Prince William Living November 2014

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FALL FOR THE BOOK

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GIVING THANKS

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PLEASE PASS THE BREAD...

prince william living November 2014

The premiere lifestyle magazine of Prince William and Greater Manassas

CREATING FAMILIES: A look at adoption

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Windy Knoll Farm PAGE 12

Giving Back Awards Winner PAGE 22 www.princewilliamliving.com

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table of contents November 2014 Vol. 4 No. 11

FEATURE STORY Creating Families: A Look at Adoption & Foster Parenting ................................................4

DEPARTMENTS from the publisher..................................................3 advertiser index......................................................3

4 Photo courtesy Prince William County

on a high note Fall for the Book...and the Food ..........................10 destinations Down on the Farm at Pastoral Windy Knoll............12 taking care of business Matt Curry and The Hybrid Shop........................16 family fun Giving Thanks......................................................18 giving back 2014 PWL Giving Back Awards Winner ..............22 local flavor Travinia Brings a Little Italy to Woodbridge ........26

12

calendar ..............................................................30 Photo by Amy Falkofske

tambourines and elephants Please Pass the Bread...No Butter..........................35

COLUMNS health & wellness ................................................14 home & hearth ....................................................24 your finances ......................................................28 Discover Prince William & Manassas ..............31

26 Photo courtesy Travinia

Cover photo courtesy Prince William County prince william living November 2014 | 1

The premiere lifestyle magazine of Prince William and Greater Manassas

Prince William Living Publisher Rebecca Barnes rbarnes@princewilliamliving.com Contributing Writers Cindy Brookshire, Amanda Causey Baity, Amy Falkofske, Stacia Kelly, Ann Marie Maher, Olivia Overman, DeeDee Corbitt Sauter, Tracy Shevlin, Marianne Weaver, Vickie Williamson, Bennett Whitlock, Dan Verner Editor in Chief Emily Guerrero Copy & Production Editors Peter Lineberry, Dan Verner Photo Editor Amanda Causey Baity Photographers Kathy Strauss, Amanda Causey Baity, Amy Falkofske, Dan Verner Marketing Director Amanda Causey Baity Graphic Design and Production Alison Dixon/Image Prep Studio Online Submission Manager Paul Keily Advertising Account Executives Michelle Geenty, Ashleigh Murray Prince William Living, the premiere lifestyle magazine of Prince William and Greater Manassas, is published monthly

by Prince William Living, Inc. The opinions expressed in the magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Prince William Living.

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. 3 Efax: (703) 563-9185 Editorial Have a story you’d like our staff to cover? Contact Prince William Living editorial staff at (703) 232-1758, ext. 2, or at editor@princewilliamliving.com.

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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 emailing Prince William Living Publisher Rebecca Barnes at rbarnes@princewilliamliving.com For further information about Prince William Living, visit www.princewilliamliving.com, or contact Prince William Living at (703) 232-1758.

2 | November 2014 prince william living

Visit www.pwlgiftguide.com to view our interactive gift guide full of dozens of locally available gifts. With ideas from toys to tech, you’re sure to find presents for everybody on your list.

from the publisher Living ankful

A

s we celebrate “National Adoption Month,” a familiar saying comes to mind: “Family isn’t always blood.” It reflects that who we claim as our family often goes beyond those born into it.

The people that Amy Falkofske talked to for “Creating Families” can certainly attest to this; each started or added to their families by fostering or adopting children (page 4).

Discover how each came to the decision to open their hearts and homes, along with their insight into the process. Falkofske also reports that Virginia has one of the highest numbers of children who “age out” of foster care, meaning they don’t find a permanent home before becoming an adult. Prince William is hoping to reverse the trend, encouraging the adoption of foster children and celebrating adoption on Nov. 22 with “National Adoption Day” activities at the Prince William County Courthouse.

Another November tradition is the announcement of the Prince William Living Giving Back Awards winner (page 22). This annual program invites the public to nominate and vote for outstanding not-for-profits serving our area. See if your favorite community organization won the top spot or was a runner-up, and find out more about organizations making a difference in Greater Prince William.

Advertiser Index ACTS ..........................................................................................36 Ameriprise–Whitlock Wealth Management ............................29 Apple FCU ................................................................................29 Best Western Battlefield Inn ....................................................25 C12 Group ................................................................................25 CAP Accounting, LLC................................................................29 CASA..........................................................................................36 Center for the Arts at the Candy Factory ................................14 City of Manassas Park—Parks & Recreation ..........................19 Crossfit Agathos........................................................................25 Crossroads Realtors ................................................................28 Dance Etc...................................................................................25 Dansk Day Spa at Occoquan....................................................32 Discover Prince William & Manassas......................................31 Edgemoor Art Studio................................................................36 Emeritus at Lake Ridge ............................................................32 Frame Magic Video ..................................................................21 Frugal Rooter/Plumberologist..................................................32 FURR Roofing............................................................................25 Gainesville Ballet ......................................................................19 Giorgio’s Family Restaurant ......................................................8 Harbour View ............................................................................34 Historic Manassas, Inc. ............................................................32 Imagewerks ..............................................................................36 Inova ..........................................................................................15 Keep Prince William Beautiful..................................................36 Leanda Photographic ..............................................................36 Lillis Photography ....................................................................36 Linton Hall School ....................................................................21 Madison Cresent ........................................................................7 Magnificent Belly Dance ..........................................................36

Of course, this is also the time when we think of turkey—and gratitude. In “Family Fun,” Amanda Causey Baity provides instructions on creating Thankful Trees where your family can display what makes them feel grateful (page 18).

We’d love to see what our readers are thankful for this Thanksgiving. Post pictures of your Thankful Trees, children, pets—anything that brightens your day—on Instagram and tag them with #pwlivingthankful. We’ll share our favorites on PWL social media pages, and one lucky reader will win a $25 Visa gift card to jump-start his or her holiday shopping.

Speaking of which, be sure to check out our new 2014 Holiday Gift Guide. With dozens of items in a variety of prices, this interactive publication will help you to zip through your giftgiving list. Best of all, everything is available right here in Prince William! Visit pwlgiftguide.com to keep your holiday shopping local this year.

Sincerely, Rebecca Barnes Prince William Living Publisher

Manassas Ballet ........................................................................15 Mark Gilvey Creative ................................................................36 Merry Maids ..............................................................................36 Minnieland ................................................................................19 Novant Health ..........................................................................C4 Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra ..............................................14 Patriot Scuba ............................................................................25 Peggy and Bill Burke, Virginia Realty Partners, LLC ..............24 Piedmont Physical Therapy........................................................8 Potomac Place ............................................................................8 Potomac Shores Golf Club ......................................................19 Prince William Chamber of Commerce ..................................15 Prince William Ice Center ..........................................................9 Prince William OBGYN ..............................................................8 Robert Jinks Photography........................................................36 Saint John Paul the Great ........................................................33 Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center ............................C2 Spectrum Resurfacing..............................................................36 Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center ....................................21 Stonewall Golf Club....................................................................9 Tackett’s Mill Center ..................................................................21 The Arc of Greater Prince William/INSIGHT ..........................36 The Point at Park Station............................................................8 The Town of Dumfries ..............................................................29 The Very Thing ..........................................................................25 Tiny Dancers ............................................................................20 VanEch Studio ..........................................................................32 Vintage Moving & Storage ......................................................36 Vision Finders Design ..............................................................36 Washington Square Associates ..............................................36 Westminster at Lake Ridge ......................................................34 Yellow Cab ................................................................................36

prince william living November 2014 | 3

CREATING FAMILIES A Look at Adoption & Foster Parenting their foster lized that they wanted cond row) quickly rea se ht Rachel, Jack, rig ht: d rig an r to t nte lef m (ce ohe children, fro (N Kris and Marty Nohe ily. fam ir the of rt permanent pa children to become a k.)

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t’s been 30 years since President Ronald Reagan issued a proclamation declaring the first National Adoption Week on Nov. 13, 1984. In it he noted, “Families have always stood at the center of our society… At a time when many fear that the family is in decline, it is fitting that we give special recognition to those who are rebuilding families by promoting adoption.” In 1995, President Bill Clinton extended that recognition further, declaring November National Adoption Month.

I

Sometimes the path to adoption comes at the end of a struggle with infertility, or perhaps family stepping in to care for a child in need of a guardian. For others, it can be the response to a gentle tug of the heartstrings—one that prompts them to give children in need a loving, forever home.

Adoption and Foster Care by the Numbers The foster care system is meant to be a temporary solution for children in crisis and the ultimate goal is to reunite the child with their parents. However, according to the Virginia Department of 4 | November 2014 prince william living

Story & Photos

By Amy Falkofske

Social Services, about 80 percent of foster parents in the Commonwealth end up adopting the children that they foster.

