2017 school year). Her program at the school complements their comprehensive and balanced approach to learning, but her involvement in the lives of young people doesn’t end when she leaves the school’s campus.

Do’zia-Earley is also the founder of the Selah Theatre Project (www.selahtheatreproject.org). The project’s mission, according to its website, is to “empower, educate, and enlighten our community with theatrical opportunities that encourage conversation and positive impact,” and they note that their programs are designed to offer students affordable artistic opportunities, regardless of their ability to pay. The philosophy behind the project’s work is built on the foundational positions held earlier in Do’zia-Earley’s career.

“I was a preschool director before,” Do’zia-Earley says. “I loved the children. I loved working with them, but I didn’t enjoy the operational aspects of that work.” Already considering a change, Do’zia-Earley was further incentivized to venture out into the world of contracting and entrepreneurship when she was approached as a prospective adoptive parent for a young man named Prince. “Life changed,” she says, reflecting on his arrival. “He wasn’t getting the attention he needed with me working full time and teaching drama classes in the evenings. I realized it was time to rethink things and reshape my career to be the best parent I could be.”

Her period of reflection gave birth to the Selah Theatre Project. The word, “Selah,” means to pause and take a breath. It’s a Hebrew word that resonated with Do’zia-Earley, both in terms of the period of life she had entered and the philosophy with which she would run the program.

“When we pause and really center ourselves in the role we hold in the production, we are asking the audience to also pause,” she explains. “We are asking them to think about what they witness and to ponder it and to start a conversation. That’s what this is all about. That’s what drama is all about. It took me some time to figure that out…Theater is a reflection of reality, and there is something powerful in watching reality mirrored on stage.”

Selah’s stage is contained within what is called a “black box theater,” a term that is used to describe a small, unadorned theater space that is designed to afford intimacy between the actors onstage and the audience. Selah’s studio theater occupies 1,100 square feet and is located at 30 East 8th Street in Front Royal, Virginia. Each year, Selah produces two original productions that regularly sell out. Additionally, Do’zia-Earley runs an outreach program in cooperation with the Warren County School System. The collective array of programming provides an opportunity for students of all ages—from preschool to high school—a chance to experience theater.

The small stage where those students experience theater has really become an oasis for those inclined to the dramatic life. Students from all counties in the Top of Virginia Region have participated in Selah programs, with many having had to drive to the D.C. Metro area to get involved in theatrical productions previously. “I’ve discovered that we need to be here,” Do’zia-Earley relays. “These students often come to call this place their ‘home,’ because it’s a place where they can really produce great work that helps them deal with the pressures of growing up. It’s a place where they form their community and they meet others who understand how they use performance to express things and discuss things and, most importantly, to understand things that are new to these emerging adults.”

That home was established in 2011 in Winchester but was relocated to Front Royal in 2013 after Do’zia-Earley recognized the county’s great need for theatrical education and programming. Selah, a fiscal nonprofit, fills that need in a way that many program participants refer to as “life changing.”

Janet Jewell says that her son has been experiencing that life changing participation for three years. “My son Ray loves it,” asserts Jewell. “As a parent, I love knowing that Tasha opens up a means of expression in many different forms, making it accessible to kids and people of all different abilities and learning styles. It’s a safe, fun, welcoming environment and you can’t help but love it.”

Selah parent Tammy Ruggiero agrees. “My daughter, Suna, says Selah is a place of good energy where she feels that people are nice to her and she feels accepted,” she says. Relaying that her daughter has “not always fit in at school” and has been subjected to bullying from time-to-time, Ruggiero indicates that she asked her daughter to focus on an activity that would lift her self-esteem. “Because she thinks so highly of La Tasha and the Selah group she decided she wanted to put her focus on acting, comedy, and storytelling. I would say Selah is a place of acceptance and development.”

Other parents indicate that the program does more than simply offer a place where young adults explore and grow. “Not only is Selah a safe place for kids to express themselves, it is a theatre where kids who are serious about the arts can receive pre-professional training and nurture their dreams,” explains Dee Sparger, whose daughters Katherine Sparger (14) and Rita Sparger (11) have been involved with the program for several years. “I love that the kids have the opportunity to be fully involved in every aspect of theatre including writing, performing, stage management, and even arts promotion. I also love that  La Tasha gets the kids out in the community, both to perform and to support other theatres and artists.”

