EAGLES SWEEP DOUBLEHEADER: The Fauquier-Liberty rivalry renewed with two spirited hoops games last week.
Sports, Page 11
December 26, 2018
Our 201st year | Vol. 201, No. 52 | www.Fauquier.com | $1.50
Planning Commision backs addiction recovery center By Robin Earl
Times Staff Writer
Ali, as Shirley. It’s been nominated for five Golden Globe awards. The 6 ½- by 5-inch, 82-page, paperback Green Book was first published in 1936 by New Yorker Victor H. Green (1892-1960), hence the name. Green gave up his job as a mailman to print and sell the popular annual directory, which offered a valuable and occasionally life-saving information in an era of Jim Crow prejudices and practices, particularly in the South.
The Fauquier County Planning Commission voted unanimously Thursday to recommend the board of supervisors approve a special-exception permit to allow a “spiritual wellness retreat” focused addiction recovery to operate in a home near Airlie. To be known as the Herren Wellness Retreat at Twin Oaks. The retreat would host a maximum of 24 guests and a staff of 20 in a 11,700-square-foot, nine-bedroom, single-family home and adjacent two-bedroom guest cottage at 6791 James Madison Highway, two miles north of Warrenton. Chris Herren, a former NBA basketball star and recovering addict, has a nonprofit – the Herren Project – and runs a similar recovery-treatment facility in Massachusetts. PATH has a contract to purchase the property; Herren Wellness would operate the facility. The location allows access to walking trails, a tennis court and pool. Licensed and certified holistic practitioners would offer meditation yoga, reiki, mindfulness, exercise and individual and group life-coaching. Herren focuses on “spiritual and personal growth as part of the path to recovery, employing innovation, prevention, treatment and recovery solutions that empower individuals,” according to its permit application. Most speakers at the planning commission’s Dec. 20 public hearing spoke in favor of the project. Most said they agreed an addiction-recovery option in Fauquier is necessary and desirable, but some who live adjacent to the proposed center expressed reservations. Leon Bushara, who lives on 150 acres adjacent to the property, said he is concerned the move would “create a precedent” of embedding a commercial activity in the area. “It’s not about the mission, it’s a zoning and planning issue,” he said. Kimberly Head, who lives on 40 acres near the proposed center, said she was not informed about the plan and has concerns about water issues and traffic safety. “We have worked hard to keep the area open and rural,” she said. Head noted the center would be a selfpay facility, would be “expensive” and its services not covered by insurance. “I’m not sure how it would immediately benefit our community,” she said.
See GREEN BOOK, Page 4
See RECOVERY CENTER , Page 4
From the pages of the ‘Green Book’ PHOTOS BY VICKY MOON
Robert Walker, 85, maintains his father’s barber business now at 23 S. 3rd St., which was listed in the Green Book. At right, copy of the 1954 Green Book.
Movie shines a spotlight on businesses in the segragated South – including Warrenton By Vicky Moon
Contributing Writer
The current hit movie “Green Book” has high-octane Golden Globe and Oscar buzz. The film, based on a true story, also has a little-known connection to Warrenton. “Green Book” is the story of Dr. Don Shirley, an eccentric and talented black concert pianist based in New York City. In 1962, he set out on a performing tour in the Deep South, accompanied by his white, wise-cracking, Bronx-born Italian-American driver known as INSIDE Business...............................................9 Classified............................................28 Communities......................................22 Faith...................................................20
Tony “Lip” Vallelonga. They use the real-life Green Book,“The Negro Traveler’s Guide to Travel and Vacations,” to find restaurants, lodgings and businesses that served African-Americans, as many did not at the time. Along their journey, the two companions’ initially stand-offish relationship transforms into a deep and eventual friendship that transcends race, class and the Mason-Dixon line. Currently screening in theaters, the film is directed by Peter Farrelly and stars Viggo Mortensen, as Vallelonga, and Mahershala
Health and Wellness............................15 Lifestyle..............................................17 News....................................................2 Opinion.................................................7
Obituaries...........................................25 Puzzles.................................................8 Real Estate..........................................21 Sports.................................................11
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NEWS
Fauquier Times | www.fauquier.com | December 26, 2018
Supervisors honor Fauquier’s citizens of the year By Robin Earl
Times Staff Writer
It was a party atmosphere as citizens gathered for the Fauquier Board of Supervisors meeting on Dec. 13. Friends and families of the county’s Citizens of the Year crowded into the room, sitting cross-legged on the floor and standing around the perimeter when all the chairs were full. They endured the meeting preliminaries but were poised for applause. Supervisor Richard Gerhardt led off the festivities with the announcement of the Cedar Run Citizens of the Year, Tommy Lee and Diane Jones of Casanova. The two equestrian luminaries needed no introduction, but Gerhardt obliged anyway, enumerating the accomplishments of the “power couple.” There is not much equestrian in Fauquier that Tommy Lee and Diane Jones have not been involved in: The Upperville Colt and Horse Show, the Warrenton Horse Show, Warrenton Pony Show, the Casanova Hunt... the list goes on. Gerhardt praised the pair for their tireless work in supporting the horse industry and its enthusiasts.
