Prince William Living October 2011

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LOCAL HAUNTS

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FIVE LITTLE PUMPKINS

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DEAR ____________,

prince william living October 2011

The premiere lifestyle magazine of Prince William and Greater Manassas

The

Spooktacular Issue

PAGE 18

Can You Dig It? PAGE 22

Joni Relyea Gives Back through Art

www.princewilliamliving.com

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table of contents October 2011 Vol. 1 No. 10

FEATURES Local Haunts: Ghostly Happenings Right in Your Own Backyard ..........................................4

4 Photo courtesy Keasha Lee

DEPARTMENTS from the publisher..................................................3 advertiser index ....................................................3 destinations Rippon Lodge: A Home with Deep History ........10 family fun Five Little Pumpkins Sitting on a Gate ................12 local flavor Occoquan Inn Adds Flavor to Historic Town ......16

16 Photo courtesy Allison Perrin

giving back Can You Dig It?....................................................18 going places Minh, an Artist out for Inuence ........................20 on a high note Joni Relyea Gives Back through Art......................22 tambourines and elephants Dear ___________, ............................................25 calendar ..............................................................26 distribution sites ................................................29

20 Photo courtesy Brandi Hilliard

prince william living October 2011 | 1

The premiere lifestyle magazine of Prince William and Greater Manassas

Prince William Living Editor in Chief and Publisher Elizabeth Kirkland ekirkland@princewilliamliving.com Prince William Living President Rebecca Barnes rbarnes@princewilliamliving.com Contributing Writers Dennis Chang, Audrey Harman, Keasha Lee, eresa McElroy and Linda Ross Pugel Copy Assistant Boyd Lillard Photography Brandi Hilliard, Keasha Lee, Allison Perrin, Tamar Wilsher-Rivas and Aleda Powell Graphic Design and Production Alison Dixon/Image Prep Studio Senior Advertising Account Executive Eileen Classick-Terry Advertising Account Executive Patty Tracy Prince William Living, the premiere lifestyle magazine of Prince William and Greater Manassas, is published monthly

by Prince William Living, Inc. e opinions expressed in the magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Prince William Living. © Copyright 2011 by Prince William Living, Inc. All rights reserved. Materials may not be reproduced or translated without written permission. Visit the Prince William Living website at www.princewilliamliving.com for reprint permission.

Prince William Living 4491 Cheshire Station Plaza, PMB 55 Dale City, VA 22193 Phone: (703) 232-1758 Efax: (703) 563-9185 Editorial offices: (703) 232-1758, ext. 2 Efax: (703) 563-9185 Advertising offices: (703) 232-1758, ext. 1 Efax: (703) 563-9185 Editorial Have a story you’d like our staff to cover? Contact Prince William Living Editor in Chief and Publisher Elizabeth Kirkland, either by phone at (703) 232-1758, ext. 2, or by email at ekirkland@princewilliamliving.com.

Advertising Prince William Living accepts display advertising.

For complete advertising information, please contact Rebecca Barnes, Prince William Living president, either by phone at (703) 232-1758, ext. 1, or by email at rbarnes@princewilliamliving.com.

Distribution If you are your business’ decision maker and you have a waiting room or other place your customers and employees would appreciate finding a copy of Prince William Living, please call Prince William Living President Rebecca Barnes and ask about how your business can become a free distribution site for Prince William Living. Rebecca can be reached by phone at (703) 232-1758, ext. 1, or by email at rbarnes@princewilliamliving.com. By becoming a distributor of Prince William Living, your business will be mentioned on the Prince William Living website and in future issues of Prince William Living.

Subscription rate is $12 (U.S.), one year. International subscribers add $12 each year. Change of address notices should be sent to Prince William Living President Rebecca Barnes.

Social Media

Reprints and Back Issues: To order article reprints or request reprint permission, please visit the Prince William Living website: www.princewilliamliving.com. Order back issues by calling Prince William Living President Rebecca Barnes at (703) 232-1758, ext. 1.

Prince William Living can be found on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

For further information about Prince William Living, visit www.princewilliamliving.com, or contact Prince William Living at (703) 232-1758.

from the publisher Boo! Did I scare you?

Halloween is this month, and where better to look for spooky treats than in your own backyard? Did you know that Prince William and Greater Manassas are home to some of the most haunted locations in the U.S.? It’s true. Check out writer Audrey Harman’s article, “Local Haunts: Ghostly Happenings Right in Your Own Backyard” (page 4) for all the details.

Of course, if being frightened isn’t your cup o’ tea, perhaps pumpkin patches and fall festivals are. Read all about them in this month’s Family Fun article, by Dennis Chang (page 12).

In addition to Halloween, October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Read about what some locals are doing to raise funds to fight this disease and to screen for it in this month’s Giving Back, by eresa McElroy (page 18) and On a High Note, by Linda Ross Pugel (page 22).

Our Going Places article this month is about local pop artist Minh D. Chau, who goes simply by his first name, “Minh.” Originally from Vietnam, Minh, who now makes his home in Manassas, has been self-producing albums since 2005, and he holds a voting membership with the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. His album, Dreamgirls’ Heart, was on an early Grammy ballot for Best Dance Record.

Want to find out more about Prince William County and Greater Manassas? Grab a handful of candy corn and a caramel apple or two and read on. And, while you’re at it, check us out online at www.princewilliamliving.com, and on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter!

Sincerely,

Also this month, don’t miss Linda Ross Pugel’s Local Flavor article, which features the historic Occoquan Inn. is month’s Destination is Rippon Lodge, and writer Keasha Lee takes us there in her article, “Rippon Lodge: A Home with Deep History.” Built in 1747, Rippon Lodge is one of the oldest homes still standing in Prince William County.

Elizabeth Kirkland Prince William Living Editor in Chief and Publisher

Advertiser Index Minnieland Academy ......................................................13 ACTS ................................................................................24

Okra’s ................................................................................28

Ameriprise Financial........................................................25

Peggy and Bill Burke, Long & Foster Realtors ................9

Bargain Relo ....................................................................24

Pope John Paul the Great Catholic High School ............8

Dansk Day Spa at Occoquan ..........................................28

Potomac Place ..................................................................13

Dina Psychic Consultant ..................................................28

Prince William Chamber of Commerce ..........................24

Edgemoor Art Studio ......................................................28

Prince William Ice Center ................................................19

HomeCleaners4You ........................................................28 I-95 Business Parks Management ..................................C4

Red, White & Blue Jeans Dinner Dance & Silent Auction ................................................11

Imagewerks ......................................................................28

Sassy Gifts ........................................................................28

lia sophia ..........................................................................28

State Farm/Sandi Bausman ............................................25

Lil Bit of Posh....................................................................28

Statements Salon........................................................14-15

Lustine Automall..............................................................C2

Tidy Maid House Cleaning ..............................................28

Mary Kay/Marti Hall ........................................................28

US Logoworks ..................................................................28

Mason’s Lawn and Landscape ........................................28

Washington Square Associates ......................................28

prince william living October 2011 | 3

LocaL Haunts: Ghostly Happenings Right in Your Own Backyard

By Audrey Harman, Contributing Writer

i

t’s not surprising at all to hear tell of ghostly activity in such an historic area as Prince William County. What with its strong involvement in the Civil War, the scattering of old plantation houses, and the memories of colonial-era towns, legends and myths are rampant.

It could take years to shake out the cobwebs from the widespread nooks and crannies of the county, but there are ready and available opportunities to explore a few of these haunted locations yourself. e following spooky tales all take place in historic sites open to the public; some are places you may visit frequently, and never knew you could have been walking alongside a restless specter.

It’s a little after dusk and the smoke from the campfire you’ve lit is curling up, creating shapes against the glowing horizon. ere’s a crackling as the flames travel up the logs, and from just beyond the treeline you can hear what sounds like light footsteps crunching through the fallen leaves. e glow from the campfire warms your face, and you sit back in your chair and sip a little hot cider, preparing yourself for the tales to come.

Historic Occoquan Formally a colonial-era mill town named for the Dogue Indian term meaning “end of the water,” Occoquan was explored by John Smith himself. e modern Town of Occoquan not only houses cute little shops and restaurants, but also residents from the past who never completely left this world. Walking through town, a 4 | October 2011 prince william living

number of the older buildings boast their own hauntings, but some create windows into the town’s history.

406 Mill Street Buit in 1750, 406 Mill Street, which currently houses the gourmet food market Tastefully Yours, is one of the few buildings in town that has survived fire, the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, hurricanes, and, most recently, earthquakes. e very building whose cellar was used as a holding facility during the Civil War, is an unimposing brown and yellow building with modern siding and a big porch overlooking the street.

Venture on up the original staircase inside and enter the first room on your right. First you’ll notice that it’s a bit cooler than the rest of the shop. e room you are standing in is the very room where Molly (AKA “Polly” or “Lolly”)—one of the former residents of the house—hung herself. It is alleged that Molly was involved with one of the wealthy landowning individuals of Rockledge Mansion, located on the hill just behind Molly’s own house. An underground tunnel was even discovered between the two properties. When the man refused to leave his wife for her, Molly, who was heartbroken, decided there was no other option but to kill herself to escape the pain of unrequited love. roughout the years there have been numerous sightings of Molly, and she frequently makes her presence known to the current owner and employees of the shop. She isn’t violent, and hardly fearsome, but she is quite active.

