Leesburg, VA February 2022

F E B R UA RY 2 022 | TH E LO C A L LOV E I S S U E

LO C A L S E RV I C E

LOU DOU N' S BEST SM ALL BUSIN ESSES

WHY WE LOVE LOCAL

S P O R T S + R E C R E ATI O N

BEH IN D TH E LENS O F VIVA LOU D OU N E D U C ATI O N

M ARDI BRA S H ELPS FREE TH E GI RL S

When the world changes, we’re here to help We can provide customized, comprehensive advice and guidance to help you stay on track and pursue your goals.

Call us to talk it through.

The Eveland Group Jeffrey W. Eveland, CFP®, CRPC®, CPFA Managing Director Wealth Management Advisor

Merrill Lynch Wealth Management 3 South King Street Leesburg, VA 20175

703.779.2130 j_eveland@ml.com

fa.ml.com/evelandgroup

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MAP3023665 | AD-10-21-0203 | 470965PM-0421 | 10/2021

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May not be combined with other offers or discounts. Other restrictions apply, see store for details. Offer expires 1/31/22. One Day Doors & Closets authorized dealers are independently owned and operated.

Photo Credit: Michelle Lindsay Photography

Real Clients. Real Experiences.

Jonathan and Kristen Chase lead busy lives. Between juggling their five kids’ schedules as well as their own careers, they’ve come to cherish the time they spend together. Their new home in Western Loudoun includes a sprawling stone patio with a custom fire pit, making it the perfect place to gather as a family and watch the sun set at the end of a long day!

As a Loudoun County resident for over 20 years, I’ve come to realize “home” is more than a physical location, it’s a community connection. My team is dedicated to bringing you the best of both.

To learn more, scan here:

Give me a call if you’re thinking about making a move.

JC Silvey Realtor® | Certified Appraiser jc.silvey@compass.com M: 703.577.1946 O: 703.570.5144 Real Estate Redefined. silveyresidential.com

Compass is a licensed real estate brokerage that abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. Compass is licensed as Compass Real Estate in DC and as Compass in Virginia and Maryland. 44927 George Washington Blvd, Ste 265 Ashburn, VA 20147 | O: 703.570.5144

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February 2022 PUBLISHER

LIFESTYLE LETTER

Celebrating Local Business We love Loudoun and this publication started out of an appreciation for our unique community: the people, the history and the beauty of the area. At our core, we are a celebration of all things Loudoun County and we fashion ourselves a champion of the local businesses that make their home here. After all, if not for the local businesses what would our community look like?

This month is our annual issue dedicated to our business community and the makers and owners behind them. We are proud to be members of the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce and are happy to feature this year's category winners from the Small Business Awards, many of whom are advertising partners in this publication. Without what I like to call the best Chamber of Commerce in the country, I don't think this publication would exist: it gives a remarkable structure to new entrepreneurs and the networking opportunities are endless. The Chamber sets the stage for a wonderful entrepreneurial environment here.

So, please enjoy this issue and please support our local businesses. They are the heart and soul of our community.

On the Cover: (L-R, Back to Front) Tony Howard, President & CEO, Loudoun Chamber of Commerce; Bernard Mustafa, CEO, Whole Body 20 EMS; Matt Perkins, Magnolias at the Mill; Stacey Metcalfe, Executive Dir. and CEO, Westmoreland Davis Memorial Foundation / Morven Park and outgoing Loudoun Chamber board chair; Steve Fraser, TMMG; Matthew Hagerman, President & Founder, Lost Rhino Brewing Co.; David Jones, Extraordinary Transitions – Long & Foster; Daphne Mustafa, Co-founder Whole Body 20 EMS; Katie Schneider, TMMG; Daniella Williams, Owner, Cucinamore; Valerie Pisierra, Executive Dir., Loudoun Cares; Pamela Jones, Extraordinary Transitions – Long & Foster; Shawn Mitchell, Owner Modern Mechanical and 2022 Board Chair of the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce.

Photography: Marty Shoup, Blue Lion Multimedia

HANN LIVINGSTON, PUBLISHER @LEESBURGLIFESTYLE

Scan QR code to visit our Instagram CIT YLIFEST YLE.COM/LEESBURG |

Hann Livingston | hann.livingston@citylifestyle.com EDITOR IAL COOR DINATOR

Melinda Gipson | melinda.gipson@citylifestyle.com ACCOUNT MANAGER

Suzanne Otwell | suzanne.otwell@citylifestyle.com AD DESIGNER

Matthew Endersbe LAYOUT DESIGNER

Kelsey Proctor

Corporate Team CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Randy Radosevich CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER Bruce Ianni DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson AD MANAGER Chad Jensen WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

Learn how to start your own publication at: citylifestyle.com//franchise Proverbs 3:5-6 Leesburg Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Leesburg area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors.

Information in Leesburg Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the

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L I F E ST Y LE LE T T E R

accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

inside the issue The Local Love Issue

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50

F E ATU R E D

D E PA RTM E NTS

28 Why We Love Local

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Lifestyle Letter

12

City Scene

14

Trend Setter

18

Our Town

22

Local’s Choice

28

Local Limelight

40

School Sports

46

Giving Back

50

Maker’s Studio

56

Open House

61

Realty Report

Meet This Year’s Class of Loudoun’s Best Small Businesses

40 Behind the Lenses of Viva Loudoun: A Passion for Sports and Those Who Play

46 Mardi Bras Celebration Helps Free the Girls Support Women Entrepreneurs 50 The Awesome Behind Alice's Awesome Fudge Find Your 'Tribe,' Nourish Your Life

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A RTS + C U LT U R E

HEA LT H + WELLNES S FO O D + B EV ER AG E LO CA L S ERV IC E S

S PO RTS + R EC R E ATION

EDU CAT I O N A RTS + C U LTU R E

HO ME + DES I GN R EA L ESTAT E

F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

city scene

Where neighbors can see and be seen in the city.

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1: At https://www.blueridgewildlifectr.org/, sign up for Blue Ridge Wildlife Center’s “Patient of the Week” emails. 2: North American Porcupine, recovering from a lung infection. 3: Black Vulture, Public Health Hero 4: Great Horned Owl rescued from a snare. 5: Bald Eagle 6: Northern Flicker 7: Red-throated Loon. On land, they're in distress! Photography Credit: Jen Riley, DVM, Blue Ridge Wildlife Center

Want to be seen in the magazine?

Tag your social media photos with @LeesburgLifestyle

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C I T Y SC E N E

DO YOU REALLY HAVE TO CHOOSE? Franchising with us means making money and time for your life.

JUST SOLD FOR FULL ASKING PRICE

1 8 8 4 1 AC C O K E E K T E R R AC E · S O L D F O R $ 7 7 5 , 00 0 4 Beds · 3.1 Baths · 3,791 Sq. Ft.

Happy Holidays!

