SPORTS: Kettle Run leads its football rivalry with Fauquier 7-4. Preview, page 16
October 3, 2018
Our 201st year
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Vol. 201, No. 40
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www.Fauquier.com
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Special section Pages 25-32
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Purple means ‘I’m here to help.’
Warrenton library back on the table?
Fauquier schools identify staff trained in mental-health first aid
Library board asks county to rethink funding delay By James Ivancic Times Staff Writer
By Karen Chaffraix Times Staff Writer
Some 15 teachers sat in little chairs at little tables in the W.G. Coleman Elementary School library in Marshall recently for a meeting with Fauquier County schools senior administrators Major Warner and Amy Acor. The two had come to distribute purple lanyards, pins and stickers that say: “I INSIDE Business.............................................13 Classified............................................50 Communities......................................42 Faith...................................................46
Health & Wellness...............................21 Libraries.............................................39 Lifestyle..............................................33 Opinion...............................................11
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The
Am Certified in YOUTH Mental Health First Aid” to the teachers who have completed mental health first aid and to encourage others to take it. Virginia’s Department of Education allows local boards to issue up to 40 continuing education hours for taking the course, which is recertified every three years.
Members of the Fauquier County Library Board of Trustees want to see construction of a new library for Warrenton in the near term rather than sometime in the distant future. The board on Thursday, Sept. 27, approved a request to the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors to put construction of a new library in the 2020-2024 fiscal years capital improvement budget. Departments had until Friday, Sept. 28, to request inclusion of projects in the five-year budget. The board of supervisors will consider the requests early next year when it considers its budget for the coming year. A majority of supervisors voted earlier this year not to move forward with a new Warrenton library in light of other priorities. They moved the proposed project from the current funding cycle to the “future years” category with no certain year to proceed. Given the passage of time and rising costs, what was once a $14.6 million project is now estimated at $18 million if built as envisioned. “It’s the nature of the business. The longer you delay the more expensive,” said Library Director Maria Del Rosso, during the trustees meeting.
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Obituaries...........................................47 Puzzles...............................................24 Real Estate..........................................41 Sports.................................................15
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Fauquier Times | www.fauquier.com | October 3, 2018
Board of trustees asks county to rethink funding delay on new library LIBRARY from page 1 But whether the library board’s request to move forward more quickly with a new library will be well received by the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors is an open question. Board Chairman Chris Butler (Lee) said the supervisors will have to consider the library among other capital needs. “It’s hard to say at this point. There are other things coming down the pike,” Butler said Tuesday when asked if he thought the board might return the new Warrenton library to its five-year capital improvement plan. Butler said the Goldvein fire sta-
ISSN 1050-7655, USPS 188280 Published every Wednesday by Piedmont Media LLC How to reach us ADDRESS: 41 Culpeper Street Warrenton, Virginia 20186 PHONE: 540-347-4222 FAX: 540-349-8676 HOURS: 8 a.m. 5 p.m. weekdays, 24-hour answering service Publisher Catherine M. Nelson, 540-347-4222 cnelson@fauquier.com NEWSROOM Editor in Chief Christopher Six, 540-212-6331 csix@fauquier.com Managing Editor Jill Palermo, 540-351-0431 jpalermo@fauquier.com Web/Copy Editor Amanda Heincer, 540-878-2418 aheincer@fauquier.com
tion needs to be upgraded or replaced, and the matter of what to do with Warrenton’s two aging middle schools – Warrenton and Taylor -- is still undecided. “In my opinion, those would be priorities,” Butler said. The library board is also asking the county to keep a library for New Baltimore in the future years’ category but updated its estimated cost from $9.8 million to $11 million. In 2013, the supervisors postponed building a library for New Baltimore and put a new one in Warrenton in the five-year CIP budget. Opening a new library requires hiring staff, whereas replacing an old library with a new
Community Editor Anita Sherman, 540.351.1635 asherman@fauquier.com Associate Editor John Toler, 540-351-0487 jtoler@fauquier.com Staff Writers Karen Chaffraix kchaffraix@fauquier.com James Ivancic, 540-878-2414 jivancic@fauquier.com Jonathan Hunley, jhunley@fauquier.com Sports Editor Peter Brewington, 540-351-1169 pbrewington@fauquier.com Sports Staff Writer Jeff Malmgren, 540-874-2250 jmalmgren@fauquier.com ADVERTISING Ad Manager Kathy Mills Godfrey 540-351-1162 kgodfrey@fauquier.com Classified Sales Consultant Jeanne Cobert, 540-878-2491 jcobert@fauquier.com
