Prince William Living September 2015

PAGE 12

BOWLING FOR ALL AGES

PAGE 26

NANDO’S PERI-PERI

PAGE 35

APOCALYPSE (NOT) NOW

prince william living September 2015

The premiere lifestyle magazine of Prince William and Greater Manassas

Farming in the Prince William Community PAGE 4

Meet Northern Virginia’s Only Professional Ballet Company PAGE 10

SERVE: Helping Those in Need for 40 Years PAGE 14

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table of contents September 2015 Vol. 5 No. 9

FEATURE STORY Farming in the Prince William Community: Finding a Niche......................................................4

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

4 Photo by Mark Gilvey

on a high note Manassas Ballet Theatre: Northern Virginia’s Only Professional Ballet Company........................10 destinations Bowling for All Ages..............................................12 giving back SERVE: Helping Those in Need for 40 Years........ 14 taking care of business Yellow Cab of Prince William County: A Family Business Since 1978...............................18 family fun Gardening with Kids.............................................20

14 Photo by Robert Jinks

local flavor Nando’s Peri-Peri Brings a World of Flavor to Prince William..................................................26 calendar...............................................................30 lifelong learning What’s Cooking at Stratford University?...............34 tambourines and elephants Apocalypse (Not) Now..........................................35

COLUMNS health & wellness.................................................16 home & hearth.....................................................24 your finances........................................................28 Discover Prince William & Manassas................31

26 Photo by Linda Hughes

prince william living September 2015 | 1

The premiere lifestyle magazine of Prince William and Greater Manassas

Prince William Living Publisher Rebecca Barnes rbarnes@princewilliamliving.com Contributing Writers Amanda Causey Baity, Carla Christiano, Amy Falkofske, Audrey Harman, Stacia Kelly, Ph.D., MHt, Ann Marie Maher, Olivia Overman, DeeDee Corbitt Sauter, Tracy Shevlin, Niki VanEch, Marianne E. Weaver, Bennett Whitlock Editor in Chief Kim Howard, CAE khoward@princewilliamliving.com Copy Editor Peter Lineberry Photo Editor Amanda Causey Baity Photographers Amanda Causey Baity, Delia Engstrom, Mark Gilvey, Linda Hughes and Robert Jinks Marketing Director Amanda Causey Baity Graphic Design and Production Alison Dixon/Image Prep Studio Online Submission Manager Paul Keily

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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About the Cover Near the intersection of Route 28 and Route 234 Bypass, the old Thomasson Barn (also known as Innovation Barn) stands forlornly on what used to be a thriving dairy farm. Photographed by Mark Gilvey of Mark Gilvey Creative.

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 | September 2015 prince william living

See more photos online at pwlphotos.com

from the publisher Prince William Past and Present

I

with Kids” (page 20). By labeling seeds, kids can learn about different plants and about how food grows.

In our September feature, “Farming in the Prince William Community” Carla Christiano teaches us the history of farming and agriculture and how much it has changed. Learn where there were farms, what they produced, how farmers repurposed them to stay relevant and what is happening with the ones that are left. What involvement does innovation, collaboration and development play into the future of this once busy trade? (page 4)

Those interested in learning how to cook are in for a treat.

September’s Lifelong Learning takes a peek into the world of a chef, or a future chef in “What’s Cooking at Stratford University?”

by Marianne Weaver. (page 34) From distinguishing fresh food to work with to learning about the culinary arts, Stratford has a program designed to create the next generation of chefs and bakers.

Northern Virginia is home to four of the top 12 wealthiest counties in the nation. Yet, those same four counties account for over 141,000 individuals at risk for hunger. Read about what one group has been doing for more than 40 years to serve the neediest human beings in the county. This month’s Giving Back by Olivia Overman gives you an inside look at SERVE and how they do just that, all across Prince William and Manassas. (page 14)

Don’t forget to read our event calendar at the back of each issue, and to visit our online calendar (princewilliamliving.com/events) for even more activities in Greater Prince William.

t is amazing to see the changes that Prince William has gone through in just one generation.

For fun and a great source of food for your family, Amanda Causey-Baity shows us how to plan your garden in “Gardening

Advertiser Index ACTS...........................................................................................36 Ameriprise–Whitlock Wealth Management.............................28 Apple FCU..................................................................................28 Beautiful Moments by Amy......................................................36 Beitzall Fence Company..............................................................8 Best Western Battlefield Inn.......................................................9 Bitar Cosmetic Surgery Institute..............................................25 Boys & Girls Clubs.....................................................................36 Brennan’s Heating & Air Conditioning......................................8 Brookdale...................................................................................32 CASA...........................................................................................36 City of Manassas Park—Parks & Recreation...........................23 Dance Etc......................................................................................9 Discover Prince William & Manassas......................................31 Edgemoor Art Studio................................................................36 FURR Roofing...............................................................................9 Giorgio’s Family Restaurant.....................................................16 Greater Prince William Community Health Center.................36 House of Mercy..........................................................................23 Inova...........................................................................................17 Imagewerks................................................................................36 Imagine.......................................................................................33 Jabs Construction/Electrical.................................................9, 31 Keep Prince William Beautiful..................................................36 Madison Cresent........................................................................23 Magnificent Belly Dance...........................................................36 Manassas Chorale.....................................................................23 Mark Gilvey Creative.................................................................36

Sincerely, Rebecca Barnes Prince William Living Publisher

McKinsey Development........................................................... C2 MightierThan................................................................................9 Occoquan Craft Fair...................................................................33 Okra’s .........................................................................................29 Patriot Scuba................................................................................9 Peggy and Bill Burke, Virginia Realty Partners, LLC...............24 Piedmont Physical Therapy......................................................16 Potomac Place............................................................................29 Potomac Shores Golf Club........................................................17 Prince William Chamber of Commerce.....................................8 Prince William Courage.............................................................21 Prince William Ice Center..........................................................23 Prince William Library Foundation...........................................17 Robert Jinks Photography........................................................36 Semper K9..................................................................................36 Stonebridge................................................................................32 Tackett’s Mill..............................................................................29 The Arc of Greater Prince William/INSIGHT............................36 The Pope Institute......................................................................32 Tiny Dancers..............................................................................22 TODOS Super Market................................................................16 VanEch Studio............................................................................31 Vintage Moving & Storage.................................................29, 36 Vision Finders Design................................................................36 Washington Square Associates................................................36 Westminster at Lake Ridge.......................................................21 Yankey Farms...............................................................................9 Yellow Cab.................................................................................36 Youth for Tomorrow................................................................. C4

prince william living September 2015 | 3

Farming in the Prince William Community Finding a Niche

By Carla Christiano | Photos by Amanda Causey Baity & Mark Gilvey

M

arooned in an overgrown field of weeds near where Route 28 intersects the Route 234 Bypass, the old terra cotta Thomasson barn (also known as Innovation Barn) stands forlornly on what used to be a thriving dairy farm. It is a remnant from Prince William County’s agricultural past when names like Cherry Hill, Featherstone, Liberia and Clover Hill were actual working farms and not just street names. When William T. Thomasson built this barn in the early 1900s, more than half of county land was farmland. Today as more farms disappear into housing developments or shopping centers, the remaining farmers have made various choices to continue to farm.

As the railroad came to Manassas in 1851, it later became a strategic point for both Union and Confederate armies during the Civil War. It brought devastation to a peaceful farming area in the aftermath of three battles fought between 1861 and 1863, and took the area decades to recover.

Wealthy men purchased and transformed some farms like Liberia and Ben Lomond that had served as Civil War hospitals into dairies in the late 1800s and early 1900s. In the eastern part of the county, hog farms and more dairies proliferated. As late as 1964, there were 97 dairy farms in Prince William County.

Today, only two dairy farms still exist.

Prince William County’s history is rooted in agriculture. And even before the county’s founding in 1731, the big cash crop was tobacco.

Robert Beahm of Nokesville remembers that time well. One of eight siblings, the 94-year-old former farmer and rural letter carrier grew up on his family’s Nokesville “home place” without electricity and used an outdoor privy until 1933, when the family added a bathroom. “When I was growing up, it was completely rural,” he said.

According to the University of Virginia Historical Census Browser, the earliest recorded agricultural census of Prince William County, completed in 1850, shows 579 farms.

Farmers still face many of the same challenges that Beahm faced—unpredictable weather, diseases, and insects. But, today’s farmers also face another even more difficult challenge—

An Agricultural Past

4 | September 2015 prince william living

development. Starting in the 1950s and 1960s, developers began buying up farmland and creating housing developments.