JoAnn Barney, who owns the property at 406 Mill Street, has

Photo courtesy Rippon Lodge Historic Site

learned that Molly is terrified of the dark.

“When we don’t leave a light on in the upstairs room, things are moved around or on the floor in the morning,” Barney said. “ey aren’t tossed randomly on the floor either; we have found the merchandise standing upright, on the floor. Wine bottles don’t fall off the shelves and land upright.”

Barney also said that sometimes, on slower days when she’s downstairs working on something, she’ll get a sudden suspicion that someone is upstairs. When she goes to make sure it’s not a customer, no one is upstairs at all and there is a light rosewater scent in the air. Barney and several of the employees have heard or seen unexplained activity in the shop, including lights turning on by themselves or objects flying off shelves. Several customers have also reported witnessing merchandise plummeting to the floor or hitting them lightly on the back.

Children are the only ones who have reported seeing Molly or learning her name without reading any historic documents, and no harm has ever come to anyone. As far as the owner and her employees are concerned, Molly is just another unique quirk that goes along with the historic building.

More than a few spooky tales have come out of the town of Brentsville.

day, as well as at night. She herself heard talking and people walking around the ballroom, when she knew for a fact that no one was in there with her. “e ghosts are not shy at all,” Goodwin said.

As many people will tell you, for such a small town, there are quite a lot of ghosts shaking things up in Occoquan.

Photo courtesy Tamar Wilsher-Rivas

Brentsville

Rockledge Mansion, which has overlooked the Occoquan Mill since 1758, is open several times a year for the town's ghost tour. Now used primarily for private events and catering, in the past it was used as a Civil War hospital.

Rockledge Mansion Continuing past 406 Mill Street toward the Mill House Museum, you’ll approach Rockledge Mansion on your left. Walking up the old stone driveway, the Georgian-style mansion will come closer into view. Rockledge shares the same builder—William Buckland—as George Mason’s house, Gunston Hall, and has been overlooking the Occoquan Mill since 1758. ough Rockledge is primarily used for private events and catering, there are several times a year when it is open for the town’s ghost tour.

In the past, Rockledge was used as a Civil War hospital and several people have seen and captured pictures of a Civil War solider standing in the house’s front doorway. Former Occoquan Ghost Tour guide Ann Goodwin said that the catering company that runs their business out of the mansion hears things all during the

Quietly preserved next to a winding two-lane road is a reminder of how life used to be in Prince William County during the 1820s.

As the county seat, the site once contained a jail, courthouse, clerk’s office, tavern, dairy, laundry, a smokehouse, housing, the Union Church, and an area for gallows and a whipping post. With so much life going on in the area, there were no doubt deaths and suffering as well. After the county seat was moved to Manassas in 1893, the area reverted to its rural roots. Today, only a few of those buildings remain intact—even the clerk’s office was destroyed during the Civil War. Of the remaining buildings, the Brentsville Jail is said to be the center of the prominent ghostly goings-on.

Brentsville Jail e Brentsville Jail, which was constructed in 1822—the same year the Brentsville Courthouse was constructed—has a colorful history. In 1872, a commonwealth attorney by the name of James Clark was arrested for the abduction of local 15-year-old Fannie Fewell. ough she left willingly with him, he abandoned her in Missouri and returned to his wife and children in Washington, D.C. Upon her return, Fewell alerted the police of what Clark had done, and he was caught and thrown into the Brentsville Jail to await his fate. Fewell’s brother, Rhoda Fewell (AKA “Lucien”), decided that a court sentence wouldn’t be enough justice and took matters into his own hands. Rhoda made his way from the local tavern to the jail, and upon finding it unlocked, went inside and shot Clark several times in his cell. Clark died the next day, Sept. (continues on page 6) prince william living October 2011 | 5

(continued from page 5) 3, 1872. is murder is the only known death to have occurred inside of the jail itself.

All ghostly activity is attributed to Clark, due to the nature of his death and the fact that no one else is known to have died within the confines of the Brentsville Jail. Several paranormal groups have investigated at the jail, and while some investigators have turned up nothing, others claim to have heard, in audio recordings made in the jail, a man’s voice speak derogatorily to women. e spirit that dwells within the Brentsville Jail is believed to be aggressive and not too fond of women.

“When I enter the jail, I get a weird feeling and the air feels different,” said Melinda Evasius, an historic interpreter at the Brentsville Courthouse. “It may be mold or my imagination, but it could also be the ghost of James Clark,” Evasius believes the best time to come out and get a sense of the Clark’s ghost for yourself would be during the restoration of the jail this fall. All the renovation could stir up some more activity, and you never know what you might sense.

Manassas Being the location where the first major battle of the Civil War occurred in 1861, ghostly activities can be found at virtually every turn. e Manassas Junction was a highly strategic area during the war, due to the tracks leading south to Richmond and north to Washington, D.C. Manassas is mainly known outside of the state due to its involvement in the Civil War. With war, violence occurs, and where there is violence and death, there are, inevitably, ghosts.

Stone House Standing sturdily on the corner of Route 29 and Route 234, Stone House faces the Manassas National Battlefield. e house was originally built as a tavern, but through both the First and Second Battles of Manassas, the house was used as a field hospital. Many deaths and much suffering from battle wounds and disease occurred on the property. Despite the proximity to the battles and the fact that it housed so much suffering, a lot of the ghosts seen and heard by individuals have been those of children.

An employee of the Henry Hill Visitor Center at the Manassas Battlefield named Brenda experienced ghostly activity around the house as a child. She and a few friends were sledding on the hill behind Stone House and the entire house lit up, as if a car had driven into the driveway.

A National Park Service historian and ranger of 30 years, Jim Burgess claimed that he had no experiences in all his years working at Manassas Battlefield. He is, however, fascinated by any activity people tell him about and has collected several of tales over the years.

6 | October 2011 prince william living

ere is one story about a seasonal worker who was sitting in Stone House, waiting for any visitors who might have questions. e employee was reading, and soon fell asleep on what seemed like a quiet day. Upon waking, the individual’s glasses were flung across the room, landing at the opposite end of the hallway.

Who knows exactly what is haunting Stone House or why, but there have been numerous investigations and books written about the history of the house over the years. Many people have been interested in the unexplainable, and who knows what the house may hold in store for your own visit.

Woodbridge Woodbridge was named for omas Mason’s wooden toll bridge that stood in 1795, bringing traffic from the King’s Highway, as it was known in the 17th century (it’s known today as U.S. Route 1), across the Occoquan River. Woodbridge was once inhabited by the Dogue Indians, and Rippon Lodge is the town’s oldest standing structure. Being the oldest house in the area, it has seen much life and numerous deaths throughout the years. Perhaps a few of the known violent deaths on the property are the cause of the many unexplained activities still being experienced today.

Rippon Lodge Located a short distance from U.S. Route 1, the picturesque Rippon Lodge was built in 1747 by Richard Blackburn. e house was later added onto by his son, omas Blackburn, and eventually came to be owned by the Atkinson and Ellis families.

Little about the view from Rippon Lodge has changed over the years. e house overlooks the Neabsco Creek and Potomac River, and you can barely see any signs of the modernized world below.

Not only is it a beautiful site on which to picnic, it is also a place where much history has taken place. And, where there is history, there is almost always a ghost or two about.

Over the years, people hav reportedly seen figures in t windows and heard footst where there is no one arou to make them. Carpenters working on the restoration of the buildings claimed to have seen a person in the upstairs windows on various occasions. Jessica O’Connell and Karen Fossum, two of the historic interpreters at Rippon Lodge, said that they hear a lot of activity in the house. Due to the fact that the house still has the original windows, they attribute

Photo courtesy Keasha Lee

“Being the ’70s, no one had four-wheel drive…there was too much snow for anyone to be out driving,” said Brenda. She and her friends went down to the house to see who had driven up, but the lights were gone and there were no car tracks in sight.

“Stone House’s reputation precedes the National Park Service,” said Burgess.

most of the sounds and doors opening on their own to drafts and the wind. ough several of the tales were allegedly made up by Judge Ellis, one of the former owners of the home, there is one historically documented tale of a duel gone wrong.

As the story goes, in September of 1765, two brother-in-laws of omas Blackburn, the owner of Rippon Lodge at the time, were involved in a deadly duel. It is noted that one of the brothers-inlaw (John Baylis), allegedly insulted the other’s (Cuthbert Bullitt’s) father, Reverend James Scott. e two traveled up to Maryland to duel, as it was outlawed in Virginia. As it was printed in the newspaper at the time, Baylis went to fire his gun, but it didn’t go off. He asked Bullitt to have mercy on him, and instead shot at Bullitt when he hesitated. He missed, unfortunately for him, and Bullitt shot him in the groin.

Baylis was brought to Rippon Lodge where he soon died from his wound. He was buried in one of the unmarked graves in the cemetery on the property.

Photo courtesy Weems-Botts Museum

“I believe his grave is the furthest from the rest of the family. ey probably didn’t want him to be buried next to them,” said Fossum.

Due to Baylis’ mean spirit in life, there is reason to believe that his spirit could be responsible for any and all ghostly activity on the property. Both O’Connell and Fossum feel very nervous speaking ill of Baylis, for fear that he may still be lurking about the property, listening to their opinions of him.

