Archive for HAGARTY TALES
Founder of White Grass Ski Touring Center widely known and beloved
Wild, wonderful West Virginia? True enough. But the state’s slogan might also fittingly apply to Chip Chase. Chase is the whirling dervish owner of White Grass and is everywhere present at one of the most popular cross-country skiing centers in the Nation.
Chip Chase
Almost 25 years ago the Washington Post named it one of the best ten Nordic ski areas in the country. Chase hasn’t taken his foot off his snowy gas pedal since. If you are looking for the perfect definition of authenticity, then a trip to White Grass is de rigueur.
Nestled on the northern slope of Cabin Mountain in Davis, W.Va., the resort is one of the oldest “free-heeling” ski venues in the country opening in 1979. More impressively, its current lodge dates to 1959 when it served as an early downhill ski resort.
The magic starts when you step into the lodge and simultaneously back in time. All in one footfall. Chances are good Chase will be there to greet you. “Hey, good to see you.” Typically followed by a wave, handshake or hug.
His voice is so distinct you can hear it above the raucous din of a packed lodge when you think they can’t possibly get another skier inside the small building. His banter bounces around the room like a laser light show: “You do the same!” “Want a sip of shine?” (seriously) “Go pick out a pair of boots, we’ll make a deal.” “Conditions are ideal. Get out there and ski!” And on and on.
The man was vaccinated with a phonograph needle as evidenced by his nonstop chatter. But what you are really hearing is the sound of love coming from him and ricocheting back from his legion of fans.
“I just love people. People turn me on. They just get me excited. If I see somebody I know, I get a rush in my body. I just want to hug them.
Chip’s mom Janie
“I learned that from my Mom, Janie, who was super friendly. She taught me everything I know about loving people. I just happen to be in the kind of business where that works,” said Chase.
To reinforce his mother’s influence, her photo, taken in 1948 and holding a set of ski poles, is prominently displayed in the lodge. A beautiful woman with Chase’s knowing smile.
In the beginning
So how did a self-described “Air Force brat” grow up to become the owner of a legendary ski resort? First, with Chase “grow up” is loosely defined both emotionally and physically. The “Chipper”, 65, is a slim, athletic man who has never won the tallest man in the room contest.
And secondly, if someone told Chase he had to grow up when he was young, it’s likely he would have suggested where they could stick the idea. Yes, he’s successful. Yes, he’s a savvy businessman. And yes, he’s a loving husband and father of a daughter and three sons.
But he would emphatically refuse to wear a “grown-up” label that might be taken as the aura of conventionality. His badge of honor is childlike exuberance. And it’s contagious.
As a young lad, he traveled the world as the son of an Air Force father who was a downhill skier and sportsman. Chase first learned to ski in Alaska and Colorado while the family lived there but later gave the sport up.
“Then one winter I went up to New England to visit my sister and I got turned on to cross-country skiing. I was 19. My whole family was downhill skiers. There weren’t many cross-country skiers back then,” said Chase. “It was like people felt sorry for you if you cross-country skied.”
Back home in Virginia, he met his second wife. “Laurie and I had three boys together and have been married almost 40 years. I had had a previous marriage and it was awesome and I have a wonderful daughter from that marriage.”
Chase lived in Northern Virginia while his father worked at the Pentagon and Laurie originally hailed from Strasburg. But the young suburban couple loved country living and moved to the Shenandoah Valley, got married and set up a, “sorta homesteading life together.”
“We were into a kind of subsistence living. I was a back-to-the-lander and worked all kinds of jobs; carpentry, apple picking, chimney sweep. I did a little bit of everything to make ends meet.”
From the suburbs to living in the mountains is where the White Grass journey began. Chase’s emerging love of cross-country triggered an idea to start a ski place around Harrisonburg, Virginia. Unfortunately, nature did not cooperate with sufficient natural snow.
Hearing that Canaan Valley W. VA. had reliable snowfalls, he discovered an old downhill ski resort south of Davis that had success written all over its weathered facade. Almost four decades later, the genius of not tearing the original building down but turning it into a homey, retro cross-country venue is evident to thousands of his loyal skiers.
As the ski operation took off, a café was opened to feed the growing kick and glide crowd. Its food reputation is equal to the skiing resulting in popular cookbooks written by his wife Laurie, who heads up the kitchen.
Chase says, “The café is great. We serve international cuisine focused on healthy foods. Its operation is subsidized by ski revenues. “We never tell the kitchen there are too many expensive ingredients. We just tell them one thing. Cook! And to never hurry up.
“The café is a no-brainer. Skiers come in here so hungry after skiing they’re chewing their arm off.”
As White Grass sets its sights on its 50th anniversary Chase says, “I feel pretty healthy. I eat well. I sleep well and I don’t have many physical ailments. The farmer that I rent this land from is 97 years old and going strong; 65 is today’s 45.
“We started with a simple goal and if you take baby steps toward reaching such a goal it makes it even better when you achieve it. It’s so much fun,” said a grinning Chase.
White Grass ski resort is opened whenever the snow flies or lays packed on its trails. If you don’t cross-country ski, consider renting top quality equipment and taking a lesson. Or rent or bring your snowshoes and explore the 18 miles of mountain and pasture trails.
Oh, and bring your appetite.
For the complete White Grass story, including trail conditions and webcam photos drop by https://whitegrass.com/
Published in the February 13, 2019 edition of the Fauquier Times.
Culpeper shop showcasing upscale coffee and bikes
Let’s pretend you’re an entrepreneur looking to start a small business with lots of potential. What might you consider? Gift shop? Restaurant? Pet grooming? Microbrewery? Self-Storage?
All good choices.
But what if you had the opportunity and experience to open two linked businesses with a potential customer base of 250 million Americans who enjoyed your products? Your business plan would brighten considerably.
Such a shop is thriving in Culpeper centered on two staples: coffee and bicycles. And both items are focused on audiences with upscale tastes. Or more accurately, folks who may not know they have high-end tastes until they experience the products for sale.
Welcome to 18 Grams Coffee Labs and VeloConcepts. It’s a twofer business. Open one door and walk into two shops; artisanal coffee on one side and high-performance bikes on the other.
The eclectic business model is the brainchild of Joe Coppola, a high energy guy with an idea never far from his active imagination. Linking coffee and bikes evolved as he sought to build and expand his business.
There are 150 million coffee lovers in the U.S. and 100 million bike riders so the potential is obvious.
Today Piedmont residents can score an exceptional cup of java and a pedal machine of the highest caliber under the same roof at 201 Waters Place #110 in Culpeper.
Coppola, 46, labors as an IT professional during the day while overseeing his two passions. “About four years ago I started a bike shop called VeloConcepts. I carry high-end boutique bikes. I don’t cater to kids and lower cost bikes,” said Coppola.
The reason is he grew up racing both road and mountain bikes beginning in his college days and realized there was a market for riders with similar interests. “It was my way to give back to the cycling community. Over the years I had gained weight and gotten out of shape. I got reinvigorated getting back into cycling.”
As part of his shop, he always had coffee available for visiting customers. “I thought it was better to offer them a cup of coffee or expresso as opposed to saying, ‘What do you want to buy from me’. I was into quality coffee and thought it was just a small thing to provide as part of my customer service.”
The bike shop was opened in 2014 but a year and a half later he learned he was going to lose his lease. He began a hunt for another shop and located an old apple warehouse that needed considerable work to suit his needs. It also expanded his retail space from the original 700 square foot store to 2,500 square feet.
“It was going to be tough to support such a large space just selling bikes. There’s a big-time tie in between cycling and coffee and I said, ‘Let’s open a café as part of the bike shop.’ I also didn’t want to be on Main Street because the expectation is you’d be able to find lower priced bikes there and I don’t deal in that kind of product.”
What do high-performance cycles cost? Be prepared to pay anywhere from $1,500 for an entry level machine up to $11,000. If it helps, think Tour de France.
The bike shop also sports $50,000 in fitting equipment to enable bikes to be custom fitted to each rider. In addition to recreational riders, professional racing cyclists from throughout the mid-Atlantic region call VeloConcepts home.
The Waters Place location also enabled Coppola to safely launch customer bike rides headed out of town without dealing with heavy downtown traffic.
Café
Coffee is coffee, right? Not so fast. If you told Coppola that, he’d leap off his bike to share the fuller story with you. “We serve third wave coffee and expresso and get our product from a roaster company in North Carolina called Counter Culture Coffee.”
Third wave coffee is a movement to produce high-quality coffee as an artisanal foodstuff, much like wine and craft beer. It involves improvements at all stages of production, from coffee plant growing, harvesting, and processing, to stronger relationships between coffee growers, traders, and roasters.