Dear Neighbors, With another year behind us, it has us thinking back on what this year has brought and all that we have to be thankful for. The Garrell Group would not be what it is without the continued support of our community and for that we are eternally grateful.

We hope you all have a wonderful holiday season full of love, laughter and good health and we look forward to serving you in the year ahead.

Warm Regards, Jean Garrell & The Garrell Group 7 03 . 5 99. 1 1 7 8 · Jean@GarrellGroup.com · GarrellGroup.com

BE YOUR OWN BOSS

S I X- F I G U R E P R O F I T S

SET YOUR SCHEDULE

W O R K- L I F E B A L A N C E

START YOUR OWN PUBLICATION CITYLIFESTYLE.COM/FRANCHISE

FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / L E E S BUR G

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Local Authors on the Shelf

Triumph over suffering and the journey to find meaning in life feature strongly as themes in recent works by local authors, though they couldn’t be more different in their execution.

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T R E N D SE T T E R | A RTS + CULTURE

The Summer Lands, Angels and Elementals Book 1

by Susan Butler-Colwell, published by Jett Rink Media In her first book, The Summerlands, Susan Butler-Colwell delves into what happens when we die, how souls plan their next lives on Earth, and how we deal with evil on a cosmic level. But you can also think of it as a love story – a just one that takes place on a metaphysical plane as imagined by someone with a highly eclectic world view trying to make sense of the universe. Susan tells us, “In my books, the creator is a tight-lipped, shapeshifting female, my archangels are hot guys with wings, swords, and great hair, and my elementals are goddesses who can flash up a miracle or a bottle of single malt scotch with a snap of their fingers or a wave of the hand. They are magical, powerful, vulnerable, and flawed. They have adventures, learn lessons, and share tongue-in-cheek spiritual insights along the way because that’s just fun storytelling.” Book one unveils the mission given to her heroine Seraphina, goddess of fire, book two, Demon Dagger, with the consequences of her actions. Book three, Angel Fire, is expected this summer.

A Quiet Cadence a novel by Mark Treanor, published by the Naval Institute Press A better written or more emotionally gripping novel than A Quiet Cadence is hard to find, but it’s not for the faint of heart.

Just reading it carries the force of being transported to the Vietnam War in 1969, as experienced by grunts on the ground.

Unlike other “period pieces,” this story follows Mark’s protagonist, one such soldier, Marty McClure, back home to where he struggles to regain his peace of mind in later life. Mark tells us, “With the reflection and perception of an older man, he remembers – sometimes with almost a retrospective sense of amazement – how combat transformed him, perhaps out of necessity, certainly out of fear, anger and a deep nearly selfless concern for the life and limbs of his friends, into a bifurcated personality.”

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Can You See My Scars?

by Samuel Moore-Sobel, published by Mascot Books Samuel Moore-Sobel attended Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn, Virginia, and graduated from George Mason University in 2015. When he was 15 years old, he was hired by a man to move boxes and furniture. He relates, “By day’s end, I had suffered second- and third-degree burns to my face and arms after an accidental encounter with sulfuric acid.... My scars have affected every aspect of my life. They led me into destructive romantic relationships, caused me to doubt my faith, and made me question whether I wanted to keep on living.” The questions he raises in his memoir, and the answers he unearths, touch on identity, suffering, purpose and ultimately what it means to be human.

The Storyteller, Tales of Life and Music

by Dave Grohl, Audible.com Not surprisingly, the best way to experience rock star Dave Grohl’s memoir, intended to “shed a little light on what it’s like to be a kid from Springfield, Virginia, walking through life while living out the crazy dreams I had as young musician,” is by listening to Dave tell it in his audio book. We were pleasantly surprised to find it as an included book in an annual Audible subscription, and moved by his emotion from relating the death of his friend Kurt Cobain, to his amazed glee at meeting and playing with musicians he idolized as a kid.

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T R E N D SE T T E R | A RTS + CULTURE

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O UR TOWN | HEALTH + W E LLNE S S

Dr. Shohreh Sharif, D.D.S., FAAPD, FICD

TAKING CARE OF YOUR TEETH AT HOME Achieving your healthiest smile can take a lot of work, but it’s so worth it! Good oral health looks beautiful and makes you feel great. Homecare is a vital part of outstanding oral health. Taking the proper steps and using the right products every day ensures the greatest chance of success. This requires developing a routine that is personalized for you or your child.

• Brush Twice a Day at a Minimum – Often times we forget or feel lazy and don’t want to brush at night.

This is arguably the most important time to brush in order to remove all the bacteria that accumulates throughout the day • Brushing Technique – Believe it or not, there is a proper technique to make sure you get all the hard-to-reach areas around your teeth and gums. Improper and overly vigorous brushing can often times damage our delicate gums leading to serious pain.

• Electric Toothbrush – Studies have shown that electric toothbrushes can help improve cleaning ability.

• Fluoride – Using a fluoridated toothpaste ensures your teeth are given the best chance to fight decay.

Fluoride helps tore-mineralize the strongest outer layer of your teeth.

• Flossing – Don’t ignore this crucial key to your homecare routine. Although we may associate flossing with removing food that gets stuck between our teeth, it is actually important for the stimulation of our gums and aids in the reduction of inflammation.

• Mouthwash – Although not necessary, it is beneficial.

Mouthwash can help by rinsing and cleansing the areas brushing and flossing cannot reach. Some mouthwashes also contain fluoride, which we know can help re-mineralize teeth. When selecting a mouthwash, choose one without alcohol in order to reduce irritation.

• Reduce Sugary and Acidic foods – In short, bacteria produce acid which causes cavities. The food that bacteria need to produce this acid is carbohydrates, or sugars. By limiting our intake of sugary foods, we do not feed the bacteria what they need to cause cavities.

• Drink Water – Proper hydration is the best thing for your overall health! Drinking water has similar benefits as mouthwash in that it can help clean some of the harder to reach areas.

• See Your Dentist Regularly – Homecare is one of the most important parts of maintaining good oral health. Seeing your dentist for your bi-annual checkup ensures that a professional is checking your progress and offering the best advice possible.

Deeper cleanings and exams at the dentist also help remove hardened plaque, detect cavities, and monitor any teeth or areas that need special attention.

The recommendations made in this article work for a majority of people. Remember, no two individuals are the same. Good oral health helps contribute to overall health. You should consult with your dentist to create an individualized plan. For those who are at higher risk for cavities; prescription fluoridated toothpastes and mouthwashes may be recommended.