Dumfries Dumfries, Virginia’s oldest town, which was established around 1749, was once said to be as prominent as New York City. By the 1760s, the town was one of the main colonial ports on the East Coast. e early inhabitants eventually caused the downfall of the long-term success of the town by overworking the land around the Quantico Creek Watershed, causing the harbor to erode. e placement of the town on the harbor caused it to be a major strategic area during the Civil War. By the end of the war, the town population had diminished to only 20 families. Over the eight months they were stationed in Dumfries, most soldiers died due to bad camp life and the rough winter. Harsh deaths and long-term suffering often lead to restless spirits upset by their untimely ends. e Weems-Botts Museum happens to be located in such a restless place.

Weems-Botts Museum e Weems-Botts Museum was once the vestry house for the Quantico Church, though later purchased by Parson Mason Locke Weems. Weems was the first biographer of George Washington, and used what is now the museum as his bookstore and warehouse. By 1802, the building was sold to lawyer Benjamin Botts who used it as one of his offices. e Merchant family owned and lived in the house from 1869 until 1968, and a few of the ghostly happenings there have been attributed to Violet and Annie Merchant, the former ladies of the house.

Dumfries’ allegedly haunted Weems-Botts Museum was once the vestry house for the Quantico Church.

In 1906, Violet was a typist and a secretary, and quite “ahead of her time,” as Joann Barron, the administrative development director of the museum put it.

One day, as Barron gave a tour of the house, she stated this fact aloud in one of the rooms, and a tape recorder set up by a paranormal investigator picked the excited voices of two women.

One of the voices clearly said, “She’s got it right,” as if agreeing with Barron. Barron believes these voices could have been those of Annie and Violet Merchant. e Weems-Botts museum has recently been the center of numerous paranormal investigations, and is rated as the second most haunted place in Virginia. All investigations get EVPs (Electronic Voice Phenomena) and catch full sentences on tape. ere is nothing truly violent associated with the property—just suffering in the surrounding area, so it’s hard for anyone to say who or what is haunting the Weems-Botts house and annex, which was built in 1947.

In pictures, floating orbs of light are almost always captured. ese are oftentimes attributed to bugs, but one can never be too sure. A dark fog often appears in photographs taken in one of the rooms in the house. A photographer watched as a “grey fog generated (continues on page 9) prince william living October 2011 | 7

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(continued from page 7) Photo courtesy Weems-Botts Museum

but does that explain the footsteps heard in the buildings when they were thought to be empty, locked doors becoming unlocked on their own, and even doors opening by themselves? With so much recent activity and new unexplained happenings at the Weems-Botts Museum, you yourself might be able to experience something just on the regular historic house tour. is Halloween season many of the historic locations around the county will be hosting holiday-appropriate events suitable for your family’s enjoyment. Don’t hesitate to check out what’s going on in your neck of the county, and maybe you can come back with your own personal ghostly tale to tell around the next campfire. As the fire dies down, and the heat fades into the night, take the last sip of your hot cider and keep these spooky stories in mind the next time you visit any of these haunted locations.

Author Audrey Harman graduated this past spring from Hollins University with a B.A. in English and Spanish. She resides with her family in Woodbridge.

Ghostly orbs can be seen in some of the pictures taken at Dumfries’ Weems-Botts Museum.

and streamed down” over Barron’s head as she was giving a tour one day. Barron claimed she had no feeling or knowledge of anything unusual occurring around her, but a fog is clearly visible moving down over her head in the photographs.

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Barron, who did not believe in ghosts a year ago, changed her mind around March of this year. After a program that took place in the park between the house and the annex, Barron had checked the house to make sure everyone was out, locked up, and turned the alarms on. She was walking with her husband and a docent when the drapes began to be pulled up on their own. Barron clicked pictures with the camera in her hand as the drapes moved.

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“My husband and I were suspicious and thought that maybe it was the angle we were walking, but the drapes stayed that way until morning,” Barron said.

She has also experienced some unexplainable and frightening things in the annex, which is now used as the museum’s office. A ghost box sits on the desk in the office, which uses radio waves and digital recording to capture voices in order to communicate with the spirit world. A woman’s fearful voice has been captured talking about a Civil War Major named George of the Alabama 14th. She described him as a “rabid major” and speaks in entire sentences about how his men need a doctor. One day Barron walked into the annex and said, “Well George, we can’t talk today since I have no flashlight or a ghost box,” and her printer turned on all by itself.

In an older building, electronics often don’t work like they should,

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destinations

A Home with Deep History

By Keasha Lee, Contributing Writer

w

hile driving up the road that leads to Rippon Lodge, roll your windows down and let the sounds of nature in. A veritable cornucopia of birds, crickets, frogs and other wildlife can be heard throughout the grounds. ere is also no shortage of trees on the property, including an apple tree in the front yard and a very large Elm that displays a grandness that isn’t seen just anywhere. From the porch of the main house, there is a fantastic view of the Potomac River. Rippon Lodge may sound like just another nice house with great scenery, and it should come as no surprise that on many an occasion it’s provided a spectacular backdrop for weddings, receptions, family portraits and picnics, but it is so much more. In fact, it is one of the oldest homes still intact in Prince William County.

10 | October 2011 prince william living

From Past to Present Many people visit the 42-acre estate to learn about its rich history. “e property was built in 1747 and designed by Richard Blackburn, an English architect who named Rippon Lodge after his birthplace in Ripon, England,” said Brendan Hanafin, chief of Prince William County Public Works’ Historic Preservation Division. “Richard’s son, Lt. Col omas Blackburn, served in the Revolutionary War and became friends with George Washington.” ree different families occupied Rippon Lodge throughout the centuries. One of the last owners, Federal Judge Wade Ellis, discovered that he was a descendant of Richard Blackburn at some point during the time he lived at the property. According to Hanafin, Ellis was a prominent figure in Washington, D.C., and was known to throw lavish parties on the lawn.

Photo courtesy Rippon Lodge Historic Site

Rippon Lodge:

Rippon Lodge makes for a great place to visit and is also an interesting place to work. Rebecca Super, site manager for Rippon Lodge, has worked for the Prince William County Park Authority for four years. “is is a dream job to be able to manage a historical site,” said Super. “One of the many reasons that the job is so interesting is that there is always something different happening every day. We are able to come up with activities to teach the public about history in a 3-D way.” It’s also nice to report to work at a nontraditional office, she added.

Lake Ridge resident Sharon Richardson is just one of many locals who enjoys visiting Rippon Lodge. “I first learned about Rippon Lodge in the early 1990s when my family attended a picnic on the grounds held by some friends who were living in the caretaker’s house,” she said. “e last private owners of Rippon were living there and they invited us to tour the main floor of the house. ey also told us a little about the history of Rippon Lodge. Since then, I’ve been hooked!”

Since her first visit, Richardson has returned to Rippon five times with her family to participate in activities and events. “My youngest daughter earned her Silver Award in Girl Scouts this past summer doing a grounds clean-up and planting native grasses and wildflowers with other Girl Scouts from around Prince William County at Rippon Lodge.”

May through October, the house and grounds are consistently busy with activities. “ere’s at least one education program or event every month,” said Super. e annual Harvest Festival is a popular occasion held in September, where people can come out and enjoy live music, lectures, food, crafts, and games. “e Harvest Festival is a big event where people can get a real taste of what life was like in the 18th century,” said Super. “Children have the opportunity to make butter which they can eat on their cornmeal pancakes, called Johnny cakes, and learn to play games that were popular during that time period.”

William County to include Dumfries and Occoquan,” explained Hanafin. “e secondary component is a community room that will provide a nice, open space to be used for receptions, speaking engagements and additional space for staff offices on sight.”

While there is no date set for the groundbreaking of the new structure, the contextual aspects of the design are finished and fundraising efforts are being led by the Prince William Historic Preservation Foundation. Rippon sits along the Potomac Heritage Trail and the museum would serve as a link for two points on the trail. People will be able to use the museum and visitor center as a starting point for their visit or as the last stop before leaving the property. Another project that’s set for the future of Rippon Lodge is a recreation of the farm that existed on the land hundreds of years ago. e purpose of the farm would be to serve as another destination for people to experience how life was through hands-on interaction.

As the population of Prince William grows, it’s inevitable that Rippon Lodge will be a place that people will continue to show interest in and visit. “My family and I will definitely return for more visits to Rippon Lodge,” said Richardson. “ere's always something new to see and do there.”

A visit to Rippon Lodge is a great way to slow down, enjoy the fresh air and the sounds of nature, and to hear compelling stories about the people who lived and worked at the site. It’s an enriching experience to learn about the history of the town in which one lives, especially when it starts at an old house with a pretty view.

Keasha Lee is a passionate writer, public relations professional and actress. She resides in Woodbridge with her daughter.

“Here Lieth the Body” is a new event held the last two weekends in October where guided tours are provided inside the house and on the grounds while hauntingly true stories are told. One of the main attractions is the viewing of the family cemetery and reenactment of Richard Blackburn’s funeral, complete with traditional burial customs. “Funerals were by invitation only because families spent a lot of money to ensure that their deceased loved ones had a proper ceremony,” explained Super.

