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See all we have to offer at FauquierHealth.org
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It’s been my greatest honor to edit Haymarket-Gainesville Lifestyle Magazine for the last six years. Thank you for trusting me to share your stories with our incredible community. It has been an honor and a pleasure to do so, and to become friends with so many of you. This is my last issue as editor but, never fear, I leave you in good hands! Stacy Shaw is taking the helm and, with her vast knowledge of this area, I predict wonderful profiles and terrific features coming your way post haste. I’ll miss you. Stay well and, if you’d like, stay in touch. I can be reached at susanmccorkindale@gmail.com.
6530 Commerce Ct. Suite 300 Warrenton, VA 20187 571-390-5551 | eaglepestservices.com THE BEST OF FAUQUIER FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS.
6530 Commerce Ct. Suite 300 Warrenton, VA 20187 571-390-5551 | eaglepestservices.com
6530 Commerce Ct. Suite 300 Warrenton, VA 20187 571-390-5551 | eaglepestservices.com
6530 Commerce Ct. Suite 300 Warrenton, VA 20187 571-390-5551 | eaglepestservices.com
Celebrating Western Prince William County
The Haymarket/Gainesville Lifestyle Magazine is published monthly and distributed to over 15,000 selected addresses. While reasonable care is taken with all material submitted to The Haymarket/Gainesville Lifestyle Magazine, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to any such material. Opinions expressed in articles are strictly those of the authors. While ensuring that all published information is accurate, the publisher cannot be held responsible for any mistakes or omissions. Reproduction in whole or part of any of the text, illustration, or photograph is strictly forbidden. ©2024 Rappahannock Media LLC.
The Lifestyle magazines are sister publications with Northern Virginia’s Leading News Source, INSIDENOVA.COM
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Thank you for six wonderful years!
It’s been my greatest honor to edit Haymarket-Gainesville Lifestyle Magazine for the last six years. Thank you for trusting me to share your stories with our incredible community. It has been an honor and a pleasure to do so, and to become friends with so many of you. This is my last issue as editor but, never fear, I leave you in good hands! Stacy Shaw is taking the helm and, with her vast knowledge of this area, I predict wonderful profiles and terrific features coming your way post haste. I’ll miss you. Stay well and, if you’d like, stay in touch. I can be reached at susanmccorkindale@gmail.com.
And now, please enjoy our wonderful May issue!
EDITOR
Susan McCorkindale
The Haymarket/Gainesville Lifestyle Magazine is published monthly and distributed to over 15,000 selected addresses. While reasonable care is taken with all material submitted to The Haymarket/Gainesville Lifestyle Magazine, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to any such material. Opinions expressed in articles are strictly those of the authors. While ensuring that all published information is accurate, the publisher cannot be held responsible for any mistakes or omissions. Reproduction in whole or part of any of the text, illustration, or photograph is strictly forbidden. ©2024 Rappahannock Media LLC.
PUBLISHER Dennis Brack dennis@whglifestyle.com
CREATIVE
EDITOR Susan McCorkindale susan@whglifestyle.com
ART DIRECTOR Kara Thorpe kara@whglifestyle.com
ADVERTISING
Sales Director: Jim Kelly jim@whglifestyle.com, 434-987-3542
Senior Account Executive: Cindy McBride cindy@whglifestyle.com, 540-229-6038
ACCOUNTING Carina Richard-Wheat cwheat@insidenova.com 540-905-7791
SUBSCRIPTIONS subscribe@whglifestyle.com 540-675-3338
EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING OFFICE Haymarket/Gainesville Lifestyle Magazines 1360 Old Bridge Road, Woodbridge, VA 22192 ON THE
Come on out for an hour of easeful, peaceful yoga! Join local instructor Gwen for ALTERNATIVE ENERGY HATHA YOGA AT VITA NOVA CREATIVES & COFFEE. Every Monday night, from 6-7:15 p.m., enjoy a well rounded class including postures and flow followed by deep relaxation/guided meditation and closing with a few breathing exercises. Gwen is a 200HR RYT certified yoga teacher trained in the Integral Yoga style. She specializes in yoga for people with limited mobility, arthritis, advanced age and more, and is known for her unique ability to meet her students where they are, guide them thoroughly through the practice, and lead them to their own inner peace. Tickets: $15. Visit vitanovacreatives.com. 13051 Fitzwater Dr., Nokesville
Whether you’re a seasoned performer or just love to sing your favorite tunes, KARAOKE NIGHT AT CRAFTWORX TAPROOM is the place for you! With 70 self-serve taps of beer, cider, cocktails, and more, you can pour yourself some liquid courage and hit the stage! Every Thursday night, 6-10 p.m., 5615 Wellington Rd., Gainesville.
Jazz comes to the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains with DUCARD VINEYARDS’ FIRST ANNUAL JAZZ FESTIVAL. Saturday, May 4, 1-9 p.m. Talented musicians from Virginia’s Piedmont region make up three bands that will appear on two stages throughout the day. Cinematheque, a high-energy nine-piece band from Roanoke, headlines the festival with three percussionists and a three-horn front line. Get your tickets early and make plans to spend the day! Jambalaya, along with other yummy eats from New Iberia and a vendor fair, complete the experience. A perfect outing with great views, your favorite wines, and energetic entertainment! DuCard Vineyards, Etlan. Tickets: $35/adult. To purchase, visit: https:// ducardvineyards.com/event/jazz-itup-at-ducards-first-annual-jazz-fest/
Sip your wine and rock out to ONE HOT MESS AT THE WINERY AT SUNSHINE RIDGE FARM. Sunday, May 5, 2-6 p.m. Spend a beautiful afternoon on the banks of Lake Manassas with great friends, wine and classic rock covers by an acoustic-centric band with emphasis on vocal harmonies. And don’t miss ELI LIV, Friday, May 17 at 5 p.m. A cross between The Avett Brothers and The Lumineers, Lev has opened for both Shooter Jennings and Lee DeWyze, performed at The Kennedy Center and the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. 15850 Sunshine Ridge Lane, Gainesville
It's time to celebrate moms! This month, in honor of Mother's Day, Fit4Mom Bristow/Gainesville/Haymarket is going all out with a MOTHER’S DAY CELEBRATION CLASS – a fun, love-filled morning with a themed stroller based workout, cake pop decorating for the kids with Jamie @ Pumpkin Butts plus flower arranging for mom and more! Friday, May 10, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Free for new clients. Contact hilaryblasco@fit4mom.com to save your spot! Rollins Ford Park, 14500 Rollins Ford Rd, Nokesville.