Even though that sounds like a high placement rate, it still leaves many children without permanent homes.

“The state of Virginia has one of the highest rates [in the nation] of kids that age out of the foster care system without ever being adopted into a permanent family,” said Mary Beth Bova-Burgess, regional director of Bethany Christian Services, a nationwide adoption agency. She supports operations in Virginia and North and South Carolina.

State statistics agency Virginia Performs reported in 2013 that 25 percent of children who enter foster care in the state will “age out” of the system rather than find a permanent home. “[These children] often face lifetime challenges, including homelessness, incarceration, and low educational attainment,” the report stated.

Bova-Burgess added that in comparison to the rest of Virginia, Northern Virginia has a high concentration of children without permanent homes.

“[Prince William County needs] foster parents who are willing to foster and adopt children of all ages but especially our terrific teens who make up the large percentage of youth who are in foster care,” said Prince William County Department of Social Services Resource Parent Coordinator Van Washington.

Fostering Permanent Love Despite not setting out to adopt children, Prince William County Coles District Supervisor Marty Nohe and his wife Kris were destined to join the majority of Virginia foster parents who decide to offer their foster children a permanent home. The two were already children's advocates, having served on the Prince William County Youth Advisory Board, when they (unwittingly) took the first steps towards adding to their family.

“We’d only been married about two years. We didn’t have any kids and we weren’t looking for an adoption situation…We wanted to have children, but…what we felt called to do was foster care,” said Marty. “That’s where it started…we went into the training to become short-term foster parents and…after we were certified we got the call saying, you know, we’ve got these two kids that we’re looking to stay with you for maybe three months.”

Rachel and Nick, then 3 years and 21 months old, came to the Nohes on Nov. 29, 2004. It didn’t take long for Marty and Kris to realize that they wanted to make Rachel and Nick part of their family.

“Around the three-month mark it became clear that the path that we were on was towards, not a short-term placement, but towards adoption,” said Marty.

The Nohes have two biological children as well: Jack, 9, and Teddy, 7. Rachel and Nick became eligible for adoption the very same day that Jack was born. “We always say that I went from the delivery room to the courtroom,” said Marty, who literally went from the maternity ward to the adoption court hearing for Rachel and Nick.

and chose to do so. The other boy was reunited with his father, and the girl was adopted by another family. It was clear to the Staats that Christopher was meant to join their family.

This month the Nohes will be celebrating their 10th “Family Day,” their own special holiday commemorating when Rachel and Nick came into their lives.

“Christopher fit really well into our family. He always integrated into the family plans,” said Stephanie. So in October 2003, when Christopher was 12, the Staats officially adopted him.

Stephanie and Matt Staats of Woodbridge have a similar story in that they weren’t considering adoption at first. They knew they wanted to have kids eventually, and figured being foster parents would be a good way to nurture their parenting skills while also helping others.“We knew a family who was fostering at the time...We didn’t have any children and thought that we could handle a baby. [Our friend] encouraged us to sign up,” said Stephanie. “A week later, they called and said they had a sibling group of three boys and a girl. Matt and I were 20 years old and I thought, ‘I must be crazy!’”

“Looking back I was excited that they chose me. Somebody wanted me, versus being in a family where they just put up with me,” said Christopher, now 23 and a graduate of Randolph College in Lynchburg.

Of the four siblings, they found that 9-year-old Christopher adjusted particularly well to life in their home. Stephanie explained that each of the children had a different father and therefore a different situation. When the mother’s parental rights were terminated, the oldest son was of age to live on his own,

Jonathan Sauter, DeeDee Corbitt Sauter and Henry Sauter enjoy a walk in the woods.

The Staats family continues to grow. About a year before adopting Christopher, they welcomed a biological daughter, Jillian, now 11, and Stephanie is due to have another little girl this month.

Growing the Family by Adoption Many times of course, parents actively seek to adopt. In these cases, particularly with private adoptions, it is more likely that the parents will bring home a baby or younger child. (continues on page 6) prince william living November 2014 | 5

(continued from page 5) Bethany Christian Services is one of many private adoption agencies that places babies for adoption, working directly with expectant mothers dealing with unplanned pregnancies. BovaBurgess emphasized that the birth moms are making the “ultimate sacrifice” when they make a plan to place their baby in the care of another family. “It’s out of love that they allow somebody else to raise the child,” she said, adding that these women should be honored for putting the needs of their children before their own.

After struggling with infertility, and considering serving as foster parents, Woodbridge couple DeeDee and George Sauter decided that adopting a baby in a closed adoption would be best for their family. They wanted to limit disruptions for their biological son, Jonathan, then 8. “[He was] having a lot of [autism] spectrum issues,” explained DeeDee. This decision eventually led the Sauters to pursue private adoption, and they were put on wait lists for both domestic and Chinese adoption. In February 2010, they were matched with a 9-month-old Chinese boy named Long Xi Ping. Now five and known as Henry, their youngest son looks up to 13-year-old Jonathan, whom he proudly calls “brother.”

Turning Lives Around And what about those children who aren’t “chosen” and remain in the foster system? Studies show they have a higher than average rate of emotional and behavioral problems. But people like Daniel and Mae Morey demonstrate that with some extra love and attention, these children can still flourish.

The couple, who has fostered more than 60 children, has a high rate of success helping high-risk kids—ones who have dropped out of school or run away from home—turn their lives around.

For instance, after four years with the Moreys, Kailee Phillips, 19, went from being a high school dropout to graduating from school and preparing to enter the U.S. Marine Corps.

“It’s a slow process. It’s not overnight. You know, the first 30 days is what we call the honeymoon period…eventually you start seeing the little issues they have like eating issues and hoarding food,” said Mae of the process of getting the kids back on track after years spent in bad home situations or living with the feelings of abandonment that can accompany life as a foster child.

The Moreys also shepherded Conner, 13, who they adopted last year on National Adoption Day, through a host of behavioral issues. When he arrived in their home, Conner took anxiety medication and exhibited violent tendencies. Mae found a positive outlet for his energy, getting him involved in sports such as wrestling, basketball and football.

“As soon as I got him in sports, a lot of his behaviors tapered off…The more sports he has, the better his grades are,” she explained. She added that he no longer requires medication for his anxiety.

6 | November 2014 prince william living

Mae and Daniel Morey (back right) have fostered more than 60 children over the years. Today their family includes Kailee Phillips, Conner Morey and Cameron Morey (front).

This type of loving care and attention garnered the Moreys recognition as Prince William County 2014 Foster Parents of the Year. Each year, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments selects a top foster parent (or pair) from each of its member jurisdictions.

The couple now live in Fredericksburg, but continue to foster children for the Prince William County Department of Social Services. Still, the department’s resource parent coordinator, Van Washington, said he misses having the Moreys nearby.

“They were also my emergency safe home as well. They were the family that was on-call 24 hours a day and available to take children of all ages during emergency placements,” he explained.

Getting Advice from the Experts If you’re considering becoming an adoptive or foster parent, the families we talked to said it’s important to have the support of those in your life. “Who in your life now is going to be your support system? Get feedback from those people before adoption,” Marty Nohe suggested.

Matt Staats agrees, crediting Stephanie’s family with making foster parenting a lot easier. “Stephanie’s family was very involved and supportive. They would help us with anything. If we didn’t have that, it would have been much harder,” he said.

DeeDee noted that a lot goes into the process. Criteria for adoption in the U.S. includes getting fingerprinted and passing background checks, and for China, a dossier must be put together with documents such as your family’s marriage and birth certificates.

Both countries require interviews and home examinations by social workers and written recommendations from friends. (continues on page 9)

prince william living November 2014 | 7

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(continued from page 6) Also, talk to the experts: other adoptive parents. “If you’re looking to adopt, my recommendation is to talk to somebody who has adopted,” said DeeDee. Kris echoed this statement, adding that doing so allows you to “share experiences, fears, feelings.”

All the families interviewed agreed that no matter how children come into your life (whether biologically or through adoption), they come with the same ups and downs coupled with unconditional love.

“No matter what, you’re not getting perfection, much like when you give birth to a child, you’re like, ‘Oh look! He’s perfect for five minutes..and then they actually have their own personalities,’” shared DeeDee. “It’s the same thing with adoption.”

“Every child is unique. Every child is going to present their own challenges. There’s no parent who walks through parenthood going, ‘This is a picnic,’” said Kris.

Any parent can attest to that statement. Rather than a walk in the park, parenting is more of an adventure—one that all of these adoptive families said enriched their lives and that they would gladly embark on all over again.

Amy Falkofske is a freelance writer and the owner/photographer of Beautiful Moments By Amy Photography. She lives in Bristow with her husband and two children. She be reached at afalkofske@princewilliamliving.com.