In addition to the Sparger, Ruggiero, and Jewell families, Do’zia-Earley has touched the lives of more than 600 young people, including students from the Selah program and other programs with which Do’zia-Earley has been involved. “This work speaks to my soul,” she confesses. “It’s important, and I am humbled to have been invited into the lives of so many amazing young people. I’m appreciative of the patrons who buy tickets to the shows and the sponsors who help us continue this work. The folks who support us get it. They understand that for some people, theater is as natural as breathing. It’s their way of finding themselves. It’s not a means of escaping reality; it’s a means of observing reality and finding meaning in the even the simplest of actions. That’s something to see, and I am thankful every day that I was called to this work.”

Outstanding Officers Celebrated by The Curve

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By Ralph Welliver

 Some one hundred guests of the Horseshoe Curve Benevolent Association gathered at the Blue Ridge Fire Hall on the evening of September 12, in the Association’s eleventh annual recognition and celebration of outstanding efforts shown by our community’s officers in law enforcement.  Following fellowship, with music by Tom Shabla and Blaine Perry, moderator Jim Wink of the Association began the proceedings.  Reverend Canon Dwight Brown of Grace Episcopal offered an invocation, reciting from Ecclesiastes Chapter 3.  After the Pledge of Allegiance, all enjoyed a hearty dinner.

Virginia State Senator Jill Holtzman Vogel thanked all officers for their service, and for the exceptional communication that law enforcement in Clarke and Frederick provide with the Virginia Senate, advising our lawmakers on local needs.

Nominations for awards were made by area sheriffs and police chiefs.  In addition to our community’s respect and thanks, each awarded officer received a plaque from the Association, commemorating the occasion, a Certificate of Appreciation from the Virginia House of Delegates, and a letter of commendation from Senator Mark R. Warner.  Tracy Wink of the Association and Virginia Delegate Randy Minchew presented the awards.  This year’s recipients and their remarkable accomplishments are:

 

Mount Weather Police Department – Officer Dustin Bowers

Officer Bowers serves as field training officer for new police officers, and has developed a system used to accurately track and document training hours and the trainee’s performance levels on the required duties.  In the process, the system identified redundancies in the training program, leading to improved efficiency and effectiveness of training.  Officer Bowers recently attended the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center’s course in managing an incident involving an active shooter.  Dustin is currently developing an active shooter training program for employees of Mount Weather’s Emergency Operations Center.

 

Northwest Regional Adult Detention Center – Officer William McCann

Officer McCann brings to our community a wealth of knowledge and experience, gained in twenty years of service with the Maryland Department of Corrections.  In May, he responded to an attempted suicide, assisting an inmate with a large laceration, and having lost considerable blood.  Officer McCann administered first aid and managed to stop the bleeding while coordinating emergency procedures.  The inmate later made a full recovery.  In August, Officer McCann was on routine rounds when he came upon a cell door with the window covered.  Upon investigation, he found the inmate with a bed sheet tied around his neck, unresponsive, and not breathing.  Officer McCann applied CPR and was able to reestablish a pulse.  At the Winchester Medical Center, doctors attributed the inmate’s survival to the quick and precise actions of McCann.  The inmate has since made a full recovery.

 

 

Clarke County Sheriff’s Office – Deputy Shane Jewell

Deputy Jewell joined the office in 2009. He is a respected instructor at the Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy, where he teaches defensive tactics.  Sheriff Roper’s nomination cited Shane’s dedication to perfecting these tactics, working with experts in these matters on his own time, his spirit of willingness, and his hard work and dedication to the citizens of Clarke.

 

Winchester Sheriff’s Office – Deputy Mackenzie Carter

Deputy Carter has been with the office for only a year.  In that time she has shown her dedication to the office and the community at large.  She serves the community through several local civic groups, having participated in the CCAP food drive, the Evan Home for Children food drive, the Winchester Literacy Foundation summer reading program, Handley Library reading program, Running Strong Youth Offender Program, and Winchester Clean-up Days.  She is the lead advisor for the Office’s Explorer Post.