Chairman Emeritus George R. Thompson To place Classified and Employment ads: Call 540-351-1664 or fax 540-349-8676, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday — Friday or email fauquierclassifieds@fauquier.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Call 540-347-4222 Help with your subscription? Call 540-878-2413 or email CirculationFT@fauquier.com Missed your paper? Call 540-347-4222, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays Subscription: $69.68 per year within the United States. POSTMASTER: Send address 41 Culpeper St., Warrenton, VA 20186. Periodicals postage paid at Warrenton, Va. and at additional mailing offices
one involves relocating existing staff. That factored into postponing the New Baltimore project even though $450,000 had been spent on design and preliminary site work. The library board also sees a need to raise its public profile, and last Thursday authorized applying for a PATH Foundation technical assistance grant to hire a public relations company. Del Rosso said a community survey the library conducted found that many respondents were unaware of the services available at the library. “Libraries have a wide range of resources and are still vitally needed” in this age, she said, noting questions have been raised about the need for libraries. The public relations firm would develop a campaign to reach targeted audiences. PATH technical assistance grants are capped at $25,000, and recipients must provide a 20 percent match. If the grant is received, a request for proposals from marketing firms will be advertised Board member Elizabeth Henrickson abstained from voting for the PATH grant because she is director of administration and programs for PATH. She also abstained when the board authorized applying for a $7,000 Make It Happen PATH grant to purchase 20 wireless hot spots to lend to library patrons lacking inter-
net connection. The Internet to Go program would enable patrons to use a Kajeet SmartSpot to connect to their computer or a Wi-Fi-enabled smartphone or tablet. Del Rosso noted the Fauquier Public Schools have such a lending program but that the concept is “relatively” in the area new otherwise. Still to be worked out is how long the hot spot equipment can be checked out and how much to charge for items overdue and or for damaged equipment. The equipment would be available at each of the library system’s branches – Warrenton, Marshall and Bealeton. The grant, if approved by PATH, would cover purchase of the devices, supplies and the data plan for one year. The $5,000 in ongoing costs thereafter would be covered by funds from the library’s technology budget. Signal strength will vary depending on location. The library system will be getting the Kajeet devices from Verizon, which provides the broadest coverage in the county. The Kajeet program allows for personalization of data and device controls. Under the pooled data plan, each device will have a daily limit. Once the patron hits the limit, he/she will be blocked for 24 hours. Unused data is rolled over to the next month. Reach James Ivancic at jivancic@ fauquier.com
Weekend crash kills 28-year-old motorcyclist A 28-year-old West Virginia man was killed Saturday afternoon in a motorcycle crash involving a tractor-trailer truck on U.S. 17 south of Bealeton, according to the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office. The motorcycle operator has been identified as Jordan Douglas Placka, 28, of Burlington, West Virginia. Placka was operating a 2010 Harley Davidson, according to a sheriff’s office press release. The crash occurred about 2:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 29, in the northbound lanes of U.S. 17. A sheriff’s deputy operating a stationary radar in the 11700 block of U.S. 17, or Marsh Road, near Morgansburg Road, first spotted the motorcycle traveling southbound at 90 miles per hour in a 55 mile-per-hour zone, the press release said. The deputy waited for oncoming traffic to clear and then entered the southbound lanes. The deputy then put on his emergency lights to clear traffic and began following the motorcycle, but was not chasing the vehicle, as pursuing a high-speed motorcycle can be dangerous, said Sgt. James Hartman, spokesman for the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office. The deputy then observed the mo-
torcycle make lane changes and then enter a crossover -- or a break in the road where U-turns are possible, Hartman said. “He was not in pursuit,” Hartman said of the deputy. “He could only see the motorcyclist’s helmet and then lost sight of the motorcyclist in the crossover.” The motorcycle turned into the northbound lanes. The deputy did not enter the northbound lanes but came upon the aftermath of the crash from the southbound lanes, Hartman said. An initial investigation determined Placka lost control of the motorcycle in the crossover and “laid the motorcycle down in the north bound lanes,” the press release said. “The operator was separated from the motorcycle and was struck by a tractor-trailer in the right northbound lane,” the press release said. Placka was pronounced deceased at the scene. His body was transported to the office of the chief medical examiner for an autopsy, the press release said. No charges have been filed in the case and it does not appear that they will be, Hartman said. However, the crash remains under investigation.
Columbus Day The offices of Fauquier County and Warrenton town government and the county libraries will be closed on Monday, Oct. 8 because of the Columbus Day holiday. Classes won’t be held in Fauquier County Public Schools. There won’t be trash collection in Warrenton.
