Wake Up, It’s Later Than You Think!

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As the Crow Flies

Story and illustration by Doug Pifer

March sneaks up on me. I still consider it the beginning of nature’s year when the earliest spring birds and flowers appear. But now there’s a somber side to nature’s awakening, an odd, empty feeling, like waking up to discover I forgot to set the alarm clock. Time has passed while I’ve been snoozing. What did I miss and why is it so quiet? For one thing, migrating grackles and red-winged blackbirds used to pass overhead a week later than they do now. And I used to see many more of them. Titmice, cardinals and mourning doves once serenaded the dawn while robins caroled softly. Just ahead of sunrise as spring advanced, birdsong swelled across the country like a wave. That daily chorus has diminished into a trio or maybe a quartet. Rachel Carson predicted a “Silent Spring” in 1970. In 2020 that day is nearly upon us. Insects once heralded the spring. Today hardly a bee buzzes to greet the earliest daffodil or crocus. Where are the flocks of midges that used to dance in clusters on sunny days? I can’t remember the last time I saw that dark spring butterfly, the mourning cloak, open and close its buff-edged wings in the March sun. Where are the ants when I sit in the grass and where are the first chirping crickets? I miss hearing frogs and toads. As March warms the winter nights, I hear a peep or two instead of a deafening chorus of spring peepers. I’ve lost some of my hearing but it’s not only that. The serenades of toads trilling and frogs clucking from temporary spring pools are fading from memory, like popular songs that are now golden oldies. When I was young, the February story of the groundhog digging out of its burrow to see its shadow became vivid to me when I watched a newly awakened groundhog lumber across a field in search of a mate, weeks before the grass started to turn green.  Mention “Groundhog Day” to most people and they think of a 1993 movie. How many people today would recognize a real groundhog if they saw one? How did we get here?  Too many of us, as a species, believe and act as if we exist outside of the natural world. We cling to the old pioneer ethic of “man against nature.” This outlook has been destructive and self-defeating.  It’s natural for us, as animals, to do what we can to meet our needs. Farming, building, manufacturing and commerce come naturally to us. But we distance ourselves from the negative consequences of these actions. And we talk about “the environment” as if it’s home for our fellow creatures but not for us. We need to realize it’s our environment too. We’re part of, not separate from, nature. It is arrogant and incorrect to think or act as if we have a superior role in the web of life. To repair the harm we’ve done our atmosphere, water and soil requires us to reclaim our natural role as stewards of the earth. This planet is our home and we’re all responsible for its care. Wake up. It’s later than you think.

Holistic Mental Health Therapy Comes to Berryville

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By Geo Derick Giordano

The Sanctuary Wellness Center welcomed a new therapist to our community of holistic health practitioners. Terri George, M.ED, LPC joins us after working for three decades in community mental health and psychiatric hospital settings. Ms. George states, “I’ve seen how counseling can help people who are in crisis or are working through personal problems such as past trauma, mental illness, grief, or relationship issues. Blending an integrative approach to wellness in my therapy practice here at the Sanctuary WC in Berryville allows me the opportunity to enhance the benefits of talk therapy and traditional psychiatric medication with holistic strategies that address the body as a whole. It can increase one’s self efficacy, and help us to discover the healing capacity that we all innately possess. A therapist’s role is to ask the right questions, to help you consider and progressively make the changes necessary to enjoy a healthier state of mind, body, spirit and a better quality of life.”As a licensed professional counselor, Terri believes that a variety of approaches are needed for the uniqueness of the individuals she serves. Her particular skill sets include general adult mental health issues and disorders, co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders with a focus on 12-step facilitation, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, meditation, tapping and trauma informed recovery. She is looking forward to being certified in equine assisted psychotherapy (EAP) later this year. She explains, “The integrative resources available for me to do my work at the Sanctuary are invaluable and I value the experience, wisdom and insight of a truly diverse group of holistic counselors. Included are Registered Medical Herbalists, and specialists certified in Nutrition, Homeopathy, Energy medicine, Meditation, Yoga, Reiki, Shiatsu, Cranial-sacral, Massage & Music therapies, and Ayurvedic health counseling. These holistic options & classes offered here in Berryville are some of the many strategies that can make a positive difference in our lives.” Ms. George explains, “My hope is to understand and appreciate what’s most important to my clients, to help them establish positive and measurable goals, to prescribe interventions that service those goals and that address the physical aspects, spiritual components and the psychological and mental issues that they identify.” 

To learn more about her, you may go to the website: sanctuaryberryville.com/services/music-therapy counseling/#terri-george. To find out about rates, or to schedule a session with Terri, email her at tmgeorge126@gmail.com.

