SPRING IS IN THE AIR

SPRING IS IN THE AIR

By Leonard Shapiro

It’s springtime in our glorious corner of the planet, a time for soon-to-bloom buds, sleek horses on the move, outdoor markets sprouting all around and so much more to be covered in our latest edition of ZEST.

For history lovers, we’ve got several fabulous features this month. John Toler has a story on a Fauquier County woman who, nearly 100 years ago, hoped to become the first of her gender to duplicate Charles Lindbergh’s historic first non-stop solo flight across the Atlantic from New York City to Paris in 1927. The result? Read for yourself!

John E. Ross takes a look at the efforts of a local railroad enthusiast who has lovingly restored the historic train station in Boyce to its old glory. And Denis Cotter has a lovely story remembering the late Rev. Richard Peard, the beloved long-time rector at Trinity Church in Upperville who died at age 50 in 1991.

If it’s the arts that intrigue you, our cover photo and related stories focus on the dedicated folks who put on what is becoming one of my favorite events of the year. That would be DocWeek Middleburg, founded by long-time film buff Tom Foster, a series of five fabulous documentaries—many of them award winners—screened outdoors over five nights at the Middleburg Community Center from May 14-18. We’ve profiled two talented local artists—Anne Rowland by Laura Longley and Karen Oliver by Joe Motheral. As for music, who better than Peyton Tochterman, a talented musician himself as well as a fabulous Hill School educator, to do a story on the Piedmont Symphony Orchestra’s recent young artists concert and competition.

If it’s April and May, there’s plenty of horsey stuff too, including a feature on highly-regarded steeplechase trainer Julie Gomena by Chip Newcomb and Vicky Moon’s sweet story on Valerie Embry, the long time, now retired secretary of the iconic Upperville Colt & Horse Show.

And a quick note: On Friday, April 26 at 11 a.m., the public is invited to a free Arbor Day program at the horse show grounds on Route 50 to see and hear about the magnificent trees that have graced this historic venue for 200-plus years.

There’s plenty more must-read material spread throughout our information, photo and fun-filled pages, all the better to put an extra shot of ZEST into your springtime reading.

Leonard Shapiro

410-570-8447

Badgerlen@aol.com