Prince William Celebrates National Adoption Day 10 a.m. Sat., Nov. 22 Prince William County Courthouse 9211 Lee Avenue, Manassas The PWC Department of Social Services encourages families to consider opening their homes and hearts to children in the county’s foster system during this day-long celebration. Come out for entertainment, a picnic and a group adoption ceremony—18 children were adopted from foster care during last year’s ceremony. For information about adoption services in Prince William call 703-792-7500 or go to pwcgov.org and enter keyword “Adoption.”

prince william living November 2014 | 9

on a high note

Fall for the Book... and the Food

By Dan Verner

tarted in 1999 by George Mason University and Fairfax County as a two-day event, Fall for the Book has grown into an annual eight-day festival that encourages a love of literature and lifelong learning through activities such as book discussions and signings, performances and workshops. While Mason’s Fairfax campus serves as a basecamp, other venues throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region host activities as well.

S

Nokesville-based pastry chef and food blogger Jason Shriner, aka The Aubergine Chef, kicked things off with a food writing workshop, using a variety of creative approaches to help wouldbe food writers (and fans of the genre) improve their craft, such as a game of “Food Scattergories.” Shriner rolled a six-sided die with different letters on it. He then challenged participants to come up with words describing food starting with that letter.

The letter “S” elicited “savory,” “succulent,” smoky” and “sensuous.”

“The workshop ended up being very popular with the 70 people in attendance,” said Shriner. “It was really well-received and several of the attendees told me they felt like they were given the tools to appreciate food on a different level.”

Audience participation was also in play during novelist and Duke University professor of French literature Laura Florand’s session at Merchant Hall. She discussed her Amour et Chocolat series, including the first novel in the series, The Chocolate Thief. Her books combine her life-long passion for Paris and chocolate.

10 | November 2014 prince william living

Photo by Dan Verner

In Prince William, Fall for the Book makes its home at the Hylton Performing Arts Center on Mason’s Manassas campus.

Here, the festival took a gastronomic turn on Sept. 18 with a theme of “Haute Cuisine,” proving that behind every good meal is a great story. The center bustled with more than 25 chefs, food writers and authors along with about 300 spectators eagerly making their way through the events, speakers, exhibits and, of course, food.

The Aubergine Chef, aka Jason Shriner, and renowned cookbook author Amy Riolo bond over floral cupcake decorating.

Florand began her reading by quizzing her audience about French cuisine. Standing on stage with one hand on her hip and her head at a rakish angle, she called out, “What is the highest rating given by the Michelin Guide to fine restaurants worldwide?” Members of the audience called out their answers, and she tossed a chocolate in the general direction of a man who had the answer right. (He promptly gave it away, like the good guys at a ballgame who catch a stray ball and give it to a kid.)

Laughing, Florand next asked, “Which city has the most threestar rated restaurants, Tokyo, New York, Paris or Abu Dhabi?”

(See the end of this article for the answers.)

After that tasty introduction, the food booths opened and diverse chefs and food celebrities fed the hungry masses. Amy Riolo, author, chef, cuisine and culture expert, television

Photo courtesy Jan Rayl

A highlight of the Fall for the Book "Haute Cuisine" event was the chance to meet with dozens of chefs and authors. Left to right, back row: Robert Scott, Prince William Poet Laureate; Dave Lefeve, Chef at The Cock and Bowl in Occoquan; Robert Kingsbury of Kingsbury Chocolates and Confections; and Miguel Pires and James Ramos of Zandra’s Taqueria in Manassas. Left to right front row: Zan Hailey, Prince William Poet Laureate; noted cookbook author Amy Riolo (The Mediterranean Diabetes Cookbook); novelist Claudia Lefeve (Destined for Trouble: A Jules Cannon Mystery), novelist Laura Florand (The Chocolate Thief), and children’s fantasy novelist Belinda Miller (Phillip’s Quest, Book I: Winterfrost).

Joe Yonan, Food and Travel editor of The Washington Post and the author of Eat Your Vegetables: Bold Recipes for the Single Cook, prepared samples for an appreciative group while he discussed his writings, including those on his website (joeyonan.com).

Meanwhile, across the way Robert Kingsbury, owner of Kingsbury Chocolates and Confections, talked about his craft and offered samples of gourmet chocolate that can’t be found at the corner drugstore.

At another booth, food power couple Chef Dave Lefeve of the Cock and Bowl in Occoquan and his wife, novelist and forensics expert, Claudia, cooked up some recipes from her novel Destined for Trouble (Jules Cannon Mystery #1). Down the way, children’s fantasy writer and jeweler Belinda Miller offered up samples of Ivy’s Tater Dumplings (gnocchi) prepared from a recipe in Winterfrost, the first volume in her Phillip’s Quest book series.

A long line of people waited to sample the tacos Michael Pires prepared as a preview of his recently opened restaurant, Zandra’s Taqueria in Manassas. Further on, in the Lovey Hammel Lounge, a representative of Heritage Brewing Company offered samples of organic and locally sourced craft beers from the recently-opened Manassas microbrewery.

For all the cuisine displayed and consumed, the evening wasn’t totally about food. Recently named Prince William County Poets Laureate Robert Scott and Alexandra “Zan” Hailey read original food poems and discussed their community projects—

Zan’s Ekphrasis (written descriptions of visual art) program and Robert’s 10,000 Poems project in which locals who do not think of themselves as poets contribute their work for public display (pwcpoetry.com).

Write by the Rails (WBTR), the local chapter of the Virginia Writing Club, was among the event sponsors. WBTR member Dennis Fargo noted of the event, “The layout of the center was perfect for this evening. I was able to make some new friends, and the Mason students were quite helpful to the visitors.”

Mason event planner Kerry Folan was pleased “to have a lot of local vendors and local writers, with a nice mix of nationally known food experts and novelists.” Smiling broadly, she added, “The event was much larger itself and attracted a larger crowd than last year. … We definitely want to do this again next year, and build on this year’s successes!”

“We are always happy to have Fall for the Book at the Hylton because it feeds both body and mind with this extra special gathering of food, writers and their work,” said Hylton Executive Director Rick Davis.

Manassas resident Dan Verner is the author of the first two books of the Beyond the Blue Horizon: the Story of an American Hero series, On Wings of the Morning, and On the Wings of Eagles.

An active member of Write by the Rails, he can be reached at dverner@princewilliamliving.com.

Answers to Laura Florand’s French Gastronomic Quiz Questions: The maximum number of stars under the Michelin Guide rating system: ☆☆☆☆☆ The city with the most three-star ratings: No, not Paris.

Tokyo has 13; Paris, 11; New York, 6; and Abu Dhabi, 1.

personality and educator who uses global cuisine to share culture, history and nutrition, presided over an assortment of pastries. A crowd gathered around to sample her wares and talk to this sophisticated and talented lady. “[I am] excited to be here,” said Riolo. “It’s great to see people paying attention to food and literature. Not many events do that, and this one integrates the two well. I hope to be invited back.”

prince william living November 2014 | 11

destinations

Down on the Farm at Pastoral Windy Knoll Story by Cindy Brookshire | Photos by Amy Falkofske

F

or Don and Helen Taylor, a commitment to conservation and stewardship are the seeds they sow daily at their 95-acre Windy Knoll Farm Center for Environmental Education in Nokesville.

projects in Burma and Thailand. If Don hooks up the tractor engine for special occasions, there’s also homemade ice cream–40 quarts at a time. Just a little more than the average person can crank by hand.

In 2012, they opened up this pastoral setting at their working cattle and sheep farm as a public venue for country weddings, picnics and parties, as well as offering businesses a site for conferences, corporate team building and other activities. Windy Knoll also features several winding nature walks, two fishing ponds, a farm museum with Lionel trains and a play area with a treehouse.

“We have been blessed with so much,” said Helen, 62, who retired from nursing in 2012. “We want to give back.” Don, 64, who retired from an aerospace career, describes it as “trading jobs A and B for job C.” They both came from Pennsylvania farming families.

The two married and moved to Virginia in 1973, purchasing five acres in Brentsville, and moving to Windy Knoll in 1986. They scrimped and saved to add land, cattle and sheep along the way.

Don is now a recognized leader in the Northern Virginia Angus Association and the Blue Ridge Cattlemen’s Association.

Up to 90 adults can fit comfortably in the barn, decorated with oak planking and retired farming implements. The adjoining granary is climate-controlled and has a modern, handicap-accessible bathroom. Farm tours cycle through regularly; Discover Prince William & Manassas, the local visitors bureau, recently added Windy Knoll to its roster of agricultural sites of interest.

