Country Zest & Style Fall 2025 Edition

WINDY HILL: A HAND UP

Co-president Shannon Davis, Executive Director Eloise Repeczky, with residents Shirley Rhoads and Frances Wallace

FIDELIO

THE PLAINS, VIRGINIA

European Elegance on 61 Acres | Timeless luxury | Stunning European-inspired estate featuring reclaimed antiquity throughout Limestone floors, museum-quality finishes, hand-painted coffered ceilings, and exquisite mahogany doors and windows 5 spacious bedrooms, 5 full baths, and 6 fireplaces | Exceptional kitchen and elevator | The compound also includes a separate gallery/studio, a stone cottage, guest house, spa pool, tennis court, and lovely grounds with a stream, waterfalls, orchards, gardens, and river frontage

$9,000,000

helen MacMahon 540.454.1930

ADA ROAD

MARSHALL, VIRGINIA

240.1 acres in 4 lots | Property is in a Virginia Outdoor Foundation Conservation Easement and may be subject to one division Stunning views, 120+ acres of highly productive farm land | Remaining acreage is pasture-fenced for cattle or horses | 6-bay equipment building, feed storage, & workshop | Barn with an apartment

$3,750,000

lynn Wiley 540.454.1527

ISAAC EATON HOUSE

kitchen | Many recent updates Gorgeous property | Rare offering

$1,395,000

helen MacMahon 540.454.1930

THE ARMFIELDS: Back Where It All Began

By Leonard Shapiro

“You can’t go home again,” was the memorable title of Thomas Wolfe’s 1940 novel, but Middleburg native Howard Armfield and his wife Gloria would definitely disagree.

Over the summer, the Armfields, married now for 63 years, moved into a lovely home in the Ridgeview subdivision of the village a few doors down from where Howard grew up. They’d been living over the last 20 years at Belvedere, their residence not far from the Zulla Road entrance to the Middleburg Tennis Club.

One day, Gloria and their daughter, Kate, happened to be driving through Ridgeview and passed a home with a “For Sale/Open House” sign out front. Gloria, who moved to Middleburg in 1959, recalled that one of her best friends at Loudoun County High School had once lived there.

“Why don’t we go take a look?” Gloria recalled telling Kate that memorable day. “Well, we walked inside and we looked around. We both loved the house and the lot. I said to her ‘do you think I should go get dad?’ It was one of those things where it was just meant to be.”

The Armfields had actually been talking about possibly downsizing from their spacious house and property at Belvedere, and the timing of that spur-of-themoment visit couldn’t have been more perfect.

The Middleburg house where Howard Armfield grew up, just down the street.

These days, when Howard sits on their front porch, he can easily see his childhood home. When he puts their dog, Duchess, on her leash and walks a few hundred yards down the street, the old red barn his late father had once converted into a house comes into view.

The Armfields now live on the same street where Howard rode his bicycle as a boy.

And they couldn’t be more pleased with their decision to relocate to the second oldest subdivision in Loudoun County. Gloria grew up in southern Virginia and moved to Middleburg in 1959 when her father, The Rev. U.G. Bailey, became the minister at the United Methodist Church on West Washington Street.

“The word was that the new minister had a cute 16-year-old daughter,” Howard recalled. “All the boys started to go to church or Sunday school. That’s where we first met, in June, 1959.”

The two dated in high school before Howard went off to Duke University in Durham, N.C. A year later, Gloria enrolled at Emory & Henry University near Abbington in Southwest Virginia.

Back in Middleburg, their families had also become great friends and Howard and Gloria wanted to marry. At the time, both were under 21 and in Virginia, needed parental consent. Not so in North Carolina, where 18 was the magic number. So they decided to elope and got married in South Hills, N.C.

After college, Howard worked as a CPA in Washington for five years before he was offered a chance to join his family’s long-time insurance business—Armfield, Harrison & Thomas (AHT)—then based in Leesburg. Gloria worked at a D.C.based photography company and they were living in Bethesda.

In 1969, Howard joined AHT, an insurance brokerage and consulting firm his dad had started in Middleburg with his partner, Powell Harrison. In 1979, Gloria opened her own highly successful local real estate firm. Now, they’re both retired and very happily back in the village, surrounded by many long-time friends who also live in the neighborhood.

Can’t go home again? Don’t tell that to Howard and Gloria Armfield.

Photos by Leonard Shapiro Gloria and Howard Armfield at their new home in Middleburg.

Personalities, Celebrations and Sporting Pursuits

© 2023 Country ZEST & Style, LLC.

Published six times a year

Distributed and mailed throughout the Virginia countryside and in Washington and at key Sporting Pursuits and Celebrations

MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 798

Middleburg, Virginia 20118

PHONE: 410-570-8447

Editor: Leonard Shapiro badgerlen@aol.com

Advertising Director Vicky Mayshaw

Art Director

Meredith Hancock

Hancock Media

Contributing

Photographers:

Doug Gehlsen

Crowell Hadden

Sarah Huntington

Douglas Lees

Karen Monroe

Tiffany Dillon Keen

Donna Strama

of NOTE

BE ON THE LOOKOUT through this issue of for the hummingbird.

He appears in two ads and the first two readers to find him (one each) will receive a gift from THE RED TRUCK Rural Bakery, with locations in Warrenton and Marshall. Send your reply to badgerlen@aol.com

Official Fine Artist

Linda Volrath

Contributing Writers:

Khris Baxter

Emma Boyce

Bill Cauley

Sean Clancy

Denis Cotter

Philip Dudley

Mike du Pont

Valerie Archibald Embrey

Michele Husfelt

Alissa Jones

Laura Longley

Hunt Lyman

M.J. McAteer

Jan Mercker

Linda Millington

Joe Motheral

Jodi Nash

Chris Patusky

Tom Northrup

Ali Patusky

Melissa Phipps

Pat Reilly

Linda Roberts

John E. Ross

Constance Chatfield-Taylor

John Sherman

Peyton Tochterman

John Toler

Leslie VanSant

Mike Wipfler

Louisa Woodville

For advertising inquiries, contact:

Vicky Mayshaw at vickymashaw@icloud.com or 409-381-0441

Leonard Shapiro at badgerlen@aol.com or 410-570-8447

It’s great to be back to basics in the studio. There were two strobes, Profoto umbrellas, white background, the camera set at 1/125 second shutter speed, aperture at f/8.0, and ISO set to 250. It all went like clockwork with the great folks from Windy Hill. The challenge, as always, is to get everyone looking their best. Mission accomplished!

www.countryzestandstyle.com

WORDS MATTER

By Leonard Shapiro

Before he headed off for his junior year of college, my grandson Seneca, now 21, happened to mention that the Cambridge University Dictionary recently had added some interesting new so-called “words.”

He was particularly intrigued by three of them, including “skibidi,” which, according to the definition, can have different meanings such as “cool” or “bad,” or can be used with no real meaning as a joke. He also cited “tradwife,” short for traditional wife, and my personal favorite, “delulu,” as in “skibidi, what are you, delusional?”

Of course, none of our many talented Country ZEST contributors are delulu enough to think that their favorite editor will allow any of those words to creep into their respective stories. And so far, so good.

I much prefer John Toler’s prose in a fascinating feature on the poet laureate of post Civil War Virginia—James DeRuyter Blackwell (1828-1901). A Warrenton native, one of Blackwell’s poems was believed to be the inspiration for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery. You can read a few of those verses and many others from Blackwell’s work in yet another fabulous Toler story. And speaking of fabulous, how else to describe the countless contributions made by two of our cover subjects. Board co-president Shannon Davis and executive director Eloise Repeczky are among the leaders of the widely regarded Middleburg-based Windy Hill Foundation. It’s been supplying much needed affordable housing for hundreds of area residents since 1981, including our other two cover women, Frances Wallace and Shirley Rhoads.

John Ross has contributed a rollicking profile of one of the area’s most familiar faces— Gomer Pyles, computer expert, phenomenal photographer and a man who once walked across America with his then toddler daughter in tow. And Denis Cotter has produced the illuminating story of Daniel Cox Sands, once known as “Mr. Middleburg” and a fox hunting legend in these parts.

If this is October, it’s the heart of football season. So read all about a remarkable young athlete who grew up in Marshall, is now in his senior high school season at Woodberry Forest and already has accepted a full scholarship to play at Virginia Tech. That would be 17-year-old Ben “Buddy” Wegdam, a rock-solid 6-foot-7, 280-pound offensive tackle.

A tad tinier is Haley Van Voorhis, a 5-foot-6, 145-pound native of The Plains. She made college football history in 2023 at Shenandoah University when she became the first woman not a kicker to play a regular position (safety) in an NCAA game. This recent college graduate now has a chance to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in either flag football or rugby.

As always, there’s so much more to add a little ZEST in satiating your reading appetite. Satiating? Beats the bejabbers out of skibidi, whatever that means.

Leonard Shapiro Editor badgerlen@aol.com

410-570-8447

Doug Gehlsen and Karen Monroe of Middleburg Photo

By Peter Leonard-Morgan

Over twenty years ago, two Australian blokes were sharing a beer in a Melbourne pub when a lighthearted question arose: ‘Why had the oncefashionable moustache fallen out of favor?’ What began as a casual conversation would spark a global phenomenon, including a Leesburg offshoot.

Inspired by a friend’s mother who was battling breast cancer, the pair challenged their mates to “man up” and grow a ’stache for the month of November—raising awareness for men’s health, especially prostate cancer. They created a logo, launched a website, and rallied 450 “Mo Bros” in the first year, raising over $50,000 for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

The momentum was unstoppable. By the following year, more than 9,000 moustache-wearers raised over a million dollars. Today, Movember spans 21 countries, has raised more than $700 million, and supports over 1,000 men’s health charities.

9" wide x 5.87" tall template

One of the movement’s most stylish features is the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR), where motorcyclists don dapper attire, secure sponsors, and take to the streets worldwide on the same day. In 2021, the concept shifted into pre-1980 classic cars,

and the Distinguished Gentleman’s Drive (DGD) was born.

Drivers gather early for scenic motoring adventures, delighting the public with their elegant vehicles and vintage-inspired wardrobes—all while raising funds for men’s health. There’s no winner; this is a rally, driven at posted speed limits, with front and rear motorcycle outriders wirelessly connected to a lead car navigator to ensure a smooth and seamless ‘convoy’.

In Leesburg, the DGD chapter launched in 2023, spearheaded by local enthusiast, Loren Hudziak. He’s also known as “The Saint,’’a nod to Roger Moore’s 1960s TV persona, Simon Templar, who drove a Volvo P1800 sports car (as does Hudziak).

In its first year, the Leesburg DGD welcomed 36 cars whose drivers raised an impressive $8,176, earning the distinction of being the second-highest fundraising DGD in the United States.

The 2025 Leesburg Distinguished Gentleman’s Drive was held on Sunday, September 28, starting at 10 a.m. at the One Loudoun Silver Diner. Spectators enjoyed viewing and admiring a wide variety of classic cars as drivers gathered before setting off.

From there, the route meandered through some of Loudoun County’s most beautiful country roads, passed through downtown Leesburg for a public viewing of the cavalcade, then continued through the towns of Hamilton, Purcellville, and Round Hill.

The drive finished with a tour of the bucolic byways of western Loudoun, ending in Middleburg, with a police-escorted arrival from behind the historic headquarters of the Masters of the Foxhounds Association of America on South Jay Street to the Lost Barrel Brewery, just west of town.

With ‘staches all around.

Peter Leonard-Morgan, Middleburg’s Distinguished Gentleman Driver and his vintage Mercedes convertible.

A Spanish Horse Show Says Hola to Warrenton

By Louisa Woodville

The Warrenton Horse Show grounds in early August were teeming with Spanish music, vendors, food, and — most riveting purebred Spanish horses.

Examples of this noble breed competed in dressage, working equitation, and conformation classes over two days in a competition organized by the nonprofit MID Atlantic PRE Association. PRE stands for Pura Raza Española, the Spanish term for the Andalusian horse, an Iberian breed renowned for its distinctive head-carriage and high-stepping gait.

“The weekend’s competition showcased the horses’ morphology through show-style presentations, emphasizing that the Spanish purebred is a versatile and accessible horse for various activities,” said Juan Carlos López Alejandro, President of the MID Atlantic PRE Association.

Morphology refers to a horse’s conformation, with performance (best-movement) classes providing opportunities to show the breeders, owners, and riders horses to optimum advantage. Some horses even “danced”—not dressage per se, but Paso Fino, who “danced” with their legs in place.

A group of 10 local breeders coordinated this event,” said Alejandro of a competition that drew entries from more than 15 ranches.

“Everybody brings their best horses. People came from New Jersey, they came from Georgia, and North and South Carolina,” said Omar Ramirez, a

and powerful, the horse sports a dun or grullo coat color. A dark dorsal stripe, dark-tipped ears, and leg stripes mark this breed, which is known to adapt well to harsh conditions and to thrive on minimal forage.

King George County (VA) horse breeder who is vicepresident of the MID Atlantic PRE Association. These breeders showcase their top horses in an effort to qualify for the prestigious International Spanish Purebred Horse Show (SICAB)) in November in Seville, Spain. It’s organized by the Real Asociación Nacional de Criadores de Caballos de Pura Raza Española (ANCCE), which oversees the integrity of the Spanish purebred horse and maintains extensive genealogical records.

Competitors included a 4-year-old gray Andalusian Fugaz ridden by Javier LaRosa of South Carolina, and a 7-year-old Cremelo, Letrado JL II, ridden by Javier Garcia. Both stallions had the classic crested necks with alert expressions. Letrado’ s bright blue eyes, penetrating and unusual, made this particular stallion stand out.

Included in the competition was a singularly nonSpanish Freisian stallion, the 5-year-old Duque, piloted by a remarkable 11-year-old rider, Mafer Pineda. Mafer had flown in from Nicaragua two days earlier to compete, and went home with top honors.

Alejandro explained that the organizers welcomed the Netherlandish-bred stallion because, “We are trying to introduce other breeds to make the day more competitive.”

The history of the Spanish horse is fascinating. Indigenous to the Iberian Peninsula, the first equine dates back 26,000 years ago; such are the animals depicted on the walls of La Pileta in Málaga and La Pasiega in Almería Paleolithic cave sites in Spain. Invaders from the Middle East, North Africa, and Rome bred this indigenous horse with their own horses, creating the Sorraia, the ancestor of both the Lusitano and Andalusian breeds. Hearty, small,

The Sorraia so impressed the famous 5th-century B.C. Greek historian and philosopher Xenophon that he recorded how rider-warriors were able, aboard these mounts, to rapidly attack and then retreat. It was an effective military tactic that remained in the Spaniards’ arsenal until the invention of gunpowder.

“Spanish horses have been known throughout history by many names: Andalusian, Lusitano, Neapolitan, and Lipizzaner, and Carthusian all of which were bred with invaders’ horses such as German, Gallic, and even Arab,” said horse trainer, author, and videographer James Comstock of Cumming, Georgia.

He added that today’s PRE is renowned for its elegant, well-balanced, and muscular build; a head of medium length, with a slightly convex or straight profile; a broad forehead, and deep, expressive eyes. Arched necks, muscular and crested, with deep chests also characterize the breed, as do shortloined, strong backs and rounded hindquarters. Tails are low-set and full.

Invasions by Romans, Visigoths, Muslims, and Crusaders meant that Spanish horses underwent 700 years of selective breeding. By 1500, Europeans especially Italians considered the Spanish horse the best in the world.

The horses competing in the Warrenton Horse Show Grounds descended from these distinguished breeds of the past the lighter mounts carrying riders with the refined a la gineta seat and the heavier breeds appropriate for the a la brida riders decked out in heavy armor and practicing a long stirrupstyle of riding.

Aljandro said the effort to breed the perfect mount continues.

“New generations are working alongside those who have carried forward and sustained this great legacy.”

Photo by Louisa Woodville

A singularly non-Spanish Freisian stallion, fiveyear-old Duque ridden by remarkable 11-year-old Mafer Pineda, took top honors in the show.

Photo by Vicky Moon Bryon Peralta and Gimta Cavria with Valiente JAE.

Photo by Vicky Moon Omar Ramirez vice president of Mid-Atlantic PRE Association of purebred Spanish horses.

At Highland, It’s Always Been About Competition

By Susan Pragoff

Long before JK Rowling’s sorting hat was placing Harry Potter and his friends into houses, Highland School was sorting students into Blue and Gold teams that compete annually in field day and other sports events throughout the school year.

While students at Hogwarts get sorted their first year at the school, at Highland, students are chosen in third grade, or whenever they come to the school. One thing is definitely the same, however: there’s much cheering and excitement when they learn whether they’re on the Blue or Gold.

While Highland School (then called the Calvert School) was founded in the 1920s, this competition began in the 1950s as part of Highland’s physical education program.

During this time, students would compete in soccer, touch football, baseball, and track. For some events, the boys and girls competed separately. Amory Lawrence and Mary Harrison, who together created the physical education program at Highland, would coach the boys and girls, respectively.

According to Mary’s daughter, Page Harrison Pragoff, when there weren’t enough boys to fill a football team, the girls would play, too. Page also recalled how Highland students would have their sports practices on the nearby Warrenton Horse Show Grounds.

Highland’s Blue/Gold competition has another parallel to the world of Harry Potter: just like Hogwarts would compete against different schools, so did Highland.

All students participated in a field day at the end of the year, competing in soccer, touch football, baseball, and track against one another, and against students from the Hill School in Middleburg and the Blue Ridge School in Berryville, now known as Powhatan in Millwood.

Page recalled “playing in a cow pasture in Berryville, and my sister was the fast one and Gina and I were the blockers…we could give the ball to her and she could go score from anywhere. And that’s how it started.”

Full disclosure if you haven’t already guessed. Page is my grandmother, and Mary Harrison my great grandmother. The field day competition created by Mary Harrison and Amory Lawrence has evolved into an in-school competition, devised into the Blue and Gold teams.

As a current student athlete, I participated in the blue and gold competition starting in third grade and served as a captain in eighth grade.

Much has changed at Highland since they attended the school. Calvert became Highland. Grades nine through twelve were added along with a pre-kindergarten program; grade levels have expanded in size; students from across the world are enrolled; and, instead of restricting competition to the greater Piedmont area, the school’s sports teams have traveled across the entire country.

At the same time, some things haven’t changed. Highland still competes in sports against the Hill School and Powhatan. Highland still believes that friendly competition is one of the things that helps to transform the students of today into the leaders of tomorrow.

Susan Pragoff is a junior at Highland School.

Courtesy Highland School At Highland School, It’s Blue Vs. Gold, But Always Friends.

AI: A Student’s Conundrum

By Hunt Lyman

As schools reopen, there are alarming stories about students, from middle school through college, using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to complete homework. The assumption: some are simply eager to cheat, revealing weak moral compasses. I think that’s unfair, and a closer look suggests that students are often placed in difficult situations.

AI burst into classrooms in late 2022, and has grown more sophisticated and reliable ever since. At first, many schools tried to ban it, which quickly proved impossible. Most students could still access AI from their phones or home computers, and schools realized they needed to teach the next generation how to use AI responsibly.

Today, virtually any homework assignment—an essay, slideshow, math problem, translation, or set of reading questions—can be completed, usually correctly, with AI.

It would be nice to think most students are so ethically grounded that using AI would never occur to them. Many are. What’s truly at stake is not just academic honesty, but what we expect of children and young adults.

Imagine the following:

Young Hunt Lyman is in his room at 10 p.m. on a Wednesday. His day began at 6 a.m. after too little sleep. He spent eight hours in school, navigating classes, tests, and the social scene. He did several hours of homework before basketball practice, which ended at 7:30 p.m. After a rushed dinner, he spent another 90 minutes finishing assignments he cares about and understands.

But a few remain. In his tired eyes, they’re busywork for required classes he considers irrelevant. Still, he knows he needs good grades for college, for himself, and to avoid disappointing his family. He also knows his parents wish

he got more sleep, and he wants to be sharp for a test in second period tomorrow. Now, he has a choice. With a few keystrokes, he can finish the leftover assignments instantly. No special knowledge is required; the AI tool may even be built into his word processor. He knows many classmates are using AI, and his work may look weak by comparison.

He even suspects his teacher may even be using a bot to prepare lessons, perhaps also to grade his work. And he knows the risk of being caught is slim.

It’s not a situation most adolescents are developmentally prepared to handle. In fact, it’s one adults routinely fail. Lawyers, journalists, administrators, and government officials have all been caught passing off AI work as their own. For students, the choice is even murkier because schools rarely spell out when using AI crosses the line. Some use is even encouraged.

If Hunt pastes in the entire assignment and submits it, he’s clearly cheating. But what if he uses AI to brainstorm ideas, generate an outline, or polish his prose? What if AI writes just the conclusion?

We should take AI misuse seriously, but also be honest about pressures students face. How much homework are we assigning? Do students understand its purpose? How many extracurriculars or advanced placement classes are we pushing them into? Is crafting a “perfect” résumé really a healthy expectation for a 17-year-old?

This so-called “cheating epidemic” needs context. We should confront the situation honestly, weighing the pressures we put on children and clarifying expectations for AI use. Perhaps homework should be just practice, with graded work completed in class. If so, this moment could be an opportunity to restore balance and fairness. Most students are not trying to game the system, but simply to survive it.

Hunt Lyman used ChatGPT to revise and make this column more concise. He’s recently retired as the long-time academic dean at Hill School.

ANY WAY YOU BANK

Hunt Lyman

Grace Church Concert Series .. 25th Anniversary

Sunday, Sept. 28th, 5:00 pm

Death and the Maiden

Start the season with drama and intensity as Paragon Philharmonia presents Death and the Maiden. Schubert’s gripping masterpiece - originally a pinnacle of the string quartet repertoire - is transformed into a powerful orchestral version arranged by Gustav Mahler.

Sunday, October 12th, 5:00 pm

You Can Tell the World:

Spirituals in Concert

Performed by soprano Melissa Givens, this concert features a selection of traditional and recently composed African American spirituals from Undine Smith Moore, Moses Hogan, Florence Price, Hall Johnson, Jacqueline Hairston, Shawn Kirchner, Mark Hayes, Edward Boatner, and Margaret Bonds.

