Clarke monthly December 2020

Presorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid at Shepherdstown, WV Permit #3

FREE DEC 2020 ClarkeVA.com

Happy Holidays from the Malloy Auto Group! www.MalloyAuto.com

Clarke

D EC 20 20

Geothermal Scott Heating and Cooling Quality Work — Reasonable Rates Ask us about our Annual Maintenance Contracts

2

Merry Christmas!!!

By Rev. Delbert R. Pope, Lead Pastor St. Luke Baptist Church, Berryville, Va.

Spring: Tune, clean and check components of A/C system.

Fall: Tune, clean and check components of heating system. plus a 10% discount on parts and a Reduced labor rate

Sign Up Now! We design, repair and install all types of residential heating and cooling systems—including, but not limited to:

• Boilers and Furnaces — Gas and Oil • Solar Hot water • Standard Heat Pumps • Geothermal Heat Pumps • Heat Recovery Ventilators • In-Floor Radiant • Service and Maintenance Contracts

Scott Smith / Master HVAC

(540) 379-3179

geothermalscott43@gmail.com

(703) 898-9427

GeothermalScott.com

* Licensed and Insured • Berryville, VA *

CLARKEVA.COM

What a year 2020 has been! With all that we have experienced, I am extremely grateful to have this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas. These words take on a different and even greater significance for me this year.

This year has been one filled with personal loss (family and friends), physical challenges (COVID/quarantine), and subsequent emotional strain.

Just to utter these two words, Merry Christmas, feels like the deep inhalation of a fresh, soft breeze, blowing down off the mountain. If we need anything in the closing hours of this year, we need a Merry Christmas — we need this refreshment.

These words refresh us, but they also remind us. Whenever someone extends me this greeting, it reminds me of a simpler time — a “lighter” time. These words, Merry Christmas, remind us that life does not always have to be lived at a “microwave” pace; that we are allowed to have quiet moments of peaceful reflection; that a cutting rejoinder can be countered with a kind word of encouragement.

Merry Christmas!

These words refresh us, remind us, and bring us to a place of reconnection. At this time of the year, we should reconnect with our humanity.

Many tend to forget about life’s daily grind and give themselves to more careful consideration of others. Merry Christmas reconnects us with

an attitude of gratitude and moves us to become more like the post-apparition visit Ebeneezer Scrooge. Merry Christmas also invites us to a place of spiritual reconnection.

These two words carry the power of the name of humanity’s savior, Christ, the Lord. To bestow that name upon men, particularly at this time of the year, is to offer them the greatest gift ever given to

men – the gift of God’s love; His refreshing, reflecting, reconnecting love.

As we draw closer to the day that we celebrate Christmas, please be sure to find someone in need of emotional refreshing, relational reflecting, and spiritual reconnecting, and with a light and winsome heart, wish them a MERRY CHRISTMAS. Peace and Blessings this Christmas.

Be Seen in Clarke!

540.398.1450

DE C 20 20

Clarke STAFF

David Lillard, Editor/Publisher Jennifer Welliver, Associate Publisher Aundrea Humphreys, Art Director Hali Taylor, Proofreader

DECEMBER CONTRIBUTORS Clarke County Cathy Kuehner Rebecca Maynard Doug Pifer Rev. Delbert R. Pope

COVER IMAGE Photos courtesy of Clarke County

ADVERTISING SALES

Jennifer Welliver, 540-398-1450

Advertising Information: 540-398-1450 (Mon-Fri, 9-5)

AD DEADLINE 1ST OF EACH MONTH

Clarke prints signed letters-to-the-editor of uniquely local interest. Letters containing personal attacks or polarizing language will not be published.

Letters may be edited. Send letters to the editor of 300 or fewer words to: editor@clarkeva.com.

CLARKE MONTHLY

PO BOX 2160 SHEPHERDSTOWN WV 25443

540-440-1373

www.CLARKEVA.com

Clarke

3

And The Winners Are A record 61 applications were received for the 16th annual contest according to Berryville’s Community Development Director Christy Dunkle, who managed the event this year. All decorated parking meters were photographed and posted on the Berryville Main Street Facebook page, where people voted for their favorites in the first-ever “People’s Choice” category. See photos on pages 4–5.

Berryville Architectural Review Board members judged the meters on December 2, and selecting winners in five categories: Best Meter by a Family, Individual, or Friends; Best Meter by a Business; Best Meter by a Non-Profit Group; Best Use of Recycled and/or Natural Materials, and Grand Prize. “People’s Choice” voting ended midday Dec. 4.

Winners received gift bags filled with goodies donated by Berryville businesses: Barns of Rose Hill,Berryville Farm and Pet Supply, Berryville Grille, Brazen Sheep, Hip And Humble Interiors, Modern Mercantile, Presto Dinners, Sweet Elephant Bake Shop, and Touched By

Nature Natural Body Products.

Soap

and

Here are the 2020 winners...