The Berryville Beat

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Well, Berryville, we have reached the end of the year and the holiday season is upon us. We wish you and your family a safe and happy end to the year.

The end of the year is always a time to reflect, but also look ahead. One of the exciting projects we are looking forward to in 2020 is a revamped John Rixey Moore playground in Rose Hill Park. The project entails keeping many of our popular playground features, and making some necessary updates.

Central to the project is the replacement of the current playset structure. The current structure is expected to be removed sometime in December. In its place will be a new play structure ideal for ages 5 to 12 years old, with slides and climbing structures. 

We have made sure to maintain some of the current playground’s biggest draws. The four-seated seesaw and riding horses will remain, though they will be repainted to match the new play structure. New diggers will be installed. The swing set structure will remain, but with new swings — including two that are ideal for younger riders — and new chains. It will also be repainted. 

There will be some new additions to accommodate our younger residents and visitors. There will be a stationary car, a basketball goal and musical equipment, all appropriate for children aged 2 to 5. 

For those sunny days, we hope you will appreciate the installation of a shade structure, fixed to a picnic table, to provide some relief from the heat. As part of this project, we will also seal and re-line the basketball court, and make some improvements to the central feature of the park, the gazebo. All told, our total budget for this project is not to exceed $60,000.

The construction schedule is extremely weather dependent, as one can imagine, but we anticipate completion by late winter or early spring. We look forward to the warmer weather when town families and visitors, young and older, can enjoy the playground and the park. We anticipate a grand opening celebration sometime in the spring.

This monthly column is authored by the members of the Berryville Town Council. For more information on town government, including meetings, agendas, and contact information for the Town Council and town staff, visit www.berryvilleva.gov.

81 Outfitters Opens in Winchester

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By Claire Stuart
It’s possible to find fashionable clothes that are affordable, but the shopping experience in big box stores can be frustrating. A store can simply be too big. It becomes an exhausting chore to push your way through crammed spaces full of crowds of shoppers.  You have to rummage through too many bulging racks trying to find what you’re looking for, with no store personnel handy to help you find it or answer your questions.

In October, 81 Outfitters opened their doors in Winchester, providing affordable, stylish clothes for women, men and children. It is not part of a chain but rather a family-owned business operated by Jeff Moen, Chris Bryce, and their families. 

The store is bright and airy and the displays are attractive and placed for comfortable, leisurely shopping. Someone will always be right there with a smile and a greeting when you walk in the door.

“Each one of us can say hello!” says Bryce.

“You get the same feeling as when you shop in a higher-end store,” Moen adds,  “and you don’t have to work to find our stuff.” 

After operating for three years on-line, an excellent location in Apple Valley Square became available where 81 Outfitters could open their brick-and-mortar store.  The shopping center includes a large discount grocery store and gets a lot of traffic.

Asked how they hope to compete with established local big-box discount stores, they explained that rather than trying to compete, they are filling a niche. Their aim is to be the affordable clothing store that provides a relaxed, personal shopping experience.

Moen explains that they buy their merchandise from liquidation centers. Much of it is what you see in high-end stores but just out-of-season, as those stores get ready for the next season.  This can remedy a problem that has always frustrated shoppers—you realize your kids need new winter coats but stores are sold out and already showing spring clothes.

“We want to be an in-season store,” says Moen.  

He reports that they put out 200 to 250 new items every day, five days a week. As a new store, they continue to ask their customers what they want to see. “We look at what we sold and buy more of that. We’ve sold a lot of coats, and we’re trying to get a lot more coats.   We just tried selling shoes, and people are asking for more shoes. We take note of the things customers ask about. ”

Moen gestured to a pile of earrings that he’d been sorting for a new display. “We’re trying earrings,” he said, “and we’ll see how they go. We’ll be carrying women’s hats, and we’re figuring out how to display them.  We build a lot of our
own displays.”

A lot of thought went into the décor, and the store has a modern industrial feel, casual yet welcoming.  “The ceiling is black,” Moen pointed out, “and it’s white in most other stores.”  He explained that the black paint absorbs sound to prevent echoes from the high ceiling.  He noted that most of the merchandise is displayed on racks designed by his son Tyler, using wooden pallets as the end supports.  “All of our stuff comes in on pallets, so we are building with them. We want to be as green as possible. We aren’t corporate, so we can have fun.”

You will find affordable prices at 81 Outfitters on top name clothing like Polo, Ralph Lauren, Levi, Tommy Hilfigerer and more, at prices 60-90% below the major big box stores.  Check in often to see what new merchandise has just come in.