Sunday, November 9th, 5:00 pm

Bush-whacking through Life One Step at a Time

Marcel Penzes and the Mardi Gras Parishioners

Marcel Penzes and his Mardi Gras Parishioners present the soulful and boisterous sounds of New Orleans Jazz music! Jazz has a home in the Crescent City, whether on the streets or in the French Quarter clubs, but few know that the churches of New Orleans also a role in its development. Attendees can expect to tap their feet, dance, and even be a part of a real second line parade! Don’t miss this lively and exciting performance, as we celebrate in true Mardi Gras fashion! “Laissez les bons temps rouler!”

Sunday, December 7th, 5:00 pm

A

Baroque Christmas

Paragon’s most popular concert is a great way to usher in the holiday season! Enjoy festive music of the season in collaboration with the Grace Church Choir and soloists, to include Baroque favorites featuring guitar soloist Cristian Perez, beloved carols, and selections from Vivaldi’s Gloria. Bring the kids and grandkids!

For tickets please visit: http://artsintheplains.org/ 6507 Main St, The Plains, VA 20198

By John E. Ross

Ruddy of face and twinkling of eye, with a perpetual smile framed by a frothy white beard, Gomer Pyles personifies curiosity. That’s what’s led him, step by step and untutored, to master the intricacies of computers as well as his own frailty.

When our operating systems stop operating, salvation lies no further away than a phone call to Able Bodied Computers, his business started in 1987 to feed his body. Each sunset and sunrise delivers sustenance for his soul.

Gomer, who was born in Los Angeles in 1952, always has his eye on the horizon. He once hitch-hiked from his home town to visit his grandparents in West Virginia. Traveling by thumb opened vistas he never imagined.

It wasn’t just the scenery, which we know from his evocative landscape photographs, that captured his attention. More so, it was the people he met along the way. They fired his spirit and led him to locales, both geographic and mental, he might never have even imagined had he stayed put.

Bush-whacking is defined as the act of making one’s way through dense, overgrown, or wild areas without following a designated path or trail. That surely and quite appropriately would describe the trajectory of Gomer’s life.

Gomer Pyles

As

remodeling work slowed, Gomer became increasingly curious about computers. These weren’t Apple or DOS personal desktops with their friendly mice, but their predecessors, those mammoth 120-pound CP/M computers that relied on 8-inch floppy disks.

In the early 1980s, the American Hiking Society sponsored HikaNation, a campaign to create a cross-country hiking and history trail. Gomer and his then partner, Gayle Rainbow, signed on. The project was delayed for more than a year, and in the intervening months their daughter, Jiamie, was born.

That didn’t stop them. Gomer cobbled together an admittedly rickety eightfoot long, two-foot wide cart that balanced reasonably well on its single large wheel. Following old topography maps, they set off one step at a time across California and then Nevada’s desert and mountains. When dirt roads petered out, they bush-whacked from water hole to water hole. Thirteen months later in January, 1983, they finally reached Lewes, Delaware.

Bush-whacking is defined as the act of making one’s way through dense, overgrown, or wild areas without following a designated path or trail. That surely and quite appropriately would describe the trajectory of Gomer’s life.

While hiking the Appalachian Trail in 1975, he met a building contractor from Flint Hill. They struck up the friendship that ultimately introduced Gomer to The Plains, where his contractor-friend was remodeling the building that now houses the Girasole restaurant.

The opportunity to work remodeling row houses in Washington, D.C. carried Gomer and his daughter to Capitol Hill. Jiamie could ride her tricycle around the Supreme Court and she and her dad shared crackers on the Capital’s steps.

As remodeling work slowed, Gomer became increasingly curious about computers. These weren’t Apple or DOS personal desktops with their friendly mice, but their predecessors, those mammoth 120-pound CP/M computers that relied on 8-inch floppy disks.

At the same time, late August, 1982, he was regularly visiting new friends in The Plains. When his friends had problems with their computers, he would take them to a repairman in Arlington. Seeing how well Gomer got along with people, the computer technician offered him a deal.

“If I would bring my computers to him,” Gomer said, “he’d give me clues on how to fix them. In exchange I’d help him with his clients.”

Relocating finally to The Plains in August, 1983 and settling into life in Hunt Country literally opened more new vistas for Gomer. His superlative landscape photographs are graphic testimony to his mantra of seizing the moment and making the best of it.

Often when he’s on the way to a client’s house or business, he’ll see a tableau of sky, clouds, trees, and rolling pastures that demands to be photographed. He’ll stop, seize the moment, and compose a picture. Though he has a Canon SLR for occasional telephoto shots, most of his pictures he takes with an iPhone.

As he has throughout his life, Gomer refuses to be daunted by debilitating and wholly unexpected challenges. Sixteen years ago last August, he suffered a stroke. Much of his right side was paralyzed.

His right leg would hardly move, and his right arm was spasmed across his chest. When he yawned, his arm would spring out straight in front and at the end of his yawn, it would slap back to his chest.

Though walking with a bit of a limp and listing a tad to the right when he stands, he’s overcome most of the stroke’s damage. And it’s strengthened his resolve to keep moving forward, one step at a time.

The first Viva Community Celebration, a new initiative that supports communities seeking connection by offering events, resources, and information about programs that benefit and strengthen the community took place recently at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Middleburg. Live music, free food and drinks, face painting and raffle prizes were offered along with information on additional services and resources. Sponsors included, the church, Tom Sweitzer and anonymous donors.

The Middleburg Library Advisory Board hosted its annual summer party at the library recently, attracting a large crowd that included children doing artwork, music, food and beverages and welcoming remarks from MLAB President Kathryn Baran and long-time Hill School educator Ann Northrup.  The event also honored and recognized a number of the original supporters of the library, some of whom attended the festivities.

Chess Jakobs with Sheila Johnson during a preview of the play, “The American Five “ written by Jakobs and directed by Aaron Posner which took place in the ballroom at the Salamander Resort. The five include: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his inner circle in which equality and justice is guaranteed for all. Together they over-came intimidation, arrests and life threats, and they formed a coalition for civil rights and defining moment in American history. The production is scheduled to run until October 12 at Ford’s Theatre in Washington.

Photo by Donna Strama

Ann Northrup, Mary Jo Jackson, Bryan Wright, Till Smith and Sylvia Worrall.

Photo by Vicky Moon Tina Wallace

Photo by Vicky Moon

A preview of Tina’s new line of fun jewels

Tina Wallace has started selling her line of jewelry at the Middleburg Farmer’s Market on Saturdays.

Geraldine Carroll

Charles Carroll IV, MD

Photos by Pat Reilly

The event included a coloring table. Winner of a raffle ticket celebrates.

At Woodberry Forest, He’s No Buddy to Opposing Defenders

TBy Leonard Shapiro

here really is something to inheriting some of the right genes. Just ask Ben “Buddy” Wegdam, a Marshall native now in his senior season as a massive offensive tackle for Woodberry Forest School in Orange and already the recipient of a full football scholarship to play at Virginia Tech starting in the fall of 2026.

The genesis of those genes? How about a great grandfather, Colonel Roy Dismukes, who played for Alabama in back-to-back Rose Bowl appearances in 1926 and 1927. How about a grandfather, Colonel James Dismukes, who played for the Crimson Tide in the mid-1950s, and an uncle, also James Dismukes, who played at the University of Mississippi.

His great-grandfather and grandfather both were career military men, and Buddy still remembers his late grandad—a Vietnam veteran with over two decades in the Army— encouraging him to start lifting weights and doing pushups at the age of eight.

These days not much has changed save for the length and intensity of those childhood workouts, not to mention Buddy’s teenage muscle-bound physique. He’s truly transformed dramatically, particularly over the last three years. He’s gone from a 6-foot2, 190-pound Woodberry freshman tight end to a 6-foot-6, 280-pound offensive lineman offered full scholarships by 22 major college programs since the start of the year.

There might have been even more offers, but Buddy was not always an offensive lineman. He didn’t transition to the line until his head coach, Jackson Matteo, told him he would be changing positions going into his sophomore year. Because he didn’t play all that much that season, there was not much game tape for college recruiters to study until the end of Buddy’s junior season last fall.

“My head coach (Matteo) had pulled me aside before my sophomore year and said ‘you’re going to play offensive line,’” Buddy said. “I wasn’t all that happy about it, thought it might be kind of boring, but I really didn’t have a choice. If I’d said no, my football career wouldn’t have gone anywhere. It definitely was the best thing to happen. And it’s not boring.”

A year ago, Buddy had plenty to do with Woodberry going undefeated (8-0), beating traditional archival Episcopal in “The Game” at the end of the season. Woodberry does not play in the private school state championships, but had defeated three of the four semifinalists and the eventual state champion during their regular season.

After his junior season ended, Buddy said, “Things were kind of stressful” because he was not getting many phone calls from recruiters from the major college programs. His first offer came from James Madison University in late January, and that was a portent of wonderful things to come. Almost immediately, he had five offers in a six-day period, including Virginia Tech and what became his second choice, N.C. State.

Why Tech?

A year ago last June, Buddy had gone to a tryout camp for college prospects held at the Blacksburg school.

“I loved everything about the place,” he said. “One day, they took us on a boat trip out on a nearby lake, and when we got off, there was a lady there filming us. She was a fan, just loved Tech football, and the whole area is the same way. Then I went to the UVA-Tech game in Blacksburg last fall and it was such a super cool environment. It wasn’t a hard choice. I just knew Tech was the right place for me.”

So is the weight room.

Buddy also played basketball at Woodberry his freshman year “but I wasn’t going to go very far with that,” he said. After the basketball season, he started showing up with a couple of friends at what is known as “football lifting” at Woodberry, an offseason program that started at 6 a.m. every day.

Remarkable results soon followed. At the start of his sophomore football season, he had grown three inches taller and added 30 pounds. By the end of his sophomore year he was up to 265 pounds, and by the start of his junior year, he was at his current 280. He now lifts six morning a week and does cardio work two or three times a week.

“I’ll take one day off and try to limit my activity,” he said, “maybe play some tennis or even pickle ball, which I really like. And I also work with a trainer.”

His workout warrior work ethic also may be in the genes. His father, Ben, is a fine tennis player and a long-distance runner, with many miles and marathons to his credit. His mom, Tara, also plays a lot of tennis and both parents work tirelessly at their day jobs—building their highly successful retail business that includes four different shops in Middleburg and stores up and down the east coast.

Buddy’s college career will start in the fledgling era of college athletes being allowed to be paid for commercial use of their names, image or likeness (NIL). For now, he’s going to leave all of that for his father to handle, the better to focus on football.

Those genes surely would have it no other way.

Buddy Wegdam

Photos courtesy of Woodberry Forest Buddy plays left tackle for the Woodberry Forest football team.

Karla Etten Has Created Her Own Garden of Eden

By Linda Roberts

Etten’s Eden nursery and flower farm just north of Middleburg on The Plains Road is Karla Etten’s personal Garden of Eden she’s created for others to find delight.

Scooting around her 7.5-acre property in a golf cart, a visitor views flowers and plants of every variety and in all stages of growth, from tiny seedlings to shrubs and towering trees.

Etten and her husband, Peter, purchased the hillside tract at 2340 Hulberts Lane five years ago and immediately went to work turning it into an attractive landscape of growing and flourishing plants of every description.

Early construction included a stunning stone Koi pond highlighted by a large waterfall. Visitors are immediately attracted to this lovely setting, a popular place to sit and relax or have lunch on the patio under a large umbrella.

Etten said she envisions incorporating the small cottage, or in gardening language “the head house,” overlooking the Koi pond into her planning to bring guests to the nursery. She also finds it a convenient location to take the orders already coming in for holiday arrangements and decorations.

Early fall, she added, “is the perfect season to refresh your garden, and containers, with plants that thrive in cooler weather and set the stage for months of color. Begin with Belgian mums, bred for long-lasting blooms that often flower for six to eight weeks through fall. They provide vibrant color when many other plants are fading, making them the star of the season.

“Add pansies and violas for cheerful pops of color that can last well into winter. For bold texture and dramatic hues, try ornamental kale and cabbage, perfect for

containers or borders. And fall also is the ideal time to plant many of your favorite perennials, like hellebores, asters, and coneflowers, and even native beauties like Joe Pye Weed, giving their roots time to establish before spring.”

A master gardener and naturalist, Etten has always loved gardening, and said she is now “living my dream.” Helping to fulfill that dream is nursery manager Daphne Morgan. When additional help is required for large parties or functions such as weddings, Etten can bring on support by hiring a local crew.

Overlooking the property and at the crest of a hill, construction is underway for the Ettens’ new home. They look forward to living locally as home is currently east of their property in Brambleton. Etten has fond memories of growing up in the Middleburg area, as an only child who loved the outdoors, growing things and riding horses.

The new home overlooks what Etten refers to as the “production building,” a large multi-use space where floral arrangements can be created and an ample cooler set at 43 degrees where cut flowers and bouquets can be kept fresh.

Etten is flexible and will work with clients to set up at their location or use the production building to prepare floral decorations at the nursery, and then transport flowers to the event site.

This year, Etten has launched her business with a horticultural student working at the nursery under her supervision for school credit, hosting gardening groups, supervising volunteers, planning a gardening enrichment series open to the public and inviting school groups in to tour the nursery.

“It’s great to be here,” said this enthusiastic master gardener whose ideas are endless, and who has a plan for everything on her 7.5-acre blooming Garden of Eden.

Details: Located at 2340 Hulberts Lane near The Plains.

Photo by Linda Roberts Karla Etten

A Place To Be Celebrates 15 Years

by Michele Husfelt

Reminiscing about her last 15 years of community service through A Place to Be (APTB), executive director Kim Tapper reflected that she and fellow co-founder Tom Sweitzer often say that “the arts really saved our lives.

“It gave us a place to put a lot of complex emotions,” she said, “And though we have different upbringings, when we met as adults, we both had learned the power of the arts both therapeutically and creatively.”

Kim grew up in a loving home with many opportunities, but her father faced health issues. She said that to cope with her hidden fears, she turned to poetry and dance as creative outlets.

She learned from her father, who showed resilience despite his health issues, that, “we are more than our labels.” That became the theme of her first poetry book, created with APTB clients, called “Behind the Label.”

The book’s title also became the name of one of APBT’s first major stage shows, performed by clients as a way to share their stories with hundreds of thousands of kids over several years. The success of “Behind the Label” launched APTB into the performance world with high-quality shows that are often held at sold-out venues all around the area.

In addition to focusing on music therapy, including producing shows involving many clients with physical, medical, or mental health challenges, APTB offers a wide range of classes, workshops, small group sessions and individual opportunities for clients to engage with music and the arts.

Services include individual sessions in clinical music therapy and expressive arts, social enrichment groups focused on friendship making and confidence building, and groups for young adults transitioning out of high school who are seeking community engagement opportunities and/or skill building support toward employment opportunities.

Although it serves people of all ages, most of their in-house clients are between 5 and 30 years old. Of their contract partners, most of those clients are 18 and older. One example is their rewarding work with the Loudoun Adult Day Center, where they engage with clients in memory care.

Wraparound Care is a distinctive concept that feels both intentional and natural for the clients and families.

“We also call it the ‘A Place to Be Hug,’” Kim said, “because we not only provide services and care for the clients but also for their families.”

The first line of their mission statement is “We create community, belonging, and hope.” Kim added that the entire family can benefit from learning together, and they want every family member to feel like they are part of the community Staff members are mostly music therapists, and other related professionals. They serve about 250 clients weekly at two locations: Middleburg, where they were founded, and Leesburg, the newest branch that opened in 2023.

Although they moved the bulk of their programs to Leesburg, which features a spacious facility including a small theater, Kim said their heart will always be in Middleburg, where they started and received so much support from the community.

When audience members were asked what makes so many people so supportive of APTB, Kim beamed with pride and said, “It’s the authenticity; it’s the absolute, heart-opening joy coupled with vulnerability by people who are just trying to thrive, and live, and feel seen. That speaks to something in each of us, our humanity. And especially now, with all the division, this is something our world needs.”

Details: APBT has a community-wide event planned for Oct. 19 at their Leesburg location to help celebrate its 15 years. For more information, go to https://aplacetobeva.org/.

Photo by Michele Husfelt

Kim Tapper, front right, with staffers from A Place to Be: Front: Kyle Boardman, Brandon Somers. Back: Brandi Hansen, Cami Martinez, Dan Miller, Manny Vasquez, Hannah Eckman.

HOT DIGGITY DOG

Photos by Donna Strama

The annual Middleburg Police-sponsored National Night Out was a roaring success in early August, a great opportunity for the community and local law enforcement to connect and build positive relationships. There was free food, fellowship and fun, not to mention two hours of games, prizes and everyone’s favorite—a dunking pool offering a chance to sink several town officials in cold water—at the Middleburg Community Center ball field.

kinds of vehicles

trucks,

and recreational vehicles can be

at carsforhomes org If you want to donate wooden boats, farm or construction equipment, please call us at (877) 277-4344

and repaired homes increase health, safety and financial stability for families. Recycling cars reduces harmful emissions generated by the production of new steel.

Every person can make a difference.

Councilman Chris Bernard has a mouth full

Hot dogs for all

Chief Shaun Jones, Town Manager Danny Davis and Lieutenant Mark Putnam

Councilman Chris Bernard at the dunking booth. Rock climbing with Raelynn Davis

Remodeling for Real Life: Wellness Spaces

By: Jeff Weeks

One of the most meaningful ways a home can support every day life is by providing comfort, calm, and the ability to recharge.

As the fall days grow shorter and families spend more time indoors, the physical environment plays an even greater role in how we feel mentally, emotionally, and physically. It’s important to know how design plays an important role in fostering wellness and improving the way homes support daily life.

This column is focusing on two key themes: wellness-focused design that fosters rest and renewal, and layout updates that enhance privacy and create natural flow within busy households.

A well-designed home doesn’t just look good, it feels good to live in. As the cooler weather sets in, many families crave spaces that support relaxation, help combat seasonal fatigue, and offer a mental reset from the demands of daily life.

CHALLENGES:

Overstimulating environments. Open layouts and multipurpose rooms can make it hard to find peace and quiet.

Lack of natural light. Shorter days can impact

mood and energy levels, especially in spaces with few or no windows or those relying on harsh fluorescent or cool, overly bright artificial lighting.

No dedicated space for recharging. When a home lacks intentional spaces for retreat, finding moments to disconnect and recharge becomes a challenge, particularly in the slower, colder seasons.

DESIGN SOLUTIONS:

Incorporate spa-like features. Heated floors, soaking tubs, or rainfall showers can transform every day bathrooms into restorative spaces.

Create a quiet retreat. Convert a rarely used room or overlooked corner into something restorative, such as a cozy reading nook with built-in-shelves, a coffee bar corner, or a sitting area.

Maximize natural light. Add skylights, enlarge existing windows, or use reflective finishes and soft color palettes to brighten darker areas of the home. If natural light isn’t an option, incorporate wellnessminded artificial lighting, such as warm LEDs or circadian rhythm systems, to support mood and energy.

Designing with wellness in mind means creating a home that nurtures both productivity and pause – supporting daily routines while also inviting moments of rest and renewal. True wellness, however, extends beyond comfort. It’s also about carving out spaces that honor privacy and allow the natural rhythm of life to unfold with ease.

As remote work, hybrid learning, and multigenerational living become more common, so does the need for flexible layouts that create separation without sacrificing natural circulation.

CHALLENGES:

Lack of dedicated spaces. Rooms improperly designed to handle multiple functions, such as working, preparing food or relaxing, can feel crowded and chaotic.

Poor circulation. Hallways that bottleneck and living spaces that lack distinction can make movement through the home feel disjointed and frustrating.

DESIGN SOLUTIONS:

Use subtle separation. Add sliding pocket doors, half walls, or strategically placed built-ins to define zones within open floor plans.

Rethink traffic flow. Adjust furniture layouts or expand narrow transitions to improve circulation and reduce daily friction.

Add flexible rooms. Carve out multi-use spaces that can function as an office by day and a guest suite by night, with smart storage and adaptable furnishings.

More privacy and better flow lead to less stress, smoother routines, and a greater sense of ease at home, especially during busy months indoors.

Jeff Weeks is a project leader at BOWA.

Jeff Weeks

At Blandy, An Awesome, Accessible Natural Landscape

By Linda Millington

Orecent sultry summer evening, Ariel Firebaugh, director of scientific engagement at Blandy Experimental Farm in Boyce, asked her audience to pause at the edge of a field to look out at all the blinking lights, courtesy of fireflies or lightning bugs dipping and rising above the grass in the gathering dusk.

Before venturing out to the meadow, Ariel had introduced these fascinating insects in a presentation in the Blandy library. The annual firefly walk is a highlight of the summer public programs at the State Arboretum of Virginia.

The facility occupies 172 gorgeous acres in the center of Blandy Experimental Farm, once part of the historic Tuleyries estate. Dating to 1780, the farm was willed by its owner, George Blandy, to the University of Virginia in 1924. The grounds contain almost 1,000 species of trees and shrubs from all over the world and are open to the public dawn to dusk free of charge 365 days a year.

Walkers, joggers, birders, photographers, horseback riders, and families explore the trails and roads. A favorite is the Nancy Larrick Crosby Native Plant Trail which meanders through a woodland, a meadow, and a wetland showcasing ssistant curator who preserves and maintains the trail with a fleet of volunteers, said he’s gratified that it offers visitors a true sense of the Virginia landscape where native people and the Commonwealth’s first settlers lived.

A new feature is the Paw-paw Trail, lined with some of Blandy’s oldest trees— oaks and hickories, towering above an understory of Paw-paws. The Winchester Brewery produced Paw-paw beer served at the first Pints and Paw-paws Festival in September. Story walk trails also captivate children.

Annual events often draw big crowds. The wildly popular Gingko Gold Weekend in late October showcases the grove’s 300 ginkgo trees simultaneously becoming a blazing bright yellow canopy. Each year, thousands flock to witness this spectacle where they also can adopt a gingko to commemorate a loved one or celebrate a happy occasion.