Dr. Shohreh Sharif has been practicing dentistry for 25 years. She is: Associate Professor, Howard University College of Dentistry Diplomate, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry Diplomate, American Orthodontic Society IAD Top Pediatric Dentist among Leading Physicians of the World Fellow, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Acknowledgements American Dental Association (ADA) American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) International Journal of Implant Dentistry (Toru Maeda et al., 2019)

ARTICLE BY DR. SHOHREH SHARIF, D.D.S., FAAPD, FICD

FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / L E E S BUR G

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Breaux Vineyard Grapes

Love... By the Case LOVE IS PATIENT, LOVE IS KIND. IT DOES NOT ENVY, IT DOES NOT BOAST, IT IS NOT PROUD. IT DOES NOT DISHONOR OTHERS, IT IS NOT SELF-SEEKING, IT IS NOT EASILY ANGERED, IT KEEPS NO RECORD OF WRONGS. LOVE DOES NOT DELIGHT IN EVIL BUT REJOICES WITH THE TRUTH. IT ALWAYS PROTECTS, ALWAYS TRUSTS, ALWAYS HOPES, ALWAYS PERSEVERES. 1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-7 If you can read that passage and not immediately think it refers to wine, then we have little to talk about.

I didn’t always love wine. For most of my adult life, I was a bourbon and beer guy, and deep down, I still am.

It was my wife, whose expertise on the subject vastly outweighs my own, who introduced me to wine. The story of my personal love affair with fermented grape juice started right here in Loudoun County.

ARTICLE BY JIM MAGNER

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LOCA L’S CH OICE | FOOD + BE VE RAGE

“The story of my personal love affair with fermented grape juice started right here in Loudoun County.”

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Back in 2013, she and I embarked on a mission to visit every winery in the Commonwealth. We very quickly decided that this was an impossible and pointless endeavor. Besides, having started our mission here in Loudoun County, we discovered that there were so many exceptional choices right here that we could spend years and not visit every one of them, let alone the ones in the rest of the state.

There is so much to love about Loudoun County wineries. We have a bold and adventurous cadre of local winemakers who are not afraid to experiment and try new things, and they plant so many different varieties of grapes that we will never get bored. I love that we are attracting national attention.

I love that several local wineries have managed to entice highly skilled, Europeantrained winemakers to help us develop our industry. I love they have resurrected Norton, a Virginia grape that once saved the global wine industry from extinction. I love that our wineries are at the forefront of viticultural science and technology. I love all of the people I’ve met through Loudoun wineries, from winery owners to people pouring wines at the counter on Saturday to other patrons. I love that every winery in Loudoun County is NOT 1,000 townhouses and a strip mall, or yet another data center.

But mostly, I love that I can sit in any one of more than forty beautiful wineries, relax, enjoy a little music have some conversation, and have a glass of world-class wine without having to drive more than a few miles from home.

Because judges are, as you read this, busily making their own selection of the Governor’s Cup case, Leesburg Lifestyle asked me put together my own selection of what I considered the best Loudoun wines. Though I love wine and I love to write about wine, it’s difficult for me to inflict my personal choices on anyone else. The absolute best wine in Loudoun County is the wine you enjoy for yourself without any pompous, self-appointed wine guy telling you what is good and what is bad. What I can do, however, is answer this question: If I had to pick 12 Loudoun wines to put into a case to enjoy for myself, what would I choose? So, here they are.

RED • • • • • •

Walsh Family Wine – En Passant Breaux Vineyards – Merlot Equation X Doukénie Winery – Zeus Fabbioli Cellars - Sangiovese Otium Cellars – Blaufrankisch 8 Chains North - Cabernet Sauvignon

WHITE/ROSÉ • • • • •

Sunset Hills Vineyard – Viognier Greenhill Vineyards - Seyval Blanc Willowcroft Winery – Albariño Chrysalis Vineyards – Sarah’s Patio White Dry Mill Vineyards & Winery: Chambourcin Rosé • Creek’s Edge - Chardonnay

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LOCA L’S CH OICE | FOOD + BE VE RAGE

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MEET THIS YEAR’S CLASS OF LOUDOUN’S BEST SMALL BUSINESSES

Matt Hagerman, President and Mike Hastings, Head Brewer, Lost Rhino Brewing Co.

Most Leesburg Lifestyle readers know that our editorial point of view is that a truly extraordinary lifestyle involves giving back. Because this issue is a testament to all that we love about our local community, it is thus particularly rewarding that five of eight of the best small businesses in Loudoun as judged by the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce late last year, are themselves supporters of this magazine as well as proponents of community-first practices. We’ve recently profiled one such business, WB20 Whole Body 20 EMS, which won Best Health & Wellness Business of the Year. We bring you snapshots of the rest of the best below, with some insight into what makes them both successful and generous.

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LOCA L LIM E LIGH T | LOCAL S E RVI CE S

ARTICLE BY MELINDA GIPSON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARTY SHOUP, BLUE LION MULTIMEDIA; MELINDA GIPSON

Why We Love Local

Matt Hagerman

Lost Rhino Brewing Co.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD: LOST RHINO BREWING COMPANY, MATTHEW HAGERMAN, PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER Fresh out of Virginia Tech a little over two decades ago, Matthew Hagerman and a friend visited Old Dominion Brewing Company in Ashburn and Matt fell in love. “I had been doing some home brewing but when it came to craft beer, I didn’t know that was a thing. But by the end of the tour, I made the decision right there that that’s what I wanted to do forever.” He hounded the owner for a job until he was hired to clean floors and exchanged his engineering job for minimum wage.

It’s a classic tale of hard work paying off: he worked on the machinery, all while making root beer and giving tours on the weekends and learned the art of brewing from the ground up.

He then took the U.C. Davis Brewing Program in Sacramento (https://brewing.ucdavis.edu/), one of the oldest of its kind in the country. When Old Dominion was purchased by AnheuserBusch InBev and relocated to Delaware in 2009, Matt bought some of the company’s brewing equipment, and resolved to keep the spirit of craft beer alive in Loudoun. He launched in Ashburn in 2011 as Lost Rhino Brewing Co. after a surfing

term, “rhino chaser” – someone who is out to find the biggest and best waves, a.k.a. “an adventurer.”

Of course, any rhino chaser looking for a truly tubular experience in inland Loudoun must be lost – right? Yet, when cranking is applied to craft beer, it turns out that Loudoun actually may host the perfect curl. Why? Certainly, a passion for perfection and quality ingredients from local farmers is key to making great beer, but so is great water, says Matt. Lost Rhino has three different filtration systems to make sure the water for its brews is pure, but “Loudoun County actually has pretty amazing water to begin with.”

Classic styles and local flavors flesh out this brew-master’s winning formula, “Everything we craft is personal.” Today’s facility, trebled in size, sports its own canning and packing operation, to accommodate its expansion to shelf space in Cosco where you can look for the “Lost Rhino Excursion Pack” with Face Plant, Rhino Chasers and Shooter McMunn’s Irish-Style Stout.

Lost Rhino Brewing Company, 21730 Red Rum Dr #142, Ashburn, VA 20147; 571-291-2083 www.LostRhino.com; Twitter @rhinobrew; on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/LostRhino.

