Rappahannock News, March 17, 1999

sr-ti I » "fr ' f! 'TT" ‘fl fT~Tr.fi-ff-—v 122st Year ... No. 11 Phone (540)675-3338 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1999 www.timespapers.com 50 cents It’s almost spring Are you ready? The Home and Garden special section can help. Articles about planting and pruning, decorating and dusting will prepare readers for the season ahead. See inside. Water Awareness meeting set There will be a planning meeting Saturday, March 20 from 10 a.m. until noon at the Rappahannock County Extension Office in Washington to focus on an agenda for “Water Awareness Month” in Rappahannock County during the month of May. For additional information call Hunt Harris at 987-3366. School Board budget hearing set The Rappahannock County School Board budget public hearing has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 30 in the RCES library at 7:30 p.m. Rep. Wolf to hold meeting March 27 Rep. Frank R. Wolf will hold a meeting at 1 p.m. at the Rappahannock County Library on Saturday, March 27. All residents of the area are encouraged to attend the meeting. “It is very important to me to be available, and accountable, to the people of the 10th District,” Wolf said. “It is not merely an opportunity to talk about what is happening in Washington, but also an opportunity to listen to the people of the 10th District and hear their views and concerns on issues facing the Congress.” Extended hours announced The Rappahannock Commissioner of Revenue Office will have extended hours effective now through May 3. The office on Gay Street will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Happenings • March 18 at 7 p.m. Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission are hosting a public forum on Cellular/PCS service telecommunications towers at Rappahannock County High School auditorium. • March 25 at 7:30 p.m., Rappahannock County Board of Zoning Appeal. Agenda includes: New business: Variance #99-0302, Berta addition. Rappahannock News P.O. Box 59 Washington, Va. 22747 (540) 675-3338 (540) 675-3088 (fax) First signs of spring? Rappahannock News Staff Photo/Carl Eborn Spring flowers make an interesting seasonal contrast against the snow during last weeks winter storm. Gangel reappointed Superintendent by Gerald Ochs Rappahannock News Special Writer At the snow-delayed March session of the Rappahannock County School Board meeting held Tuesday night, School Board President Dr. John Tole moved to reappoint school Superintendent Dr. David Gangel to a new four year term. Citing Dr. Gangel’s leadership and impressive record of school system improvements over the past twelve years, Dr. Ible led the board in a unanimous vote that provides the superintendent his post through June 30, 2003. The reappointment vote came near the end of a three and one-half hour session that opened with additional discussions of the school budget for the 1999-2000 school year. In his presentation of his fourth and apparently final revision of the draft budget, Dr Gangel highlighted the only substantive change to the budget from the third revision (see story page A3)- the addition of nearly $3000 to provide for ‘no loss’ for the twenty school employees whose pay would have been reduced by transitional peculiarities in the new salary schedule. This one-time funding will eliminate any inequities in pay rate changes for the new and future budget years. Unless Governor Gilmore does not sign-off on the funding bill that reached compromise last week in Richmond, the 1999-2000 Rappahannock school budget will be forwarded, unchanged, for comment at the public hearing scheduled for March 30, 1999 at 7:30 in the RCES library. Following the public hearing, the school board will meet in executive session to vote on the budget, and to pass it to the Board of Supervisors, as legally required, by April 1, 1999. Fodderstack Race Sponsorship During the communications and public comment portion of the meeting, school board member Rosa Crocker sought and received board support for school participation in seeking sponsorships for the 21st Annual Fodderstack Race, to be held April 24. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Rappahannock Recreational Facilities Authority and the RCHS running clubs and track and field fund. Additional information can be obtained from John McCarthy (675-3342) or Jean Lillard (675-7171). In other communications, issues, Assistant Superintendent Mary Ann Bigges read a letter from the high school seniors thanking the board for facilitating the class trip to Seven Springs, and thanking school board member Ron Makela for his chaperoning. Mrs. Bigges also announced receipt of a $1600 donation from the band boosters. RCES Student Council President Melanie Torrance requested board for approval for school participation in Trash Free Rappahannock’s “Cash for Trash”. Melanie told the board that she and her schoolmates intended to beat the competition, and would donate winnings to the high school track and the 4-H program. Spotlight on Learning Teaching team leaders Deborah Flinchum and Lois Markee reported on progress in their respective teams. Mrs. Flinchum was fervent in her support for the team concept and its effectiveness in establishing teaching goals and assessing results. She reported that the K-l team has devised a recording procedure for success on SOLs, and has established a mastery level of 80 percent the exams. The team has also planned and executed “celebrations of learning” to recognize each and every student for his or her abilities and contributions and See BOARD, Page A8 Hearing date is set First homicide in county since 1986 The date for a preliminary hearing for accused murderer Joseph Johnson, of the Scrabble area, has been set for May 4, according to Rappahannock County Sheriff Larry Sherertz. Johnson, 41, has been charged with first degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony in the March 3 shooting of Willie Steve Nichols, 28, of Boston. Johnson is alleged to have shot Nichols during a dispute over money. The incident occurred in the front yard of Johnson’s home oh Route 522, near the Rappahannock-Culpeper county line. Johnson was returned to Rappahannock County on March 10 for arraignment. He is being currently held without bond at the Fauquier County Detention Center in Warrenton. Ribbit, ribbit.... Rappahannock News Staff Photo/Carf Ebom Matt Wiese and Josh Makela made a giant green snow frog by Josh’s parents driveway on Battle Mountain Road in Amissville last week. Josh is the son of Ron and Jan Makela. Matt is the son of John and Margaret Wiese. Baldwin couple charged Federal indictments have been handed down in the second wave or prosecutions resulting from the ongoing Operation SOUP (Special Operation to Uncover Poaching). Among those indicted on March 11 were Danny and Bonnie Sue Baldwin of Sperryville. The Baldwins returned to Federal District Court in Charlottesville on Monday for a preliminary hearing. In addition to the poaching charges, Bonnie Sue Baldwin has been charged with being in possession of firearms after having been convicted of a felony. The maximum statutory penalty for the firearms charge is 10 years incarceration and a fine of $250,000. Law enforcement officers executing a search warrant on the residence of Danny and Bonnie Sue Baldwin discovered 46 firearms at the residence, in addition to 51 bear galls and two whole bears stored in freezers. Covert operation Operation SOUP is an ongoing investigation into bear poaching and illegal trade of bear parts conducted by the National Park Service, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. U.S. Attorney Robert ,P. Crouch joined these agencies in a press conference Tuesday in Verona to announce his intention to aggressively prosecute the wildlife violators charged as a result of the investigation. On March 11, 1999, a federal Grand Jury sitting in Charlottesville returned indictments against nine individuals charging them with violations of the Lacey Act, which prohibits the sale of illegally taken wildlife. In addition to Danny and Bonnie Sue Baldwin, those indicted were Raymond Dove of Petersburg, W.Va.; See BALDWIN, Page A8 Cellular meeting March 18 By John Toler Rappahannock News Staff Writer On Thursday night, Rappahannock residents will have their first opportunity to meet with representatives of Sprint PCS, the telecommunications company interested in installing cellular phone equipment in the county. A joint meeting of the Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission, has been scheduled for March 18 at 7 p.m. at the Rappahannock County High School. The meeting is being held to solicit public input on the possible expansion of cellular service into Rappahannock, and “the possibility and need for the construction of towers to transmit and relay such signals.” Issues likely to be discussed at the meeting include: • Why the telecommunications company needs to expand its service in Rappahannock; • The need for improved communications in the county — both emergency radio and personal cellular telephone; • What equipment will be needed — including the tall, metal communications towers — and where they would be located to serve Sprint customers; • What is the long-term future of cellular communications, in particular, the need for tall towers; • What the effects would be on the county’s natural viewshed; See TOWERS, Page A3

Law of the wild hard to interpret Briefs from local schools A few weeks ago I received a most interesting letter from Celia Rutt of Purcellville. Celia is a botanist of formidable talent whom I had gotten to know through work with the Virginia Native Plant Society. Rutt is such an effective writer that it is best to quote directly from her letter. She wrote: “A sudden bat against the window alerted me to the chase of a predator and prey. In this case, a female Cardinal was stunned and lay flapping on the ground. I intervened, as I often do when a stunned bird is gathering its wits. “[The Cardinal 1 scolded me, and let out an uncharacteristic distress call — something like a rabbit in distress. [The bird] also held onto my thumb with its beak. I pointed it toward the cover of shrubs and it took off as the phantom accipiter — Sharp-shinned Hawk, I think — swooped to collect its meal — all the while the Cardinal gave the distress call.” Rutt goes on to ask: “I’d be interested to see if you have observed this behavior before in birds — where the prey assists in its demise?” Bird behavior is difficult to interpret because we tend to see it in terms of our own emotions and reactions: anthropomorphic, in one long word. No doubt the Cardinal’s high pitched dis All Things Wild And * Wonderful John Trott tress call did indeed enable the hawk to focus on and capture the bird it had chased into the window in the first place. Hawks are persistent. Had Rutt not gone out to the rescue, the Cooper’s Hawk — a formidably fast and fierce predator — would have swooped in to snatch the stillmoving Cardinal from the ground. As it happened, the hawk waited — hidden and alert — for its meal. Perceiving the situation from the Cardinal’s point of view provides insight. The bird was faced with two predators: A fierce one with feathers and another quite large one that walked on two legs. The bird reacted by using his formidable beak: it bit. A human being is perceived by birds as a predator. This is demonstrated to me each time I go out the back door which is near our bird feeder. Twenty or so birds flee the area and take shelter high in the maple tree or into the dense interior of the privet bush. April 15 3500 3 WAYS PICKING UP TRASH HELPS RAPPAHANNOCK • Helps other organizations • Keeps the county more beautiful • Keeps you more beautiful Yes! □ Please enter my new subscription to: Sappahanuock News Subscription Rates By Rappahannock.s21 .“/yeJp Elsewhere in the U.S.s27.°°/year Name _ Address _ City_ State Zip_ Mail subscriptions are payable in advance. Make check or money order payable to: Sappahaimoch New*, P.O. Box 59, Washington, VA 22747 This form may also be used for CHANGE OF ADDRESS Old Address: New Address: I_I The Rappahannock A/ira* (ISSN #’s 1050-7655 & 188280) is published ev ery' Wednesday at 39 Culpeper Street, Warrenton, Virginia 20186 by Rappahannock News, a division of Arundel Communications, Inc. Periodicals postage paid at Warrenton, Virginia and at additional mailing offices. Subscriptions $21.00 a year in Rappahannock; $27.00 elsewhere in U.S. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Rappahannock News, P.O. Box 59, Washington, Virginia 22747. The distress call described so vividly by Celia Rutt is a natural reaction, beside biting, on the part of a Cardinal to being captured. There is evidence that the pitch of the distress call of some birds is uncomfortable to the ears of some predators. Dogs we all know find very high pitch sounds painful. A dog is a mammal, like a human, and the bird was probably not distinguishing the quality or size of the predator that had a firm hold on her. Another possibility is that the call the Cardinal made was a signal to other birds to mob the hawk and chase it away. This occurs frequently. When I go out, I sometimes find the birds moving in a loose circle around something in the maple tree. On one occasion it was a Screech Owl, on another, a Sharp-shinned Hawk. Apparently the mobbing by a number of very vocal birds so confuses the predator that he or she cannot pick out one bird for a meal. During the Spring and Summer breeding season, birds will gather to mob and harass a snake intent on robbing a nest of its contents. Fledgling birds, just out of the nest and not in the best flying condition, frequently fall victim to cats who hear their calls for food and focus with deadly accuracy for the kill. The cats are frequently mobbed by diving, screaming birds. Crows often gather to harass Red-shouldered and Red-tailed hawks that are doing nothing but resting in a tree. Readers have surely heard and witnessed this. Readers should consider themselves benevolent, innocent predators with the result that interpreting some aspects of bird behavior will be more interesting. The writer now looks to make an apology: it has been pointed out to me that I was off by a month on the arrival dates of grackles. I wrote they would return in April. Here in Flint Hill they appeared in early March, soon after I had delivered my column to the newspapers. They now dominate the feeder and illuminate the yard with iridescent plumage. Birds are predictable to a point; at the same time, they do fly. We make the rules; they break them. BY JAN MAKE LA Volunteer Coordinator Public School System • This past week has brought beautiful snow, unexpected vacation days and the need to reschedule numerous school events...a mixed blessing. • The seventh grade shark dissection lab has been rescheduled for March 18. • Report cards for grades 3-7 are being sent home on March 17. • Because of the snow days last week, many students were not fully prepared for Spirit Day on Friday, but sixth graders came through and won the Spirit Stick for showing the most spirit overall. Congratulations! • Springs pictures were taken at RCES on Wednesday, March 17 which also happened to be St. Patrick’s Day. I wonder if this batch will have a decidedly green hue... • If you wish to participate in the No DINX Doubles Volleyball Tournament at RCHS, you still have time. The tournament will be held March 26-28 on the following schedule: Friday, 5 to 9; Saturday 9 to 8 and Sunday 92. This is sure to be a fun weekend event. All proceeds will assist the Varsity Tfeam’s summer camp program. Call Laura Conklin at 987-8575 or 540-298-0723, home or Susan Payne at 987-8090, if you have question or wish to register. • The Band Boosters Citrus Fruit, Valencia oranges and red grapefruit will be arriving at the Rappahannock Farmer’s Cooperative on Thursday afternoon after school. If you have not placed an order, there will be fruit available for purchase at the Coop Thursday and at the Coop and the Washington and Sperryville post offices on Saturday morning. This is such a worthwhile ftind raiser, and your support is so very much appreciated. Not to mention that the fruit is delicious! • The next RCES PTO meeting is scheduled for Friday, March 19 at 3:30 in the Library. Please plan to attend. We are always happy to have new folks participate and share their ideas. • Holly Pendleton, our technology specialist, is sponsoring a Technology Club at RCHS. These students are beginning to learn the basics of computer assemblage and repair among other things. This is the first step in the development of a Technologybased Entrepreneurial Program planned for the High School. • Many students will be participating in a Soccer Clinic after school on Friday, March 19, at the upper fields at RCES. Varsity soccer players from RCHS will be helping to coach the younger players. Besides offering skill training, they will also be incredible role models for the less experienced players. Thanks much. • Mr. and Mrs. Way, fourth and fifth grade teachers at RCES, are the proud parents of a baby girl, their first child, bom last Monday, Mrs. Estes, second grade teacher, had a surprise when her baby girl arrived two weeks early, this weekend! She and her husband also have a little boy, Ben. Congratulations, everyone! • Mrs. Karla Miller will be substituting for Mrs. Way in her absence. Mrs. April Heddleston will be filling in for Mrs. Estes. We are happy to welcome both of these wonderful ladies as members of our staff. • Many thanks to Headwaters, Rappahannock County Public Education Foundation, for making it possible for 18-20 more staff members from both