The coffee side of the business is called 18 Grams Coffee Lab because of the technique used to brew the cuppa. “It takes 18 grams in a filter basket to produce espresso and coffee. It’s a scientific method to ensure the perfect cup each and every time.
“We are very temperamental and weigh and measure everything that goes into our recipes. We actually go down to the hundredth gram to make a perfect blend or 18.4 grams per cup.
“We also feature a wide range of seasonal epicurean toasts, healthy starts, and house-made sandwiches, pastries and sweets. We often get comments such as, ‘This is the best cup of coffee I’ve ever tasted,’” said Coppola.
Never willing to rest on his coffee beans, the café recently launched a series of flavored brews that are produced to replicate a craft cocktail bar except coffee and lattes are the prized drinks.
One new offering is the campfire s’mores latte. It consists of graham cracker infused milk with homemade chocolate and marshmallow. The drink is then placed in a smoke infuser box to produce a smoked hickory flavor drink replicating a campfire s’more treat but snuggled inside a 12-ounce cup. It’s served with a signature food item.
Coffee hounds should not expect to drop by and just grab a cup and run. These handcrafted drinks may take up to 10 minutes to produce providing time to gaze at the sleek racing bikes on the other side of the shop.
In summing up his passion for life and business, Coppola said, “Anything I can sink my teeth into and gain more knowledge of while educating my customers is what I’m all about.”
What his customers are all about are enjoying the fruits of his labors. For a sneak peek into this unique café and bike emporium visit: https://www.veloconcepts.com/ and https://www.18gramscoffeelab.com/
Published in the February 6, 2019 edition of the Fauquier Times.
Young People’s Concert showcases tomorrow’s stars
Discovering something before the world does can create a long-term thrill. Seeing Tiger Woods golf at age 6. Watching Tom Cruise in a 4th-grade school play. Listening to Taylor Swift warbling as a 14-year-old.
Such experiences deepen as the years roll by because one couldn’t have known what the future held for those young phenoms.
On February 17 residents throughout the Piedmont will have an opportunity to bank an experience they too may look back on in the years ahead. Three talented student musicians will be performing in the Young People’s Concert at the Highland Center for the Arts.
The concert is one of many programs sponsored by the Piedmont Symphony Orchestra. Founded in 1996 as the Piedmont Regional Orchestra by Conductor Emeritus Michael A. Hughes, it performs in the Rice Theater at the Highland Center for the Arts.
Dozens of musical performances have been held over the last two decades providing a legion of music lovers a wide variety of entertainment. Think of it as the “Piedmont Kennedy Center”.
Glenn Quader is the music director and conductor and has worked over the past 13 years to build paid membership, strengthen volunteer participation and collaborate with a host of local art organizations to further the goals of the PSO.
Cooper Wright, former president of the PSO board of directors, said, “In 2001 the symphony decided to begin its young artist competition. It provides students throughout the region the opportunity to compete for scholarship prizes.
“The program works by students wishing to compete submitting a piece of their music on CD. We have a panel of judges that review their submittals and then they select the top three.”
The young talent is drawn from 11 counties in the Piedmont region. This year six finalists performed before a panel of music experts who then selected the final three who will perform in February.
Each young musician plays a separate piece during the first half of the performance. Then a panel of judges experienced in working with young people huddle and select the third, second and first place winners.
At the conclusion of the second half of the show, the master of ceremonies announces the winners. The scholarships provide $1,500, $750 and $500 checks for college studies. Since the program began in 2001, over $40,000 has been contributed to talented local students’ educations.
This year the Grand Canyon Suite by Ferde Grofé will be the featured performance.
In addition to the music, student artists will be selected to have their art projected on a screen during the concert, enlivening the show with visual themes drawn from the symphony. The multimedia effect heightens the audience’s enjoyment of the orchestral piece.
The opportunity for these young musicians to play alongside accomplished members of the PSO broadens their experience of performing in a live concert setting.
The talent
This year’s three young musicians hail from Gainesville, King George, and Fauquier County. Here’s a peek at the talent you’ll be missing if you don’t’ score tickets for this upcoming concert.
Thomas Se-Roam Kim
Thomas Se-Roam Kim is a freshman at Battlefield High School in Prince William County. He began his piano studies at the age of 7 under Dr. MiHyang Joo at her home studio in Centreville, Virginia.
Kim started off last season with a 1st Place win at the 2018 Asian American Music Society International Piano Competition. He has won all three of their divisions (Peewee 2014, Junior 2017, Senior 2018). His accomplishments were acknowledged during the winner’s concert and was gifted the audience award. This is his second year returning as the PSO Young Artist Concerto Competition finalist.
Kim was the 1st Prize Winner of 2018 James A. Bland Music Competition at the club, regional, and at district levels. He advanced to the state finals representing district 24-A, where he finished second place. He also finished second place at the 2018 William Knabe International Young Artist Piano Competition.
Kim has won various competitions including the 2018 East Carolina Young Artist Piano Competition, the 2016 and 2018 Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association Piano Achievement Awards, the 2016 and 2017 Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association, Robert Spencer Piano Concerto Competition, and the 2017 Richmond Symphony Orchestra League Concerto Competition.
He was also the Grand Prize Winner of the 2017 American Fine Arts Festival International Concerto Competition where he was invited to perform at the Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall.
Kim has performed at venues such as the Jazz at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, The Mansion at Strathmore, and at the Hylton Performing Arts Center as the featured solo violinist performing Antonio Vivaldi’s Four Seasons Winter with the Manassas Symphony Orchestra during their 2016 Winter Concert.
Kelsey Payne
Kelsey Payne is a 16-year-old from King George. Since August 2016, she has been a student of Ricardo Cyncynates, assistant concertmaster with the National Symphony Orchestra. She is the youngest of four children all who are string players.
Payne started piano lessons at age four and took up the violin at age eight. Through the years, she has enjoyed playing with many ensembles. She participated with Fredericksburg Area Young Musicians, Awards for Young Musicians, Youth Orchestra of Prince William, and the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestra.
She currently plays with her siblings in the Mary Washington Philharmonic Orchestra and the Payne Quartet.
For three out of the last four years, Payne has had the honor of sitting as concertmaster for North Central Virginia’s Regional Orchestra. She has also participated in the All Virginia State Orchestra for the past three years, placing third and then second overall respectively in 2017 and 2018.
Patrick Smith
Smith is a senior at Kettle Run High School. He began playing saxophone in the 7th grade and started private study in 9th-grade. He has participated in the Kettle Run marching band, jazz band, and wind ensemble for the past four years.
Smith was chosen for the District Band during all four years of high school, making the 1st chair in the district for the past three years, as well as participating in the University of South Carolina Honor Band Clinic in 2017 and 2018. He also made the prestigious Honor Band in 2017, All-County Jazz Band, and Tri-County Band for all four years of high school.
He further made the 2017 and 2018 All-VA Concert Band groups, placing 7th and 6th in the entire state. He made the cut for the 2017 and 2018 All-VA Jazz groups, placing 2nd and 4th.
Smith was a student at the Summer Residential Governor’s School for Visual and Performing Arts for saxophone performance. He wishes to continue to study music at a prestigious university and turn music into his career.
The opportunity to see these three talents in person should not be missed. In the years ahead you may well claim, “I saw them in the beginning.”
Tickets for the upcoming Young People’s Concert on Sunday, February 17 at 3 p.m. at Highland Center for the Arts in Warrenton can be obtained at this ticket window: http://demetersoft.net/piedmontsymphony/tickets/show_listing.php
Published in the January 27, 2019 edition of the Fauquier Times.
Warrenton gym up and “running”
What’s your most prized possession? A classic car? Lush lawn? Beautiful home? Sleek boat?
None of the above. The most precious thing we all possess is our body. Without health, lives suffer. Even those struggling with disease and handicaps seek to maximize health and enjoy life.
So it’s good news that the fastest growing gym franchise on the planet has chosen Warrenton as its next location. It’s an auspicious event for those seeking to maintain optimum physical conditioning.
Of course, heading off to a gym to get in shape is just one of several ways to stay healthy. But the discipline and support available at a professionally run health club offers an edge to achieving the often-elusive healthy body.
The force behind the new venture is the Parsons family. Richie and Carissa are the parents of four children ranging in age from six years to two months. The family lives in Leesburg and owns four other Anytime Fitness gyms; two in Pa. and two in W.Va.
Richie Parsons, 34, hails from W.VA. and grew up learning the gym trade from his father. “My dad owned a gym and I became interested in owning and running a business in high school. This is our first business foray into Va.,” said Parsons.
The new facility is located in the former RadioShack store in the Warrenton Village Center but has been expanded by converting two adjacent stores into one 6,400 square foot emporium to health.