Best Meter by Family, Friends, or Individual “Cuckooville, ”created by Bob and Bonnie Jacobs, Mary and Dave Borger, Beth and Ed Novak, Kent and Barb Kinsey, Pam and Tim Lettie Best Meter by a Business Aluminum Christmas tree, created by Temp-A-Tron, Inc. Best Meter by a Non-Profit Santa at Vietnam Memorial Wall, created by Honor Flight – Top of Virginia Best Use of Recycled and/ or Natural Materials Found Object Christmas tree, created by Hip and Humble Interiors Grand Prize Berryville resident Viola Brown on Smucker’s Jar, created by Cathy Kuehner

Honorable Mention: Business Santa Takes a Bath, created by Touched by Nature Soaps Honorable Mention: Family, Friends, or Individual Santa and Rudolph, created by Chris Van Meter Honorable Mention: Family, Friends, or Individual The Mandalorian’s Baby Yoda, created by Luke Minter Honorable Mention: Family, Friends, or Individual “Rose Hill Park in TV,” created

by Vicki Surface and Mary Liz McCauley Honorable Mention: Family, Friends, or Individual The Groot “Season’s Grootings,” created by Andrea Ross, Scarlett Synnott, and family

People’s Choice Viola Brown on Smucker’s Jar, created by Cathy Kuehner

Honorable Mention: NonProfit Treadwell Masonic Lodge 213 White Post, created by Treadwell Masonic Lodge No.213

Honorable Mention: Business Have a Berry Merry Season sign, created by Presto Dinners

Honorable Mention: Non-Profit Snowman, created by Lucky Leaf 4-H Club

Clarke

D EC 20 20

4

Parking Meters On Parade For Holidays

Green’s Septic Service & Portable Toilet Rental Save the Bay. Call Green’s Today.

Grease Traps • Pump and Haul Terra Lifts • Septic Inspections System Repairs

Emergency Service

Family Owned and Operated Since 1980

540-955-2960

DON'T SIT AROUND WONDER. TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND REACH OUT. INFORMATION IS FREE AND WE LOVE TO HELP.

Licensed in VA. Each office independently owned and operated. Office: 540.955.0911 Brett Sowder, Priciple Broker

Sixteen years ago, Berryville Main Street Executive Director Sue Ross had an idea that would decorate the downtown, engage the community, attract shoppers, and offer free parking throughout the holiday season. This year, when people spent more time at home and were keen to add some joy to an otherwise difficult year, a record number of individuals, families, businesses, and organizations participated in the annual “Parking Meters on Parade” contest.

Berryville has 81 meters and more than 60 people applied to decorate them. Decorations ranged from whimsical to religious, reverent to comical.

Meters were decorated over the Thanksgiving weekend, photographed, and posted on the Berryville Main Street Facebook page for the first-ever “People’s Choice” category.

Everyone was invited to vote for their favorite designs.

Voting (with “likes”) ended at noon Dec. 4.

Berryville Architectural Review Board members judged the meters on Dec. 2, and selected winners in five categories: Best Meter by a Family, Individual, or Friends; Best Meter by a Business; Best Meter by a Non-Profit Group; Best Use of Recycled and/or Natural Materials, and Grand Prize.

Downtown businesses donated prizes for this year’s “Parking Meters on Parade” contest. They are: Presto Dinners, the Berryville Grille, Touched By Nature Natural Soap and Body Products, The Sweet Elephant Bake Shop, the Barns of Rose Hill, Hip And Humble Interiors, and Berryville Farm and Pet Supply.

Winners in all six categories, which were announced on Dec. 4, can also be seen on the Berryville Main Street Facebook page.

Farm 4 Life 4-H club.

Jonathan Worsley.

Ed Novak, Bonnie Jacobs, and their friends and family.

Clarke

DE C 20 20

5 REGISTERED ANGUS & SIMANGUS BULLS FOR SALE • A.I. sired, 18 month old bulls ready for heavy service.

• Calving ease, balanced trait and bulls with top-tier growth genetics available.

• EPDs available on all bulls.

• A.I. sires include SAV Ten Speed, Cowboy Cut, Bankroll, and Enhance.

Priced $3,000 - $4,000 Schutte Land & Livestock

Registered Angus & SimAngus Cattle Dorset Sheep

(540)247-8583

P.O. Box 5 Boyce, VA 22620 www.clarkecountyproperties.com

CLARKEVA.COM

Cathy Kuehner.

Chris Van Meter.

Heather and Aaron Jones.

Luke Minter.

Hip and Humble.

Clarke

D EC 20 20

Love at First Bite Catering & events Creative Menus Adorned with Flair 30+ Years of Experience

6 THANKS

To All Our 2020 Advertisers!

Lisa Trumbower-Sheppard check out our new website!

loveatfirstbitecatering.com

540.955.4462

NOW OPEN FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSULTATIONS USING OSHA SAFTY GUIDELINES

Our Holistic Health Practitioners are Licensed or Certified & offer Classes & Workshops monthly!