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. to 5 p.m. weekdays, 24-hour answering service Publisher Catherine M. Nelson, 540-347-4222 cnelson@fauquier.com NEWSROOM Managing Editor Jill Palermo, 540-351-0431 jpalermo@fauquier.com Web/Copy Editor Amanda Heincer, 540-878-2418 aheincer@fauquier.com
Suprvisor R. Holder Trumbo Jr. (left), Taylor Leigh (center) and Cristy Thorpe, principal of C. Hunter Ritchie Elementary School, who accepted the Scott district Citizen of the Year award on behalf of the Ritchie school community. Supervisor Mary Leigh McDaniels presented the Marshall District Citizen of the Year award to Jesse Straight of Whiffletree Farm. Straight, along with his wife and seven young children, operate a sustainable farm in Warrenton. Straight displayed his passion for producing nutritious meat and eggs for his customers. Whiffletree Farm also offers internships, he said, “to share knowledge of sustainable farming.”
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 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
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Christopher Granger seemed amazed at the breadth of Washington’s service to her community. Handing out cookies during Jesse Straight Shop Small Saturof Whiffletree day, contributing to the Boys and Girls Farm Club, the Salvation Army, the Fauquier County Mental Health Association … “Marie Washington is everywhere,” he said. A half dozen or so members of the Sumerduck Ruritan Club attended the supervisor’s meeting to accept their Citizen of the Year award from Supervisor Christopher Butler. Butler commended the group for its many years of service. “Thank you so much, for all you do for our community.”
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He encouraged Fauquier County residents to “play to our strengths, and protect what is most wonderful about our county, our beautiful and productive farms.” Supervisor Holder Trumbo introduced Taylor Leigh, father to two young boys who battled cancer this year. Leigh in turn told the story of how the C. Hunter Ritchie Elementary School family supported him and his family through their struggle. Cristy Thorpe accepted the Citizen of the Year award on behalf of her school community, many of whom were in the audience. Attorney Marie Washington of Warrenton was the Center District Citizen of the Year. Supervisor
Supervisor Richard R. Gerhardt presented Tommy Lee Jones and wife Diane the Cedar Run District Citizen of the Year award.
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NEWS
Fauquier Times | www.fauquier.com | December 26, 2018
Good news for dairy farmers, grape-growers Local farmers say there’s lots to like in the farm bill Staff Writer
Help for dairy, grape-growers
“Dairy is in real trouble right now. Prices are low. The farm bill provides for ‘Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC),’ replacing the old ‘Margin Protection Plan, (MPP)’ which didn’t really work. It changes the amount they can get protection on to about 95 percent. Our dairy farmers are optimistic,” Mize said. Jessica Swan, of Quailwood Farms in Markham, is president of the Fauquier Farm Bureau. She is also feeling good about the so-called dairy safety net. “Fauquier County dairy farmers have been suffering. Most of them are small operations, some are third-, fourth- and fifth-generation dairy farmers. This protects them from gross variations in milk production. It’s good for consumers, too, because it keeps the food supply stable. The new farm bill provides enhanced risk-management tools,” she said. If the farm bill is signed into law,
Note to readers:
Fauquier Times annual calendar will be delivered in early January increases funding for employment and job-training programs from $90 million to roughly $103.9 million per year, according to Rep. Rob Wittman, R-1st. In a statement, Wittman said the bill “ensures SNAP is administered in the most effective and efficient manner possible along with establishing a ‘National Accuracy Clearinghouse’ to prevent SNAP recipients from receiving SNAP benefits from multiple states.” The bill also authorizes the USDA to audit and inspect state records related to SNAP and requires case-management to help transition people back to work, his statement said.