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Valerie Pisierra

Executive Dir., Loudoun Cares

BEST SMALL BUSINESS AND BEST NON-PROFIT OF 2021: LOUDOUN CARES, VALERIE PISIERRA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR For only the second time ever, a non-profit organization was named both best non-profit of the year AND best small business of the year by the Loudoun Chamber. Think of it as the business version of “Best in Show.” The winner is Loudoun Cares, which rose to meet the community’s many unanswered needs during the pandemic of the last two years. Loudoun Cares’ ConnectLine became a lifeline for the county’s most vulnerable residents to find resources of all kinds from food and rental assistance to clothing, shelter and help with utilities. The organization believes strongly in the power of networking to meet those needs, but also served as a focal point for channeling government assistance.

Where aid fell short, the group’s Faith Network filled the gap. In all, more than $1.48 million in aid kept nearly 800 needy families in their homes, and connected people who serve with people in need in keeping with its mission statement. It’s Volunteer Center connected more than 1,900 volunteers with a network of 240+ non-profits in 2021, and will step up its efforts this year.

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LOCA L LIM E LIGH T | LOCAL S E RVI CE S

Executive Director Valerie Pisierra is the organization’s only full-time employee. She says, “Once COVID hit, everyone went, ‘Ah! That’s what we need – an umbrella organization that can bring together different resources and non-profits and be the connector and communicator. It was the perfect storm for highlighting what we do in the community.” Behind the scenes, there were weekly meetings with county officials and the Loudoun Human Services Network, which Valerie now chairs for a twoyear term. “What happened during COVID was that everyone was on the same team, as opposed to being on different teams who just worked together to get people what they needed. That was really exciting.”

In accepting her awards, Valerie made a point of calling on everyone in the community to find a non-profit that touches their heart and volunteer. “You don’t have to do everything, just do something to get involved in your community, because your community needs you.”

Visit LoudounCares.org, share the ConnectLine number (703-669-INFO) and find a cause to fall in love with at Volunteer.LoudounCares.org.

Dawn Crawley House Cleaning Heroes

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR: DAWN CRAWLEY, OWNER, HOUSE CLEANING HEROES Dawn Crawley crackles with energy as fiery as her hair as she fiercely proclaims one of the keys to the current success of her housecleaning business: Failure.

When her first cleaning business failed in 2017, she had more than 40 employees and more than 450 customers. She grieved, but then distilled all that she’d learned into founding her next business: “Failure is not an option this time. I am all-in!” she fiercely proclaimed.

Of course, the risk of launching any business is failure, but, for her, it’s riskier to submit to a traditional job. She aimed not only to change the culture of her woman-owned business, but that of the community that surrounded it. And her perspective, tempered by failure, gave her the gumption to make a very big bet on some dramatic changes to her industry.

Seeing COVID as a game changer, she first invested thousands of dollars on a cleaning product certified to kill the virus, then thousands more on equipment needed to spray commercial offices. She hired laid-off restaurant workers in

Richmond and won a lucrative contract there for commercial spraying. The germ-killing properties of her cleaning supplies come without the use of harsh chemicals or toxic smells, protecting her workers as well as her customers.

With her mindset of community service, she advises GIRLS, LLC (Girls Inspired and Ready to Lead), and her husband Geoff serves on the board of the Loudoun First Responders Foundation.

Together they developed a non-profit arm called Helping Heroes which offers free house cleaning for women undergoing treatment for breast cancer, and anyone else in the community who needs their support.

Her super-hero alter ego promises to “save the weekend,” which she says she couldn’t do without the support of the business women of Loudoun. “I want to thank all of you for helping me to step up and to go to a direction that was uncomfortable for me. Now it’s our turn. We don’t fight any more for a seat at the table. We build our own table.”

Does your weekend need saving? Visit https:// housecleaningheroes.com/ or call 703-348-2221.

CONTINUED > FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / L E E S BUR G

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David and Pamela Jones Extraordinary Transitions team

SUPERB SERVICE OF THE YEAR: EXTRAORDINARY TRANSITIONS – LONG & FOSTER, PAMELA AND DAVID JONES It would be hard to find a business owner in Loudoun County who doesn’t know or been referred to Pamela and David Jones. Hers is the largest lead-share group in the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce. He’s involved in the Rotary Club and serves on the Chamber board.

Both have amassed a world-class portfolio of relationships with home services providers – the kinds of folks you’d find indispensable when you’re either buying or selling a home in Loudoun County.

So, whether you’re just beefing up your “curb appeal” for a quick sale, tapping a home organizer to downsize, or taking advantage of great mortgage rates to refurbish or re-finance, Pamela and David can help you get ‘er done, and probably with one phone call.

Together she and David sponsor countless non-profit events and work to better their community. Since 2013, Pamela has served on the board of Oatlands Historic House and Gardens and has chaired the board for the past two years.

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Married 39 years, she and David met while working in management at Montgomery Ward.

They became a professional team in 2009 with the birth of Extraordinary Transitions. Making things easy for your clients takes hard work.

Pamela spends every day on the phone, making as many as 30 new contacts per day.

Such diligence pays dividends for both the Jones’ customers and their business. Whereas the average realtor in Loudoun County sells six to eight homes per year, the Jones’ sell 45. Even divided by two, that’s triple the norm. It’s a system that’s helped the pair transition more than 1,000 homes in their tenure, and keep the magic alive in their own relationship.

“I truly believe that buying, selling and owning a home is is a lifelong dream for many people.

And, and if we can contribute in an extraordinary way to making that dream come true. That’s a pretty satisfying feeling,” Pamela says.

Visit https://extraordinaryvirginiahomes.com/, ht tps://w w w.facebook .com/E xtraordin ar y Transitions or drop by to see them in One Loudoun: 20396 Exchange St, Ashburn, VA 20147, (703) 726-3409.

Daniella Williams Cucinamore

VIRTUAL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: CUCIAMORE, DANIELLA WILLIAMS, OWNER It comes right out and wraps its arms around your shoulders and enfolds you in a hug, that Italian accent. Daniella Williams acquired it honestly growing up in Treviso, Italy, not far from Venice. There she wanted to be a chef. Instead, she studied the tourism business to pursue her other passion, which was travel.

After a couple of decades running a travel agency, she married an American and moved to San Antonio. Desperately shy about what she calls “my bad English,” she landed a job at a grocery store. But she couldn’t hide her love of people or of food, so the company gave her management training and put her in charge of the chain’s cooking classes designed to help customers make nourishing meals from the fresh meat and produce their stores offered. For six years she compiled her own recipes and began to connect on a deeper level with American tastes.

Brick by brick, she built the technical background to do what she loved, which was cook with and for families in their own kitchens. So emerged Cucinamore – a made up word for her

now certifiably awesome “virtual business” that combines the notion of cooking and love.

Daniella brings all the fresh, local ingredients needed to prepare a home-cooked meal in your own kitchen, helps you make it, then shares a font of information on the recipe’s origins, making the experience like a trip to Italy without the plane. “I used my business to present my identity as an immigrant in a much bigger way, beyond the food – the food was an excuse. Food is always an excuse to get together and be happy. Cucinamore is an authentic experience that people can enjoy with their friends!”