Please visit our FB page / website or sign up for our newsletter announcing our monthly schedule.

Consider Joining our Team!

208 N Buckmarsh St, Berryville, VA info@sanctuaryberryville.com • sanctuaryberryville.com

(540) 450-8110

We at Clarke monthly are grateful for everyone who advertised this year. These times have been extraordinarily challenging for all of us; our local businesses and community organizations have heroically continued to serve our county, while continuously adjusting their own operational plans as they do their best to hang on.

We thank each of them for enabling us to continue to produce Clarke County’s stories and to share them with our readers. We hope you will patronize them!

81 Outfitters Aussie Pet Mobile Bank of Clarke County Barns of Rose Hill Bass for Supervisor Battletown Animal Clinic Berryville Main Street Berryville Sanctuary Berryville True Value Blue Ridge Hunt Blue Ridge Studio for the Performing Arts Bluemont Community Center Brazen Sheep Broy and Son Pump Service Budget Handyman Camino Real John Enders Fire and Rescue, sponsored by Loudoun Mutual Insurance Christ Church, Millwood Clarke County Community Band, sponsored by Loudoun Mutual Insurance Clarke County Education Foundation Clarke County Farmers’ Market Clarke County Historical Association Clarke County Properties Cosmic Harvest D&D Siding and Roofing Specialists Direct Cremation Services of Virginia Duncan Memorial UMC Vacation Bible School Edward Jones - Jordan Liskey Epling Landscape and Lawn Service Family Antiques and Crafts Family Trust Footloose Dance and Gymnastics Fox and Pheasant Geo’s Joy Geothermal Scott Heating and Cooling, llc Gloria Rose Ott, Sotheby’s Goldberg School of Music Green’s Septic Service

DE C 20 20

Clarke

Griffith Energy Hilltop House Hip and Humble Iva Longerbeam Jefferson GAP Coalition Jen Kitner, Realtor JM Draperies Juilee Chapman Kelsey Cakes Law Offices of Timothy R. Johnson, PLC Lloyd Williams Post 41, American Legion Locke Store Long Branch Loudoun Mutual Insurance Love at First Bite Lowry’s Crab Shack M.E. Flow Malloy Auto Group Malloy Toyota Marcy Cantatore, Realtor Mark Dana Management Mark E. Stivers, Attny McIntosh and Eldredge, llc MidAtlantic Farm Credit Modern Mercantile, LLC My Neighbor and Me Nantucket-Treweryn Beagles Northwestern Community Services Board - Prevention Department Organic Plum Otter Creek Millwork Poe Pourri Hair Designs Poe’s Home Improvements Presto Dinners Rappahannock Electric Cooperative Renee White Revel Gymnastics Rose Weis Round Hill Smile Design Sandstone Farm Sara Hartsell Shenandoah Septic Sinclair Health Clinic Steinmetz & Longerbeam, Remax Roots The Fun Shop The Sweet Elephant Tom Cammack, Realtor Town of Boyce, VA Tri County Feeds Valley Health Vicki Broy, Realtor Winchester Gastroenterology Associates Winchester Little Theater Women’s Center of Winchester

7

CLARKEVA.COM

The Fox & Pheasant Antiques • Décor • Interiors

114 East Main Street Boyce, Virginia

Thursday - Saturday 10 - 5 Sunday 12 - 5

804-205-4605

Clarke

D EC 20 20

8

Around Clarke County Promote your event in Clarke.

Send notices by the 1st of the preceding month to jennifer@clarkeva.com. Keep event descriptions to 125 words, following the format of these pages. One or two CMYK photos, saved as tiff or jpg at 200 dpi, are always welcome.

December

10

Christmas Open House

Rosemont Manor.

16 Rosemont Manor Lane.

Berryville. See the splendor of the historic house at Christmastime and support FISH of Clarke County. Adults $10, students $5, children 5 and younger free. Please wear masks. 5–8pm. 540-955-2834.

19

–20 Crums Church Christmas Program

Crums United Methodist Church. 2832 Crums Church Rd. Berryville. Three showings will be presented by the youth group, free and open to the public with donations to the youth fund accepted. Masks are required; call or email ahead for guaranteed seating.

7pm Saturday, 9am and 11:15am Sunday. 540-955-1852.

2018crumschurch@gmail.com.

20

Magic Lantern Film: “Raising Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins” Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville. Molly Ivins was a celebrated political columnist from Texas whose sharp, caustic wit took on local and national politicians in both parties for over 30 years, eventually leading to syndication in some 400 newspapers and a lucrative speaking career. “Smart and entertaining, just like its subject.“ (Hollywood Reporter).

93 minutes. Not Rated.

Masks required; 30 person maximum.

4–6pm.

Barns members $5, nonmembers $8. www.barnsofrosehill.org.

540-955-2004.

21

Matthew Bell Memorial Blood Drive

John H. Enders Fire Company.