Between 1954 and 1964, the county lost almost half of its farms because it became more profitable to sell the land than to work it. Only during the Great Depression did the county lose more farms and more farmland; however, it was still only about 36 percent of the total at the time.

In 1974, the number of total farms in the county dropped to 276—with 127 of those farms making less than $2,500 in receipts (around $12,706 in today’s money).

Number of Farms in Prince William Number of FarmsCounty, 1900-2012 1,400

1,261

1,271

1,200 1,044

1,000 818

800

867

Of the 330 farms, more than half (197) reported receipts of $5,000 or less; however, 23 had receipts of more than $100,000, and two had receipts of more than $500,000. “For most of them, the farm is a second job. Most of their income comes from a second job. No one is making millions of dollars or anything like that,” said Paige Thacker, Prince William County Extension Service Extension Agent.

Thacker noted that most county farms are niche farms. “They are trying to find alternative crops. We have a Christmas tree grower that now is growing potatoes and sweet potatoes and adding small crops at a time. They are diversifying into smaller areas that don’t take a lot of effort or maintenance or labor,” she said.

783

Niche Farming Arrives

600 400

percent ($6,227,000) coming from livestock sales. However, production expenses amounted to $17,271,000, meaning the farms lost money overall. This trend continued as reported in the 2007 and 2002 agricultural censuses.

368

350 276

314

330 259

200 0 1900 1920 1930 1940 1950 1954 1964 1974 1982 1992 2002 2012

Sources: Data for 1900 and 1920 is from the University of Virginia Historical Census Browser. Data for 1930 through 2012 is from the USDA Census of Agriculture.

Today’s Farms in Prince William

One of those niche farms is TrueFarms, which grows hydroponic lettuces and herbs—without soil, using water and nutrients and no pesticides or preservatives. The crops at TrueFarms are housed not on dirt fields, but in a computerized ½-acre greenhouse on Tom and Debbie Truesdale’s 11 acres near Haymarket.

TrueFarms harvests 52 weeks out of the year and sells directly to 15 restaurants and dozens of Giant and Whole Foods (continues on page 6)

In the most recent USDA Agricultural Census taken in 2012, Prince William County listed 330 farms and a total of 35,638 acres of farmland. Although that is a loss of about 20 farms since 2002, it was a gain of a little more than 3,000 acres of farmland in 10 years. Farmland, however, only makes up about 16 percent of the county’s total of 222,615 acres and approximately 30 percent of the land in the county’s designated rural crescent.

(For comparison, 56 percent of county land was agricultural in 1940.) The rural crescent covered approximately 117,000 acres and was created by the board of supervisors in the county’s 1998 Comprehensive Plan to preserve the rural area and to contain development sprawl. Much of that land lies within the A-1 Agricultural zoning district, which limits development to one single-family home per 10 acres and agricultural uses.

Additionally, farms today are getting smaller. In 1925, most county farms were between 50 and 99 acres. In 1964 and again in 2012, most county farms were between 10 and 49 acres, though their distribution has changed.

From an economic standpoint, the prospects for farming in the county have declined as well. In 2014, crop production amounted to $2,566,188 in taxable sales in Prince William County out of $5,108,149,658 in total taxable sales, according to the Virginia Department of Taxation. So crop production works out to be just .05% of the taxable sales in the county. In 2012, the USDA Agricultural Census listed $12,034,000 in gross sales with 52

The hydroponic farm TrueFarms produces lettuce and herbs 52 weeks out of the year and sells directly to local restaurants and grocers. prince william living September 2015 | 5

(continued from page 5) supermarkets throughout the area. “When there are two feet of snow on the ground, we’re still harvesting,” said Tom Truesdale.

Still, it can be difficult to compete with corporate farms. “They are so large that they get these economies of scale that make it very tough for the family farm to compete so you have to devise ways to differentiate your farm,” said Truesdale. For TrueFarms, that differentiation is supplying fresh produce weekly all year.

“We have to do something like that to compete with these big corporate farms,” he added.

Other newcomers to farming are Sarah and Dan Desmedt of the Bloom Flower Farm who grow fresh flowers in Nokesville.

Their crops include peonies, larkspur, snapdragons, gladiolus and sunflowers, as well as blackberries, asparagus and fingerling potatoes in patches on their 16 acres. Although the pair has dabbled in providing flowers for weddings, they sell most of their crops at the Manassas and Haymarket farmers’ markets.

“Farming is hard work, but it’s necessary,” Sarah Desmedt said.

“You have hardships and you learn lessons about life—about successes and failures.” One of the setbacks they encountered was with dinner plate dahlias. They planted 200 tubers, but half of them were infested by corn borer moths. The plants died from the inside out. “That was a depressing thing, but now we know what to look for,” she said.

For Don and Helen Taylor of Windy Knoll Farm in Nokesville, farming was something they were born into in Pennsylvania.

They purchased their 95-acre farm about 30 years ago and started with beef cattle, then sheep. Both Helen and her husband worked other jobs—she as a nurse and he as an electronic engineer—while they worked nights and weekends on the farm.

Helen Taylor said that farming journals used to have articles on crop management but now they focus on financial management for farms. “You can’t just work hard…you have to work smart.

6 | September 2015 prince william living

The Desmedt family of the Bloom Flower Farm in Nokesville.

Your cost margins are so much narrower,” she said. “You have to determine what’s valuable where you are. It’s not valuable to plant corn or soybeans here so we looked at agritourism.” That’s why they turned their barn, which originally had a dirt floor and housed cows and sheep, into an event space. They built an addition two years ago to expand space.

For Jay Yankey of Yankey Farms near Nokesville, farming has been in his family for generations—his mother’s family farmed near the Hoadly area as far back as the 1700s. Yankey, who also holds a full-time job as the director for the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District, said farming is his passion.

“It’s what I grew up around. It’s what I enjoy doing—producing something, seeing at the end of the day something somebody is going to enjoy that’s nutritious,” he said.

Unlike his father and uncle who had commodity farms, Yankey’s is a small diversified farm. “We raise produce, some grain, beef cattle, and a little bit of hay. We direct market most of our fruits and vegetables. We do a pick-your-own strawberry and pumpkin patch. We operate Community Supported Agriculture, a subscription program where people buy at the beginning of the season and get a share of the produce throughout the season.

The “pick-your-own-pumpkin” patch at Yankey Farms is a fall favorite for local residents.

Yankey Farms offers more than just pumpkins. They have many activities for the whole family including a corn maze, as well as numerous fall fruits and vegetables.

We have a roadside stand where we sell our vegetables. We direct market beef for people to put into their freezer,” he said.

Culpeper...They have a lot more open land,” said Cornnell.

She said the 10-acre lots that the county set aside to preserve farmland take the land out of production. “It does make it difficult to farm in the area,” she said.

When Yankey started farming full time in 1998, he said he went the direct market route so he could farm less land and still make money. “It takes a whole lot more land and a whole lot more capital to do commodity [farming]. The rule of thumb: to generate a $50-70,000 salary, you would need somewhere around 500 to 700 acres of land for a one-person salary. That’s probably the biggest obstacle in starting a commodity operation. In this area, it’s hard to come up with enough land that isn’t already being farmed by somebody.

“The biggest challenge is finding land to farm because some of the land has been developed in recent years,” he continued. “The other big challenge is moving equipment on the roads. There’s a lot of traffic. With the type of farming that we do, having a lot of people nearby is a benefit. It’s a double-edged sword. It’s a hassle to move equipment up and down the road but having a lot of people to sell stuff to is beneficial.”

Farming is also a family business for Stephanie House Cornnell.

With her father and brother, she owns Kettle Wind Farm, a 4,500-acre dairy, grain and turf farm with locations in Prince William, Fauquier, and Culpeper counties. At Kettle Wind Farm in Nokesville, one of the last two dairy farms in Prince William, the family and a staff milk 350 Jersey and Holstein cows. Their dairy supplies Marva Maid milk and sells it to 7-Eleven and Prince William County schools. They also raise and sell 2,500 acres of soybeans, 1,000 acres of corn and 1,000 acres of turf.

Turf was not something the family had planned to grow. But in 1997, Cornnell’s father decided to enter what has turned out to be an extremely profitable enterprise. The farm sells its turf to landscape contractors. Cornnell is working on a turf management degree from Penn State.