Be forewarned: When Daniella refers to an authentic Italian culinary experience, she doesn’t do chicken parmesan, or many other Italian-American knock-offs. Your pasta will be prepared fresh on your countertop, seasoned with fresh herbs from the farmer’s market and it will make you dream in Italian – and then wake to tell all your friends.

You’ll find her calendar of availability and a sampling of her seasonal menus at https://www. cucinamore.net/.

CONTINUED > FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / L E E S BUR G

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Katie Schneider and Steve Fraser TMMG

MAIN STREET BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: THE MARKETING MANAGEMENT GROUP TMMG specializes in branding strategies, customized marketing plans, events and promotion materials – signage, stickers, banners, pop-ups – the works. From logos to lapels, in other words, if you need to brand, rebrand or celebrate your business, TMMG can probably show you an example of their work done for a company like yours.

Founding partner Steve Fraser takes charge of brand strategy – what is your business and how should it be perceived? Katie Schneider, president of TMMG’s Promo service, joined eight years ago, sending logos and related messaging out into the world on virtually any conceivable object.

Then came COVID, and Katie says, “We lost just about all of our business overnight. There were no events, no sports, no fundraisers – not even any schools buying spirit-wear. The first thing companies tend to cut back on when business is tight is marketing, which is counter-intuitive, because soon everything got delivered and customers typically bought the last brand they recalled seeing.”

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New products emerged, of course, like signage for curbside pick-up and PPE, and by 2021 the company was able to open up a new office space where people can come and see samples and work on projects together – “instead of at my dining room table, and that was really exciting!”

Katie exclaimed.

Among her favorite shirts, by the way, was one TMMG created for Loudoun United’s childhood cancer night. “We saw all of these kids out on the field with the players wearing our shirts and it was really heartwarming.” Another favorite was a shirt she designed for X’s and O’s, a local start-up sports bar. When the owner said, “We have a shirt, so we are real now!” Katie just sighed – “It’s just fun to be part of that process.”

A core value of the company is “we give where we live,” so they support multiple charity golf tournaments annually and an annual “Cops and Kids” coat drive. “We collect coats every year. It’s just important for us to make our community a better place.”

See https://tmmgservices.com/.

Matt Perkins Magnolias at the Mill

DESTINATION BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: MAGNOLIAS AT THE MILL Magnolia’s at the Mill is hard to miss for anyone who has ever biked or jogged the Washington & Old Dominion Trail (W&OD) to the Trailhead in Purcellville. It’s the larger of the imposing, buttercream buildings with outdoor dining along the path, perfect for a cool draft and lunch on a summer’s day before riding, yes, all the way into or back to D.C. But it turns out Magnolias rates a trip whatever the vehicle, having been designated 2021’s “Destination Business of the Year.”

Locals know it was never a water mill like sister restaurant Tuskie’s in Leesburg – it was always electric. Built in 1905 it generated current on site burning coal for steam, it even sold current to Winchester Gas and Electric in the 1920s, according to General Manager Matt Perkins.

Suspended, antique mechanisms for this earlier use add atmosphere to the main dining room.

The current owners began restoration in 2002 and opened in 2004. Matt joined in 2015 as the bar manager. Then it was more of a “craft

beer place,” but Matt added signature cocktails and built out the store of fine wines. Though it’s become a bit cliché, the restaurant prides itself on serving food that is farm to table featuring local artisan products like Lindera Farms’ vinegars, and Matt does the same using spirts infused with lavender from Blueberry Hill Farm in Lovettsville, or other local herbs. As a way of encouraging wine tourism, diners can buy local wines and have them with a meal at Magnolia’s with no corkage fee.

Executive Chef Mark Marrocco likes to mingle his Italian background on dishes like Osso Bucco and butternut squash ravioli, with Southern influences like gulf shrimp and cheddar grits into menu that can delight for repeat visits. One of our particular favorites is the butterscotch bread pudding with caramel and vanilla ice cream. It’s no secret to the region, having won awards like 50 Best Restaurants in Washingtonian and Zagat so book ahead!

See https://www.magnoliasmill.com/, 198 North 21st St, Purcellville, Virginia 20132, 540-338-9800.

CONTINUED > FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / L E E S BUR G

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Shawn Mitchell Owner Modern Mechanical and 2022 Loudoun Chamber Board Chair

SHAWN MITCHELL, 2022 LOUDOUN CHAMBER BOARD CHAIRMAN, OWNER MODERN MECHANICAL Shawn Mitchell has belonged to the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce as long as he’s been in business in the county, running a triumvirate of businesses in Ashburn known collectively as Modern Mechanical (https:// modernmec.com/): One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, Mister Sparky Electrical. In just his second year of operation in 2011 Modern Mechanical was elected Service Business of the Year, then he went on to win Entrepreneur of the year in 2013, and then Business of the Year in 2014.

As a small business owner, he may be biased for thinking that “small businesses mean everything to Loudoun County,” but he makes a good case.

“Small businesses are the companies that sponsor the Little League baseball teams and all the other youth sports... And I challenge you to look at any charitable board in the county and you’ll find it’s manned by local business leaders. That’s a tremendous strength” to both their businesses

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and Loudoun County as a whole, he adds. He himself has a soft spot for Mardi Bras (see p. 46) in support of Free the Girls, a group that combats human trafficking with entrepreneurship, as well as for law enforcement and veterans causes.

As one of those charged with electing the chamber’s “best of” awards in recent years, he’s put a high premium on community involvement by those who attain top honors, along with revenue growth, innovation and creative marketing. “I’m really looking for that element of commitment to our community; I think that’s the one thing that sets the exceptional companies apart from the others.”

Over the next year, he’ll continue to work to drive membership which fell off slightly during the pandemic, convinced that networking with other businesses in similar fields is key to profitability, and goes hand in hand with building a strong company culture. “Our employee morale is the highest it’s probably ever been... I know 2022 is going to be great for us and I’m hoping it’ll be our best year yet!”

See https://modernmec.com/.

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ARTICLE BY MELINDA GIPSON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL DOW, BILL VOCKE, JEFF SCUDDER, AMANDA POFFENBERGER, ART PITTMAN, CHUCK MOORE, PETE FELBER

BEHIND THE LENSES OF VIVA LOUDOUN: A PASSION FOR SPORTS AND THOSE WHO PLAY

Only the engaged parent of an elite student athlete can fully appreciate the grueling hours of away games, how slick the stands are in the pouring rain and how hard the bleachers become during a tournament. You do it to support your kids and to watch them grow and thrive in the alternate family that are team sports.

Now imagine that you’re an accomplished photographer with a keen eye for critical moments in a game and the uncanny ability to capture either rapture or loss in the face of a teenager. You’re a pro, with a gift – not to mention the equipment needed to capture a fleeting moment in stark detail and living color.