9 S. Buckmarsh St. Berryville.

Hosted by Cordial Coffee

Merry Christmas!

and Enders Fire Company in memory of Matthew Bell. Due to the high turnout for this event, appointments are highly recommended. Visit https:// www.redcrossblood.org/give. html/donation-time. To locate this drive, search the sponsor code “MLB2.” Masks should be worn. 1–7pm. 540-671-5864 or 540-931-1964.

January

9

Marika Bournaki Concert

Barns of Rose Hill. 95 Chalmers Ct. Berryville.

With unparalleled technical, musical and communication skills, Marika Bournaki is at once a world class performer, outstanding pianist, vivacious young woman and the freshest face on the classical music scene. Masks required; limited seating. 7–8:30pm. $30 in advance, $35 at door,

75

children 12 and younger free. www.barnsofrosehill.org.

540-955-2004.

Ongoing

clocks, honey, handmade soap, knitwear, jewelry and more.

Hours are Thursdays, 11am to 5pm, Fridays, 11am to 8pm, and Saturdays, 11am to 4pm.

304-620-7277.

Fair Trade Pop-up Gift Shop

Clarke County Parks and Recreation Center

317 First St. Berryville. 10am– 6pm, Thursdays–Saturdays through Dec. 19. Fair trade gift shop My Neighbor and Me will also offer private appointments Mondays through Wednesday.

Call 540-955-1711.

St. Nick’s Picks Holiday Shop

Now through December 24, the Berkeley Art Works Gallery, 116 N. Queen St., Martinsburg, W.Va., is transformed into a festive holiday shop.

There is a mix of fine art and craft items, including basketry, ceramics, glass, wood, photography, painting and mixed media, cards, calendars,

Clarke County Parks and Recreation, at 225 Al Smith Circle in Berryville, offers a wide variety of activities and programs for people of all ages. Classes, programs, and special events are detailed in The Core, found at www.clarkecounty.gov/ homeshowpublisheddocument ?id=4910. Published three times each year, The Core is available at the Recreation Center and is mailed to residents who ask to be on the distribution list. It is also available via email. To receive print or electronic versions of The Core, contact Shannon Martin at 540-955-5143 or email smartin@clarkecounty.gov.

Clarke

DE C 20 20

front porch or door with no personal contact. FISH is not accepting clothing donations and the clothing store is closed. Food donations may be dropped off by appointment only. For monetary donations, the mailing address is PO Box 1154, Berryville, Va, 22611.

If you have any questions, call Monday through Friday 8:30am–4 pm.

9 Poe’s Home Improvements New Building & Remodeling Est. 1976

No Job Too Small

Bobcat and Small Backhoe Work Land Clearing • Interior / exterior painting Tree & Brush Removal • 60’ Man-Lift Service

A.B. Poe, Jr. “Pig Eye”

540-955-3705

Barns of Rose Hill

The Barns of Rose Hill, at 95 Chalmers Ct., Berryville, has reopened its art exhibits, gift shop and Visitors’ Center.

Hours are 12–3pm Tuesday through Saturday. Donations are appreciated, as many programs have been canceled.

Follow Barns of Rose Hill on Facebook, or contact the Barns at 540-955-2004 or info@borh.org.

Clarke County Historical Association

CCHA is developing a wealth of online content for people of all ages to use to enjoy history.

History challenges, behind the scenes video tours, puzzles, oral histories, our Archivist’s blog, online tutorials, there’s something for everyone! The museum is open again Tuesday– Friday, 11am–3pm. CCHA staff monitor email and phone messages at 540-955-2600 or director@clarkehistory.org.

on select content that do not count against your 6. More info on how this works at www.handleyregional.org/hoopla.

FISH of Clarke County 540-955-1823. Until further notice, FISH is closed to the public, but is not closed for food assistance. If you need food, call the helpline, and they will deliver your food to your

MIDDLEBURG REAL ESTATE

McINTOSH & ELDREDGE

Anne McIntosh | REALTOR® 703.509.4499 annewmcintosh@gmail.com

Maria Eldredge | REALTOR® 540.454.3829 maria@middleburgrealestate.com

LEARN MORE AT mcintoshandeldredge.realtor

Sanctuary Wellness Center

208 N. Buckmarsh St. Berryville. A number of online classes are being held, including OM’Line Yoga with Amy HopeGentry and Yoga Nidra with Gayle Bohlman. Contact Amy at www.amyhopegentry.com/ yoga or Gayle at gaylebtcc@ comcast.net to register. For more information, email info@ sanctuaryberryville.com or visit sanctuaryberryville.com.