The concept behind Anytime Fitness is underscored by its name. Whenever a club member wishes to work out the facility is open; 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round.
Sounds like any excuse not to exercise just evaporated.
Entry into the gym is through the use of a key chain fob used to scan the lock. The door remains unlocked for about five seconds so only one person at a time can gain entry.
“It’s a very secure facility. A member could come out at two o’clock on Christmas morning and get a workout in,” said Parsons. More often members elect to train during conventional hours. Once it’s up and running up to 200 member visits a day are anticipated.
In addition to individual exercisers, trainers and coaches will run group training sessions throughout the week. Employees are typically on site from around 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. “Staff is usually present about 15 hours a day,” said Parsons.
The facility has four private bathrooms with two equipped with showers, the most of any of their other gyms. “We decided to add an extra bathroom to make sure there would be no waiting time.”
Equipment
To ensure members get an optimum workout a host of equipment stands ready to accommodate faithful exercisers. In addition to hydromassage, tanning beds, a heart rate monitor, and body composition scanner there are a number of cardio workout machines.
“We will have 15 to 20 cardio machines, 15 to 20 plate-loaded weight trainers, eight power racks, lots of dumbbells and kettlebells. Whether you are a serious lifter looking for heavy weight training or just a casual exerciser, you’re going to find something to keep you busy.”
To emphasize the safety features built into the facility, Parson’s explains both security cameras and panic buttons are located throughout the gym. “We’ve only had one safety issue in our other gyms. A member fell once while training alone and hit our panic button. We were on site quickly.”
The cost of club membership depends on the level of services a user seeks. Basic access to cardio and weight equipment runs $17.45 biweekly. The company synchs the debit withdrawal to a member’s payday.
To access all of the club’s services including tanning and hydromassage a premier membership is $45.69 biweekly. There are also a variety of customized payment plans based on workout goals.
Agreements are for 12 months but after the first-year memberships can be extended on a month-to-month basis. “There is a cancellation policy but we try to make it less cumbersome.”
Parsons emphasizes 16 percent of Americans have a gym membership but only half of them regularly workout. “It’s important to join a gym but it’s even more important to actually go and train, even if it’s just for an hour or two a week.”
To help encourage delinquents the club sends out email reminders to members who have slacked off on their training routines. “Statistically people spend more on health care costs than they would on a gym membership. Such costs often dwarf what a membership would run.”
Parsons emphasizes Anytime Fitness seeks to become part of the community they serve. Last year one of his clubs in W.VA sponsored a fundraiser to support a local activities group.
“We ran a fundraiser in Charles Town and committed to donate a penny for every calorie the members burned in one day. Collectively they burned 40,000 calories and we wrote a check for $400 to the charity.”
Becoming an integral part of the local community is Parsons goal. “Warrenton is a great town. We are really excited to be opening here. The response has been fantastic.”
Next year look for Parsons to open another Anytime Fitness in Bealeton, further extending their commitment to the Old Dominion.
For more information on the club’s facilities and membership plans visit: https://www.anytimefitness.com/gyms/4257/warrenton-va-20186/?upu_uid=c1bf57e7f0cc&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8fSTtOHo3wIVA8DICh0gHQMcEAAYASAAEgJQ7vD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Or better yet, drop by the gym and introduce yourself to Richie Parsons. He’s waiting to greet you at 251 West Lee Highway.
Published in the January 27,2019 edition of the Fauquier Times.
Internationally known beekeeper to teach training course
As one gains an understanding of the Piedmont’s population, it’s inspiring to learn of the number of talented people that choose to live, work or retire here.
A newcomer may think our scenic landscape is rural living at its best. And it is. But beyond the beautiful vistas is a deep reservoir of successful men and women who are making significant contributions to the commonweal.
The intellect, drive and success of these “locals” likely outshines most rural areas in the Nation: physicians, IT professionals, writers, pilots, political mavens, artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, and beekeepers abound.
Beekeepers? Well yes, but one in particular: Ann Harman.
Harman lives on a farm outside of Flint Hill and has honey in her blood. “I’ve been a beekeeper since the late 1970s but I wanted to be a beekeeper from the time I was a very small child.” Like five years old.
Ann Harman
Educated as a chemist at the University of Maryland she was in the labor force until motherhood found her tending her own “hive” of three children. As they grew older, she rejoined the workforce as head of the science department at a private school in D.C.
“While at Maryland I was enrolled in agricultural classes taught by an excellent professor.”
He encouraged Harman to take up beekeeping commercially given her fascination with the little guys.
She established a 50-colony honey production operation in Maryland before eventually moving to Flint Hill where she nurtures her own four hive operation in concert with a neighbor.
One of her daughters lives separately on the farm working as a horse veterinarian.
One of the pivotal points in Harman’s life was when her former professor also urged her to join various beekeeping associations. Join she did but not as a passive member. Her love of the flying insects was too strong not to become more deeply involved.
To glance at her packed resume is to marvel how far passion can take a person.
Consider just a few of her experiences: Maryland State Beekeeper of the Year 1982; 1990 President, Eastern Apicultural Society; Vice Chairman of the board, Eastern Apicultural Society 1992-2007; President, Virginia State Beekeepers Association 2008-2010; Certified Honey Judge, Wales UK Beekeeping Institute; The President’s Volunteer Service Award, 2004, 2005, 2008; Chairman’s Award Eastern Apicultural Society 2000; Coauthor of a honey cookbook; author of international beekeeping journal articles, and on and on.
Harman is also a regular contributor as a writer and editor for a number of well-known beekeeping magazines and books, including BEE Keeping and Bee Culture. Google ‘Ann Harman beekeeper’ and watch as more than 20 links pop up. Mention her name in bee circles and the reaction will likely be, “Oh yes, I know who she is.”
Worldwide
To reinforce her “doer bee” reputation, Harman connected with two international organizations and traveled worldwide for two decades teaching beekeeping, often in countries trying to establish a thriving honey production industry. During this period, she visited 29 countries on 54 separate assignments for two-week training sessions. While her expenses were covered, the work was otherwise all volunteer.
“I traveled around the world on volunteer missions because they were looking for people with experience that could help others get into the business. It was just for two weeks at a time but you can accomplish a lot in that short period,” said Harman.
Colony Collapse
Much has been written over the last decade about the decimation of the bee population commonly referred to as Colony Collapse and its harmful impact on agriculture. Harman shares an interesting insight into the problem.
“They really had no idea was happening in the beekeeping world and today we don’t actually use that term anymore. A very intelligent Ph.D. student cracked the cause of the problem. He identified a non-native parasite in our western bees. It attacks both the hive and also transmits a virus; viruses cannot be controlled with antibiotics,” said Harman.
The solution to the problem has yet to be found. “I couldn’t tell you how long it will take to find a key to the solution but there is hope today we can find a cure.”
It’s interesting that feral bee colonies that live in trees seem to be unaffected by the parasite. Such bees, however, exist in a different environment than domesticated colonies.
Classes begin soon
It’s useful to understand Harman’s breath of bee knowledge as preamble for considering spending some time with her as a mentor. Starting on February 5 at Verdun Adventure Bound in Rixeyville, Harman will conduct a seven-class course for beginner beekeepers.
Some years ago, Harman worked with a Loudoun County beekeeper to develop the training course.
The classes are limited to 20 participants but individual families who sign up are considered a single participant. The course will cover all the basics of starting and nurturing a hive.
Students will receive two training books and a substantial amount of related written material. The course will also provide a CD containing all the information from the course for home study and as a ready-reference. The cost is $100 for the course and materials.
Students are not be expected to purchase a hive or bees prior to the course but will be trained to do so by the end of the sessions, which dovetails with the beginning of the bee season.
In summing up her expertise and love of bees, Harman said, “Bees are absolutely fascinating. Every time you open a hive you learn something new.” Anyone sitting in on Harman’s classes will also learn something new and much more from this master apiarist.
For additional information and registration details, contact Karen Hunt, treasurer, Northern Piedmont Beekeepers Association at (540) 937-4792 or at kahu9@juno.com
Published in the January 23, 2019 edition of the Fauquier Times.
Littering with roadside ads
Cash for Used Cars. Fast Cheap Internet. Yard Sale. Bush Hogging. House for Sale.
Ever seen these ads emblazoned on telephone poles, stop signs and in median strips? Of course. Ever responded to one? Unlikely. So why does all manner of businesses advertise this way?
Because it’s free. And to some degree, it must work. Nonetheless, it’s unsightly, illegal and growing.
Roadside advertising is simply littering. No sooner than a good citizen might pull one off a telephone pole or out of a median strip the rascals are back planting their crop.
The Code of Virginia prohibits signs and advertisements within the limits of the highway. The Virginia Department of Transportation is authorized to remove any sign that is in violation.