“And have a cup of free coffee,” added Bryce. “We have a coffee station. Just ask!”

Take Time To Appreciate Our Community And Those Who Serve Us

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By J.C. Moore

There is nothing like a debilitating injury to kick in a reflective mood. ‘Flying branch meets knee’ has had me on the meditation bench for over a week. The crisis is over, and now it’s the droll work of healing and what it takes to do that. The usual heat and ice, a little ibuprofen, moderate movement—all help. The good side is that pulling out all the stops for full-on healing brought me closer to things that matter most, and often get taken for granted. Amazing how many of the usual distractions and priorities are just not so important. The good things come to light, the real antidepressants: relax, breathe, check the attitude and where the 
energies go. 

Be aware of the ones you’re feeding. There has been a lot of pain, but how it’s dealt with is a choice. There is plenty to feel good about; choose to focus on the progress rather than what was lost, relieved it wasn’t worse. Extra time at home is always nice, maybe now I’ll get that house cleaning done (maybe).

I’m reminded of the things of everyday life we should not forget. Most obvious are the loved ones that get you through these things. They can even be people you didn’t know you knew. How reassuring it is just knowing they’re around, and magically how they appear when you need them. 

And also the less obvious things you love, that inspire and touch your soul, bring you uplifting energy. For me it’s music and Tai Chi. Both for the joy of learning and ‘grounding’, reconnection to the original creative energies, also those ‘forever’ projects. You know those great ideas that may take forever—junk sculptures, great homemade wine, the masterpiece you want to paint. But that’s alright. It’s the joy of doing them, and not necessarily the result, but the good space they create. That’s the inner space.

But without the outer space of community to ground it, there would be little comprehensive meaning. I never stop marveling at this beautiful environment we live in. After all the years and changes, I still find this place breathtaking when I stop and take the time to notice. I take comfort just being in town, the farmers market where families (Fido included) come to partake of the wonderful provisions of local farmers and craft persons, the coffee shop experience for lovers of socializing and caffeine, eateries etc.

It’s hard to not gush with pride when speaking with those who come to the Barns for the first time. “This community is amazing!” I tell them. It’s very active, diverse, and has a lot to be proud of. We are capable of so many things. If more localities could have what we do, humanity would be profoundly better off. This grounding is our foundation. 

What makes it possible? Where do we get the freedom and peace of mind to do all of this? Much of it is about those who are always there, 24/7, dependably, no matter what. The “first responders,” those quietly working behind the scenes, ready for anything. If community was a school of fish, they’d be the water. 

I’ve started volunteering at the local Policeman’s Appreciation Awards Banquet for the last several years, and have gotten a better perspective of what these people actually do and who they are. Some I’ve known for decades, but most are new to me. Now, I’m not exactly “Mr. Law & Order,” but if these members of our community can be out there every day of the year, at least I can carry things around and set up some chairs once a year to show that I do appreciate them.

Like the natural environment, we have great resources in those dedicated to protecting us. I want everyone to realize how good we have it. It’s easy for “news” of the world to give us distorted perceptions. With media’s obsession to sensationalize the news, there’s a tendency to internalize negative things around us. But let’s remember where we are. Here, our sheriff is elected by us with much deserved popularity and respect. We often get good “face time” with our deputies and officers in casual settings. Even though it may be fleeting or go unnoticed, don’t underestimate the importance of this recognition.

We can all benefit by making more intentional contact, like complementing a friend just to make their day better. It doesn’t cost anything, but gives so much return!

The awards banquet brought to awareness that these people are not all about the dramas of sensational “cop stories,” though sometimes it does get like that. They risk their lives everyday. But the care-taker aspect of how proactive they are in preventing problems in the first place is understated, like the creative genius that enables them to de-escalate domestic violence and handle a serious drug overdose, restore functionality to a traffic accident, education programs for the public—it never seems to stop.

The awards for administrative improvements and things that just make them better coordinated and functional demonstrate how these agencies are constantly improving themselves. The different enforcement agencies in the area, including Clarke County, Fredrick County, Berryville and Mount Weather, had previously not been communicating much before these gatherings. Now they are more familiar with each other and their operational procedures. It’s reassuring to know that in the event of a catastrophe, the local agencies are prepared for a 
unified response.

But what I like most about the ceremony is that it is homegrown. Social and formal, it’s attended by many of the local and state politicians. Like many things in the community, someone saw a need, got others on board, and it grew. It was spawned out of the Horseshoe Curve Benevolent Association under the dedicated ministry of Jim Wink, who deserves special recognition for his tireless efforts.

Don’t wait until you’re knocked down to say “thanks” to those who are there for you.