Handley Library System

Virtual programs for kids and teens with crafts, puppets, yoga, video game night, and more. www.handleyregional. org/blog/virtual-and-liveprograms-kids-teens Hoopla – Handley’s online streaming service for movies, TV, music, eBooks, audio books, and comics. Also, Hoopla is offering additional downloads for free

Sale Ends 12/31/20

BERRYVILLE HARDWARE 600 EAST MAIN STREET BERRYVILLE 540-955-1900

RAMSEY HARDWARE 703 N ROYAL AVE FRONT ROYAL 540-635-2547

Clarke

D EC 20 20

10

Tales of Grocery Delivery During a Pandemic

By Rebecca Maynard

Who would have thought you could develop neighborly connections with people you’ve never met face to face?

Throughout my four years at Shenandoah University, where

I earned my bachelor’s degree in mass communications/ journalism, I worked as a cashier at Berryville Food Lion (now Martin’s). Nearly two decades later, I find myself back at my

old stomping ground, shopping and delivering groceries for Instacart.

I enjoy writing and compiling the community calendar for Clarke monthly, but full time

For Unto Us a Child is Born!

Advent and Christmas Blessings

from Christ Church, Millwood Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. - Isaiah 40:3 May this season of hopeful expectation be filled with blessings, love, and the joy of Christ.

Peace to you!

from your neighbors at Christ Church, Millwood

809 Bishop Meade Road, Millwood, VA www.cunninghamchapel.org

540.837.1112

www.facebook.com/christchurchmillwood

work in journalism has not been possible for me in recent years because of my duties helping to care for my mother, who has MS. Earlier this year, as I pondered ways to make extra cash, I stumbled upon Instacart, a website and app that offers grocery delivery to customer’s doors.

I’m one of those strange people who actually enjoys grocery shopping, so it seemed like the perfect fit. A background check and a couple of training videos later, and I was ready to begin.

Instacart shoppers in this area are independent contractors who get to pick and choose their hours and orders, so I have the luxury of shopping when it’s convenient for my schedule. This freedom is why I am reluctant to count myself among the ranks of grocery store employees, who are truly the essential workers.

Once I started shopping, I found it enjoyable, like a scavenger hunt for which I was being paid. However, grocery shopping during a pandemic has its own unique challenges.

I am vigilant about wearing my mask, keeping distance from fellow shoppers and frequently sanitizing my hands, but it’s riskier than being at home. Still, it’s comforting to know that, according to the CDC, grocery shopping is a low risk activity compared to frequenting a bar or restaurant, where people must remove their masks to eat and drink.

What I didn’t expect was that

the shopping experience would frequently include friendly, neighborly chats. Instacart customers in more populated areas may never have the same shopper twice, but I have many “regulars.” I have met a few in person, but most I only “know” through the app’s text chat feature. It’s a bit different having conversations with faceless strangers, but it adds a personal touch that isn’t available when ordering groceries for curbside pickup from the larger Martin’s stores.

By now, some of the regulars feel like neighbors, even if we’ve never actually met.

“Rebecca, how’s my favorite shopper today?” one customer texted recently as I began shopping. “I always know you’ll pick out good produce and not smash my bread!” Others ask me how my day is going and express concern for my safety, which is much appreciated.

While the majority of customers choose contactless delivery, I have several regulars I enjoy seeing and chatting with.

One woman has a delightful collection of dressed stuffed animals and always has a kind word for me. Another regular who is unable to leave her home astounds me with the beautiful crafts that are always in progress.

She, too, is appreciative and a joy to converse with. I thoroughly enjoy our brief conversations.

Other experiences have been amusing. “Be careful of the

Clarke

DE C 20 20

11 Cosmic Harvest Gallery Featuring Original Art by Keith Patterson Schedule Your Appointment Today!!!

571-235-5786 or 540-431-8320 Email: cosmicharvestllc@yahoo.com

Visit our website www.cosmicharvest.com

REVEL All the necessary tools of the trade- hand sanitizer, Instacart credit card, and my new festive mask. rooster!” read a note in the app from one customer. “Just leave him alone and he probably won’t bother you.” (For the record, I was unscathed.) I’ve also been greeted by several exuberant pets, but have never yet had an experience that made me feel unsafe in any way.

I am also fortunate to have had only one negative experience in six months of personal shopping and delivery.

While I understood their frustration, I am not sure that particular disgruntled person will ever understand that I cannot magically conjure up items that are out of stock due to ongoing supply chain issues

during this pandemic! On the whole, though, my customers have been very understanding.

I, in turn, appreciate their kindness and generosity, as most include a tip with their orders.

I thought I was leaving the world of groceries for good when I graduated from college, but life often surprises us. I’m happy to have found something I enjoy that also helps people, and it’s been a bonus and a pleasure to have met so many wonderful people. I may never again work full time in journalism, but I will never give up on my writing.

I’ve always loved the work of David Sedaris, a humorist who

Family Antiques

Oak & Country Furniture and Collectibles Gerald & Bonnie Dodson, Owners 116A North Buckmarsh Street, Rt. 340 N. Berryville, VA 22611 Business Hours:

Monday through Saturday 10-4:30 Sunday 1-4:30

540-955-2437

540-533-8257

got his big break by publishing essays about his experiences working as an elf at Macy’s department store.