The agency can levy a $100 civil penalty for each occurrence. VDOT also works with localities and the Adopt-A-Highway program to enforce the law.
The law does allow advertising within sight of highways but it must meet certain requirements and require a permit as well as permission from the local government.
You can bet the farm most of the signs have not been sanctioned. Stick it and run is the game plan of the violators.
In 2017, Stafford County cracked down on the practice. Its county parks and recreation staff risk their own safety removing as many as 800 signs in a single weekend.
VDOT
Dwaine Ware, VDOT’s program manager for outdoor advertising, underscores ad signs are illegal on any state right-of-way unless allowed by permit. Typically, the right of way extends to utility pole lines but varies in distance depending on location.
“Every sign that is illegally placed is subject to a $100 penalty in addition to civil penalty fees. We do remove them but we also enter into agreements with local governments to act as our agent.”
Adopt-A-Highway volunteers also aid in making the signs disappear when they clean their section of roadways twice annually. Unfortunately, the limited number of volunteers are no match for the army of sign planters continually on the hunt for prime real estate.
To levy fines, offenders need to be identified. “If the signs don’t have an address its often hard for us to identify them,” said Ware. The administrative costs of pursuing violators can also mitigate against widespread enforcement. “Individual VDOT district offices are the ones who would remove the signs and level fines.”
To underscore the scope of the problem Ware states, “At the beginning of political campaigns we do send letters to known candidates about the violation incurred by placing political signs on VDOT right-of-way.” We all know how effective that warning is.
A more frequently used strategy is employing VDOT contractors to sweep highways in advance of mowing operations to protect equipment and reduce the multiplying effect of mower blades turning a single sign into a blizzard of garbage.
In addition to blighting our scenic highways, safety looms as another threat to motorists. Signs can be dangerous, obscuring views of oncoming traffic. After bad weather, they can become even more unsightly and dangerous.
Piedmont Press & Graphics
The signs most frequently used in illegal advertising are plastic with inserted wire legs. In the industry, they are known as “Popsicle” signs. They are quick and easy to install and violators can place dozens a day when their marketing juices are flowing.
Where do they come from? “I’m guessing the internet has made it easier to procure the signs at cheaper prices,” said Tony Tedeschi, owner of Piedmont Press & Graphics in Warrenton.
A quick online search reveals one can score a two-color 12-by-12-inch sign for as low as 88 cents apiece but larger signs with colors go for a couple bucks each when purchased in bulk.
The signs present somewhat of a conundrum for Tedeschi who also sells the signs at his shop.
While it’s a legitimate business practice he opines, “We talk about this issue all the time because it’s important. Yes, I am in the sign business but I can also make a living being a good business person, a good citizen, and steward of the environment.
“We don’t question people about the use of their signs but if they tell us where they are going to put them, we tell them if it doesn’t seem appropriate. ‘I don’t believe you’re supposed to do that. I don’t think that’s legal. You should go check with the county.’”
He also knows the town and county is overwhelmed and doesn’t have the staff for widespread enforcement.
Tedeschi says he has never received guidance from VDOT on the illegal use of the signs. “The state does not give us any advice on the legality of them on VDOT right-of-ways.
“I think it’s a good idea if they provided some information. A little pamphlet or brochure that we could give out to our sign customers advising them when they may be violating the law.”
VDOT does not currently communicate directly with sign vendors.
There are myriad legal ways to promote a business, including inexpensive social media. For firms who break the law, it not only does injustice to the environment but it undercuts honest businesses who pay for conventional advertising.
Perhaps the most effective ways to counter the pernicious practice is for citizens to occasionally note an offending roadside phone number and call the company stating they would not do business with someone littering the highways.
At the end of the day, only the bottom line is likely to stifle a practice that’s both against the law and scene-stealing.
Published in the January 23, 2019 edition of the Fauquier Times.
Remington tattoo studio focused on artistry
Over three decades ago tattoos were viewed as less than mainstream. One wasn’t surprised when a soldier or sailor returned home with a small flag or state motto proudly inked on a youthful bicep. Beyond that, the industry had a somewhat seedy aura to it.
Towns often denied permits to such establishments because they weren’t sure what went on inside and local chambers likely had concerns on their impact within the business community.
But that was then. Today tattoos are a $1.6 billion industry; 45 million Americans have at least one and half of all millennials sport some ink. Moreover, 36 percent of 18-to-25-year-olds are displaying and 33 percent of urbanites and 25 percent of rural folks are decked out in living color. Three in 10 adults now proudly wear an image.
By any measure ink on skin has taken hold in the 21st century. Why?
Reasons abound with some theorizing today’s society seeks increased individuality and self-expression in the age of digital communication. A tattoo immediately shares one’s creative side and breaks through the silent world of texts and emails.
The art form has also evolved new terms for the ancient practice: body art, body bling, fashion ink and more.
To highlight the level of popularity, the 9th Annual DC Tattoo Expo was held in Arlington January 11 to 13. More than 400 tattoo artists were in attendance during the three-day conference talking shop with large crowds and tattooing those in need of a rose pedal or eagle.
Black Sheep Studios
An important reason for the surging popularity in tattoos today is the technical skill and artistry being brought to bear on epidermis canvases.
Joe and Jen Poteet are emblematic of a growing number of tattooists that are changing the industry’s reputation by force of their skill and creativity. Playing off the fading image of the art form, the shop is called Black Sheep Studios Gallery & Tattoos and is located at 204 Main Street in Remington.
When you walk through the doors of their establishment set your preconceived idea of an old-time tattoo parlor on the sidewalk. The shop is not a shop. It’s called a studio and for good reason.
The Poteets are artists first and tattoo mavens second. If you are going to make a lifetime commitment, you want to put yourself in the hands of creative experts. Black Sheep Studios are those hands.
“I was going to school to obtain a fine arts degree but didn’t know what I really wanted to do. Tattooing gave me a goal and a job. I got my apprenticeship at a shop in Maryland,” said Jen Poteet.
“I met my husband Joe there who also was a tattoo artist. We fell in love, got married and started a family.” Today the couple has five children ranging in ages from 9 to 23-years-old and live in nearby Summerduck.
They moved to Virginia after years of working in Maryland and opened their studio in November of 2017. “We really love the area and wanted to open our own place. Remington was the perfect location with its older buildings and lots of history.
“The business started off slowly and grew by word of mouth. The town and local people have been awesome in supporting the business. Today we’re seeing more people come in from throughout the county and beyond.”
Poteet recalls how the industry has changed over the last three decades. Back in the 90s people often selected their tattoo designs off the wall of a shop. In today’s internet era an unlimited amount of art is available online and customers show up knowing what they want.
“We started when you often began with just a sketch. We are still old-school and do a lot of hands-on designs. Because of our experience, we can pretty much do anything anybody wants. We are classically trained artists.”
Poteet observes that tattoos are not for everyone and reinforces their own practice is conservative. They do not do face tattoos. Recently a woman came in to have a hand tattoo done on her young daughter. “We told her we do not do hand tattoos on people under 18. We try to get them to understand that tattoos are forever.”
The couple’s studio has a clean, modern look with art for sale gracing the walls; both theirs and others. “We have some new artists display work because they might not have an opportunity to show it elsewhere. We like to help the underdogs.”
Art prices range from $10 for a small print up to $200 for larger pieces. Given the nature of the business, landscape art is not sold. The emphasis is on colorful portraiture, geometric designs and other intriguing subjects done in a modern format.
To further reinforce the inviting nature of the shop, the husband and wife team will on occasion set up their own easels in the studio and paint while customers visit.
Price tag
So what does a first-class Black Sheep tattoo go for? “The smallest design would be $50. An average one ranges from $150 to $200,” said Poteet. “Sleeves can cost a couple thousand dollars and may take several months to complete.” A sleeve tattoo extends from the shoulder down to the hand.
“A sleeve is a big project. Some people do it in pieces beginning with an outline and have it colored in over time. They generally go in knowing it’s going to take a long time.”
The studio will also enhance old tattoos and ones an owner may no longer care for. Relationships gone sour can dictate a visit to the studio. Walking around with an “I love Susie” tag when Susie has long vanished is not the way to enhance a memory.
Black Sheep Studios Gallery & Tattoos is opened Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 8 p.m. If the idea of sporting some ink intrigues you, settle into their online tattoo chair for more information at: https://www.blacksheepstudios.net/
Published in the January 16 , 2018 edition of the Fauquier Times.
Adopt-A-Highway volunteers labor to beautify the land
The numbers are remarkable: 52 billion pieces of litter cluttering the Nation’s highways and byways. That’s 6,700 pieces of stuff per mile. Consider one plastic bottle can take 450 years to decompose and a glass container one million years. This is no short-term problem.