Past, Present, and Future e special events and activities that are held at Rippon Lodge provide residents and visitors of Prince William County a chance to learn about history in a fun and interesting way. ere are plans for the learning to continue in innovative ways with the addition of a museum and community events center on the grounds. “e museum is a $5 million project that will consist of a major exhibit focused on the history of Rippon and eastern Prince prince william living October 2011 | 11

family fun

Five Little pumpkins sitting on a gate

By Dennis Chang, Contributing Writer

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ith a steadily decreasing amount of daylight and a definite chill in the air, fall is upon us once again. Traditionally, fall is a time of harvest—of reaping the rewards of work welldone. It’s a time for planting bulbs, for carving pumpkins, for roast turkey and pumpkin pie. But for some of us when the leaves turn their autumn hues there’s only one thing on our minds: back to school. ere might be much to be done but don’t forget to have fun! Here’s a guide to our county’s events this season that the whole family can enjoy.

Festivals Forest Park Heritage Festival e Prince William Forest Park is celebrating its 75th anniversary on Saturday, October 15, commemorating the park’s rich history as colonial farmland, a work camp for Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps, and as a spy training camp during World War II. Historical craft demonstrations such as blacksmithing, masonry, and woodworking, food, and live music will be featured at the event. For children, there will be games and activities such as scavenger hunts, old-time field games , and a craft cabin. “We typically get between 500-700 people,” says Chief of Interpretation, Laura Cohen, “We’d like to try to hit 1,000 since this is our anniversary year.” ere is a $5 car entrance fee to the park, but no additional fee for the event. For more information visit www.nps.gov/prwi/index.htm 12 | October 2011 prince william living

Manassas Fall Jubilee Famous for its artisans and crafters, the Manassas Fall Jubilee never fails to amaze. ere will be live music performances at a main stage and a kids’ stage. Highlights include the Chainsaw Chix, an international team of female performance carvers, and the Kids’ Neighborhood, featuring games, rides, and live music for kids. “No Charge,” the acoustic duo from Richmond, will be playing on the main stage. Other groups performing include the Showcase Dance Studio, Spotlight Dance Studio, the Manassas Martial Arts School, and Happy Feet Cloggers. “is is a great event for families—kids can…experience a thrill by jumping on the Spider Climb or Bungee Trampoline, get creative by designing their very own pumpkin in our pumpkin patch, get their face painted or eat some famous kettle corn,” says event coordinator Sarah McHugh. is year’s jubilee will be held on Oct. 1, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. ere is no charge for admission or parking.

For more information visit http://historicmanassas.mymediaroom.com/wire/events/

Pumpkin Patches Old Mine Ranch Located in Dumfries, Old Mine Ranch is a pumpkin patch which features a hayride, train ride, moon bounce, slides, pumpkin painting, and a haunted house. ere is a petting zoo with alpacas, llamas, donkies, goats, bunnies, and lambs. At nighttime there is a

bonďŹ re for sitting near and making s’mores. “I think it’s a really good place to bring your family and kids. It’s a real down to earth experience (for the kids) to see what a real farm is like,â€? says Patty Coughlin.

Old Mine Ranch is open from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and admission is $6.

Lake Ridge Nursery Lake Ridge Nursery in Woodbridge oers many attractions for kids, including moon bounces, a zip line, slides, jungle gyms, and a ball pit. Pumpkins are pre-picked and gourds and apples are for sale as well.

Prices are $10 per child Monday through î “ursday; Friday through Sunday and Colombus Day, prices are $12 a child.

Adult admission is free. Find them online at www.lakeridgenursery.net/pumpkinpatch.html#.

Yankey Farms Yankey Farms’ pumpkin patch opened on September 25 and features a three-acre pick-your-own-pumpkin patch. For the kids there are wagons, as well as a corn maze and a cow train. î “ere is a picnic area for visitors to enjoy eating outdoors. Apart from

Evergreen Acres Evergreen Acres is set to open their pumpkin patch this month.

A two-county hayride is free, while pumpkins are 50 cents per pound. Also on sale at Evergreen Acres this fall: cushaw, popcorn, gourds and baby pams. Visit their website at www.evergreenacres.biz

Plant Land With its colorful dinosaur sculptures o of Sudley Road, Plant Land is a garden center that oers a pumpkin patch annually. A play area with swings, including a moonbounce, ball crawl, straw tunnels, and a colorful wooden castle, airplane and train are sure to surprise and delight. Plant Land is open from 10 a.m.– 8 p.m. daily, and admission to the play area is $5 on weekdays, and $7 on weekends and holidays. Reach them by phone at (703) 369-1821.

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local flavor

occoquan inn adds Flavor to Historic town

By Linda Ross Pugel, Contributing Writer

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f you are a longtime resident of the Lake Ridge/Occoquan area or of Prince William County, there is a good chance that the name “Occoquan Inn” will ring a bell. e restaurant, which opened in 1968, is nestled along the Occoquan River at 301 Mill Street in the historic town of Occoquan. e building dates back to 1810.

Walking through the front door of the historic Occoquan Inn, patrons will get a cozy and warm feeling, particularly if there is a fire going in the fireplace, which is located near the entryway. e green walls, which have been painted so because, as owner Gary Savage said, “It was George Washington’s belief that the color green was better for digestion,” are dotted with awards, various framed certificates, and newspaper articles that have been written about the restaurant over the years.

Photos courtesy Allison Perrin

Stepping up four stairs from the entryway, guests enter a mauve formal dining room with matching tablecloths. Paintings of presidents and old pictures of the Inn line the walls. ose fortunate enough to be seated at a table in the back of the restaurant can enjoy a view of Occoquan River, while sitting at the front of the restaurant allows guests the opportunity to look onto Occoquan’s Union and Mill streets and quaint shops.

Savage purchased the Occoquan Inn in 1998 from former owner Jim Novack. With a background in the restaurant management and hospitality industry, the Inn seemed to be a perfect fit.

Kevin Oswalt, who has been the Inn’s head chef for more than 20 years, is Savage’s business partner.

16 | October 2011 prince william living

of Indepence. A framed copy of the 1776 document hangs on the wall at the top of the stairs. Rehearsal dinners, wedding receptions, business dinners, and more have been held in the room over the years.

Do You Believe in Ghosts?

If you don’t believe it ghosts, dining at the Occoquan Inn might make you change your mind. It has been said that the restaurant is the haunting place of the ghost of a Dogue Indian, who was attracted to the original owner’s wife. As the story goes, the Indian was killed by the woman’s jealous husband. Some restaurant patrons claim to have seen the Indian near the Inn’s fireplace time and again over the years. Customers often ask about the ghost, and some have hopes of actually seeing one when they come in to dine.

Old World Fare e Inn is open for dinner seven nights a week, offering fine American cuisine. It is most famous for its peanut soup, the recipe for which is a roughly 200-year-old one from Williamsburg. “It’s been made with the same ingredients ever since,” said Savage. Virginia peanuts are the key ingredient in the soup, which is the most popular item on the menu. Promoting Virginia products, whether peanuts, beers or root beers—all of which are sold at Occoquan Inn—is something Savage takes pride in. But peanut soup isn’t the only thing the Occoquan Inn is known for. e Inn’s prime rib and crab cakes are also popular menu items. e restaurant’s menu takes up two pages. Each entrée includes a garden fresh vegetable, rice or baked potato, a green salad and a cup of soup. Grilled lamb chops are just one of many entrees from which to choose.

All of the menu items created at the Occoquan Inn are made from scratch. “e steaks are cut fresh, not bought frozen,” Savage said proudly, adding that they are hand-cut. What’s more, even during an economic recession, Savage continues to purchase only top-of-the-line products for his cooking staff, who prepare the food in a two-tier kitchen that the Inn shares with its adjoining venues, the Virginia Grill and Down Under. e Inn also boasts an extensive wine list, which includes fine red and white wines from all over the world as well as from right here in Virginia. e Occoquan Inn serves dinner Sunday through Saturday nights from 5 to 9 p.m., and offers a Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Made-to-order omelets are available at the brunch, as well as Belgian waffles, fruit, a variety of meats and more. Savage suggests that patrons make reservations when planning to visit for Sunday brunch, which is set up toward the front of the restaurant. e Inn also offers a banquet room, filled with various paintings and photographs, located at the top of the stairs, which are located just to the left of the front door entrance. On the trip upstairs, visitors are welcomed by a painting of the Declaration

Savage recalled an unusual experience he had about a year ago. It was on a Sunday morning that he came in to notice that “all 36 of the place settings had been moved,” he said. He explained that each night, the tables are set up a certain way, with forks on the left and knives and spoons on the right. e settings on that particular Sunday, though, were completely turned around.

Murder mystery dinners, which are popular at the Inn, are held there a few times a year. Server Maria Velasquez says that these dinners are one of the highlights of her job. “e whole dining room becomes a stage,” she said. “It’s a lively event, and it’s neat to see the guests fit into the plot.” e dinners can accommodate up to 60 guests, and sell out quickly. e next murder mystery dinner is scheduled for this month.

Behind the Scenes Many of the behind-the-scenes details of the Occoquan Inn are handled by Savage. He himself does the bookkeeping, payroll, and all of the maintenance work that needs to be done in order to keep it and his other businesses, which include the Virginia Grill and Down Under, located next door and downstairs from the Occoquan Inn, running smoothly. You might even find him some Sunday mornings at the Inn’s brunch, serving up omelets at the omelet station. “I’m in the front of the house, and Kevin is in back of the house,” he explained, adding that Oswalt overseas the kitchen staff. He often walks around the Inn, as well as the Virginia Grill and Down Under greeting and talking to people at their table, or doing wine presentations.