The Nokesville-Bristow Ruritans are among the organizations that have made use of the rustic venue. The group held its 2013 Brunswick Stew Day there, preparing 12 large kettles of stew onsite and hosting an all-day festival that featured artwork displays and demos by members of the Blue Ridge Spinners and Weavers and the Foothills Spinners and Weavers.

In August, Nokesville-based religious group Farthest Corners hosted a BBQ Benefit at the farm to raise funds for mission 12 | November 2014 prince william living

The couple raised two sons: Dr. Travis Taylor, a veterinarian-owner, along with his wife, Dr. Crystal Taylor, of Centreville Animal Hospital, and Trevor Taylor, who married Nicole Langelier in June 2013 at one of Windy Knoll’s ponds.

“Trevor wanted the wedding under his grandfather’s maple tree out by the back pond,” explained Helen, describing a place of special meaning for both families now. “We cleared out briars, vines and downed limbs, and it turned out to be quite a lovely spot. The rocks may be the sign of an ancient burial ground, because they’re not naturally occurring there; many of us have found it to be a place to reflect on beauty, to catch sight of your blessings and think about those who are no longer with us.”

Visitors to Windy Knoll get to experience a working farm, where sheep, cattle and other animals are raised for milk and meat.

Don and Helen Taylor, owners of Windy Knoll Farm since 1986, opened up their property to tours and events in 2012.

The serenity of Windy Knoll is ideal for overnight tent camping by Boy Scout troops as well.

turtles, fox and deer. They also see where their milk and meat come from – real farm animals.

“Don was in the service. It was moving for him to hear [the scouts] play Taps in the evening,” Helen said. “We’ve had music on the porch, horseshoe pitches, hay wagon rides. It’s all just old-fashioned fun.”

“They come on buses, 150 at a time from Westgate Elementary and other schools,” said Helen. “They look at pond water under the microscope, examine soil and make mud pictures so they can compare clay to dirt. It’s a hands-on laboratory. … They learn we are a part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Even my dad’s Pennsylvania farm ran into a creek that ran into the Susquehanna River that ran into the Chesapeake Bay.”

The Taylors acknowledge that farming, in general, is hard today, which is why in retirement the income from facility rent is a welcome supplement. “This is a labor of love,” said Helen. “The land is ours a very short time, and someone else will have it one day. We enjoy taking good care of it now.”

Produce farmer Jay Yankey, of Yankey Farms in Nokesville, has known the Taylors for three decades. He serves as vice president of the Prince William/Fairfax Farm Bureau and district manager of the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District – one of the most frequent users of Windy Knoll. The district hosted a Potomac Watershed Roundtable work session there in July and an employee picnic in September.

“The district was partnering with Don and Helen back in the 1990s when they first implemented best management practices on their farm,” said Yankey. “Since then they’ve offered us the use of their barn for our Ag in the Classroom teacher workshops, hosted seminars for farmers and since 2012, we’ve been using Windy Knoll for our [Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience] program.”

The program, also called MWEE, is an interactive, Standards of Learning (SOL)-based curriculum that brings about 500 Prince William County Public School third graders out to Windy Knoll on field trips throughout the school year. Led by an education specialist and volunteers, students rotate through stations at the farm to explore how agriculture impacts the environment, the importance of water conservation and the types, layers and other aspects of soil, using the areas around Windy Knoll’s two ponds and stream. In the process of meeting science and English SOLs, the students are also outdoors, viewing wildlife in their habitat.

The native grasses provide nesting areas for turkey, geese, quail,

The third graders also leave a lasting impact at the farm as part of their visit. “We have them plant native trees and shrubs to act as a buffer between the pasture and the stream, and [we discuss] the lack of vegetation, even if there is a fence to keep the cattle out,” explained Yankey. The stream is an eroded tributary to Kettle Run. Windy Knoll is a show-and-tell for grown-ups, too. “Last year we gathered district, state and USDA employees from a 12-county area here for our northern regional training,” said Yankey. “For new employees without a lot of Ag background, we were able to walk through the Taylor farm, look at the available equipment, and show how those resources factor into the conservation plans and conservation best management practices those employees will be going out and setting up. The farm is a good hands-on classroom for folks of all ages.”

According to Yankey, best management practices can range from ensuring the correct amount of fertilizer is applied for each crop, to fencing livestock to keep them away from streams and ponds. The willingness of the Taylors to share their best practices with neighboring farmers, local policy makers and curious agritourists is a definite plus.

Windy Knoll Farm Center for Environmental Education is located at 11602 Kettle Run Road, Nokesville. Visit windyknollfarm.com for information on arranging tours or renting the facilities.

Freelance writer and Manassas resident Cindy Brookshire is a frequent contributor to Prince William Living. She can be reached at cbrookshire@princewilliamliving.com. prince william living November 2014 | 13

health & wellness Ditch the Scale

By Stacia Kelly, Ph.D., MHt e are a nation that is overfed and undernourished. Many of us will follow any fad diet with the hope that we’ll drop weight quickly and be able to go back to eating the same way we’ve always eaten. But it doesn’t work that way, does it? The weight creeps back on and soon we’re going through the local drive-thru because we’re starving, it’s late and we just want something to eat.

W

Dr. Libby Weaver, author of the new book “The Calorie Fallacy,” urges her clients to ditch the scale and start consuming whole foods. Skip the processed foods and go for something Mother Nature made. Fruits, vegetables, legumes, proteins; fill up your plate with color.

Remember, not all calories are created equal. A cupcake calorie is not a replacement for the calories you get from grilled chicken. A boxed meal can be “low cal,” but be full of extra sodium, not to mention allergens you wouldn’t expect and that do no favors for your waistline or health.

Deck the Walls

It doesn’t have to be hard. Start changing out one meal at a time, using these suggestions to enjoy healthful, tasty food: ■ Breakfast: Water with lemon (to reset your stomach’s pH), steel cut oats, a whole egg and some mixed berries.

■ Lunch: Spinach salad with almonds, an egg, grilled chicken or fish, some colorful peppers and feta or goat cheese. If you need dressing go with a balsamic vinegar or a squirt of fresh lime.

■ Dinner: Grilled chicken or fish, mixed steamed vegetables and steamed red potatoes.

Saturday, December 6 7:30-10 pm Center for the Arts at the Candy Factory TO PURCHASE TICKETS OR FOR MORE INFO 703-330-2787 www.center-for-the-arts.org

Food is nourishment. Properly feed your cells and your body will repay you by naturally gravitating to its correct weight. So, ditch the scale. Enjoy your kitchen. Browse the farmers market. Check out Pinterest for recipe ideas and to share your finds with friends. They’ll thank you for it!

Prince William native Stacia Kelly has a doctorate in holistic health and a background in fitness, nutrition, stress management and nutritional supplementation. For more information about her, visit stacia.usana.com and www.facebook.com/StaciaDKelly.

14 | November 2014 prince william living

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taking care of business

MATT CURRY and THE HYBRID SHOP

By Tracy Shevlin

I

f the name of Matt Curry, CEO of The Hybrid Shop, sounds familiar, it’s likely because he owned and operated Curry’s Auto Service from 1998-2013. Under his leadership, the chain grew from the original shop in Gainesville to 10 locations in the Washington, D.C. metro area.

His newest business venture, The Hybrid Shop, launched from Curry’s in Gainesville, has already doubled that growth, with 24 partner shops or “dealers” across the nation and more to come.

The shop combines his decades of automotive experience with the technical knowledge of Automotive Research and Design, LLC, revolutionizing the way that hybrid vehicles are serviced and extending battery life.

Photos courtesy The Hybrid Shop

In addition to directly performing its patented services on hybrids, The Hybrid Shop provides other auto shops with training and tools to diagnose, analyze and repair hybrid vehicles using its proven methods.

Prince William Living caught up with Curry to learn what sparked the idea for this innovative business.

PWL: How did the idea for The Hybrid Shop come about?

Curry: Beginning back in 2008, my wife and I saw a gap in the automotive repair market and made a decision to embrace hybrid technology. There was a lot of misinformation and myths about hybrid vehicles.

We bought eight Priuses in 2008 as customer shuttle vehicles before being involved in THS. We did this as part of our Go Green program, to learn how to work on them and to advertise to customers that we could work on them.

16 | November 2014 prince william living

Matt Curry (shown) owns The Hybrid Shop, which combines his automotive repair experience with the innovative technology of Dr. Mark Quarto.

We noticed, as owners of hybrids, there were not many options for consumers to have their vehicles serviced. People generally had to take these vehicles to their dealer. During this time, I met Dr. Mark Quarto, a scientist and specialist in hybrid technology.

He is chief technical officer at Automotive Research and Design

[based in Washington state], and he developed the technology and process that allows conditioning of hybrid batteries in a non-dealer setting.