One challenge her farm faces is the lack of open land in Prince William County. “We’re getting pushed out of the area a bit, so we’re spreading out into larger farmland in Fauquier and

County is Reevaluating Policies The county is currently reevaluating its agricultural and land policies. As part of that process, the Planning Office is updating the Economic Development Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan. One of the emerging themes for consideration is promoting agribusiness and the rural economy, said David McGettigan, Long Range Planning Manager of the Prince William County Planning Office. The Planning Office’s “Rural Study Report,” released in July stated, “Without policy changes, the Rural Area will likely develop in a manner dominated by large lot residential development, with little contiguous open space and significant loss of agricultural lands.”

Although the report stated farming needs supportive policies and “Agricultural land is a key element of rural character and needs to be a high priority for action,” it recommended increasing the permitted density in the rural area from one dwelling per 10 acres to one dwelling per 5 acres, and increasing the open space requirement from the current 50 percent to 60 percent.

But even prospective policy changes may not be enough. As Truesdale said, “Farming is dwindling in Prince William because it’s not as profitable. Developers are soaking up all the land. I’m not sure what will stop development.”

Carla Christiano (cchristiano@princewilliamliving.com) is a native of Prince William County, admitted history geek and a technical writer for Unisys.

Editor’s Note: For more historical information and detailed charts about farming in Prince William County, please visit our issue online at www.princewilliamliving.com. prince william living September 2015 | 7

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on a high note

Manassas Ballet Theatre Northern Virginia’s Only Professional Ballet Company

By Amy Falkofske | Photos by Robert Jinks

A

t the age of five, Amy Wolfe announced at a big family party that she was going to dance for everyone.

Afterward, her great aunt turned to Wolfe’s mother and said, “You will put her in ballet class!”

From there, a passion developed in Wolfe that would one day create the Manassas Ballet Theatre (MBT), the only professional ballet theatre in Prince William—or for that matter, all of Northern Virginia.

Wolfe, who was teaching and dancing with the Manassas School of Dance, wanted to be a part of a professional ballet company without the drive into Washington, D.C. So in 1997, she approached the owner of the school with her idea. The owner was enthusiastic and by 2007, Wolfe had formed the Manassas Ballet Theatre and was named its artistic director.

Accolades and International Invitations One of the company’s most notable ballets is “Colin: Son, Marine, Hero,” which first premiered as a one-act ballet in 2013. It’s the story of Wolfe’s son Colin, a U.S. Marine stationed in Afghanistan who was sadly killed by a roadside bomb in 2006, just seven months into his first deployment.

The ballet received positive reviews and press, including from “CBS Sunday Morning,” The Washington Post and the British Broadcasting Corporation.

The ballet “Peter and the Wolf” features students who audition from the Manassas Ballet Academy and other dance schools.

Since the ballet’s debut in 2013, Wolfe has worked with her friend and composer, Mark Menza, to expand the program into an evening-length ballet, which first debuted in this area last fall.

Wolfe would now like to take the full-length version of “Colin” on tour to Maryland and Washington, D.C. Israel has also invited MBT to perform it there.

Educational Outreach to Children

Wolfe says part of the ballet’s appeal is that her son grew up as a ballet dancer. “It’s unusual for a boy to grow up in the ballet world and be dancing ballet all his young life and then become a Marine and go to Iraq. To most people it seems a very strange juxtaposition,” said Wolfe.

Every fall, the Annual Colin J. Wolfe Memorial Golf Tournament is held Haymarket to raise money for MBT’s Educational Outreach program. This program exposes schoolaged children from Manassas City and Prince William County Schools to a ballet at the Hylton Performing Arts Center, followed by an opportunity to ask questions.

“Colin” is the ballet that Manassas Ballet Theatre has taken on tour to places such as the State Theatre of Culpeper and Bakersfield, CA.

Christina Brooks, the assistant to the director and one of the costume mistresses, is impressed by the outreach program, which she called “such a valuable asset, because kids who may not make

10 | September 2015 prince william living

MBT dancers Sara Gaydash and Joshua Burnham perform in “Peter and the Wolf.” Visit pwlphotos.com for more pictures of the Manassas Ballet Theatre.

it to see a ballet or see a performance at the Hylton Center are now able to experience that and be introduced to culture free of charge to them, and their schools.”

Brooks started as a volunteer five seasons ago when her daughter Lexi, now 15, began dancing with the Manassas Ballet Academy (MBA), part of MBT. Her son Steven, 13, dances with the academy as well.

The academy currently has between 130 to 150 registered dancers, according to Operations Manager Warren Sallade.

Students are taught the Vaganova method by the adult MBT dancers. This method is a Russian technique that prepares students for big classical ballets such as “Sleeping Beauty” and “Swan Lake.”

Girls in the academy get to participate in Pas de Deux where they practice with professional male ballet dancers and learn how to be turned, lifted and supported. They then get to perform with these men in the end-of-the-year recital, an opportunity that girls in most dance schools do not receive.

Students in the academy may audition for children’s roles in MBT’s productions, namely, the yearly production of “The Nutcracker.” Although a large number of the children’s roles are filled with students from the academy, students from other dance schools are welcome to audition as well.

MBT is a unique asset in the Prince William area because because of its convenience. “People here don’t have to jump in their car and drive into D.C. to see a professional ballet in a beautiful theatre…no, they have it right here in their back yard…and for much less money than it costs in D.C.,” said Wolfe.

Live Orchestra Adds Ambiance Another unique aspect of MBT is that it boasts its own 45-piece professional orchestra under the leadership of Music Director Christopher Hite. Most ballet companies use recorded music.

All of the company’s sets, backdrops and costumes are created from scratch. Brooks’ husband Josh builds the sets, while the backdrops are all original works of Scenic Designer Tim Grant.

Wolfe says she has two priorities where MBT is concerned. In addition to requiring live music for the performances, she requires that there be a large number of male dancers. “I believe that ballet is both girls and boys dancing, not just girls…so we have a very large contingent of male dancers for our size,” she said.

Also on Wolfe’s list of priorities is to extend the company’s bottom line, increase the company’s physical space and increase its educational outreach to more neighboring counties.

Manassas Ballet Theatre isn’t just for the dancers. There are many ways you can get involved behind the scenes. “All they have to do is call, and we’ll find a place for them!” said Wolfe.

Manassas Ballet Theatre’s upcoming season is just about to get underway with the following ballets: “Jazz in Motion” in October; “The Nutcracker” in December; “Dances and Divertissements, a Spring Sampler” in March; and in May, “Cinderella.”

For tickets or more information, visit www.manassasballet.org.

Amy Falkofske (afalkofske@princewilliamliving.com) is a freelance writer and the owner and photographer of Beautiful Moments by Amy Photography. prince william living September 2015 | 11

destinations

Bowling for All Ages

By Audrey Harman

W

hen most people who haven’t bowled lately think of the bowling atmosphere, it usually conjures images of a dark, smoky room with old disco balls hanging from the ceiling. The familiar sounds of pins crashing and the excited chatter have not gone away, but bowling alleys have since adapted into places you’ll want to visit again and again. Because all of the bowling alleys in Prince William County have been smoke-free since Dec. 1, 2009, many of them had to get a little facelift along with the change. With new carpet and a new coat of paint comes a new kind of crowd.

The range of business hours and the year-long leagues have made bowling more of a routine activity for individuals, groups and families.

“During a Sunday league I was part of, I’d constantly see families playing a few lanes down. It’s a great pastime for any age,” said Diego Pizarro of Woodbridge. The flexible hours accommodate even the busiest of schedules, so having fun with your friends isn’t limited to a small window of time.

“My friends and I used to go to ‘cosmic bowling’ just about every other weekend, where they turn on the black lights and play popular hit music,” he said. Pizarro and friends have since joined various leagues over the past several years, and their visits have grown from a few times a month to a few times a week.

Bowling can be a great recreational activity with friends, or you can join a league as a more formal way to keep you busy. “The first one we joined was purely for fun; it was a late-night league that provided pizza and soda. That was when we started to buy our bowling balls and shoes. The last two we joined were more competitive but mixed. Basically, there were individuals who were novice, amateur and experienced bowlers,” said Stephany Gallardo, a Woodbridge resident, four-year bowler and league participant.

12 | September 2015 prince william living

A mixture of sports games on large projector screens (in most of the locations in the area), colorful lights, and their food service creates the perfect place to host your child’s next birthday party, or to bring a group of friends for a night out.

“I have met a lot of different bowlers the last few years,” said João Araujo, a resident of PWC and frequent bowler, “and I’ve seen how it can bring people from all walks of life together in camaraderie.”