Taste unlimited samples of wines from Virginia's finest wineries at MOUNT VERNON’S SPRING WINE FESTIVAL & SUNSET
TOUR. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 17, 18,19, from 6-9 p.m., you can relax on the east lawn overlooking the Potomac River as you experience George Washington’s estate after hours, sample great wines, and enjoy the live music of Bruce Ewan and the Solid Senders. Doors open at 6 p.m. each night. The Shops at Mount Vernon and Wine Valet Service are open until 8:45 p.m. The first and second floors of the Mansion will be open until 8:30 p.m. George Washington's Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon. For tickets, visit: https://tinyurl.com/mtb46eup
Lace up your shoes and bring your enthusiasm as GIRLS ON THE RUN OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA celebrates the strength, resilience, and determination of the girls in our community. Not a part of Girls on the Run? That’s okay, all are welcome to participate! Saturday, May 18, Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax. Schedule of events: 6:30-7:30 a.m. - Pick up your 5K bib at the packet pick-up tent. 8:00 a.m. - 5K starts. 10:30 a.m. - 5K ends. Register online at https://www.pinwheel.us/register/ index/SP245K. All proceeds support Girls on the Run of NOVA, helping to inspire and empower more girls to reach their limitless potential. Want to join in on the fun from the sidelines? Get involved as a volunteer to celebrate and help make the experience one to remember. Sign up to volunteer at https://www.pinwheel.us/register/ index/M2IFTY32ZY4VVCZ
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BY TUTT STAPP-MCKIERNAN
Early childhood education pioneer Maria Montessori famously believed that children are self-educating if provided with the right environment and the right tools and resources. In other words, fill a room with the right combination of irresistible, interesting objects, activities, and books, add in a trusted (and non-interfering) adult in a rocking chair to provide calm reassurance and to answer the occasional question, and children will set to and discover everything about the world that the room’s resources can offer. Little children, Maria Montessori said, want to know! Often the best thing we adults can do is get out of their way.
High school students, it turns out, can be not so very different from pre-schoolers in this wonderful way. In other words, fill a school with the right environment, the right tools and resources, and the opportunity to explore, and you will quickly see that high schoolers, too, want to know! Often the best thing we adults can do is get out of their way, too. And the perfect opportunity to see this phenomenon at work is for a school to make a robust independent study option available to its high school students.
At Wakefield School in The Plains, independent study options have long been available, but they have special relevance today. While the Early Childhood program at
Wakefield is not Montessori-based, the Montessori ideals of curiosity-driven, self-directed learning are increasingly central throughout Wakefield in light of the school’s recent reimagining and restating of its mission–“to foster the character, curiosity, and clear voices the world will always need.”
Wakefield’s Upper School Course Catalog states, “By ensuring that students both pursue their already-existing passions and also uncover and develop new and unanticipated interests and potential, the Wakefield course of study is designed to fulfill Wakefield’s vision of developing [students] who feel empowered to take ownership of their unique learning experiences.” This reflects the school’s belief that, pursued within the context of a well-rounded curriculum, independent study both honors and rewards curiosity, by deepening student discovery in areas of passion and by encouraging and supporting confident and independent intellectual exploration.
A glance at three student independent studies that were approved for the 2023-24 Wakefield school year reveals much about the potential embedded in curiosity-driven, student-centered education.
Spurred by her interest in the French language alongside her interest in international relations, junior Ava Price is studying economic development in Francophone Africa, with a specific interest in Senegal. She is looking at several aspects of this topic: the economic interests of those investing in Senegal, the way Senegal markets itself to global investors juxtaposed with the sometimes harsh realities of human rights and child labor problems involved in their economic “openness” to foreign investment, and the realities of who is benefitting from this growth (hint: not the Senegalese people). She is building an advocacy website with information on these issues.
Senior Riley Harper is a believer in the principles of “Understanding by Design,” and he is working on developing a Design-Thinking approach to STEM projects in Wakefield’s Lower School. His independent study plan describes his intention to “apply the Design Thinking process to create
“While I don’t plan on going into a career focused on my independent-study topic, I have thoroughly enjoyed this process and I hope to bring this work into my future interests.”
—Wakefield Junior Hayden Faulknera more [real-world] approach to current Lower School STEM projects and assignments,” and then to work with 3rd/4th-grade teachers on ways that these ideas can be applied to the existing curriculum. He has already deployed some of his design challenges with Lower School students and hopes to leave behind what he creates as a lasting gift that can be reused by Wakefield Lower School teachers. Riley says, “I've always thought that the Design Thinking process is a more empathy-driven approach to STEAM concepts, as it involves finding solutions to real-world problems. I thought this was really interesting because to complete the process well, there is more to it than looking at an assignment and working on it.”
Junior Hayden Faulkner is working on social-emotional learning in Lower School students, examining the use of a research-based approach to helping young students develop self-management. Her work is a mix of research, writing, reflection, materials design, and classroom practice.
Says Hayden, “I started the year looking at child development research and the major theories on cognitive and social-emotional development. More recently I’ve been working on a project focused on emotional regulation and vocabulary for our Lower School students. I’m planning on bringing a lesson into the Lower School that encourages students to use a larger vocabulary when it comes to identifying and describing their emotions.”
It seems Maria Montessori was right: students want to know! As these wildly individual and exuberant undertakings imply, almost any school’s mission can be well served by remembering that, at times, all we adults have to do is simply stand aside.
EXPLORE YOUR CURIOSITY, OWN YOUR EDUCATION
EXPLORE YOUR CURIOSITY, OWN YOUR EDUCATION
It’s vines, wines and finish lines at The Winery at La Grange, where the vineyard hosts tons of events year round including an ongoing 5K running series in all four seasons in collaboration with a local running and coaching company Soleful.
Tucked away on peaceful and picturesque Antioch Road in Haymarket, La Grange is home to a historic manor house, gorgeous grounds, breathtaking views, award-winning wine and an ambiance that naturally lends itself to memories, moments and, in the case of the running series, miles.
“The runs are a great way to get fresh air, explore the vineyards and experience all that Virginia Wine Country has to offer,” says Connor Duszynski, the Social Media Marketing Coordinator for The Winery at La Grange.
In partnership with Soleful Running & Coaching, The Winery at La Grange started the running series in 2022 and has hosted seven events so far. Two more runs are scheduled later this year (July 13 and October 19).
conversation and oftentimes live music. The manor house transports visitors back in time with framed letters and more along with a present-day tasting room that is always bustling with atmosphere and activity as well as an adjacent barrel room that offers tours.
The runs not only include the intrinsically positive benefits of running and walking for fitness, health and wellness, but they also offer an opportunity to socialize, see existing friends and make new ones in a setting that is incredibly inclusive, fun and welcoming. The 3.1-mile course is cross-country style and winds around the rolling hills of the grassy vineyard as well as along the vines.
With one run scheduled each season — winter, spring, summer, fall — the 5K offers a special up-close chance to see the grapes growing at various stages throughout the year. Laughter and cheers fill the fresh air as runners and walkers cross the finish line where they are then invited to enjoy a glass of wine and all that The Winery at La Grange has to offer.
For this and all occasions, The Winery at La Grange is a perfect place to spend an afternoon. On any given day, you will see families and friends with dogs dotting the picnic tabled landscape enjoying great wine,
Evidenced by all of this, the running series is just one of many activities visitors can enjoy throughout the year. Keeping with the fun and fit theme, one of these events includes the much-loved K9s in the Vines, with the next of these scheduled for June 8. For K9s in the Vines, guests get to bring their furry friends for a special dog walk and tasting throughout the vineyard that includes stations, samples, vendors and adoptable dogs.