Maybe by this time next year, I’ll be publishing “Tales of an Instacart Shopper During a Pandemic!”

Gymnastics Recreational • Training • Competitive 351 Station Road Suite 11A • Berryville, VA 22611 www.revelgym.org

Phone- 703-309-8787

Clarke

D EC 20 20

12

The Cedar Wars How a Virginia native tree decimated apple orchards

By Claire Stuart varieties were found to be susceptible to a rust disease, and by the early 1800s, the fungus and the link with cedar trees was discovered.

On cedar trees, pitted brown growths (galls) about the size of golf balls are produced on twigs. They are often called “cedar apples.” Warm spring rains cause the galls to swell and give rise to bright orange, gelatinous “tentacles” that produce fungal spores.

Wind carries the spores to apple trees about the time they are blooming, and small yellow spots will appear on the new leaves. The spots enlarge and become bright orange, and heavily infected leaves may drop off. Fruit can also become infected with spots, usually starting at the blossom end. It might be blemished, undersized, or deformed. The fungus also saps the vigor of the tree, resulting in susceptibility to winter injury, less bloom the next year, and, with several

infections, even tree death.

In late summer, little black structures appear in the spots on the underside of the apple leaves. These structures produce spores that are blown back to cedar trees, completing the life cycle, and new galls will grow. If the spores fall on the apple leaves, they do not spread any more infection.

By the late 1800s, there was a lot of concern about the rust, and various state universities were engaged in research.

Experiments were carried on where all red cedar trees within a mile radius of orchards were

destroyed, and no rusted apple leaves were found.

The disease was extremely destructive in 1912 in Virginia and West Virginia, with complete crop failures in some orchards. Red cedar was not considered to be of any economic value since it was primarily used as wind breaks and fence posts and of no use as sawed lumber. Apple growers in the Shenandoah Valley united to petition lawmakers for what became the cedar-cutting law of 1914 which stated that red cedar trees within a mile (later amended to two miles in

Footloose

Dance and Gymnastics

Cheer Teams, Musical Theater, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary

Ages 2-18

Call for a Free Trial class Today!

Now offering Winter and Spring Sessions!!

★★

Jan - March: Winter Session •

April - June: Spring Session

Register for both sessions and get $30 off

★★

Expires Dec 18, 2020

Register for one session and get $10 off Expires Dec 31, 2020

★

year life cycle. Unfortunately, one of the two hosts is apple.

Before apples were cultivated in North America, the alternate hosts of the fungus had been native crabapples, quince and hawthorn, and the fungus did little harm to them.

Apple trees are not native to North America, although their relatives, crabapple and hawthorn, are. Apples originated in the Kazakhstan area, spread through Europe, and were carried to North America as seeds, cuttings, and small trees by British settlers in the early 1600s.

The first apples grown here were random varieties for home use, primarily for cider.

Some survived and some didn’t.

When it was realized that apples could be a profitable crop, orchards appeared, growing varieties with desirable characteristics. Cedar trees were commonly grown along boundaries of orchards as windbreaks. Certain apple

★

It is no surprise that this area is rich in Civil War history, but how many residents are aware of what some people call the “Cedar Wars?” Early in the 20th century, heated disputes between orchardists and landowners who had cedar trees made it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. This came to my mind when I spotted some of the unmistakable growths caused by cedar-apple rust on a cedar tree on our property.

Eastern red cedar, (Juniperus virginiana L.), is a native tree that grows prolifically in the region. It thrives in direct sunlight and quickly pops up in fence rows, abandoned fields and burned out forests. It is host to a plant disease called cedar- apple rust, caused by the fungus Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae.

The fungus is what is called a heteroecious rust pathogen, meaning that two hosts are required to complete its two-

★★

540-338-3668(Foot)

20 A. East Main Street

★

Berryville, VA 22611

www.footloosedanceandgymnastics.com

Clarke

DE C 20 20

1920) of apple orchards were a “public nuisance” and were to be cut down. A similar law was passed in West Virginia.

A Shenandoah County man named Miller who owned a large number of ornamental cedar trees was ordered by Virginia State Entomologist Schoene to cut his cedar trees down because his property was near an apple orchard, but he was not offered any compensation. Miller argued that the order violated due process and that this taking should be compensated by the state government. The uncompensated destruction of Miller’s trees was upheld by Virginia courts.

Miller appealed to the Supreme Court in the case of Miller v. Schoene, U.S. 272 (1928). The Court ruled against Miller and found, in a unanimous decision, that Virginia’s law did not violate due process. It recognized that apples were the state’s “principal agriculture pursuit” and thus more valuable to the state than red cedar.

In nearby Shepherdstown, West Virginia, a grassroots rebellion arose against the state’s cedar-cutting law. This was probably because this area wasn’t close to any orchards, so the residents resented the demand to cut their cedar trees.