schools to attend the National Effective Schools Conference in June 1999. Great things are happening in our schools in part because of things learned at that conference last year. We look forward to more enthusiasm and innovation as teachers return next year with this wonderful training. Thank you, Headwaters! • Our sympathies are extended the family of Sid Gottlieb upon his passing. Sid was a great supporter of the public schools in Rappahannock as well as of the community at large. He will be greatly missed. • Until next time.... News in brief from Wakefield BY CONNIE LALONDE Admissions Coordinator • All students in grades 7-12 participated in the Wakefield Country Day School Annual Science Fair recently. Kindergarten through grade six presented class projects. The following students were recognized for their exceptional projects: First place and best of show, Liz Williams, Modem Medicine/Alternative Medicine. First place, Alex Knight, CELLULAR/PCS SERVICE TELECOMMUNICATIONS TOWERS The Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors and the Rappahannock County Planning Commission are hosting a Public Forum on the subject of the possible expansion of Cellular Telephone/Personal Communications Systems (PCS) service in Rappahannock County, and the possibility of and need for the construction of towers to transmit and relay such signals. Representatives from the telecommunications industry will be on hand to discuss their industries’ capabilities and the infrastructure necessary to support their services. Issues such as the number, height, and location of towers will be discussed. The Board and Commission hope that this forum will lead eventually to the adoption of a new set of regulations within the Rappahannock County Code, in compliance with the Telecommunications Act of 1996, governing the placement of telecommunications facilities. The public is invited to attend to express their interests and concerns. Of particular interest to the Board and Commission is the level of public interest in having cellular telephone/PCS services available and the public’s concern about the construction of telecommunications towers. The meeting will be held at the Rappahannock County High School Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 18, 1999. Arches; Second place, Colin Davis, Refraction of Water with Relation to Temperature; Second place, Andy Cooper, Birds and Color; Second place, Britton Wood, Gravity; Third place, Eileen Cummings, Ferrets; Third place, Rachel Lucas, Water Purification; Third place, Antonia Toth, PH Factor and Third place, Sarah Hathaway and Valerie Lalonde, Pressure, Volume and Temperature. • Wakefield Country Day School Key Club members are actively involved in the ongoing “Trash Free Rappahannock” initiative. So far they’re averaging 14 bags of trash an hour! • Third grade students in Mrs. Tuthill’s class are immersed in writing stories about the middle ages. • All students in grades one through six are taking part in the “Endangered See WAKEFIELD, Page A7 Hearthstone Whole Family Learning Center Castleton Farms, Virginia is having an OPEN HOUSE on SUNDAY. MARCH 28. 2:00 > 5:00 •Education for the Whole Child - the Head, the Heart, the Hands •Small Classes in a Farm Setting •An Arts'based Curriculum where Academics Come to Life! •A Parent Cooperative offering classes to Homeschoolers Nursery to 11th Grade Call 937-4920 or 987-8978 Over Age 55? Need More Income? Earn & Learn With Us! Paid training programs in a variety of part-time work opportunities: In-Home Care Aides Clerical Work ; Asst. In Adult Day Care Center Food Service Many Others Call Ray Benell RRCSB • 540-825-3100 ext 3420 j P.O. Box 1568, Culpeper, VA 22701 Equal Employment Opportunity/A.A. Employer 1 CrossLink Quality & Reliability Full-Service Internet Access Serving the Mid-Atlantic With extended local dial access in VA, MD, Wash DC, W VA, DEL, NC, and PA J Local Calls ... Global Access Toll Free: 1-888-427-6775 N. VA & DC metro call: 703-642-1120 email: info@crosslink.net web: http://www.crosslink.net

a'_0 ARB unanimously approved new sidewalk By Marybeth Martin Rappahannock News Staff Writer After prolonged discussion op how to best provide handicapped access to Trinity Episcopal Church failed to produce a solution at their Thursday night meeting, members of the Town of Washington Architectural Review Board decided to pay a visit to the site on Monday. As a result of their findings, the ARB voted 4-0 to recommend building a new sidewalk, and to make changes in the parking scheme in order to provide the needed access. The request for an on-site visit was made Thursday night by ARB Chairman Ed Barton, who is also a member of the church. Last month, the ARB turned down the church’s plans to provide handicapped access. One proposal involved building a 40-foot raised concrete ramp with a metal handrail on the church’s adjacent “quiet space” lot. Ten feet of the ramp ran along the front of the building, with the entrance on the south side. It would cost about $10,000. New plans developed On Monday afternoon, the board looked at the grades and discussed options for over an hour. With the assistance of Hobson and county building inspector Richie Burke, they came up with yet two more possible solutions. One plan was to locate a handicapped parking space in front of Roger Batchelder’s real estate office and build a handicapped ramp on the south side of the church’s building. Burke said he preferred this choice for safety, although it was located in front of another business. The other suggestion — which was ultimately approved by the board — was to put parking dn the “quiet place” lot and request that the town build a sidewalk along the front of the building. Burke said that this proposal had less visual impact on the building. The board to present plans based on this recommendation at the board’s April meeting. In addition, Barton said he would attend the town council meeting on March 17 and request that the town build the new sidewalk in front of the church building. Shed is approved At the evening meeting last week, Trinity Church representative Sheila Sweet received unanimous approval for a 14-by-32-foot prefabricated wooden shed on the “quiet space” lot adjacent the Gay Street building to be used for storage. Approval included changing the roofline from a Dutch roof to a pitched one, eliminating the metal louvered windows and adding a window with glass, double doors and connection for electrical power. * The board agreed to approve a color sample when j they met with the church on March 15. However, a color sample was not presented to the board at the March 15 meeting. Other ARB issues In other business, Ellen Martson also received unanimous approval an 18-inch square or 12-by-24-inch oval sign for her Yarn and More shop located in Peter Kramer’s Washington Arts Building on Gay Street. In an update on Douglas Baugardner’s addition, he submitted two drawings by Monroe and requested only a change in the windows on the south side of the building. Although the board did not vote, they accepted the possible changes that were mentioned in the original proposed plans. School budget had upward momentum In its third iteration, the il999-2000 Rappahannock .school budget gained another ;tjck, to a total of $7.84 million ,qs compared to the $7.68 million presented at the February 9 budget work session. Most importantly, the county’s contribution to school operations increased to $4.66 million from the February figure of $4.56 million, an increase of 4.31 percent over last year’s budget. According to schools chief Dr. David Gangel, the bulk of .ihe increase can be attributed to actions in Richmond. The school revenue provided in the compromise budget agreed upon last week by the General Assembly, though not ^yet .signed by Governor Gilmore at that time, is less than the revenue assumed in the budget development process, And, in agreement, the draft budget documents provided at last Thursday’s meeting do show a nearly $12,000 reduction in receipts from the Commonwealth. Overall however, projected receipts in the March 9 version of the budget exceed February estimates by some $155,000, though $45,000 of that is for a newly funded state grant for “student records management software” that should be a passthrough, at best, said Dr. Gangel. On the expenditure side, and in balance with revenue increases, the latest version of Schools to participate in statewide tornado drill *f, Governor Jim Gilmore has proclaimed March 23 as 'Tornado Preparedness Day in •Virginia. At 10 a.m. that day, !3the Virginia Department of 'Emergency Services and the •National Weather Service will "oonduct a statewide tornado 'drill. '* The purpose of this drill is to provide schools, businesses ■ 4nd residents of Virginia with Tan opportunity to test their emergency plans for tornadoes. Should severe weather 'threaten Virginia on March 23, the tornado drill will be postponed until 10 a.m. on iClarch 25. ’ A drill tornado warning "will be issued by all of the 'National Weather Services offices that serve Virginia. Breeden's Plant House Now Open! Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Daily House Plants, Gifts, Planting Supplies, Hanging Baskets & African Violets Pansies 4 pack/89* Violas 6 pack/89* Flat $pecM 12 packs *9 (Save $1.68) 540-923-4381 Directions: From Sperryville, take Rt 23IS for 12 miles, turn left on 642. go 1.5_mjjes. FURNITURE Name-Brand Manufacturers Buy direct • Save up to 50%, lower than local stores. Before your next furniture purchase,call for price quotes or location nearest you. Shipping auattfe *>alX)st*s Quads and 25 dkflbert aortas NORTH CAROLINA ; CONNECTION tl 1-800/919-2555 This warning will be tonealerted and broadcast on NOAA weather radio. Many school systems including Rappahannock will be participating in the drill. When the weather alert radios are activated, students will move to safe areas inside the school, crouch down on the floor and cover their heads. The family of CLYDE W. "BUMP PULLEN wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to all who showed their many acts of kindness and sympathy at the passing of our loved one. Also, our deepest appreciation to the Washington and Sperryville Rescue Squads for their exorbitant services in our time of need. Lillie Pullen, sons, daughters and grandchildren % the budget shows the $155,000 increase in expenditures (as compared to the February iteration) going toward: the student records management software ($45,000); removal of existing roofing on the high school before the new roof is emplaced . ($25,000); patching of the elementary school roof ($5,000); new Federal special education funds to be used for job coaching ($21,000); and the balance, some $59,000, scattered across the other bud get categories including classroom instruction, transportation, and operations and maintenance. There was no report presented by the Facilities Subcommittee on the public car use issue that dominated the last budget work session. There will be further opportunity for the public to raise that and other issues at the public hearing scheduled for March 30 at 7:30 in the RCES library. RESPECT THE EARTH .RECYCLE! Family: Where Values Influence Lives God's love develops these values for the family a free lecture sponsored by First Church of Christ, Scientist, Warrenton Feeling God's Love for You Thursday, March 25,1999, 7:30 p.m. at the Fauquier High School Young people are welcome and child care is available. For information call 349-1424 Holland's Treat Plant Holland's Summer Flowering Bulbs Now! Choose from our wide variety of the finest quality imported Holland bulbs. These easy-to-plant summer flowering bulbs will give you exquisite shapes and colors to enjoy all summer long. 4 Treat yourself to a beautiful summer with the finest quality imported bulbs! Wide variety available for a beautiful garden all summer: Gladiolus, Dahlias, Begonias & many others. • Easy to plant • Sure to bloom • Finest quality imported bulbs RAPPAHANNOCK FARMERS CO-OP Sperryvllle, Virginia 540-987-8555/ Rappahannock News Staff Photo/Yayoi Ayukawa UP IN THE SKY: This tower in New Baltimore, is similar to ones included in the Rappahannock plan. Tower From Page A1 • What options the county has for amending existing ordinances or writing new ones to deal with the placement of communications equipment; and • What is being done in other jurisdictions to deal with the provisions of the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996. Contacted on Monday at his office in Maryland, Sprint PCS Real Estate Manager Bernie Fitzgerald stated that his presentation for Thursday night’s meeting would not be completed in time for a preview in this week’s issue of the Rappahannock News. Fitzgerald indicated that the plan would include sites for “probably six” communications towers and other information. County Administrator John McCarthy has followed the growth of the cellular communications industry in the Northern Virginia area for several years, and is not surprised that the focus has spread to outlying areas like Rappahannock County. “I am trying to keep as open a mind as I can,” he remarked. “I hope that the (Sprint PCS ) representatives will be as forthcoming as they can be, and tell us just what it is that they want to do.” SUBSCRIBE TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK NEWS. Cull 675-3338. Start at ? fim. Games ’too * EACH & EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT! by the Avtex Retirees Club and the Fraternal Order of Police cues: 110 playrm. call (540) i At Rappahannock National Bank we’re making loans. We make big loans, small loans, and loans in between. We can make you a loan to buy a car, pay off tuition bills, add on to your home, take a vacation or expand your business. 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Pioneering school holds open house The rolling countryside of Rappahannock County, where the population is a little more than 7,000 is hardly where you would expect to find a pioneering new school. But it is here, almost invisible amid the hills off a little-traveled road in the Castleton area. Castleton encompasses thousands of acres, hundreds of cows, a sprinkling of houses, two general stores and now one school. The school is called Hearthstone. Three years ago Hearthstone Whole Family Learning Center was a dream of home schooling parents. It started with 25 children and much volunteer labor. Today, it is a non-profit organization employing 12 staff with 40 students. Housed in a Cape Cod house and renovated barn, the school is inspired by Rudolf Steiner’s educational philosophy, striving for an education that achieves a balance between “the heart, the hands and the head.” This idea is translated into a hands-on, real life and art-based approach to developing skills in children. The school, which currently has children from nursery to 10th grade, is also intent on providing an environment where each child’s unique abilities flourish. “Other schools say that they are there for the individual child,” said Diane Branchaud of Front Royal, who transferred her son, Gordon, to Hearthstone from another pri vate school this year. “But what I’ve found is that Hearthstone actually does what they say. They really consider each child’s needs. The classes are small. The school puts emphasis on the body, soul and spirit of a child as well as on academics,” said Mrs. Branchaud. Her son, a severtth grader, spent his elementary years at two highly respected private schools in the northwestern tip of Virginia. “I’m willing to make two one-hour trips a day because it’s the first time I’ve hppn happy with a school for my son,” said Mrs. Branchaud, a musician who is married to a Front Royal businessman. “The spiritual side of life is important to me and is neglected in schools-generally. Hearthstone is a spiritual, but non-denominational, how-to-live school. I think anyone would feel comfortable here.” Hearthstone’s buildings are surrounded by countryside, with llamas, sheep, donkeys, emus, ponies and other animals living adjacent to the school. The Lower School children tend to many of these animals as part of their outdoor education. The teachers are engaged in Waldorf training wjhere the integrated and developmentally-oriented curriculum of Rudolf Steiner is studied at colleges in Maine, New York and California. About half of the staff has advanced degrees in education, the arts and sciences. The Upper School is college preparatory, offering English and foreign languages, math, and the necessary sciences and history. Integrating the arts into subjects i one of the hall Waldorf-style education. Instead of using textbooks, children create main lesson books which they write and illustrate. Emotionally powerful stories are used to introduce information to the young people. In studying ancient India in fifth grade, students were treated to a performance of dance and storytelling by Indian artist who also gave the students a workshop. Egypt was studied by mummifying apples and copying an Egyptian wall painting using grids. High school students are creating an original book of black and white photographs entitled, “Local Sites and Stories of the Civil war In and Around Rappahannock County.” History and science are transformed into dance/dramas. The school’s part time students are home schoolers who enroll in afternoon classes, choosing among violin and recorder lessons, choir, hand crafts, dance, sculpture, painting, carving, gardening and Spanish. For the 1999-2000 school year, these classes are expected to cost $4 an hour. Full time students, who attend school Monday through Friday from 8:45 a.m. to 3:15 f»ay tuition of about i month. irents interested in ning more about learthstone are invited to attend its Open House on Sunday, March 28 from 2 to 5 p.m. The school is enrolling students from nursery to 11th grade. Teachers will be present to answer questions and school work will be displayed. Mrs. Branchaud will perform music and refreshments wilj^ be served. Parents may also visit on “Observation Day” on Tuesday, April 20 when the school will function as it normally does from 8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. For more information and directions to the school, phone Hearthstone at 937-4920. Christendom College Players present “Much Ado About Nothing” The Christendom Players will present Shakespeare’s comedy masterpiece, “Much Ado About Nothing” March 26, 27 and 28 at The Theatre in Washington. Performances will be held at 8 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with a 3 p.m. matinee on Sunday. The Theatre is located at 291 Gay Street in Washington. \ “Much Ado” has always been one of the most crowdpleasing of Shakespeare’s plays. In 1993 it was turned into a popular film starring Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, and Denzel Washington. Benedick and Beatrice, two of the play’s main characters, make up a delightful romantic couple. Though deeply in love, they hide their feelings for each other beneath a barrage of witty wisecracks. Other marvelous characters include the noble Don Pedro; the wise Leonato; Hero, the lovely daughter of Leonato and Claudio, the naive young soldier whose love for Hero is severely tested. The play also has one on those truly nasty villains that you love to hate, in this case, Don John of Aragon. Don John tries to overthrow his royal brother Don Pedro, deceives the lovers into a false jealousy, and generally does his best to give everyone an unpleasant time of its. But fear not: “Much Ado” is after all a comedy, and justice wins out in the end. Shakespeare also created, in “Much Ado,” one of the memorable comic characters of all time. This is none other than Dogberry, the sherift/constable of the town. Dogberry is probably the greats in a long line of comic policemen that would include Inspector Clouseau, Barney Fife, and the Keystone Cops; Directed by Kristin Hibl, and assisted by Patrick Keats and Dan Schneible, “Much Ado” has plenty of action, romance, and comedy. Also, it is a play that the whole family can enjoy. Tickets are available at the box office for $8 for adults; $5 for students and $3 for children 12 and under. 