Frederick County Sheriff’s Office – Deputy Aaron Jeter

In July, Deputy Jeter made a routine stop for a speeding violation.  During the course of the incident, and with the assistance of additional officers, Deputy Jeter recovered a large amount of heroin, leading to an arrest and a suspect being charged with intent to distribute the heroin.  Deputy Jeter has since made two more arrests, stemming from the heroin problem plaguing the community.  One of these subsequent arrests led to an indictment for felony murder.

 

Berryville Police Department – Laura Patten

Laura Patten serves the Department as the sole civilian employee, and began working here in 1989.  She has seen a lot of change within the law enforcement profession and within our community over her twenty-six year career, which she began as a crossing guard, assisting children walking to and from school.  Laura proceeded into the role of handling the administrative business of the Department, and has seen the changes from hand written reports and typewriters to automated record keeping systems and computers in squad cars; from Polaroid photography of crime scenes to cellular telephone pictures sent electronically to a database.  Chief White’s nomination credited Laura with incorporating these changes with professionalism, and her handling and maintenance of records according to mandated protocol.

Laura maintains the flow of communication between the community and officers in the field.  Laura is indeed the smiling, understanding, and graceful face of the Department.  Next time you visit the Clarke/Berryville Government Center, please congratulate Laura on her retirement, which is planned for 2016.

 

Winchester Police Department – Corporal Richie Lewis

Last December the Department responded to a call concerning an upper level apartment in which there was a kidnapping in progress and a suspect claiming to have a bomb.  Upon arrival, officers encountered a man holding a knife to the throat of a woman.  The man challenged police, and appeared to be attempting “suicide by cop”.  Though the suspect sought to escalate matters, officers began negotiating with the suspect, and other officers moved to effect a rescue of the woman.  Through the calm, calculated, and coordinated actions of the officers, the incident was ultimately brought to a sudden and effective resolution, as Officer Lewis took advantage of a momentary opening to subdue the suspect, thereby freeing the captive

Hope = Help at an Upcoming Public Forum

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By Victoria L. Kidd

 

Most of us have, at least on some level, an awareness about the extremely high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicidal thoughts among veterans returning from duty or otherwise dealing with experiences occurring during their service. Similarly, first responders—including police, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs)—are routinely subjected to traumatic events.

A 2015 article appearing in Veterans Today, a journal for military personnel and their families, states that many sources relay a startling assertion concerning the rate of PTSD and suicide among service members (http://bit.ly/1KWb1GS). It states that an average of 22 veterans take their lives every day in the U.S., a rate that is 50% higher than the rate of nonmilitary civilians. (As awareness of the needs of first responders has only recently started to grow, there is limited open-source information available concerning the rate of suicide and PTSD among individuals in that category, although there is evidence to support claims that the rate of suicide among these individuals is equally troubling.)

A local event in September seeks to open an honest dialogue about PTSD and suicide while providing resources and support to those who are most at risk to be affected by suicide and the life-long impact of PTSD. The event, titled Hope = Help Public Forum and Information Exchange, will be held at Clarke County High School, located at 627 Mosby Blvd in Berryville. It is being hosted by the VFW and the VFW Auxiliary (to VFW Post 9760).

The VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) and its affiliated VFW Auxiliary seeks to serve area veterans and their families through various programs and opportunities for fellowship. (The upcoming forum is one such program, while other activities can be reviewed by visiting www.vfwaux9760.org.)

The forum will provide attendees a chance to hear from health care professionals, mental health support agencies, and law enforcement representatives who are familiar with the specific challenges facing veterans and first responders. This panel of experts will talk about the signs and symptoms of PTSD, available treatment options, resources to consider, and other related matters.

Suicide, which often results from an individual’s long-term struggle with PTSD, will be discussed. Suicide prevention concepts and the personal recovery process for individuals who have lost a loved one to suicide (as well as ways to help those experiencing a loss as a result of suicide) will be discussed in detail.

The event is free and open to the public. According to a recent release from the organization’s executive officer, President Patricia “Pat” Dickinson, “If you are a veteran or first responder, or if you are the family member or friend of one, then this event is of particular importance to you.”