At the Garden Fair, held for 33 years on Mother’s Day weekend, the grounds are alive with shoppers filling their wagons with plants, bird houses, and garden art from local vendors.

Students of all ages thrive in Blandy’s educational and scientific research programs. Throughout the year, university undergraduate and graduate students and faculty live in dorms and cottages, and work in Blandy’s labs, greenhouses, and habitats.

Findings from its summer program are presented at a research forum in late July. David Carr, Blandy’s director and research professor in environmental science, said these research programs are especially impactful and transformative as students see the potential for a career in science.

In addition, Blandy has a vibrant Pre-K to 12th grade educational program. Each academic year, about 7,000 students participate in hands-on environmental learning that meets requirements for Virginia standards of learning.

In summer camps, middle schoolers design and carry out their own science projects. Research on the history of enslaved people during the antebellum period is also ongoing.

The public is welcome to join the Foundation of the State Arboretum (FOSA). Membership includes discounted tickets to events and public programs, an invitation to the Garden Fair preview night, and admission to 300 North American gardens.

Modest basic individual, senior or family membership fees ranging from $45 to $75 contribute to cultural, historical, and scientific research. The funds also support the efforts of the staff to orient visitors to the importance of nature in this lovely natural place.

Details: Visit the website at https://blandy.virginia.edu/.

Linda Millington and her husband Jeff under the canope of gingko trees.

A New Building Trend: Multi-Generational Living

Families are reevaluating how they live, work, and care for one another, and multigenerational living is a growing trend that is reshaping neighborhoods across Northern Virginia.

Whether it’s welcoming aging parents, creating space for adult children, or simply fostering closer family ties, more homeowners are choosing to expand their existing homes rather than relocate — and well-designed additions are making it possible.

At Golden Rule Builders (GRB) based in Catlett, they’re seeing this trend firsthand. From main-level suites for aging parents to flexible living spaces that evolve with family needs, they specialize in home additions that bring generations together while preserving privacy, independence, and comfort. GRB and other Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists (CAPS), are ensuring that every space is futureready, beautiful, functional, and built to last.

Multi-generational living Is definitely on the rise, and several key factors are driving the shift in this region:

• Rising housing costs make it more practical to combine households.

• Aging parents prefer to remain close to family, avoiding institutional care.

• Adult children are returning home due to education, career changes, or economic shifts.

• Cultural values emphasize staying connected

across generations, especially in Northern Virginia’s diverse communities.

For many families, the best decision isn’t moving, it’s making more room right where they are. Building a custom addition provides the needed necessary space without the hassle, expense, or trade-offs that come with buying a new home. It’s possible to design something that works with an existing layout and lot, add features that make every day living easier now and down the road, and increase the home’s value in the process. And you stay rooted in the neighborhood and community you already love.

Multi-generational additions don’t have to look institutional. In fact, some of the most elegant home features today were originally designed for accessibility. That would include:

• Curbless showers with built-in benches, natural

stone tile, and sleek linear drains.

• Non-slip flooring with minimal transitions for safety and style.

• Wider hallways and doorways for comfort and mobility.

• Comfort-height vanities and toilets to reduce strain.

• Blocking behind walls to allow for future grab bars placed exactly where needed later.

• Smart lighting and automation, including motionsensor night lights and voice-activated controls.

• Natural light and outdoor connections, like patios with level transitions, to boost mood and well-being.

Whether you’re building an in-law suite, an accessory dwelling unit, or a first-floor primary suite, flexibility is key. An office today could become a caregiver’s suite or guest quarters tomorrow. Some of the most popular features in multigenerational additions include private entrances for independence, secondary kitchenettes or wet bars, multiple laundry areas, pocket or barn doors to maximize space and privacy, and elevator-ready floor plans for future mobility needs.

Details: Golden Rule Builders showroom is located at 3409 Catlett Road in Catlett, Virginia. For more information, GoldenRuleBuilders.com

Courtesy of Golden Rule Builders

A multi-generational dwelling in the Virginia countryside.

Haley’s History and Maybe More to Come

By Leonard Shapiro

After graduating from Shenandoah University in Winchester in May and making some significant college football history over the last two years, less than two months later, Haley Van Voorhis played in her sport’s ultimate championship game in July as a rookie defensive back.

And now, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics could well be in her future. This summer she was asked to attend tryouts for two different U.S. national women’s teams—flag football and rugby—and both remain a possibility, with final team selections still several years away.

As for that college football history, in the fall of 2023, Van Voorhis, a 22-year-old native of The Plains, Va., became the first woman who was not a kicker to play a regular position (safety) in an NCAA college football game.

She only had one official play that junior season and nearly sacked the Juniata quarterback on a safety blitz. The attention that followed “was amazing,” she said in a recent interview. “I was just slammed by the reaction on social media; people were so supportive. It was so cool that so many people were impressed by it and were paying attention.”

Van Voorhis, 5-foot-6 and a rock-solid 145 pounds, saw more action as a senior last fall before graduating with a business degree. Not long after she donned a cap and gown and accepted her diploma,

later that same day she also buckled her chinstrap and started on defense for the D.C. Divas, the Washington franchise in the professional Women’s Football Alliance, in a regular season game.

Celebrating their 25th year, the Divas made it to the league’s July 2025 title game contested at the Pro Football Hall of Fame field in Canton, Ohio. They lost to the powerful St. Louis Slam, 24-16, after leading at the half, 14-6. Diva quarterback Amanda Congialati broke her fibula on the first play of the second quarter, and though she stayed in the game, the offense was clearly never same.

On the positive side, it was televised on ESPN2 and attracted over 200,000 viewers, the largest TV audience for a women’s pro football game in history.

Divas owner Rich Daniel would like to think Van Voorhis, as a college football pioneer herself, has a chance to make a difference in boosting her sport.

“She has truly brought that ‘future is now’ kind of feeling to the table,” he said. “She fits the mould of an athlete with so much respect for the game. She has the potential to be an ambassador for the sport, and to reach back to the next generation. Her dedication is exceptional. She’s a team captain. She would drive 2 1/2 hours from Winchester to our practices. She’s a role model for her generation, and generations to come.”

As for the present and some future, Van Voorhis has been working this summer part time at a Middleburg hotel, working out regularly and also exploring a wide range of intriguing possibilities.

She’ll play for the Divas in 2026 and also look around for a chance to work in the field of human performance, helping to train other athletes.

Five-on-five women’s flag football will be an Olympic sport for the first time in 2028, and Van Voorhis took part in tryouts in Los Angeles, where she definitely held her own. “Nobody caught a pass on me,” she said of her defensive work, and she also showed promise as a receiver.

Van Voorhis had never played rugby before she also was asked to attend a combination two-day crash course in the sport coupled with a tryout for the U.S. Olympic women’s team in San Diego. It was love at first scrum for Van Voorhis in a rugged game with many similarities to American football

“They actually taught us how to play it for the first two days,” she said. “I had so much fun with it. And I’ve never met a better group of athletes to learn with. After two days, we all felt we could hold our own with just about anyone.”

She’s now hoping to join the D.C. Scions women’s rugby team this year. The Scions won the national club championship in 2024 and made it to the 2025 semifinals in early August. The U.S. women’s rugby team earned bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics and for Van Voorhis, making the 2028 team—in either rugby or flag football—would be another dream fulfilled.

At a time when interest in many women’s sports has never been higher, Van Voorhis said she has great admiration for breakout WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark, who has helped women’s professional basketball draw huge crowds and vastly improved TV ratings over the last two years.

“We haven’t seen that yet in football,” Van Voorhis said. “I’d like to help be a part of starting a similar kind of momentum, and flag football in general is starting to move in that direction, too. We have a lot of people who have payed the game for a long time, but most people don’t even know who they are. I’d like to help bring some of that attention to our game.

“We don’t get paid. Some of my teammates (on the Divas) have to work two jobs. They bring babysitters for their kids when they come to practice. But we play because we have a passion for the game, and I think more and more people are seeing that.”

Haley Van Voorhis

Photos Courtesy of D.C. Divas Haley, a D.C. Divas safety, levels an opposing quarterback.

SALTERHILL

145 acres | $4,875,000

Boyce – 1 st time offering! Custom 7000 + sq ft home with spectacular views. 6 BRs / 5 full & 2 half BAs. No details spared. Greenhouse, garage, separate 4-season room. Open pasture and woods.

NORTHWOOD

3 acres | $1,985,000

Middleburg – Fully updated brick Colonial in sought after Middleburg Downs. Mature trees, stone walls, fenced garden with a garden shed, and lush landscaping that surrounds the house.

HATCHER'S COTTAGE

.44 acres | $967,000

Upperville – Thoughtfully renovated offering the rustic charm of hunt country with the comfort and style of today. Refined and inviting spaces. Pool house and separate 2 car garage. Buried fiber Internet.

OAK RIDGE FARM

54+ acres | $2,925,000

Markham – Renovated stone and cedar house with stunning views of the Cobbler Mountains. Includes 2-car garage, separate office/studio, pool house & pool. 3 BR / 2 BA cabin. Pond. Starlink internet.

SPRING HOUSE

1+ acres | $1,650,000

Middleburg – 4 BR / 4 full BA colonial home, updated and meticulously cared for. Great loaction, move-in ready. Peaceful country living, Blue Ridge Mountain views.

RECTORTOWN ROAD

.83 acres | $949,000

Marshall – American Four-Square home offers 4 BRs / 4.5 BAs w/over 3,700 sq ft on 3 finished levels. Beautiful fenced yard w/ scenic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Comcast Internet.

QUERENCIA

17+ acres | $2,675,000

Middleburg – One level stone main house w/ over 3,800+ sq. ft. Swimming pool, bocce ball court, and flagstone firepit. 5-stall center aisle barn, barn apt. 3 fenced paddocks w/ waterers.

SAUTE MOUTON

4+ acres | $1,195,000

Round Hill – 3 BR/2.5 BA stone Cape Cod main house and a 2 BR/1 BA stucco guest house. Mature trees and professional landscaping. Small stone & frame barn and 2 paddocks. Easy access to Route 7.

HAYMAN LANE

.45 acres | $695,000

Round Hill – Fully renovated in the 1990’s by local architect Beckham Dickerson. Just south of the village and only minutes to Rt. 7 this location offers small-town charm with unbeatable convenience.

Poet J. D. Blackwell Wrote of War, Nature and Divinity

By John T. Toler

If post-Civil War Virginia had a poet laureate, there is little doubt that it would have been Warrenton native James DeRuyter Blackwell (1828-1901). A true Renaissance Man, he was a soldier, teacher and patron of the arts, and able to express his deepest thoughts in verse.

Born at Oak Springs, the ancestral Blackwell home near Warrenton, James was the ninth child of Joseph Blackwell and Elizabeth Edmonds Blackwell, both of whose families could trace their ancestry far back in Fauquier County’s history.

James attended Randolph-Macon College and graduated from Dickinson College, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1848 and a master’s in 1851. He later studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1860. About 1850 he married his first cousin, Judith Emma Edmonds (1828-1913).

James DeRuyter Blackwell (1828-1901)

The two volumes of James DeRuyter Blackwell’s poetry can be found in libraries and are for sale online.

Ivy Hill, the Edmonds home place, dates back to 1807. Inherited by Emma Blackwell in the early 20th century and passed on to her children, it remained in the family until 1952.

They had eight children: Francis Edmonds (18521929), Joseph Wiley (1854-1930), Elias Edmonds (1855-1937), Edmonia (1857-1860), Bettie Miller (1860-1922), Adeline Edmonds (1866-1939), Austin Edmonds (1868-1922) and James DeRuyter Jr. (1870-1929).

With the outbreak of the Civil War, James joined the Confederate Army. He saw action in battles along the Rappahannock River, but due to poor eyesight, was honorably discharged in 1864.

After the war, he returned to his first passion— literature—and taught the classics at Bethel Military Academy (BMA) near Warrenton until forced to leave due to ill health. It was Prof. Blackwell who encouraged Maj. A. G. Smith, founder of BMA, to adopt the military school approach to education.

From that point on, “He followed the strong current of his nature, and drifted into verse,” wrote Annie G. Day in 1908. “The love of nature possessed him and he held communion with her visible forms, in that simple, sweet spirit which finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in storms, and good in everything,”

He shared his experiences as a Confederate soldier in several poems, including an ode to his former commander entitled,” Col. John S. Mosby,” which read in part:

Oh Chieftain, lay thy sword aside; Thou’st done enough for fame. Thy mother State will look with pride Forever on thy name.

Thou didst not for the love of gain

Unsheath thy trenchant brand, And war hath ceased and left no stain Of greed upon thy hand.

On a more sentimental note, James recalled the tragedy of war in “The Dead Drummer Boy,” which read in part:

What dost thou here, thou gentle boy?

It is no place for thee

Where, nerved with purpose to destroy, War’s red right arm we see.

Thy hand was formed to string the lyre, Not grasp the bloody brand; Nor point the carbine’s deadly fire At some stern chief’s command.

Upon the plain he lieth low, Yet lovely in his rest; E’en as a wreath of April’s snow

On some sweet flow’ret’s breast.

It is believed that Blackwell’s poem, The Unknown Grave, was the inspiration for the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery, as well as being read at Memorial Day ceremonies across the country over the years. It reads in part:

The unknown grave! We pass it by; We scarcely wish to know, Or breathe the tribute of a sigh To him who sleeps below.

He fell unheeded as the leaf

When Autumn’s blasts have blown; His epitaph, alas, how brief!

The simple word, “Unknown.”

In “Our Mountain Boys,” Blackwell praised the Confederate soldiers from Fauquier County’s Free State:

Our Mountain Boys! Our Mountain Boys! Their hearts are bold and true, And pure as the unclouded sky Above our mountains blue.

Their step is free as forest deer, Like eaglet’s glance their eye, And when the voice of honor bids They do not fear to die.

Blackwell published two collections of poems, the first in 1879 and the second in 1884. He became friends with Edward Virginius Valentine (1838-1930) of Richmond, a well known sculptor. According to Miss Day, Blackwell’s poem, “The Dying Thief” was about the man on the cross next to Jesus Christ at the Crucifixion. It is believed to have inspired one of Valentine’s sculptures, and read in part:

What meaneth yon collected crowd,

That surging human tide. That darkly rests, like tempest cloud, Upon Golgotha’s side?

And they who sat in Moses’s seat Mocked in their unbelief; But oh! to one the tale how sweetThat one the dying thief.

But through eternity’s long day He never can forget, When Jesus spoke his sins away, Ere that last sun had set.

Blackwell often wrote about his natural surroundings in personal, reflective terms. One example is “The Blue Ridge.”

See how yon mountains far away, Whose graceful outlines bound the view, Their mellowed tints of azure blue!

But well we know, that shadows there Are by the deep woods densely flung; And threatening cliffs, with rude rocks bare, In beauty to the gaze display Are darkly o’er wild torrents hung.

But distance veils the rugged scene, And softens every prospect rude, Till peace, mid gauze-like haze serene, Seems there on halcyon wing of brood.

Thus time will lighten every grief That darkens o’er our path below, And passing years will bring relief

To hearts, however wrung with woe.

Blackwell was content to live a quiet life of writing and reflection at Oak Springs, where he died on May 3, 1901. He was buried in the Edmonds-Blackwell family cemetery nearby, where his is one of the few graves still marked by a legible stone. Survivors included his wife, who is buried in the Ivy Hill family cemetery, and their son, James DeRuyter Blackwell Jr., who was a successful civil engineer.

“Had he been of that aggressive, self-assertive disposition so essential to material prosperity, he would have enjoyed handsome remuneration for his labors while he lived,” wrote Miss Day. “But wrapped in the reveries of transported existence, he never responded to the call of ambition, and his most coveted reward was the delightful dreams of a poet’s life.”

On his tombstone is an epitaph, written in verse by the poet who rests beneath it:

‘Tis not the whole of life to live, When ends the fleeting breath Another life the grave shall give That knoweth not of death.

What We Did On Our Vacation

By Bailey Davis

Long time Middleburg resident Bailey Davis was kind enough to share a long and fascinating letter she sent to her parents more than 50 years ago describing what she and her husband, Brad, had encountered while making their way across Europe, then on to their final destination in Beirut, Lebanon. This is Part 3.

Bulgaria.

We just don’t know how lucky we are to be born Americans, or at the very least, in the western world.

Big Brother watched us the entire way. The Bulgarian countryside is very similar to that of Yugoslavia—cobblestone highways, women slaving in the fields, and more numerous, the ox-drawn carts you constantly have to avoid hitting. Communal farm living is apparent, and the farms look very poor.

Just crossing the border, you begin to see numerous large posters depicting the hoped for life in Bulgaria—happy factory workers with a hammer and sickle hanging over the women carrying machine guns and holding wheat, people holding hands and reaching with bulging muscles to the Big Red Star. It’s unbelievable.

In some of the tiny villages we went through, small children five or six years old came running out to our car waving the red flag. People hung the Bulgarian flag out their apartment windows and next to it was the Russian red flag. Upon entering almost any town you see a string of lights across the entrance and the red star in the middle, all lit up at night.

In the towns outside of Sofia, the capital, the school children looked like the Red Chinese kids, all dressed alike in gray non-fitting suits with all their hair shaved off. There are no mini skirts or long-haired hippies. Big Daddy rules.

We finally arrived in Sofia and all the major buildings display that red star. White lights were strong from post to post with a star in the middle. It looked like Christmas, except the atmosphere wasn’t that cheery.

To obtain a place for the night you go to Bulgaria Tourist and they fix it up, from luxury hotels, which they have for the monied visitors, through to second class and so on down to staying in a private home. We decided to do the latter.

Bulgaria Tourist gets half the cost of the room. The other half is placed in a bank account from which the homeowner can draw only when a legitimate reason is approved. With this system, you can save up some money, but then for no reason at all, the government will devalue the currency, thus reducing the holdings. And Big Daddy won’t help you out with the groceries.

We entered this assigned home, which reminded me of a slum tenement, or more appropriately Ivan Denisovich’s prison cell (in an Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn novel). Once inside, though, Mother Red had livable quarters. We were even able to converse in French and I learned a bit about her family and her life, but you really do try to keep your distance.

It was an eerie feeling, and I knew that once we stepped out to get something to eat, she would probably go through our suitcase. She directed us to a very bearlooking place for dinner, which conversely turned out to be quite cozy and had delicious food.

The Bulgarians have great wine. There is only one brand of white, but we both felt it was just as good as the best of France.

The Bulgarians have great wine. There is only one brand of white, but we both felt it was just as good as the best of France. After a good night’s sleep, the next morning, Mother Red had breakfast for us which consisted of two pieces of French bread, one teabag, a little butter, and guess what she wanted—five American dollars.

Brad had a fit.

“Tell her no.”

So once again with my French, we compromised, and I then had a splitting headache from concentrating on speaking French. While we packed all our belongings, she peered over us saying, “American clothes” while she felt the fabrics. I felt badly. I know she wanted something, but we really weren’t even close to the same size. It was goodbye kisses on both cheeks and off we went, heading toward one of the most mysterious and fascinating places ever—Turkey.

Bailey and Brad Davis

The Trades Can Definitely Be Rewarding

By Joey Snider

The “Blue Collar Revolution” is unfolding in today’s workplace, but there’s still a significant conversation that should be addressed.

For one, what really is a “blue collar” job, and what’s the best way to get started? There’s a widespread belief that a college education is the only ticket to a good job. And finally, should anyone be embarrassed about wearing a blue collar?

I’m referring to plumbers, water treatment and HVAC specialists, electricians, carpenters, roofers, masons (stone, block and brick), welders, and tile setters, among others. There are different fields for each trade—new construction, service and commercial.

I started in new construction but soon found my passion was in the residential and light commercial service side of plumbing.

How to get started?

A good time to explore possibilities would be a teenager’s sophomore year. Check out local service providers that offer any of the above services. Do due diligence on the company’s reputation. Then drop off

a resume, in person.

Explain why you believe you’d be a company asset. For example, tell them you’re available after 3 p.m. during the school year, happy to work weekends to assist emergency crews and then be available full time over the summer. Let them know there’s reliable transportation, and if you do land that part time position, just work your butt off.

To start, a newbie’s main job is to mostly stay quiet, be respectful and morph into a sponge, soaking up new skills and information. That also could lead to a more experienced professional possibly mentoring you.

When that happens, you’ll surely develop a whole new outlook on that profession. The learning curve should be swift and challenging.

As for the foolish notion that a good job only happens with a college degree, that’s not necessarily so. The cost of a college education has skyrocketed and the white collar job market is flooded. I frequently encounter highly educated people working jobs that have nothing to do with what they spent four to six years sudying.

Apply that same amount of time to learning a trade, and you might be surprised at lifestyle comparisons without a huge student loan to pay off.

When you complete an apprenticeship and become a master at your chosen specialty, the salary and benefit package will often be comparable to what many college graduates your age are also enjoying.

Finally, there’s that perceived embarrassment of peers, pals, parents and other family members that you’ve decided to become a blue collar worker.

These days, many high school graduates go to college, mostly because that’s what everyone else does. Should you be embarrassed if you don’t? Of course not.

Many young men and women proudly take a different direction. After working diligently parttime or summers in high school for a plumbing company, for example, they’ll stay with it.

Maybe they’ll go to community college and keep working at their trade part-time, all the while earning a journeyman’s card in another 18 to 24 months, then a master status in, say, plumbing or gas fitting. And when they achieve that heady goal, they might only be 25 or even younger.

This is not a journey for the feint of heart. But those who take advantage of the Blue Collar Revolution surely will be rewarded professionally and financially.

Joey Snider was the founder and long-time owner of Middleburg and now Marshall-based J.R. Snider Plumbing until he sold the company and retired two years ago.

Joey Snider and his pooch pal Poppy.

5

The Maine Coast With Avis Fleming

By Paul Hodge

Avis Fleming, an awardwinning 89-year-old artist and long-time former resident of Unison, is having a so-called “last hurrah” exhibit of her work called “The Maine Shore,” a show of her paintings, prints, and ceramics.