Unlike the Virginia courts, West Virginia courts ruled that just OR ST HI

RRYVILLE, V IR G IC BE IN IA

H

BARNS OF

ROSE HILL

13

is NOW scheduling* Leaf Removal Services. compensation was available for property devaluation caused by the destruction of cedar trees.

More resistant apple varieties and effective fungicides were developed to combat the disease. Eventually an end was put to the destruction of cedar trees and you can see them growing all over our area once more.

Cedar-apple rust doesn’t necessarily occur every year; it depends on moisture and wind at the optimum time. However, be aware that red cedar trees can still spread the disease when conditions are right.

You should not grow cedars anywhere near an apple tree or even an ornamental crabapple tree. If you do, be sure to examine your cedars carefully and remove any cedar galls.

They are very easy to see at this time of year.

Please contact our office for pricing and more details.

540-554-8228 33747 Snickersville Turnpike, Bluemont, VA, 20135 www.eplinglandscaping.com *serving limited parts of Berryville, VA

C L A R K E V A . C O M

Own Your Tomorrow.

• HOLIDAY POP-UP SHOP • Local Art and Gifts | Upper Gallery

• ART EXHIBIT | TOYS FROM THE ATTIC • Over 50 toys from three generations of toy collecting

December 3 - January 5 | Lower Gallery

• MAGIC LANTERN FILM • Raising Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins

Sunday, December 20 | 4:00 PM

• ART WORKSHOP •

Intro to Oil Painting with Jordan Xu Saturday, January 9 | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

• LIVE MUSIC •

Marika Bournaki | Classical Piano

Saturday, January 9 | 7:00 PM

LIVE MUSIC | FILMS | EXHIBITS | LECTURES, CLASSES & WORKSHOPS | AND MUCH MORE!

See What’s Coming Up at www.BarnsofRoseHill.org 95 Chalmers Court | Berryville, VA | 22611 | P: 540.955.2004 95 Chalmers Court | Berryville, VA | 22611 | P: 540-955-2004

Dreaming about your next home? Let Farm Credit help you turn “someday” into “today” with our financing options for land and homes with excess acreage.

Contact our team when you’re ready to live the country dream.

888.339.3334 | mafc.com |

Clarke

D EC 20 20

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year Wishing you a holiday season filled with joy.

As The Crow Flies

New Birdsong Goes Viral In 2020 Story and photo by Doug Pifer

#WE

www.myrec.coop 1-800-552-3904

BATTLETOWN ANIMAL CLINIC Serving the community for over 30 years.

3823 Lord Fairfax Hwy, 1/2 mile north of Berryville

(540) 955-2171 Oyster season is here!

Wednesday–Friday 4-8 Saturday and Sunday 12-8

Fresh Fish, Crabmeat, Oysters, and Produce

420 W Colonial Highway

14

Full menu available carryout only until further notice.

Preorders available by emailing Lowrysordering@gmail.com

Join us on Facebook | facebook.com/groups/LowrysCrabShack | LowrysCrabShack.com

About a half hour after sunrise, the song of a whitethroated sparrow came from our big Forsythia bush. I look forward to these sparrows every year, but this time I was paying special attention. I was pleased and thrilled to hear him singing the new song!

Some background information is necessary here.

Native to the northern forests throughout Canada, these attractively striped sparrows spend their winters in the eastern USA. They are among our most abundant winter birds, especially if you have a wooded area nearby.

Occasionally a white-throated sparrow, as if overtaken by homesickness, breaks into song. This is typically a series of whistled notes to the cadence, “Oh, sweet Canada, Canada, Canada.” Now, as if we needed another unique event in the unprecedented year of the pandemic, white-throated sparrows across America are singing much differently. The final whistled triplet has become a double, as in “Oh sweet Candy, Candy, Candy.” Online, search for “Catchy Sparrow Song Goes Viral” at www.sciencealert.com to hear the difference. This fall I’ve heard them singing both old and new songs.

This is a big deal to those who study birds. We have learned how important spring vocalizations are to a songbird’s survival. Females select mates based on the vigor of their song, which proclaims them as healthy males that can father strong young and defend their chosen nesting territory.

Regional “dialects” occur, but an individual white-throated sparrow sings pretty much the same song as all his ancestors have sung.

But not anymore.

In the late 1990s, Canadian ornithologists in the province of Alberta started reporting this new song among the whitethroated sparrows nesting in certain areas. By the early 2000s, the alternative song was almost universal throughout western Canada. And this past year it has been heard from birds as far east as Quebec.

I love hearing the first white-throats sing when they arrive here, usually about the middle of October. Their songs are often fragmentary and weak. Youngsters only a couple months old are beginning to tune their voices. Studies of many birds in the wild and in captivity have shown how young males learn to sing by listening to the songs of older “mentor” males during the non-breeding season. By late March they’re all singing their wistful, homesick songs.

Field biologists and ornithologists are studying to

determine the hows and whys of this new song. It is believed the new song started out years ago as a local aberration.