“Not only are these events great opportunities to walk the dogs through the vineyard, but it's also a great way to support our friends at Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation, who we partner with for these events,” says Duszynski. "They always try to bring a few adoptable rescues with them in case our guests are interested in adopting.”
These events, among the many others offered by The Winery at La Grange throughout the year, provide an amazing opportunity to see a beautiful and historic property. Steeped in history and charm, simply visiting the venue is an event all on its own.
The current winery was established in 2006, but the history of the location and the land far pre-date that.
“Our property has a rich history unlike any other,” Duszynski says. “The original La Grange property was carved out of Robert ‘King’ Carter's original Bull Run Tract from the early to mid-1600s. The La Grange property gets its name from Château de La Grange in Lorraine, France (not far from Luxembourg).”
The vineyards, tastings and wine club carry the names Benoni Harrison and his wife Catherine, a nod to some of the storied past associated with the property.
“In 1790, our manor house was construct-
ed by George Green and by April 12,1800, the cornerstone was laid at the La Grange Spring House,” Duszynski says. “In 1827, Benoni Harrison and his wife Catherine acquired the La Grange property through the courts. They're still regarded as some of our most renowned previous owners, as we name our vineyards, tastings, and Wine Club after them. The Harrisons owned the property through the Civil War, and our manor house was actually converted into a field hospital for both Union and Confederate soldiers during the Battles of Bull Run.”
From there, after the Harrisons passed, the property changed ownership a number of times throughout the years before the current day.
“Shortly after our winery was established in 2006, the American Civil War Commission commissioned a wine from us to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the war,” Duszynski says. “Our winemaker created the General's Battlefield Red (we're on its sixth iteration), which we still serve and sell today.”
And new history is always in the making at The Winery at La Grange, where the wonderful team continues to craft creations in the way of wine, events and spaces, including a new event center added a few years ago that can accommodate up to 150 guests.
“The Event Center makes for an excellent multipurpose space that houses our Wine Dinners, pairings, industry events, local markets, weddings, corporate events and more,” Duszynski says.
It is outside in front of this Event Center, one Saturday morning each season, that The Soleful Running Series in partnership with The Winery at La Grange gather to kickoff a fun 5K in and around the vines. Tickets include a glass of wine and a participant event shirt. Discounted registration is available for the under 21 crowd. To learn more about this and all of the exciting events at The Winery at La Grange, visit wineryatlagrange.com. L
Gainesville resident Kearstin Safford was 14 when she decided to make a little history. Kearstin, a Girl Scout at the time, became aware that the Boy Scouts had some appealing activities not typically offered to the girls.
“One of our troop leaders, Amy Oviedo, had two sons in Boy Scout Troop 671,” Kearstin said. “I found out Boy Scouts had more opportunities to camp, develop life skills, and do community service, which are things that I really like, and it just seemed like a better fit for me.” Amy confirmed that yes, girls could join the Boys Scouts, and worked through the proper regulations to establish Troop 671G – with the G standing for girls. “We were lucky because our Girl Scout troop had six members and they were all willing to shift, which is the minimum number to start a troop.”
It was new territory, but they figured it out as they went.
“We started working on things like how to operate the troop and began spreading the word,” Kearstin said. “More girls and families became interested, the community grew, and we became not only a larger troop but a good, tightly knit, well-operating troop.”
Their first volunteer endeavor was in the middle of the pandemic, so they had to get creative. “Grace Life Church had a food pantry operating during quarantine,” she said. “Parents were worried about the troop going out in public, but we spent several days packing food boxes and stocking shelves at the food pantry, and it worked out.”
Family:
Dad Wayland, Mom Nicole, two younger sisters - Teagan (12) and Brittlyn (6). Lives in Morris Farms with her cat, Cooking, and her dog Tini.
Favorite restaurant: Giuseppe’s Italian in Haymarket.
Hobbies: Photography, mostly portraiture and nature, volunteering, writing, viewing any type of art.
Favorite book: Scythe by Neil Shusterman.
Future plans:
Looking at William and Mary or University of Mary Washington for college. Would love to double major in fine arts and business management or pursue an entrepreneurial degree. “I hope to have my own freelance photography and art business.”
The troop is sponsored by Brentsville District High School, and in recognition of that they have volunteered at the school’s football games, stadium clean ups, spirit week, and helped decorate for holidays. “We have helped with the boys Eagle projects in the past, and we worked a conservation day at Camp Snyder in Haymarket (run by Boy Scouts of America), clearing space and adding new fire pits.”
While co-founding a girl’s troop within the Boy Scouts is an accomplishment, it’s really what came next for Kearstin, now 18 and a Gainesville High School senior, that stands out. She worked her way through the full Boy Scout program, from Scout to Tenderfoot, then Second Class, First Class, Star rank, Life rank, and the major accomplishment of the top award, Eagle Scout - all in record time.
“I did that from ages 14-18,” Kearstin said. “Typically, members join Boy Scouts in 6th grade, but I joined at the tail end of 8th grade and just had less time,” she said. With the inaugural class of female Eagle Scouts taking
I don’t
I am out there in the rain and cold, learning how to help nature –I like that.
Kearstin’s Eagle Scout project took a team to build and included her sister Teagan, her dad Wayland, fellow scouts Matthew Robison and Bella Oviedo, her cousin, Myles Horst, and Sophia Vidallo and Emily Johnson, pictured here.
place just three years ago in February 2021, attaining Eagle as a female is still somewhat new. “We have 20-25 members in our troop currently, and four of us have made Eagle Scout,” she said. “The scouts now earning Eagle are founders like me and have been hustling to get through. I know there will be more.”
“It’s pretty rare,” Kearstin commented. “Thinking back, I don’t really know what drew me in. This was different from my other activities, and it took up my time and attention. To pursue Eagle as a founder, I was placed in a position where people look up to me. As I have been working through the program, I am able to inspire the younger ones.”
Part of joining the historically male Boy Scouts that Kearstin finds most rewarding is telling people she is in the program when they don’t expect it.
“When I say Boy Scouts, it feels so good to tell people who don’t know about it,” she said. “I am one of the first people to break down the barrier and chase opportunities that were just recently made available; it honestly feels amazing. I like when people ask, and I can explain. We work alongside the boys and it’s a great experience.” There have been obstacles, such as working with the male side of this troop which was established long ago. “We watched and learned but there are not many templates to be shared, just a few resources,” she added. “If you want to pursue Eagle, you must go through all the ranks, so trying to figure out how to do it before my time ran out was
With the help of her dad Wayland, Kearstin and her team built a mental health garden surrounded by benches, the center of which is a compass rose. The benches were purchased and donated to the project by a scout parent (and scoutmaster), Amy Oviedo.
a challenge. We didn’t have a lot of experience and had to manage, then be a model for the new people entering the program. It’s hard to get your troop organized because every group is unique. There are rules and guidelines to follow, but we had to find our own rhythm and routine. It took a while, but we established it.”