A beloved four-decade teacher at Alexandria’s Art League School, Fleming has been painting and drawing the tumbled coast of Maine, the nation’s most pristine, undeveloped coast, for more than 60 years.

The show opened in mid-September at Printmakers Inc., a nonprofit gallery in Alexandria’s Torpedo Factory Art Center and continues through Nov. 1. It includes more than 50 works from Fleming’s studio/galleries on Chebeague Island in Maine, in her Alexandria studio/apartment, and from her former studio/gallery in Unison.

Works will include paintings, etchings, lithographs, dry points, oil and watercolor monotypes, as well as ceramic bowls, vases, platters and framed Maine ceramic art.

Married to retired Washington Post journalist Paul Hodge, Fleming studied philosophy and art history at Bryn Mawr College, graduating cum laude. After a summer of basics at Rhode Island School of Design, she studied printmaking at Pratt Institute from 1959 to 1961. She was a member of the Washington Color School, exhibiting at Studio Gallery in Washington.

Fleming taught sketchbook drawing, figure drawing, and gesture drawing,

a class she originated, at Alexandria’s Art League School for almost 40 years, retiring in September, 2023.

Her frequent Art League School trips to Ireland as well as to the Czech Republic and New Orleans, with its bayous near to where Avis grew up, were followed by a trip to her Unison farm. Her students sat in pastures on chairs, surrounded by curious, friendly Connemara ponies and Black Angus cattle, which nibbled and nuzzled the artists and their large drawing boards.

The Ireland trips were similar to Fleming’s own annual summer trips to the Maine coast and Casco Bay, which actually resembles the rocky western coast of Ireland. The Maine and Irish coasts were connected about 200 million years ago, before they and their tectonic plates drifted apart.

Fleming’s work has received awards throughout the Washington area, including many from the Art League and its much praised Art League School. Her work was included in a national Washington Color School show in Brooklyn, N.Y., and a Chrysler Museum show in Norfolk, curated by New York Times art critic Hilton Kramer.

Her resume also includes an invitational solo show at Alexandria’s Black History Museum and awards from the curator of the National Portrait Gallery, Charlotte Ickes and the Van Landingham Award for four-color lithograph, “Wheatfield,” juried by the curator of prints at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Photos courtesy of Printmakers, Inc. Baby seal in Maine surf.

Chebeague Island Harbor.

Deeds Left Undone

When a vineyard accident during harvest season leaves Lucie Montgomery without a valuable employee, it’s her worst nightmare. But before she can search for a replacement, there’s more bad news: Paul Merchant, her winery manager’s husband, is found dead at the bottom of his swimming pool.

Police rule Paul’s death an accident, but his wife insists he was murdered because of his leadership of Don’t Pave Paradise, a conservationist group lobbying to keep the region’s beautiful country roads unpaved. And six weeks ago, Paul’s predecessor also died under mysterious circumstances.

As Lucie is drawn into investigating Paul’s death, she discovers more than one motive for the crime—and more than one person in their close-knit community who wanted Paul dead. And when she finds an old photo of a beautiful local heiress who died tragically in a fire eighty years ago among Paul’s papers, she starts to wonder if the modern-day crime might have roots in the past.

Either way, someone is determined to make sure Lucie, who’s agreed to continue the work of Don’t Pave Paradise, hits a dead end before she even gets started. Even if it means committing murder. Again.

And…the author shared this tidbit with ZEST…the inspiration for this book was inspired by an article by   Justin Jouvenal,  Bonnie Jo Mount and  Jayne Orenstein in The Washington Post…stop paving over the lovely gravel roads.

Photo by Leonard Shapiro

Author Ellen Crosby recently signed her new mystery novel, “Deeds Left Undone,” at Slater Run Vineyards in Upperville.

Business and Professional Association, prepared to decorate for the 19th Annual Sidewalk Sale.

THIS & THAT

THE BEAR FACTS

A large black bear recently was spotted in the parking lot of the Tractor Supply store in Marshall. He stood about six feet tall, looked friendly enough, and even posed for a photo.

He actually stayed in the exact same place for three days, and for $800, he could be loaded into a car or pick-up truck and taken home.

Truth be told, that bear was actually a wood-carved and painted creation of a West Virginia-based business called the Mason Dixon Boys. Almost every weekend, owner Travis Cook and his 18-year-old son, Carter, display their colorful and meticulously crafted wooden creations in parking lots all around this and other areas.

In addition to selling these hand-carved mini-statues ranging from a red cardinal, to a beige cross to a brown mushroom or a white angel, the Cooks set up a small demonstration area surrounded by a six-foot fence where they make magic with their chain saws to create their unique art.

Their prices range from $75 for the smaller pieces to that bear of an $800 price tag. Their slogan: “come see what we saw.”

The Rev. Gene LeCouteur leads a genuine Coney Island Amusement Park dancing carousel horse from the floor of the Annual Emmanuel’s Treasures sale to its new home in the Middleburg area. The four-day sale, which coincides with the August Sidewalk Sale, is a fund-raiser for the Episcopal Church’s many missions in the community.

Friday, November 21, 2025

Gordon Springs 5:30 PM

Purcellville, VA

Photo by Donna Strama

Robert Thomas of Balloons Unlimited with Punkin Lee, owner of Journeyman Saddlers and president of the Middleburg

Photo by Pat Reilly Hold Your Horses:

Photo by Vicky Moon

KITTERY POINT

145 acres | $4,875,000

Berryville – Iconic Blue Ridge Hunt property has sweeping Mountain views. Light-filled brick home offers 5 BRs / 3.5 BAs on three full levels. 10-stall barn, multiple outbuildings.

TILTHAMMER MILL FARM

79+ acres | $2,299,000

Boyce – Built in 2020, house is 4,800 SqFt with 10’ ceilings, 8 foot doors, hardwood floors. Hardiplank and stone exterior, fabulous mountain views. Totally restored bank barn.

SERENITY

14+ acres | $1,200,000

Boyce – 3 BR / 1.5 BA huntbox. Remodeled and updated, including exterior paint and new roof. Hardwood floors, high ceilings, 2 working fireplaces. Blue Ridge Mountain views.

UNICORN HILL

74+ acres | $2,250,000

Boyce – In Blue Ridge Hunt territory, 2 parcels–In conservation easement and not dividable.

4,200 SqFt with 3 BRs / 3 full BAs, custom built in 1985 and has been updated several times since.

ALWAYS FAITHFUL FARM

43 acres | $1,765,000

Bluemont – Renovated in 2020: new kitchen and BAs, hardi-plank siding, oak flooring and lighting. Other features: 2-car garage, greenhouse, 10 stall barn, dog kennels w/runs, machine shed.

DEERE RIDGE

8+ acres | $895,000

Boyce – A picturesque, private rural setting on a bluff just west of the Shenandoah River, is a great place to hang your hat! This 8.53 acre lot has an additional building right - a rare find in Clarke.

HAPPY HILL FARM

57+ acres | $1,950,000

Amissville – Meticulously maintained 1880's farmhouse. Just 20 minutes to Warrenton and 10 min to Washington, VA — ideal as a full-time residence or weekend escape.

DODDS MILL

.72 acres | $1,550,000

Haymarket – Estate home in premier gated community! 5 en-suite BRs w/ walk-in closets, over 6,000 Sq Ft of living space. 5-car garage. Resort style amenities- golf, tennis, hiking/biking trails.

CLAY HILL

40+ acres | $850,000

Boyce – In the heart of Blue Ridge Hunt Country - hack to meets. One DUR - build your dream home!!! 8 stall barn + 2 stall run-in shed. Board fenced fields w/ auto-waterers. Ideal ride-out.

The Ninth Crab Feast at Slater Run Vineyards

Photos by Linda Millington and Vicky Moon

Proceeds from this popular event benefits the Churches of the Upperville Outreach Program. This program is a collaborative effort by several churches to provide food and support to families in need. The program distributes food baskets, during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the holidays, to families in Upperville and the surrounding community. On a soft and lovely evening those attending had All You Can Eat Crabs, corn on the cob, watermelon, cornbread, cookies, l lemonade and perhaps a sip of Slater Run wine too.

Clawing your way to crab heaven.

Alice and Bob Slater

Sarah Woods and Marjorie Davenport

The calm before the guests arrived

Aaw shucks

Mike Husfelt

Ric and Michele Woodie

As the sun sets in the west.

A World Class Artist Graces Front Royal

By Emma Boyce

Melissa Ichiuji has a way with dolls.

The widely-acclaimed Front Royal artist explores the often brutal dichotomies of the female form. From her textile sculptures to her performance art, the internal becomes the external. Soft becomes hard. A bloody ballerina. A young girl’s veiny reflection. A dancer’s supple legs and torso extending into tree branches– a modern-day Daphne hiding from Apollo, perhaps.

In her performance art, Ichiuji is the doll, shedding layers, cutting eyelets, revealing the human underneath as something almost taboo. The black pupils, the red lips, the garish, white teeth. It’s dark, yet playful, and a long way from her artistic beginnings watching her grandmother sew quilts in Appalachia.

“I come from a long line of artisans, blacksmiths, weavers, quilters,” said Ichiuji, whose Appalachian roots go back to legendary frontiersman Daniel Boone.

Ichiuji had been making figurines long before she became a renowned artist. What began as a childhood craft, constructing her own dolls after losing everything in a house fire, would later turn into an international art sensation.

Ichiuji’s work has been featured in galleries and museums in major cities around the world. Most recently, she had a solo exhibition of her paintings and sculptures at Galerie Sophie Scheidecker in Paris. In September, her work will be exhibited alongside other Washington area female artists at the American University Museum.

Curated by Lenny Campello, Women Artists of the DMV boasts the largest exhibition of living contemporary female artists to date and takes place around 16 different venues, including Ichiuji’s own studio in Front Royal.

She works in multiple mediums, from steel to ceramics to canvas to video, but, as she said herself, her work with textiles first captured the attention of European art collectors.

“I didn’t understand until much later that my love for fabrics, stitching, and make-due spirit came from generations of women whose quilts carried stories of poetic grit,” she said.” “Appalachian women have done this for centuries– mending, joining, stitching their lives into something beautiful enough to survive. At a time when political differences are straining and the value of our nation’s diversity is in question, maybe that’s what I’m here to pioneer– not a revolution, but a quilt big enough for everyone.”

Ichiuji’s quilt, however, comes in the form of her eponymous art gallery. Founded in 2023, the Melissa Ichiuji Studio Gallery features works from artists around the Shenandoah Valley and aims to provide a space for artists and artlovers to gather, free of charge. In order to further her mission, Ichiuji recently established the Front Royal Project for the Arts, a non-profit that supports the burgeoning art community in Front Royal and beyond.

“The Gallery and our growing art scene is putting Front Royal and The Shenandoah Valley on the map as a destination to experience world class, contemporary art”, said Ichiuji. “The primary goal of the gallery and Front Royal Project for the Arts is to nurture the creative community in this region and become an art Mecca.”

Her gallery already hosts artist talks, lectures, and panel discussions, among other events. The gallery has teamed up with Royal Cinema, the local movie theater, and starting in October will present a women’s documentary film series that will screen films every Wednesday for eight weeks. Daughter of the Stars, a celebration of contemporary women artists in the Shenandoah Valley, runs from Oct. 18 through Dec. 7.

Like her dolls, Ichiuji aims to find balance in the contrasts: her homemade dolls with their stitching, found objects, and pins embody a slick, contemporary voice. Her studio and her non-profit obligations share time and space with her creative work. And her pioneer mentality forges new ground within an already extant Front Royal.

Photo by Alex Ichiuji Melissa Ichiuji in her Front Royal gallery.

A stunning Ichiuji sculpture on display.

John Ralph Designs Signs of the Times

By M.J. McAteer

If John Ralph ever decides he needs to drum up more customers for his business, Quail Run Signs, he could just post a video drive-through of Middleburg. Almost every eye-catching sign is his, from The Masters of Foxhounds at the east end of town to Chronicle of the Horse on the west, with businesses such as Duchessa, Creme de la Creme, Middleburg Antique Emporium and Common Grounds, in between.

The new sign at the Red Fox Inn is courtesy of Quail Run, as was the late Fun Shop’s iconic hobby horse sign. Other local institutions such as the Pink Box, Hill School and Middleburg Tennis Club all sport Ralph-made signs, as do the town offices.

Quail Run also is the go-to for area agri-businesses such as vineyards, breweries and wedding venues. And many of the small farms and grand estates that surround Middleburg mark their entrances with Quail Run signs, too. The historic Huntland estate was a recent client.

Photo by M.J. McAteer

John Ralph (left), owner of Quail Run Signs, and shop and paint technician Ryan Coffey.

“No one else in Hunt Country does what we do.”

“No one else in Hunt Country does what we do,” Ralph said.

Quail Run Signs was started by Rectortown resident Patty Callahan back in the 1980s. She worked out of her basement and garage and focused on hand-painted, wooden signs. “It was the right scale for a single person,” she said.

About 20 years ago, Ralph joined Callahan in the business. “He could see the future, he had a vision,” she added, and that vision was to expand well beyond hand-painted signs.

“Patty is an amazing artist and designer,” Ralph said, “but not a welder or machinist.”

When Callahan sold Ralph her share of the company in 2004, he began to invest in equipment such as printers and carving machines that would allow him to do a larger variety of projects, including illuminated signs, real estate placards, banners and logos on vehicles and clothing.

These days, about half of Ralph’s work is on a larger scale than the signs that populate Middleburg’s downtown. Commercial developments, like shopping centers, require entry features and are among his biggest clients.

Government entities, such as towns and parks are steady customers, and visitors to Hamilton, Purcellville and Paris all are welcomed by Quail Run signs. As a Class A licensed contractor for the state, Ralph can take on projects of any magnitude, making his business a must for local outlets of national companies such as CarMax, as well.

Some customers who come to Quail Run have a design in mind. Niki Stephenson-Campbell, manager of one of Middleburg’s newest shops, Tom Beckbe, an outdoor apparel store, said, “I knew exactly what I wanted, and John put it into action.”

For less certain customers, Ralph asks for a wish list--“things you love, things you hate. It can be as useful as ‘We hate green.’” From there, his designers produce a starter pack of several possible designs with prices beginning at about $1,000.

Chris Alvarez, vice president of KT Enterprises, is usually one of Ralph’s less-certain customers. “We sometimes have plans, but, more often than not, John works his magic,” he said. “It’s a unique product.” Alvarez estimated that over the past 15 years, Ralph has designed about 50 signs for his commercial

landscaping company.

The equipment required to do largescale projects for customers such as Alvarez necessitated Quail Run’s move earlier this year from Middleburg to a larger building Ralph had constructed in Berryville.

“I needed a place to put a forklift,” he said, in addition to storage and work space large enough for the fabrication of 100 or so sign projects he may have going at any given time. These days, he has a staff of about 10 and two or three crews out every day doing installations.

The Loudoun County Joint Architectural Review Board, which recognizes projects in historic districts for their architectural merit, has repeatedly cited Quail Run Signs for excellence.

Ralph hopes the board will give the nod to the triangular, elevated and illuminated sign that Quail Run recently created for Shutters on King, the new upscale Leesburg bar and restaurant that took over the prime space formerly occupied by Black Shutter Antiques. That one was a challenge, he says, but Quail Run Signs was up to it.

“If you can dream it,” he said, “we can do it.”

Experiences Rich in Flavor

Indulge in vibrant and flavorful creations meticulously prepared with the fines locally sourced ingredients from Virginia’s Piedmont region.

As Virginia’s newest Forbes Five-Star restaurant, every exquisite bite sets a new standard for culinary excellence.

Season Opening Concert: All-American 250th

Sunday, October 26 - 3PM

Kicking off our 30th Anniversary Season is virtuoso pianist Thomas Pandolfi, performing Gershwin’s electrifying Concerto in F. Showcasing American composers Copland and Gershwin, it’s also a celebration of America’s 250th!

UPCOMING PSO PERFORMANCES

PSO Holiday Concert: December 7 - 3PM

The Nutcracker & Corelli Christmas Concerto

Young Artists Competition: February 15 - 3PM Lord of the Rings

PSO Live!: April 12 - 3PM

2X Grammy-nominee Raul Midón in Concert

ROCK-maninoff: June 7 - 3PM

Carlos César Rodriguez, piano

LIVING FIT & WELL

Functional Strength, and Muscle Mass Leads to Longevity

By Mark Nemish

In my previous article, I discussed the problem of aging in relation to loss in lean skeletal muscle mass, specifically Type II fibers, and the resultant loss in strength. Following up, I’ll outline why a loss in muscle mass/ strength is detrimental and mitigating these losses are crucial to leading a long, productive life.

Falls for men and women over 65 are one of the biggest factors related to loss in strength and muscle mass, also known as sarcopenia. Approximately 30 per cent over that age report at least one fall each year. For some, the combination of a fall and low BMD can result in fractures that require hospitalization.

For those with a history of falls, it’s recommended they undergo several screenings that include functional strength and balance testing.

In my personal physical assessments of older clients, I find that those with low skeletal mass in their legs typically have poor lower body strength and a much higher propensity for failing in a variety of lunging assessments. This can also be accompanied by poor posture, core control, and a lack of awareness of how their feet interact with the ground.

A recent 2024 study of older Swedish women (average age 77.8 years) found a 48 per cent higher risk of fractures for those with sarcopenia verses women without sarcopenia. Muscle mass and functional strength (hand grip strength and gait speed) were the specific factors defining sarcopenia.

In a 6.4-year follow up with the same subjects, those who were sarcopenic had a 3.4 times higher mortality than those without sarcopenia. In a 2022 meta-analysis of 56 studies examining the relationship between sarcopenia and mortality, sarcopenia was associated with a two times higher risk of mortality in males and females.

Since hospitalization often accompanies sarcopenic-related falls and fractures, it’s often a vicious circle of further loss in strength and muscle mass when hospitalized.

Another factor not often mentioned is the association between sarcopenia and mental health. Older people with dementia are three times more likely to be sarcopenic than those who do not experience dementia.

Those who have less muscle mass have less of a “sink” to store glucose (ingested carbohydrate). As a result, incidence of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes can be aided by low muscle mass.

Less muscle mass, due to lack of exercise, can result in higher inflammation, oxidative stress and thus impaired mitochondrial function, all hallmarks of cognitive decline with aging.

While the impacts of sarcopenia may seem daunting, my next column may provide some hope in helping reverse this condition, outlining the need for specific training/nutrition that can be incorporated at any age.

Mark Nemish is the current owner/director of Precision Health Performance. He’s spent 22 years as head strength and conditioning coach for the Washington Capitals (2007-23) and Nashville Predators (1998-04) in the NHL.

Mark Nemish and the Washington Capitals’ Stanley Cup.

Spectacular Salterhill: A Beautiful Boyce Property “S

alterhill” sits atop a knoll in the heart of 145 acres, with sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains on a spectacular property that offers privacy, beauty and turn-key readiness.

Designed by Charlottesville architect Jay Dalgliesh and built in 1989, the 7,000+ square foot home features six bedrooms, five full baths and two half baths.

The farm spans two parcels beautifully blending open hay fields and mature hardwood forest. Surrounded by large farms protected by conservation easements, Salterhill remains unencumbered and offers tax credit potential as well as having four additional dwelling unit rights.

A winding drive through the woods leads to a pea gravel courtyard framed by trees and mature landscaping. A flagstone path welcomes guests to the mahogany double front doors.

Inside, a curved front hall with Zuber French woodblock wallpaper panels opens to the light-filled living room, where a fireplace and a wall of windows showcase the southern views.

The formal dining room, with chair rail and intricate moldings, flows seamlessly from here. The gourmet kitchen, remodeled in 2021, features a tray ceiling, large island and an adjoining family room anchored by a floor to ceiling Albemarle greenstone fireplace.

Off the kitchen hallway are a wet bar, gardening nook with antique soapstone sink and a powder room. In the back hallway, which connects to a two-car garage, are large pantry closets.

A four-season room with interchangeable screens and glass panels presents s year-round enjoyment of the views.

The main level also includes a pine paneled library with fireplace and passage to the luxury primary suite, which features built-ins, large bath with dual vanities, dressing table and separate walk-in closets. There are two more-bedroom suites, laundry room and powder room.

Upstairs there’s a guest suite with full bath and walk-in closet as well as attic storage. The walk-out lower level offers two more bedrooms with a Jack & Jill bath, a spacious recreation room, full kitchen, and private entrance—ideal for guests or an in-law suite.

The original landscape plan was done by renowned landscape architect, the late Meade Palmer. More recent changes and additions have been made by Nicole Seiss of LanDesign. Nature lovers will appreciate the magnolia, sycamore, pin oak, beech, red maple, weeping willow, and horse chestnut trees, as well as two large perennial beds.

The Hartley Botanic greenhouse from England, tiered vegetable beds and three-acre quail habitat also enhance the property’s charm.

Salterhill

154 Clay Hill Road Boyce, VA 22620

Price: $4,875,000

Cricket Bedford

540-229-3201

cricket@thomasandtalbot.com

Thomas & Talbot

Estate Properties

2 South Madison St. Middleburg, VA 20117

The formal living room.

The aerial view of the main house at Salterhill.

The library includes windows with a wonderful view and a fireplace.

The dining room opens into the living room.

The kitchen features a quartzite island and top-of-the-line appliances.

The four seasons room has flagstone floors and a gas stove.

A Desperate Escape in 1855

By Travis Shaw

Historians and educators Donna Bohanon and Lori Kimball recently provided a fascinating in-depth look at the history and legacy of one of the most famous episodes in the history of the Underground Railroad during a Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area event at Slater Run Vineyards in Upperville.

For Middleburg’s White residents in 1855, Christmas was a time of feasting, church services, and family visits. For the area’s enslaved population, however, Christmas carried a different meaning.

Some feared being hired out for the coming year, risking separation from loved ones. Others welcomed the brief respite from work, small gifts of food or clothing, and the rare chance to travel and visit family.

One man who set out on Christmas Eve 1855 was Frank Wanzer, a 25-year-old enslaved man determined to escape. Wanzer was held by Luther Sullivan, whom he called “the meanest man in Virginia,” known for shorting his enslaved workers on food and clothing, and for frequent whippings and sales.