You’re out there too, on the sidelines or along the cross-country trails in all weather and haunting the aromatic high school gyms season after season.

And you do it out of love for the game and the people who play it.

Such are the photographers behind Viva Loudoun.

When we discovered Viva Loudoun (http://viva loudoun.com), with its extraordinary galleries of virtually every sport in every high school in the county, we had to find out – who are these extraordinary artists and what motivates them?

So we took the opportunity to crash a holiday pizza party at Kahvila Coffee House on King St. to meet those who make magic with their lenses and ask them to share some of their favorite shots.

Jeff Scudder, who with his wife Betsy now manages the site, has a daughter who played volleyball and he took up photography as a hobby. The shot he shared is of the Stone Bridge girls volleyball team right after winning the 2021 State Championship. Betsy says, “The joy on the girls’ faces is priceless.” She explains “We are rather partial to this team as our youngest daughter played for the same coach on the 2015 team that won the first state title for Stone Bridge.”

Jeff relates that Viva Loudoun began as a blog, as things did back in 1999, covering local sports, for the four existing county high schools. (There are now 17!)

When the group added a SmugMug account allowing people to post and purchase photos of their teams and star athletes, the site developed a following.

And, when the founder moved to Texas in 2008, a group of photographers led by Jeff teamed to purchase it and it became a kind of photo gallery co-op where photographers retain 90% of the revenue from the sale of their work. About five years ago, Jeff became the sole owner so he could put more energy into marketing the site, but the same compensation rules apply. Fans and family can now buy stunning reproductions from $5 for a 4x6 to $60 for a 20x30 print. Stretched canvases can go as high as $843 for a 20x30, and there are refrigerator magnets, buttons and mugs for everything in between.

“Of course, everyone loves seeing photos of the teams,” Jeff said, and the fervor has only grown with the manner in which Loudoun’s teams have come to dominate several divisions with state championships.

Beyond high school, Viva Loudoun has been able to cover an NCAA division three national championship women’s soccer team at Christopher Newport with five girls from Loudoun County on the team. Along the way, the photographers’ proficiency grew as did their number. Jeff says the total of participating photographers now ranges between 12 and 14.

Sharing with local media outlets enabled the photographers to become credentialed to cover more sports, all while studying, learning and buying better gear. Now they have a desk to cover the Washington Football team at FedEx Field as well as college basketball and soccer.

Chuck Moore, https://www.randomsnapsphotography.com/, is one of the few Viva Loudoun shooters CONTINUED >

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S CH OOL SP ORTS | SPORTS + RE CRE ATI ON

Back: Rob Shirley, Michael Dow, Bill Vocke, Jeff Scudder; Front: Amanda Poffenberger, Art Pittman, Chuck Moore, Pete Felber

Broad Run varsity team celebrating their homecoming win against Loudoun Valley, Amanda Poffenberger

One-handed TD catch by a Lake Taylor HS player in the Virginia State Championship game against Tuscarora, Bill Vocke FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / L E E S BUR G

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Dominion High School girl’s lacrosse, Art Pittman

Anna Felber (All State Defender from Tuscarora Class of 2018) cuts around South Lakes striker, Pete Felber

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Loudoun United FC’s first goal in franchise history, Michael Dow

to have spent half of his life in sports photography.

He was credentialed to cover the division matchup between Washington and the Philadelphia Eagles in Philadelphia. Before you get too excited, he happens to be an Eagles fan, and his favorite shot is of Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle, Fletcher Cox, sacking Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, in a December 20, 2014, regular season game at FedEx Field in Landover, MD. “For me it’s a bucket list kind of thing,” Chuck says.

He grew up in Philly so putting on a set of creds and prowling the sidelines is sheer joy. But so is seeing graduates of local high schools land professional playing careers. “One is the starting center for Michigan and one is a one of the Washington Football Team’s best defensive players.” He fondly recalls walking across the field after an NFL game with the Detroit Lions when he heard a player say, “Mr. Moore, Mr. Moore.” It was Alexander Rhys Carter, a former cornerback with the Lions and former star at Ashburn’s Briar Woods High School. “He asked me what I was doing there and I said, ‘Well I guess we both made it to the big time!”

Art Pittman (https://www.artpittmanphotography. com/) is a retired Virginia teacher who taught band classes for 34 years, the past 25 as an elementary band teacher in Fairfax County Public Schools. Over the past 15 years photography was a side hobby that has now grown into a new career. Currently he assists the athletics photographers at Georgetown University and George Mason University with any coverage of games, events, receptions, award ceremonies, headshots, and the like, as well as serving as a contract photographer for Georgetown University and USA Today Sports.

One of his favorite local shots is of the Dominion High School girl’s lacrosse team.

For most it’s not a living – they have day jobs ranging from teaching to consulting to program management – everything from information security to oil spill preparedness for the Department of the Interior.

Amanda Poffenberger is a program manager with the U.S. Department of State and runs a photo studio on the side, https://www.mandypoff.com/. Her son Winston is a quarterback at Broad Run High School – and just a sophomore, so she’ll be there for a while, and allows that she’s “got the bug” for shooting sports and now prefers it to her studio work. Yet it’s likely her studio eye that can lay claim to the glittering luminosity captured in her favorite photo of the Broad Run varsity team celebrating their homecoming win against Loudoun Valley. “They wre shaking water bottles in the air. I loved how the water looked like champagne.” The game also marked head coach Matt Griffis’ 100th win.

Bill Vocke, @billvocke and http://www.billvocke photos.com, has been involved in sports most of his life as a player, coach, referee, and a fan. While photography had long been a hobby for him – shooting animals, landscapes, sports his kids were playing, and sometimes games when he was a spectator – what triggered his dive into sports photography was a request from a student at Tuscarora where his wife works. “He asked her if I could come to a game and get some photos of him playing on the football team since he didn’t have any. I enjoyed covering the game, but more importantly, I enjoy knowing what it means to the players to have good photos of their playing days. The photos will be something they can look back on for the rest of their lives.”

Asked for his favorite shot, Bill initially cited a Trinity Rodman goal from this past championship season of the Washington Spirit. On reflection, he decided on a one-handed TD catch by a Lake Taylor HS player in the Virginia State Championship game against Tuscarora. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t my team’s TD, but I love the photo nonetheless.”

Pete Felber, like any parent, loves it when his technical skill can capture a moment of pure grit by their own child. His favorite shot is of Anna Felber, an All State Soccer Defender from Tuscarora’s High School Class of 2018, cutting around a striker from South Lakes.

And some, like Michael Dow, https://photos. michaeldow.com and on social @mdowphoto, appreciate the sense of being on the sidelines of history.

The photo he shared is of Loudoun United FC’s first goal in franchise history when the played a scrimmage against Bethlehem Steel FC at the Evergreen Sportsplex on February 21, 2019 in Leesburg. They went on to win the match 2-1. “This photo hangs above the door to LUFC’s main office, I am told, though I haven’t seen it myself.”