After more than 30 years in the restaurant business, Savage still enjoys every day that he walks through the doors of the Occoquan Inn and his other two businesses. At times, it can be tough, but, he said, “It’s a very fun business.”

Linda Ross Pugel is a 30-year resident of Prince William County, and currently resides in the Lake Ridge area with her husband and son.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan College. Ross Pugel can be reached by email at lpugel@princewilliamliving.com. prince william living October 2011 | 17

giving back

can You dig it?

By Theresa McElroy, Contributing Writer

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hen you hear the words “breast cancer,” what comes to mind? For some, it’s a friend or loved one; for others, it’s a scene in a doctor’s office. But for many girls in Prince William County and Greater Manassas, their minds wander to volleyball. e Virginia Health Administration recorded 25,465 diagnosed cases of breast cancer in the Commonwealth of Virginia in 2010.

Sadly, of those cases, 5,331 ended in death. In Prince William County alone, in 2010, there were 944 recorded cases of breast cancer, with 195 of those cases ending in death. With such scary statistics, something had to be done. at’s where former Woodbridge Senior High School volleyball coach Mary Kerski stepped in.

Kerski, also a former Prince William County resident and alumni of Forest Park High School, took over the coaching job at Woodbridge High School in 2007. She immediately implemented change by introducing the Cardinal Athletic District to the SideOut Foundation “Dig Pink” volleyball games to raise breast cancer awareness. ese “Dig Pink” games take place all over the nation during the month of October to raise community awareness of breast cancer and to raise money to help fight the disease.

“Athletes and athletic programs are supported by the community and should learn to give back to it,” said Kerski. “I came across the “Dig Pink” program and thought it carried an important message about bringing education and awareness to the community about breast cancer and early detection. It was an all-around good 18 | October 2011 prince william living

program to introduce to the area.” e Side-Out Foundation was founded in 2004 by Rick Dunetz, former head volleyball coach at West Springfield High School in Springfield, Va. e foundation explains its mission statement in volleyball terms: “e term side-out refers to a situation in volleyball when one team wins a point while its opponent is serving, thereby regaining serve or control of play. It is hoped that this Side-Out will do the same for breast cancer patients, providing them with the support, education and best available treatments to regain control of their lives” (www.sideout.org/about). e Side-Out Foundation has also expanded their reach to grass and beach volleyball tournaments along with high school and college games in the area and nationwide. ey are currently sponsoring a clinical trial for up to 25 patients with advanced breast cancer, with one of the pilot studies taking place at Fairfax Northern Virginia Hematology Oncology in Fairfax, Va. Last year the Side-Out Foundation exceeded its million-dollar fundraising goal by more than $500,000. is year their goal is $2.5 million.

Kerski implemented the Cardinal District’s first “Dig Pink” event in 2008 with a rival match against Forest Park High School, raising more than $1,000. en, in 2009, Woodbridge hosted a Dig Pink game with Hylton High School, which raised more than $3,000 for the Side-Out Foundation and made headlines all over Northern Virginia and D.C.

“Working with young athletes, you see the personal issues that affect their lives,” Kerski said. “Breast Cancer has affected the lives of many athletes I have had the privilege to coach. Often we have athletes raising money for their own warm-ups, uniforms, and items to better their experience on the court. With these types of events, athletes put the same energy toward bettering people’s lives off the court.”

Donna Graumann, the mother of a former Woodbridge volleyball player, has taken Woodbridge Senior High School’s Dig Pink event under her wing in an effort to help Kerski take the event further.

“At the time the games began at Woodbridge, my sister had breast cancer, so it was a very important cause for me,” said Graumann.

“We were really able to get the community’s support and help.”

Graumann helped by coordinating donations from a local florist who’d donated flowers with pink ribbons attached to be sold, organizing a pink bake sale at the game, and by helping sell pink breast cancer wristbands for entry to Dig Pink game, instead of the usual tickets. e team also sported special Dig Pink T-shirts for the game, which had been donated by the Woodbridge Senior High School Athletic Department. Rick Dunetz, who started the Side-Out Foundation, even appeared as a guest speaker at one of Woodbridge Senior High School’s halftime events, and he spoke to the audience and teams about the cause that his foundation supports.

Chantilly and Loudon Valley now participating in the fight as well.

“Most Dig Pink games are against big rivals, but the focus at the end of the day is always on raising awareness,” Kerski said Contact your local area high school to find Dig Pink games near you this October—the trend is growing every year!

For more information about e Side-Out Foundation, visit www.side-out.org, or call (878) 344-7465. For more information about the American Cancer Society, visit www.cancer.org, or call (800) 227-2345. eresa McElroy, who grew up in Lake Ridge, is a junior studying business marketing at Shepherd University. She can be reached by email at tee_mcelroy@hotmail.com.

“ere is a plaque that we received from the Dig Pink Side-Out Foundation hanging by the Woodbridge gym for all of our efforts and donations received,” Graumann said.

Other area volleyball coaches have taken notice of Dig Pink and many now plan their own games to support the cause. Battlefield High School Head Volleyball Coach Chris Lem puts a twist on their Dig Pink events by hosting faculty games and middle school vs. high school team games before varsity rival volleyball matches to bring in more of the community.

“We have raised over $1,500 for the American Cancer Society along with our DECA program,” said Lem. “ese games have been a way for us to raise awareness and funds for charity while also building community and welcoming feeder schools into our programs.”

With Woodbridge, Forest Park and Battlefield High Schools all joining in the fight to beat breast cancer in the local Cardinal Athletic District, news has also spread to other counties, with

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prince william living October 2011 | 19

going places

MinH An Artist out for Influence

By Boyd Lillard, Contributing Writer

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or some, the name “Prince William County” conjures up images of rural settings and Civil War battlefields; for others, suburbia. e music and art scene in Prince William brings an almost parallel picture to mind: orchestral, acoustic and classical artists and traditional dance styles. It might be hard to believe the county is home to a pop artist who, in 2010 and early 2011, released three albums under his own independent record label, Jayden Records.

Manassas resident Minh D. Chau, in 1990 at the age of nine, emigrated with his family from Vietnam. e Ho Chi Minh City native, who in the music biz goes only by his first name, Minh, lived with his family in various parts of Northern Virginia before finally settling in Manassas. He has been self-producing albums since 2005, and he holds a voting membership with the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), His album, Dreamgirl’s Heart, was on an early Grammy ballot for Best Dance Record. Many of this prolific artist’s songs have centered around the perennial theme of love and relationships.

inspirations, and remembers, in particular, receiving from them a copy of Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall LP. His exposure to artists like Michael Bolton and Amy Grant came by way of memberships in record clubs. While he admired other artists, though, what he wanted most of all was to be like them.

Minh recalled his reaction to hearing Michael Jackson for the first time: “I remember praying, ‘God, make me a famous singer.’” He remembers singing Michael Bolton songs at his parents’ parties.

“When I tell people that Michael Jackson and Michael Bolton are my earliest influences, they laugh.”

Minh has no formal music training, but it does run in his blood; his father was also a musician, having played guitar, written music and performed Vietnamese operas. “I don’t know if you’ve ever checked out Vietnamese opera, but it’s very funny. It’s cool for Vietnamese people but you would get such a good laugh out of it,” says Minh.

Minh became interested in music at an early age. When he was in middle school, he wrote the lyrics and melody, along with the help of his choral instructor, for a song that was performed at his school’s annual Christmas program. e song was called “In the Snow.” Later in high school, Minh wrote another song which he performed in a talent show.

“I think it probably has a lot to do with my upbringing,” says Minh. “Back in the ’90s, everything was Boyz II Men and ’N Sync. e songs were romantic in nature so having that kind of influence bleeds into the kind of music I make now. I think, also, as a little kid, I was always writing poems and stuff. I’m an idealist so when you’re an idealist and looking at a relationship, you’re not looking at it from a realistic standpoint; you romanticize it.”

A nearly fatal experience with gang involvement served as the catalyst for Minh to find the church. Minh used his talent and formed a Gospel group with a high school friend. e group, called “Exalted,” earned first place in a competition at a church youth conference. He spent the next decade working in Christian ministry, both performing and serving in whatever capacity he was needed. In conjunction with his ministry work, Minh began working with a businessman, who also did nonprofit work, to mentor in urban neighborhoods in Washington, D.C.

Minh credits his parents for shaping his musical influences and

2005 was a productive year for Minh. Using a home digital

20 | October 2011 prince william living

studio, he taught himself music production and wrote and produced a full length album. “Some people, when they learn, they do demos,” said Minh. “I said, ‘here’s what I’m going to do; I’m going to produce an album.’” at debut album was Life.Love.Soul, and the project caught the attention of Matthew Knowles, Beyoncé Knowles’ early manager. Even though feedback was positive with his initial project, Minh’s then-business mentor talked him out of going into music. “Some people say you live with no regrets; I have plenty of regrets,” he said regarding his decision to listen to his then mentor. He added, “I regret the fact I didn’t listen to my passion.”

Among the musicians Minh looks up to is U2’s Bono. “He really uses his platform to push forth positive agendas,” Minh said.