Most alleys in Prince William offer package deals to help you plan the ideal bowling party or large group bowling activity. Most also offer adult beverages on their food menu, so you can partake in a safe atmosphere without having to go too far from home.

There are several options for residents from all corners of PWC such as: n n n n

Bowl America (two locations in Manassas), AMF Centreville Lanes (just across the county line), AMF Dale City Lanes and Bowl America Woodbridge.

You can pick up supplies at pro shops like JR’s Bowling Pro Shop in Manassas.

Another positive aspect about bowling is that residents can enjoy it all year round no matter the weather. It is a great form of low-key anaerobic exercise and encourages healthy competition.

“It’s definitely more laid back, doesn’t involve too much physical activity, but it can be tricky,” said Gallardo. Whether you join a league or stop by once a month, bowling can be as challenging or as relaxing as you want it to be.

While participating in bowling, you can be a part of a sport that is traced all the way back to Egypt in 3200 B.C. Once outlawed

during the reign of King Edward III of England (because his soldiers preferred it to archery practice), bowling has since moved indoors for a more controlled environment.

“I think it will always be popular as a social activity because it is a place where people can gather to do something fun,” said Araujo.

When planning your next night out, make sure you look up your closest bowling alley and check out their specials.

Make bowling a part of your weekend fun, or use it to unwind after a long workday. Whatever your experience level or the amount of time you have to dedicate, there is a little something for everyone to enjoy in the numerous PWC bowling alleys.

Audrey Harman (aharman@princewilliamliving.com) is a longtime resident of Woodbridge. She has a BA in English and Spanish from Hollins University and an MA in publications design from the University of Baltimore. Harman works as an instructional designer. prince william living September 2015 | 13

giving back

SERVE

Helping Those in Need for 40 Years

By Olivia Overman | Photos by Delia Engstrom

I

n March 2015, SERVE (Securing Emergency Resources through Volunteer Efforts) celebrated its 40th anniversary. A group of local churches, organizations and individuals of Prince William County combined their resources to create SERVE when they recognized the need for emergency services for local people and their families.

Since its creation, there have been many changes to the organization. The most notable change was the merger in 2009 with Northern Virginia Family Services (NVFS). NVFS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving the entire Northern Virginia region.

“This change meant SERVE, along with the Georgetown South Child Development Center and Training Futures workforce development program, are [now] programs of NVFS. NVFS [also] took over management of the Hilda Barg Homeless Prevention Center on July 1, and has been awarded two Early Head Start locations in Woodbridge that are scheduled to open soon,” according to Tonya McCreary, NVFS director of agency communications.

Emergency Food and Shelter SERVE programs cover crisis situations for people primarily living in the western part of the county and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park. They also help families to get back on their feet and to move forward. Based on the Manassas campus of NVFS, SERVE offers valuable assistance to the people who live in the county. These include: n Emergency shelter for families and individuals in the newly expanded and renovated 92-bed family care shelter facility.

Previously a 60-bed facility, the addition of 4,000 square feet means the facility is now the largest in Prince William. With this new addition, NVFS and SERVE are now able to provide shelter to an additional 250 people each year. n The 8,000-square foot Hunger Resource Center, which provides fresh food to individuals and families residing in the county. “[It is] the county’s largest food distribution center.

14 | September 2015 prince william living

SERVE’s 8,000-square foot Hunger Resource Center always accepts donations.

Also, with industrial refrigerators and freezers, nutrition education and SNAP Outreach, SERVE’s Hunger Resource Center exceeds the typical food pantry model,” said McCreary. “[Currently] it is close to 900 [families served] each month.

Clients come to the Hunger Resource Center, also located on the SERVE campus in Manassas, to pick up emergency food. There is a client choice area where clients can select from a wide variety of fresh fruits, vegetables and other perishable goods. While clients are making their selections, volunteers are busy packing up nonperishables, dairy products, and meat (all based on family size), to add to those things the clients have selected for themselves,” said Pamela Ryan, NVFS director, Anti-Hunger Programs.

“NVFS created the new Anti-Hunger Programs area in response to the increase in the number of families in the Northern Virginia region faced with food insecurity. Northern Virginia is home to four of the top 12 wealthiest counties in the nation, but those same four counties account for over 141,000 individuals at risk for hunger,” said McCreary.

SERVE also provides other valuable services for the community: SERVEing close to 900 families a month, the Hunger Resource Center in Manassas is always in need of non-perishable items.

Families and individuals can avail of emergency supplies by making an appointment during service hours: • Monday and Tuesday 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 1-3 p.m., • Wednesday and Thursday 5-7:30 p.m., and • Friday and Saturday from 9:30-11:30 a.m.

The Hunger Resource Center provides emergency food to more than 10,000 unique individuals each year. “HRC staff are happy to travel to other sites to bring these services to low-income people throughout the Greater Prince William community,” said Ryan.

Community Support is Strong Donations for the Hunger Resource Center primarily come from individuals and families through canned food drives by civic groups, youth clubs, churches and companies, and excess food donations from grocery stores and restaurants. SERVE volunteers coordinate pickups of these donations from retail establishments.

The organization known as Friends of SERVE (FOS) makes a huge impact coordinating donation pickups. FOS is a membership-driven organization dedicated to supporting the SERVE Campus of NVFS and improving the quality of life in the community.

n Emergency assistance for utility, rent, water and gas payments. n A full continuum of safe and stable housing services, including 15 housing properties. n Access to free and reduced cost dental and medical care including medication. n Early Head Start classroom serving eight children (plus four classes serving 32 children in the nearby Georgetown South neighborhood). n Home-based Early Head Start and Healthy Families programs serving over 200 families. n Job skills and life skills training and support.

If you are looking for emergency assistance or help through one of SERVE’s programs, call the SERVE Campus at 571-748-2600, ext. 1.

Pavilion [in Manassas] has been booked, local restaurants will provide food tastings and we will have a local band play,” said Harridath. He explained that the organization needs to increase its exposure to the general public. “If we grow FOS, SERVE can grow and more people can be helped.”

“Our mission is to help get rid of homelessness in Northern Virginia and particularly for those in Prince William,” said FOS president Jeremy Harridath. The group organizes events such as breakfasts and social events like happy hours where people in the community can come out and raise money for SERVE.

Ryan said the ebb and flow of the economy seems to take care of itself in terms of donations. “The community is very responsive when we are short something in the HRC, whether it’s for a particular product or general donations overall.” But the organization always needs more help. For a tour of one of the facilities, to donate, advocate or otherwise get involved, contact SERVE Volunteer Coordinator Jan Hawkins at jhawkins@nvfs. org or 571-748-2621.

To increase funding and membership, Friends of Serve is organizing a big event called The Brewfest for October 9, 2015.

This event has gained a lot of backing so far with local breweries, a local band and local restaurants getting involved. “The Harris

A graduate of American University’s School of Communication, Olivia Overman (ooverman@princewilliamliving.com) writes articles for online and print publications. prince william living September 2015 | 15

health & wellness Overcoming Childhood Obesity

By Stacia Kelly, Ph.D., MHt

A

ccording to the Alliance for a Healthier Nation, “Virginia has the 29th highest childhood obesity rate in the United States. Currently 29.8% of youth in Virginia are overweight or obese.” How did we get to this point?

Worried about your child and their health? The biggest changes happen at home.

1. Schedule physical activity time. Don’t rely on P.E. or recess at school. Children need more active hours in the day. While health organizations recommend that adults get 20-30 minutes a day, children need 60 minutes or more. Try some new activities. Your kid isn’t interested in team sports? Look into a local Parkour gym. They love to dance? Check out a Zumba class.

2. Skip the Fast Food. Not sure what to make instead?

Check out Pinterest for fast recipes that include more fruits and vegetables. On average, children are getting only about two servings a day. If you do need to run through the drive-thru, know ahead of time what the healthier choices are on the menu so that you and the kids aren’t tempted by something with higher calories or hidden sugars. You can’t outrun bad food choices. When you’re feeding your body healthy foods, everything starts to come back into balance.

3. Skip the sodas. Migrate them over to water sooner rather than later. Sodas leach the calcium from their bones. This is even more detrimental during their growing years. If they like the soda carbonation, consider a SodaStream machine to make your own.

4. Set some goals. Maybe the entire family could target doing a local 5k together. There are fun ones out there like the Color Run that douse you with colored powders at certain points along the race.