The beneficiary of Kearstin’s Eagle project was Willing Warriors (www.willingwarriors.org), a Haymarket destination providing cost-free retreat opportunities and educational programs that positively impact wounded, ill, and injured service members, disabled Veterans, and their families.
“We built a mental health garden 30 feet in diameter, including benches, lilacs, a firepit, and a stone exterior,” she said. “The design of the garden was a compass rose. Before we laid the stone and plants, we oriented north, east, south, and west. They had posts and markers so we could accurately build around the directions.” The project took approximately two months and was completed in mid-March. “My dad is an electrician with Green to Ground Electrical Services, and he helped,” she added. For the project, Kearstin managed about 40 people, including her uncle who helped with masonry work.
What are the benefits to the community of the Eagle Scout program opening to females?
“I will say, personally, I view Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts as totally different,” Kearstin said. “When you think Girl Scouts, you think cookies; with Boy Scouts you think camping, building things, and starting stuff. I am biased, and that is of course a generalization. But to say no, I am in the Boy Scouts. I don’t sell cookies, I am out there in the rain and cold, learning how to help nature – I like that.”
L
From full size cakes to cupcake-like bundtinis, Gainesville’s Nothing Bundt Cakes is the place to go for all sorts of sweet confections. At the helm of this location of the nationwide franchise are Jocelyn King and her daughter Amelia King who have worked together for over three years to provide incredible service and exquisite cakes to the community.
Why did you decide to go into business with your daughter?
From crafting cakes and styling hair to perfecting home or commercial plumbing, mom and daughter duos have figured out how to do it together. With an eye on paying homage to amazing moms, we’re featuring some of the most terrific motherdaughter teams who work in tandem daily at their successful businesses throughout the area.
Jocelyn King (JK): Amelia was 14 when we opened our Nothing Bundt Cakes bakery in April of 2021. This was her first job, and she began as a froster. She was more interested in working with our guests and soon trained up front. It has been fun to work side by side and I have grown to really depend on her as she has taken on even more responsibilities.
What do you enjoy most about working with your daughter?
JK: My favorite is when we are both up front and most guests take a double take and ask if we are mother -daughter, I take that as a compliment, hopefully Amelia feels the same way. We also have a playful banter while working together.
What advice would you give other moms and daughters who are thinking about going into business together?
JK: Clearly assign responsibilities and trust each other to follow through.
What made you choose Gainesville as the location for your business?
JK: We have been residents here for 10 years. We love the community and enjoy getting to be a part of so many wonderful celebrations.
“Most guests take a double take and ask if we are motherdaughter I take that as a compliment, hopefully Amelia feels the same”
Amelia, do you have anything you’d like to add?
Yes! I admire my mom and the culture she has created in the bakery. It’s a fun place to work. My mom is hard-working, smart, and a really great boss.
Bristow-based Bravo Jetting Solutions has been headed up by Daysi Vargas for seven years,and provides services like plumbing, jetting solutions, drain cleaning, and more. Daysi’s daughter Biellca Vargas has been by her mom’s side from the start, making for an inseparable mother-daughter team.
Why did you two decide to go into business together?
Biellca Vargas (BV): My mother opened Bravo Jetting Solutions in 2017 and the family got involved to grow the company. I decided to work with my mother because I wanted to add my skillset to our company plus, I knew that working with her would bring a unique level of trust, support and fun.
Daysi Vargas (DV): My daughter started working with me once Bravo Jetting Solutions opened. It’s been great having my daughter around to help me when I have questions on anything related to the business. I trust my daughter whenever I come to her for advice.
What do you enjoy most about working together?
BV: What I enjoy most is getting to spend time with my mother as we work, and I admire how everything she has learned she applies to the business.
DV: I enjoy watching my daughter talk to people about our business and also having a coffee/tea break and talk about life.
Gainesville’s
Nothing Bundt Cakes owner, Jocelyn King, left, and her daughter, Amelia. Photo by Mindy Ratclliff
Biellca Vargas, left, and her mother, Daysi Vargas, owner of Bravo Jetting Solutions.
What advice would you give other moms and daughters who are thinking about going into business together?
BV: As much as we’d like to think that we know “mom” we really don’t because seeing “mom” in another element such as a business owner you will see another side you may have not known about. If you both have a passion for something to go into business with, go for it!
DV: Our daughters will always look up to us no matter how old they are. Inspire each other and keep looking forward together.
What's the secret to having a successful mom and daughter business?
BV: Communication! Talk about the beautiful parts and the growing pains about a business regularly not just at the beginning stages.
DV: Talk about everything. Especially any expectations both may have so there is no disappointments in the future.
What made you choose Bristow as the location for your business?
BV: I am a cancer survivor and moved with my family to Virginia to finish treatment here. We have been blessed with a life here that we are proud of and so the idea of starting the business here came easily.
DV: We have lived in Virginia for more than 10 years and we are grateful to God to have grown as a family here. When we settled here, we saw an opportunity to open Bravo Jetting Solutions. I got my family involved and together we pushed forward to launch the company.
Christy Mellender and her mom, Sue Hill, co-own Bombshell Beauty Lounge in Haymarket. They’ve been in business for 20 years and today, her sisters Michelle and Lisa Hill, niece Alyssa Harding, and Christy’s daughter Annalisa Poulin, all work at the salon. It’s truly a family affair.
Why did you decide to go into business with your mother?
Christy Mellender (CM): After working many years in a salon company with a toxic culture, my mom gave me the courage to open my own salon, and both of my parents helped me with the financial investment needed. After 6 years of a tumultuous relationship with that salon, my mom said, “Why don’t we open our own salon?” That was in 2003. The rest is history.
What do you enjoy most about working together?
CM: I love working with my mom because she’s a very smart woman with lots of business experience. Spending the extra time with my mom is a bonus, as we have always been super close. We always say I’m the beauty, she’s the brains of the operation.
Sunday, May 26 | Memorial Day Weekend
Movies begin at dusk.
NEXT SHOWING:
Blankets & lawn chairs encouraged!
Sunday, September 1, 2024 | The Little Mermaid Crescent Cinema is in Crescent Park behind The Marketplace at Madison Crescent. In the event of inclement weather, we will reschedule. Please check our website and FB page for updates.
What advice would you give other moms and daughters who are thinking about going into business together?
CM: I think my best piece of advice is to make sure you get along, share the same mindset, and can agree on the overall vision for the company. The secret behind having a successful business with your mom is the type of relationship you have with her. Having a good healthy relationship with clear communication has definitely been one of the keys to success for us.
Do you think you’ll still be in business together in 5 years?
CM: I absolutely believe we will still be in business together over the next five years. We have had this business together since 2003. We effectively communicate and in 2015 we brought on a business coach which has helped tremendously. You’re not always going to agree on everything, so it’s great to have an outside perspective.