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ROYAL PLAZA • FRONT ROYAL, VA • (540) 635-3101 • HOURS: MON.-SAT. 10-9; SUN. 12-5 LURAY SHOPPINC CENTER • LURAY, VA • (540) 743-1110 • HOURS: MON.-FRI. 10-8; SAT. 9-8; SUN. 12:30-5:30 WARRENTON CENTER • WARRENTON, VA • (540) 347-1820 • HOURS: MON.-SAT. 10-9; SUN. 12-6 Local law enforcement watching for aggressive drivers Law enforcement throughout the Old Dominion will he concentrating on aggressive driving, a combination of traffic violations that endanger the lives of others, during this • week with special attention through March 21. Stepped-up patrols will be • on the lookout for drivers displaying anger at the wheel and using their vehicles virtually as a weapon. This behav-] ior, identified by law enforce-; ment nationally in 1990, often ' involves multiple offenses tak-! ing place over a series of miles. In some cases, a driver will brandish or use a gun or a tire iron to threaten another motorist for what he or she. perceives to be a deliberate] attempt to prevent him or her ; from changing lanes or driving at the desired speed. “A report by AAA notes" that every year since 1990, at least 1,500 people have been killed or injured in the United States because of enraged, '• aggressive drivers,” says Lt. ] Col. W. Gerald Massengill,1 director of field operations. from the Virginia Department ] of State Police. The patrols are part of Smart, Safe and Sober,. Virginia’s high visibility,*; statewide traffic-enforcement! program. Aimed at reducing ] the state’s death and injury ; rate on the highways, the program focuses on a different driving danger every calendar quarter, while enforcing occu- 1 pant-restraint laws throughout the year. For that reason, officers ' also will be enforcing ] Virginia’s safety belt and child safety seat laws. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles estimates that at least 168 people per year are saved by 1 such occupant restraints. ] Smart, Safe and Sober is a • joint program of the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, 1 Virginia Sheriff’s Association, Virginia Department of State Police, Virginia Department of; Motor Vehicles, the Virginia • Commonwealth University ! Transportation Safety; Training Center and Drive ; Smart Virginia. Subscribe to the Rappahannock News. Call 675-3338.

*' 11 ■ Instant winner coupons for trash As an added incentive to pick up trash for cash, TFR will be placing instant winner coupons throughout the county, with an equal distribution of coupons within each of Rappahannock’s five districts. The coupons will entitle the finder to an immediate prize. Instead of placing greenbacks around the county, coupons of equivalent value will be placed in randomly selected locations by program coordinator Hunt Harris. He will be the only person who knows the location of the coupons. Instant winner coupons will be taped, glued, or stapled to pieces of trash which are already on the roadside, so TFR participants should watch for the coupons as they collect and bag the trash. The instant winner program will reinforce TFR’s attempt to create and promote some good natured competition among the residents of Rappahannock’s five districts. Because the dollar value and the number of coupons in each district will be equal, TFR will report on how many of the coupons have been found in each district. Presumably the percentage of instant winner coupons found will lie an addi- 's tional measurement of which districts forefront - or A in the cellar ■ when it ^ comes to trash pickup. T F R ’ s give the pubare in the instant winner program was inspired by the following story: The Obstacle in Our Path In ancient times a king had a boulder placed on a roadway, then hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the big stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. On reaching the boulder the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. As the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king saying that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many people never understand: Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve the path for one’s fellow beings and perhaps to find some unexpected personal reward. Please remem^ber “Safety First” I when collecting j trash. Drivers please be on the look out for folks X picking up \ trash, espe\ cially on the i weekends, after school, and at dusk. Correction In the McBride article from last week it was stated that Scott McBride restored Sharp Rock Farm, when in fact it was restored by Home Tech, Inc. McBride worked for Home Tech Inc. and did finish carpentry work as well as some milling. The Rappahannock News regrets the error. Planners review draft The Town of Washington Planning Commission met on March 8 to review the final draft of the town’s comprehensive plan. The commission completed the review of the first half of the document, and will continue working on it on Monday, March 22. With the resignation of Carolyn Thornton, Chair Jeanne Butler said the commission is seeking a new member. Friday and Saturday April 9th and 19th Fauquier High School Auditorium 7:30 pm Tickets 97...18 & under $10...adiilts $12 @ the door Available at Fauquier Hospital Gift Shop • Auxiliary Thrift Shop New Leaf Bookstore • G. Whilikers • Town Duck Song camp to be held this weekend By Chuck Backhaus Rappahannonk News Staff Writer Some of you probably think that this area’s greatest cultural asset is either its civil war or equestrian heritage, but music fans know differently. If you want evidence of this, you do not have to look any further than this weekend’s Rappahannock “Weekend in the Country” song camp — The twice yearly camp that is headed by Trapezoid front man and Washington, Va. resident Paul Reisler. Reisler, who said that he loves to teach almost as much as he loves to perform and compose, has been conducting these local camps for the last three years. “I suppose its one way to keep me off the road,” said a joking Reisler who has recently released the hypnotic instrumental CD Birth of a River, a collaborative effort with Bobby Reed of the Bruce Hornsby Band. It is also a way for music fans to get up close and personal with some of today’s finest singer-songwriters. Imagine being able to receive personal riding instructions from Willie Schumacher and you will have a good idea of what these song camps are all about. The talent level that Reisler attracts is nothing short of astounding. Either Reisler has some wicked charm, is owed an awful lot of favors or he has made a heck of a lot of friends throughout his 30-plus years in the music business. But perhaps the most attractive feature of these camps is their price. The cost for the three-day camp is $150. And if you are serious about learning and improving upon your music, this is an incredible bargain. The camp counselors, if you will, not only hold intensive workshops on topics such as lyric and melody writing but they will also provide you with invaluable advice on your own compositions — In other words, you get to perform for these people and receive their feedback. But for the average, local, music lover, the hidden gems are the opening night concerts. Pluck down $13 and be treated to an up-close, intimate performance that would ordinarily cost you three times the price. For example, when the camp last settled here in October, attendees were treated to a performance by Reisler, pop star Beth Neilsen Chapman and behind-the scenes-composer Steve Seskin. Chapman, who is now a star in her own right, was the substance behind the style for years as she penned top-ten hits for some of the biggest names in the country and pop music worlds; including Willie Nelson and Elton John. In fact, just last year, Chapman served up another smash as the ghost writer for Faith Hill’s number-one hit “This Kiss.” Seskin, whose witty style and infectious voice delivered a spectacular opening night performance, could very well be a star if he so chose. But the venerable song writer, who Photo Courtesy of Rounder Records FOR MUSIC LOVERS: Vance Gilbert is just one of several individuals who will be “counselors” at this weekends song camp. languished in true obscurity for years, prefers working in the relative shadows where he said he has the ability to spend more time as a composer. Seskin, who writes for the biggest names in Nashville, composed 1998’s tear jerker of the year, “Don’t Laugh at Me,” which propelled Mark Wills to the top of the country charts. This time around, Reisler has managed to lasso in Vance Gilbert and Bob Franke. Franke, who is one of this country’s most respected instructors, is known as a songwriter’s songwriter. And his journey, much like Steve Seskin’s, can serve as an inspiration to all those performers who think that you have to hang it up if nothing happens by age 30. While Franke may never be a household name, he has carved out a nice niche for himself. And it was not until he turned 40, however, that he was able to quit his day job! Gilbert, who is not exactly a babe-in-the-woods himself, has recently surfaced from the coffee house circuit and has sent tremors throughout the folk music world with his 1998 release Shaking Off Gravity, a 13 song CD that Gilbert wrote, arranged and produced from the familiar confines of his Massachusetts home. Folk music’s popularity was at its zenith in the 60’s and 70’s when the forces of Dylan, Taylor and Mitchell were able to draw rock-star size crowds. And while that may never happen again, Gilbert’s Gravity provides evi-1, dence that the genre is very much alive and kicking. “Powerful and uncompromising,” said the Boston Globe. “Gilbert strikes like lightning,” said New Texas Magazine. “The lyrics alone are better than almost anything else you’ve heard,” added the Ft. Worth StarTelegram. And the Chicago Tribune said Gilbert possesses “an astonishingly smooth, pure tenor voice.” Gilbert, who said that lately he has been listening to a lot of Elvis Costello, is very happy with the way the record turned out. “Its the record that I’ve always wanted to make. I wanted' a raw album that didn’t sound constricting” Gilbert said. Since it took about 20 years for things to start happening for you, what advice would you give to someone embarking on a music career? “Don’t quit your day job. No, but seriously, whatever you are into you need to study the history. Its like, if you’re into rock, then you have to have every Beatles album ever made ... that sort of thing. In other words, you need to consume yourself with it, or at least that is my opinion,” Gilbert said. Shaking Off Gravity is on the Rounder Records label and is available at Borders Books and Music, Best Buy and Tower Record stores. Social Security Disability Claims • Disabled? 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-&appat)annocfe J2cto5— Established 1877 An Independent Newspaper Published Every Wednesday ARTHUR W. ARUNDEL, PUBLISHER Barbara C. Wayland, Executive Editor and General Manager Mary Beth Martin, Staff Writer Carl Eborn, Staff Photographer Peter W. Arundel, President John T. Toler Executive Vice President To Subscribe Phone (540) 675-3338 BY MAIL: $21 a year in Rappahannock County $27 a year elsewhere in the United States Back Copies: Recent 2 months, 50 cents Older copies to 1960, $5 (as available) Office: Rappahannock News Building, Washington, Va. 22747-0059 Telephone (540) 675-3338 Fax: (540) 675-3088 e-mail: RappNews@timespapers.com Hours: 8:30 a m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday Member, Audit Bureau of Circulations WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1999 Our View Another option We ’ve known for three yea^s the dumps would close. Let's handle it. We don’t question the fiscal reasons behind the mandate eliminating the trash dumping facilities at Scrabble and Huntly and creating a central trash “transfer” station west of Washington. It has proven expensive to maintain and service the remote sites, and like other rural counties that have used this type of refuse collection system, reducing hours or days of service — or eliminating the sites all together — are considered options when the costs continue to rise. Those living in the eastern part of the county, including Amissville, have relatively easy access to the county landfill, and will scarcely notice any change. Washington and Sperryville will actually be better served by the transfer station, which will be a lot more convenient than going to the county landfill or the remote sites. And having a facility that is manned while it is open ensures that the area will be kept clean, and that recycling and handling of hazardous waste will be done properly. ^ But what about those who live in the northwest and southeast quadrants formerly served by the Scrabble and Huntly dumpsters? One real concern is that if the disposal of trash TSecomes less convenient or more time-consuming, littering along the roads and illegal dumps, hidden out of sight, might return. This is a challenge anticipated by members of Trash Free Rappahannock and the Ragged Mountain Resource Center. They are formulating a cooperative effort to extend a limited, volunteer-based trash disposal service in those areas no longer served by a county-maintained dumpster. We offer our support. There are many ways to help — from suggesting sites to providing an old truck to be used to haul refuse that might otherwise show up in the ditch or be piled on the “back forty.” Want to help? Call Gerald Ochs at 987-3311. Rappahannock Today Rappahannock News Staff Photo/Carl Ebom Work is progressing rapidly at the US 522/211 intersection in Sperryville. Last week the paving crew put down new asphalt through the intersection and finished the reworking of the lot at Shaw’s Services. Letters What’s important to Rappahannock residents? - I, like others in this county, want to know how to deal with change. Cellular towers, wider highways, school needs and boundaries are just some of the issues that need to be dealt with wisely, fairly and honestly. According to Webster’s Dictionary of Synonyms, there are degrees of change. For instance, a difference which occurs without a loss of identity is a change that alters. With some thought, you can alter a road without changing the rural nature of it. A difference due to shifting, growth or diversification is a variation, which can sometimes deviate from the normal or usual. Although towers make a variation in the usual scenic views, with planning they don’t have to change the scenic outline. Then, there’s the difference that limits or restricts by modifying. With forethought, zoning codes can modify the type of development without changing the allowance for growth. Obviously, there are certain adjustments which are required just because we live on this planet with others. But do these requirements mean I must adjust to a lifestyle I don’t approve? What is the Rubicon that irrevocably commits me to a change I cannot endure? I asked some of my fellow Rappahannock residents what makes the county meaningful to them and what they think of changes that might come? Here are some of their answers: • A common value we all share in the county is an appreciation