5. Supplements. Even the healthiest eaters still aren’t getting all the nutrients they need; our children even more so. Use quality supplements to help add in those extra nutrients that might be missing.

Optimal health is a goal for us all. We want our children to have healthy habits now so that as they grow into adulthood, their habits are already formed.

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 facebook.com/StaciaDKelly.

16 | September 2015 prince william living

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taking care of business

Yellow Cab of Prince William County A Family Business Since 1978

By Tracy Shevlin

T

elevision shows such as “Taxi,” from the late 1970s and early 1980s, created humorous but negative stereotypes and public relations challenges for modern taxi companies.

However, contrary to that image, Yellow Cab of Prince William County is an award-winning family business that has served the greater Prince William area for nearly 40 years. Its awards include: Outstanding Community Service Award from Manassas City, the Senator Charles J. Colgan Advocacy Award and the Prince William County Chamber of Commerce Innovative Practice/Partnership of the Year in 2014.

grew up, I became more involved in the day-to-day operations.

When they became teenagers and adults, they all worked in the business at some point. In fact, now, three of my five children work full-time in the business and the fourth generation of young people–my grandchildren–is now spending summers working with us.

Prince William Living spoke to owner Tammy Beard and asked about changes in the industry and how it has adapted to remain a competitive and reliable service provider to the area.

PWL: As technology has changed over the years, how has it impacted your industry?

PWL: You told us that your father, Ira (Corky) Cochran, started Yellow Cab of Prince William in 1978. What was it like for you growing up in the business?

Beard: I started working for my dad when I was 15. I would work after school and in the summers answering the phones and dispatching calls. At that time, we also had the Greyhound Agency in Triangle, so I also sold bus tickets, shipped packages and helped the Greyhound passengers with price and routing questions.

I continued working in the business as I got older. It was a great option for me when my children were small. I could work around school schedules and bring them to work with me. As they 18 | September 2015 prince william living

I was lucky to be able to work closely with my dad building the business. I feel that he is watching over us. I hope that he is proud and approves of the directions that I have chosen.

Beard: Technology has impacted all facets of our business from dispatch and customer service to passenger and driver safety. It is a priority for us and also one of our most significant expenses.

Dispatching has gone from pen and paper and voice dispatching to a multi-faceted communication system. Customers have the ability to make reservations via phone, the internet, text, or even from an app, such as Gata Hub, from their smartphone.

GPS technology also impacts how we serve our customers. We equip each taxi with a minimum of two GPS units. The units tell us where each taxi is for real-time tracking purposes. And, the equipment also offers a playback feature whereby we can review the routes a driver took and how fast the vehicle was going. It is a great management tool and useful for safety and customer service.

Photo courtesy Yellow Cab of Prince William

Also, in July of 2013, we upgraded our phone systems so that people can call and connect with their driver or passenger. The phone system works as an interface to connect the parties, and customers’ privacy is maintained.

PWL: Have Uber or other transportation network companies (TNCs) impacted your business?

Beard: Uber is operating here in Prince William and it has affected us. Some of our customers have said that they have tried it and didn’t like it. While we have lost some customers and drivers to them, many have returned.

People don’t realize that the regulation over these companies has not been the same as that imposed on traditional taxi companies.

Our drivers are vetted, insured and safe. It is only with this last Virginia legislative session that some regulations have been put into place that begin to level the playing field. Even with the new laws, the safety, insurance and oversight are not the same.

For example, our vehicles are all equipped with cameras to help protect our drivers and their passengers. Also, all of our vehicles undergo a minimum of three inspections each year. Two are state inspections and a third inspection is done by the licensing bureau; along with a meter calibration inspection at least once a year.

TNC vehicles are not required to go through the same process.

They follow the guidelines for personal vehicles that require one safety inspection per year.

PWL: What are some of the other challenges that you face?

Beard: Our biggest obstacles are fighting illegal operators and overcoming the negative image of cabs and cab drivers. Yellow Cab is a small, locally owned and operated business. We are not a franchise or part of a large corporation. It’s like my dad used to say: “Taxi cabs are like sidewalks. Every town has them, but they are not connected to each other.”

One way we have adapted to overcome the stereotypes is to offer additional services that upgrade the taxi image. For example, we now offer executive sedan service as a taxi-alternative.

The service is contracted on an hourly rate, but costs less than a limousine. Additionally, we participate in and sponsor community events every year such as parades, charitable events and [county] chamber events. Public relations and recognition are important to us because we are a part of the community. We like to get out and meet our customers and introduce ourselves to others in the community.

Further information about Yellow Cab of Prince William County, which is a 24/7/365 service, can be found at yellowcabpw.com.

Yellow Cab of Prince William Owner Tammy Beard started working for her father, who started the business in 1978, when she was 15.

Tracy Shevlin (tshevlin@princewilliamliving.com) is a native Virginian and long-time Manassas area resident. She is a full-time office manager and holds a BIS degree in business communication from George Mason University. prince william living September 2015 | 19

family fun

Gardening with Kids Story and Photos by Amanda Causey Baity

M

y family loves fresh veggies and fruits that we get from our local Farmers Markets. Upon moving to our new farm in Manassas, we decided that a garden was a must. Fortunately, there was already a large area completely fenced where we could get started. We have loved deciding what to plant and mapping out the area on paper and making those plans a reality. The excitement of seeing the first sprouts popping up was fun for the kids, but I know their favorite part will be picking their vegetables and then helping me prepare a meal with them.

Plant Markers Supplies: Varying sizes of sturdy twigs Pocket knife Craft paint Paintbrush Permanent marker 1. Use your pocket knife to carve a pointed “hat” at the top of one end of a twig. Just keep whittling away until you end up with a pointed triangle. It doesn’t have to be super smooth.

2. Carve a rounded, flat “face” on one side of the twig. Vary the size of the faces on the different twigs to give each one character unless you want them all uniformed.

3. Carve a rounded, flat area on the bottom part of the stick (just like the face, but in the opposite direction). Write the names of your plants here. If you have veggies or fruits with long names 20 | September 2015 prince william living

(continues on page 22)

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(continued from page 20) (like “cucumbers” or “strawberries”), make sure to use a few longer sticks and carve appropriately.

4. Paint your gnomes’ hats and beards in any color you desire! If you use all red hats/white beards, you will end up with Santa Claus look-a-likes so mix things up. You can even match the hat to the colors of your veggies and fruits.

5. Let dry completely. If your twigs don’t stand up on their own, poke holes in the bottom of a cardboard box so they can dry without smearing the paint.

6. After your twigs are completely dry, write the veggie names onto the bottom part of the twigs with a permanent marker. If you mess up, you can always whittle away the top layer and start fresh.

7. Dig a small hole near the corresponding plant and enjoy your new garden friends.

Not only is gardening a wonderful outdoor activity you can do together, but gardening with kids helps them understand where our food comes from and how it grows.

22 | September 2015 prince william living

Amanda Causey Baity, (acausey@ princewilliamliving.com) Prince William Living’s marketing director and photo editor, also blogs about thrifty family activities on her blog GreenOwlCrafts.com.

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prince william living September 2015 | 23

home & hearth Preparing for a Fall Cleaning

By Niki VanEch

I

t’s beginning to look like autumn. Kids are back at school, daylight is shorter, morning air is crisp—all of which signal winter’s approach. And that means the holidays are not far behind. Use autumn’s brisk days to conquer deep cleaning for a clean and comfortable winter home. This fall cleaning checklist will help you prepare.

We have roots, where others have branches.

n Clean from top to bottom. Vacuum drapes and window treatments. Clean window sills and window wells.

Vacuum baseboards and in the corners. n Schedule a professional carpet cleaning. Rotate area rugs to even out wear in the high-traffic areas. n Vacuum upholstered furniture, or have them professionally cleaned if needed. Flip and rotate cushions to even out their wear. n Rotate bed mattresses. Rotating mattresses helps prevent the formation of sleeping “wallows,” caused by the same body in the same spot every night. Give your mattresses a good vacuum to remove debris and mites. n Launder all bedding: mattress pads, pillows, duvets, blankets and comforters. n Pull the refrigerator away from the wall and vacuum the condenser coils. For bottom-mounted coils use a long narrow brush to clean coils of dust and debris.

Clean coils will prolong the life of your refrigerator. n Wash interior windows. For a safe and effective nontoxic cleaner, try mixing 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol and 2 cups water in a spray bottle. n Wash light fixtures’ light-diffusing bowls. Get out the dead moths and bugs that settled in over the summer.