That night, Wanzer was joined by at least five others. Barnaby Grigsby, enslaved by William Rogers near Aldie, came with his wife, Mary Elizabeth, and her sister, Emily, both enslaved at Valley View Farm by Townshend McVeigh. Two other men, less well documented, completed the group.

They hoped the bustle of the holiday would conceal their departure. They traveled in a wagon taken from local merchant Edwin Broun. Wanzer drove because his light skin and hair helped him pose as an overseer

moving enslaved workers.

By morning they reached the Potomac River, and back in Middleburg, their absence was quickly noticed. On Christmas Day, Rogers and McVeigh posted a $300 reward for the capture of Barnaby, Mary Elizabeth, and Emily.

Meanwhile, the group pressed north. By afternoon, cold and exhausted, they reached Hood’s Mill, Maryland. Their presence aroused suspicion, and an armed posse soon confronted them. Demanding to know what right they had to travel, the mob grew hostile. Wanzer replied that, “no gentleman would interfere with persons riding along civilly,” but the confrontation escalated.

At that moment the freedom seekers drew pistols and knives. One man leveled a gun at one of the women, who defiantly shouted, “Shoot! Shoot!

Shoot!” brandishing her own pistol and knife. Wanzer prepared to “spill blood, kill, or die” rather than be captured. Intimidated, the posse backed down and allowed them to pass.

Moments later, gunfire rang out behind them. The two unnamed men who had traveled with the group stumbled into the posse and one was killed, the other captured.

The remaining four abandoned their wagon and fled on foot through snow and freezing temperatures.

On Dec. 26 they reached Columbia, Pennsylvania, where Underground Railroad conductor William Whipper sheltered them. On New Year’s Day, they boarded a train to Philadelphia.

Once there, they were received by William Still, often called the “Father of the Underground Railroad.” Still aided hundreds of fugitives and recorded their stories, including that of the WanzerGrigsby party. He passed them on to Rev. J.W. Loguen’s safe house in Syracuse, New York. While there, Frank Wanzer proposed to Emily, and soon the two couples continued to Canada and freedom.

Though newly married, Wanzer could not forget his family in Virginia. In the summer of 1856, armed with three pistols and $22, he returned by train, then on foot to Loudoun County to attempt a rescue.

Against all odds, he freed his sister Betsy Smith, her husband Vincent, and Robert Stewart. Once again, he guided his small party north, successfully delivering them to Canada, where they lived out their lives as free men and women.

Travis Shaw is director of education for the Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area.

Courtesy of Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area

A shoot-out in Maryland nearly ended a journey to freedom.

A Vision of Nature: American Women Artists

In partnership with American Women Artists (AWA), the National Sporting Library & Museum (NSLM) is presenting A Vision of Nature: American Women Artists. This is the 9th juried exhibition for AWA: the nonprofit organization is dedicated to the inspiration, celebration, and encouragement of women in the visual fine arts and has previously worked with several other museums across the country to fulfill its initiative of presenting 25 museum exhibitions within 25 years.

For the NSLM’s exhibition, on view October 3, 2025–March 22, 2026, members of AWA were invited to respond to take inspiration from artworks in the NSLM’s permanent collection and expand on the theme, “a vision of nature.” Of the more than 500 artworks submitted, 58 paintings, works on paper, scratchboard paintings, and sculptures were selected for inclusion. These never-before exhibited artworks represent a wide variety of techniques and stylistic approaches and celebrate the talent of contemporary female artists across North America. The NSLM is honored to showcase these women as well as this powerful selection of landscapes, human and animal portraits, and still lifes.

Patt Baldino - Sun-Kissed Duet, 24 x 12, oil on panel. 2025

Carmen Drake - Hadley with Bird,  Oil on linen panel, 24 x 14, 2025

Kimberly Beck - Jenny and Tom, Oil, 30 x 30, 2025

Jill Banks - Calm Waters, Oil on linen panel, 12 x 24, 2024

Sharon Crute-American Racing, Oil on linen panel, 18 x 24, 2023

Laurie Kersey-The Grey Hunter, Oil on linen, 16 x 20, 2025

Paula Holtzclaw - Verdant Valley, Oil, 24 x 20, 2024

Linda Volrath - Strong Spirit, Oil on linen, 16 x 20, 2025

Cathryne Trachok - Free Birds, Oil on panel, 12 x 24, 2025

Pamela White-The Journey, Oil on canvas, 36 x 36, 2024

An Estate-like Feel on a Magnificent Melmore Property

No detail has been left undone on this meticulously maintained and fully updated custom home on a 3.2-acre lot in the Melmore Community of Middleburg that feels like a brand new build located on a private estate.

After arrival in the formal entry, there’s a completely remodeled and expanded gourmet kitchen with ample storage/counter space, a large island, high-end stainless steel appliances including a warming drawer and custom lighting.

The main level features the formal living room, a large dining room with gas log fireplace, a sitting room with a propane gas log heater in the fireplace. There’s also an expansive family room with walls of windows overlooking the lush backyard with a door leading out to the large patio.

Completing the main level is a remodeled laundry room with high-end appliances, vanity with sink and storage cabinets, a half bathroom, and additional pantry and a mudroom with cubbies and access to the attached upgraded twocar garage

Upstairs there are four bedrooms, each with a large walk-in closet. The spacious primary bedroom has a second closet with a remodeled bathroom featuring an oversized walk in shower, soaking tub, custom vanity with two sinks and additionally there are two toilets.

Off the primary suite is a room perfect for a home office/exercise room/ sitting room with walls of windows overlooking the backyard. It also includes a refrigerator, sink and microwave. The fourth bedroom is currently being used as a playroom.

The back yard features a private walled two-level patio, barbecue grill, and a large fenced-in green space. The property includes a wide variety of flowering trees, evergreens, new foundation plantings and over 300 feet of rebuilt historic Middleburg stone wall.

Updates include new flooring throughout the home, the installation of a whole water treatment system and kitchen water filtering system, and new window treatments in the dining room, living room and all the bedrooms.

Other features are propane heaters and gas logs in the wood burning fireplaces, a resurfaced and sealed driveway, newly installed installation in the crawl spaces, enclosure for the propane tanks and trash containers, and regrading of the lawn areas, extensive bed mulching and the planting of 26 new trees.

The location is minutes away from the shops and restaurants of Middleburg, while also maintaining a private estatelike feel.

Melmore

23400 Melmore Place Middleburg, VA

Price: $1,790,000

Brian MacMahon

540-701-5261

bdmacmahon@gmail.com

Sheridan-MacMahon Realtors 540-687-5588

The front of this newly renovated magnificent Melmore home.

An expanded gourmet kitchen with all updated appliances.

The spacious living room with windows and gorgeous views all around.

The remodeled master bathroom features an oversized walk-in shower and a soaking tub.

The areal view of the 3.2 acre property.

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balance that is $25,000 or greater. The APY for this tier will range from 6.00% to .20%, depending on the balance in your account. When Kasasa Cash qualifications are not met, the interest rate paid on the entire Kasasa Cash balance will be .010% with an annual percentage yield of .01%. All rates subject to change daily without notice.

** You will receive reimbursements for nationwide ATM withdrawal fees imposed by other financial institutions and incurred during the Monthly Qualification Cycle in which you qualified. We reimburse ATM withdrawal fees based on estimates when the withdrawal information we receive does not identify the ATM fee. If you have not received an appropriate reimbursement we will adjust the reimbursement amount after we receive the transaction receipt within sixty (60) days after the statement cycle when the reimbursement was applicable.

^ For Kasasa Saver, an interest rate of 2.960% will be paid on your daily balance; the annual percentage yield for this is 3.00%. When Kasasa Cash qualifications are not met, the interest rate paid on the entire Kasasa Saver balance will be 0.050% with an annual percentage yield of 0.05%. All rates subject to change daily without notice.

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Bess Putnam Has A New Album for the Ages

By Peyton Tochterman

Let’s forget about streaming numbers and algorithms for a second. Something real is happening up at Cabin Studios in Leesburg, where the walls are catching fire with sound and memory. Bess Putnam, the Blue Mountain Songbird, is at work on a new recording engineered by Dustin Delage, due out this November.

And if her past has been about preserving songs, this one feels like a resurrection of the self: a collection born from ancestral memory, Appalachian soil, and the kind of truth you don’t find on playlists curated by machines.

For Bess, the songs aren’t so much written as they are caught, like birds landing on her shoulder when she stills her mind.

“I never try to force songwriting,” she said. “I believe there are stories trying to be told, and we’re just the ones holding the pen at the right moment.”

That humility defines this album. Each melody feels older than the hills yet urgent as a heartbeat, connecting listeners to what she calls a “collective Appalachian consciousness.”

It’s no surprise, then, that memory runs through these songs like a river. Family memory, community memory, and ancestral memory that she insists are all one.

The ache of loss, the longing for home, the flutter of first love: these themes aren’t bound by century or place. They’ve always been with us. “This has all happened before and it will all happen again,”

she mused, finding kinship in the old ballads that remind her of our shared humanity.

In the studio, Bess is tending to living, breathing songs. One piece in particular began after her father’s death. Over the years it’s changed shape as grief itself shifted, becoming a kind of companion in healing. “We’re recording the song as it stands now,” she said softly. “But I don’t know that the song is done with me yet.”

Appalachian music has always carried both sorrow and hope, and Bess leans into that balance naturally.

“Sorrow stays because love never left,” she explained, treating both emotions as allies. The result is music that doesn’t wallow, but instead carries listeners through, lifting them up even as it acknowledges the weight of the world.

She said she hopes this album feels like medicine. That’s what she tells her students at Wakefield: music heals, realigns, restores. Whether a listener needs a laugh, perspective, or some tough love, she wants these songs to serve. “I am called to the service of souls,” she said. “And I bring music because that’s what travels with me.”

Recording an album, of course, is a different beast than performing on the stage. Live, the energy of an audience completes the circuit, igniting something communal. In the studio, that urgency is harder to summon.

But with Delage at the board and trusted musicians like the remarkable Mathew Metz around her, Bess has found ways to capture sparks of that same raw electricity and the moments where banjo, fiddle, and voice knit together into something wholly captivating.

This album began as a keepsake for her daughters, “just a collection of mama’s stories tied to melodies with some strings.”

But now she dreams it might outlive her, carrying hope to strangers she’ll never meet. That’s the magic of Bess Putnam, songs rooted in one mountain valley and then take flight and heard sung from the peaks of the Blue Ridge. Come November, the world will get to hear them too.

Photo by Stephen Putnam

Bess Putnam, a soaring songbird.

You Better Watch Out and You Can Shout

Laura Dowling, an expert floral designer and a former floral decorator at the White House, will present a master how-to class creating unique holiday decorations at the Middleburg Community Center on Thursday, Oct. 23 from 10 a.m. to noon.

The presentation is based upon the book Laura Dowling Designing Christmas: Practical Tips for Festive Decor– for table settings, trees, wreaths and more, which combines French-inspired designs with the wildness of nature to create romantic floral arrangements.

When not working on one of her book projects or speaking engagements, Dowling told ZEST, “In addition to pursuing a busy schedule with my own projects, I’ve been helping my husband, who is the president of the Historic Alexandria Foundation, write and produce the group’s first book -- a coffee table book entitled Old Town Style. It’s a wonderful compilation of architecture and interiors of more than 40 of Alexandria’s most beautiful historic homes -- and marks the first coffee table-style book ever done on this topic. The book is scheduled for publication this December.”

In her book, Laura Dowling shares her process for creating a beautiful Christmas at home, drawing inspiration from Paris, her experience as White House floral designer, and nature. She provides practical tips on how to incorporate holiday decor in phases using ten favorite elements and showcasing ten different design schemes, including a vintage Parisian theme and an Italian-style motif. Whether you want to add subtle touches or go all out for the holidays, Laura’s book offers inspiration tips and tricks, and step-by-step instructions for making your home charming and delightful.

Tickets are $100 and includes the book. To purchase tickets and for further information, go to Laura-Dowling.eventbrite.com. There will also be a silent auction of floral arrangements. All proceeds benefit the Piedmont Garden Club Community Outreach.

And finally, Dowling sends us this note: “A couple of other updates: Earlier this summer, I was honored to receive the “Award of Merit” from the American Institute of Floral Designers for “outstanding contributions” to the floral industry. And I’m heading to the heartland next February to create a major installation in celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary. So, there are many things to be grateful for and exciting projects ahead.”

At Mt. Defiance, A Spirited Spot With Cider Included

By Bob Appenzeller

The resurgence of locally-sourced craft beverages is abundantly evident at Mt. Defiance Cidery and Distillery in Middleburg. This enterprise is rapidly expanding into areas untapped by the familiar wineries and breweries of Hunt Country. Just east of the village along Route 50 on a gentle rise of land stands a mammoth barn-like wooden structure that surely would have impressed the participants of the June, 1863 battle its Mt. Defiance name is tied to.

Owner and founder Marc Chretien is a retired State Department official who served as an adviser to the military both in Iraq and Afghanistan. “I’ve been all over the world,” he said not long after Mt. Defiance opened in 2014. “I’ve been in war zones for the past seven years, and [after retirement] I wanted an idyllic existence for my wife and child. I think we’ve found it.”

Apples have long been a significant local crop and Mt. Defiance is producing outstanding dry cider from orchards in Winchester. They specialize in the English dry style cider, commonly referred to as “scrumpy” in the UK. It’s light and effervescent, with subtle earthiness.

Tiffanie Gulledge, the cidery’s vibrant operations manager, originally came from Haymarket, worked at Williams Gap Vineyard and has her own vision for Mt. Defiance.

“We’re now in our 11th year,” she said, describing

the food selections available. “The current paninis will be joined by salads and wraps for lighter fare, and a speakeasy bar is planned for the loft of the Barn.”

In May, Mt. Defiance closed its original Middleburg location at the corner of West Washington Street and The Plains Road, moving the entire operation to the Barn. They also added an outdoor patio bar that’s been a popular attraction.

The building features a rustic wood tasting room and event center that accommodates 200 guests, weddings included. There’s live music twice monthly and Bingo and trivia nights alternate weekly. Their Halloween event is themed “Cocktails through the Ages” – an in-depth look at the history of the cocktail.

And that brings us to a surprising twist in offerings—as in spirits

Virginia ABC laws are strict about separating the serving of spirits from cider. For a Mt. Defiance bartender to concoct a Death in the Afternoon cocktail (a Hemingway staple), patrons have to saunter out to that back porch to enjoy this delicate champagne/absinthe combination.

The absinthe is made from their homegrown wormwood, star anise and lemon balm. Mt. Defiance’s Absinthe Supérieure took Best in Class in Virginia’s First Landing Cup 2025, no small feat for a relative newcomer.

If one prefers the traditional sugar cube pour, as Toulouse-Lautrec liked it, that’s offered as well. Tiffanie said spirits also being produced at Mt. Defiance include bourbon-style whiskey, white and dark rum, amaretto and brandy.

One of Chretien’s good friends is General John Allen, a Warrenton native who also served in the same war zones and has a bourbon drink named in his honor.

The Mimslyn Inn in Luray is a recent addition to the enterprise, further establishing a strong rural Virginia presence. Clearly, Mt. Defiance stands tall in the emerging cidery/distillery eco-system, well worth a visit to this artisanal bastion of cider and spirits.

Details: Mt. Defiance Cidery and Distillery is located at 495 E. Washington Street in Middleburg. Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. Children and leashed pets are welcome.

Photo by Bob Appenzeller

The rustic wood tasting room and event center with room for 200 guests.

It’s Only Natural to Visit the Bull Run Mountains

By Michael Kieffer

In George Peterken’s 1996 book, “Natural Woodland,” the British naturalist contrasts original naturalness—“the state that existed before people became a significant ecological factor”-with present naturalness—“the state that would prevail now if people had not become a significant factor.”

One must remember that forests are constantly shaped by storms and fire. If a forest is spared human disturbances, over hundreds of years it can become “present naturalness.” If people were removed permanently the forest enters its “future naturalness.” While not many have adopted this terminology, preferring “virgin” and “old growth” descriptions, Peterken’s terms provide a nice conceptual way of looking at our conserved lands.

Based on his writings, the conserved lands in the Bull Run Mountains Region original naturalness was lost with Native Americans management of the mountains for game and berries through their use of fire.

Since American Indians’ first contact, this area has been logged, inhabited, quarried, farmed, and pastured. It has endured acid rain deposition, gypsy moth invasions, and countless plant introductions many that have turned invasive and detrimental to its native flora.

These lands do not qualify for the term present naturalness, and, since people will not be removed completely or permanently, the forest will not in the foreseeable future enter into future naturalness. For that matter, there is no landscape on earth that can qualify for original, present, or future naturalness because the entire surface of earth is affected by anthropogenic disturbances.

It makes it difficult to reach the goal of perpetually sustaining our natural resources without a clear definition of what is natural. However, I believe it’s the process of attempting to manage towards naturalness that leads to better understanding of ecological functions of forests, grasslands, freshwater systems etc. that are vital to our physical and mental health.

We never would have realized the magnitude of the complexity of natural systems if not for our attempt to set aside landscapes specifically and above all else to preserve their naturalness.

For Bull Run Mountains Conservancy’s (BRMC) part, we work to continue to learn what comprises the flora and fauna on the Bull Run Mountains Region. Thanks to members and donors generous contributions we have been able to fund a four-year moth survey, a three-year beetle survey, an American Chestnut study, a bat survey, a dragonfly and damselfly survey, a 13-year vegetation study of ecological change on the Bull Run Mountains, and continuing macroinvertebrate stream monitoring through our programs.

The idea of original naturalness, present naturalness, and future naturalness may be beyond what humans will ever witness again. Still, the attempt to maintain landscapes with this primary purpose has never been more important. It’s imperative to add to our conserved lands, as well as continue basic research to understand them more deeply.

Michael Kieffer is BRMC’s executive director. The organization is hosting a free and open to the public family night of non-scary adventure, including a guided tour along the trail at Leopold’s Preserve and native “wildlife” performing natural history skits on Friday, Oct. 17 or Friday, Oct. 24.

Photo courtesy of BRMC

Bull Run Mountains Conservancy (BRMC) in its natural forest state.

THOMAS & TALBOT

2 S Madison St. Middleburg, VA 20117 Office: 540-687-6500 | thomasandtalbot.com

Delaplane – This one-of-a-kind offering blends historic gravitas, architectural beauty, and unmatched natural surroundings—perfect for those seeking an extraordinary legacy property. Beautiful gardens, fountains and heated pool w/ pool house. Three stables: 10-stall, 4-stall, and 3-stall, run-in sheds and a large machine shed. Two separate living quarters designed for farm managers, and a 2 bedroom / 2 bath guest cottage near the main house.

Upperville – Fully renovated 4 BRs/ 2.5 BAs, w/ the original features retained, including wide heart pine flooring and detailed woodwork. Center aisle barn w/ 4 stalls, and a 120 x 70 EquiSand arena–suitable for all riding disciplines.

Hunt Deer, Save Eagles

Each year, thousands of hunters head into the woods to do important work: managing deer populations. Deer are already overwhelming our forests, stripping them of native plants, damaging habitats for other wildlife, and creating dangerous roadway hazards. And with fewer people hunting each year, the problem is only getting worse.

But there’s another problem. The ammunition we use.

By Annie Bradfield

When a deer is shot with lead ammunition, tiny fragments scatter far beyond the wound channel. Hunters often “field dress” their deer (removing internal organs on site to make the animal easier to transport). Those discarded remains, sometimes called “gut piles,” are a magnet for scavengers: bald eagles, vultures, hawks, and even mammals like opossums and foxes. What seems like a gift of food is often a deadly trap.

Lead is a powerful neurotoxin. Ingesting even a fragment the size of a grain of rice can kill an eagle. Lead poisoning works quickly, causing seizures, paralysis, and weakness. And for every patient that makes it to care, many more suffer and die unseen. Their bodies are then scavenged by other animals, spreading the poison further. One bullet fragment can set off a chain of suffering that spreads far beyond the original deer.

This is not a rare occurrence. Over 80% of the eagles and vultures that come to Blue Ridge Wildlife Center for care test positive for lead, and that is consistent with the majority of wildlife centers. In winter, when gut piles are one of the few available food sources, the risk spikes dramatically.

And yet, we need hunters. Deer populations, left unchecked, have few natural predators in our modern landscapes. Hunting plays a critical role in keeping forests healthy and balanced. The answer is not to stop hunting but to change how we do it.

The good news is that alternatives exist. Non-lead ammunition, made from copper or tungsten is widely available, effective, and just as accurate. Many hunters who’ve made the switch report no difference in performance, and some even note cleaner wound channels and less wasted meat. By choosing non-lead, hunters can continue their vital role in wildlife management without leaving behind a toxic legacy.

This is not about blaming hunters, it’s about equipping them with better tools. Hunters are some of the strongest conservationists in our country’s history. They know the value of healthy ecosystems, and they care deeply about the wildlife that shares our landscapes. By embracing non-lead ammunition, hunters can continue to protect forests from deer over browsing while also safeguarding the raptors, vultures, and scavengers .

Healthy forests are the foundation of healthy ecosystems, but today many of our forests are struggling under the pressure of too many deer. White-tailed deer are consuming young trees at unsustainable levels. When the next generation of trees is eaten before it has a chance to grow tall and hardy enough to survive, the forest cannot renew itself. The result is alarming: forests are aging without a new generation to replace them.

At the Center, we see the consequences firsthand. On our property, we’ve set a goal of planting at least 500 native trees each year. But planting alone isn’t enough. Each tree must be carefully protected from deer browsing, because if left exposed, it will be stripped bare. The forest can no longer do this work on its own.

Deer management through responsible hunting isn’t just about population control, it’s about giving our forests a future. And by using non-lead ammunition, hunters ensure that in protecting our forests, they are not poisoning the very wildlife that depend on them.

Annie Bradfield is executive director of the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center in Millwood, the only licensed wildlife hospital in Northern Virginia. Learn more at blueridgewildlifectr.org

Courtesy of Blue Ridge Wildlife Center

A healthy eagle is released after weeks of care for lead poisoning at Blue Ridge Wildlife Center in Millwood.