The joint venture was born from the service gap but also in conjunction with Dr. Quarto’s technology. It is the first technology to be used in the field [outside of dealerships].

During this time we began to talk about its commercial use and put together a business model which piloted in our Gainesville, Va. location in 2013.

PWL: Tell us about The Hybrid Shop.

Curry: The Hybrid Shop is an environmentally friendly repair and service option for hybrid and electric vehicle owners. Our technicians are highly trained and specialize in diagnosing and servicing these vehicles. Our customers benefit by not only realizing a great cost savings [in] not having to go to the dealer, but also recognize that our value extends to our service and female-friendly culture.

PWL: How does servicing a hybrid differ from servicing a traditional car?

Curry: Hybrid electric vehicles do not run the same [as] traditional gasoline engine vehicles. When [hybrids] are new, their performance gives extraordinary gas mileage. Over time, the batteries become out of balance. Vehicles tend to begin to perform with less power or have decreasing gas mileage around five years of age, or around 100,000 miles.

There are several options available to consumers at that point.

The options range from total battery replacement to conditioning the existing battery. In many cases, vehicles can be brought back to 90-95 percent of their original performance levels via our exclusive technology that conditions the existing battery.

The cost savings [of conditioning] for consumers is substantial and the process is better for the environment. New batteries can cost $3,000 to $8,000, depending on the vehicle model, while conditioning the battery costs $1,200 to $1,800. Many hybrid batteries can be conditioned three or four times. Beyond cost savings and increased gas mileage, the conditioning process is cleaner and extends the life of the battery and reduces the pollutants in our landfills that eventually end up in our water systems.

PWL: We noticed that both Curry’s and The Hybrid Shop are certified as “female friendly” by the Ask Patty website.

Can you tell us more about the certification, which includes training?

Curry: It’s an impressive program and we have adopted it as part of our culture. We recognize that women make the majority of purchasing decisions in their households, including where to service their vehicles. Each new dealer that comes on board at The Hybrid Shop is required to take this training and become certified.

What the certification means for our businesses is that we provide a safe, clean and family-friendly environment where

Using patented technology to condition hybrid batteries, The Hybrid Shop can restore 90-95 percent of a car’s original performance, saving owners thousands of dollars compared to the cost of battery replacement, which can cost as much as $8,000.

women can feel comfortable while their vehicle is being serviced.

Our staff is trained on how to communicate with women: speaking to them, not down to them nor assuming that they don’t understand. Women want to understand what is going on with their vehicles and to trust their technician to educate and give them the best options.

PWL: What were the greatest challenges with this venture?

Curry: One of the greatest challenges was learning how to translate and communicate very technical and scientific information to our dealers and customers. We were learning all about hybrid technology from scientists and engineers. Since the hybrid technology is relatively new, so is the terminology.

It’s been a critical part of our learning this business and a big challenge.

PWL: What have you found to be most rewarding about opening The Hybrid Shop?

Curry: The most rewarding aspect of this venture is seeing the tremendous business and dealer growth. With 24 locations now nationwide, we plan to bring another 11 dealers on board by the end of the year and to have 150 to 200 locations by the end of 2015. This is an exciting time. We are revolutionizing how hybrid electric vehicles are serviced.

For more information, visit TheHybridShop.com.

Tracy Shevlin is a native Virginian and long-time Manassas area resident. She is a full-time administrative assistant and part-time student at George Mason University completing her degree in Business Communication. She can be reached at tshevlin@princewilliamliving.com. prince william living November 2014 | 17

family fun

Giving Thanks

By Amanda Causey Baity

O

ver the past few years you may have noticed a social media trend that happens during the month of November. I’m not talking about “No Shave November,” though that appears to be alive and well, but “30 Days of Thankful.” I’m sure you’ve noticed friends posting something they’re thankful for each day of the month. Even if you or your children don’t use social media, we can still give thanks each day and start an interactive holiday tradition the whole family can cherish.

Thanksgiving is a great time to teach children what it means to be thankful, as well as ways they can show their appreciation.

While younger children might have trouble understanding the concept, your older children can help them grasp it. One creative way to illustrate the lesson is by making a “Thankful Tree,” which your family fills with leaves that list all the things for which they are thankful.

Variations on designing your tree and leaves are nearly limitless.

Each year I come up with a new way to create and decorate our tree to make it a little different and special. I’ve included instructions for a basic tree, but you can also see different examples of Thankful Trees by visiting pwliving.com and clicking “Craft Corner” under “Family Living.”

To keep the project simple, create an actual “tree.”

■ Collect small branches from your yard that range from 12-24 inches and have offshoots. Be sure there are no spiders or 18 | November 2014 prince william living

other insects that have made a home in the branches, giving them a good shake before bringing inside.

■ Place them in a vase and arrange them to resemble a tree.

■ For the leaves you can use construction paper, artificial leaves from the craft store or decorative paper cut into circles or squares. I do not recommend using real leaves as they can be hard to write on as well as fragile once they start to turn colors.

■ Punch a small hole in each leaf and run some baker’s twine or string through, knotting the string so that it can be used for hanging.

■ Give each family member leaves and have them write down things they appreciate. This can be done all at once or on a daily basis. We like to sit down together and write ours as a family. We then take turns reading what we are thankful for and why.

■ Hang your leaves on the branches and, voilà. You have a personalized and unique decoration for your Thanksgiving dinner that’s more than just for looks.

Teaching Gratitude Teaching children to be thankful promotes sensitivity to the feelings of others and encourages a healthy attitude focused on all the positive aspects of their lives, rather than dwelling on what they may not have. Here are a few tips on how to teach your children to view the world from a place of gratitude: ■ Write thank-you notes: Any time your child receives a gift, have them write short thank-you notes. If they’re too young to write, ask them what they would like to say while you write it down. These little ones can even draw pictures to accompany thank-you notes you wrote down for them. (continues on page 20)

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Fall/Winter Events

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Fall Arts & Crafts Cornucopia The Manassas Park Department of 11/15 9a-2p at MPCC

Friday, November 28, 2 2p pm and 7pm $15 - $35 www.tickets.com or the Hylton Box Off ffic ice

Parks and Recreation is dedicated to providing a variety of high quality and diverse leisure opportunities to citizens. We host Manassas Park Light Parade numerous events year round at the 12/13 5:45p-7p Manassas Park Community Center Throughout Manassas Park and throughout Manassas Park.

Dough Ornaments 12/4 7p at MPCC

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prince william living November 2014 | 19

(continued from page 18)

■ Donate old toys and clothing: With Christmas (and cold weather!) right around the corner, many organizations in our community are looking for new and gently used toys and coats for children in need. Have your children help prepare their old clothing for donation. Older children can even help you select the charity.

■ Lead by example: Children learn by following their parents’ example.

Make a point of saying “please” and “thank you” when you interact with others and when you talk to your children. Let them see you volunteering your time in the community and tell them about your charitable contributions, as well as why you choose the causes that you do.

■ Let kids contribute: Encourage your children to make get-well cards for a sick family member, help you set the table or volunteer. Helping others will help them to feel thankful for all the things that you and others do for them, and teach them that you’re never too young to make a difference.

■ Make small sacrifices: Practice making sacrifices with your children such as not driving the car short distances and walking instead, or donating leftover change from the grocery checkout to

20 | November 2014 prince william living

#pwlivingthankful Show Your Thankful Side!

We’d love to know what our readers are thankful for this Thanksgiving season. Post pictures of your Thankful Trees, children, pets— anything that brightens your day— on Instagram and tag them #pwlivingthankful. We’ll share our favorites on PWL social media pages during this month of gratitude, and one lucky reader will win a $25 gift card, courtesy of Beau Monde Photos. people collecting outside. This serves as a reminder of things we all take for granted every day and teaches your children to be more humble.

■ Reflect together each night: Before your kids go to bed at night, talk to them about their day and reflect on the good things that happened. By doing this you’re encouraging them to actually think about what they should be grateful for and it ends the day on a positive note.

Amanda Causey Baity, Prince William Living’s marketing director, lives in Montclair with her family. She also blogs about thrifty family activities and recipes on her blog GreenOwlCrafts.com. She can be reached at acausey@princewilliamliving.com.

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prince william living November 2014 | 21

giving back

2014 PWL Giving Back Awards Winner

By Marianne E. Weaver

Photo by Kathy Strauss

P

art of the Prince William Living mission is to enhance the quality of life in our community and to inspire our readers to do the same. We highlight organizations that are ‘Giving Back’ in every print issue, creating greater awareness and support of their efforts. Annually, we also invite our readers to nominate outstanding not-for-profit groups in Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park through our “Giving Back Awards.”

A combination of public nominations and voting and evaluation

by PWL judges is used in determining the winners. By including a public vote, we hope to build awareness of the many nonprofit organizations working to enhance Prince William while we also discover new opportunities to give back that we can then introduce our readers to in future issues.