To a man or woman they all say that it’s the energy and atmosphere surrounding high school and professional athletics that draws them. Something about the youthful determination, passion and team spirit is perpetually addictive, and makes for exceptional photographs besides.

For fun, they get together and talk about camera equipment and their experiences on the field. The biggest controversy they face is which is better: Cannon or Nikon? (Jeff takes ribbing for what the team calls “CAS” or Cannon Acquisition Syndrome.)

What’s dawning on the group is that they’ve built their own unique audience, totaling 64,000 unique visitors and 18 million views in the last year alone.

We hope you’ll join the crowd and watch the sparks fly upward.

FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / L E E S BUR G

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Sharon Wright, President of Loud & Clear Marketing With a Past Year's Bounty of Bras

Mardi Bras Celebration Helps Free the Girls Support Women Entrepreneurs ARTICLE BY MELINDA GIPSON

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G IV IN G BAC K | ED CUATION

Ashley & Shawn Mitchell Celebrate Mardi Bras

C’mon, ladies. We all have a drawer-full of new or lightly used bras from two sizes / appropriate ages ago that are just taking up space. Imagine applying them to support women entrepreneurs in the developing world instead!

It’s a simple premise, really. As explained by Sarah Davenport, Free the Girls’ operations manager, the group’s mission is two-fold: to offer a safe economic opportunity for women who have escaped hardships ranging from sex trafficking to abusive relationships along with counseling and support leading to what they call “holistic restoration.”

The way the program works is that for two years, women who participate in the program sell gently used bras in second-hand markets. Free the Girls receives donated bras and lingerie from around the world to create inventory for this part of the program. ”The women do not work for us, but for themselves as entrepreneurs,” Sarah explains.

“The starting inventory for a woman is 100 bras. Once she is ready for more inventory she has the option of purchasing them at just under wholesale prices -- either a bag of 80 bras or a box of 200 bras,” she adds. For reference, selling three bras in Mozambique is equivalent to making minimum wage for one day. In El Salvador, the equivalent is four bras.

Because they’re put into a situation where their clients are other women – an environment in which they feel more comfortable following some

of their experiences with men – women often do well enough to exceed the minimum wage with their businesses. The program isn’t intended to support women indefinitely – it ends after two years when “graduates” are given a matching grant, up to $1,000, equivalent to the amount of money they are able to save from their business.

Many women are able to invest that money in their education or in starting another business, from which they can help support other women who follow them on a path to financial freedom.

Shawn Mitchell, owner of Modern Mechanical, loves the program and has supported it for seven years through first the Ashburn and now the Broadlands – Dulles South Rotary Club, and his Ashburn headquarters serves as a collection point year-round. To better focus energy behind donations, however, the concept of “Mardi Bras,” a play on the Fat Tuesday celebration, was created.

“As with the traditional Mardi Gras celebration, the event was a fun excuse to get together and eat king cake, enjoy a drink and prepare for Lent. But as I learned more about the program there were many things I really liked about it. Number one is that the program isn’t a handout program.”

Survivors of human trafficking, typically between the ages of 18 and 25, often with children, are taught how to run a business – how to manage and sell inventory and repurchase more to expand their market. “I really like the entrepreneurial part of the program.”

CONTINUED >

FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / L E E S BUR G

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Free The Girls Bra Entrepreneurs

“Free the Girls gives women an opportunity to start their own business essentially selling to other women, instead of to men by whom they may feel intimidated. Bottom line, it allows them to start their own business and support themselves and their families.”

Then, too, “We can all support survivors of human trafficking. That this even exists is a terrible tragedy. It’s more prevalent even here in Northern Virginia and D.C. than most people are aware of.... It costs so little to donate, and it does so much good,” Shawn added.

Lori Collette, president of the Broadlands – Dulles South Rotary Club and owner of Automotive Quality Solutions in Ashburn, says she’s drawn to the program out of empathy for the women helped by Free the Girls and an understanding of how hard it is to get ahead in many third-world, male-dominated societies. “Free the Girls gives women an opportunity to start their own business

48

G IV IN G BAC K | ED CUATION

essentially selling to other women, instead of to men by whom they may feel intimidated. Bottom line, it allows them to start their own business and support themselves and their families. Then, as time goes on, they’re able to get back into the Free the Girls program to help other women in their community.”

Best Rack Around, a specialty women’s bra and lingerie boutique in Leesburg, also sponsors Mardi Bras this year, which will take place March 1st starting at 6 p.m. at Tarbenders Lounge, 10 S. King St., in Leesburg. Buy tickets at https://bit.ly/MardiBras2022; all proceeds benefit Free the Girls (https://freethegirls.org/).

FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / L E E S BUR G

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T

OME BEHIND A S E LIC AW E' HE

AWESOME FUDGE ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MELINDA GIPSON

50

S

FIND YOUR 'TRIBE,' NOURISH YOUR LIFE

Marilyn Naylor Displays Her Underground Railroad Sampler Quilt

M AK E R’S ST U D IO | A RTS + CULTURE

Marilyn Naylor probably doesn’t think of herself as an artist, but that she most definitely is – artist, chef, gardener, homemaker, yoga teacher and entrepreneur. In many ways the 75-year-old defies definition, but only because the domestic arts themselves seem to have fallen on hard times.

But for those who appreciate and wish we’d learned some of the lost arts our aunts, uncles and grandparents practiced in a more agrarian age to make their winters more productive and our hearths homier, she’s an icon.

The most likely way your paths may have crossed is via her home-based business, Alice’s Awesome Fudge (https:// www.aafudge.com/). Over the holidays she shipped 60-70 packages a week from online orders and she regularly stocks Roots 657 Café and Local Market, the Oatlands gift shop, the Very Virginia Shop, the Catoctin Exxon station, Leesburg Liberty gas station and the hamburger restaurant Melt with up to a dozen flavors. Caterers like Pure Perfection Catering also serve as outlets.

The delectable sweets, artfully packaged, are a go-to holiday client gift for many in the local business community. But although her business occupies the better part of three days per week, don’t be so quick to type-cast Marilyn as a confectioner. The truth is even more intriguing.

Marilyn sells fudge to cover her addiction to quilting.

At this point the conversation moves from the kitchen to the basement where cabinets stand row on row, stacked alongside or beneath broad tables for the laying out and planning of quilting designs. Each cabinet holds many drawers and each drawer is full of neatly organized pieces of brightly colored fabric. It would be easy to dive headlong into stories about contemporary fabric designers like Philip Jacobs, Brandon Mabry and Kaffe Fassett, but there’s the Internet for that. Suffice it to say that just a yard of designer cotton goes for $12-$15 or more, and that one of the quilts Marilyn has in the works will have 1,000 pieces when she’s finished.