“One of my goals, if I’m fortunate enough, is to build a platform with my music and business. I want to take that to do a whole lot of good stuff.

“I think people who are artists are after influence more than anything else,” continued Minh. “e best part is finding out the impact your music has on someone.” ough Minh is passionate and remains undeterred about building a music career, he is realistic about the challenges involved in becoming successful.

“I have some odds against me,” admitted Minh. “Number one, I’m Asian.” is point was noted, he said, during his audition for NBC’s “e Voice.” “ere was a producers’ meeting and my manager said, ‘I have this Asian guy that’s pop/r&b…’ and some of the producers’ immediate reaction was ‘uh, uh…no.’” Only after his manager produced a photo and sample of his music was Minh given the green light to audition. He admitted he didn’t audition well, but felt he could have been coached more by his manager to prepare.

Another strike against Minh making it big in the music industry: “I’m older than the average age a record company wants an artist to be,” he said.

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“When we (Minh’s family) came over here (to the U.S.), we had to start from scratch,” said Minh. “We were on food stamps. I was making pizza with toast, hotdogs for pepperoni, cheese and ketchup. So something like that is very close to home.”

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Minh has done six “official” performances. When he performs a show, he likes to raise awareness of social issues affecting the country. Last year at his show at the Spotsylvania Mall in Fredericksburg, he partnered with Feed America, a national organization working to combat hunger in America.

Minh’s thoughts on his being Vietnamese being an obstacle may be contradicted by his manager, E. Jay Mathews, whose clients include Mike Tyson.

Mathews, who once represented Tommy “Hitman” Hearns, sees Minh’s ethnicity as a key to gaining him the widest possible audience. “Today, everybody has music,” Mathews said. “What separates an artist today, whether they have talent or don’t have talent, is gimics. Minh doesn’t have a gimic. Minh can come along, be himself, and the world will see it as so.” Mathews and the management firm TMC Entertainment are forecasting that Minh will take home the Best New Artist Grammy in 2012.

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A few years passed, and his desire to follow his passion for music still stirred within him. Minh decided to resume his path toward a music career in 2009. To confirm that this was still his passion, he booked a show at Vienna, Va.’s Jammin’ Java. e show was a success, and Minh returned to his studio in early 2010 to make another album, Dreamgirl’s Heart. He released two albums in 2010: Dreamgirl’s Heart, and Layers. He released e Shape of You early this year.

Even so, Minh is pushing ahead.

Minh is currently working on his next album, which is due out at at the end of the year or in early 2012. In addition, he has licensed his 2010 album, Dreamgirl’s Heart, to Hella Good Records, a film and television company. Also, Jon Ernst, an MTV music supervisor with Showrunner Music, picked up two songs from Minh’s latest album, to appear in MTV series and films.

“Minh is a determined and clever businessman,” said his former consulting manager Meridith Valiando, with Greenhouse Entertainment and DigiTour Media. “It is rare you find such a savvy entrepreneur who is also as talented as an artist. He is an example of the left and right brain at work.”

Minh is savvy enough to have developed his own independent record label, Jayden Records. “My daughter’s name is Jayden, so I named the company after her,” Minh explained. “I launched the company website on the day she was born.” He added, “e doctor’s name who delivered her was Singer. So, she was delivered by a Singer and born to a singer. at’s great. You can’t write that stuff.”

Check out Minh’s tour schedule and his music online at www.reachminh.com.

Author Boyd Lillard studied religion at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Va. He has worked as a contributing writer and editor in the nonprofit field and currently resides in Dale City.

prince william living October 2011 | 21

on a high note

Local artist Joni Relyea Gives Back through Art

By Linda Ross Pugel, Contributing Writer

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t’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and while some survivors and family members of those who have been affected might choose to sponsor people walking and running in various 5K races around the country that relate to the cause, Woodbridge resident Joni Relyea stays in her home art studio to paint. But Relyea isn’t painting just anything; she is painting “First Bloom,” a title she has given to her now famous piece of artwork that she created in 2003. She donated her first 3 foot-by-4 foot painting to Northern Virginia Community College in 2003, and from that point on, has continued making smaller “First Blooms” (8 inches-by-10 inches and 11 inches-by-14 inches), giving them away to men and women who have been affected by the disease.

“I’ve been painting all of my life, since I was a little girl,” said Relyea. In 1998 she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Just as Pablo Picasso went through his Blue Period, Relyea went through what she calls her “black period,” during which she wore only dark clothes. at’s when she came up with the idea to start doing paintings to give to others —both survivors and family members alike—who had been affected by breast cancer.

Photo courtesy Allison Perrin

First Bloom represents healing and rebirth, explained Relyea. e vibrant colors she uses in the paintings relate to the fight against cancer. e flowers, she said, are to help remind people of the triumph of color. Relyea looks at everyone’s face as being delicate and fragile, like a flower. “e petals remind me of people being sensitive, and the leaves remind me of our hands,” she said. “To me, flowers are special,” she added, explaining that that is how First Bloom first came about.

Relyea painted as many as 30 paintings a day until 2010, when she had a second cancer scare, and her doctor told her she needed to rest and slow down. “I would start painting at 9 a.m. and end at 2 a.m. the next morning,” she said. Relyea’s paintings have been given to people all over the world.

Joni Relyea and her most famous painting, “First Bloom.” This painting benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

22 | October 2011 prince william living

Having enough supplies and proper tools is important for Relyea, as she makes each painting an original. She doesn’t rely on just one store to get her art supplies, noting that some come from Michaels

and others come from as far away as an art shop in New York City.

Relyea uses up to 10 brushes on any given painting.

Relyea enjoys painting in her home art studio, which is located in her sunroom. “I go in there and sit and have my tea,” she said. She enjoys listening to music as she paints.

2003 proved to be a busy and exciting year for Relyea. e artist, who is also a musician, not only debuted a song she wrote on the guitar, also entitled “First Bloom,” and her First Bloom painting, she also became involved with the American Cancer Society (ACS), designing greeting cards that her doctor insisted she leave in the waiting room to share with other patients. She also attended several ACS events around the country.

At the 2006 Baron’s Ball in Washington, D.C., an event sponsored by the ACS, a piece of Relyea’s artwork—a 3-by-4 foot First Bloom painting—was auctioned off. It was at this event that Relyea met Bayney Karrin, the ambassador of Guyana, and she was significantly impacted by what she learned from him about his country; notably that women rarely get mammograms and regular checkups. Relyea informed Karrin that she wanted to start raising funds for his country, and would do so by creating a mural. Soon after, she got together children from her home church, Saint Elizabeth Anne Seton (SEAS) Roman Catholic Church in Lake Ridge, to work on the mural. e children enjoyed listening to music by the Jersey Babys (the music of Franki Valli & the Four Seasons for kids), as they worked on the 7 foot-by-11 foot mural.

As the children painted, Relyea worked on a separate canvas, demonstrating the strokes, which the children followed.

In 2006, Relyea started painting for Susan G. Koman for the Cure (formerly the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation). Her paintings were sent all over the U.S. for various Races for the Cure and functions held by the organization.

Relyea’s symbolic piece, “Tree of Hope,” was unveiled at Woodbridge Senior High School in 2008. e mural is located on the top floor, across from the main office. Relyea explained that the clouds signify clarity, while the trees represent a growing change. “e mountains in the background clarify our strength to carry, be solid, believe, and hope for change,” added Relyea. Inside the trees’ flower buds can be found special messages, written by children to parents and loved ones lost to breast cancer.

Relyea created another mural, the 7 foot-by-11 foot “Hope for our Children,” which is on display in the Cancer Center in Lake Manassas, in Gainesville, in 2009. It represents the women of Guyana, who unfortunately have to wait a long time to get checked, and when they do, it’s often too late.

All of the funds raised by Relyea during the mural-making process get sent directly to the women of Guyana who are in need of it, so that they are able to get mammograms and other necessary tests. e “Hope for our Children” mural has clouds in the background, as well as waterfalls, which represent Guyana’s Kaieuter Falls, which run 750 feet. e falls, which were first discovered in 1870 by a geologist, are wider than a baseball field.

A second “Hope for our Children” mural was completed by Relyea in 2010, and was auctioned off. A parishioner from SEAS

was the recipient. e third annual “Hope for our Children” fundraiser was held Sept. 17 at SEAS. Rather than create a third mural, though, Relyea instead decided to create a sculpture. Children at the church worked on it for only a total of one hour, after SEAS’ Vacation Bible School let out one day in July. “I had them at groups and tables working with clay,” Relyea said. She explained that the center of the sculpture is a rock with foliage all around, ribbons of various colors are intertwined in children’s hands.

Relyea sees the sculpture as a symbolic piece symbolizing unity. “ey are all working together,” she said. e base of the sculpture is a mirror, and there are images of children and animals. “It depicts the rainforest of the Kaieuter Falls.” A large rock in the center of the sculpture symbolizes the Kaieuter Falls, and the Guyana flag, the Golden Arrow, can also be seen on the sculpture. Relyea explained that that the five colors found on the sculpture each represent something significant. e red symbolizes zest; the yellow, minerals and gold; the white, rivers and falls; the black, the skin of the people of Guyana; the green, agriculture and buildings. e “Hope for our Children” sculpture was presented to Dr. Cecilia Maxwell, vice president of Howard University, and the director of the school’s Women’s Health program.