Greater Prince William Community Health Center: Serving the Underserved We are proud to introduce the 2014 winner of the Prince William Living Giving Back Award: Greater Prince William Community Health Center. A designated Federally Qualified Health Center, receiving 40 percent of revenue from grants, the center has locations in Woodbridge, Manassas, and soon Dumfries. Trained staff provide primary, prenatal, dental and behavioral health care to anybody who walks through the door, regardless of age, income or insurance status.

“We save lives every day,” said Frank Principi, the center’s executive director. “We improve the quality of life for people who have to choose between paying a utility bill and picking up a prescription.”

Principi said his staff, composed of board-certified and licensed doctors, dentists, counselors and certified nurse midwives, provided free and reduced-cost care to nearly 16,000 patients in 64,000 doctor/dental appointments last year. Typically, patient fees are one-third of the actual cost of care and are based on a sliding scale, determined on a case-by-case basis.

22 | November 2014 prince william living

The Greater Prince William Community Health Center provides quality primary, prenatal, dental and behavioral health care regardless of insurance status.

“Our staff provides affordable access to healthcare for low-income, high-poverty families in the region,” said Principi. “If you are sick and you don’t have a car and you work part-time and you have a child, the only other option in this area is to show up in [an] ER. That is expensive and not paid for by [the] person who receives care.” In other words, uninsured emergency room visits raise the cost of healthcare for everybody in our region.

The medical staff, he said, provides compassionate care at an affordable price, including providing care in the patient’s native

Photo by Kathy Strauss

water quality and the environment; conduct “best lawn” programs to help residents spend less while growing a great lawn; diagnose plant, insect and disease problems; conduct gardening programs and participate in community beautification and landscape projects.

The nonprofit group also spearheads produce collection from local farmers markets for donation to the hungry. Last year, volunteers collected more than 100,000 pounds of food from the Dale City Farmers Market, which they delivered to Action in Community Through Service (ACTS) in Woodbridge and SERVE in Manassas for distribution.

“One of the [farmers market] vendors who gave generously last year told me he gave to ACTS because he was helped by the food distribution when he was down and out,” said Patti Thompson, a master gardener who oversaw the produce collection.

A patient receives dental care at Greater Prince William Community Health Center.

language. The on-site staff speaks nine languages. When necessary, additional interpreters provide over-the-phone translations.

“The federal government has benchmarks for health disparity,” said Principi. “And for asthma, obesity, cancer and heart disease, all are greater in Dumfries than the national average.”

He added that the center is not a free clinic and is not exclusive to the uninsured: Insured patients are welcome to experience the “continuity of care” that comes from having an array of medical services under one roof.

The Greater Prince William Community Health Center is located at 4379 Ridgewood Center Drive, Woodbridge; and Evergreen Health Center at 9705 Liberia Avenue, Manassas. Appointments are available at 703-680-7950. For more information, go to gpwhealthcenter.org.

Runner Up: Master Gardeners of Prince William Master Gardeners of Prince William provide current, researchbased, environmental education programs to county residents. Its volunteers promote safe use of pesticides and fertilizers to protect

Runner Up: Prince William County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Prince William County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., members are collegeeducated women, engaged in public service. Incorporated in December 1984, they sponsor many community projects, including Adopt-A-Family, American Heart Association Walk and Entrepreneurs/Economic Development Project.

Photo courtesy Master Gardeners

The organization’s arts and education programs have touched the lives of residents throughout the community. Its Delta Academy offers girls ages 11 to 14 access to computer training, self-esteem building, etiquette workshops, math field trips, science technology experiences, college exposure, cultural events, museums, plays and concerts. High school girls are encouraged to excel academically, and participate in activities built around a framework of five major components, “scholarship, sisterhood, show me the money, service and infinitely complete,” forming a road map for college and career planning. The chapter also hosts an annual Senior Citizens' Luncheon to honor local senior citizens.

For more information, including registration for the chapter’s Diamonds & Pearls Gala scholarship fundraiser on Dec. 13 at Foxchase Manor in Manassas, visit pwcacdst.org.

Master Gardener Jean Bennett taking inventory of plants in the Four Seasons garden.

Marianne Weaver is a freelance editor and writer. She earned a BA in English from the University of Pittsburgh, and an MJ from Temple University. She is married to recently retired Air Force Lt. Col. Erik Weaver. Along with their two children they've settled into their "forever home" in Gainesville, Va. Her email address is mweaver@princewilliamliving.com. prince william living November 2014 | 23

Photo courtesy Delta Sigmas

The first location in Woodbridge opened five years ago. The Manassas office opened in March 2014. This year, Principi said plans are underway to open its third site in Dumfries.

For additional information on programs and volunteer opportunities, go to mgpw.org or call 703-792-7747.

home & hearth Decorating for Thanksgiving

By Vickie Williamson Custom Framer and Interior Designer

et your home ready for Thanksgiving by adding a few seasonal decorations in just the right places. We know that Christmas is just around the corner, but let’s give Thanksgiving its due. Show your holiday spirit by adding some clever seasonal decorating. If you’re like me, any excuse to decorate is a good excuse. Here’s a few simple ideas to get you started:

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■ Autumn Wreath: Start with the front door and add a seasonal wreath using the colors and foliage associated with autumn. If you’re crafty, try making the perfect welcome symbol out of pine cones or faux foliage from the craft store. A wreath lets your friends and neighbors know that you are in the spirit of the holiday.

■ Candle Holders: Take the usual and make something unusual and visually interesting. I like to bargain hunt for old candle holders in varying heights. Paint them all the same color for unity and top off with gourds or small pumpkins to give that little unexpected décor touch.

■ Cornucopia: Create an instant seasonal centerpiece for your dining room table and answer the question of ‘What to do with the wicker cornucopia that’s hiding in the attic or basement?’ Pull it out of storage and fill it with small pumpkins, gourds and pine cones. Add a splash of color with brightly colored table linens.

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Decorating for the holiday is always a joy. Just remember to keep it realistic and time-friendly. Make your home welcoming for Thanksgiving, but the most important feature of the day is the turkey and all that goes with it. So save some energy for preparing the meal. Enjoy, and have a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Prince William resident Vickie Williamson owns Fine Design Custom Framing & Interiors in Woodbridge. She has worked in the fine art, framing and decorating industry for more than 25 years and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

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local flavor

Travinia Brings a Little Italy to Woodbridge

By Olivia Overman

contemporary restaurant serving modern Italian cuisine: that’s what’s on the menu when you visit Travinia Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar in Woodbridge. With offerings ranging from small plates to family-style dishes, Travinia represents an ideal location for foodies, oenophiles and families to get together.

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“I would describe the food we serve here as handcrafted contemporary American-Italian,” said Lauren Shisler, assistant general manager at the restaurant. With both traditional and trendy courses, the menu is the culmination of the owners’, Mark Craig and Kevin Cox, love for food. “Both are foodies that love wine; it was when they went to Napa that they recognized their passion for great food and great wine,” said Cheryl Carpenter, marketing and advertising representative for the company.

Located in Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center, the restaurant was among the first to open in this development in December 2012. "It was the ninth location for this company, which originally began in Greenville, South Carolina 10 years previously," said Carpenter. There are currently a baker’s dozen throughout the Southeast. She added, “The location is perfect and the demographic fits the brand perfectly.”

Wild Mushroom Carbonara; linguine tossed with Parmesan cream, prosciutto, peas, garlic, wild mushrooms and truffle oil.

26 | November 2014 prince william living

Patron Victor Perry of Fort Belvoir agrees that this restaurant suits Prince William well, and comes to Travinia for the quality of its food. “There’s another Italian restaurant in Reston where the size and the quality of the braised short rib rigatoni pasta is tiny compared to what you get at this restaurant,” Perry said. He said he visits Travinia frequently for both lunch and dinner.

Photos courtesy of Travinia

offered can be converted to gluten-free dishes,” said Carpenter.

“My children would be interested in that [gluten-free food],” said Lake Ridge resident Ernie Gregorio, a father of three who was enjoying lunch with one of his children. Because everything is handcrafted, entrees and sides can be easily customized to meet customer requests. A children’s menu is available, providing smaller portions of pizza, sautéed chicken, spaghetti or salad.

Wines and More While catering toward the suburban family, the restaurant also attracts an array of professional types. “Our clientele are the families and the after-work business professionals who come in to enjoy a drink at the bar,” said Shisler. “They come and enjoy half-price martinis on Wednesdays along with live jazz/R&B music.” Happy hour is Monday through Friday 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., while Tuesday also features 25 percent off all bottled wines.

Travinia boasts a wide selection of Italian, Californian and French wines, and guests can sample additional selections via the restaurant’s wine station.