Instead, what draws the eye is something entirely different: an Underground Railroad sampler quilt Marilyn has made by assembling squares that were used by abolitionists to guide and signal escaping slaves on their way to freedom in Canada. She researched the squares using the book “Hidden In Plain View, A Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad,” by Jacqueline L Tobin and Raymond J Dobard. The patterns might be unintelligible today, but to the initiated the right quilt thrown over a back fence or flapping on a clothesline would have communicated as clearly as today’s road signs.

Today, the quilt also has a purpose: to communicate how dangerous the road to freedom was for the formerly enslaved. Marilyn hopes to donate the quilt to Oatlands Historic House and Gardens where it can be used as a teaching tool.

CONTINUED >

Alice's Awesome Fudge

Marilyn Decrypts Her Quilt

M A R I LY N FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / L E E S BUR G

51

Restoring Oatlands' Herb Garden

Marilyn with Caleb Schutz CEO, Oatlands Historic House and Gardens

Her roots grow into the mission of Oatlands in another way.

An avid gardener, she used to raise irises and sell them wholesale to garden stores, but now works her magic on a larger stage as head of Oatland’s garden committee. Not everyone can manage four and a half acres of historically cultivated and meticulously maintained gardens, but Marilyn’s circles of friends include vast and interconnected web of the horticulturally inclined. The Purcellville Garden Club planted all the planters last Spring and the Leesburg Garden Club helped to fund an irrigation system.

With their help and that of a grant, Marilyn hopes soon to build an Oatlands Garden Club with locals passionate about restoring the plantation’s herb and meditative gardens. “We encourage garden clubs to come have tea in the gardens or dances. They’re not just static, they’re to be enjoyed,” she says.

Gardeners’ interest stems from the sheer enjoyment of watching their efforts bloom, learning a bit of local history, and the chance to enjoy the company of other gardeners in one of the more scenic parts of the county. Whatever your passion or age, Marilyn urges, “find the people that you’d like being with and with whom you share interests. I call it finding your own tribe.”

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M AK E R’S ST U D IO | A RTS + CULTURE

Oatlands' Tea House, One Place Garden Clubs can Party

WHERE TO LOOK FOR OTHERS WHO SHARE YOUR INTERESTS: Waterford Foundation, http://Waterfordfoundation.org, Stephanie Thompson, Exec. Dir., 540-882-3018 Waterford Quilters Guild, President Susan Courtney, waterford quilters@gmail.com, https://waterfordquiltersguild.org/ CountrySide Quilters, https://countrysidequilters.wordpress.com/ Purcellville Garden Club, https://www.facebook.com/purcellville gardenclub/, Marilyn Naylor, Mhollyfield46@gmail.com Aldie Horticultural Society, https://aldiehortie.wordpress.com/, President Laura Senty, laurasenty@aol.com The Middleburg Garden Club, https://www.facebook.com/ MiddleburgGardenClub/ The Woman’s Club of Loudoun, https://www.womansclubof loudoun.org/gfwc-the-woman-s-club-of-loudoun, Ann Livoti, annfromva@aol.com Keep Loudoun Beautiful, https://keeploudounbeautiful.org/, info@keeploudounbeautiful.org, 703-705-2288; P.O. Box 5, Leesburg, VS 200178 Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, https://mgnv.org/.

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An Open Kitchen Remodel FROM MICHAEL NASH DESIGN BUILD

ARTICLE BY HANN LIVINGSTON After thirty years, homeowners of a split-level single family home in an older Vienna community decided to remodel their living space. After bringing up three kids they wanted a house that met their needs for the long term.

“The old galley-style kitchen was separated by a couple of partition walls, two being bearing walls, and natural light was very limited,” says Sonny Nazemian, master designer/remodeler at Michael Nash Design Build. “The layout was almost unbearable for her, so our design team drew up an open concept floor plan to allow lots of space and much better traffic flow.”

To accomplish this, the garage was relocated to allow for a long wall for a bigger stove and hood, and built-in fridge and pantry. The team added an Arch window on the left side wrapped around with bookcases and a seating

56

O PE N H OU SE | HOM E + DE S I GN

bench for reading in the bright afternoon sun. A new set of French doors was added to south side, and a larger bay window to the north side. New skylights throw daylight in middle of the kitchen and has made the space brighter than ever.

The closet next to the front door was eliminated to create more room for a larger double entry door and locker-style storage.

“From an aesthetic perspective, our designers cleverly used soft crème cabinetry with a darker contrasting island and an immaculate exotic marble over the large island,” says Sonny.

“The farm sink offsets the top and we brought in a hand-painted tumble-marble mural as a featured wall behind stove and hood. It creates a striking color combination.”

The team also raised the ceiling 10 inches to add a more spacious feel. The lighting fixtures, the wrap around cabinetry and large center island, and the wide plank-wood floors have made this this kitchen project a loving home for these couple to live for years to come.

SOME MORE HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: • Hutch cabinets around fireplace in living room • Kitchen extended into breakfast nook with bench sitting and built-in bookcases • Sink and dishwasher and microwave moved to the island to make for a better workspace • New custom arch window over the seating bench and built in bookcases will be their new coffee station

CONTINUED > FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / L E E S BUR G

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FEBRUARY 2022

realty report A sample of recently sold properties in Leesburg.

N E I GH BO RH O O D

ORIGIN AL PRICE

SO L D P RIC E

%SO L D/ O RIG

DO M

B DRM S

B AT H S

Beacon Hill

$2,999,990

$2,825,000

94%

102

6

8.5

Colts Run

$1,499,900

$1,650,000

110%

2

5

4.5

Courtland Rural Village

$888,823

$900,000

101%

8

5

4.5

Crescent Place

$820,000

$820,000

100%

1

4

3.5

Edwards Landing

$850,000

$839,000

99%

19

5

6

$1,000,000

$1,030,000

103%

6

5

4.5

Glynn Tarra Estates

$949,985

$900,000

95%

73

6

5.5

Greene Mill Preserve

$853,000

$850,000

100%

37

5

3.5

Historic Selma Estates

$925,000

$950,000

103%

3

4

4.5

Kincaid Forest

$825,000

$860,000

104%

1

6

3.5

Lansdowne on Potomac

$850,000

$880,000

104%

3

5

3.5

Lansdowne on Potomac TH

$825,000

$810,000

98%

54

4

4.5

Meadowbrook Farm

$1,041,885

$1,041,885

100%

0

5

4.5

Mount Gilead

$999,000

$1,080,000

108%

3

4

3.5

Potomac Station

$898,000

$898,000

100%

7

4

3.5

Raspberry Falls

$1,349,000

$1,349,000

100%

15

6

6.5

River Creek TH

$995,000

$1,002,500

101%

5

4

4.5

River Creek Det

$1,350,000

$1,400,000

104%

4

5

5.5

Shenstone

$1,350,000

$1,400,000

104%

4

5

4.55

Stowers

$800,000

$800,000

100%

0

5

3.5

Tavistock Farms

$795,000

$883,000

111%

5

5

3.5

0

6

5.5

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FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / L E E S BUR G

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