What made you choose Haymarket as the location for your business?
CM: We chose Haymarket for our salon company because we have been here since 1988. Haymarket is very much my hometown. It started out quaint with very few businesses. There was definitely a need for a salon company. Home is where the heart is, and while I may not reside in Haymarket anymore, a part of my heart still lives there. I love the community and the people of Haymarket. L
Let’s say you’re planning your wedding and thinking about your first dance. Or you’re empty nesters focused on expanding your fun skill set. Since its first studio in 1912, Arthur Murray Dance Centers have been your first line of defense when you need to feel good about getting out on the dance floor. Gabriel and Leigh Gamboa have been providing that confidence in their Ashburn studio for Northern Virginia residents since 2007, and with the opening of their Gainesville studio in 2022, they are poised to better serve the Prince William County area and beyond, offering both private and group lessons as well as dance parties.
“I had an employee that lived in Gainesville, and for years he told me we should open there,” Gabriel said. “We looked prior to covid and studied demographics, and thought it was growing but not quite right. After the pandemic we found Madison Crescent; it took a long time to get permitting, signs, and everything we needed, but we opened with three staff members and a manager from our Ashburn location in late 2022.”
Since then, Leesburg residents the Gamboas have been instructors, managers, supervisors and then franchise owners, teaching all forms of partner dance including the waltz, tango, foxtrot, rumba, cha cha, swing, salsa and bachata. “We teach dance with three different methods – private one-on-one lessons, group classes, and dance parties where we play a variety of music and people go out and practice,” Gabriel said
Gabriel and Leigh now juggle two dance studios, four active kids, competitions and more, but it really did all start on the dance floor.
“I was hired at Arthur Murray in Bethesda in 1994, just out of college,” Gabriel, a William and Mary alumni, said. “I was then a supervisor in Silver Spring and met my coworker Leigh there.” Gabriel did ballroom in college and ballet, jazz, and modern growing up. Leigh was on her dance team in both high school and college, graduating from the University of Maryland in 1997. “I started competing with a different partner in American Rhythm, a category com-
prised of multiple dances - cha cha, rumba, swing, bolero, and mamba,” he said. “Leigh and I started as partners in American Smooth Dance in 2000, and we only competed for a couple of years.” The couple managed three or four competitions yearly while working full time, and when Gabriel herniated two discs in his back, he made the decision to stop competing.
Now, their biggest personal competition is with the clock, managing their schedules alongside their kids - son Kai (16), and daughters Natasha (12), Katja (10), Wren (7).
“The kids are incredibly active, and we spend a lot of time driving them; Kai works Saturdays at our Ashburn studio, plays piano, does Tae Kwan Do, and plays violin for the Loudoun Symphony Youth Orchestra. The girls take ballet, tap, lyrical, and jazz at Loudoun School of Ballet –they are too young to work in the studios (for now),” he shared. Gabriel plays classical guitar and is an avid reader in any spare time, and Leigh enjoys working out; they do try to get out and dance socially when they can.
The beauty of Arthur Murray Dance Studios is that it exists to nurture dance across the population – welcoming all to learn.
“At Arthur Murray, we cater to people getting ready for special events, weddings, vacations, work parties and other events,” Gabriel said. “We recommend starting lessons a couple of months ahead of any big event to make sure clients are totally comfortable once it’s their time to dance.” These days, it is basically socially required to do a first dance for weddings, and many people lack that
experience and comfort level. “They need to ease into any dance, especially when they will be in the spotlight,” he said. “Two weeks before a big event is not nearly enough time to do that, not to mention all the other items the family of a bride or groom is involved with.”
For wedding vendors, the wedding season has become a year-round occurrence. “We now have a steady influx of wedding dance work all twelve months of the year,” Gabriel said. “The great thing about our Gainesville studio is our certified teachers – they are incredibly personal,” Gabriel said. “They are really interested in the wedding couples as people. Once they finish taking lessons, they share wedding videos and pictures with us, and we love it.” The studio is a controlled environment, but once that dance is really happening in public it’s a different experience. “One groom reported back that the lessons were incredibly useful,” he said. “Instead of thinking about the steps and stressing about his performance, he could just take that day and really enjoy the moments of his wedding.”
Dance lessons are a great hobby for couples of all ages. The Gainesville location serves the growing number of over55 communities in the Haymarket area and sees that reach expanding as they become more established in the area.
“We have a lot of empty nesters that have taken care of their kids for twenty years and they are now looking at each other, thinking of new things to do together,” he said. “Dancing brings couples together, and it’s romantic. It is a different activity, something other than eating,
The Gainesville studio currently offers some competition opportunities, traveling to sites like Virginia Beach, Baltimore, Annapolis and North Carolina and plans to set up its own area competition somewhere down the line.
drinking, and going to the movies; It’s exercise outside of a gym, it’s social, it’s good for all of you. In fact, studies have been done on the effects of ballroom dancing, and it’s been found to stave off Alzheimer’s; people use their brains and bodies - staying active and constantly learning.” He says that the more mature crowd that takes lessons during the day are the highlight of their week. “But we do have people of all ages – teens and some younger
cial dancing rather than competitive dancing, learning the
R E G I S T R A T I O N O P E N
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CHALLENGE COURSE • KAYAKING • GAMES ART PROJECTS • HIKING• SWIMMING
MONDAY TO FRIDAY 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM On-Campus (Ages 10-16)
JUNE 17 - 21, 2024
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ROPES COURSE • SURVIVAL SKILLS • KAYAKING ART PROJECTS • SWIMMING • GAMES A D V E N T U R E C A M P
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Twenty-five years ago, when Andrea Currier, owner of Kinloch Farm in The Plains, learned that nearby Archwood Green Barns was being sold, she decided to buy it and keep the pristine land from being developed. She also made it into a place where other farm owners, growers and crafters could sell their wares.
Archwood Green Barns Farmers’ Market has become a vital part of the community and is now celebrating its 26th season. “It basically began with a collection of farmers and producers who were looking for a location to sell their goods,” she said.
Every Sunday in April through November from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, the Market is one big, fun festival. As visitors drive up, it’s a real sensory experience. There are beautiful, colorful tents and bluish green barns. There are also picnic areas where, during the warmer months, families and friends gather to enjoy the food and drinks purchased at the Market, or to let their children run around in the vibrant, green fields. There’s even a dog play area. Since many of the same people come week after week, new friendships are made and there’s a chance to catch up with neighbors.
Elizabeth Melson, the manager of the Market, has a lot to do with its success. “When vendors apply for a space, I take into account the types of products they’re offering because we want to have a variety,” she said. “I have to be careful to not have too much duplication of the same types of products because we want everybody to have the opportunity to be successful.”
Added Currier, “There’s very clear criteria for vendors joining the Market, and that is that they live and produce in the state of Virginia. It’s really about bolstering Virginia growers and products.”