Relyea’s work to support breast cancer goes beyond painting and sculpting. Back in 2006, she designed a kaleidoscope form of First Bloom, and found a manufacturing company to print and assemble approximately 500 umbrellas. To date, she has given away more than 400 umbrellas to people around the country. Relyea told of one story about a trip she took to New York City, during which time she met an elderly woman in a taxi who had been drenched by the rain. She offered her an umbrella, and explained to her that she was a breast cancer survivor. e woman turned with a smile and said, “so am I.” It’s moments like those that bring a smile and sense of happiness to Relyea.

Relyea also became involved with Prince William Hospital in Manassas in 2006, and has spoken at several of their functions. She is currently still involved there, and attends their annual Monte Carlo and Mardi Gras events, along with Mother’s Day. Relyea also volunteers at Potomac Hospital. is fall, Relyea is planning yet another project for the cause. “I plan to start designing a scarf,” she said. She has high hopes of having people in the community who have been affected by breast cancer get involved in this project.

To date, 5,556 of Relyea’s paintings have been donated to people around the globe. e original painting represents the survivors all over the globe. ey have been presented to the state affiliates of Susan G. Koman for the Cure for three years.

Linda Ross Pugel is a 30-year resident of Prince William County, and currently resides in the Lake Ridge area with her husband and son. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan College. Ross Pugel can be reached by email at lpugel@princewilliamliving.com. prince william living October 2011 | 23

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tambourines and elephants dear ___________,

By DeeDee Corbitt Sauter I fully understand that the occupation of a customer service representative is incredibly difficult. I acknowledge that many, and actually most, people in that position perform their job well. Unfortunately, most consumers do not actually remember those moments.

What stays in our mind? Those experiences that leave us flustered, unable to speak, with an elevated blood pressure and a desire to yell at our children for miscreant behavior not yet performed. Following each one of those incidents, I tell myself I am going to write a letter and send it all the way to the CEO to make sure someone—anyone—gives me the sympathy I deserve and acknowledges that I have been wronged.

That’s all I want. But, I will never get that because even though I bluster and whine, I never actually put pen to paper—or finger to keyboard in my case. I have sought but have never found my motivation. The basic problem lies in my assumption that if I do actually spend hours and hours on a wellcomposed letter, explaining the problem chronologically and in infinitesimal detail, using bullets and quotes, I will never get the response I desire. I will never get the “You were right. They were wrong. We will send you a special award and a handwritten apology from that old mean salesperson.” Plus, it seems complaining offers more joy.

So, I never write the letter. What would actually happen? I have no idea. I have only met a very few people who have both announced their intent and actually followed through. Their results were mixed, from blatant denial of any wrongdoing in the face of indisputable facts, (which technically makes it disputed “facts”), to a canned apology. This does not give me hope that, should I ever write that letter, my results would be any different.

Of course, my friends may not have composed a clear and comprehensive letter or the incident was too trivial or they were simply not satisfied with the results even if they were the best possible; too many variables.

So, I came up with a plan, and considering the holidays are so close, it may ease the burden of writing an original letter when customer service issues arise or when things do not go the way you expect. This incredible and amazing idea is sure to simplify our lives and make giving feedback easier.

I may be dating myself, but do you remember “Mad Libs” of long ago? Succinctly described, it was a paragraph where important words were missing and replaced with blank lines. It directed you to choose a random word within the parameters of a particular part of speech such as a noun or verb. When all the blanks were filled with the requested words, a full story was revealed, complete with the new and usually inappropriate verbiage. Most of the time, the person who was stretching his or her gray matter for ingenious words was not privy to the story at the beginning. So at the end, a most amusing tale was generated (especially if you were a pre-teen and used naughty words).

I suggest a similar approach for the letterwriting problem. Just fill in the blanks with the parts of speech requested in the prepared correspondence and then mail it. You’re done.

You have written and sent feedback.

sector of the business world, go ahead and let me know how that worked for you. I just ask you don’t use the same letter on me…

DeeDee Corbitt Sauter is a resident of Prince William County. Her column, “Tambourines and Elephants,” appears monthly in Prince William Living.

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Dear (company or store name) ___________, Recently, I was at your place of business. While there, I tried to (verb)______ a product of yours. It was a(n) (adjective)______ experience. I asked (a number)______ people to help me, some of whom were even your employees. Most responded (adverb)_____. I found their assistance to be (adjective)______, but that is not why I am (verb that ends with ing)______ today. I ultimately discovered your product is (adjective)______. It (past tense verb)______ immediately. I just felt you should know.

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prince william living October 2011 | 25

calendar

dementia care, and legal issues for Families. For more information about programs and services, please call (703) 792-4031.

I-Walk for ACTS, Image Church ACTS Help the Homeless Walk October 1, Registration opens at 9 a.m.; Mini-walk begins at 10:30 a.m.

ACTS Homeless Shelter 17866 Main Street | Dumfries More than 125 community members, ACTS employees and program participants of ACTS are expected to participate in this Mini‐Walk, part of the 2011 Help the Homeless Program, which will raise awareness about homelessness in our nation’s capital. Funds will benefit ACTS, whose mission is to alleviate hunger, homelessness, and domestic violence, and to help people achieve self-sufficiency in the Prince William area. Register by visiting http://bit.ly/kdira5. Registration fee: $20 for youth (ages 25 and younger), $30 for adults. Registration fee includes 2011 Help the Homeless Program T‐shirt.

A Success Story: How a Northern Virginia Site Near Occoquan was “Conserved” and “Developed” at the Same Time – Vantage Point Development Site Tour October 8, 10 a.m.

Vantage Point Development Site 1870 Old Bridge Road | Woodbridge Conservation easements permanently protect ecological, historic, and/or scenic resources. In Virginia, landowners who permanently conserve their property may qualify for a state tax credit and federal tax deduction, which partially compensate private landowners for their economic sacrifice. Conservation easements are also a useful planning tool. Although tax incentives generally aren’t available, developers who donate conservation easements as part of development projects are making an enforceable commitment to permanently protect conservation areas, benefiting all involved parties. e recent Vantage Point rezoning in the Occoquan District is a case in point. Located at the intersection of Tanyard Hill and Old Bridge Roads, the plan for this site uses a conservation easement to permanently protect steep slopes, streams, and trees, and the scenic entrance to the Town of Occoquan. A new community will be developed with commitments that protect the quality of both the conservation and surrounding area. Please join PWCA, Kettler, Supervisor Mike May and Town of Occoquan Mayor Earnie Porta for a tour of the Vantage Point site and hear various solutions considered and rejected/adopted, for a real-world parcel to be developed. RSVP: (703) 499-4954, or alliance@pwconserve.org. e cost is free. For more information, visit www.pwconserve.org/events.

2011 Fall Caregivers’ Conference Practical Caregiving: What to do When It’s Time October 15, 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.

City of Manassas Park Community Center 99 Adams Street | Manassas Topics include: e Caregiving Years, by Denise Brown, 26 | October 2011 prince william living

Saturday, October 15, 9:00 a.m.

Merchant Park 3914 Cameron Street | Dumfries Image Church will host I-Walk for ACTS on Saturday, October 15 at Merchant Park (Intersection of Duke and Cameron Streets, Dumfries, VA). e event will bring together hundreds of people from the local community for a day of fun, fellowship, and exercise. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the 2.25 mile walk starts at 9 a.m. Registration is $20 for ages 25 and under; $30 for ages 26 and older. Following the event, Image Church will host a free family festival from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., featuring live music, refreshments and fun for the entire family. Funds raised through this year’s event will support ACTS of Prince William County, a community organization whose mission is to alleviate hunger, homelessness and domestic violence, and help people achieve self-sufficiency in the Prince William area. To register for I-Walk, visit www.iwalkforacts.com or email iwalk@imagechurch.com for more information.

Library of Virginia Civil War 150 Legacy Project October 15, 10 a.m.

Manassas Museum 9101 Prince William Street | Manassas Clean out your attic and share historic documents with the Library of Virginia as the Manassas Sesquicentennial Committee hosts a Legacy Project scanning event at the Manassas Museum.

Please contact Jean Griffith at jgriffith@ci.manassas.va.us or call (703) 257-8451 to schedule an appointment. e event is free.

Painting Paradise in Prince William October 19, 6:30 p.m.

VFW Post 1503 14631 Minnieville Road | Dale City You’re invited to Project Mend-A-House’s celebration, Painting Paradise in Prince William. is annual event highlights the best “Taste of the Town” restaurants. e event begins with social time/cocktail hour and Joe Swetnam of the renowned New Dominion Choraliers will be playing all of your classical piano music favorites from 6-7 p.m., followed by a buffet dinner hosted by more than 25 of your favorite restaurants and caterers.

Suggested donation is $25. For reservations and ticket information, please call Project Mend-A-House board member Ernestine Jenkins, at (703) 980-0892, or the Project Mend-AHouse office at (703) 792-7663. Tickets will also be sold at the door. Cash and checks are accepted.

Chips4Charity October 21, 6:30-11:00 p.m.

Harbour View Event Center 13200 Marina Way | Woodbridge Enjoy an evening of games and entertainment co-hosted by the Greater Prince William Community Health Center, Lake Ridge Rotary, and Woodbridge Rotary. All proceeds will benefit these organizations’ causes in our community. For more information, visit http://chips4charity.org.