Moreover, cleaning up the mess costs $11.5 billion annually.
It’s hard for most of us to fathom someone tossing soda bottles, beer cans and fast food detritus onto our verdant landscape. Yet it occurs around the clock, seven days a week. Over 80 per cent of littering is done intentionally.
Decades long educational efforts have had a positive impact, significantly reducing the litter rate in the U.S. but the reduction still leaves our roadways flashing and glittering with tons of trash.
The problem becomes more visible in winter and when lush vegetation withers and exposes the underbelly of motoring along the Commonwealth’s highways.
The mess is national in scope and a partial solution to the problem was discovered in Texas in the early 1980s. James Evans, an engineer for the Texas Department of Transportation saw debris flying out of a pickup truck bed.
Litter control was expensive so Evans enlisted local volunteer groups to clean up sections of the state’s highways. The Adopt-A-Highway program was born.
Today, 49 states have programs in place to keep America beautiful.
VDOT
The Orange Brigade
Here in Virginia, Joe Williams with the Virginia Department of Transportation oversees the Adopt-A-Highway program. It was established in 1988 to keep our highways free of litter and promote the safety, convenience and enjoyment of travel and to protect the public investment in the highway system.
“Our goal is to preserve and enhance the scenic beauty of our highways and adjacent areas,” said Williams. We partner with a nonprofit outfit called Keep Virginia Beautiful.”
The organization engages Virginians to improve the state’s natural and scenic environment. Volunteers are asked to sign up for a three-year commitment and require two cleanups a year. After individuals or groups report two trash sweeps, they can have signage placed along their assigned roadway with their name on it.
Orange trash bags and vests are provided to the collectors by local VDOT offices. After each collection report is filed, a VDOT truck picks up the collected bags.
Statewide there are 1,223 volunteer groups with 15,370 participants. In 2018, they cleaned 1,393 miles of roadway collecting 22,750 bags of trash while contributing 34,928 volunteer work hours.
That’s a lot of trash none of us had to look at as we motored to and from our destinations.
Here in Fauquier County, 35 groups with 196 volunteers collected 337 bags of garbage from 266 miles of roadway while
donating 132 hours of their time.
Virginia saves $1.35 million with volunteer trash collection.
So what type of trash do volunteers typically encounter? Beer and soda bottles rate high on the list but plastic bags and fast food refuse along with a variety of empty containers are also found in abundance.
One interesting observation is that spent wine bottles are rarely seen. One reason may be because those between ages 19 and 35 are three times more likely to litter than the over 50 crowd.
Or could wine consumers simply be more socially conscious? Our county vineyards would like to think so.
Angry Rednecks Against Littering
Yes, you read that correctly. There is an Adopt-A-Highway group in Fauquier County called Angry Rednecks Against Littering. Max and Penny Greiner have labored for 26 years cleaning up local roadways under that very moniker. Today they are responsible for three two-mile sections in the Catlett area.
“We moved here in 1991 because it was such a scenic area. But we soon noticed all the litter on the roads when we took our boys to baseball and basketball practice,” said Max Greiner. “There was a lot of talk among the local folks about cleaning up the roads but no one ever followed through. In 1992, we officially signed up as a volunteer family.”
So how did the unusual name come about? “I come from a deep redneck background and we don’t claim to be something we’re not.” That said, Greiner recently retired as a engineer working at the Pentagon so his redneck bona fides have been nurtured beyond any humble beginnings.
The Greiners also lay claim to one of the more unique Adopt-A-Highway reputations: their road sign is the most swiped in the state. “Our sign has been stolen at least 14 times over the years.
“People have come by and pulled it out with their tractors and other ways to possess a souvenir for their bars and garages. VDOT has been spectacular about replacing them. They are now embedded in concrete with steel posts,” said a smiling Greiner.
A note of caution to those tempted to become a souvenir hunter. In Virginia, stealing a state sign is a Class 1 misdemeanor with a maximum sentence of one year in jail or a $2,500 fine or both.
For individuals or groups interested in joining the cadre of county volunteers helping to keep Fauquier roadways beautiful, Linda Wilson, Adopt-A-Highway coordinator, is the person to call or write.
Wilson can be reached at (540) 347-6448 or linda.wilson@vdot.virginia.gov. Her office is located at 457 E. Shirly Ave.
Wilson also provides the needed orange bags and vests for a properly attired volunteer. Additional information can also be found at https://keepvirginiabeautiful.org/
If you are considering ways to contribute to the commonweal, removing litter from our scenic byways is an exceptional way to serve. Consider grabbing a bag and making the world a cleaner place to live and drive.
Published in the January 9, 2018 edition of the Fauquier Times.
State Farm Insurance seeks reduction in distracted driving
Fact #1: Distracted driving crashes are under-reported and the National Safety Council estimates cell phone use alone accounts for 27 percent of all car crashes.
Fact #2: The fatal crash rate for teens is three times greater than for drivers 20 years of age and older.
Fact #3: 88 percent of teenagers ages 13 to 17 have or have access to a cell phone.
Houston, we have a problem.
Generation after generation older folks have clucked and wagged fingers about the shortcomings of the upcoming generation of young folk.
From Elvis and his road to perdition called rock and roll to today’s millennials who are deemed not contributing to society’s well-being, it seems youth is always taking it on the chin from adult swings.
The latest discontent is the constant use of cell phones by teenagers. The charge may be accurate but it’s also one that could be leveled at many adults. There are over 7 billion cell phones worldwide feeding the addiction.
The omnipresent “device” has shown a startlingly capacity to make a person forget where they are. But once a user—especially a young one—slips behind the wheel of a vehicle, it becomes a life or death issue.
Technology itself is seeking fixes to the problem; one feature is to remind drivers they are driving before they can accept a message.
But another approach is to reach out to teens in an interactive way to show them how lethal the combination of wheels and cells can be. The approach might be characterized as, “The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.”
State Farm initiative
Carmen Rivera manages the State Farm Insurance Company in Warrenton. She has worked for the insurer for over two decades assuming management of the local office last year. She has three full-time agents and two-part timers at her Warrenton Village Shopping Center office.
She is also the mother of two adult children and a proud grandmother. With a strong maternal instinct and a career in insurance, she observes, “You see things that you would hope you never see. One of them is children involved in distracted driving. It’s a huge responsibility to get behind the wheel of a car.”
To help counter the problem she took advantage of a program sponsored by State Farm to educate youthful drivers on the hazards of driving, with a strong emphasis on the misuse of cell phones. The effort includes both classroom instruction and simulated driving conditions.
She visits local high schools and speaks to driver education students on the responsibilities and dangers of driving. “One of my points is to get them to understand the horrific accidents that can occur from distracted driving.
“And they are not usually just fender benders. I also talk about how accidents and tickets can impact their insurance premiums. I emphasize the need to keep two hands on the wheel and two eyes on the road at all times.”
More dramatically, however, is Rivera’s collaborative efforts with Virginia state police to simulate actual distracted driving conditions and its consequences. The program takes place at local high schools and involves the use of a four-seater golf cart that acts as a “vehicle” to create highway scenarios.
And less one thinks a golf cart is a golf cart, think again. The training vehicle—officially designated a Distracted Driver Simulator—is a tricked-out vehicle with doors that sport the colors and logo of a Virginia state police cruiser. A first-time reaction in seeing the little guy is likely, “Hey, that’s cool.”
“Liberty High was the first school where I actually performed the distracted driving course. We had over 150 students participate. We try to replicate on the road situations and tell the children, ‘this is what you are going to encounter’.”
The exercises take place in school parking lots lined with rubber cones to create a “road”. The cart is driven by a student with a police officer riding shotgun and two students sitting in the back seat. A series of real-time “tests” are then administered.
To make it fun and realistic, the students are told they can chat, tap fellow students on the shoulder, pretend they’re changing a radio station, and even text while driving. In other words, actions students often do while behind the wheel.
To further increase reality, on a section of the course drivers must choose to wear either daytime or nighttime goggles that impair vision and replicate driving under the influence or night time driving; many cones get knocked over.
Most dramatically, however, is when each student is told to text a friend while behind the wheel. “When they try to text and drive the “car”, even very slowly, they run over all of the cones. We emphasize that’s what happens in a controlled environment. In the real world, a split second can change everything.”
Rivera urges her students to stow phones in purses, glove compartments, or even in back seats so as not to be tempted to respond to incoming messages.
Weather permitting, the next on course training will take place in December at Kettle Run High School.
To date, Rivera has conducted three classroom sessions and one distracted driver session at local high schools. “I absolutely will continue the program in the years ahead as long as it’s beneficial to the students. I hope it helps the children and shows them driver responsibility.