Good Food Prepared the Italian Way Chefs at Travinia offer chicken or veal cooked in the Italian styles of piccata (lemon butter and white wine), saltimbocca (smoked pancetta, spinach, lemon butter and cappellini), parmesan (lightly breaded), scaloppine (artichoke hearts, smoked pancetta and mushrooms) or marsala (wine demi-glaze, mushrooms and fontina cheese). Other options to choose from include steaks and chops, pastas, salads, seafood and, of course, pizza.

“Our most popular dish right now is Pasta Mia Nona,” said Shisler, who has worked for the company for two years and is a Woodbridge resident. “It is a bowtie pasta cooked in a creamy asiago sauce with chicken, tomatoes and mushrooms. A lot of our customers come back for this.”

There’s a separate small-plates menu that extends the offerings even further by including appetizers such as Italian nachos (served with sausage, mozzarella and black olives), mussels and zucchini bites, as well as traditional Italian fare like antipasto and gnocchi. The restaurant also offers family-style dining where larger dishes are served up for parties of four or more. Chef Frege Adous, who can often be seen through the open kitchen, also prepares weekly specials such as grilled Mahi Mahi with a mango salsa and fresh kale salad. Adous has worked his way up through the Travinia ranks, starting as a bartender, moving up to front of house manager and, because of his love and aptitude for cooking, to lead chef at the Woodbridge location.

Keeping up with diet and lifestyle trends, the restaurant also offers a large gluten-free menu. “The majority of the dishes

Travinia boasts a wide selection of Italian, Californian and French wines, and guests can sample additional selections via the restaurant’s wine station, which can be compared to a soda machine for wines. Customers purchase a wine card from the bartender or manager to use at the machine and choose one-, three-, or five-ounce glasses of wine which may otherwise only be sold by the bottle at the restaurant. The restaurant offers an occasional “wine dinner” as well. According to Shisler, this includes a five-course meal with each course paired with a different wine: “Each course is specifically created by the chef so the options are not available on the menu. Currently we are offering this every other month.” The next will take place in December.

Giving Back “We are a relatively small company that is focused on the community,” Shisler said. “We love to work with children’s charities and nonprofits especially. The company usually picks a charity and helps it by holding a ‘spirit night,’...where the restaurant will give a certain percentage of sales for that evening back to the charity.” To date, the Woodbridge location has raised money for CASA Children’s Intervention Services, based in Manassas, and with the recent hiring of a new catering sales manager, hopes to work with other groups, including the Prince William County school system.

With its spacious, well-appointed interior, and an inviting outdoor patio that features groupings of couches gathered around fire pits, Travinia offers a fashionable and comfortable choice for dining in Woodbridge. Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Visit them at traviniaitaliankitchen.com.

A graduate of American University’s School of Communication, Olivia Overman writes articles for online and print publications.

She can be reached at ooverman@princewilliamliving.com. prince william living November 2014 | 27

your finances Advice for the ‘Sandwich Generation’

By Bennett Whitlock, CRPC® Private Wealth Advisor

f you’re between the ages of 35 and 55, you may be feeling a financial pinch from both your growing (or grown) children and your aging parents. Welcome to the “Sandwich Generation.”

Today kids tend to live at home longer, or, move out and return, sometimes with their children in tow. Meanwhile, parents tend to live longer, often spending 25 years or more in retirement. If you’re wondering how to keep yourself financially on track in the face of these competing demands, the following strategies may help:

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■ Pay yourself first: Automatically route a portion of your paycheck to your retirement savings account, and encourage your working children to do the same. This ensures you’re regularly investing in your future financial security.

■ Talk openly about finances: Discuss the basic tenets of sound money management with your children, including the role of cash reserves, insurance protection, fixed investments and equity investments. It’s equally important to talk with your parents about their finances, including plans for if they become ill or incapacitated.

■ Discuss long-term care insurance: In-home health care costs or a lengthy nursing home stay can wreak financial havoc. If your parents don’t already have longterm care insurance, they might want to look into it.

■ Get financial and legal documents up to date: Review and update beneficiary designations on investments and insurance policies because they may trump what’s stated in a will. Have adult family members keep a list of their financial accounts and passwords in an accessible location.

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■ Offset costs: If your children are attending college, research scholarship opportunities or work-study programs. Also, find out whether your parents qualify for any federal, state or local benefits.

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■ Set limits: Be clear with your children and parents about how much financial support you can realistically provide. Document the conditions of any loan in writing and have both parties sign and date it.

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Bennett Whitlock, CRPC®, is a private wealth advisor and managing director with Whitlock Wealth Management, a franchise of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Learn more at WhitlockWealth.com or call 703-492-7732.

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november

calendar Fall Market

Open Daily in November 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Burnside Farms 4905 James Madison Hwy., Haymarket Burnside Farms presents its fall market.

Essentials for fall decorating will be available, such as fresh produce including pumpkins, flowers and straw. More info: 703.930.3052 or burnsidefarms.com.

Manassas Farmers’ Market

Thursdays & Saturdays 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Harris Pavilion 9201 Center Street, Manassas Find fresh produce, meats, beverages, baked goods, artisan crafts and more at the City of Manassas Farmers’ Market.

Includes vendors from within a 150-mile radius of Manassas. SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) food stamps/coupons accepted.

No pets allowed. More info: ablewett@historicmanassasinc.org.

Dale City Farmers Market

Sundays | 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Center Plaza Shopping Center (Behind Stores) 14090 Gemini Way, Dale City The area’s largest producer-only market, featuring fresh produce, meat, dairy and other food products, along with handmade goods. More info: 703.670.7115, ext. 227.

“Trunk or Treat” Fall Festival

Nov. 1 | 1 – 7 p.m.

Grace Lutheran Church 1601 Prince William Parkway, Woodbridge Come and enjoy a “Trunk or Treat,” games, crafts, face painting, a showing of “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” and fellowship. This is another opportunity for kids (and adults) to wear Halloween costumes. More info: 703.494.4600 or glcva.org.

Blanket Drive for Syrian Refugees

Nov. 1-21 | 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekdays

Town of Dumfries Town Hall 1755 Main Street, Dumfries Dumfries is participating in regional effort to collect blankets for refugee families of Syria and Iraq. Drop off new or gently used blankets at Town Hall. More info: gmforeman.com.

Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra Nov. 2 | 3 p.m.

Woodbridge Middle School 2201 York Drive, Woodbridge Various music compositions will be performed by several artists. General admission is $5 and children 17 and younger are free. More info: obco.org.

Cuisine de Commerce Nov. 6 | 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 pm Continental Event Center 9705 Liberia Ave, Ste 101 The Prince William Chamber of Commerce presents a “taste of the town,” featuring 15 local restaurants and caterers. Book 10 seats for a reserved table. Attendees are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots. $40 per member, $50 non-member. More info: 703.368.6600 or pwchamber.org.

Devil’s Backbone Brewery Fall Beer Dinner Nov. 6 | 6:30 p.m.

Monza 9405 Battlestreet, Manassas Monza hosts a four-course Devil’s Backbone Brewery Fall beer dinner, featuring beers such as Vienna Lager, Kilt Flasher, Gold Leaf Lager and 4-point Pale Ale, each paired with a complementary food. More info: 703.368.5522 or eatmonza.com.

Manassas Ballet Theatre's Colin: Son, Marine, Hero Nov. 7 - 9 | Times Vary Hylton Performing Arts Center 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas Poignant ballet tells the story of Colin, who lost his life to a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2006. Tickets from $15; military free on Nov. 7. More info: hyltoncenter.org.

17th Annual Fall Gallery Walk Nov. 7 | 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Historic Downtown Manassas

Merchants will be displaying artwork by local, featured artists, including photographers, authors, poets and more.

More info: 703.361.6509 or manassasgallerywalk.com.

Bicycle Tour Nov. 8 | 9 – 11 a.m.

Manassas Museum 9101 Prince William St. Visit historic sites, learn how the area has changed and discover some history. Bring your own bike, tour leaves from museum grounds. $. More info: 703.257.8200.

Lively Libations of Loudoun Bus Trip Nov. 8 | 9:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Leaves from LRPRA Parking Lot 12350 Oakwood Drive, Lake Ridge Visit Sunset Hills Vineyard, home of award winning Chardonnays, Viogniers, Cabernet Francs and more. Corcoran Brewing Company is up next pouring 12 craft brews to taste straight from the tap.

Last, but not least is Catoctin Creek Distillery, $. More info: 703.491.2154.

6th Annual Greater Manassas Veterans Day Parade Nov. 8 | 11 a.m.