of the environment. Feeling closer to it and wanting to maintain it. Even though change may occur because of growth, it doesn’t necessarily mean a disappearance of what we love. In fact, we need to preserve and have growth, finding ways that do both, a give and take. There are areas that have achieved development and preservation of the environment. • It doesn’t seem people share quite the same attitude as they once did, a simple life, care for your neighbor, get to know your neighbors. We used to help each other haying, snow-plowing each others driveways, but being too busy, the fast tract, has almost taken over. Violence on TV and in the movies is also trying to take over the values we share. I find walking out of a bad movie, though losing my money, is better than sitting through the violence. Even if changes occur here, we can take a stand so that our values won’t change. • My reasons for moving here may differ from most. At first I commuted to work and then in retirement traveled. Now, the county means more because I’ve participated in it more. Being a volunteer and seeing others be active in this way helps me to appreciate the work that is being done by so many. One example is the literacy program. Even though there may be changes in land use and population, helping others helps to make values remain. • Because of my husband’s work, our activities were involved in many of the Washington, D.C. events. Moving from McLean, it was a different life here. I have a deep love for this county. My neighbors have a “heart of gold” and they would give the “shirts off their back.” They are also a God fearing ' people. (Meaning they have a deep reverence.) Although peo- 'C pie’s activities may differ, education and professions, there is a 1 respect for the individuality here that I appreciate. • We moved here to raise our kids away from the city trou-v. ble. We may have some of it here but it’s not the same, gangs, drugs, crime. They also have tight relationships all through school and know everyone. The parents know everyone, too, so we know who our kids are out with. And of course, we love the , quiet. No 1-66. ; • The values I love in this county are: a “help your neighbor” attitude, a hard working ethic, enjoying a simple life, an 7 appreciation of the area. We may need to watch that “big (i money” doesn’t sway the balance here. ( Some things never change. Whether you’re in a buggy drawn by a horse, a car, on a bicycle, skating on roller blades,, or riding on a skateboard speeding on a country road, a sidewalk, a two, four or six lane expressway, values of courtesy, caring for one another, honesty, trust, responsibility, giving equal concern to opponents, compromise are what give mean- 1 ing to life. The great mediator of them all expressed it as loving thy neighbor as thyself. In this way, we will never lose Rappahannock County. V* Jeanne Kirkpatrick AmissviHte Consider Ragged Mtn. As a participant for the second year in the Trash Free Rappahannock program, I am delighted to see it receive the continuing support of the Rappahannock News. Gerald Ochs’ recent article, “An End to Trash Problems?”, presented readers with a balanced perspective on the roadside litter problem and detailed the corrective and consciousness-raising efforts undertaken by several residents, especially John Kiser, my neighbor and major sponsor of TFR, and Hunt Harris, Director of the Ragged Mountain Resource Center. I’d like to suggest that all those TFR participants who either have not yet chosen a beneficiary for their “trash bounties”, or who prefer to help anonymously, please consider designating Ragged Mountain Resource Center to receive the cash benefit from your efforts. ^ As a non-profit, community organization well-know for its “hands-on” environmental approach, Ragged Mountain ' Resource Center continues to; serve as the prime facilitator of this ambitious and worthwhile effort and is certainly'' deserving of monetary, as well as voluntary, support. Mary Boudreau Bittinger Sperryville Down Memory Lane : From Back Issues of the Rappahannock News \ 30 Years Ago ; Thursday, March 27,1969 « Rapley Owings has accepted the ' position of Extension Agent, ‘ Agriculture for Rappahannock County and will assume duties here April 1. Mr, Owings is no stranger » here for he served as Assistant ' Agent in Rappahannock in 1955-56. ; He is a graduate of the University of Maryland where he majored in Animal Science. Following his graduation he managed a beef cattle and seed farm. For the past two years he has been Extension Agent in Warren County. Some 50 men and boys, 41 of them ; Rappahannock County Boy Scouts,, spent last Saturday picking up trash along the roadway and stream . banks in the Washington and * Sperryville area. The particular work areas were the , portions of the Rush River, North J Fork, Thornton River and Piney * Branch that are stocked with trout. I There will be a meeting March 31 at the Sperryville fire hall to consider plans for organizing a rescue squad * in Sperryville. Any and all area resi’ dents who are interested in an orga‘ nization of this kind are urged to attend. Terry Russell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Emory Russell of Flint Hill received a “Superior Rating” award for his essay entered in the Future Business Leaders of America contest, awarded at the Madison Regional meeting at Madison College 6n March 22. Russell’s topic was “The Business Executive.” Stokes Clothing in Front Royal was advertising clothes for the entire family for Easter. Featured items: Girls dresses, $1.95 and up; boy’s two-piece suits $5.75 and a large selection of ladies’ handbags. 25 Years Ago Thursday, March 14, 1974 The play “Winnie the Pooh” will be presented by The Country Players Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Rappahannock County Elementary School. The Country Players is a dramatic group sponsored by the Rappahannock Education * Association. Its members include teachers and teachers’ aide in the Rappahannock schools. The Rappahannock County Woman’s Club held its monthly meeting Feb. 26 at the hoipe of Mrs. Thomas B. Massie of Washington. New officers were elected: President, Mrs. Thomas B. Massie; Vice , President, Mrs. E.K. Henry, Secretary, Mrs. W.F. Bear and Treasurer, Mrs. John Cloud. A flea market with individual booths, school organization booths and civic, church or other organization booths will be held at Rappahannock County High School to benefit the Senior Class of RCHS. Mrs. Joseph Scherschel of Flint Hill has accepted the chairmanship of the 1974 American Cancer Society Crusade in Rappahannock County. Acting as co-chairman is Mrs. Bruce Baumann of Chester Gap. 10 Years Ago Thursday, March 16, 1989 Each spring, Loring Anderson takes a ride around Washington, delivering the season’s first daffodils to his friends. Retiring Washington Town Council member Nan Thomasson asked that Reinhardt Lynch be appointed to replace her, but the council wants to hear from the town’s residents before filling the vacancy. “Every budget is based on a philosophy, whether stated or not,” School Superintendent David Gangel said as he presented a $4.4 million budget for fiscal 1989-90 to the school board Tuesday evening. This represents an increase of 12 percent above this year’s $3.8 budget. Sandra Cartwright-Brown, pro prietor of the Conyers House near Slate Mills, will offer a day-long seminar for potential innkeepers on Sunday, April 2. —COMPILED BY BARBARA C. WAYLAND ; * • Photo courtesy of First Washington Museum OUT-OF-THE-ATTIC: On the way to Devil Stairs .. Washingtonians ready for a hike up the mountain at the turn of the century. Their initial* are probably among the hundred carved into the cave. '

The Hoffherrs find a haven BY LEE COGHLAN Rappahannock News Special Writer Mary and Glen Hoffherr have lived all over the country and Glen has travelled all over tjie world. They have finally found rest, peace, happiness and continued success here on the borders of Rappahannock and Culpeper Counties. They have lived here for two years in a lovely home they bought on Wildwood Forest Boulevard. Glen recently had three books published with McGraw Hill. With two collaborators, H. James Harrington and Robert P. Reid Jr., Glen writes technical books for business management. The books may be found at larger bookstores, such as Barnes and Nobel, or at amazon.com on the Internet. He has written or co-written a total of 16 books since 1990. And now that he has found this beautiful, tranquil area, he will probably find himself more prolific than ever. Mary is now a homemaker and manages their lives. She explains, “we are ready to run our lives for a change instead of running other things.” The story of their meeting is one lifted from fairy tale. In 1969, Glen was stationed in the southernmost city in the world, Punta Arenas, Chile, in the Straits of Magellen, where he “flew satellites” for the Air Force. Glen recalls, “there were penguins on the side of the road, daylight for 24 hours, and darkness for 24 hours at different time.” Then he was relocated to Washington, D.C. in 1970. Besides working for the Government, Gary found time to play basketball and work part-time at a gas station. One night, Gary had plans to attend a Washington Darts’ play-off, but “the bus got canceled, and with nothing else to do, I rode with my friend Billy to Pennsylvania to attend his wedding.” Billy worked as a mechanic at the gas station where Gary moonlighted. When they arrived at Billy’s parents’ home, Billy introduced Gary to his brother, Dan. Turns out they already knew one another because they had played basketball together. Then, Mary walked down the staircase. Mary was Billy and Dan’s sister. Glen took one look at Mary, turned to Billy, and said, “that’s the woman I’m going to marry.” They were married a year later. Rappahannock News Photo/Lee Coghlan CONTENT WITH COUNTRY LIFE: The Hoffherrs in their newly remodeled dining room. In 1972, the Hoffherrs moved to Patrick Air Force Base in Cocoa Beach, Fla., due to another relocation, and successfully bypassed Hurricane Agnes. There, Mary worked for Federal Electric as a computer specialist and was involved with Apollo 13 and Skylabs One and Two. Glen continued to fly satellites, supported man missions and gathered other information. Fifteen months later, they were relocated to Mountain Home, Idaho. The base was originally called “Rattlesnake Station.” The Hoffherrs found themselves in the middle of the desert, surrounded by sagebrush, coyotes and rattlesnakes. After a year in Idaho, Glen decided he wanted out of the military. The Hoffherrs moved to southern Indiana, where Glen was from originally. Glen recounts, “A business opportunity arose and I bought a bar and restaurant.” “A tavern,” Mary corrected, “and I bought a fabric shop.” They were successful for nearly two years, when Glen suddenly had to go into the hospital for an operation. A tumor had been discovered on his leg. He had to have the tumor removed which weakened the strength of his leg considerable. Afterwards, he could not physically manage the “tavern.” Glen went into the computer industry, working for Brandt, a company which makes money processing equipment for financial institutions. And in the winter of 1979, Glen recalls, “Wang made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. I worked with them for the entire 80’s. I had eight or ten management jobs. They moved us from Chicago to New Hampshire, close to the headquarters in Massachusetts.” With Wang, Glen traveled extensively throughout Europe and Asia. In 1990, Glen went to work for GOAL-QPC, a non-profit research organization for emerging management methodologies. And Glen began writing, “I was writing research reports on Fortune 10 firms, started writing books, lecturing and training. It was a great change.” Glen began to get more into the consulting end of the organization, “but because of their non-profit status, they couldn’t generate more than a small percentage for their consulting. So in 1993, Mary and I started our own publishing and consulting business.” Most of their clients were in Asia and South America, so Glen continued to travel. In the winter of 1994 to 1995, Glen was in Singapore and Mary was in New Hampshire dealing with 150 inches of snow. Mary thought to herself, Wakefield From Page A2 Species Poster Contest” sponsored by the National Zoological Conservation and Research Center. Each student has selected an endangered species and is busy researching, writing and drawing. • Members of the Wakefield Country Day school Drama Club are devoting their energies to memorizing their lines and putting the final touches on their spring play, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The play will be presented on March 27 at 7 p.m. and March 28 at 3 p.m This production promises to be quite entertaining and is open to the public. Admission prices are $4 for adults and $2 for students. • The boys varsity lacrosse team and the girls varsity soccer team have begun practices and are experiencing the frozen joys of chasing a ball on the snow- covered fields. We all are looking forward to an exciting season. Financial Problems? Bankruptcy May Help! • Too Many Bills • Harassing Phone Calls • Collection Suits • Auto Repossession • Wage Garnishments • Home Foreclosures Earl J. Oberbauer, Jr. Attorney At Law 540-829-6900 • 1-800-434-3059 FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION rnn iding Affordable. (hialily Legal Sen>ices Since 1975 “I’ve got to go home!” Home for Mary was Springfield, Va. But Springfield had changed a lot since Mary’s childhood. Referring to the traffic congestion, endless housing developments and shopping centers, Mary professed, “people are not meant to live like this!” Glen interjected, “we are looking, primarily, for a quality of life — where you can walk into a general store and people recognize you.” The Hoffherrs had friends in Leesburg who introduced them to Rappahannock County. Glen and Mary teamed with Lynn Stone of REMAX to find their dream home. And even though Glen has to commute to the city frequently, “when I see the mountains, all the worry and care and stress is gone.” Mary expounded, “there are no street lights. It’s so nice to sit on your back porch and see the stars... things seem to be old-fashioned down here, but some things never go out of style.” The Hoffherrs have finally settled down. Pony Club members win first place ribbons BY DR. HALLEE MORGAN Rappahannock News Contributing Writer We are so proud of the members of the Old Rag Mountain Pony Club for their winning performances at the 1999 Virginia Region Know-Down. Every child from our club who competed won a first place ribbon. Ours is the only club that accomplished this. We had two Junior D teams of Anna Kreyling, Hannah Morgan, and Abi Smith; and Laura Massie, Christina Naramore, and Emma Smith. The Senior D team was Alyssa Berry, Hallee Morgan, and Lauren Thornhill. Our Senior C’s were Elaina Thornhill and Lizzie Williams. The Know-Down competition is an annual United States Pony Club event. The children compete against the members of all of the Pony Clubs in the Virginia Region. They are tested on their overall knowledge of horses, such as anatomy, care, feeding, grooming, veterinary skills, barn safety, and riding knowledge. The format is similar to “The College Bowl.” For the last six years, Elaina Thornhill, and for» the past two years, Halle! Morgan, did so well that they were asked to represent Virginia in the national competitions in Lexington, Va. and Lexington, Kty. ORMPC is an affiliate of the United States Pony Clubs. Membership is an excellent way for children who love horses to participate in horse related events. Some are competitive, others cooperative. The children are evaluated on how well they ride, then placed in a group with others of similar ability. The “ratings” range from beginners to olympic-caliber. Children from ages five to 21 are eligible. The club puts a lot of emphasis on safety and proper care of the ponies. Because the lessons are done in small groups, they are comparatively inexpensive. Members participate in a wide variety of events: dressagejumping, cross-country, hunting, and eventing. There are also classes for children who do not ride or do not own a horse. Scholarships are available due to the generosity of sponsors and fund raising efforts such as selling raffle tickets at the Old Dominion Hunt Races. For further information please contact Abigail Gille at 635-8666. Soccer League to offer clinic BY CAROL LUCKING Rappahannock News Contributing Writer f» On Friday, March 19 the Rappahannock Soccer League is offering a free clinic to all interested children from age five to 16 who would like to learn soccer techniques and skills. The clinic will start after school at 3:30 on the elementary school upper fields. Members of the Rappahannock High School Varsity Soccer teams will lead each age group in appropriate drills and fun activities that will enhance the skills of both beginners and advanced players. There is no advanced registration required. Students should bring permission notices from home in order to stay after school. All participants are required to wear shin guards. Other suggestions would be to bring a soccer ball and a container of water. Rappahannock Soccer League is still taking soccer registrations for the spring season. Contact Sara Lawrey at 675-1781 for more information. MEN'S ROCKPORT WALKING SHOE SALE SALE 56.99 ¥.*WCX'-; ' • MEN'S ROCKPORT * PRO WALKER' Save on this quality leather walking shoe for men, designed to provide comfort, support and stability. An ideal choice for traveling and touring. Reg. 68.99 MEN'S ROCKPORT ’CABOT This durable leather athletic shoe is perfect tor the fitness walker. Designed to provide comfort and support during a walking workout. 