NEWS 3
Fauquier Times | www.fauquier.com | October 3, 2018
Great Meadow Foundation eyes greener pastures ahead By Leonard Shapiro Contributing Writer
The Great Meadow Foundation, the nonprofit that operates the 374-acre sporting and event facility in The Plains, is restructuring its operation in hopes of eliminating significant debt or the need to file for bankruptcy. That’s according to Great Meadow Board Chair Cate Magennis Wyatt, who confirmed Wednesday there had been discussions about bankruptcy among board members over the summer but said several positive financial developments in recent weeks have ended all such talk. Now, less than a month before one of the venue’s signature events — the International Gold Cup, set to begin Saturday, Oct. 27 — Wyatt said she and her board have raised more than $435,000 in the last three months, mostly from private donations. The board also re-negotiated two bank loans, totaling $386,000, with their respective lenders and drew up a new business plan to avert future losses. Wyatt indicated the foundation projects PHOTO BY BETSY BURKE PARKER $480,000 in operating losses in 2018. “This is a very exciting time for us,” Wyatt A steeplethon event from May’s 93rd edition of the $100,000 Virginia Gold Cup at Great Meadow. said. “We’ve been working very closely with our I think they’re getting their act together and it’s Great Meadow. partners, especially the Virginia Gold Cup Asso- definitely going in the right direction,” he said. “That puts us in a whole different world,” Alciation…We’re also looking forward to working The Virginia Gold Cup Association pays lison said. “It will help with our exposure, and with Fauquier County Parks and Recreation in the the Great Meadow Foundation a rental fee of that will help us with sponsorships. The sponfuture. We’re doing a lot of things we think will $250,000 per year for use of the venue in the sors want to know, ‘How many people are you in make a difference.” fall and spring. That entitles the Gold Cup to front of?’ Now, instead of thousands at the event Access/Middleburg Bank had previously have total access to Great Meadow for 20 days itself, it’s millions. If you have your name on loaned the foundation $336,000 with a significant before and after the race date for each of those one of the jumps, that’s the kind of exposure they balloon payment due Aug. 15. The Fauquier Bank events. want. It’s a great thing for us any way you look had loaned Great Meadow $50,000, with Wyatt said she’s been re-organiz- at it.” a balloon payment also due at the same ing the board and formed a number of How did Great Meadow find itself in such dire time, Wyatt said. standing committees, including gov- financial straits? “Both extended the date on the payernance, finance and personnel. Each “It’s no surprise to anyone that we incurred ment, allowing us to restructure and is headed by a board member but also debt,” Wyatt said. “In the last four years, we doumove forward. They both deserve a major will include other members of the local bled the size of Great Meadow, built a world class shout-out,” she added. community. three-day eventing facility, and hosted three interWyatt is a business entrepreneur, a She also said she’s launching a “Friends national competitions, including the first Nation’s former Virginia secretary of commerce of Great Meadow” campaign both to raise Cup in North America. and trade; and in 2005 founded the hisadditional funds from donors and to at“Now we have a plan to move into solvency tory and conservation-oriented nonprofit, tract new volunteers. and invite everyone in the community, who loves Cate Magennis Journey Through Hallowed Ground. She said she hopes to add more revGreat Meadow as much as our board members, to Wyatt She also took over as Great Meadow enue-producing events on the calendar become part of the mission. The launching of the Foundation’s board chair from retired U.S. Army General Henry Kievenaar in April and and that the board is now exploring the idea for a first ‘I’m a Friend of Great Meadow’ campaign “holiday village” that would include an ice skat- will make it easy for everyone to be part of giving has been on the board for nine years. ing rink this winter. back to this magnificent place, which has added “We’re blessed with a wonderful venue and a so much to our lives over the past 34 years,” WyGold Cup offered to buy race course truly outstanding board,” Wyatt said. “They have att said. Will Allison, president of the Virginia Gold been amazing and generous both with their time Great Meadow, which came into existence in Cup, said he met with Wyatt and other Great and their money.” 1982 when Arthur W. “Nick” Arundel, the late Meadow board members in mid-August and ofAllison said the Virginia Gold Cup Associ- owner and former publisher of the Fauquier fered to have the Virginia Gold Cup Association purchase only the race course for a price in the ation also received more good news two weeks Times, paid $2.1 million in a bankruptcy proceedago when it signed an agreement with Xpressbet, ing and donated the land to the foundation, which $1.5 to $2 million range. “We wanted to help give them some breath- a leading internet and telephone wagering service he headed until 2009. The venue hosts about 40 events a year that ing room,” Allison said. “The only thing that that enables account-holders to wager online and annually attract more than 200,000 spectators, would have changed is that we’d have to take by phone. Xpressbet customers can place wagers on races including Gold Cup steeplechase races in the care of the (race) course. They didn’t want to at nearly 200 racetracks in North America, Aus- fall and spring; polo; three-day eventing; horse do that.” Allison said he believes the Great Meadow tralia, Europe, South Africa and the Middle East. shows; high school cross-country meets; a July It also provides TV and live-streaming simulcast 4th celebration; Boy Scout jamborees; food and board has made progress since those talks. “Right now, it sounds like everything is start- broadcasts of racing from around the world, in- wine festivals; and weddings. ing to turn around. Sure we were concerned. But cluding the fall and spring Gold Cup events from Reach Len Shapiro at badgerlen@aol.com
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