J OIN US AT L ONG B RANCH

Fostering Food Security And Growing Community

By Pat Reilly

When Peace Corps volunteer Tonya Taylor decided it was time to introduce her new boyfriend to her beloved Malawian village, she wanted to do it discreetly, out of respect for her local culture, conservative neighbors and a family of friends.

He arrived on the only bush taxi, a pickup truck, that came to Chulu once daily. A commotion in the distance told her it was there, but the usual murmuration became a jubilant chant as a cloud of dust and children of all ages, Kasey Clark among them, came dancing to her door shouting, “Kasey Number One!”

So much for discretion. It was a pep rally.

Tonya was a community health manager and Kasey an environmental worker at their posts, a 12-hour-plus drive apart on rutted roads. “But food security was always front and center,” Kasey recalled almost 20 years later.

These days, the couple now farm in Loudoun County, one of the wealthiest counties in the U.S., and the beneficiaries of their work live at Windy Hill properties or go to school in Loudoun’s needier schools. The purpose of the farm, part of the Bainum Family Foundation, is to address food security.

After Tonya and Kasey finished their service in Malawi, both headed to Kasey’s home in New Jersey for a while before making a go of it in Tonya’s home state of

During three challenging years, with Tonya working at a health non-profit and Kasey teaching in a public school, a different dream took root.

Kasey came from generations of British nurserymen. The family moved from his father’s native UK to his mother’s native U.S. when he was ten. Kasey had grown up growing things. Now married, the pair discovered the Northeast Organic Farmers Association (NOFA) apprentice program.

They lived in a tool shed and made $17,000 a year, Kasey remembered ruefully. After honing their skills, they accepted an opportunity to farm and teach at South Kent, a private boys boarding school in Litchfield, Connecticut.

“(The school) acquired a historic farm property, and they hired us to reestablish the farm and teach the boys about food and farming, agriculture and climate change.” Tonya said. “Several courses a year.”

The students helped maintain the farm, which Kasey said had “goats, pigs, chicken, cattle, flowers and bees.” Their students also raised chickens to process and sell to pay for several Chulu high school students’ fees (about $25 a year).

“All food went to the cafeteria for students and staff and, during the summer, we distributed food to community members,” Tonya added.

The NOFA named them Journey Persons, a status given to farmers who demonstrate exceptional skills, and they were “hired away” by the Bainum Family Foundation, which had 263 acres of farmland to restore in Middleburg. Tonya, a lifelong vegetarian, is at home on a farm that is plant-based. Kasey said he’s glad not to have the regulation raising livestock brings.

“The first six years, everything we produced went to Wards Seven and Eight in D.C.,” Tonya explained, “where it was distributed by community organizations.” With the help of five employees, the farm yielded thousands of pounds of fruit,

T. Huntley Thorpe III

Karen E. Hedrick

Robin

Gulick

“We have the longest bluebird trail in Loudoun County with 40 boxes we maintain and record ” ... adding that this winter, along with planning for their ninth growing season, they will be designing a new pavilion for visitors.

vegetables and herbs, according to the Bainum Foundation website. About three years ago, the foundation changed its focus, and the farm began working to address needs in Loudoun.

That’s how Tonya and Kasey came to provide seasonally to residents of Windy Hill and school pantries, which received refrigerators from the foundation to keep produce fresh. Tonya makes deliveries once a week. This month they include vibrant fall flowers.

The couple now manages the small-scale farm with the volunteer help of dedicated neighbors. The mission is evolving to include outdoor education.

“We have the longest bluebird trail in Loudoun County with 40 boxes we maintain and record,” Kasey said, adding that this winter, along with planning for their ninth growing season, they will be designing a new pavilion for visitors.

Always in their hearts is beautiful Malawi. They’ve been back many times, bike-packing, introducing friends and neighbors to Africa and checking in on friends and projects in Chulu.

Every third Monday of the month, Kasey and Tonya host lively potluck dinners, often under the stars, that foster a growing community of friends, neighbors, cyclists, former Peace Corps people and really anyone who shares a love of the land.

Out of that pep rally in Chulu 20 years ago came a win for all sides.

Pat Reilly served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Liberia.

LAND CLEARING • ROADWAYS • PONDS

RIDING ARENAS • DEMOLITION • FOUNDATIONS

DRAINAGE SOLUTIONS • LARGE PIPE & STREAMS CROSSINGS

BOULDER PLACEMENT • UNDER DRAINS

STORM DAMAGE CLEANUP • LARGE STUMP REMOVAL

LASER FINE GRADING • EARTH SCULPTING

TOP SOIL • FILL DIRT • STONE HAULING

Photo by Pat Reilly

Tonya Taylor and Kasey Clark amid the flowers they grow to spice up their produce deliveries around Loudoun

Happy Family Ranch food truck provided provisions throughout the day, and was the backdrop for riders in the arena.

Liz Mras and Empire Station collect their Hilltopper Handy ribbon.

Marianne Sims with Great White, ridden to High Point Amateur by Brianna Sims.

Catherine Johns mounting up in the Hilltopper Handy class.

The Grafton Hunter Show was open to the public, and welcomed spectators to the rail to watch the action.

A clever new way to display a blue ribbon.

HORSE COUNTRY

NOTEWORTHY

Middleburg FISH Casts ts Annual Fundraising Net

For 55 years Middleburg FISH has been a force for good in the community.

“Please consider a gift to Middleburg FISH,” said Martha Cotter, the current head of the organization also known as The Big Fish. “We have carried on the work of our heroes, Rene Llewellyn and Nancy Manierre who got us started five decades ago. Because FISH is all-volunteer non-profit, all donations go directly to those who ask for assistance.”

Llewellyn, a woman with vision, energy, and compassion, started Middleburg FISH (For Instant and Sympathetic Help). She left a lasting legacy and was succeeded by the indomitable Nancy Manierre, who continued with her team providing instant and sympathetic help in Middleburg and beyond.

The backbone of FISH is the operators who answer the FISH phone each day and assess the caller’s situation for the treasurer of the organization. It could be someone about to be evicted due to sudden unemployment. Or an elderly couple asking for heating oil for the winter months. Or a family with a disabled child asking for help to purchase a wheelchair.

Middleburg FISH is a force for good thanks to the incredibly generous support it receives from folks in the community. They help carry out its mission to provide temporary financial assistance to neighbors in need. In addition to monetary contributions, FISH also welcomes anyone interested in being an operator.

Details: Middleburg FISH at Post Office Box 507, Middleburg, VA 20118.

The Bank of Charles Town, founded in the West Virginia town in 1871, will be re-named as Potomac Bank starting on November 3, 2025.

According to a letter sent to its clients, “this is a celebration of who we’ve become and reflects the vision of our board of directors over 30 years ago when they formed our holding company, naming it Potomac Bancshares in anticipation of the growth we’ve achieved today…Renaming the bank to Potomac Bank reflects or branch network’s locations along the Potomac River region.”

The bank has branches across the eastern panhandle of West Virginia, Washington County in Maryland and Northern Virginia, including locations in Leesburg and Middleburg.

“Our leadership is unchanged,” wrote Alice P. Frazier, president and CEO of the bank and a former executive at the now defunct Middleburg Bank. “Our local ownership and board of directors remain consistent. Our values are intact. And our commitment to neighbors is deeper than ever.”

Piedmont Regional Art Show

Oct. 3-5 in The Plains.

Grace Church in The Plains will be hosting its 77th annual Piedmont Regional Art Show & Sale from Friday, Oct. 3 to Sunday, Oct. 5.

A sponsors and artists preview will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 3. The opening gala will follow at 6:30 p.m., with tickets priced at $30, and the show continues Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with live music, wine tastings, food, art activities, and building tours.

The show re-opens from noon to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. Donations for the silent auction and bids during the show are all welcome. All art on display at the show is for sale. The commission on entries sold is 30 percent. A stellar team of three judges will select winners in various categories.

Sponsorship by businesses and individuals as well as the sale of art and silent auction items directly fund programs that help uplift the local community and meet area residents’ needs.

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Hill School Surpasses $15 Million Centennial Campaign Goal

By Leonard Shapiro

The Hill School in Middleburg will commemorate its 100th anniversary during the 2025-2026 school year with a year-long series of events, but the celebrations have already begun in a big way.

Earlier this summer, Hill proudly announced that its ambitious Centennial Campaign not only met its $15 million goal—it soared past it, raising more than $17 million over the past three years. These gifts ensure a vibrant and sustainable future for the school that educates children in Junior Kindergarten through 8th grade.

From its humble beginnings in 1926, when five students gathered in an upstairs room of the original Middleburg Bank (today the King Street Oyster Bar), Hill has grown into a thriving community of about 230 students on a magnificent 170-acre campus. Over the past century, generations of families, educators, and friends of Hill have nurtured a school that blends tradition with innovation, creating an environment where children learn, grow, and thrive.

Kate Armfield (Hill,1980) and Sheila Harrell (1986), co-chairs of the fundraising campaign’s executive committee, with Head of School Treavor Lord.

“This campaign is a testament to the generations of people who have come before us which will benefit those of us here today, and future Hill students and families,” said Head of School Treavor Lord. “We are humbled and inspired by the extraordinary support that makes Hill stronger than ever as we look to our second century.”

The $17 million raised will enhance nearly every facet of school life, with a focus on four key priorities:

Supporting Faculty and Staff:

Expanding faculty housing in or near the town of Middleburg ensures that Hill’s exceptional teachers and staff remain at the heart of the community. The School currently owns sixteen homes, nine of them donated since 1950.

Expanding Tuition Assistance:

Strengthening Hill’s need-based financial aid program will allow more families to experience the life-changing opportunities of a Hill education and keep the school community diverse, inclusive, and dynamic.

Enhancing Innovative Learning: Funds will bolster Hill’s ability to balance beloved traditions

with new and evolving educational programs, from outdoor field studies and place-based learning to advanced resources and continued professional growth for faculty.

Ensuring Long-Term Stability: A stronger endowment (currently valued at over $20 million) allows Hill to be better able to meet unexpected needs, moderate tuition increases, and reduce reliance on

annual operational revenue.

The Centennial Campaign’s success reflects the power of the Hill community. More than 400 donors—including current and past parents, grandparents, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends across the school community—came together to invest in Hill’s future.

Contributions came in many forms, from cash gifts and securities to real estate, charitable gift annuities, and life insurance designations. Members of the “1926 Society,” have chosen to make a gift to Hill through their estate plans.

As Hill begins to celebrate its Centennial, the excitement is palpable. With strong enrollment, a flourishing campus, an exceptional program, and the momentum of a record-breaking campaign, the school is poised to enter its second century with confidence, character, and community at its core.

“This is an extraordinary moment in Hill’s history,” added Lord. “Because of the generosity of so many, Hill is better positioned than ever to provide an education that is both timeless and forwardlooking. The future for our children and our school is incredibly bright.”

Photos by Karen Monroe

Head of School Treavor Lord addresses students, faculty, staff, alumni and other guests at a recent campus ceremony to announce the results of Hill’s Centennial Campaign.

Loudoun County Area Agency on Aging

Presented by Jolene Brackey

Creating Moments ofJoy

Joy

Area Agency on Aging • 742 Miller Drive SE, Leesburg Wednesday, October 15 9:00am-2:00pm

Discover how to transform daily challenges into joyful experiences with insights from Jolene Brackey, the celebrated author of Creating Moments of Joy Along the Alzheimer’s Journey.

Event Timeline

9:00am Check-In & Coffee

9:30am Keynote and Q& A

11:30am Lunch (complimentary lunch provided)

12:00pm-12:45pm Caregiving and Dementia Resources

1:00-2:00pm Memory Enhanced Activities, Bathing & Care Advice

2:00pm Complimentary Book Distribution & Signing

This is a free event, but registration is required. For more information or to register, call 571-439-9776, email AAAsupport@loudoun.gov or scan the QR Code.

Banneker Elementary’s Family Literacy Workshops

By Sarah Brissing

Banneker Elementary is celebrating the success of a family engagement literacy initiative led by Principal Robert Carter as part of his newfound focus on building family and school partnerships to positively impact student outcomes.

The initiative focused on a series of literacy workshops, thoughtfully organized to strengthen the connection between home and school. The goal was to being to empower parents as their child’s first and most important teacher.

“I’ve been part of this community for 10 years,” Carter said. “And during that time we have done some amazing things at Banneker, none more amazing than these workshops because of the direct and observable impact they made on families and ultimately on student learning.”

The school opened in 1948 and was named after Benjamin Banneker, a Black man who was born free in 1731. A self-educated mathematician and astronomer, he helped survey the District of Columbia and often challenged future President Thomas Jefferson on slavery and its contradiction of the religious and political tenets on which the country was founded.

The timing of this literacy effort was ideal with the implementation of the recently passed Virginia Literacy Act, which highlights the need for early literacy instruction and intervention amid growing national concern over declining reading proficiency rates.

Schools around the Commonwealth have been prioritizing family engagement as a key component of literacy success. Banneker’s family engagement workshops exemplified how schools can respond in a proactive and collaborative way to make a significant difference.

The school is located on the St. Louis road (Route 611) about two miles from Rout and draws its student body from the surrounding area. The fourpart workshop series was designed around the five pillars of literacy: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

It also offered hands on experiences, research based strategies, and family take home materials. Families also received high quality resources from the Virginia Literacy Partnership to support reading at home. These included decodable books, sound boxes, vocabulary games, and word cards.

Vertical alignment across grade levels was evident in the enthusiastic participation of several Banneker teachers. Educators from kindergarten through third grade worked together to model literacy strategies and demonstrate a shared commitment to building strong foundational reading skills. Their teamwork created consistency in instruction but also built trust and partnership with families.

The workshops also benefited from a collaboration with the Middleburg Library Advisory Board, which provided gift cards as incentives to encourage attendance for kindergarten families beginning their literacy journey. By equipping families with more tools and increased knowledge, and by reinforcing that every parent plays a vital role in their child’s academic journey, Banneker Elementary continues to lead in building a strong, inclusive, and supportive school community.

Photo by Sarah Brissing Banneker Principal Robert Carter

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Taking the Slow Route to Awesome Alaska

By Chuck Roberts

Istood in the repair lane of the car dealership staring at our Winnebago and wondered when we would be back on the road again and heading westward. Although an ASE-certified mechanic, I didn’t have the tools or replacement parts to get us rolling again.

So we waited. Two days at the garage and bored out of our minds, with miles and days to go after this unplanned layover in Wisconsin.

My longtime friend, Mark, and I were on our way to Alaska, where Mark’s rustic log cabin is perched on a hillside and overlooks a lake. We had hoped to arrive in time to catch the salmon soon to be running up the Kenai River.

As I watched the hours go by, my most pressing issue was whether we could get there in time to enjoy the visit before I had to catch a plane back home to make looming medical appointments. A friend we both occupied the same kindergarten class, Mark had been after me for years to travel with him to Alaska, and I always put him off.

In my business travels, I’d flown across the country more times than I care to count, with numerous opportunities to drive vast sections of the Great Plains. But I really didn’t have an appreciation for the fact that the view out the front windshield did not significantly change for the first half of the trip. Not until a few hundred miles up the Alaska Highway would the vista look more like my expectations of Alaska.

The Alaska Highway is almost 1,400 miles long, with frost heave-induced whoop-de-dos every couple of miles. This was the new monotony. With each mile, the views grew increasingly more spectacular. When they became “breathtaking,” however, the monotonous moments of the trip instantly paled in comparison.

Mark insisted we make a detour to Valdez, a bustling fishing village and the terminus of the Alaska Pipeline. It was about 120 miles off our route, but as we descended toward Prince William Sound, the trip revealed everything I had been anticipating: majestic granite mountains, seeming to rise straight up from sea level, magnificent falls of glacial melt water hundreds of feet above us and spilling into the river mere feet off the shoulder of the Aspen tree-lined road.

We even caught a glimpse of the famous pipeline. While this side trip cost us another day getting to our destination, it was this newcomer’s perfect introduction to the truly great state of Alaska.

We arrived at our destination 13 days after leaving Virginia. The Kenai Peninsula lies between the Gulf of Alaska to the southeast and the Cook Inlet to the northwest, and extends about 150 miles southwest of Anchorage.

The Kenai River is renowned for King Salmon fishing. Mark has been fishing the Kenai for most of his adult life and I was looking forward to his guidance over the remainder of the time I would have here. Unfortunately, the salmon were not yet running up the river in significant numbers.

While we waited, my fishing guide became my tour guide, a role Mark relished. We explored the villages of Homer, Seward, and Soldatna, and the landscapes were so vast and impressive, it’s difficult to find words that adequately describe the experience.

Regrettably, my time there came to an end far too quickly and I had to make plans to leave. The flight out of Kenai, however, was another novel experience. It carried me across Cook Inlet with view of the Iliamna, Redoubt, and Spurr volcanoes from the seat of my nine-passenger, single-engine Cessna.

Wouldn’t you know, within five days of my return, the daily sockeye salmon counts on the Kenai River more than doubled from a mediocre 45,000 to well over 100,000 and growing.

I’ll definitely need to adjust my schedule for our next trip.

Chuck Roberts (left) and longtime friend Mark Hockman embarked from Clarke County in August.

The spectacular view across Tern Lake looking toward Seward, Alaska.

A Dual Role for Pastor Eduardo Carrillo

Struck by the historical significance of one church that served as a Civil War hospital caring for soldiers from the North and South, and impressed by the uniqueness of the area, Pastor Eduardo Carrillo said he’s excited about his new role leading both Middleburg and Rectortown United Methodist churches.

As cooperative parishes, these two congregations make an intentional effort to support each other and work closely together, sharing not only their pastor but also their resources.

“Each church is set in a different context and has different energy, but I believe it’s the same spirit,” he said. “We all want to share Christ and love as God loves us.”

By Michele Husfelt

Born in Mexico, he moved to the U.S. during high school and attended college in Virginia, followed by seminary in Washington, D.C. His first assignment was at a church in Annandale. He then moved to Kenbridge in southern Virginia, followed by six years in the mountains of Rockingham County before coming to Middleburg.

Each of his churches has been in very different cultural and contextual settings, and Pastor Eduardo said he looks forward to getting to know his two new communities, discovering the gifts and talents they each bring, and understanding the needs of the people living here.

Asked about the similarities and differences between the two churches, Pastor Eduardo quickly noted how each community loves its church. Whether congregants have been attending their entire lives or are new to the community, they are loyal participants.

Each congregation has its own history, gifts, and talents. Every Sunday, for example, Middleburg, the former Civil War hospital, hosts a light lunch after the service at 11:30 a.m.. Pastor Eduardo has been told this tradition started with cookies and coffee and has grown into a full meal.

In Rectortown, the service begins at 10 a.m., so they hold a fellowship called “Coffee with the Pastor” at 9:30 a.m. “We never go hungry on Sundays,” he said with a smile. A big part of this local church community involves sharing meals and eating together.

From local outreach efforts, including The Fig Leaf clothing closet in Rectortown and Seven Loaves food pantry in Middleburg, both also are driven by a strong desire to serve community members who need extra help.

They organize backpack and lunchbox giveaways for children returning to school and provide additional resources throughout the year. What brings Pastor Eduardo true satisfaction and joy is “when we are invited to participate in other people’s lives.”

Together with his wife, Katie, and daughters, Mila and Luna, Pastor Eduardo is settling into their new calling and look forward to being part of not only the two parishes but also the community as a whole. His focus remains not just to fill the pews, but to be a significant part of the life of the church.

Photo by Michele Husfelt Middleburg United Methodist Pastor Eduardo Carrillo

Middleburg Community Center Has New Leadership

The Middleburg Community Center (MCC) has announced the appointment of Elizabeth Rose Fischer as its new director of development and events. In this role, she’ll lead the center’s fundraising initiatives, donor relations, and signature events.

The MCC also is welcoming Sue Foote as its new operations director. A familiar face in town, she has worked both at the center and with the Town of Middleburg, bringing strong experience in administration, facilities management, and community engagement.

Fischer is an experienced fundraiser and events planner who has worked in both the corporate world and the non-profit sector. She’s also a writer, bringing her entrepreneurial experience to the position.

She’ll be returning to Middleburg, having graduated from Foxcroft School, with a bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University and an MBA from Rutgers.

“We are delighted to welcome Elizabeth to the Middleburg Community Center family,” said Lynn Wiley, president of the MCC board of directors. “Her experience in development and her passion for building community connections make her a wonderful fit for this role. We are excited to see how her leadership will help us grow our programs and continue serving as a gathering place for all.”

Fischer brings to the center a strong background of 15 years of leadership in communications, nonprofit fundraising and events.

“We believe her track record of fostering meaningful partnerships and creating impactful experiences for our community will go far towards serving our mission,” Wiley said.

As a Foxcroft alum, Fischer has longstanding ties to the community.

“I was born in Dallas, Texas but my favorite years growing up were here, in Virginia,” she said. “Every Sunday, for four years, I would take the Middleburg bus and have my little routine in town that included many places that are still here today, like getting the Berkley from Middleburg Deli, cow puddles from Upper Crust, and of course snacks for my dorm room from the Safeway back

when it still had crystal chandeliers. I even had the chance to cross off a bucket list item when I got to ride in the Middleburg Hunt.

“I’m honored to join the Middleburg Community Center team. This organization has such a rich history of bringing people together. Several of my day student friends from Foxcroft have core memories that were made here. I’m looking forward to strengthening our fundraising efforts with local donors and enhancing our events programming to ensure this community feels strongly supported, connected and enriched.”

Foote, a long-time Middleburg resident, said she was “thrilled” to be back at the MCC as its new operations director. In her new role, she’ll oversee the daily running of the MCC and support community programs, while continuing to strengthen partnerships with local schools, nonprofits, businesses, and the community.

Elizabeth Rose Fischer Sue Foote

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their realistic input is immense. No one said it would be a piece of cake and forewarned me it would be a long haul to recovery.

But no one complained, either. Instead, they encouraged. Another close friend who was in a harrowing traumatic accident, which by all accounts should have finished him on the side of the interstate, makes my surgical foray look like buttering toast.