During the winter, different populations of white-throats associate with each other on their wintering grounds. Young birds from other places heard the new song and learned it.

When they returned to their home locations and set up new territories in the spring, female white-throats there apparently preferred and were attracted to males singing the new song.

As they and their offspring returned to spend the winter with more sparrows from other areas, this learning process has continued. Thus, the popular new song has spread and, in this sense, “gone viral.”

Ornithologists recently report that individuals of another songbird species, the white-crowned sparrow, have also been heard singing different songs. Stay tuned!

Clarke

DE C 20 20

15

Connecting Landowners With Conservation Options Free Webinar Explains Protecting Land Through Conservation Easements

Photo courtesy Peter Weeks.

Whether your land is used for agriculture, forest, wildlife viewing and habitat, water, or simply as open space, you have invested time, money, and work to maintain it. If you are concerned about the rate open space is being lost to development, you may want to protect your land — even after it changes hands in years to come.

To connect interested landowners with people and information, partners in the Blue Ridge Conservation Alliance (BRCA) hosted a free “Introduction to Conservation Easements” webinar on Tuesday, December 8. Representatives from the Land Trust of Virginia and the Piedmont Environmental

Long Branch House and Farm Presents "SPLASH! 10,000 Years of Swimming"

by Howard Means

In the Reading Room December 1 – 30 Open Monday thru Friday 10 – 4

By Donation Long Branch Historic House and Farm 830 Long Branch Lane • Boyce, VA visitlongbranch.org • 540-837-1856

Council led the presentation and discussion about the process, costs, financial incentives, and considerations for protecting land in perpetuity. Landowners

were on-call to answer questions about their personal experiences with easements.

The webinar’s goal was to explain all aspects of protecting privately owned tracts of land.

Allison Teeter, Clarke County Natural Resource Planner, who manages the easement program for the Clarke County Easement Authority, also presented.

The webinar was recorded, and is available to watch on the Blue Ridge Conservation Alliance website (blueridgeconservation.org).

Various informational materials from the program also are available online.

BRCA is a coalition of organizations — watershed associations, regional advocacy organizations, land trusts, and recreation groups — led by a steering committee and coordinated by the Piedmont Environmental Council and The Downstream Project, a Berryville-based nonprofit that helps nonprofit conservation groups strengthen their identities, share their stories,

build digital platforms for activism, and manage their donors and events.

Land Trust of Virginia is a Land Trust Alliance-accredited organization that works with private landowners who wish to voluntarily protect and preserve their working farmland or lands with significant scenic, historic, or ecological value.

Piedmont Environmental Council is a Land Trust Alliance-accredited nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the Virginia Piedmont’s rural economy, natural resources, history, and beauty.

For more information about the easement webinar, visit www.blueridgeconservation. org, or contact Tracy Lind of the Piedmont Environmental Council at tlind@pecva.org, or Seth Young of the Land Trust of Virginia at seth@landtrustva.org.

• Heating Oil • Kerosene • Diesel • Gasoline Full-Service Heating & AC Repair and Installation on • Oil-systems • Gas-systems • Heat Pumps

Over 20,000 customers have chosen to trust Griffith Energy Services, Inc. with their heating oil deliveries over the past five years!

24-7-365 Emergency Service • Great Prices, Better People…

Griffithoil.com • 800-473-5242 Doggone Dependable Since 1898 Berryville, Manassas, Charles Town Locations

Berryville Farm & Pet Supply 400 E. Main St. Berryville Old Book Shop 7 E. Main St. Berryville Treasures 8 W. Main St. Blue Ridge Hospice Thrift Shop 115 W. Main St. Brazen Sheep Fiber Arts 10 W. Main St. Center Ring Design 401 E. Main St. Family Antiques & Collectibles 116 N. Buckmarsh St. Family Trust Numismatics 18 N. Church St. Hip and Humble Interiors 401 E. Main St. Modern Mercantile 23 E. Main St. My Neighbor and Me 317 First St. P. H. Miller Frame Studio 1 E. Main St. Sponseller’s Flower Shop 2 W. Main St. Sweet Pea’s Children’s Shop & Ladies’ Gifts 5 E. Main St. Touched by Nature Soaps & Body Products 401 E. Main St.

Thank you for supporting our businesses throughout this most difficult year!

We hope to see you this holiday season, too.

Remember, decorated parking meters mean free parking through Dec. 31.

Berryville Grille 9 E. Main St. Camino Real 16 Crow St. Cordial Coffee Co. 8 S. Church St. Fox’s Pizza 616 E. Main St. Golden Dragon 21 W. Main St. Jane’s Lunch 3 E. Main St. Mario’s Pizzeria 36 W. Main St. NIK’s Broiler Room 15 Crow St. Presto Dinners 23 Crow St. Santorini Grill 108 S. Buckmarsh St. Subway 112 W. Main St. Sweet Basil Thai 8 W. Main St. Sweet Elephant Bake Shop 23 W. Main St. Tea Cart 16 W. Main St.