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Crime in Rappahannock By John Toler Rappahannock News Staff Writer Persistent police work and a lucky break ras resulted in an arrest and the recovery of nost of hand-painted decorative tiles taken Tom the Inn at Little Washington last October. Jesse G. Solis, of Fairfax, an employee of me of the subcontractors working on the renovation of the Inn’s guest suites last year, has been arrested and charged with grand larceny of the tiles, valued at between $5,000-$10,000. According to Capt. Jeffrey Brown of the Rappahannock County Sheriff’s Office, Solis is accused of taking the unique, imported tiles from the Inn property over a period of time. After the time the tiles were discovered missing, replacements had to be ordered and sent by air-freight from Portugal, so that the job could be completed. The first break in the case came when a recent visitor to the Inn commented on the tiles to an employee, and was told of their origin and uniqueness. The visitor remarked that the tiles couldn’t be too rare, since he had recently seen nearly identical tiles at a secondhand store in Charles Town, West Virginia. The Sheriff’s Office was called and given further information, and Brown went to the “Needful Things” store in Charles Town, where the tiles — minus a few missing and broken — were found. “From there, we worked the case backwards,” said Brown. And the investigation took an unusual turn. According to Capt. Brown, the second-hand store had bought the tiles from a storage company in Fairfax, which had sold them — along with other contents of a storage unit — for unpaid rental fees. By tracing responsibility for the storage unit to Solis —1 and establishing that he had the opportunity to take the tiles — they charged him with the theft. According to Brown, Solis is currently free on a $2500 per sonal recognizance bond, pending a preliminary hearing April 6 in Rappahannock County District Court. In the meantime, the Sheriff’s Office is working on an inventory of the tiles to establish actual value, along with related losses suffered by the Inn. Chain saws stolen The Rappahannock County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the theft of three Husqvama chain saws from a truck parked on the Bill Fletcher property off Route 620. The theft was reported on March 10, and the investigation is being handled by Capt. Brown. Break-in reported The forced entry and burglary of a weekend home off Rt. 231 near Sperryville is also under investigation. The incident was reported on March 13, although the property owner believed the break-in may have occurred as early as March 5. Entry was gained by breaking out a basement window. While a complete inventory had not been completed by presstime, it appears that a large number of tools, along with some food items, had been taken. Lt. David Sollesbee is heading up the investigation. Wreck near Flint Hill A Hedgesville, W.Va. man has been charged with reckless driving as the result of an accident Sunday morning on Rt. 522 near the intersection of Rt. 655 near Flint Hill. Charles Flint, 44, was headed north on Rt. 522 just before noon when he rah off the right side of the road, striking two highway signs and a pole holding up signal lights, knocking it down. Flint was uninjured, but his 1988 Dodge pickup received $3000 damage. Property owned by VDOT at the scene received $1700 in damage. The accident was investigated by Trooper Sean Knick of the Virginia State Police. Board From Page A1 is finishing up a survey that will permit the students to evaluate the school experience and teacher effectiveness. Mrs. Flinchum summarized by noting that “our team is not just one or two teachers, it’s our team working together to assure success for our students.” Lois Markee, 4-5 team leader, reported on her team’s use of the seven ‘effective schools research’ tenets: establishing a mission of “learning by all”; providing a safe and orderly environment for students; creating a clear school mission through long-range development; sharing resources to assure the effective use of budgeted funds; providing instructional leadership; engaging in frequent monitoring of progress: and providing effective homeschool relationships. Character Education In the information items portion of the meeting, Mrs. Flinchum and Ms. Markee joined Jon Heddleston in reports on character education. Mr. Heddleston noted that Rappahannock High School is a leader in character education, having begun development of a curriculum in response to an students exodus in 1993 that was attributed to a lack of moral and ethi To Your Choice of Over 65 Great Vacation Resort Locations! In Times Community Newspapers' Vacation \ Celebrations « 3 Days and 2 in Orlando, Las Vegas, The Po Lake Tahoe or any of over 65 fantastic locations. A typical vacation includes: Deluxe accommodations for 2 adults (kids stay free), complimentary travel gift, free breakfast (first morning), complimentary round of golf (or like package), tickets to a local attraction and more. H.v-yi- i « Radisson. 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Rappahannock has become a leader in character education. Y2K Holly Pendleton reported on the school systems’ Y2K compliance status. He defined a system as being Y2K compliant “if it correctly processes date data within and between the twentieth and twenty-first centuries,” and noted that the schools’ computers and imbedded technology (for example, equipment control systems) are in the process of being compliance-checked. The school system must be Y2K ready before the start of the 2000 school year (which begins July 1, 1999), and expressed confidence that critical systems would be compliant by June 15 of this year. Mr. Pendleton did express some concern about the compliance of school system suppliers-food service vendors for example-beoause if they are not ready they will have difficulty in processing Rappahannock school orders. Other Activities Other activities before the board included: • Textbook Adoption - Jon Heddleston presented new literature text options and recommendation for boqrd review and approval. Dr. Gangel proposed tabling any decision until parents had an opportunity to look at the texts, and will arrange for the textbook candidates to be displayed the RCHS library for that purpose. • RCHS student represenBaldwin From Page A1 Bennie Randolph Hurt of Madison; Travis Meadows of Madison; James C. Graves Jr. of Syria; Earl R. Banks of Syria; James T. Presgraves Jr. of Stanley and Kenneth Louderback of Stanley. All those indicted illegally bought, sold, or were otherwise conspirators of some aspect oi the illegal wildlife trade. The statutory maximum penalty for a felony violation of the Lacey Act is five years incarceration and a fine ol $250,000. Numerous charges During the course of the investigation, federal anc state law enforcement officers executed 13 federal and state search warrants on a varietj of residences and businesses belonging to the defendants. Among the operation’s seizures were five vehicles am four freezers alleged to have facilitated the illegal bear gal trade. Assistant U.S. attorney tative, Jami Gillis, noted that the Headwaters Foundationfunded flag project is underway. She also talked about the band’s good showing at last Saturday’s district competition, mentioned success in the high school/first grader mentoring program, and told the board that the high school kids “want a track!!!”. It was also noted that the debate team of Jami Gillis and Ian Blubaugh has had great success, and is engaged next weekend in a district competition. • Car Usage - Dr. Tole reported that the facilities subcommittee has performed a detailed review of the public car usage policy, and has concluded that the cost savings, estimated at $20,000 per year to avoid bus deadheading alone, is too compelling to avoid, and that the policy will remain as it is. The board agreed however, to reduce the public perception of a misuse problem, cars will be identified as to use and number, and use record-keeping will be improved. A car policy letter to the public will also be prepared, probably by March 30, that will be detail the board’s position. • Calendar Adjustments - Dr. Gangel issued revised calendars for both the 1998-1999 and 1999-2000 school years. The 1998-1999 calendar shows March 29 through April 1 as snow make up days, and the new school year calendar shows an August 30 start. • Major Building Projects - Dr. Gangel displayed and described the high school building expansion development drawings, and discussed project dates for the building and for the athletic fields. As presently scheduled, the high school building will be completed by April of 2000, and the athletic fields will be finished, but not ready for use, by August of 1999. Jean B. Hudson will prosecute the federal charges. In addition to the Grand Jury indictments, 10 individuals have been charged in connection with hunting bear within Shenandoah National Park. Additional state charges and warrants were also announced at the press conference. The investigation has revealed information that some dealers arrested have engaged in the commercial trade of bear parts for over 10 years involving perhaps thousands of gallbladders. Said U. S. Attorney Robert. Crouch, “We want to send a clear message that we are serious about protecting our natural resources in this country. We will seek conviction of those who exploit our wildlife.” The three-year, ongoing investigation originated from hunters reporting illegal activities to uniformed game wari dens and park rangers. The investigation utilized i covert operations to infiltrate ! known of suspected groups. To ! date, Operation SOUP has lead i to 215 state and 52 federal ' charges against 52 defendants. SUBSCRIBE TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK NEWS. Call 675-3338. ( / 9 f Attention <■ Homeowners ' < * \ i 7-,/W /V 1 •> Money doesn't grow on trees so let ns help you... • Reduce Monthly Payment • Consolidate Bills • Purchase A Home With No Down Payment Chesapeake Mortgage Financial Corporation 1-888-295-4747 Gl,

• Neighbors/B2 • Obituaries/B5 • Classifieds/B6 • Real Estate/B8 Countryside Section B March 17, 1999 Gay Street Mercantile offers something for all BY TODD FORTUNE Rappahannock NewsSpecial Writer The Gay Street Mercantile in the Town of Washington offers “ a little bit of everything” according to the owners, Geneva Welch and Flo Phillips. Apart from the merchandise they sell, that also includes a piece of history. . The Gay Street Mercantile is located across the street from the Rappahannock Medical Center. They are in a building believed to be one of the original log cabins that existed in 1749, when George Washington surveyed and laid out the town that would bear his name. In 1798, Jones’ Old General Store was operated by Edward Pendleton in this building. The building has also been home to a bus station, art gallery and book store. The Gay Street Mercantile has been there for approximately two years. One note of interest to history buffs is that when you walk in, you will see a counter that was part of the original building. Another interesting fact is that until this year, the $hop was heated by a wood stove. During the summer they rely on a ceiling fan to stay cool. The Gay Street Mercantile offers many items including art, furniture, glassware, ceramics, china, soaps and books. A number of these items have a history of their own. Some things you will find are a Louie Viton chest that traveled aboard the ship Queen Mary. It even has the original tags from that trip. You will also find a set of soup bowls made in Vienna, Austria in the early 1700s, and an Algraphone from the early 1900s which was originally purchased in London. Phillips said that most of the items they sell are “old primitives ffom the valley.” The soaps, much of the art and ceramics, and a few other things are locally made. They also offer a wide variety of antiques. In addition to the owners, six associates help run the shop. Maggie Bracewell, Carolyn Butler, Debbie Flournoy, Joan Herrema, Andrea Krajewski and Carol Miller, all contribute to the shop’s success. According to Phillips, they pay “rent for an area” and everyone shares the work load and expenses. Welch, who is an artist, has a num Photos by Todd Fortune A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING: The Gay Street Mercantile, owned by Geneva Welch and Flo Phillips, offers many unusual and interesting pieces. ber of works displayed in the shop. She said that she has been involved with this building for 27 years in some manner. She commented that they have done research for the Rappahannock County Historical Society on occasion. j The Gay Street Mercantile* attracts all types of customers, from visiting federal government workers and hikers to local residents. Phillips said that local residents brought in a lot of business in December. Some famous peop1 »vho have come in to shop incluu^ artist Paul Timberlake and US Senator Eugene McCarthy. The Gay Street Mercantile is open five days a week from 11, a.m. until six p.m. On Saturday they Open at 10 a.m. The shop is closed Tuesday and Wednesday. For more information call 675-1410. Rae’s Place to provide sustenance for the body and soul By Gerald Ochs Rappahannock News Special Writer Rappahannock County is unique. Our county offers unparalleled natural beauty, and an unusual blend of residents — (farmers and farm hands, descendants of mountaineers and plantation owners; urbanites and suburbanites seeking veekend refuge; libertarians, iberals and conservatives; pusicians and construction workers; old hippies and new pppies. Back in the 1960s and 970’s, Rappahannock became he destination for a number f the counter-culture hip. One an just imagine the reaction f the locals to these beaded nd befringed members of the “turn on, tune in, drop out” crowd. Oddly though, the attraction to the area for the hippies was much the same as that which drew the forebears of the established community — the mountains untrammeled by development; a night sky unblemished by city lights; a community unburdened by bureaucracy. Perhaps this similarity created a connection that softened local resistance to these immigrants; or perhaps the locals just didn’t care. Back in ‘75 In the crowd of newcomers was a young woman who stood out from the others. She was of the generation . . . but per haps more sincere in her empathy. Rae Gaedke, Jr. (her new name unconventionally sporting the “Junior,” in honor of her father) was then Rae Haase, pregnant with her first child, Adam. The year was 1975. Rae came to Rappahannock a symbol of what was good in her generation: an ability to relate to people of all backgrounds; a new and different world awareness; and a desire to cleanse the body, the mind, and the environment of toxins. Rae focussed on feeding natural foods to herself and her family, and seeing the positive effects, decided to mix her private fervor with a bit of countryside capitalism. Her initial commercial endeavor, started in 1975, was to establish a small health food booth at the Rush River Company in Washington. The business grew, with the establishment of Nature’s Foods at the Ice House, and then Nature’s Foods and Cafe, both in Washington. At Nature’s Foods and Cafe, Rae established an everexpanding health food menu, a loyal following, and a reputation as Rappahannock’s “earth mother,” providing a space for nurturing both the spirit and the body. After a two year hiatus following the closing of Nature’s Food and Cafe, Rae redeveloped her natural food concept, •* Rappahannock News Photos/Gerald Ochs SOON TO OPEN: Rae’s Place, located in Sperryville, is slated to open the week of March 29, just in time for spring. and in 1985, opened the first Mountainside Market on Gay Street. Her marriage and partnership with Brian Ross led to the expanded Mountainside Market, established in 1995 on Route 211 in Sperryville. Now ‘Rae’s Place’ Rae now has a new venture in the works-Rae’s Place. Scheduled to open the week of March 29, Rae’s Place will provide sustenance for the body in a space to feed the soul. Located on the basement level of the old elementary school in Sperryville, Rae’s Place offers light and airy space with the best fish-eye view of the Thornton River. With its view, its walls painted in muted hues, and its sparkling oak floors, the store invited and soothed, even with unassembled equipment on the floor and construction in progress. Rae’s menu will consist of daily selections from the hundred-plus sandwiches she’s developed over the years, as well as gourmet coffees, soups, salads, and special dinner entrees prepared for carry out. Cooking and management duties will be shared by Rae and ‘old’ hands, Kathy Edwards and Kim O’Heron Marvin, and ‘new’ hands, George Rowland and Bruce Penniman. George comes to Rae’s Place from chef chores across the country, and Bruce from duties as head butler at the Inn at Little Washington. In addition to the atmosphere and the food Rae will offer gifts — both whimsical and utilitarian. There will be treasures from local artists — papiermache’ from Kim Marvin, photos and tee shirts from Ted Pellegatta, glass objects d’art from the Kvarnes. Also kitchen gadgetry, acid rain test kits, astronaut ice cream, star finder maps, a container of “Crack Your Own Geodes”. . . and more. “I really want people to have a place to brighten their spirits,” said Rae Gaedke Junior. i_*_ Wjf GETTIN READY: Rae Ross is arranging the custom order area.