The doors will open at 10am, and the forum itself starts at 10:30am. Attendees are invited to enjoy lunch while learning more about local agencies and organizations serving and supporting veterans, first responders, and the community at a small expo immediately following the event. Individuals requiring more information should email presaux9760@va.vfwaux.com. Attending will be educational, but it may also provide insight and information that could help you to save a life or improve the quality of life for someone struggling with PTSD.

Preview Events Anticipate The Gathering

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By Claire Stuart

Since the advent of organized agriculture, human societies have had one thing in common—they have given thanks for a successful harvest by celebrating with feasts, song and dance.

The Gathering, coming up October 30 through November 1 at the Clarke County Fairground, is billed as “An Experiment in Humanity.”  More than just a harvest festival with food and music, it will be an exciting, educational, multicultural celebration, showcasing the cultures and contributions of Native American people and promoting friendship, community, volunteerism, art and sustainable living.

Rene White, retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, Native American, and tireless community volunteer, has been a driving force in bringing the Native American Church of Virginia Sanctuary on the Trail™ and the Virginia Lovers’ Gourd Society together to co-host The Gathering.

“Indian people are still living,” declared White, “This is about more than just how they used to live.”

There will beIndian dancers, storytelling and drumming, and living history demonstrations. There will be fun and educational programs for kids and teachers, gourd craft workshops, arts and crafts, displays, vendors, and a special tribute to military veterans and uniformed service members.

Several preview events will be held before The Gathering.

 

Right Now:  Sign up early for gourd craft classes led by outstanding gourd artists, to be held at The Gathering. Visit the Virginia Lovers’ Gourd Society web site for details on the classes and instructors: vlgs.org

 

September 26, 9:00 AM- 3:00 PM: Smithsonian Museum Live Day at Clermont Farm 

And Volunteer Day for The Gathering – Meeting 3:00-5:00 PM

In conjunction with the Smithsonian, a mini Harvest Gathering with a Native American drum circle, story telling, music and dance throughout the day.  Tribal maps on sale. Guided tours of the slave quarters and main house.

Anyone interested in volunteering at The Gathering is invited to stay after the event for a meeting at 3:00 PM.

 

September 15 – October 1:  Three Sisters Regional Art Challenge Submissions Due 

Artists are invited to submit digital images for consideration for the art show and sale. In Native American culture, the Three Sisters represent corn, pole beans and winter squash (or gourds), grown together in harmony. The artwork does not have to depict the plants but can illustrate what three powerful things mean to you. Categories of media are practically unlimited (even including motorcycles). Artwork that is accepted will be entered in the Three Sisters Gallery Show and Sale in the Barns of Rose Hill, October 17 through November 21. Details are available on The Gathering web site: harvestgathering.org

 

October 17, 8:00 am-noon:  Clarke County Farmers Market -Taste Test of Indian Frybread

Kim Ragland, owner of Boyd’s Nest Restaurant, will be demonstrating frybread, a skill she learned from tribal elders. Ragland explained that frybread is not a traditional Native American food. Instead, it originated of necessity in hard times, when Native Americans were forced from their homes to reservations and the government gave them meager food rations.

“They needed to make something nourishing,” said Ragland, “and the result was frybread. Various tribes had their own takes on it. Some deep fried it, some pan fried it, some sweetened it, some didn’t.”

 

October 17 Events at Barns of Rose Hill:

Three Sisters Art Show and Sale opens

2:00 PM:  Documentary Film “It’s a Good Day to Die” and presentation by renowned Native American leader, lecturer, author and activist Dennis Banks.

Dennis Banks co-founded the American Indian Movement (A.I.M.) in 1968 to call attention to the plight of urban Indians in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The film depicts his life and the rise and fall of the movement. Banks will be on hand to discuss the film and his life.

After the presentation, Kim Ragland will serve a 3-Sisters Stew with corn bread. She describes it as a traditional Native American dish from the marriage of corn, beans and winter squash, a healthy stew that provides a complete balance of protein and vitamins.

Evening  – Indian “rocky soul” music, concert by Dark Water Rising.

 

Call for volunteers:

Rene White announced that volunteers and interns are needed to assist before, during and after The Gathering. Any strength, ability or talent you can offer will be welcome. Jobs vary from carrying heavy equipment, installing structures and lighting to hospitality, writing, filming and photography, graphic design and more.  Donations of hay and pumpkins are also welcome.  .