Melson said they usually have 22 to 30 vendors with an average of 400 people coming through the market every week. The vendors are able to set up in the 19 original horse stalls inside the barn and in the 16 tents outside. Some of the most popular food offerings are pasture-raised eggs, vegetables, fruits, cheeses and baked goods.
“There's a little bit of everything,” she said. “This year, we're also having someone putting together terrariums and offering blown glass.” Free family yoga is also new this season.
Since all of the food is locally or regionally grown, consumers are able to talk directly to the person that has produced it to find out what ingredients are in their products or if the vendor is certified humane.
The unique, handmade crafts and other items on display are not things you would find in a big box store. Nothing is machine made.
“All farmers markets are a fellowship, or federation, of like-minded people,” said Currier. “Our intention is to connect people, in a direct and meaningful way, to other people who grow food or directly make items that are of use and interest. And there’s no middleman - it's between the consumer and the maker – so it’s more economical.”
Added Melson, “Also, you know that your money is going directly to the person who made it and they're then turning around and spending it with other vendors or right in their communities.”
Currier loves seeing other markets in nearby communities like Haymarket thrive. “Haymarket is working hard to have a livable community spirit,” she said. “It has a farmers’ market that is well attended and is a gathering place for its community.”
Plus, what happens at Archwood and other farmers’ markets, she explained, is much more than a transactionit's a relationship.
Currier, who took over stewardship of Kinloch, her family’s farm, in 1980, has deep roots in the area, and understands the importance of relationships. The farm was founded in 1823 and is a major producer in the area.
Its Kinloch Farm Store also offers merchandise that the community desires. “The Farm Store provides a platform for other vendors and farmers too, but does so within the confines of our four walls on the Kinloch Farm property,” she said.
Bobby Doane, its manager and sales director, explained, “The farm store is a central place for Kinloch to sell in a direct market. Located right off Interstate 66, it’s the gateway to the agricultural community in Fauquier County.”
The Farm Store is open year-round, Thursdays through Sundays, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. “We have 100% grass fed and finished beef and we believe in utilizing every part of the animal,” he said. “The first thing you smell when you walk in is our tallow candles burning.”
Andrea Currier
Became the steward of Kinloch Farm in 1980, which her family took over in 1960
Implemented many conservation programs and practices
President of The Plains Redevelopment Corp., she has supported and provided oversight of The Archwood Green Barns Farmers Market for the past 26 years
Committed to building and promoting strong communities
Bobby Doane
Farm store manager and sales director for Kinloch Farm
Has worked for Kinloch Farm since May 2022, just before the Farm Store opened
Resides in Marshall, and enjoys cooking, gardening, and participating in community events
Elizabeth Melson
Wife, mom and yoga instructor
Former candidate for state Senate; follows Virginia politics like others might follow sports Seventh season managing Archwood Green Barns Farmers’ Market
Has her own business, Farm-to-Table Solutions
Farm director at Off the Grid Cafe in Sperryville, where she grows vegetables and flowers for the restaurant and keeps chickens for eggs
Tallow, made from rendered animal fat, is given to Teresa Justice, a candle maker in Richmond. “She renders down the tallow and then incorporates it into the candles,” said Doane.
The hides of the animals are made into leather. “Our farm and conservation director, Mike Peterson, salts and cures the hides to preserve them and then sends them to a tannery,” he said. “When they come back, we send them to a local leather maker in neighboring Marshall.” Bags, purses, bookmarks, and more can all be found in the store and on its website.
What the farm doesn’t produce, such as chicken, milk, cheese, kombucha, pork, butter, and other in-demand products, they obtain from other vendors. By doing that, they’re also helping support other businesses such as Mabel’s Bakeshop in Manassas.
The owner, Marie Alessi, makes sourdough bread and has been selling it at the Market for about two years, as well as at the Farm Store. “We were probably the first to start offering her bread direct to consumers and so she was able to quit her previous full-time job and go into full-time breadmaking,” he said.
To take advantage of all that Archwood Green Barns and The Farm Store have to offer, stop by and join in the food, fellowship and community. L
ArchwoodGreenBarns.com KinlochFarm.com/Farm-Store
Shop for locally grown produce, pasture raised meats, and artisanal goods from Virginian producers at Fauquier’s Sunday market.
Extend your visit at Kinloch Farm Store, open Thursday to Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm. 4559 Old Tavern Road, The Plains, VA 20198 | archwoodgreenbarns.com
Photography by Hugh Kenny
YMaster’s degrees. By 2019 they had two children and had moved to Warrenton. They started looking for somewhere else to invest their entrepreneurial skills and love for DIY. Looking for – and finding – a new project
In August 2020, Bob started A Dose of Bricks ecommerce LEGO store. The next January, Ashley started Sweet Delights cookie business, selling the cookies at farmers markets and events. Even then, their entrepreneurial passion was still on the lookout for more opportunities.
ou might say it started with cookies. Making them, selling them, and ultimately teaching others how to decorate them at the old AR Workshop in Bristow. Because when Bob and Ashley Hamell of Warrenton, both avid DIYers, discovered last year that the Bristow workshop was closing, the two former teachers and DIY enthusiasts moved fast. Buying the business, moving it to a location closer to home, and getting it set up and ready to go in time for the 2023 summer camp season –in the space of three weeks.
Bob and Ashley Hamell were high school sweethearts in Pennsylvania who both enjoyed working with their hands and creating. Ashley took a cabinet-making class in high school, and Bob’s father taught him many DIY skills. But in college they pursued teaching degrees, and in 2013 moved to Fairfax to start teaching careers.
After a year, they bought a fixer-upper townhome in Alexandria and remodeled almost the entire house themselves over a three-year period. They also went back to school and both of them graduated with
It was Sweet Delights that led them to AR Workshops, a franchise of boutique DIY craft studios offering instructor-led workshops creating custom home décor items from raw materials. When Ashley wanted to expand into teaching cookie decorating, she reached out to local craft businesses that would have enough space for her to lead her classes. AR Workshop Bristow fit the bill. She taught there for about 6 months until spring 2023 when the owner of the franchise informed her that she would be closing the business.
Could this be their next entrepreneurial project?
“The AR Workshop seemed like such a good fit for us with our love for DIY, we knew we had to follow up on this opportunity,” Ashley said. After a meeting with the owner and a handshake, the business was theirs.
A tight schedule
The next decision was whether or not to move the business or renew the lease in Bristow. Living in Warrenton, they decided to look for something closer to home. They found a building for lease next to Eden Market on Route 29 just past the Fauquier County line into Prince William. Locals will remember it as the original location of Buckland Farm Market.
They moved quickly because they knew the location would not be available for long and obtained the lease in early June 2023. They wanted to get started as soon as possible because they knew families were looking forward to planning summer activities for their kids, plus they had inherited an excellent staff they wanted to keep employed.
Ashley advertised summer art camps starting July 10, so they got to work right away on the interior buildout and exterior signage. Thankfully, tables and most fixtures, plus some supplies, came from the franchise they had taken over. Since they had three short weeks until opening, Ashley’s father came to help, enabling them to open on time.