Church Activities County Methodist services County Methodist Churches will have worship services for Sunday, March 21 as follows: Flint Hill at 8:45 a.m.; Sperryville at 11:15 a.m. and Willis Chapel at 10 a.m. Woodville Baptist Pastor: Rev. Alpheus Atkins Sunday: Sunday School 10 a.m. Worship Service 11 a.m. Wednesday: Bible Study & Prayer Meeting 7 p.m. Choir Practice 7:45 p.m. Gid Brown Bible Sunday: Wednesday: Pastor: John K. Burke Sunday School 10 a.m. Worship Service 11 a.m. Youth and Evening Service 6 p.m. Prayer Service 7:30 p.m. Massanova Pentecostal Pastor: Rev. L.D. Savage Sunday: Sunday School 10 a.m. Youth 5:45 p.m. Evening Worship 7 p.m. Tuesday: Worship 7 p.m. Fellowship Assembly of God Pastor: Joel Cress Sunday: Sunday School 9:45 p.m. Worship/Children’s Church 11 a.m. Evening Service 6 p.m. Wednesday: Adult Bible Study 7 p.m. Youth Prayer and Praise 7 p.m. Five Forks Regular Baptist Pastor: Rev. Wilfred Deppen Sunday: Sunday School 10 a.m. Worship Service 11 a.m. Promise Land Baptist Pastor: John R. Pendleton Sunday: Sunday School 9:45 a.m. First Baptist Pastor: Dr. Wendell Grant Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Slate Mills Baptist Sunday: Pastor: Rev. J. Harold Eaton Sunday: Sunday School 10 a.m. Morning Worship 11 a.m. Wednesday: Children’s Choir 6:45 p.m. Youth & Adult Choirs 7:30 p.m. Thursday: W.M.U. Meeting Reynolds Memorial Baptist Pastor: Jon Heddleston Sunday: Sunday School 10 a.m. Morning Worship 11 a.m. Wednesday: Community Youth 6-8 p.m. Thursday: Choir Practice 7 p.m. Mt. Lebanon Baptist Pastor: Dallas Smith Sunday: Adult Bible School/Sunday School 10 a.m. Morning Worship 11 a.m. Bible Study 8 p.m. Wednesday: Prayer Meeting 7:30 p.m. St. Peter's Catholic Mission Rev. Robert A. Lange, Rector Masses: Saturday Vigil, 5:30 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. Holy Days of Obligation call 675-3432 Weekdays Tuesday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m. Confessions: 4-5 p.m., Saturday Bethel Baptist Church Sunday: Wednesday: Sunday: Pastor: Rev. Forrest Freeman Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Morning Service 11 a.m. Midweek Prayer and Bible Study 7:30 p.m. Macedonia Baptist Pastor: Rev. James A. Price Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Amissville United Methodist Pastor: Rev. Richard S. Gordon Sunday: Sunday School 9:45 p.m. Worship Service 11 a.m. Youth 4 p.m. Thursday: Adult Choir 7:30 p.m. Washington Baptist Pastor: Rev. Phillip Bailey Sunday: Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Worship Services 11 a.m. Tuesday: Children’s Choir 7 p.m. Adult Choir 7:30 p.m. Trinity Episcopal Rector: Rev. Jennings W. Hobson III Sunday: Holy Eucharist 8 a.m. Morning Prayer II 9:15 a.m. Sunday School 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist 10 a.m. Wednesday: Bible Study, Holy Eucharist 9:30 a.m. Lenton Dinner & Program 6:15 p m. Kevin McGuire and Alicia Butler Alicia M. Butler plans fall wedding Mrs. Alice C. Butler of Washington announces the engagement of her daughter, Alicia Michelle to Kevin Charles McGuire, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. McGuire of Vienna. Alicia is the daughter of the late Lewis A. Butler. Alicia is the granddaughter of Mrs. Erma Jenkins of Washington and the late Charles Jenkins and also a granddaughter of the late Amos and Lillie Butler of the Woodville area. The bride is a 1986 graduate of McLean High School, George Mason University and the University of Virginia. She is currently a teacher in Fairfax County. The groom, a 1984 graduate of Madison High School in Vienna and the Computer Learning Centerxis a Project Manager in Vienna. An October 1999 wedding is planned. Switzer family entertains Recent guests of Mr. and Mrs. Milton Switzer, Jr. and son Kent were Mike Switzer of Vienna, Dannielle Aveta of Centreville and Michelle Switzer, who was home for spring break from James Madison University. Another son, John spent the week in Norristown, Pa. with friends. John is a student at Virginia TechGloria Switzer and daughter, Michelle spent Thursday evening with their son and brother, Keith at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. celebrating the opening of a new exhibit. Keith is a graduate of Virginia Tech, and is now redesigning several floors of the National Archives Building. Miss Carolyn Dodson of Manassas was a Thursday guest of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dodson and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Acrey Dodfeon. James Dodson celebrated his birthday March 16. The buffalo in Castleton has created lots of excitement for the community. I was bom and raised in Castleton and this is the first time I have ever witnessed a buffalo roaming the hillside. Congratulations to Brad Nichols on opening the Hackley’s Store in Amissville this week. We wish him much luck and continued success. Whortons attend : sales conference Charles and Patsy Whorton spent Wednesday through Friday at The Homestead in Hot Spring, Va. While there they attended the Farm Bureau Sales Conference. The scenic com-^ mute to Hot Springs was quite enjoyable. Callers of Audra Crawford during the past week were Lillian and Brad Sykes and Missy. Jimmy and Myrtle Falls, Bernard Falls and Frankie Earley had lunch with Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Falls in Dale City on Saturday. The Woodville Baptist Church held services at the Overlook Nursing Home in Warrenton on Sunday afternoon. Visitors of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Burke during the week were Tim and Debbie Norman and Corey, Nikki Alther and Jonathan Wharton. While together they enjoyed sleigh riding down the slope on the Burke farm. Woodville area teenagers, Jami and Windy Gillis were among eight high school students that presented a public speaking program to the Rappahannock Lions Club on Thursday. They were led by their teacher, Jon Heddleston. This past week, the Woodville Lions joined other Lions Club members in the sight and hearing screening of the elementary school children at Rappahannock County Elementary School. A lot of Woodville children’s faces were recognized. A baby shower was held for Michele Burke in Culpeper on Saturday afternoon. The hostesses were Debbie Suche and Rena Burke, grandmothers of the baby. Those attending from this area were Bessie Norman, Flossie Wharton, Judy Atkins, Mary Wiley, Sadie Norman, Lisa Wiley and Sam, Debbie Norman and Corey, Lillian Ann Norman, Kitty Lou Day and Stefanie Johnson. The Culpeper and Madison areas were also well represented. Special thanks is extended to members of the band “Everything” for including and mentioning Woodville on their latest cassette disc “Super Natural.” A busy weekend was had by Dan and Bessie Norman. On Friday Bessie visited her sister, Mildred Coughlin at Overlook Nursing Home in Warrenton. On Friday evening they were joined by Nick and Lillian Norman and Mike and Lizzie Grigsby at the Standardsville Gospel concert featuring The Deans and The Singing Cooks. On Saturday evening Steve and Teresa Norman of Front Royal met Dan and Bessie Norman for dinner at The Country Cafe in Washington. Ken Norman and sons of Washington invited his parents, Dan and Bessie Norman to dine in Warrenton on Sunday evening. Over the weekend, Mrs. Dan Norman called on her sister, Catherine Bayne in Culpeper. Mrs. Bayne was celebrating her birthday. On Saturday, March 27 at 7 p.m. there will be a Woodville community meeting. The meeting will be held in the Fellowship Hall of the Woodville Baptist Church. Agenda items to be discussed include, but not limited to: having fun with county trash pickup beautification program; follow-up on VDOT road issues; status of historical markers; initial planning for the Woodville festival (town picnic); and dedication ceremony for our new town signs and reduced speed limit. Everyone is encouraged to attend and participate in these community efforts. For further information please call Jeff Light at 987-9523. Please continue to pray for Mrs. June Clark’s recuperation. Cards can be sent to her at the following address: NNIC (Neo-Natal Intensive Care), Room 6194A, UVA, Charlottesville, Va 22908. Thanks goes out to each of you for helping to keep Mrs. Clark’s news column going by providing reportable news of interest. Please continue to call Rena Burke at 987-8330 before 8 a.m. on Monday morning with your reporting. Happy St- Patrick’s Day Brookside Restaurant & Gift Shop U.S. 211 E. Luray ‘Foothills of Blue Ridge Mountains Sun. to Thurs. 7 a m. - 8:30 p.m. (540) 743-5698 ROBERT J. CLATTERBUCK Plumbing and Heating Flint Hill, VA 675-3378 W.C. THOMPSON FUNERAL HOME 503-7 NORTH MAIN ST. CULPEPER, VIRGINIA (540) 825-6700 “See Us For All Vbur Building Supply Needs” 1418 Orange Road Culpeper (540)825^937 Sperryville Emporium “The Shop that has EVERYTHING” U. S. 211, West Sperryville, VA (540) 987-8235 Xove)Is An Eternal ABERDEEN BARN Steaks • Seafood • Prime Rib Banquets • Luncheons in the Holitlay Inn of Culpeper (540) 825-1037 Jimmie’s Auto Parts Complete line of foreign & domestic parts 161 Saunders St • Culpepe peper (540) 825-8030 The Color Shoppe Paint • Carpet • Wallcovering Blinds Rt 29 South • 2 miles from Culpeper Old Hudson Ham Building 547-9743 GOLDEN CORRAL Family Steak House (540) Church Activities are brought to you courtesy of these advertisers and the Rappahannock News

Robert L.T. Holcomb Lecture planned BY JEANNE KIRKPATRICK ♦ Rappahannock News Contributing Writer , Family is the number one .concern for community members in many areas. We’d have better education and less crime .if the family were strong and well, they say. We look to the family to promote affection and values - “family values” is the ■yardstick for the community. God imparts these values to the family and the commu-hity through His love. Feeling iHis love brings the family together, establishes values, casts out fear, destroys evil, and heals disease. The Bible, through its spiritual meaning, reveals how to experience this lbve and healing. ' The lecture, Feeling God’s Love for You on Thursday, March 25 at 7:30 p.m. will show the Scripture’s spiritual meaning and the very close relationship between God and ipan, bringing the Bible into .everyone’s busy life. It will be field at Fauquier High School, 705 Waterloo Road, Warrenton. , Young people are welcome and child care is available. It is sponsored by First Church of Christ, Scientist, Warrenton. , The lecturer, Robert L.T. Holcomb, is a member of The Christian Science Board of Lectureship, and is committed to the Christian healing min, istry in his public practice and teaching of Christian Science. He has been active in his community as past chairman • of his town’s local clergy/laity group and has served on the School Superintendent’s Advisory Council on Student Health. For additional information on the lecture call 937-3333. Alice Price named to Dean’s List Alice V. Price has on.ce again been named to the Dean’s List at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Ala. Miss Price is majoring in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Forensic ■Investigation and her minor is English. * She is the daughter of Marilyn Porter Price, formerly of Washington and Hugh H. [Price Jr., formerly of Culpeper. •The family currently resides an Manassas. [ Miss Price is also the granddaughter of the late Leroy and Alice Porter of 'Washington. J. Maeyer on Dean’s list Z Jonathan Timothy Maeyer, *a student from Sperryville, was recently named to the ‘Dean’s List at the College of "William and Mary for the Fall '1998 semester. ", In order to achieve Dean’s 'List status, a full time degree ►seeking undergraduate stuUdent