By Robin Earl Last week, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives each easily passed a five-year farm bill. President Donald Trump signed it Thursday. It replaces the law that expired in October. The 800-page, far-reaching 2018 Agriculture and Nutrition Act addresses farm subsidies and crop insurance, as well as forestry, rural development and conservation programs. The farm bill also funds the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which offers nutrition assistance in the form of food stamps to millions of eligible, low-income individuals and families. Tim Mize, Fauquier County extension agent for agriculture, natural resources and animal science, said the farm bill is going to be a positive for Fauquier County farmers. He tackled the topic that’s making headlines: “For one, hemp will be legal,” he said. “It’s another commodity. It could be a potentially big market, a way for some farmers to diversify.” He cautioned, though: “It’s very early. Some people are pretty excited about it, but a lot has to fall in place. And someone has to want to buy it.” Mize was also pleased about how changes in the farm bill will affect dairy farmers and the insurance they can get to offset low prices.
Conservation efforts
FILE PHOTO
Some of the 680 Holstein cows at Cool Lawn farm. Mize said price supports will be available for certain farmers for the first time. “Those who grow fruits and vegetables will be able to get insurance, too,” he said. “They were not able to before.” The change applies to those who grow grapes, which is good news for local vintners, according to Tim Ohlwiler, extension agent for horticulture. “For most of them, it will be the first time this support will be available. Once we do some education, some of them may take advantage of it,” he said. Ohlwiler said grape-growers could use some good news. “The heavy rain has impacted their harvests. It’s been difficult for all our farmers,” he said. Another provision of the farm bill includes the creation of a North American Vaccine Bank. Swan, who is herself a beef-cattle producer, said it will provide livestock vaccines in the case of an outbreak of disease —
like hoof and mouth. “Some of the vaccines protect livestock against diseases that can be transferred to humans, so it safeguards the human population as well,” she said.
Food stamps
One point of contention between Democrats and Republicans was whether the farm bill would bolster work requirements related to eligibility for food stamps. The negotiated bill made no such changes but
Mize said that the farm bill will also benefit the environment. There is more money set aside for costshare programs that farmers can use to improve their land. “Say you raise livestock and have a stream on your property. There is more money available to help you pay to fence off the stream to keep your cattle out, and there is also money to help you plant trees,” he said. Such strategies help mitigate harmful runoff that erodes streams and pollutes waterways and the Chesapeake Bay. Dan Holmes, director of state policy for the Piedmont Environmental Council, said that the farm bill increases the amount of money available for farmland conservation from $250 million to $450 million. For instance, the National Resource Conservation Service helps landowners protect working agricultural lands and limit non-agricultural uses of the land through the Agricultural Land Easement. “ALE is one way to protect these properties from development,” he said. Swan summed it up for the local farm advocates: “There’s a lot to like in the farm bill.” Reach Robin Earl at news@fauquier.com
Warrenton holiday garbage, Christmas tree pickup The Town of Warrenton has announced its refuse schedule for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Dec. 24-25 and Dec. 31-Jan. 1: No garbage collection The county landfill will be open Monday-Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Christmas trees: Pickup be-
gins Jan. 7. Town residents should place their trees at the street line by 8 a.m. Trees will be collected throughout the week. Trees not at the street line will not be picked up. Trees are fed through a chipper so all stands, wood, wire, nails, etc. should be removed. Reach public works at 347-1858.
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