He now has a back and rib cage constructed of titanium plates, rods and screws (among other reminders) and two replaced knees, has been a towering warrior in his compelling comeback and remains an inspiration. My brother, ten years younger and also a long-time athlete, just got a new hip, and two besties recently had knee replacements.

None of this is meant to be off putting. Quite the contrary. A hundred years ago, the bear would have taken me right beside my own woodpile. I couldn’t have made it to the log cabin with a hundred-yard lead. Instead, with care and common sense, I hope to have a decade or more ahead of me of reasonably active life.

So don’t settle placidly into your Lazy-Boy sooner than needed. Keep moving, but surrender with grace when you must and face the surgical procedures necessary to remain active.

As iconic comedian George Burns, who lived to be 100, once sagely commented, “You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old.” Bully for him.

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A Geologist With A Very Green Bonsai Thumb

By Khris Baxter

Scott Barboza once studied the earth’s hidden immensities—seismic charts mapping layers of rock and pressure over spans of millions of years. Oil reserves were abstractions made visible, shaping economies and altering the fate of nations.

These days, on a quiet farm in Delaplane, the scale is smaller but no less profound. He bends over a low table, shears in hand, trimming an ancient black pine no taller than his knee. The gestures are exact, almost surgical, his focus narrowed to the angle of a single needle.

To an outsider, it might look like an eccentric retirement hobby—the incongruous leap from Exxon executive to bonsai artist. Barboza sees something different: whether charting seismic waves or coaxing the limbs of a miniature tree, the work is about patience, pressure, and faith that what you shape today will long outlast you.

The road to Exxon was anything but linear. Barboza spent six years in the Navy as a submariner—an unlikely posting for a man built like an NFL tight end. As a sonar technician, he listened to the ocean itself: whale songs, the thunder of distant currents, the steady pulse of the sea.

“I spent my time listening to nature,” he recalled, a fascination that initially pointed him toward oceanography. After the Navy came three years as a commercial diver, nights spent in classrooms, and then a single geology course that altered everything.

Oceanography gave way to geology. He earned a bachelor’s degree in geology at UC-Davis, followed by a Master’s and PhD at the University of Washington, before embarking on a 25-year career with Exxon.

“I really enjoyed my time at Exxon,” he said. “It was very challenging, and the people I worked with were top notch. But living in Houston was a big compromise for an outdoors person like me.”

When he and his wife, Margaret (Marky) Dewhirst, also a geologist, retired, Virginia offered them what Houston could not: mountains, four seasons, nearby airports, proximity to their children, and the chance to live closer to the landscapes they loved.

Barboza’s interest in bonsai pre-dated his retirement by decades. He first was introduced to the art by a close friend in the early 1990s, drawn by the same instincts that made him a hiker, cyclist, and gardener. He enrolled in classes in Sacramento and later in Seattle. His first tree, a Japanese larch, succumbed quickly.

“I killed it right away,” he said, laughing. “I wired it, shaped it, and repotted it—did everything at once. It was already at the edge of its range.”

Yet, that early misstep proved instructive.

“You have to build an understanding of your tree— the species, what it can tolerate,” he said, adding that

most of his collection now thrives in Virginia, far from their native habitats. “ They can adapt, but only if you know which ones can handle the climate.”

Timing also is essential.

“Bonsai is seasonal” he continued. “You need to know what work can be done in spring, in summer, in fall. And you have to read the tree—know when it’s strong enough to handle what you want to do.”

On most days, that means watering and watching. Some days it’s pruning, wiring, or repotting. Always, it’s listening—no longer to seismic echoes in the earth, but to the quiet signals of trees.

For Barboza, the parallels between geology and bonsai are striking.

“In bonsai, you need the technical knowledge— the physiology of trees, their anatomy, the differences

between species, even what kinds can be grafted together,” he said. “But there’s also a creative side. That’s what first drew me in, and it’s what keeps me interested.”

He frames geology the same way: “ There are plenty of difficult technical concepts to master. But creativity comes in when you’re trying to build an understanding of the world from limited information.”

That perspective also has reshaped how he defines success. “With bonsai, there’s no finish line,” he said. “It’s a living thing. You have to accept that the only finished tree is a dead one. Everything else is a work in progress—an un-American way of looking at art. It’s less about a milestone and more about a journey you stay on.”

The contrast to his former professional world is stark.

“One of bonsai’s core aesthetics is imperfection,” he said. “The flaws are part of the feature—they tell the tree’s story. The Japanese call it wabisabi: asymmetry, roughness, natural texture. That sensibility is the opposite of the professional world I knew as a geologist. It’s a very Eastern way of seeing.”

Details: Barboza’s trees have won numerous awards at local, state, and regional competitions, and he’s exhibited at several national shows. He has lectured, taught, and helped organize several conventions and exhibitions and currently is the secretary and convention chair for the American Bonsai Society.

Photos by Khris Baxter Scott Barboza working on one of his bonsai creations.

Photos by Khris Baxter Scott Barboza working on one of his bonsai creations.

MODERN FINANCE

Cash Is King By Any Measure

By Philip Dudley

In the world of finance, few metrics carry as much weight as free cash flow (FCF), the lifeblood of any business.

It represents the cash a company generates after covering its operating expenses (OpEx) and capital expenditures (CapEx)—the money it can actually use to grow, reward shareholders, or weather economic storms. Unlike earnings, which can be clouded by accounting maneuvers, FCF offers a clearer picture of a company’s financial health, making it a favorite among investors like Warren Buffett.

At its core, free cash flow is the cash left over after a company pays to run its day-to-day operations and invests in its future. Operating expenses include costs like salaries, rent, and raw materials, while capital expenditures cover big-ticket items like factories, equipment, or technology infrastructure.

The formula is simple: FCF equals cash from operations minus capital expenditures. This figure, found in a company’s cash flow statement within its 10-Q or 10-K filings, reveals the real, spendable cash a business has at its disposal.

For discussion purposes, let’s consider a lemonade stand. If you earn $1,000 in sales, spend $400 on ingredients (OpEx), and invest $200 in a new juicer (CapEx), your FCF is $400.

While accounting might spread the juicer’s cost over years through depreciation, the cash leaves your account upfront. FCF captures this reality, showing what’s left for you to re-invest, save, or distribute.

In a real world example, such as Apple in 2024, the math is staggering: $118 billion in operating cash flow (derived from $94 billion in net profit plus $25 billion in non-cash adjustments) and $9 billion in CapEx, Apple’s FCF was a robust $109 billion. This cash fuels stock buybacks, dividends, and innovation.

Why does FCF matter? It’s the fuel for a company’s ambitions. Strong FCF enables re-investment in new products, facilities, or markets without relying on debt or diluting shareholders through new stock issuance. It supports dividends and buybacks, rewarding investors directly.

In an era of high interest rates, FCF also provides a buffer to pay down debt, ensuring resilience during downturns. Most importantly, FCF grants optionality or the ability to pivot, acquire competitors, or survive tough cycles. Without it, a company’s flexibility is limited, leaving it vulnerable.

However, FCF isn’t just about the number because context is critical. Investors should track several metrics to assess its quality. The FCF trend (whether it’s

Philip Dudley

In a real world example, such as Apple in 2024, the math is staggering: $118 billion in operating cash flow (derived from $94 billion in net profit plus $25 billion in non-cash adjustments) and $9 billion in CapEx, Apple’s FCF was a robust $109 billion. This cash fuels stock buybacks, dividends, and innovation.

growing consistently over years) signals a company’s ability to generate cash sustainably. FCF margin (FCF divided by revenue) shows how efficiently a company converts sales into cash: 20% or higher is excellent, especially in software, while 5–15% is solid for most industries.

Negative FCF might reflect strategic growth (as with early Amazon or Tesla) or underlying issues. FCF conversion (FCF divided by net income) measures how much profit becomes cash; a figure close to 100% is ideal. FCF per share (FCF divided by shares outstanding) indicates the cash value per shareholder, while price-to-FCF (market cap divided by FCF) helps gauge if a stock is fairly valued.

Despite its power, FCF does have pitfalls. One-time boosts, like asset sales, can inflate FCF temporarily so one needs to check for “proceeds from asset sales” in the cash flow statement to spot these.

Companies might also cut CapEx to boost FCF, but this can starve future growth. Look for unexplained drops in CapEx, distinguishing between maintenance (keeping operations running) and growth (building new capacity). Working capital tricks, like delaying supplier payments, can artificially inflate FCF, so monitor swings in accounts payable or receivable.

Stock-based compensation, common in tech, preserves cash but dilutes ownership, a hidden cost to watch. Finally, industry matters: capital-light software firms naturally generate more FCF than capital-intensive manufacturers.

Real-world examples highlight FCF’s dynamics.

Amazon’s low FCF margin (6%) reflects heavy reinvestment in logistics and cloud infrastructure, a strategy that took a toll in 2021–’22 but strengthened its competitive moat. Netflix, once a cash-burning machine, invested heavily in content and global expansion, sacrificing FCF for years. Today, its efficiency and scale have turned it into a cash generator, proving negative FCF can signal bold, long-term bets if executed well.

FCF is a lagging indicator, reflecting past decisions rather than future potential. A company with record FCF today could face challenges tomorrow if demand weakens or competition intensifies.

To avoid being misled, pair FCF analysis with forward-looking signals: new product cycles, customer retention, capital allocation plans, and competitive shifts. A low price-to-FCF might indicate a bargain or a declining business. Negative FCF could mean disciplined growth or operational weakness. Context is everything.

In conclusion, free cash flow is a powerful way to understand a company’s financial strength. It’s the cash that powers reinvestment, shareholder returns, and resilience, offering a truer picture than earnings alone. By calculating FCF from the cash flow statement, tracking its trends, and scrutinizing its quality, investors can separate signal from noise.

But FCF is not a crystal ball. It demands context and skepticism. Companies with durable, growing FCF often have pricing power, efficient operations, and the freedom to shape their future. As the saying goes, cash is king, and FCF is its crown.

To dive even deeper, explore financial statements such as balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements. This is where the story of a company’s cash comes to life.

RURAL BAKERY

“America’s

Best Bakery Destinations”

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of America’s best small-town bakeries” TRAVEL+ LEISURE

Resident Services Impact: Helping Hands at Levis Hill House

In addition to providing safe and affordable housing, Windy Hill has a resident services team who provide resources as well as enrichment activities that foster stability, financial independence, and community well-being At Levis Hill House, our resident services team is always ready to lend a helping hand From navigating unexpected medical bills to managing paperwork or filling out complicated forms, our seniors often face challenges that can feel overwhelming Here are just a few examples of how the team has supported neighbors in our community, helping them stay independent and thrive

One of our long-time residents at Levis Hill House has called the community home for over a decade She has seen the resident services team grow and evolve over the years, and she appreciates the dedication and support they provide every day Whether it’s coordinating fun events, organizing trips, or lending a helping hand, the team has become a central part of her experience at Levis Hill House. “They’re involved in our lives, which is nice it's helpful to have support I don’t know how they do it all They work really hard to make sure everyone is happy ”

This resident recently faced a frustrating situation when her car broke down shortly after purchase With the help of the resident services team, they were able to quickly find a buyer who came to pick up the car and provide her with payment “They were extremely proficient, they went on the internet and found a place that could come pick up my car and give me a check which was all I could have asked for ” She shared, “thanks to their help, it was handled very quickly and was a pleasant experience ”

When asked how she is adjusting to not having a car, she mentioned the Windy Hill shuttle bus being a helpful resource for residents, “I like to go on the bus trips to get out of the house sometimes, one time we went to a new pizza place and recently we went to the Washington Zoo, which was fun ” For this resident, having caring and attentive resident services staff on-site has made living at Levis Hill House a positive and rewarding experience. She values the sense of community, the personal attention, and the reassurance that help is always nearby when needed

In another instance, a separate Levis resident was recently confronted with the overwhelming burden of $9,000+ in medical bills After reaching out to the resident services team, they discovered resources and financial assistance programs she could apply for to help cover the cost of her medical bills Working alongside resident services coordinator, Madi, she completed the necessary applications to see if she qualified for assistance Their dedication paid off the resident’s medical bills were fully forgiven, lifting a huge weight off her shoulders “All that work paid off when my bills were fully forgiven, I could not have done it without Madi,” she said, expressing her gratitude for the support she received

These stories highlight just a few ways the resident services team goes above and beyond, providing both practical help and peace of mind Whether it’s managing unexpected expenses or navigating complex applications, residents know they can rely on a team that truly cares about their wellbeing

Learn more about Windy Hill Foundation

Scan the QR code to support Windy Hill’s mission to provide safe, decent, and affordable housing to low- and lower- income individuals and families, including older adults, in Loudoun and Fauquier Counties, while also encouraging self-improvement and self-sufficiency among its residents

Windy Hill Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) organization and charitable contributions are deductible to the fullest extent of the law

info@windyhillfoundation org 540-687-3997 www windyhillfoundation org

For Shannon Davis, It’s a Hand Up at Windy Hill

By Leonard Shapiro

Shannon Davis likes to say she “came late to the party,” but now that she’s there as a copresident of the Windy Hill Foundation’s board along with Mark Ohrstrom, she’s definitely made up for it with her tireless work for this critical local worthy cause.

Founded in 1981, the Foundation is committed to providing safe and affordable housing to residents of Loudoun and Fauquier counties. It now serves 116 households and over 300 residents from its base in Middleburg, with plans to continue growing to meet an ever-increasing need.

Shannon and her husband Jim, founder and CEO of Davis Construction, have become serial philanthropists over the 35-plus years they’ve lived in this area, giving back to the regional and local community in a variety of ways.

Shannon spent her middle and high school days living in Virginia Beach and attended Virginia Tech, where she and Jim first met. She’s also a former nurse, and community healthcare, particularly combating addiction and homelessness, has always been among her most passionate causes.

She worked on The Samaritan Inn’s Campaign for Hope (in Washington, D.C.) with Jim, who served as board president. As a lifelong devotee of classical music, she’s also on the National Symphony Orchestra board of trustees as development committee chair.

Married for 44 years, they have three adult daughters (Meg, Kara and Charlotte), and two grandchildren, and

of children’s music and arts education.

She was a co-founder along with Martha Cotter, Julie Coles and Linda Hart in establishing The Community Music School of the Piedmont in Upperville. She also served as a trustee for A Place to Be, the widely-regarded music therapy organization in Loudoun County.

In 2022, Julie Coles and another of Shannon’s good friends, Ann Northrup, approached her about getting involved with Windy Hill, and, she said with a smile, “it’s a cause I’ll take with me to the grave.”

“I knew about the foundation, but I had no idea how many people they actually served,” she said. “Now, I’m standing on the shoulders of so many people who have made Windy Hill what it is today, people like Judy Washburn, Kim Hart, Bob Dale, Helen Wiley and our executive director, Eloise Repeczky. She’s assembled a great team, our staff is just amazing.”

Repeczky feels the same way about Shannon Davis and Mark Ohrstrom.

“We’re fortunate to have two co-presidents who have been deeply rooted in our community for decades,” she said. “Shannon, a former nurse, carries a heart for caring and a natural gift for understanding the needs of families we serve. Mark, president of Larkspur Management, brings wisdom in financial planning and stewardship, helping ensure our mission is built on a strong foundation.

“Together, they balance compassion with practical know-how, leading with kindness, dedication, and a shared belief that everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. I’m incredibly grateful

management, and for their commitment to our Windy Hill neighbors.”

That strong foundation is needed more than ever these days in an era of recent federal budget cuts involving healthcare, rental assistance, food subsidies and more, all of which are expected to have a significant impact on so many Windy Hill residents, and especially senior retiree residents.

“We definitely have challenges going forward,” Shannon said. “I also believe we’re positioned to handle it, and we have a wonderful community helping us with incredible support. In the last six months, we’ve spent over $200,000 in making repairs for many of our homes.

“We focus on educational needs, we support kids who want to go to college, we help working moms who need pre-school and day care for their children. We provide a number of resident services, helping with job applications, re-certifications, anything we can do to help.”

In addition to its devoted full-time staff of six, there are countless community volunteers giving their time, skills and financial contributions as well as significant sponsors and partners like Seven Loaves and several local farms that help to supplement the nutritional needs of some households.

“People who live here (at Windy Hill residences) also work here, and we all need them and love them,” Shannon said. “I say it all the time. We’re mutually dependent on one another and it’s a privilege to work alongside them. Our founder Irene Llewellyn’s motto reminds me that what we’re doing is not a handout, it’s a hand up. That’s what it feels like to me.”

Shannon Davis

Eloise Repeczky

Frances Wallace

Shirley Rhoads

Death of A Racehorse

Katie Bo Lillis came to the National Sporting Library & Museum recently, to chat about her book, Death of a Racehorse, which addresses the ills facing the sport of horse racing. The book delves into the racing world, offering intimate access to dozens of top trainers (such as Bob Baffert) owners, breeders, veterinarians, lab specialists, and more. The mainstream perception has been that rampant drug use is forcing these horses to run past their natural ability, resulting in heart attacks and broken legs. And often death.

The Founders Room was full and hands flew in the air with many questions, including several on the origin of the book’s title.  She said it was written in homage to a story that appeared under the same headline in the 1949 New York Sun over a story by iconic sportswriter W.C. Heinz. Considered one of the finest newspaper writers of his or any other era, Heinz was describing the death during a race of a meticulously bred Thoroughbred named Air Lift, a full-brother to Triple Crown winner Assault.   Lillis shows how the breeding industry prioritizes making millions over breeding a sound, durable horse. A disjointed race schedule, created by racetrack operators trying to maximize betting opportunities, often makes it impossible to manage a horse’s athletic career safely. In this purely capitalistic industry, she writes that the monetary rewards for winning have taken precedence over the responsible husbandry of the animal that is the sport’s beating heart.

Daphne Alcock, Erica Tergeson, Charlie Mcann and Regan Hofmann

Photo by Vicky Moon

Author Katie Bo Lillis and Julie Banner, Clarice & Robert H. Smith Education and Marketing Director at the NSLM

The Fetlock Focus is Entirely Equine

By Leonard Shapiro

In February, 2023, Susan Gaston and Mike Pearson, both lifelong horse lovers, announced they had joined forces to form a new lobbying company, Fetlock Consulting, LLC, focusing exclusively on Virginia’s equine industry. They posted the news all around, including on Facebook, trumpeting the perfect slogan—“It’s all about the horses.”

“I’ve known Mike for the better part of a decade,” said Gaston, a Kentucky native and 1988 William & Mary graduate who still lives in Williamsburg. “He remains a passionate advocate for horsemen and anything having to do with the equine industry.

“We’re a consulting firm for anything equine—flat racing, harness racing, steeplechase, fox hunting, eventing. We thought it would be a great opportunity to focus on the horses and maintain a generational framework to include younger people to ensure their continued advancement of the equine industry.”

Pearson, who described himself at age 77 as “no spring chicken,” grew up on a farm his father managed in Charlottesville where he first started riding racehorses at age 11. Over the years, based mainly at his family’s farm in Hume, he’s literally done it all at full gallop, as a steeplechase and flat race jockey, exercise rider, trainer, owner, racetrack steward and equine lobbyist working with the Virginia General Assembly.

“I always tell people it’s time to step up,” he said. “I’m so lucky at my age to still be able to try to do some positive things. When I first went to steward’s school in 2007, I was actually struck by the lack of understanding on every level of how horse racing really worked. I thought if I didn’t do something to help, who would?”

Courtesy of Fetlock

Susan Gaston, co-founder with Mike Pearson of Fetlock, a new lobbying firm focusing on the Virginia equine industry.

Mike Pearson

Pearson once was a big help to the late evangelist Jerry Falwell, founder of Liberty University. Years ago, he helped Falwell organize a charity race meeting in Lynchburg. Falwell did not own racehorses himself, but because of his experiences with Pearson, became a huge supporter of the industry, as well.

Gaston also has an extensive background in racing and other equestrian pursuits. She grew up in Henderson, Kentucky, not far from the Ellis Park racetrack, where she spent lots of free time as a youngster there and at a now defunct harness track nearby, a hub for local events and activities. Thirty-five years ago, her husband, educator David Gaston, even had his bachelor party at Ellis Park.

Susan Gaston was involved with 4-H and pony club, competed in hunterjumper horse shows and also rode for the William & Mary equestrian club. She now competes with two large Dutch warmbloods and often goes out riding simply for pure pleasure

“I’ve had the privilege of riding so many different horses all around the world,” she said. “I’ve ridden all through Windsor Great Park in England; throughout the grounds of Versailles, up in the Tuscan hills…Every day I’m around a horse beats a day when I’m not. It makes me happy and at peace.”

And her professional life clearly has been equally gratifying.

In 2000, she founded The Gaston Group, LLC and remains its president and CEO involved in all manner of non-equestrian fields.

According to her company’s website, the firm “represents professional trade associations, corporations (including Fortune 50, Fortune 250 and Fortune 500 corporations), and non-profit organizations covering a variety of issues.”

regulatory agencies, the General Assembly of Virginia, state regulatory agencies, local government bodies and agencies.

With Fetlock, Gaston and Pearson are building their equine business from the ground up, relying on years of experience working with Virginia state legislators and other government officials. Very recently, Great Meadow in The Plains became a new client, with more to come.

“We’re a start-up (at Fetlock) and we both also have individual clients,” Pearson said. “And we’re also hoping to add some other clients who are super well known. We’re trying to develop something that will keep going and look out for young people now coming along.”

The Shenandoah County Agricultural Association is also among Fetlock’s current clients, including representing the interests of the Shenandoah Downs harness track and securing funding for infrastructure improvements. Their efforts to educate young people include tours of that harness racing facilities in Woodstock, Virginia, including a recent visit by a large group of members of the Virginia Future Farmers of America.

“I think one reason we’ve both been successful in the past is that legislators know us and trust us,” Gaston said. “With Fetlock, we’re still fairly new, but that trust really does make all the difference, especially in the General Assembly.

“Since 2017, about two-thirds of its representatives have changed and so many of them now have never had any experience around a horse, or a horse race, or a harness track, especially ones from more urban areas..