must take at least 12 ^credit hours and earn a 3.6 ►quality point average during .the semester. ;{■ The College of William and •Mary, a public university in ^Williamsburg is the second ^'oldest institution of higher •learning in the United States, *and enrolls some 7700 under‘graduate and graduate students in bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs. Spring greetings from Amissville Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Happy Spring! Hope you made it through the snow and sleet this past week without too much trouble. Congratulations to Dwayne and Julia Higdon who welcomed their eight pound and 11 ounce son, James Garrett, into the world on March 10. Our deepest sympathy is extended to the families of Vivian Marie Oliver Allison and Edward Bruce Samuel, who passed away last week. Mrs. Allison was a resident of the Culpeper Baptist Retirement Community for the past 20 years. She was well loved and respected by her nephews, John and Larry Oliver, and their families. Mr. Samuel was a respected Master Farrier and services will be held in Brady, Texas. Memorial donations may be made in his name to the Equine Rescue League, RO. Box 4366, Leesburg, Va. 20177. Happy birthday wishes are sent out to Greg Martin who celebrates another year this week. Evangelist Jim Pruitt will be the guest speaker at the Marantha Baptist Church located on US 211 in Amissville now through March 18 with services beginning at 7:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome and a nursery is provided. Kindergarten registration for the 1999-2000 school year for j Rappahannock County students will be held April 13, 14 and 15 at Rappahannock County Elementary School. If you have a child who will be entering kindergarten, please call the school at 987-8259 to schedule an appointment. I he Amissville Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company will host a dance on Saturday, March 20 beginning at 9 p.m. Cool Water Express will provide the music. As always, proper dress is required: shirts with collars, no holes in jeans, etc. Jeffersonton Baptist Church will host its Ami'ssville By GLENDA GUM “United We Give” banquet on Sunday, March 21 at 6 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Culpeper as a part of their “Jointly Building with Christ” crusade. There will be a children’s party for all children ages birth into fourth grade at the church. Easter Sunrise service for Jeffersonton Baptist Church will be held on Sunday, Anril 4 at the Hillcrest Cemetery on Rt. 229. Breakfast will follow the service at the Jeffersonton Community Center. Amissville Baptist Church will hold Easter Sunrise Service on Red Oak Mountain on Sunday, April 4 beginning at 5:30 a.m. Everyone is invited to participate. We need to keep several of our area residents in our prayers: Louise Smith, Jane Smith, Cathy Lou Smith, Gail Turnbull, Darren Braylo and Carolyn Long, just to name a few. The Culpeper Pregnancy Center is sponsoring a walkathon on Saturday, April 17 with registration at 8:30 a.m. at Culpeper Baptist Church. The program will begin at 9 a.m. and should conclude by 10 a.m. The one and a half mile walk is for all ages and everyone is encouraged to participate. Contact the Culpeper Pregnancy Center at 727-0400 to sign up or for more information. Thank you to everyone who supported the bt. Patricks Day tun Festival at Emerald Hill Elementary School on \ M trch 12 through donasJ tions or by attending. It m was a nuge success' A special 9 thank you to the organizers, workers, and custodians for doing a fantastic job. ' Bonnie Hitt and Jim Allen, fund raisers for the community’s “Read Across America” celebration, would like to thank businesses for their recent generous ^ donations. The Rappahannock Band Boosters are taking orders for citrus fruit. To order, call Sally Havstad at 987-9342. Thank you for your support. Have a great week and continue to leave at news at Hackley’s. Activities at Healing Arts Center BY CAROL LUCKING, MS • Rappahannock News Contributing Writer The following activities will be held at Rappahannock Healing Arts Center at 11945 Lee Highway in Sperryville or more information may be obtained by calling 987-7204. • A free meditation class is being offered weekly for beginners and experienced meditators. Joe Johnson, a graduate of the Sevenoaks Pathwork Center, facilitates on Thursdays from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Rappahannock Healing Arts Center. For more information call Joe at 540-923-4614. • Sally Rogers and Karen Loving, certified Alexander Technique Teachers, will offer a one day workshop, Saturday, March 20 from 9:30 to 3 p.m. Using their skilled hands and your awareness and thinking about the ways you move in everyday activities such as gardening, driving, writing, sitting, etc., this method teaches the body to ipove with the least amount of effort, thereby creating grace, fluidity, and poise that supports a healthier body. Call Karen at 987-7204. Space in limited. $65 includes lunch. A GIFT FOR YOU A 65.00 VALUE, YOURS FREE WITH ANY 18.50 ELIZABETH ARDEN PURCHASE Elizabeth Arden Pamper yourself with this collection of makeup and sklncare essentials from Elizabeth Arden. The green patent half-moon cosmetic bag contains: • . 16 oz. Modern SklnCare Skin Illuminating Complex • .25 oz. Ceramlde Firm Lift Intensive Firming Lotion for Face and Throat • Visible Difference Pore-Fix C Nose Strip • Natural Volume Mascara In Black Ebony • Smooth-Lining Eye Pencil In Bronze • Exceptional Lipstick In Starlight • 1 oz. Splendor Luxury Body Moisturizer • Green Mirror Peebles Great Fashions. Great Prices. Every Day! •OYAL PLAZA • FRONT ROYAL, VA • (540) 635-3101 • HOURS: MON.-SAT. 10-9; SUN. 12-5 LURAV SHOPPING CENTER • LUI’AY, VA • (540) 743-1110 • HOURS: MON.-FRI. 10-8; SAT. 9-8; SUN. 12:30-5:30 WARRENTON CENTER • W^RRENTON, VA • (540) 347-1820 • HOURS: MON.-SAT. 10-9; SUN. 12-6 Upcoming Events Free soccer clinic offered On Friday, March 19 the Rappahannock Soccer League is offering a free clinic to all interested children from age five to 16 who would like to learn soccer techniques and skills. The clinic will start after school at 3:30 on the elementary school upper fields. Rappahannock Soccer League is still taking soccer registrations for the spring season. Contact Sara Lawrey at 675-1781 for information. Annual Kid 9s Day planned The Rapidan Chapter of Trout Unlimited is planning its annual Kid’s Day on the Rose River for Saturday, March 20 near Graves Mountain Lodge. The day will begin at 9 a.m. and is open to all children ages 12 and under. For additional information call Marcia Woolman, President of Rapidan Trout Unlimited at 540-253-5545. Band Boosters to meet The Rappahannock Band Boosters will meet on March 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the high school auditorium. The boosters are also taking citrus fruit orders. Should you wish to place an order call Sally Havstad, 987-9342. Play scheduled at The Theatre The Christendom Players will present Shakespeare’s comedy, Much Ado About Nothing, March 26-28 at The Theatre at Washington. For information call Christendom College at 636-2900, extension 101. Rescue Auxiliary plans event The Sperryville Volunteer Rescue Squad Auxiliary announces the first swap/trade or sell event scheduled for March 27 at the Rescue Squad Building on Main Street, Sperryville. “Looking for that special party dress, Easter outfit, prom dress or perhaps the Miss Rappahannock pageant gown, well your dilemma could be solved in just one afternoon, without leaving the county,” said an organizer. For more information call Nancy at 987-8495 or Betty at 987-7256. Dance at Amissville A dance sponsored by the Amissville Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company will be held March 20 at the fire hall. Music will be by Cool Water Express. Proper dress is required, no holes in jeans and shirts must have collars. Easter breakfast scheduled The Washington Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department will sponsor a breakfast and Easter egg hunt on Saturday, April 3 from 8 to 11 a m. The egg hunt will begin at 11:15 a.m. Breakfast items will include scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, gravy, biscuits, pancakes, potatoes and muffins. For more information call Thora Pullen at 987-9339. Auxiliary plans egg hunt The Sperryville Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary will sponsor their second annual Easter egg hunt on Saturday, April 3 from 12:30 to 3 p.m. The event will not only include an egg hunt with the Easter bunny but pictures with her, face painting, balloons, story telling, prizes, snack and fun activities for all. There wiil also be a raffle. Admission is $5 per child. For more information contact Teresa Wayland at 987-9024. April Kite Fly slated The Ben Venue Kite Festival, Inc. and the Piedmont Environmental Council invite you to this year’s Earth Day Kite Fly on Saturday, April 17 from noon until 4 p.m. Rain date is April 18. Admission is $2 per person, children under five, free. For information call 675-3444. Epiphany 5K run planned The second annual Epiphany 5K Run and Fun Walk will be held on Saturday, March 27 beginning at 9 a m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall (formerly Pot and Kettle Club) near Culpeper. The run is hosted by the Epiphany Catholic School PTO. For information call 829-0965. Make up days announced The Rappahannock County Public Schools will use March 29, 30, 31 and April 1 as regular school days to make up for days missed due to weather conditions. Beekeepers to meet The Northern Piedmont Beekeepers Association will hold its March meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 18 at the Culpeper Extension Service. The program will feature Ways to Increase Your Honey Production. For information contact Ann Harman at 364-4660. Second annual garden sale set The Trinity Church Garden Guild in Washington is sponsoring its second annual “Great Spring Garden Sale” on Saturday, April 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine, under the big tent opposite the church. Proceeds will benefit a stunning new garden on the Middle Street side of the church, opposite The Inn at Little Washington. The finest local vendors will once again offer beautiful rare trees and shrubs, Virginia native plants, Japanese maples, rhododendrons, reblooming iris, azaleas, herbs, annuals and perennials. Tomas Fernandez will display recent examples of garden sculpture, Scott McBride will sell and sign his just-out book Landscaping with Wood, and Merrill Strange will offer cachepots made especially for the sale. Come by and beautify. Benefit dance scheduled The Rappahannock Farmers’Association will sponsor a Agricultural Scholarship Fund Dance with St. Thomcatz Big Band at Fauquier Spring Country Club on Friday, April 16 from 8 to 11 p.m. Cost is $25 per couple, cash bar and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Call for ticket information and confirmation, 635-4132 or 675-3444. Festival set in Culpeper The Culpeper Ruritan Club will be sponsoring “Culpeper Day” on Saturday, May 1 on Davis Street in downtown Culpeper from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The festival will take place rain or shipe. Persons interested in reserving a space to display crafts\ information and/or exhibits should call Rusty Jenkins at 825-7768. Child Care session set Virginia Cooperative Extension and Culpeper Department of Social Services are sponsoring a training session for child care providers on Saturday, March 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Extension Office. For more information call 727-3435, extension 5.