“But a one-day classroom or driving session cannot fully prepare these children for real-life scenarios” so all efforts must be undertaken to combat the scourge of distracted driving.
Rivera showcases how one person can make a difference when passion and knowledge are brought to bear to solve a community problem.
For more information on her full community involvement, visit her on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/WarrentonStateFarm/
Published in the January 3, 2018 edition of the Fauquier Times.
Old Dominion pouring tumblers of whiskey success…and more
The distillation of beer and wine dates to the 8th century. An alchemist named Geber developed the alembic still, noting that the heated wine from the vessel released a flammable vapor “of little use, but of great importance to science.”
Little did he know of its joy as a social lubricant.
In Virginia, the history of distillation was largely driven by the failure of the English to make palpable wine. As with any business endeavor, the Virginia Company, who sponsored the intrepid colonists, was created to make money.
Upon landing in Jamestown in 1607, the newcomers noted it was a land “where wild vines grew so profusely, cultivation would produce veritable rivers of wine.” Alas, ‘twas not true. The wine tasted awful.
Home pot still
The inability to make wine set the stage for the distillation of fruit and grains and led the young Nation on a course of distilled spirits production, largely maintained until craft beer and artesian wine gained traction in the 1980s.
Wine and beer are produced through fermentation and while spirits by distillation. The former is a spontaneous action—albeit managed—the latter fully controlled by man. Distilling is simply removing the alcohol in wine and beer, aging it and then bottling.
Today, Virginians are circling back to their whiskies, gins, brandies and more. The industry is poised for dramatic growth.
George Washington might be smiling as he gazes down on what’s unfolding in his native state. In the 1780s, Washington was producing 11,000 gallons of rye whiskey a year at Mount Vernon. He was the largest producer of spirits in the young country.
Elijah Craig, a Baptist preacher from Orange County, Virginia is credited with producing the first bourbon in the late 1780s. His secret was to age the alcohol in charred oak casks, a process that gives bourbon its reddish color and unique taste.
Colorful Past
Rich in fabled history, Virginia does possess a few skeletons in its liquor closet; most notably the production of moonshine.
In the distance past, distilling was an economic necessity, enabling farmers to convert any surplus corn crop into a lighter weight liquid easily deliverable to market via mule trains. Twenty-four bushels of corn could be converted into two eight-gallon kegs of whiskey.
Whiskey farming enabled the backwoodsmen to buy nails, sugar, coffee and other necessities.
These hardy pioneers peacefully distilled until 1791 when the Federal government implemented an excise tax on whiskey. The frontiersmen’s wrath erupted in the form of the Whiskey Rebellion as 5,000 hot-tempered home distillers descended on Pittsburgh in an unsuccessful attempt to torch the town.
In 1794, George Washington, in command of 13,000 troops persuaded the rebels to forgo their cause without any loss of life. Illegal distilling was driven into the hills and hollows of Appalachia.
As for the traditional moonshine trade in Virginia, in 1941, the ABC Division of Enforcement seized an all-time high of 1,771 illegal stills. In 2011, a collaborative four-day air and ground operation between the ABC and Virginia State Police resulted in the discovery and destruction of just 25 inactive but operational stills in Franklin, Pittsylvania and Carroll counties.
Clearly things have settled down since the heyday of moonshiners.
Bright future
With a legendary past and an unlimited future, the Commonwealth today is home to 70 licensed distilleries, up from 30 just five years ago. Whether your glass longs for bourbon, rye, single malt, legal moonshine, gin, brandy, rum or vodka bottles are available from all quarters of the state.
Even more exotic spirits such as aquavit, absinthe, pastis and a variety of flavored liqueurs can be found in the Commonwealth.
And nothing succeeds like success. In 2017, Virginia distilleries sold spirits valued at over $14 million. The state is riding the wave of craft spirits driven to an extent by commercial brewers who recognized mashing grain was just a step away from a more ‘spirited’ enterprise.
The industry’s impact on Virginia’s economy is valued at $163 million. It supports 1,477 full-time jobs, paying wages of $60 million. Over 296,000 spirits lovers dropped by a craft distillery last year.
Chuck and Jeannette Miller own Belmont Farm Distillery in Culpeper. Featured on the Discovery Channel’s “Moonshiners” show, theirs was the first craft whiskey distillery in the United States. “We were also the first to introduce “farm-to-table” spirits. We feel our pioneering spirit set a path for others to follow,” said Chuck Miller.
Concurrent with the industry’s expansion is accolades pouring in on the success of master distillers around the state. The Virginia Distillery Company in Lovingston won the Whiskey Magazine award for Best American Single Malt Whiskey for its Virginia Highland Malt.
The A. Smith Bowman Distillery in Fredericksburg was awarded the World’s Best Bourbon title for its John J. Bowman Bourbon Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey. It was the second time the distillery had been thus recognized.
By any measure, Virginia craft distilling is on a flavorful roll.
In support of the burgeoning industry, the Richmond based Virginia Distillers Association is focused on legislative and marketing efforts that will propel the state even further forward in the future.
“I think Virginia is going to be the next Kentucky or Tennessee as far as distilling goes,” said Amy Ciarametaro, executive director of the association. “We have the provenance more than any spirits region in the country. Our story is rich and layered beyond the Jamestown settlement.”
Ciarametaro points out that unlike our neighboring states also known for whiskey production, 70 percent of Virginia’s product is produced largely by raw materials grown in the state. Kentucky and Tennessee bring in a considerable amount of neutral spirits from western states for production and aging.
“I won’t give a number for Virginia’s future growth but we will absolutely see a lot of growth, especially in small and medium distillers maturing into larger ones. It’s coming down the pipeline,” said Ciarametaro.
The importance of the Virginia spirits industry—coupled with the wine and craft brewery trade—cannot be understated on the impact on the state’s tourism efforts. The Old Dominion is gifted with the richest historical story in America. Showcasing that history in concert with a thriving libation industry can only produce positive benefits for the state and its citizens in the decades ahead.
As Mark Twain reminded us over a century ago, “Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.”
For a list of Virginia distilleries and much more break the seal on this valued website:
https://www.abc.virginia.gov/products/virginia-products/virginia-distilleries
Published in the Winter 2019 edition of Dine, Wine and Stein magazine.
Hope Center of Fauquier Warming Station comes blanketed with love
For the vast majority of us the idea of being homeless is unimageable. No rented room, no apartment, no home. Simply roaming the streets seeking shelter wherever. And yet, it’s a condition that over a half a million people in the U.S. experience every night.
Poverty, mental illness, and addiction come to mind when the subject of street people surfaces. In fact, 20 percent of those seeking shelter out of doors are mentally ill or suffering from chronic substance abuse. The rest are poor, stuck in low paying jobs, experiencing domestic violence or simply cashless in a wealthy Nation.
The resources brought to bear to counter the problem at the national level are staggering: $11 billion annually. Still the plight persists. Social service agencies nationwide struggle to deal with what seems an intractable condition.
The case can be made that human nature will always include those who cannot—for whatever reason—care for themselves. Our better natures and belief in the respect of the individual compels us to act. “There for the grace of God go I.”
The dated term Noblesse oblige encapsulates the concept that nobility requires a person to fulfill social responsibilities. Before charity, justice.
But family, work and social commitments often bury our obligations to the less fortunate as we focus on the pressing needs of our own lives. So, it is unique when a small group of people band together to help what many believe to be a hopeless situation.
Enter Reverend Tyrone Green, pastor of Hearts Delight Baptist Church. The pastor works in concert with two other churches, Zoar Baptist and Mount Horeb United Methodist Church. All three are located in Catlett and augment Fauquier and Culpeper Counties in assisting the homeless.
Hearts Delight Baptist
Reverend Green was the youth pastor at Oak Shade Baptist church in Catlett for 10 years before being asked to lead Hearts Delight Baptist. The church was founded 150 years ago and has a long history of serving the community.
The congregation may not have realized they were bringing a whirlwind on board when they asked Green to take charge. They learned soon enough. “My pastor at Oak Shade told them I was going to drive them crazy. And that’s essentially what happened. I don’t sleep. I love working in prison ministries, the singles ministry and more.
“What the world needs now is not just to hear about the love but to see the love,” said Green.
Within minutes of meeting Green, a listener can get swept up in his enthusiasm. Here is a man who sees every problem as an opportunity. And has the charisma to ignite that passion in others.
“To tell the truth, I see a lot of churches but I don’t always see a lot of God’s love in those churches,” said Green. That’s not a problem at Hearts Delight.
Oak Shade Baptist where Green honed his ministry skills is one the largest African-American churches in the region with some 200 members. Hearts Delight has about 50 members and it gave Green the opportunity to take charge on his own terms. A responsibility he eagerly embraced.