Historic Downtown Manassas The Greater Manassas Veterans Day Parade is in its 6th year and has become a tradition in Old Town Manassas, supporting the troops and celebrating America. Free. More info: 703.930.7142. or vetpar.org

Costume Fun Run/Walk and PTA Harvest Festival Nov. 8 | 10 –11 a.m. (walk/run) 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Harvest Festival Mary G. Porter Traditional School 15311 Forest Grove Drive, Woodbridge Watch or participate in the walk/run and stay for festival. Walk registration is $15; this is the PTA’s largest fundraiser of the year. More info: porter.schools.pwcs.edu.

Art Around the Block Nov. 8 | 1 – 5 p.m.

Mill and Commerce Streets, Occoquan Watch artists while they work, take part in receptions at galleries and sign up for special drawings. Visit and meet artists in

Have an event? Visit princewilliamliving.com/events to submit details to our online calendar.

30 | November 2014 prince william living

Discover Prince William & Manassas

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is the season for shopping! With the holidays upon us, our schedules get a little bit busier, so why not make it convenient to cross items off your list by shopping in Prince William and Manassas?

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Begin with a trip to Potomac Mills, Virginia’s largest outlet mall, offering more than 220 shops and eateries. You’re sure to find a bargain! The indoor outlet now features a fashion district with upscale brands at stores like Kate Spade Outlet, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th and Last Call by Neiman Marcus.

Ann Marie Maher President and CEO

Discover Prince William Close by, Historic Occoquan, a charming small town listed on & Manassas the National Register of Historic Places, features more than 60 unique boutiques and restaurants. Make sure to stop in The Golden Goose, Northern Virginia’s largest Christmas store, to find holiday decorations. You can also walk through the streets exploring art galleries, jewelry stores and gourmet food shops. Then swing by Mom’s Apple Pie for a baked good or the Bottle Stop for a bottle of wine. At the end of your outing, you are sure to have something to please even the most challenging people on your list.

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Facebook.com/pwcmanassas

Equally walkable and charming, Historic Downtown Manassas also offers an array of boutiques, galleries and restaurants. For that hard-to-buy-for man, visit Old Towne Man Cave. Or, stop by Love, Charley for a homemade candle or unique home item.

Not entirely sure what to purchase? Historic Manassas Inc. sells gift cards accepted in more than 30 of its downtown shops and restaurants.

On weekends, stroll through a winter farmers market either in Manassas each Saturday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., or in Dale City on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

With all the local options available, I’m confident you’ll find just the right gifts for all of the special people in your life. Have a wonderful holiday season, and for a full listing of places to shop, visit discoverpwm.com.

Ann Marie Maher is the president and CEO of Discover Prince William & Manassas.

For more information about what’s going on in Prince William and Manassas, visit DiscoverPWM.com and like us on Facebook.com/pwcmanassas.

the participating galleries throughout the charming Town of Occoquan. More info: historicoccoquan.com.

Linton Hall School Open House Nov. 9 | 1 p.m.

9535 Linton Hall Road, Bristow Linton Hall School provides preschool through eighth grade Catholic education. The open house provides opportunity for parents to meet staff and see school’s programs. More info: 571.428.2532.

Chips4Charity Fundraiser Nov. 14 | 6 p.m. – midnight Harbour View Event Center 13200 Marina Way, Woodbridge Chips4Charity is a night of fun, gaming and great entertainment with proceeds going to supporting Greater Prince William Community Health Center, The Courage Fun Project Foundation and Woodbridge Rotary. More info: chips4charity.org. (continues on page 32)

1-800-432-1792 DiscoverPWM.com prince william living November 2014 | 31

(continued from page 31)

Fall Arts & Crafts Cornucopia Nov. 15 | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Manassas Park Community Center 99 Adams Street, Manassas Park Bring the family to the annual Fall Arts & Craft Cornucopia, featuring arts, crafts, decor, jewelry, food and more.

More info: 703.335.8872 or manassasparkcommunitycenter.com.

1776! The Revolution Comes to Rippon Lodge Nov. 15 | 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

15500 Rippon Lodge Blackburn Road, Woodbridge

In February of 1776 the 3rd Virginia Regiment was organized out of companies from several local counties including Prince William County.

Residents are invited to come for the day to see the “troops” muster. Living history demonstrations of both military and civilian life will take place all day. More info: pwcgov.org/historicpreservation.

St. John Paul the Great Catholic High School Open House Nov. 16 | 1 – 4 p.m.

17700 Dominican Drive, Dumfries All are welcome. There will be a presentation at 1:30 p.m. and then the opportunity to meet students and faculty, along with a tour of facility.

www.jpthegreat.org. More info: 703.445.0300 or jpthegreat.org.

The Occoquan Annual Holiday Open House Nov. 21 | 4 – 8 p.m.

Town of Occoquan Enjoy an evening of shopping, refreshments and an old fashioned Christmas, as shops stay open late for this festive evening. Register to win part of the Occoquan gift certificate giveaways totaling $1,500, and don’t miss the many beautiful window displays. More info: historicoccoquan.com.

All events are subject to change. Check to verify dates, times and locations.

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’was months till the party and they couldn’t decide, “Where oh where shall our guests arrive?� When suddenly their stress was replaced with good cheer. “Let’s have our party at Harbour View this year!�

Whether you’re planning for 20 guests or 320, host your holiday celebration at Harbour View—Prince William’s premier special event venue—on the shores of the Occoquan River.

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tambourines and elephants Please Pass the Bread...No Butter

By DeeDee Corbitt Sauter

For the past several months, I have been working on myself.

I find that to be such a new-wave, new-age, egocentric comment. Still, it does seem better than randomly announcing that I need to be alone or else I may just end up practicing my newly acquired skill of saying “no.”

I have been running a “no” deficit, meaning I can’t seem to say it out loud, only inside my head. So instead of creating boundaries, I just end up increasing my anxiety level. I decided to add saying “no” to some other personal goals. One of the most difficult for me, although apparently not for my husband, is losing weight.

While researching the fastest and most effective way to shed some (well, a thousand) pounds, I read about a number of options which may not work any better than a toy magic wand. For example, the reviews for raspberry ketones, hCG shots and hoodia are so extreme that reading them gave me a migraine. I can’t comment on their efficacy because I have not tried them. I am going instead with a regimen of decreased caloric intake, mild exercise and wishful thinking.

I have also become increasingly confused about the state of my weight as I google health choices in general. It seems, according to some very enthusiastic bloggers, that I can be fat, healthy and happy simultaneously if I would simply learn to accept myself. On the other hand, according to other bloggers, I am losing precious minutes of life with every pound I don’t lose, and I can acquire an exponentially increasing number of disorders with every morsel of unhealthy food.

Then I found an infinite number of “facts” about the high fructose corn syrup vs. sugar argument, which further complicated my nutritional choices. My continued researching made me nervous about actually losing weight. Why would I want to live longer if I can only eat a fraction of the delicious food out there? There are entire web sites, TV shows and world-famous chefs who have devoted their lives to converting even the most nutritional food into bad-for-you, but delicious tasting, morsels. And then come the what ifs…

What happens if I don’t actually love the fat me and I lose weight? What will my friends think? One of them has voiced concern that perhaps I will no longer go out with her just because she has no desire to lose weight. Frankly, that’s absurd. How can friendship be based on pounds?

There is no way I could judge someone based on weight if it’s a demon I have been personally fighting for years.

What if I successfully lose weight, for health reasons of course, and then gain some back because the people in charge of making food tasty are

madly successful? Should I then judge myself or embrace my fatness and accept who I am while praising artists who tempt me with such succulent sustenance?

The process is like an Escher painting: complicated, confusing, with no beginning or ending. Perhaps working on myself needs to start with something less intense and confusing. Anyone can use the many resources available to improve or completely change their personality.

Losing weight and decreasing anxiety are just two options. Supportive medication (like cake, chocolate, ice cream and sometimes those regular pharmaceuticals) is also available.

“The process is like an Escher painting: complicated, confusing, with no beginning or ending.”

The more I ponder the options available to me via the Internet, bookstores and endless advice from friends (who have already reached a level of perfection, thereby making them experts on everything), I feel a great need to escape the pressure of making a decision.

When this happens, I close my eyes, take a deep breath and try to slow my heart rate, using YouTube and smartphone apps to direct my meditation. I also reach for the M&M’s container and slowly ingest one after another.

I have found that sucking off the candy colored shell makes the world a brighter place almost instantly. If one is so satisfying, then certainly 500 is that much better. I decide that weight loss should probably not be my first foray into self-help adventureland. Realizing perfection is unattainable, I say “no” to that idea and reach for more M&M’s.

DeeDee Corbitt Sauter is a resident of Prince William County. Her column, “Tambourines and Elephants,” appears monthly in Prince William Living. prince william living November 2014 | 35

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