And don’t forget the exterior front porch lights, too. n Schedule a fall furnace inspection, and ask them to drain the sediment from your hot water heater.

Remember to change filters monthly for maximum energy savings and indoor comfort. n Finally, have your chimneys and flues inspected and cleaned if necessary. Built-up creosote from wood burning leaves a foul smell and can restrict airflow in your chimney if left unchecked.

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Solicit the help of your kids and family to help knock off these chores and make your home and hearth clean and comfortable this winter season.

Niki VanEch is an interior designer who has been helping clients in the metropolitan D.C. area for more than 20 years.

Her home furnishings store, VanEch Studio, is located in Occoquan, Va. Her website is VanEchStudio.com. Like her at facebook.com/VanEchStudio.

24 | September 2015 prince william living

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local flavor

Nando’s Peri-Peri Brings a World of Flavor to Prince William

By Marianne E. Weaver | Photos by Linda Hughes

I

n 1987, Fernando Duarte invited his friend Robbie Brozin to a Portuguese eatery in working-class Rosettenville, South Africa.

His goal: to get Brozin to try traditional PERi-PERi marinated and basted chicken, prepared by third and fourth generation Portuguese locals, who combined Portuguese-influenced marinade flavors with South African open-flame cooking.

“By the time Robbie finished his first meal, he knew this was the most exciting thing that happened to chicken,” said Bagher Sepanpour, Nando’s USA head of marketing. “Robbie’s mission was to change the way people think about and eat chicken around the world.”

That little chicken restaurant in Rosettenville—known then as Chickenland—has evolved into Nando’s Peri-Peri, with nearly 1,200 restaurants in 23 countries. The DC-Maryland-Virginia area is home to 23 restaurants. In 2013, two locations opened in Prince William: Woodbridge (15001 Potomac Town Place) and Gainesville (14030 Promenade Commons). Sepanpour said all locations focus on providing visitors with exceptional food served in a unique atmosphere with a special emphasis on community involvement.

But Don’t Call Them a Chain “I hate that definition; it implies that they all look alike,” said Sepanpour. No two locations look alike. We typically spend three times more than a typical fast-casual restaurant would on a build.”

Ed Dandar, Patrão (Portuguese for ‘Head of the House’) of Nando’s in Gainesville, said Nando’s is “a chain that is not a chain.” He added that each location features South African art.

“Our company buys from up-and-coming South African artists, and we have one-of-a-kind pieces in every restaurant.”

26 | September 2015 prince william living

Regardless of location, the key to that menu is the renowned butterfly-cut, flame-grilled PERi-PERi chicken, which the team marinates in a sauce that contains no preservatives, colors or artificial flavors.

But this isn’t just your everyday grilled chicken. For starters, Sepanpour said, the poultry is always fresh, never frozen. “Our chicken comes from farms within a 300-mile radius of each location,” he said. The chicken and marinade for the Prince William restaurants comes from Maryland. “It is good for the neighborhood and local commerce.”

Dandar, who grew up on a farm, added, “We have the freshest chicken you will ever eat unless you grow up on a farm. We don’t rotisserie spit it and we don’t just grill it. Our chicken is marinated for a minimum of 48 hours. Plain is plain-ISH because it’s all been marinated.”

Diners have their choice of six marinades to add to their chicken as it grills in the open kitchen: n Plain(ish), which is marinated in the peri-peri but does not have any added spice; n lemon and herb or mango and lime, which has a hint of heat mixed with the citrus flavor; n medium, which has a bit more heat; n hot, which is described on the menu as “highly combustible – proceed with caution;” and n extra hot, which is described as “tackling a ferociously fiery dragon in a furnace.”

Samantha Fulda of Gainesville said she discovered Nando’s when she answered a call for residents to attend a trial opening in fall 2013. “I was willing and impressed by the food,” she said. Since then, her family of four averages two trips to Nando’s each month.

L to R: Staff members Holly, Mary, Bobby, Mimi, Abu at the Woodbridge location.

“We are big fans of the chicken, but the sides keep us coming back,” she said. “Options like macho peas and cucumber poppy seed salad give us a chance to have healthy vegetables prepared in flavorful ways instead of the usual fries. Admittedly, no visit is complete without a naughty nata [a Portuguese custard tart], though. Healthy sides make room for a small indulgence at the end. Our kids love the endless fro-yo.”

Jorge Lemus, general manager of Nando’s in Woodbridge, said chicken on the bone ($12.45 with one side item or $14.45 for two), with medium heat, is the most popular item at his location.

“And people love our French fries and mashed potatoes. I’ve also seen Yelp reviews from people who come in for corn on the cob,” he said.

Dandar said Gainesville patrons favor Nandocas’ Choice ($11.75), which is a butterflied peri-peri chicken breast served on garlic bread and topped with coleslaw.

No Chucking the Chicken Sepanpour said in addition to serving patrons the best chicken, the company has established the “No Chucking our Chicken” program to serve the community. He explained that general managers identify local organizations to distribute any food that was prepared but not used.

Gainesville Nando’s partnered with Outside the Walls Ministry - Gainesville, which collects the food at the end of the night and distributes it to nearby food banks. The Woodbridge restaurant works with Action in Community Through Service of Prince William, Inc. (ACTS) in Dumfries to deliver their unused food.

In addition to donating uneaten food, both restaurants offer fundraising opportunities to local schools and non-profits. Unlike

Nando’s Chicken with PERi chips and Macho Peas (rugged pea mash with whole peas, parsley, mint and chilli).

other establishments that offer 10 percent to 20 percent of profits, Sepanpour said Nando’s general managers are allowed to create partnerships that deliver up to 40 percent of the take.

“That is quite aggressive. We won’t work with just anyone; it has to mean something to our team and our restaurant. Since it’s like giving away our profit, the organizations must be willing to partner and work hard with us. We want to give out substantial checks, so they need to work as hard as our guys,” said Sepanpour.

The Woodbridge store has worked with nearby elementary schools, Providing Access to Healthcare for the Deaf Community and the Forest Park High School dance team.

“We don’t try to get credit,” said Dandar. “But we think it is the right thing to do.”

Marianne Weaver (mweaver@princewilliamliving.com) is a freelance editor and writer who lives in Gainesville, Va. She earned a B.A. in English from the University of Pittsburgh and an M.J. from Temple University. prince william living September 2015 | 27

your finances What’s the Right Life Insurance?

By Bennett Whitlock, CRPC® Private Wealth Advisor

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ife insurance is available in a variety of different forms. It helps to understand a few basics about life insurance, but there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution. You need to determine what works best for you. In large part, the choices you make about life insurance involve finding the right balance between the lowest cost possible and the most appropriate coverage for you.

1. The basic options There are two primary types of life insurance policies: n Term insurance: policies that provide a death benefit for survivors after you die, but no other features. n Whole-life or permanent life insurance: policies that combine a death benefit for survivors with a cash value that can be accessed while you are still living.

2. Term insurance – cost sensitive coverage If keeping current premiums for life insurance as low as possible and replacing your income stream for a beneficiary are your priorities, term insurance can be a good option. The younger and healthier you are when first purchasing a policy, the less costly it will be.

Also, the amount of coverage that seems sufficient early in life is likely to increase once you add children as dependents or as your income rises. Note that term insurance typically expires after a stated period of time or once you reach a specific age, so the benefit is paid only if you die during the stated term.

3. Permanent life insurance – coverage beyond death benefits You can choose from a variety of permanent life insurance policies, which could include traditional whole life, variable life, universal life or variable universal life. Like term policies, they pay designated beneficiaries at your death. An important difference from term life is that they don’t have a termination date. As long as adequate premiums are paid and the policy remains in force, beneficiaries will receive the death benefit.

Like anything else in your financial life, the need to protect loved ones requires that you assess what options work best for your circumstances and needs. Be sure to discuss your options with a financial advisor or insurance specialist before making any decisions.

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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September

calendar Tackett’s Mill Farmers Market

Tuesdays | 3:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Tackett’s Mill Commuter Lot Harbor Drive, Lake Ridge Find produce, meat, jams, bread and more each Tuesday now through November.

Market is held in the parking lot directly behind the McDonald’s. More info: facebook.com/TackettsMill.

Manassas Farmers Market

Prince William Community Band Summer Sounds Sept. 5 | 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Harris Pavilion 9201 Center Street, Manassas The Prince William Community Band will be presenting music to honor heroes of all kinds. From Superman to first responders, the Band will play tunes to honor them all. This concert is free. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket for seating.