Visit The Gathering web site for information on volunteering and internships.  harvestgathering.org

Creatures of the Night to Benefit the BRWC

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By Victoria Kidd

Five years of rallying the community has paid off for the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center, but the need for support is as constant as the flow of injured and ill wildlife coming through its doors. The center (commonly referred to as the BRWC) has spent the past five years raising funds for an ambitious capital campaign and educating the community about the valuable work they have been doing since they opened their doors in 2004. Since then, this well-respected 501(c)(3) non-profit organization has diligently pursued its mission to “ensure the preservation of native wildlife in areas where development has destroyed habitat and endangered wildlife.”

In 2014 alone, 1,883 individual animals crossed the threshold of the unassuming 200-year-old cottage that currently houses the center. The cottage is owned by the Burwell-van Lennep Foundation, an organization that was established to protect a large tract of unique, historic land in Clarke County. It grants the BRWC free use of the structure and 18 acres of land surrounding it. (More information about the Foundation can be found at bvlfoundation.blogspot.com.)

While the structure—complete with its iconic country blue front door—has served their purposes, its footprint is limited in size, and it has the small, sectioned-off layout of a house built in the time before electricity and other modern conveniences.  In short, the 800-sqaure-foot space is clean and organized, but cramped and inadequate.

In that space (and the surrounding animal enclosures constructed purposefully for their work) the center saves the lives of everything from bats and baby squirrels to raccoons and bald eagles. The menagerie of animals may be as different as night and day, but they all are forever linked as patients of the center. The length of their stay and the treatment modalities applied vary, but most of them will eventually be released back into the wild.

Those who are injured seriously enough to impede their ability to live on their own in the wild may be given a job as an “animal ambassador.” Those ambassadors may take part in educational programs and outreach efforts that increase awareness of environmental issues, habitat destruction, and other problems facing area wildlife. The work is ambitious and complex, yet the team, being fully committed to the mission, makes the best of available resources and space while looking forward to what the future holds.

That future is being made possible through an active and ambitious capital campaign aimed at building a 4,000-sqaure-foot, state-of-the-art treatment facility on the same property. It has simultaneously needed to continue its fundraising efforts to simply fuel daily operations. According to its most recent newsletter, “The Center relies on private donations exclusively. It receives no funding from federal, state, or local governments.”

As such, tax-deductible donations are the lifeblood of its operations, including the onsite treatment and rehabilitation of animals and numerous educational programs throughout the region. In addition to education provided through partnerships with local schools and organizations, they also offer internships and mentoring opportunities to the next generation of animal conservation enthusiasts. Their role in rehabilitation and education is crucial, as there are only a handful of similar operations in the state.

The public’s support of that work comes in many forms, including cash donations. Other opportunities to support their efforts are announced regularly on their website (www.blueridgewildlife.org) or through their Facebook page. From participation in fundraisers championed by area businesses to regularly occurring “baby showers” (where supporters bring in items needed for the care of the center’s patients), everyone can find some way to get involved.

In September, those opportunities include the annual Creatures of the Night Soirée, an event in its 5th year. This elegant evening includes an auction that affords attendees a chance to take home a $35,500 bronze sculpture by world-renowned artist Lorenzo Ghiglieri, a pair of stunning earrings valued at $4,450, a Jamaican getaway worth $5,000, and other items. The silent and live auctions take place around the evening’s other features, including a cocktail reception, a buffet-style dinner, and musical entertainment.

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Ferrari of White Post are hosting the event on the evening of September 26, and the BRWC stands to benefit from the funds raised throughout the night. Numerous individuals and families in the area are event patrons at levels ranging from $500 to $5,000. The thousands raised annually are used to ensure the future of our region’s wildlife, according to the official invite, and this limited-seating event is usually one of the regional highlights of September.

For more information on this event, contact Director of Development Franny Crawford at (540) 550-3057. Moreover, consider following the BRWC on Facebook. You’ll find that their regular introductions to the wildlife receiving care will certainly help to put a face—be it covered in fur, surrounded by feathers, or tucked away in a shell—to a few neighbors who could use our help.