October 22, 2011, Noon- 5 p.m.

Dumfries United Methodist Church 3890 Cameron Street | Dumfries Ever wonder “What’s it worth?” Historic Dumfries and Two Guys Antiques are pleased to announce and cosponsor an Antiques and Collectibles Appraisal Fair. Bring that yard sale find from that morning, your great-grandmother’s serving platter, and your dad’s military jacket and find out what it’s worth! Professionals and experts in pottery, glass, textiles, costume jewelry and estate pieces, clocks, Wedgewood, dolls, military memorabilia, furniture, artwork, porcelain, and more will be available at the event, which benefits the Weems-Botts Museum. Advanced entry tickets are required and cost only $5 for two appraisals. Visit www.historicdumfries.org for more details or call (703) 221-2218 to get your tickets today. Take your treasures, invite a friend, make a day of it, and finally find out what it’s worth.

Woodbridge Flute Choir Presents Aaron Goldman Nov. 6, 3 p.m. e Gregory eater, Hylton Performing Arts Center 10960 George Mason Circle | Manassas e Woodbridge Flute Choir, directed by Debbie Gilbert and assisted by Lisa Sheldone, will open its 2011-2012 concert season at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 6, in the Gregory eater of the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas.

Aaron Goldman, assistant principal flutist of the National Symphony, will be joining the Woodbridge Flute Choir as the guest soloist. He will be playing the Francois Borne version of Georges Bizet’s Carmen Fantaisie, arranged for solo flute and flute choir by Mary Jean Simpson. e Woodbridge Flute Choir will also be performing La Garde Montante, by Bizet, arranged

by Nancy Nourse; Imaginings by Melvin Lauf, Jr.; and Flautista

by John W. N. Palmer, among other compositions. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students 18 and under. Advance tickets are available by phone at (888) 945-2468, online at www.woodbridgeflutechoir.org, or at the Hylton Center Box Office. Tickets will also be available at the door.

Spirited Past Tours October 22 (Rain Date October 29), Tours Begin at 6, 7, 8 and 9 p.m.

Old Town Manassas Follow costumed guides by lantern light through the streets of Old Town Manassas, hear some strange but true stories, and meet some spirited characters along the way during the Manassas Museum’s Spirited Past of Manassas Walking Tours. e cost is $15. Call (703) 368-1873 or visit manassasmuseum@ci.manassas.va.us for more information.

Jeepers Creepers 5K Run-Walk or 1-Mile Walk for Kids of All Ages October 30, 8:30 a.m.

George Mason Prince William Campus at Freedom Center 10900 University Drive | Manassas Costumes Encouraged! Special Recognition for BEST Costume!

Cost: $25 for adults and $15 for participants under the age of 18 before Oct. 20; after Oct. 20, add $5 each. Proceeds benefit Leadership Prince William.

Rooftop Productions Presents the Comedy Out of Order Nov. 4–19 (Performances Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.)

Kellar eater 9419 Battle Street | Manassas In this hilarious comedy presentation, Conservative Government MP Richard Wiley is attempting to have an affair with one of the secretaries of the leader of the Opposition in a top London hotel. However, with a conniving waiter, a suspicious hotel manager, an alert private detective, an angry wife, a furious husband, a bungling secretary and a dead body, nothing is going to go as planned.

ACTS Operation Turkey

october

Antiques and Collectibles Appraisal Fair

Volunteer Dates: November 4-6, 8, 12-13, 15 and 18-22 ACTS Family Service Center 3900 ACTS Lane | Dumfries Last year, ACTS distributed 1,705 Operation Turkey anksgiving Food Baskets, ensuring that 1,421 families in Prince William County were able to celebrate with a anksgiving meal. is year we expect to feed 1,600 families with 2,000 bags of food. ACTS is looking for individuals to help bring items to fill baskets, make financial donations, or volunteer their time to help accept and sort donations, unload trucks, and make and distribute Operation Turkey bags. Detailed shift information can be found at www.actsfoodpantry.blogspot.com.

Please call Taylor Lenz at (703) 221-3186 x240, or email her at tlenz@actspwc.org for more information.

Red, White and Blue Jeans Dinner Dance & Silent Auction November 5, 6-11p.m.

Regency at Dominion Valley Country Club 5505 Players Circle | Haymarket Cost: $65.00. Email rwbnov2011@gmail.com for more information.

The 18th Annual ACTS Silent Auction

November 5, 6:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m.

Christ Chapel 13909 Smoketown Road | Woodbridge Email rsheedy@actspwc.org for more information or call (703) 441-8606.

Have an event you’d like to publicize? For consideration, email calendar@princewilliamliving.com.

prince william living October 2011 | 27

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Minnieland at Heritage Hunt 7101 Heritage Village Plaza | Gainesville

Darby Brooke Nutrition 12650 Darby Brooke Court | Woodbridge Ebenezer Baptist Church 13020 Telegraph Road | Woodbridge Edward Kelly Leadership Center 14715 Bristow Rd. | Manassas Golden Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics 14397 Hereford Rd. | Dale City Golden Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics 238 Potomac Ave. | Quantico Harbour View Events Center 13200 Marina Way | Woodbridge The House, Inc. Student Leadership Center 14001 Crown Court | Woodbridge Independent Hill Neighborhood Library 14418 Bristow Road | Manassas Kids on the Move/Church on the Move 13061 Touchstone Circle | Woodbridge Laser Quest 14517 Potomac Mills Road | Woodbridge Lustine Toyota 14227 Jefferson Davis Highway | Woodbridge Manassas Christian Academy 8757 Signal Hill Road | Manassas Manassas Christian School 9296 West Carondelet Drive | Manassas Manassas Park -Parks and Recreation 99 Adams Street | Manassas The Merit School of Prince William 14308 Spriggs Road | Woodbridge Minnieland at Ashland 5555 Assateague Place | Manassas Minnieland at Braemar 12700 Correen Hills Drive | Bristow Minnieland at Bristow 10368 Bristow Center | Bristow Minnieland at Cardnial 10910 Feeder Lane | Woodbridge

Minnieland at Montclair 5101 Waterway Drive | Montclair Minnieland at Occoquan 12908 Occoquan Road | Woodbridge Minnieland at Rippon 2100 Rippon Blvd | Woodbridge Minnieland at Technology Drive 9511 Technology Drive | Manassas Minnieland at The Glen 4290 Prince William Parkway | Woodbridge Minnieland at Wellington 10249 Hendley Road | Manassas Minnieland Corporate Offices 4300 Prince William Parkway | Woodbridge Minnieland Infant & Toddler Center 3800 North Forestdale Road | Dale City Northern Virginia Community College Manassas Campus | 6901 Sudley Road Northern Virginia Community College Woodbridge Campus | 15200 Neabsco Mills Road Pope John Paul the Great Catholic High School 17700 Dominican Drive | Dumfries Prince William Public Library System–Independent Hill Neighborhood Library 14418 Bristow Road | Manassas Prince William Public Library System–Lake Ridge Neighborhood Library 12964 Harbor Drive | Lakeridge Prince William Public Library System–Nokesville Neighborhood Library 12993 Fitzwater Drive | Nokesville Prince William Public Library System–Bull Run Regional Library 8051 Ashton Ave | Mansssas Prince William Public Library System–Central Community Library 8601 Mathis Ave | Mansssas Prince William Public Library System–Chinn Park Regional Library 13065 Chinn Park Dr. | Woodbridge

Prince William Public Library System–Dale City Neighborhood Library 4249 Dale Blvd | Dale City Prince William Public Library System–Dumfries Neighborhood Library 18007 Dumfries Shopping Plaza | Dumfries Prince William Public Library System– Gainesvilrhood Neighborhood Library 4603 James Madison Highway | Haymarket Prince William Public Library System–Potomac Community Library 2201 Opitz Boulevard | Woodbridge

Prince William County Tourist Information Center 200 Mill Street | Occoquan Safeway 2042 Daniel Stuart Square | Woodbridge Safeway 4215 Cheshire Station Plaza | Dale City Safeway 4240 Merchant Plaza | Woodbridge Safeway 2205 Old Bridge Road | Woodbridge Safeway 12821 Braemar Village Plz | Bristow Shopper’s Food and Pharmacy 9540 Liberia Ave | Manassas Shopper’s Food and Pharmacy 14000 Shoppers Best Way | Woodbridge Shoppers Food and Pharmacy 4174 Fortuna Center Plaza | Dumfries Shopper’s Food and Pharmacy 10864 Sudley Manor Drive | Manassas The Sign Shop 2603 Morse Lane | Woodbridge Stratford University 14349 Gideon Drive | Woodbridge Town of Haymarket 15000 Washington Street | Haymarket Town of Occoquan Town Hall | 314 Mill Street | Occoquan Town of Dumfries 17755 Main Street | Dumfries Town of Quantico 415 Broadway Street | Quantico Wawa 15809 Jefferson Davis Highway | Woodbridge 13355 Minnieville Road | Woodbridge 2051 Daniel Stewart Square | Woodbridge 14461 Lee Highway | Gainesville Wegmans 8297 Stonewall Shops Square | Gainesville 14801 Dining Way | Woodbridge

prince william living October 2011 | 29

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