AR Workshop Gainesville is in full swing hosting classes and workshops as well as events like birthday parties, business get-togethers, local fundraisers, and bridal showers. Summer is on its way, and crafting activities for kids and teens will be on the calendar.
The many available projects rotate periodically through the franchise, but customers might find opportunities to create things like wood signs, throw pillows, centerpiece boxes, canvas tote bags, trays, chunky-knit blankets, or
gnomes. Things get festive around holidays as the themes change with the seasons.
Check their online calendar for available workshops and projects for all ages. Visit on your own, with friends, or as a family. While they try to accommodate walk-ins, registering ahead will guarantee your seat and available materials.
With the experienced teachers guiding with step-by-step instructions and assisting when needed, anyone can create projects regardless of age or skill level.
“One of the biggest challenges we face,” said Bob, “is explaining what we do to those who have never been here. You don’t need to have skills or be artistic, and not everyone needs to do the same project.”
Bob added, “Kids do very well with age-appropriate projects. They seem to like the step-by-step instructions that we tailor to whatever pace a person can work.”
Believing strongly in the value of community, Bob and Ashley are actively involved in franchise owner groups to learn and to share what they’ve learned. At the shop, they love to host fundraising events for local nonprofits and schools, and look for other ways to connect with local businesses.
With three children of their own, Bob and Ashely believe in connecting with young people. Every Wednesday afternoon they offer an opportunity for kids to come in, with or without parents, and create a pre-selected project. Summer youth and family-friendly camps offering a variety of project types begin in June and run through August.
The Hamells are always looking for new ways to expand within the boundaries of the AR Workshop franchise. In addition to adding new projects quarterly as the franchise makes them available, they look for new boutique items from local artisans. They also sell pre-made projects, including custom home décor, seasonal items, and company logo items.
When asked how they manage to stay sane with their businesses and raising 3 small children, they both said, “Scheduling. We’ve learned to make a schedule and keep to it.” They work on their LEGO and baking in the evenings as relaxing activities, and make sure family stays first. L
The five highest-priced homes that sold in 20155 and 20169 in late March/early April. Photos and home data from Realtor.com.
14517 LIGHTNER RD.
$1,800,000
Sold: March 22
5 bedrooms
4.5 bathrooms
6,772 square feet
17000 THOUSAND OAKS DR.
$1,402,000
Sold: March 25
6 bedrooms
5.5 bathrooms
7,359 square feet
15606 CALUM CT.
$1,275,000
Sold: March 12
5 bedrooms
4 bathrooms
4,862 square feet
5813 MALVERN HILL CT.
$1,202,750
Sold: March 15
4 bedrooms
4.5+ bathrooms
5,159 square feet
5228 JACOBS CREEK PL.
$1,172,000
Sold: March 28
4 bedrooms
4.5 bathrooms
5,743 square feet
Housing prices in Gainesville (20155) increased in March, year over year. The price of a 1 bedroom home increased by 100%; 2 bedroom homes were up by 3.1%; 3 bedrooms up by 13%; 4 bedroom homes up by 18.6%; and 5+ bedroom homes up by 14.7%. In Haymarket (20169), housing prices were more mixed. The price of a 1 bedroom home did not change; 2 bedroom homes decreased by 25.3%; 3 bedroom homes decreased by 3.3%; 4 bedroom homes increased by 7.5%; and 5+ bedroom homes increased by 9.4%. Source: Rocket Homes
Median sold price, Haymarket: $867,806
• Up 33.03% over Mar. 2023
Number of homes sold, Haymarket: 38
• Sold over asking price: 102.%
• Average days on market: 14
15557 ALLAIRE DR.
$965,000
Sold: March 29
4 bedrooms
3.5 bathrooms 4,253 square feet
14307 NORTHBROOK LN.
$912,000
Sold: March 6
4 bedrooms
3.5 bathrooms 4,591 square feet
12095 MAIDENHAIR DR.
$850,000
Sold: March 15
4 bedrooms
4.5 bathrooms 4,788 square feet
13587 ALTA VISTA CT.
$768,000
Sold: March 15
3 bedrooms
4 bathrooms 4,518 square feet
7912 CULLODEN CREST LN.
$725,000
Sold: March 28
3 bedrooms
3.5 bathrooms 2,939 square feet
Median sold price, Gainesville: $712,060
• Up 22.7% over Mar. 2023
Number of homes sold, Gainesville: 32
• Sold over asking price: 103.4%
• Average days on market: 10
wine&dine
In an “Aha” moment the other day, I came to the realization that not everyone cooks. While I’m no fan of hours spent in the kitchen chopping, dicing, and beating eggs with sugar until they ribbon, I’m willing to do a bit more than microwave a frozen dinner or thaw the Sara Lee. Pasta though, is one meal that comes together without much effort. I love every shape, sauce, and style. I could eat pasta every day although lately – OK, for quite a while now – I’m loving curry, too. Let’s get into the kitchen.
First the Pasta...
No pasta machine required!
With all the romance of a sultry night in Tuscany, this fresh pasta is kissed by a tomato-y love affair of vodka and cream. Without much effort or expense, you’ll cook to impress. Let’s keep this recipe our little secret. OK?
These three simple pasta dough recipes are a delicious entree into the world of artisan pasta. Pappardelle are long, wide noodles – just one of the many pasta shapes. Cut by hand, Pappardelle doesn’t require a pasta machine. But, if you happen to have one, any of these doughs can be machine rolled and cut to any length or thickness your heart desires.
The Doughs: Pappardelle 3 Ways
EACH RECIPE SERVES 2 TO 4
NEEDED: EXTRA ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR FOR ROLLING, COOKIE SHEET, BAKING PARCHMENT, LARGE POT FOR COOKING
INGREDIENTS CLASSIC ITALIAN
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tablespoon olive oil
4 large or extra-large eggs
INGREDIENTS CLASSIC ITALIAN (VEGAN)
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 Tablespoons olive oil ¾ cup water
INGREDIENTS WHOLE WHEAT
1 ½ cups whole wheat flour
1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
4 large or extra-large eggs
2 to 4 teaspoons water (as needed)
DIRECTIONS (SAME FOR ALL 3 RECIPES)
1. Mix recipe ingredients forming a shaggy dough. (For the whole wheat, start with 2 teaspoons of water, adding more as needed.)
2. Using your hands, knead dough until it comes together as a smooth ball – 5 to 7 minutes. Or, knead in a heavy duty Kitchen Aid mixer with the dough hook for 3 to 4 minutes.
3. Cut the ball into 4 equal pieces. Cover to prevent drying.
4. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pieces one by one to approximately 12” x 12”. (It’s OK if dough is irregularly shaped.) Dust top with flour.
5. Using a sharp knife or pastry cutter, cut dough into 1 inch wide strips. Place cut strips on a cookie sheet lined with baking parchment to dry for 1 hour before cooking.