Book Sale: Friends of Potomac Library

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

Harris Pavilion & Parking Lot B 9201 Center Street, Manassas Thursdays in Harris Pavilion, and Saturdays in Lot B, find fresh produce, meats, beverages, baked goods, artisan crafts and more. SNAP accepted. There’s also an evening market on Tuesdays at the pavilion, 5 - 8 pm. More info: historicmanassasinc.org.

Sept. 11 - 13 | Friday & Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sunday Noon - 2 p.m.

Potomac Community Library 2201 Opitz Blvd, Woodbridge The Friends of Potomac Community Library invite all ages to shop many used books, magazines, and audiovisual materials. There is something of interest for everyone! Bag sale on Sunday - fill a brown paper grocery bag full of used books and pay only $1.00 for the whole bag of books!

Haymarket Farmers Market

Bands, Brews and Barbecue

Saturdays | 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Town Hall Parking Lot 5000 Washington Street, Haymarket Find Virginia-grown foods from a variety of vendors. More info: townofhaymarket.org.

Yoga on the Lawn

Saturdays | 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.

Rippon Lodge Historic Site 15500 Blackburn Road, Woodbridge Join certified yoga instructor Hamuri Allen for an hour long Vinyasa yoga practice with views of the Potomac River.

Beginners welcome. Bring a yoga mat, towel and water. $5 per class or 5 classes for $20 or 10 classes for $45. More info: 703-499-9812.

Dale City Farmers Market

Sundays | 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Center Plaza Commuter Lot 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.

Sept. 12 | 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

The Manassas Museum 9101 Prince William Street, Manassas Historic Downtown Manassas will hold its 5th Annual Bands, Brews, and Barbecue Festival on September 12 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. (last pour at 5:45 p.m.) with VIP entry beginning at 11 a.m. This ticketed event features several local beers for sampling, Northern Virginia’s best barbecue- and live music. $35 per person.

For more info: visitmanassas.org/event/ bands-brews-and-barbecue/?instance_id or call 703-361-6599.

Historic Ales of the Revolution at Williams Ordinary

Sept. 12 - 13 | 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Williams Ordinary 17674 Main St. Dumfries Experience the 18th century through local and historically inspired beer and food in the area’s oldest original tavern.

Sample historical beers while enjoying colonial inspired hors d’oeurves. Learn about the history of brewing beer and the roles that taverns played in early

American communities. $35 per person, reservations required, 21 and older only.

For more info: www.pwcgov.org/history or call 703-792-4754.

World War II Weekend

Sept. 12 - 13 | 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Rippon Lodge 15500 Blackburn Road, Woodbridge Admiral Black,the last private owner of Rippon Lodge, was a WWII veteran and survivor of Pearl Harbor. Learn about daily life of soldiers in the European and Pacific Theatres. World War II living historians will portray Axis and Allied soldiers and will discuss their equipment, armaments and historic military vehicles.

Learn about the home front and the many ways that citizens supported the war effort. View collections of original WWII artifacts. Free, donations accepted.

For more info: 703-499-9812.

Viewing Our Region Through Geology-Colored Glasses

Sept. 15 | 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Bull Run Regional Library 8051 Ashton Ave, Manassas Award-winning NOVA Geology Professor Callan Bentley provides a fascinating tour of our region’s geologic history, looking at the modern landscape and interpreting the epic tectonic saga of the rocks beneath our feet. 60 seats available. To register: relic2@pwcgov.org

Haymarket Day and Parade

Sept. 19 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Downtown Haymarket The Annual Haymarket Day draws thousands of participants, spectators and vendors from Haymarket and surrounding towns. This year will mark the 28th year! Haymarket Day is a huge celebration that kicks off with a lively parade with over 1,800 participants including talented performance groups of all sorts, colorful floats, the spirited Battlefield High Marching Band, respected military personnel and many more. The streets are lined with booths and vendors offering everything from cotton candy to juried crafts and artwork.

Children’s activities and live music keep the day flowing for attendees of all ages.

For more info: www.townofhaymarket. org/index.php/events/haymarket-day.

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

30 | September 2015 prince william living

Discover Prince William & Manassas

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eptember brings on cooler weather and along with it a flurry of outdoor festivities to enjoy. From picking your own pumpkins to sipping wine on the Potomac, here in Prince William & Manassas we are lucky to have a wide variety of fall activities to choose from.

So get your family together and take advantage of the many events happening. You will be glad you did.

Enjoy the Prince William County Farm Tour and visit the 10 stops on Saturday, September 26th and Sunday, September 27th. Pick your own pumpkins while at Yankey Farms. Watch a sheep-shearing demonstration at the Ben Lomond Historic House or learn how to play historic lawn games at Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre. This tour incorporates the important role that agriculture plays in our community.

Ann Marie Maher

President and CEO Discover Prince William & Manassas

Historic Downtown Manassas has countless activities to offer families and friends.

Check out the 5th annual Bands, Brews, and BBQ on Saturday, September 12th. This lip-smacking event will feature top local beers, tasty Virginia BBQ and live music.

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At the Taste of the Potomac at Rippon Lodge, sip on local wine and beer while relaxing by the river on September 26th. The whole family can join in on the fun.

Find local food vendors selling tasty treats and breweries and wineries serving regional microbrews and handcrafted wines. Have a picnic on the lawn and listen to live music.

Historic home tours will also be offered during the day with costumed interpreters serving as your host.

With everyone’s busy schedules gearing up for fall, it’s easy to miss these events happening in your backyard. Make sure to mark your calendars to discover all of the fall festivities in Prince William & Manassas.

Ann Marie Maher is the President/CEO of Discover Prince William & Manassas. For more information about what’s going on in Prince William and Manassas, visit DiscoverPWM. com or visit us on facebook/pwcmanassas.

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lifelong learning What’s Cooking at Stratford University?

By Marianne E. Weaver

T

Photo courtesy of Stratford University

he aroma of chocolate greets visitors as they step out of the elevator. To the right, just behind a set of double glass doors, waitstaff in crisp white shirts and long black aprons huddle, laying out their service plan. This place is not a fourstar restaurant. It’s the fourth floor of Woodbridge’s Stratford University and home of its culinary arts department.

“We have had phenomenal gourmet meals here,” said Joanne Clark, president of the Northern Virginia chapter of the American Business Women’s Association. The group meets in Stratford’s private dining room monthly.

Brett Chappell, an adjunct professor of dining service, oversees the luncheons, which are planned, prepared and served by students. “The students learn the importance of good service and that it is taking care of the customer,” he said.

He added that the public is invited to dine for both lunch and dinner at Stratford. Although the exact menu is not publicized, guests can expect a three-course meal, either served or buffet style, for less than $25 a person.

Stratford’s culinary arts program offers both associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs, available for both day and night students. The degrees offered are: n Bachelor of Arts in hospitality or culinary management; n Associate of Applied Science in advanced culinary arts, baking and pastry arts or hotel and restaurant management; and n Advanced Culinary Arts Professional Diploma.

Hyatt Washington’s Blue Duck Tavern and the Inn at Little Washington, he mixes his experience as a farmer with his 20 years of experience as a chef.

“When I was at the Inn, I ordered of the produce and developed an understanding of what is fresh and what is not,” he said. “As a chef you pay attention to where your food comes from.”

The appreciation of fresh foods is one he strives to pass on to his students, through one of his favorite courses – entrée production.

“It is never the same,” he said. “I teach according to the seasons.”

“Most of our students are working full-time,” said Noree Hatheway, Stratford University associate program director, culinary arts and hospitality management. “The associate’s degree is 90 credit hours and the bachelor’s is 180.” Students, she added, can qualify for federal and military financial aid.

Mike Lampros, chef/owner of Giorgio’s in Montclair, graduated from Stratford in 1996. “The whole reason I went to culinary school was so I could open a restaurant,” he said. “Stratford gives you a good base to build upon. You learn many culinary techniques. And, they have a very good business program.”

Sixteen years after opening his Greek/Italian restaurant, he is still connected to Stratford, occasionally bringing students on for internships and externships. “They were all very good,” he said.

“I occasionally see some of them and they are doing very well.”

Junior Debbie Supprey, who balances classes with her job at Windows Catering Company in Alexandria, Va., said, “When we leave here, we know we are prepared for the culinary world.”

Hatheway said current students are completing externships at Firebirds and Wegmans in Woodbridge, and the Marriott and Ritz-Carlton in Tysons Corner.