“Hearts Delight is not just an African-American church. We don’t do colors. We do Jesus. It was a great opportunity and honor for me to make the move in January 2016.” In almost three years at the helm much has been accomplished.
Green believed his focus was to embrace the entire community through his church. He sponsored talks by a number of local and state politicians and successful men and women in the private sector.
Ken Harvey, a former linebacker with the Redskins and sports columnist for The Washington Post, and Tracey Morgan, an award-winning broadcaster and highly respected Gospel music show host were among guest speakers at his active program.
Additionally, he held community-wide fairs at his church, mother-daughter teas, and painting classes for people who had never seen a blank canvas. He even organized distribution of free turkeys with side dish ingredients to the all police and first responders in Fauquier and Culpeper County.
No avenue to build the love of God was ignored.
Warming Center
In the midst of his growing activism Green began getting calls asking for help with the homeless problem. He learned the local governments had only so much room and limited resources to tackle the vexing issue.
“I told them, ‘you have a partner to help you’.” Hearts Delight joined forces with Zoar Baptist and Mount Horeb United Methodist to create the Hope Center of Fauquier Warming Station.
The first step was to gain more information on the scope and nuances of the situation. Working with the Culpeper Housing & Shelter Services he learned how they ran their shelter and when their 15-bed facility reached maximum capacity.
“CHSS provided a lot of information. For example, I thought if you offered a homeless person a place to stay, they would accept it. Not so. They first have to learn to trust you,” said Green.
It’s emblematic of street life that it hardens individuals and makes them wary of strangers, no matter how well-intended they are. Once the learning curve was mastered, the Warming Station began serving the needy.
It is open seven days a week from November 1 until March 1. The police or county shelters contact the center and arrange to have a person stay in one of the three participating churches. Each church provides up to five days lodging per person on a rotational basis.
In each church a multi-use room is set up with cots, blankets and pillows. Food is also served. “We let them sleep there but also have someone available to talk with them. But our main focus is not to minister to them. We want them to see the love of God not just hear the word.
“Some nights there is no one there and other nights one or two people. We do not want anyone to die during the winter months because they have no place to stay,” said Green.
It’s reassuring when a community comes together to meet a need, especially if that need involves a possible loss of life. It’s also reassuring in a world of increasing self-centeredness that average citizens can extend a hand to pull someone back from the abyss.
For more information, contact person and phone number to access the Warming Center visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/HopeWarmingCenterFauquier/?epa=SEARCH_BOX
Published in the December 26, 2018 edition of the Fauquier Times.
European-style cuisine. American execution. Yesteryear ambiance.
It’s always exciting to be the first to discover something. Isaac Newton and gravity. Christopher Columbus and America. Alexander Fleming and Penicillin. James Watkins and DNA.
Oh, and you and the Three Blacksmiths. Yes, the Sperryville dining establishment is gaining that level of traction. If you haven’t broken bread there yet, consider becoming an epicurean discoverer.
The village is tucked a few miles below Skyline Drive where it crosses Thornton Gap.
Over 100 years ago, it was a sleepy little hamlet of 300 souls. Back then it supported five general stores, six mills, an apple packing plant, saloon, barbershop, pharmacy and…three blacksmiths. Not a lot has changed over the ensuing decades, including the population.
This suits the locals just fine. Growth is not embraced in Rappahannock County as it is elsewhere. The county has some 2,500 fewer residents today than in 1850. Seriously.
But what it does have is eight wineries, two breweries, two distilleries, many inns, restaurants, quaint shops and the internationally known Inn at Little Washington. All nestled in one of loveliest regions in Virginia.
The population is small but the delights are multitudinous.
The most recent illustration of this bucolic gem is the appearance of the Three Blacksmiths restaurant at 20 Main Street, its namesake originating from the important shops of a century ago.
Created and executed by John and Diane MacPherson, the creative duo are not interlopers from distant parts. Rather, they are an established team with a reputation for hospitality and food earned while operating the Foster Harris House bed and breakfast for 13 years in little Washington.
Their sous chef Ethan Taylor rounds out the Three Blacksmiths team.
Conceived in Europe
After selling their popular inn in 2017, the MacPhersons undertook an extended tour of Europe staying and dining in small inns to embrace their magical ambiance.
“Our building and the space we created came from a lot of inspiration and travel in Europe. We wanted something that would fit the village and also have a timeless European sense to the exterior and interior,” said John MacPherson.
The result is a simple yet classic two-story building with European style windows creating an understated but elegant look. “It looks good here but would also look good in a little village in Austria or France.”
The building they had purchased was a blank palette ready for a total make over. McNeill Baker Design Associates designed the exterior and Jolly Construction Inc. completed the work.
The interior of the establishment was completed by the owners, family and friends. The dining room was not designed with a specific concept in mind. Rather, it evolved slowly as the build-out unfolded and turned out better than the coupled had anticipated.
“It has the feel of those wonderful restaurants in the French Alps or Austria. There is a lot of wood and no modern touches of glass or chrome. It feels like it’s been here for a while. It’s warm, inviting and not crowded,” said John MacPherson.
In fact, a crowded venue will never be encountered at the Three Blacksmiths. And not because of a lack of business. The dining room has been mostly sold out since opening on June 9, 2018. But consider it seats only 16 guests and there is just a single sitting each evening.
Diners experience a relaxed and evenly paced dinner that bears a close resemblance to enjoying a repast at a friend’s home. Service begins at 7 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and satisfied guests often drop their napkins on the table around 10 p.m.
Local Focus
In creating a typical dinner the MacPhersons seek local and regional ingredients to the extent possible. Given where the restaurant is located, sourcing menu items typically means a drive of less than five miles from Sperryville.
If you are what you eat, dining at the restaurant conveys honorary residency in Rappahannock County.
The establishment has 15 “partners” who supply much of what appears on your table. The purveyors include local wineries, breweries, a distillery, farms and gardens.
A typical menu in late summer included a tomato salad, Maryland crab cakes with watermelon gazpacho, sweet corn tortellini with Burgundy truffles, duck fat braised lamb loin, Applewood ice cream and grilled nectarine Napoleon.
Focusing on the last menu item John MacPherson said, “I went to the orchard last week to get nectarines for dinners that week. The owners understood my needs and hand-selected the fruit by the condition of its ripeness. Three trays were provided according to the days it was predicted they would ripen.
“You can’t get that level of service unless you actually know the farmers and they know you,” said John MacPherson.
Each course is paired with either a Virginia, domestic or international wine. “Our distributors are set forth to find unique wines that are often difficult to locate.”
Time to dine
The responsibilities for each meal is segmented by kitchen and dining room assignments with the owners involved when each course reaches the table.
Upon arriving, guests are seated in leather captain’s chairs or a sofa surrounded by a palette of rich brown flooring and walls with an exposed wood ceiling. The immediate impression is one of relaxation.
Diane MacPherson has responsibilities for the dining room and John MacPherson and Ethan Taylor craft dinners behind an open-viewed kitchen at the back of the room.
Once seated, you are served an introductory flute of sparkling wine, often from Barboursville Vineyards. “It’s a beautiful expression of a sparkling wine and guests are always surprised it’s not a champagne and that it comes from Charlottesville,” said Diane MacPherson.
Throughout the evening wines are individually paired with each course. While some of Virginia’s best wines are served, quality selections from all points worldwide will grace a typical meal.
“It’s wines we have enjoyed in the past but often very hard to find. We want to introduce people to some very interesting things they may not have tasted before. That’s the impression we’re trying to create during dinner,” said Diane MacPherson.
And there is a specific goal to the dinners. “The best way to describe our food is we try to assemble an entire menu instead of simply a number of dishes one after another. Without question our ingredients make a flavorful difference.
“The dinner has a kind of arc to it. It feels like it’s moving in a certain direction. We accomplish that with a minimum number of ingredients and without too much fuss. Most of our dinners don’t have 20 components to them. We find something we really like and use it,” said John MacPherson.
Reaction to the restaurant has been positive and gratifying to the MacPhersons. “Working the dining room, I probably hear more because of my interactions with the guests. Recently several guests said it was the best dinner they’ve ever tasted. That’s really nice to hear,” said Diane MacPherson.
Payment for the dinners is unique. The multi-course tasting menu costs $99 per person plus a $70 alcohol charge; gratuity and tax not included. Both reservations and payment are made online.
A $50 deposit per person is levied when reservations are made. On the morning of the dinner the remaining bill is charged to the guest’s credit card. “When guests arrive they just sit down, enjoy their meal and leave when they’re finished. There’s no business transactions during dinner,” said John MacPherson.
With just a few months of experience under their aprons, the owners are enjoying the newest chapter of their hospitality dreams. “We’re having a lot of fun. It’s hard work but we come in every day and there’s no feeling of stress. The only stress we have is getting ready for the dinners and that’s really nice.