6. Make the sauce while the pasta is drying.
ENOUGH FOR THE PAPPARDELLE RECIPE
USES A 10 TO 12 INCH SKILLET (NOT CAST IRON)
INGREDIENTS
4 oz. Pancetta (Italian fat back) or thick bacon (chopped)
2 Tablespoons olive oil
¼ teaspoon coarse grind pepper
6 cloves garlic (chopped – about 1½ Tablespoons or to taste)
1 (28 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
1 cup vodka
1 cup heavy cream
½ cup grated parmesan cheese (plus extra for serving)
1. In a large skillet, cook pancetta/ bacon until crispy. Remove from the pan. Drain on paper towels. Set aside for garnish.
2. Add olive oil, pepper and garlic to fat in pan. Cook for 1 minute.
3. Stir in tomatoes and vodka. Simmer for 10 minutes (uncovered) stirring occasionally.
4. Add cream and ½ cup cheese. Simmer for 5 minutes more.
5. Remove from heat. Set aside until pasta is cooked.
6. After pasta has dried, bring a large pot of unsalted water to a boil. Add pasta. Stir to separate the strips. Pasta is done when it floats to the top of the pan –about 3 minutes.
7. Drain. Fold into sauce. Heat for serving. Garnish with parmesan cheese to taste.
Need curry in a hurry? Try this.
SERVES 4 TO 6
USES A 12 INCH SKILLET OR LARGE DUTCH OVEN
INGREDIENTS
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
¼ teaspoon coarse grind pepper
1 onion (chopped – about 1 cup)
2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 cups broth (any type)
1 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons yellow curry powder (or to taste)
3 cups diced yellow or red potatoes (about 3-4 potatoes)
2 cups carrots (peeled and sliced on the diagonal ¼ inch thick - 2 to 3 carrots)
1 cup frozen peas
Optional - ¼ cup whole cashews (any type)
Optional - 1-pound raw, medium size shrimp or 1 ½ pounds raw chicken breast (cut into 1-inch pieces)
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oil in a large skillet. Add pepper and onion. Cook on medium (uncovered and stirring occasionally) until the onion is soft – about 2 minutes.
2. Whisk in flour. Cook for 1 minute.
3. Stir in broth, sugar, curry powder, potatoes, carrots and shrimp or chicken if desired.
4. Cover. Simmer until vegetables are tender (and shrimp or chicken is cooked) – about 12 minutes.
5. Remove cover. Continue cooking (uncovered) until sauce is reduced to a thickness you like.
6. Fold in peas (and cashews if using). Continue cooking to heat peas - about 3 minutes.
COOK’S TIPS
Russet potatoes disintegrate. For a nicer presentation, use red or yellow potatoes which hold their shape.
Dahl is a classic, curry-spiced, Indian stew with as many variations as there are cooks who make it. Add extra broth and dahl morphs into a gorgeous soup.
SERVES 4 TO 6
USES A LARGE POT WITH COVER INGREDIENTS
1 (28 oz.) can diced tomatoes with juice
8 cups broth (any type)
1 (14 to 15 oz.) can coconut milk
8 oz. dry lentils, rinsed and drained (1¼ cups)
1 medium onion (chopped – about 1 cup)
4 cloves garlic (chopped – about 1 Tablespoon)
1 Tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon garam marsala (a curry spice blend)
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon coarse grind pepper
MICHELLE M. HOPKINS ATTORNEY AT LAW1 Tablespoon brown sugar
DIRECTIONS
1. Mix everything in a large pot.
2. Simmer (partially covered and stirring occasionally) until lentils are very soft and mixture is reduced to a thickness you like – about 3 hours.
3. Thin with additional broth if soup is desired. L
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Prince William County Public Schools hosted a groundbreaking ceremony last month for a new Woodbridge-area elementary school, celebrating what will be the first new elementary school in the area in several decades. The new school will be located adjacent to Fred Lynn Middle School. While construction began last fall, the school division could not host the official groundbreaking ceremony until now due to weather and site conditions. The new $60 million school will be a three-story building with large open spaces and high ceilings. It is designed for a 775-student capacity, with the main building area taking up roughly 129,900 square feet. It will be designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified silver rating and Energy Star Certification. While the school is currently called the “Woodbridge Area" elementary school, the official name for the school will be chosen by the School Board after it receives suggestions from the naming committee. The Woodbridge District is one of the most densely populated in Prince William County. Due to class size restrictions, another elementary school was needed to support current student growth and upcoming growth.
Raising Cane’s, the popular Louisiana chicken fingers restaurant that is new to the D.C. market, opened its fifth location in the D.C. area last month at 9501 Liberia Ave. in Manassas. Raising Cane’s menu is almost entirely chicken finger combos, with coleslaw, Texas toast and Cane’s sauce. Its locations also serve freshly squeezed lemonade. Baton Rouge-based Raising Cane’s was founded in 1996 and has more than 775 locations in 40 states, the Middle East and Guam. There are plans for 100 new locations this year.
Tickets are now on sale for the 16th Annual Occoquan Duck Splash Race. This year's race will take place during Occoquan’s spring Riverfest and Craft Show event. At noon on Sunday, June 2, 1,000 numbered rubber ducks will be dropped from the Route 123 bridge on the Occoquan River and "race" to a predetermined, but malleable, finish line. Participants can "adopt" a numbered rubber duck for $5, and if your duck finishes first you will receive a $500 cash prize. If your duck finishes second through fifth, you will receive a $100 cash prize, and if your duck finishes sixth through 10th you will receive a $20 cash prize. You don’t need to be present to win your cash prize, and all net proceeds benefit Patriots for Disabled Divers, which uses scuba as therapeutic tool for wounded warriors. For more information, visit occoquantourism.com.
A squirrel’s shocking snack gave students at the Rappahannock County Public Schools a surprise day off last month when the little guy munched through a power line and everybody was sent home at 9 a.m. due to a widespread power outage. We’re willing to bet the 2,192 members of the Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, who live in Sperryville, Washington and Woodville, were a bit put out, but the kids? We’re pretty certain they were thrilled. It didn’t take long for the power to be restored; some members had power back within 29 minutes, while others had power back within 59 minutes, and all repairs were completed by 11 a.m., but happily, it was too late to have the kids to come back.
Our local businesses are the heart and soul of our communities.
Each and every one contributes to our quality of life by offering convenient, quality services to residents. Now is the time to support them by voting!
VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITES IN THESE CATEGORIES:
Artists, Photographers, & Galleries
Auto, Boat & Farm Equipment & Services
Child Services (show your school spirit!)
Entertainment | Financial & Legal Services
Fitness & Recreation | Food & Beverages (very competitive!)
Home Services | Hair, Nail & Spa Services
Health Care | Charitable Organization
Pet Services (always a popular one!) And more!
Don’t see your favorite listed? There’s a spot to write it in for consideration.
PLEASE CHECK CAREFULLY:
Write-ins that are duplicates may split the votes and will put the nominee at a disadvantage. Some categories, such as medical providers, list the entrants as part of a practice, not individually.
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