Classmate Matthew Harris, a sophomore who is a baker at Panera, said professors eagerly pass their knowledge to the next generation of chefs. “They teach us how to make our food unique.”

Go to www.stratford.edu/pages/fine-dining for a complete listing of monthly events or to place a reservation.

Adjunct Professor James Kirby teaches a wide array of those classes. He’s also a full-time farmer. Previously a chef at Park 34 | September 2015 prince william living

Marianne Weaver (mweaver@princewilliamliving.com) is a freelance editor and writer. She earned a BA in English from the University of Pittsburgh and an MJ from Temple University.

tambourines and elephants Apocalypse (Not) Now

By DeeDee Corbitt Sauter It’s the end of civilization as we know it. Probably due to some political scandal in combination with the upcoming generation of poorly behaved teens and young adults. Or so I’ve been told.

They say that the kids these days, specifically the teens, lack respect, have no sense of responsibility and only know a world dedicated to videogames. Also that they are not accustomed to hard work of any sort.

I watch the news; I am not in the dark. My favorite show characters deal with forensics, plot twists and unexpected villains.

Sometimes the perpetrators end up being troubled family members or the progeny of loving parents. It’s a dangerous world.

This generation may very well be the last to enjoy a civilized world filled with plenty of water and modern conveniences, a direct result of their maudlin attitude and slacker ways.

Now that my oldest is a teenager, I have the unfortunate opportunity to meet and greet teens of all shapes, sizes, colors and odors on an almost daily basis. Call it naiveté, but so far, my sixyear-old seems more bent on destroying our race with his behavior than any of the eating machines that rummage my kitchen pantry.

A herd of pubescent youth gathered at my home recently. I am not sure why they cannot seem to smell each other, but no one is ever offended. Regardless, they frolicked (is that word permitted when describing a teen’s behavior?) with nerf guns, ice cubes and latex balloons while they ate an enormous amount of junk food. They were so grateful for everything that I offered, which means they are welcome back any time so that I can experience the feeling of exuberant gratitude.

At some point, one of the attendees, a 14-year-old girl, emptied the contents of her drawstring bag onto the kitchen table on a double-dog dare.

What she considered important could be a fascinating insight as proof that the world is not nearing the end. At least, not with her assistance.

It started with a small glow-in-the-dark rubber ducky sporting a tee shirt and tiny sailor hat. That was probably the last thing I expected her to pull from her bag. A school notebook and an assigned paperback came out next, along with a gray speckled travel umbrella and an iPhone. I did a double take. The working charged phone was not in her pocket, her hand or on the table next to her. It was actually in the bag. She was with friends and did not feel a need to interrupt their time together. I could learn a lesson from that.

Next she showed us a family crest key ring, still in its package; a well-worn, purple kazoo; an unsharpened personalized pencil advertising fire safety; and a plastic fork she had taken from the kitchen table at the party she was currently attending. The final treasures were a green plastic good-luck St. Patrick’s Day coin, the program from a play she was in and a box of expanding dental floss.

After the astounding show-and-tell that elicited laughter, giggles, and cheers, we concluded that there could not be a better collection of valuables in all the world.

Someone without insight would assume that she could easily replace each item at a discount store for a few dollars. They would be utterly mistaken. Cheap replicas could not embody the stories and history of the treasures she carried.

“... a 14-year-old girl emptied the contents of her drawstring bag onto the kitchen table on a double-dog dare.”

In a time when I am systematically eliminating extraneous and nonessential decor, this young lady is collecting one small, seemingly vital object at a time that stand as sentimental reminders of family, friends and great times. It all fits into one satchel.

Now I could be greatly mistaken, but anyone who carries memories with them for all occasions cannot be plotting to destroy the world. Firstly, weapons of complete domination and annihilation cannot fit into the bag if it’s already full of trinkets.

Secondly, she is clearly not bent on a totalitarian profession if she is nostalgic.

On the other hand, I recently ran across a herd of about six teen boys. None of them were carrying bags. Because of that, I could not be sure of their intentions.

I gave them a wide berth because you never know, they could be the cause of the end of the world.

DeeDee Corbitt Sauter is a resident of Northern Virginia. Her column, “Tambourines and Elephants,” appears monthly in Prince William Living. prince william living September 2015 | 35

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distribution sites Pick up a free copy of Prince William Living at one of the following fine locations: 15040 Heathcote Boulevard, Gainesville Appliance Connection 7101 Heritage Village Plaza, Gainesville 13851 Telegraph Road, Suite 101, Woodbridge 5101 Waterway Drive, Montclair City of Manassas 12908 Occoquan Road, Woodbridge 9027 Center Street, Manassas 2100 Rippon Boulevard, Woodbridge Discover Prince William & Manassas 9511 Technology Drive, Manassas 10611 Balls Ford Road, Suite 110, Manassas 4290 Prince William Parkway, Woodbridge Edward Kelly Leadership Center 10249 Hendley Road, Manassas 14715 Bristow Road, Manassas 4300 Prince William Parkway, Woodbridge Historic Manassas Inc Northern Virginia Community College Visitor’s Center at the Train Depot Manassas Campus, 6901 Sudley Road 9431 West Street, Manassas Woodbridge Campus, 15200 Neabsco Mills Road Manassas Christian Academy Prince William Association of Realtors 8757 Signal Hill Road, Manassas 4545 Daisy Reid Avenue, Woodbridge Manassas Christian School Prince William County Fairgrounds 9296 West Carondelet Drive, Manassas 10624 Dumfries Road, Manassas Manassas Park City Schools Prince William Ice Center One Park Center Court, Suite A, Manassas Park 5180 Dale Boulevard, Dale City Manassas Park – Parks and Recreation Prince William Parks and Recreation 99 Adams Street, Manassas Prince William Public Library System Mason Enterprise Center 14418 Bristow Road, Manassas 10890 George Mason Cir., Bull Run Hall, Rm 147, Manassas 12964 Harbor Drive, Lake Ridge The Merit School of Prince William 12993 Fitzwater Drive, Nokesville 14308 Spriggs Road, Woodbridge 8051 Ashton Avenue, Manassas 8601 Mathis Avenue, Manassas Minnieland 13065 Chinn Park Drive, Woodbridge 5555 Assateague Place, Manassas 4249 Dale Boulevard, Dale City 12700 Correen Hills Drive, Bristow 18007 Dumfries Shopping Plaza, Dumfries 10368 Bristow Center, Bristow 4603 James Madison Highway, Haymarket 10910 Feeder Lane, Woodbridge 2201 Opitz Boulevard, Woodbridge 3498 Cranmer Mews, Woodbridge 13923 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge 5255 Merchants View Square, Haymarket 8299 Harness Shop Road, Gainesville

Prince William County Tourist Information Center 200 Mill Street, Occoquan Safeway 4215 Cheshire Station Plaza, Dale City 4240 Merchant Plaza, Woodbridge 2205 Old Bridge Road, Woodbridge 12821 Braemar Village Plaza, Bristow Shopper’s Food and Pharmacy 9540 Liberia Avenue, Manassas 14000 Shoppers Best Way, Woodbridge 4174 Fortuna Center Plaza, Dumfries 10864 Sudley Manor Drive, Manassas The Sign Shop 2603 Morse Lane, Woodbridge Town of Dumfries 17755 Main Street, Dumfries Town of Haymarket 15000 Washington Street, Haymarket Town of Occoquan Town Hall, 314 Mill Street, Occoquan Town of Quantico 337 5th Avenue, Quantico Virginia Realty Partners 4004 Genessee Place #209, Woodbridge

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Celebrating our 30th Anniversary Year of Serving Children and Families in our Community!

YFT Campus 11835 Hazel Circle Drive, Bristow, VA SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3RD | 10:00am-5:00pm

Photography by DG Photography www.dawngardner.com

FUN FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES !

Northern Virginia’s most affordable “family fall festival”, the Country Fair & Auctions will be held on Youth For Tomorrow’s campus on Saturday, October 3rd from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is hosted by YFT Founder, legendary Washington Redskins Head Coach and current NASCAR team owner, Joe Gibbs. The Fair offers more than 75 amusement rides and activities which are FREE with the admission price of $10 for adults and $5 for children, an incredible price for a day of fun for the entire family!

FREE Parking Available at the YFT CAMPUS and 2 Satellite Parking Locations with FREE Shuttle Bus to the Gate! Visit www.YouthForTomorrow.org for More Information!