“It’s very satisfying to get to do this with the people you want to work with and a place you want to do it in,” said Diane MacPherson.
For information on the current menu, photo gallery, reservations and more swing by the region’s latest fine dining venue at: https://www.threeblacksmiths.com/
Published in the 2018-19 Winter Issue of Dine, Wine & Stein magazine.
Lack of funding often stops the cameras from rolling
Creative artists have long suffered from a lack of capital and the ensuing ability to sustain a living. Even Mozart struggled financially because musicians were not held in high regard in his day. And yet, he was one of the finest composers in the history of music.
The same can be said today about a legion of underfunded artists. The talent and imagination to create is thwarted by a lack of capital. Enter Ron Newcomb, stage right.
Newcomb, 45, and a resident of Bealeton is many things: former Marine, former police officer, holder of an MBA degree, and a filmmaker who toils daily in the information technology sector to put bread on the table.
But his heart is in film.
“There’s no sustainability in filmmaking. Instead of looking to others to solve the problem I believe the local community can do that through the power of equity crowdfunding.”
Say what?
If the accepted business term is new to your ears, you’ll likely be hearing more about it. Due to a change in financial regulations a few years back, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission now permits the solicitation of money online that provides equity ownership in the company being invested in.
Prior to the change, small investor equity creation could not occur. “Instead of one or two wealthy people funding a project as in the past, now we can mobilize an army to fund a film project ourselves,” said Newcomb.
Taken to its logical conclusion, the new form of raising capital paves the way to keeping dollars in the local economy where it originated. Further, it can boost local employment and give artistic voice to its investors.
When Tip O’Neill, the late speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives said, “All politics is local,” he encapsulated crowdfunding’s potential.
Under Newcomb’s scenario anyone, but especially a writer, actor or filmmaker, could make an investment as small as $100 in his company, Mid-Atlantic Studios, and become much more than just a passive investor. Moreover, if the film that’s produced turns a profit, a share is returned to the investor.
Examples of how an individual could benefit from this risk-reward financing provide an intriguing picture of the logic behind the concept. “An investor can draw an actual check if the film is profitable but he also can become a member of the cast and crew.
“They will get notices about such opportunities to participate in the filmmaking. A writer will also have an opportunity to submit other projects for the studios’ consideration. When production actually begins, all the hires will be local talent.”
Moreover, Newcomb has a library of film he has created over years on the art of filmmaking. If an investor bumps up his stake in the firm to $250, he gains assess to the library.
Leverage in the company jumps even further with an investment of $10,000. “You would actually become an advisor and help greenlight projects to the final stage of filmmaking.”
Often such regional projects are spearheaded by West Coast companies who fly in to produce a film with much of the needed management and talent in tow. Newcomb points out today is the golden age of television with episodic films being produced by Netflix and many others offering serials running for months based around a common story.
His first round of investment is seeking to generate $100,000. If he doesn’t get the funding by April of next year the opportunity goes away. “It can’t stay open in perpetuity. You must have a window of opportunity.”
If he achieves his goal, his production company will undertake three film projects. The first two have been written by him and a third will be submitted by a member investor. “The third project will be left open giving people an opportunity to submit ideas of their own.
“If we do well, it will be the gift that keeps on giving. We just roll those funds back into the studio and keep on producing films,” said Newcomb.
The first two projects offer a glimpse into the entrepreneur’s imaginative creativity. The first is a western sci-fi project set in space and the second a futuristic dystopian tale of what would happen if America broke out in civil war and how the tragedy would unfold.
Newcomb points out another problem within the film industry. “We are graduating people from film schools at a large rate with the expectation there’s going to be a job waiting for them on the other end. That’s just not the case in our region.
“All these young people are graduating but there’s no jobs for them so they end up moving out of the area. The only way we are going to solve the problem is we ‘the collective’ come together.”
To learn more about the opportunities being offered by Mid-Atlantic Studios and listen to a brief video on the concept, visit the company’s Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Movie-Television-Studio/Mid-Atlantic-Studios-286561085496786/
Published in the December 19, 2018 edition of the Fauquier Times.
Contributions to county mental well-being recognized by Chamber
On November 3, an integral part of Fauquier County’s mental health system was recognized by the Fauquier Chamber of Commerce as Nonprofit of the Year.
The award was presented to Executive Director, Sallie Morgan, at the Chamber’s 32nd Meeting & Awards Gala held at the Stoneridge Events Center. Morgan has headed the organization since 2011.
“We were delighted to receive the award,” said Morgan. “I do think we do good work. What the award said to me is the community really values the whole struggle to improve mental wellness in the community. It’s an issue our community is embracing and engaging in.”
Established in 1964, the organization is a grass roots nonprofit advocacy and action group working to increase awareness of mental health and substance abuse and decrease the stigma often associated with mental illness and addiction.
In the early sixties there were no mental health services in Fauquier County and few, if any, providers. “People came together and said we need to do something about it. They formed the association and then went on to obtain a grant from the state to start the very first mental health clinic in the community,” said Morgan.
Over five decades later both organizations are thriving and providing much needed comfort and cure for depression, addiction and a host of other mentally related illnesses.
A few years after the clinic was created, the state established the Community Services Board and the clinic became part of the board, known today as the Fauquier Behavioral Health Clinic located on Hospital Hill.
It is a separate organization from Morgan’s association but both entities work closely together.
For many years the association operated with no paid staff. In the early 2000s, a large private donation triggered the hiring of its first executive director who subsequently moved on in 2010.
The vacancy created an opportunity for Morgan who had been working for the Community Services Board for over 30 years. “I was looking to make a change. I had been involved in the direct delivery of services so the Mental Health Association was a great opportunity to look at the system itself. That’s what drew me to work for the association,” said Morgan.
Until last February, Morgan was the only staff person. In a coordinated effort, a strategic planning process was undertaken that culminated in the decision to bring an additional person on board. “We hired a fabulous young woman, Brittany Dwyer, as a community outreach coordinator.”
A third part-time staff member, John Waldeck, is a behavioral health consultant. Waldeck ran the clinic for many years and is deeply knowledgeable about the challenges facing the community.
Much has been accomplished with these three professionals guiding the association.
Cutting to the heart of how Morgan views her role is her mantra: “There is no health without mental health. You really can’t separate the two. If you can improve mental health status, your physical health will improve.
“More than half of us are going to face a mental health issue some time in our lives.”
Accomplishments
One of the unique obstacles in delivering mental health cures is drawing out sufferers who are often reluctant to discuss their problems. Experience shows that many people are fearful of seeking help or even talking about their struggles.
The average time from when a person starts experiencing symptoms to actually getting treatment is 10 years. “One of the main things we are trying to accomplish is providing enough information and education to reduce the stigma of seeking treatment.
“We’ve become much more involved in working with substance abuse which is hard to separate from mental health issues. Often people start off self-medicating and it exacerbates whatever mental issues they are experiencing. One of the primary things we do is provide information and refer people to treatment for either condition,” said Morgan.
Just one example of reaching deeper into the community is the recent launch of its redesigned website.
Even a cursory look at the site impresses with its scope of help available to those in need. It provides information on programs, resources, publications and more.
The pain and heartache of an emotionally suffering person is highlighted in the list of resources available to treat a spectrum of problems such as: anxiety, bullying, depression, bipolar disorders, eating disorders, PTSD, suicide, substance abuse, and schizophrenia.
One important group targeted for improving well-being is young people. Research shows about half of mental health issues emerge about the age of 14 and a full 75 percent present by 24 years of age.
“You can make a huge difference with young people in building low self-esteem because mental health issues often develop from that. We put a lot of emphasis on working with our school system and other organizations that deal with young people.
“We have about 25 organizations that come together, including law enforcement. We have a good system for identifying those children who are struggling.”
Morgan sees three components to her organization’s success: A good prevention program. A process to identify those in need. And solid intervention strategies.
One point of pride in executing this three-pronged effort was a survey of over 1,400 middle and high school county students. A significant amount of information was gained about opioid and other substance abuses among this vulnerable cohort.
On a positive note, Morgan says the high rate of neonatal drug births and overdose deaths of just a few years ago appear to be easing. “A big difference came from working with the sheriff’s department and the town police. Also, the introduction of Narcan has seen the death rate go down.”
Narcan is a drug often administered by first responders and works by rapidly reversing the effects of an opioid overdose by restoring normal breathing.
The Mental Health Association of Fauquier County accomplishes a great deal on a modest annual budget of $250,000. Anyone wishing to help support its efforts will find a donation link on its website at: https://fauquier-mha.org/
Published in the November 14 , 2018 edition of the Fauquier Times.