“When we take them to some of these venues, we try to educate them on what goes on. They meet owners, trainers, riders, vets, you name it. That resonates with them. And we believe we can make a difference.”

After all, with Fetlock, it’s all about the horses.

• Racing Wednesday thru Saturday

• Post time is 12:30 PM except Fridays when first post is 4:00 PM

• Free Parking/Free Admission! Conveniently located in New Kent at I-64, Exit 214 between Richmond and Williamsburg

• Make plans to attend the special Virginia Derby Meet next March!

(details at colonialdowns.com)

• Sunday October 5: Foxfield Races in Charlottesville

• Saturday October 11: Virginia Fall Races in Middleburg

• Saturday October 25: International Gold Cup Races at Great Meadow

• Saturday November 2: Montpelier Hunt Races in Montpelier Station

(details at nationalsteeplechase.com)

• Racing every Saturday & Sunday at 1:05 PM

• FREE ADMISSION, FREE PARKING, FAMILY FRIENDLY

• Conveniently located at I-81, Exit 283 halfway between Winchester & Harrisonburg

• Sunday September 28: Wiener Dog Races

• Saturday Oct. 18: Miniature Horse Races (details at shenandoahdowns.com)

CUP

of COFFEE

An Electric Night at the Saratoga Sale

By Sean Clancy

The lights went out. And the price went up.

After two electrical storms knocked out the lights, the sale was held up for 20 minutes, the only illumination coming from spectators lighting matches. That night long ago, Dr. Cary T. Grayson’s Salubria Stable sold a chestnut daughter of Man o’ War for $50,500.

A record for Saratoga. A record for America. The second highest price was a son of Sir Barton for $16,000.

It made The New York Times, with a story that began, “The most sensational sale in the history of Thoroughbred racing in this or any other country in all time was recorded here tonight in the sales ring of the Fasig-Tipton Company. The attendance was one of the most brilliant in the history of yearling sales in America.

Sean Clancy

“There were buyers in attendance from all parts of the United States, Canada, England and the Continent, most of them in evening dress, and the occasion will go down as one of the most remarkable in the annals of the American turf.”

Thirty-five yearlings sold for a total of $171,650 that night.

It was 100 years ago.

James Cox Brady purchased the filly on a final bid by his trainer, Howard Oots, who outbid Montfort Jones by $500. Jones’ brother, B.B. Jones, had been introduced to the sport by Dr. Grayson. The Jones brothers owned Audley Farm near Berryville, Virginia.

Brady named the filly War Feathers. She earned $1,350 and was retired. And then made a bigger impact.

She produced four stakes winners for James Cox Brady Jr., including War Plumage, who won the Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama in 1939. War Feathers became a foundation mare for the Brady’s Mill House, dusting pedigrees with the likes of 1953 Acorn winner Secret Meeting, Epsom Oaks winner Long Look, champion Sensational and Grade 1 winner Furiously.

Dr. Grayson didn’t see much of that. He died in 1938.

On the morning of August 4, also the first night of the 2025 sale, his grandson, George, sat on a concrete wall, in front of a fountain wall on the Fasig-Tipton sales grounds in Saratoga and watched people scurry and yearlings strut, 100 years since his grandfather topped the sale.

“It’s always fun to come back,” George Grayson said. “I wish I had known my grandfather. He did a lot in a pretty short life.”

Born in Culpeper, Dr. Grayson became a Naval physician and eventually an admiral, serving presidents Teddy Roosevelt, Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He was the head of the American Red Cross. A farm owner, a horse owner, a horse breeder and the man for which the Grayson Jockey Club was named.

That’s a lot in a pretty short life.

“Poor boy from Culpeper ended up being a physician of the presidents but his first love was always horses,” George Grayson said. “He grew up high jumping in shows. He just loved horses, loved to

ride, fox hunted. Horses and racing were always his first love. He bred something like 28 stakes horses. He had some really nice horses.”

Admiral Grayson and a friend, Samuel Ross, bought Blue Ridge Farm in Upperville from the estate of Henry T. Oxnard, who ranked as one of the top breeders at the time. Ross died unexpectedly and Grayson knew the farm was too large for one man. He sold half the farm to Andrew Mellon and eventually Paul Mellon’s Rokeby Farm was born.

“That was the start of the Mellons being in Virginia,” George Grayson said. “Thanks to my grandfather we were blessed to have the Mellons as our neighbors for 80 some years. We were the hole in the donut.”

Admiral Grayson’s love for horses continued with his sons, especially Gordon, and then his grandson George, who still lives on Blue Ridge.

“I grew up cheering for Key To The Mint and Run The Gauntlet and Arts And Letters, the names go on and on,” he said. “We would go around with Elliott Burch. It all goes back to the fact that my grandfather loved horses and loved racing.”

And Saratoga continued to play its role in the Grayson family. They sold yearlings, ran horses, played the game.

“Virginia was big time then. One year, I think it was 1971, we had one in partnership with Mrs. (Averell) Walker and a guy named Bobby Coleman,” George Grayson said. “Out of a Bold Ruler mare, by Northern Dancer. I think it was the third highest price that year. We had rented a Winnebago and we had it parked right between the pavilion and the Oklahoma. Afterwards we had a nice cocktail party celebrating.”

The next year, Fasig-Tipton outlawed Winnebagos. Rumor has it they called it the Grayson Rule.

“We always had fun,” George Grayson said.

And horses.

Blue Ridge stood stallions Quadrangle, Cyane and Mongo and had a select group of broodmares for the commercial market, managed by William Ballenger. He had moved from Brookmeade after Isabel Dodge Sloane died in 1962.

“My grandmother cut way back, but we always had a nice group of mares. She was still very prominent in racing but not to the extent of my grandfather,” George Grayson said. “Old-school days. The book was 40 mares. You cut it off right there. We were lucky. Really lucky. Special days.”

As for the Grayson Jockey Club, that could be his grandfather’s most lasting impact.

“My grandfather and father didn’t think enough was being done in terms of medical advancement in equines,” George Grayson said. “They suggested a few things and they named the Grayson Foundation in his honor. He didn’t have anything growing up. A pretty cool American story.”

A chapter written right there in Saratoga, 100 years ago.

Daniel Cox Sands: Mr. Middleburg and Fox Chaser Supreme

DBy Denis Cotter

aniel Cox Sands (1875-1963) was fondly known over his lifetime as “Mr. Middleburg” because of his many contributions to the town and surrounding community.

In her book, “The Hunt Country of America,” late author and local historian Kitty Slater once described Sands, also founder of the Middleburg National Bank in 1924, as a seminal figure in the history of horse and hunt country.

“He, more than anyone, is responsible for Middleburg’s place in the Hunt Country sun,” she wrote. “And he is known as Mr. Middleburg.”

Sands was not a Middleburg native. Like his father and grandfather—both with the exact same name—he was born in New York City and grew up in nearby Westchester County.

The family belonged to the Fifteenth Street Friends Meeting in Manhattan, one of the oldest Quaker communities in America and still active today.

The Sands family had roots extending back before the American Revolution when they were farmers in the Hudson Valley, north of New York City.

By the mid-19th century, they became involved in the insurance and real estate businesses and prospered splendidly during the Gilded Age of America from the 1870s through the late 1890s.

By the time he married Edith Kennedy, a Southampton, Long Island socialite, in October, 1907, Daniel Sands was a seriously wealthy young man. He also had never been on the back of a horse until he arrived in Middleburg the following year. The closest he’d come to the equestrian world was carriage-

driving back in Westchester County and he was an expert in handling a “four-in-hand.”

Like many men of his social class, Sands became fascinated with the exciting sport of foxhunting. It existed in America since Colonial days; George Washington was an enthusiastic participant.

A few years before Daniel Sands’ marriage, the modern fox-hunting era in America was essentially launched by Harry Worcester Smith, a sportsman from Massachusetts.

In November, 1905, Smith held a famous International Foxhound match in the Upperville-Middleburg area. Over an 11-day period, it pitted American hounds against British hounds. The American hounds were unanimously judged superior and won the contest.

The event attracted several additional affluent New Yorkers to the Middleburg area, which had been in a decades-long economic decline since the end of the Civil War in 1865.

Large tracts of land combined with historic mansions were now available to the affluent newcomers at quite affordable prices. For many, the open terrain gave the necessary space to indulge their fox-hunting passion, a pursuit that had become all the rage among the “upper crust.”

Daniel Sands and his new bride became part of this second Northern invasion of Virginia. In 1908, they purchased the old “Spring Hill” estate on Snake Hill Road, four miles northwest of Middleburg. Their first order of business was to rename the estate “Benton” in honor of well-known local builder William Benton (1788-1881). He had constructed the house in 1831 as his own personal residence.

Sands began renovating and expanding the Benton home, now on the National

Sands, 1914, at National Beagle Club of America event, Bluemont, VA - Library of Congress, public domain

The Middleburg National Bank, in a 1931 advertisement stood at the main intersection of town and is now the King Street Oyster BarPrivate archive

Photo by Howard Allen Sands as MFH Middleburg Hunt with Archibald Cary Randolph, MFH Piedmont Hunt

Register of Historic Places. He also helped establish Middleburg as the epicenter of the American fox-hunting world, urging his northern friends to come south and purchase property.

In 1912, young millionaire Joseph Brown Thomas (1879-1955) acquired the “New Lisbon” property, about a mile from Benton. New Lisbon also had been owned by William Benton, the first residence he’d built for himself. Thomas renamed the property as “Huntland.”

Sands and Thomas became allies and leaders in developing the fox-hunting culture for which Middleburg and the surrounding area became famous. Sands also became an accomplished rider.

His teacher, Mrs. Neville L. Atkinson, said of him, “he came out with me on his first hunt. He was absolutely thrilled by it, and was perfectly undaunted by numerous spills, until he learned how to cope with galloping over uneven ground and facing a great variety of obstacles it was necessary to jump in order to stay with hounds. He became one of the best at finding his way across country, with unlimited nerve, a hard man to stay with.”

Sands became deeply fascinated in the breeding of American foxhounds and founded the American Foxhound Club in 1912. He served as Master of Fox Hounds (MFH) for both the Piedmont and the Middleburg Hunts for a while in the early 1910s. From 1914 on, he was MFH of the Middleburg Hunt only, a position he held for almost four decades until he put aside his boots and spurs in 1953 at age 78.

the King Street Oyster Bar.

Throughout the 1920s, Sands and his wife were fixtures of the summer social season on Long Island. Edith also was a founder of the Loudoun-Fauquier Garden Club and became president of the Garden Club of Virginia. She was active in the Red Cross and a member of the ladies’ board of Loudoun Hospital in Leesburg. She was also a beagling enthusiast.

In the 1920s and ‘30s, Sands was president of the Loudoun County Health Association. In 1932, he began the Middleburg Spring Races on property he owned north of Middleburg – the area now known as Glenwood Park. For twenty years, Sands had organized steeplechase races, beginning with a race at Mount Defiance in 1911.

Joe Thomas became MFH of the Piedmont Hunt. He also embarked on a massive restoration and expansion at Huntland, built a wonderful set of kennels for the Piedmont Hounds, and greatly helped boost the sport until he eventually decided to move back to New York with Clara Fargo, a Wells Fargo heiress.

With Thomas’s departure, Sands went on to become the pre-eminent face of fox-hunting in the area, along with Miss Charlotte Noland, the founder and headmistress at Foxcroft School. From 1932 to 1946, she served with Sands as Joint MFH of the Middleburg Hunt.

Sands did not restrict his activities solely to fox-hunting. He bred racehorses and prize-winning Guernsey cows. He employed 35 people on his four stock farms and one dairy farm, plus another seven personal servants at the house— Edith’s maid, his own valet, a parlor maid, a pantry boy, two cooks, and a chauffeur.

In April, 1924, Sands led a group of local residents who applied to the U.S. Comptroller of the Currency for permission to organize the Middleburg National Bank. The initial capitalization was $50,000 and the bank received its charter the following month. Sands was its first president until 1933, and served on the board for another thirty years.

The bank easily survived the Great Depression, thanks to its wealthy clientele. It was located in a brand-new building at the corner of Washington and Madison Streets, housed the original Hill School and is now occupied by

Glenwood Park was specifically constructed to host the Middleburg spring and fall races. Proceeds went to the Loudoun Hospital in Leesburg, where he was on the board of directors for several decades.

Sands later established the Glenwood Park Trust, and donated Glenwood Park, plus 112 surrounding acres to preserve open space. Proceeds from the races still go to local charities, including the Loudoun Hospital.

In January, 1933, Middleburg was shocked by the brutal double murder of Mrs. Agnes Boeing Ilsley and her maid Mina Buckner. Sands and fellow fox-hunter, retired general and pioneering aviator Billy Mitchell, led the local manhunt for the murderer but were not successful. He had escaped to Massachusetts.

In 1935, at age 60, Sands felt the call to serve the community in a political capacity. He was elected a Democratic member of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors where he represented the Mercer District for 18 years. He also became president of the Middleburg Community Center.

Other civic roles included: president of the Loudoun County Fair, promoter of 4-H Clubs, vestryman of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, and founder of the Middleburg Saddlery.

Edith Sands died tragically in a three-car accident on Route 50 on Paris Mountain in July, 1948. Sands survived her by some 15 years, and died at Benton in May,1963. Both are buried in Middleburg’s Sharon Cemetery. They had no children.

Today, Sands’ legacy is preserved at the three Middleburg museums concerned with fox-hunting—the village’s branch of the Museum of Hounds and Hunting North America; the Masters of Foxhounds Association of North America (MFHA) Museum and the National Sporting Library and Museum (NSLM).

And the local fox-hunting tradition he helped start lives on. The foxes still run across area fields, including a few that are the original grey foxes indigenous to the U.S. east coast, though now greatly reduced in number. Most are red foxes, descendants of those imported by English settlers on the eastern shore of Maryland in 1730.

And the hounds and fox-hunters like Daniel Cox Sands, “Mr. Middleburg,” still pursue them.

Photo by Howard Allen Sands in later life

Photo Courtesy Library of Congress, public domain

Rogers Fred (Sam Fred), Elizabeth Mitchell (General Billy Mitchell’s wife), and Daniel Sands at a hunt meet, 1928

Photo by Walter B. Lane - National Library & Sporting Museum Glenwood Park 1938

From Middleburg to Mongolia

By Carina Elgin

Many people go to great lengths to pursue their passions. Haley Fitzgerald, who grew up in Middleburg, flew some 6,000 miles to Mongolia to ride in what is known as the “longest and toughest” horse race in the world, The Mongol Derby.

Every August since 2009, it’s modeled after the legendary postal system created by Genghis Khan in the early 1200s. With a network of stations at 22 mile intervals along the 600 mile course, the modern day race uses Mongolian ponies that differ little from their ancestors: tough, barely broken, and certainly challenging.

What would entice a young woman from Middleburg, who grew up riding hunter-jumpers, working polo ponies and fox hunting, to venture to Mongolia to ride semi-feral ponies for ten days with 99 other riders from around the world?

Having visited Mongolia with her family 15 years ago, Fitzgerald said, “I had always wanted to race in the Derby but just needed an excuse to do it. I was in a bad horse wreck in July, 2023...When I was bed-bound and non-weight bearing for four months, I signed up for the 2025 Mongol Derby from bed, as a goal to get my body back….And also because I just like to do hard and challenging things.”

As part of the well-organized race, about 1,500 Mongolian horses are selected from local herdsmen.The horses’ welfare is of utmost importance. They’re checked by veterinarians at various stages, but as the equestrianists.com website said, “They can cross terrain that would make a thoroughbred weep.”

“The best part of the experience for me was getting to ride 31 horses over 12 days,” Fitzgerald said from her home in Wyoming. “It was so cool to ride these semi-wild horses, that had all different personalities, in 20-plus mile increments. You don’t know anything about them, you just get on them and then have to quickly learn them and adapt your riding style to accommodate them because they are absolutely not accommodating you.”

The success of a rider could depend heavily on what horse was drawn. Fitgerald noted that, “Honestly, I liked most of the horses I rode. You just have to accept them for what they are—semi-wild, not particularly interested in people, and tricky on the ground. But once you get on, if you can ride out the initial bolt or buck and get them pointed in the right direction, they’re manageable. You get on, do the job, and get off...” She added, “That said, there were three I was very glad to hand back.”

She finished in a very respectable 14th place, but time was less important than respect and camaraderie, as the first two riders decided to wait for the third rider, crossing the finish line together.

After the race was over, Fitzgerald said, “I had been training very hard physically for this race and it paid off. Two days after the race ended I definitely started to feel some aches and pains in my body but as I

“The best part of the experience for me was getting to ride 31 horses over 12 days,” Fitzgerald said from her home in Wyoming.

“It was so cool to ride these semi-wild horses, that had all different personalities, in 20-plus mile increments. You don’t know anything about them, you just get on them and then have to quickly learn them and adapt your riding style to accommodate them because they are absolutely not accommodating you.”

didn’t get bucked or dumped off any of the horses. I was pretty well off compared to others.”

Mentally, she admitted, it’s been a bit tougher.

“Emotionally, I felt a bit depressed after getting home which seems to be quite common after finishing major achievements. I had been training for this race for two years and then put myself through the wringer physically, mentally and emotionally to complete it. When I got home, I was like, did I just peak? So rather than wallowing in that I signed up for the Gaucho Derby in 2027. It’s a 310-mile horse race in the mountains of the Patagonia in Argentina.”

Stay tuned.

Haley Fitzgerald dashing through the desert.

LETTER from PARIS

“Back in the Day” With Susie Penic

“This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad of it. Susie speaking. Please leave a message.”

—Susie Penic’s voice mail greeting

By John Sherman

Susie Penic is 95. The oldest of 15 children. And my backyard neighbor.

Not long ago, I sat for a couple of hours with Susie in her small brick ranch house in Paris, Virginia. She wore a striking silk bandana tied with a bow on the side. Her face didn’t show the wrinkles of a woman near her age. Her smile was broad and her laugh came quickly. Most extraordinary, her memory never paused or stumbled.

This is her story as near as my notes are legible. “Back in the day” was her steady refrain. Her life was lived all around us, from farm to farm. Her family lived sparely and always in the shadow of segregation. Family and the Ashville Baptist Church were, and remain, the deepest and most joyful part of her life.

As so many of her generation back then, Susie’s life was not a straight line. For years, it zig-zagged as she lived with different members of her family, working as a domestic and chasing an education.

She was born on the Thomas Glascock farm near Delaplane. Her father worked there, with much of his compensation paid in meat and milk. She was too young to walk the four miles to kindergarten. (Obviously, no buses carried Black children.) So she was sent to an aunt in Paterson, New Jersey for her first school year.

“There was no Black abuse there,” she remembered. Ultimately, she and four sisters walked that four miles to school, and four miles back to attend the one-room building in Upperville. She recalled that buses for the White kids would pass them by halfempty—in the snow.

“They used to throw osage oranges at us through the windows,” she said. “That’s the way it was. Segregation was all we knew. It was natural. We didn’t think about it.”

As she grew up, more stark differences arose. She mentioned having to sit in the back of an empty Greyhound bus or getting her meal through a back window at restaurants. “We paid the same as the white people.”

For Black families in the south—-rural families— that’s the way it was. That’s the way it always had

been, and almost always tied to landholders. Barter was a basic part of their economy. Domestic work in those days was enough to put a roof over your head.

Susie’s grandmother, Susie Marshall, perhaps the most powerful influence on her life, lived in a small cabin, which still stands up at Sky Meadow State Park. From there the commute to school was much shorter.

“She pushed and pushed me to get an education. She would say, “If you want to be better, you have to do better.’”

The farm was owned by British diplomat Robert Hadow and his wife, Sue, who drove Susie’s grandmother to church just to listen to the music.

Once she finished elementary school, the Hadows took Susie in to their Georgetown home so she could finish Francis Junior High School. “We were such a close family; we did everything together,” she remembered with a smile. But she had to eat her meals in the kitchen.

“My mother promised ‘we won’t get you through college, but we will get you through high school,’” she recalled. The next stop in her quest of a good education was Cardozo High School in the District, then an all-Black school. She didn’t finish.

Susie then traveled to Mount Vernon, N.Y. where she lived with her aunt and did domestic work for about a year. Then she returned home to live with her parents, still on the Glascock farm.

In 1948, Susie married Fenton Penic, a large, soft spoken man who went on to train yearlings on the Paul Mellon racing farm in Upperville. They lived for 20 years on Carr Lane outside of Paris. Their three children all went to integrated schools.

She and her sister began to work as domestics at the former Notre Dame Academy, an all-girls school outside of Middleburg. “We were so good they let the other two women go, so we had to do the work of four,” she said. “It was a rich school where parents told their kids not to talk to us.” She and her sister left for better pay.

“After that,” she said, “I wanted to do something different. I wanted to be of service, to help people.”

That began the most rewarding 22 years of her life. She began work as a teacher’s aide at Northwestern Elementary School in Rectortown (now Claude Thompson) in 1971—shortly before the school

became integrated.

“I became a confidante to so many children over those years,” she said, adding that many of her charges were poor and came from broken homes. “On a Monday morning when I saw a child with his head down or crying, I held them and listened.”

She also began adult classes at the Emmanuel Episcopal in Delaplane in preparation to take and then pass her high school equivalency exam (GED). It had been a long journey to fulfill her grandmother’s hopes.

After retiring and Fenton’s death, she joined a group from her church, traveling to the “Promised Land.”

“I was baptized in the River Jordan,” she said with a smile. The Hadows’ daughter later invited Susie twice to travel toScotland and she recounted visiting the “Queen’s castle.”

Susie still sings in the church choir. She dresses up in her finest outfits—-including a striking hat with a big rose sewn on the turned-up brim.

Little has changed, she said.

“Back in the day we believed that Jesus was the man who would save us from our sins,” she said. “Old folks still sing and holler with the belief that one day they would be saved. It’s where we meet and pray for better days.”

I finally asked Susie about the future, and this was her benediction.

“Until we come together as sisters and brothers, with no color attached, we have learned nothing. To have love in our hearts. Then we would be getting somewhere.”

Amen.

Photo by Sarah Huntington Susie Penic, a Paris treasure.

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