Healthy garden supplies 4-H members enjoy programs BY DR. DIANE RELF Extension Environmental Horticulturist This time of year, I am usually so busy buying supplies such as fertilizers, seeds, and plants for the garden that I don’t think about the other supplies I will need, the ones to keep me happy and healthy in the garden. This year will be different. The supplies that I have begun to gather and set aside especially for gardening are basically the same as for any outdoor activity. They come in several categories: sun protection for skin and eyes; reducing physical harm from bug bites, allergies, cuts, scratches, and blister; and reducing overheating and avoiding dehydration. Often I intend to run out to the garden for a few minutes, and I forget to take appropriate precautions until the minutes have turned into hours. Keeping the most critical of these supplies in my gardening basket will remind me to use them and save me from going back into the house. Using sun protection is a must People today are just relearning what our great grandmothers knew. Too much sun is bad for us. Those charming sunbonnets of yesteryear were not worn to be quaint, but to reduce skin damage, tired eyes from sun glare, and overheating. A cool, open-weave hat with a wide brim that protects the skin on neck and face and reduces glare is top on my list. I prefer a straw hat, and when I find one on sale that fits, I get two or three. That way I can hang one by the back door and another by the side door so that I won’t forget to grab one on the way outside. I try to stock up on lightweight, loose fitting longsleeve shirts. These will shade my skin and reduce the loss of perspiration, which speeds dehydration. Protection from the sun is especially important for those of us who take any medications such as antihistamines, antibiotics, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that increase sensitivity to sun exposure. All medications should be checked for warnings about sun exposure. Of course, I need a supply of sun screen, which certainly helps protect the skin but it is not a cure-all. For one thing, I do not like how it feels or smells. In addition, as perspiration removes the screen, I sometimes neglect to replace it. So hats and shirts are my main line of defense. People using sun screen often think that they are completely protected and spend much more time in the full sun than they otherwise would, thus creating skin problems. A hat with a wide brim will do a great deal to protect the eyes, but particularly sensitive people benefit from sunglasses. Some of the, new styles originally designed for sports wear give excellent coverage. First aid starts with prevention In my prevention kit, I have insect repellents, preand post-exposure treatments to prevent poison ivy reactions, and of course, the first-aid treatments for insect bites, skin allergies, and the cuts, abrasions, and blisters that seem to happen to even the most careful gardeners. Proper clothing can help protect against these problems, too. Long-sleeve shirts, long pants, and gloves will keep the rose bush thorns and the mosquitoes at bay and block the allergic reaction to most plants. If you are sensitive, it is important to wash any clothes exposed to poison ivy or other plants immediately after use. Padded tool handles and wide straps on carrying buckets can help reduce the incidence of blisters. You can reduce the chance of over heating by using a wet scarf around your neck to provide for evaporation. Avoiding dehydration, which is much more prevalent and serious than most gardeners realize, involves keeping water handy so that you can drink before you get thirsty. One of the sports bottles designed for bicyclists can be hung from your garden cart. However, the most important way to address these and many other health related problems is by adjusting how you garden. Dr. Diane Relf is an environmental horticulturist with Virginia Cooperative Extension and is a member of the faculty of Virginia Tech. BY HAZEL ZINN-DAY Program Support Technician Senior, 4-H The Rappahannock County 4-H Dog Club learned all about the Virginia State Police Drug and Search Dog Program. At their meeting at the Child Care and Learning Center pavilion, State Trooper Mark Campbell gave a demonstration on how his dog finds drugs. The dog was very energetic and eager to find the contraband. State Trooper Wayne Sumner brought his dog that is used in search and attack. Accompanied by Sgt. Perry Benshoof, the troopers gave a talk on the training of the dogs and troopers and explained the time spent with the animals and the individual training required each day by the troopers. It is a huge commitment to keep these dogs in top shape. The 4-Her’s learned that it takes a lot responsibility to take care of state police dogs and their own dogs. They also learned the important role our state troopers play in our community. We thank them very much for their time spent with the 4-H program. After School Club learns about danger of tobacco use Children at the Child Care and Learning Center After School Club learn about what tobacco use does to you. “TATU” 4-H teens, Robyn Kaye and Marc Williams gave a very entertaining program. The TATU program, which stands for Teens against Tobacco Use, was sponsored by the Rappahannock County Health Department. After the program, the children received their “tattoos” against smoking and other information on the dangers of tobacco use. WELCOME TO, THE COUNTRY JX V Jauquier tftmee-Democrat Presents The Home & Garden Show Featuring Exhibits & Seminars from over 30 local businesses — —"l" -w " -r—mn- r m Saturday, March 20 9am-4pm Harvey L. Pearson National Guard Armory Warrenton, Virginia Tickets $5.00 in Advance, or $6.00 at the door Advance Ticket Sales: Fauquier Times-Democrat - Old Town Warrenton Ribbons Hallmark - Giant Shopping Center State Bank of Remington - Bealeton Branch Marshall Hardware - Marshall Brown's Wood Stuff - Broadview Ave tty Photos courtesy of Hazel Zinn-Day SEARCH PROGRAM: Pictured is State Trooper Mark’ Campbell and the members of the Rappahannock County 4-H, Dog Club at the Child Care and Learning Center pavilion. TATU PARTICIPANTS: The Child Care and Learning CenterAfter School Club with Robyn Kaye and Marc Williams. Public school menus RCES Breakfast: Monday, March 22: French toast sticks or cereal/milk, toast, juice and milk. Tuesday,. March 23: Yogurt/toast or cereal/milk, toast, juice and milk. Wednesday, March 24: Scrambled eggs/toast, or cereal/milk, toast, juice and milk. Thursday, March 25: Hot cinnamon bun or cereal/milk, toast, juice and milk. Friday, March 26: Breakfast pizza or cereal/milk, toast, juice and milk. Lunch: Welcome Spring, Monday, March 22: Pansy pepperoni pizza, early spring pretzel, choose two: tulip buttered corn, daffodil peas, jonquil cherry pixie pie. Tuesday, March 23: Pork barbecue on bun, nacho’s/salsa, choose two: potato rounds, cole slaw, choice of fruit. Wednesday, March 24: Chicken fryz/roll, macaroni and cheese, choose two: green beans, apple sauce, fresh fruit. Thursday, March 25: Chicken noodle soup, grilled cheese, choose two: fresh veg gies/dip, hot apple cobbler' with cool whip. Friday, March 26: Hot turkey sandwich with gravy^ choose two: mashed potatoes, succotash, choice of fruit. RCHS Monday, March 22: Pansy Chicken fryz, macaroni and cheese, tulip broccoli, daffodil fruit or cheeseburger on bun, chicken salad on bun. Tuesday, March 23: Hot ■ turkey sandwich, stuffing and gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans or burrito/salsa, pizza.' ' Wednesday, March 24: Hot dog on bun, mashed potatoes, sauerkraut or baked beans and nacho’s or grilled ham and cheese, bplogna and cheese sub. Thursday, March 25; Spaghetti/cheese, garden salad, chilled fruit, garlic bread or chicken pattie on bun, onion rings and fruit. Friday, March 26: Taco’s beef, cheese, lettuce and tomato, french fries, fresh fruit and • yellow cake or deli turkey. sandwich, pasta salad and fruit. Peace of Mind.. ...in Classic Style. The Dignified, Affordable Alternative • Elegant Assisted Living • Specialized Alzheimer's Care • Skilled Rehabilitation Service • Respite Care Marshall Manor 4248 Manor Drive • Post Office Box 749 Marshall, Virginia 20116 1-800-296-2273 (540) 364-1200

Birthday greetings to Jennifer Peregory • Miss Jennifer Peregory celebrated her birthday and was given a party on Saturday evening by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Peregory and her brother, Joseph at their home orvCastleton Ford Road. Guests included her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Peregory of Front Royal and ML and Mrs. Shelvy Frazier, local. Others helping her to celebrate were Mr. and Mrs. Buddy Grigsby, Chrissy, Kevin arid Jason, Mr.- and Mrs. Gregg Heflin, Michael, Krystal and Jacob, Ray Wharton, Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Bragg, Kelie, Karla, Matthew and Mark, Mr. and Mrs. Jake Roberson, Timmy arid Keith and Miss Kendra Hitt, who was an overnight guest of Jennifer. Birthday wishes go out to Nick Norman who celebrates trtday, St. Patrick’s Day. Take time off Nick to get your “spuds” in the ground. Wishes are also extended to Jackie Cybbage and Matthew Bragg, the same day. ' Belated wishes go out to my aunt, Mrs. Nettie Corbin, who celebrated her 91st on Thursday. > We welcome Rev. Dallas Smith and family to our community, he is the new pastor of Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church. • 1 The Reva Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company 16 will have their membership meeting at Bethel Baptist Church, Reva Road beginning at 7 p.m. As a weekly feature Reva company holds bingo at Lakeside Club House each Tuesday evening beginning at 6:30 p.m. I Spring flower planting time is arriving and Friends of Culpeper Library will be having a pansy sale this Saturday, March 20 in front of the library. The pastor and congregation of New Hope Baptist Church in Sperryville extends an invitation to area residents to attend the Southeastern Independent Baptist Fellowship on Friday, April 9 from 1 until 5 p.m. Easter services will be in progress April 4-11. Miss Chrissy Grigsby hosted a Tupperware party at her home Saturday with a goodly number in attendance. Congratulations to Joseph Peregory who won third place and a trophy in the Invention Competition when the TSA class of Rappahannock High School placed in the meet in Manassas on Saturday. Sympathy is extended to the family of Mrs. Flossie Peyton, widow of Raymond Peyton, who passed away at Culpeper Health Care Center on Wednesday. Wedding wishes for their anniversary go out to Mr. and Mrs. Gregg Heflin, who celebrate another year today, Wednesday. John “D” Smoot passed away at Culpeper Memorial Hospital on Thursday. He was always a public feature on the streets of Culpeper and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Our condolences to the family. Lastly, I’d like to thank each of you who helped by coming and making my brother, Shelvy Frazier’s birthday party a great success and to all the ladies who helped in the preparation of food, namely, Montrue Frazier, Phyliss Frazier, Missy Bragg, Cindy Heflin, Robin Grigsby and Nancy Roberson. A great big thank you to all. Concert Association announces gala 30th anniversary season BY LOUISE MCCULLOUGH Rappahannock News Contributing Writer The Community Concert Association of this six-county area announces its 1999-2000 series of top professional attractions to appear at Culpeper County High School. Opening night, Sunday, Oct. 3 will feature the renown Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. Next is the heavenly and hilarious Off-Broadway musical hit, “Forever Plaid”, with smooth songs of the 60s and 70s on Tuesday, Nov. 16. On Valentine’s Day 2000 one may see the famed Chinese Golden Dragon Acrobats in action. Tenor, Robert Trentham will present serious and lighter songs and stories of the Civil War on March 19 at 3 p.m. The season will close on Thursday, April 6, 2000 with the award-winning Russian classical pianist, Katia Skanavl. All new subscribers who jtjin by April 24, 1999 may attend a free bonus concert that night, which is the final one in the Community Concert Association’s current series. Whether you join in advance vfith a mailed check or do so on the 24th, it is necessary to come to the lobby table by 7:35 p[.m. for an admittance pass. This 8 p.m. concert is called “An Enchanted Evening: The Music of Broadway” and features tenor Lee Lessack and soprano, Joanne O’Brien. • Since all 350 Community Concert Associations across the country are volunteerstaffed and nonprofit, the basic subscription prices are aji incredible value. * For these five in Culpeper, plus eight more free concerts ifc Manassas and Fairfax, a subscription is only $30 until April 24 for adults, then $33 afterwards. ; Children are encouraged to aittend and the fee for all K through 12th grade students within a subscribing family is always totally only $10. ! There are also patron categories, with benefits that include a personal or business ltsting in our programs. Admittance to all concerts is fcjy subscription ticket only. ! To order, please make check out to the Community Concert Association and mail HC 72, Box 231, Locust Grove, Va. 22508 and include your name, address, telephone number, and names of children if student tickets are ordered. All tickets will be mailed by late August and your canceled check is your receipt. A detailed brochure may be had that fully describes all 13 concerts, although some dates are now different than those listed for Manassas and Fairfax. To receive one, or for more information call Helen Ziemer at 937-5450 or John Brooks at 825-8863. i by Randy Minter LIVING OUTSIDE OURSELVES While it is natural that we should live our lives in a most personal way, it is also necessary that we live within a wider social context as well. No man or woman is an island unto him- or herself. Each of us is influenced by the thoughts, actions, and circumstances of those around us. And, in some sense, our humanity can be measured by the degree to which our interaction takes us. As Anita Block once observed, “The richness of our own lives, creative and receptive, depends on how closely we identify ourselves with the struggles and problems, individual and social, as well as with the hopes and ideals of the age in which we live.” Loss and grief tend to isolate us. That's why it's important to seek out the company of others when you are going through a difficult time to get the support you need. When you come to the MOSER FUNERAL HOME for funeral services, you'll find what you need, both in terms of the service we offer and the compassionate care you receive. We're at 233 Broadview Ave., Warrenton. For answers to your questions, call 347-3431. "Be such a man, and live such a life, that if every man were such as you, and every life a life like yours, this earth would be God's Paradise." - Phillips Brooks Obituaries Louise Dennis Born in county Louise Fincham Dennis, 90, of Culpeper died on Monday, March 8 at the America House in Culpeper. She was bom Jan 6, 1909 in Rappahannock County, a daughter of the late James and Elizabeth White Fincham. She was predeceased by her husband of 53 years, John Robert Dennis, who died March 6, 1994. After finishing high school in Culpeper in 1928, she attended business school in Washington, D.C. After graduating, she was employed by the American Automobile Association for 44 years. Moving back to Culpeper in 1976, she did volunteer work for several area organizations including Red Cross, Culpeper Hospital, Culpeper Historical Society and Culpeper Presbyterian Church. She is survived by a sister, Mrs. Ashton D. Schwab; a niece, Mrs. Robert D. Roadman and her husband; a great niece, Susan and a great nephew, Seth Roadman, all of Warrenton. Memorial services were held March 14 at Culpeper Presbyterian Church with the Dr. Rev. Wayne Bernardo officiating. Interment will be private at Culpeper National Cemetery where her ashes will be placed at her husband’s grave. Found and Sons Funeral Home of Culpeper was in charge of the arrangements. Louise Clatterbuck Formerly of Washington Louise Burke Clatterbuck, 77, of Manassas, formerly of Washington, died March 11. She was involved in an automobile accident and was flown to INOVA Fairfax Hospital. Mrs. Clatterbuck is survived by a daughter, Sheila Forrester of Manassas; one son, Mark Clatterbuck of Markham; one sister, Mary Burke of Falls Church; one brother, Charles Burke of Richmond and six grandchildren. Funeral services were held March 17 at Found and Sons Chapel with the Rev. Richard Neubaur and Rev. John Burke officiating. Interment followed in Sperryville Cemetery. Pallbearers were Ronnie Chadwell, Jackie Chadwell, Keith Burke, Greg Burke, Gary Burke and Mike Stallings. Anna Walters Strasburg resident Anna Marie Walters, 64, of Strasburg died Thursday, March 11 at her residence. Graveside services were held at Prospect Hill Cemetery with Dr. Randy Omdorff officiating. Mrs. Walters was born in Washington on March 1, 1935, daughter of Haywood* Foster and Millibird Woodard. She was a member of Front Royal Lutheran Church. Mrs. Walters is survived by four sons, Howard E. Walters Jr. of Front Royal, Milton David Walters of Clarksville, Ind., Donald R. Walters of Winchester and Patrick W. Walters of California; two daughters, Hildh Mauck of Front Royal and Debra K. Mayes of Fort Worth, Texas; six grandchildren and one great grandson. Pallbearers were Angie Walters, Brian Walters, Trade Mauck, and Kimberly Reams. Maddox Funeral Home in Front Royal was in charge of the arrangements. VOTE Agncultural summer plans? Headwaters, the Rappahannock County Public Education Foundation is exploring summer agricultural experiences and opportunities for junior and senior high school students. Several local farm operations have indicated an interest in student interns. Also under consideration is a pilot project for a small group of junior high students interested in learning about careers in agriculture. If you have a farm and would be interest in working with a student, or if you have a Rappahannock student interested in learning about animals, crops, veterinary science or horticulture, contact Linda Tarry at the Headwaters office, Washington, Va. 6751819. CLOREGEEST FUNERAL HOM1 11190 James Monroe Highway (Rt. 29 South) Culpeper, VA 540-825-2361 • 540-825-0395 1-800-924-1266 A. Wayne English, John Noon Western, Kyle Morgan Gibbs - Funeral Directors Christopher C. Geest, Consultant Business & Service Directory Only $4.60 per week for a 1 inch space (540) 675-3338 Next Deadline March 23 BUILDING SUPPLIES CHERRY STREET BUILDING SUPPLY CORP. See Us For All Your Building Supply Needs 540/825-0397 1418 Orange Rd., Culpeper Brandy Station Rt. 762 825-9690 M-F 7:30-6:00 Sat. 7:30-4:00 Closed Sunday CLEANING MAID SERVICE ResidentialCommercial 5th Anniversary 10** discount on first cleaning Reasonable Prices Free Estimates 540-937-4247/540-937-5576 Cabinetmaker Gene Lyman Cabinetmaker Repairs • Refinishing • Restorations • Reproductions 540-987-8443 CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT MacRae Associates, p.c. Full Service CPA Firm Washington, Virginia (540)675-2043 CHIMNEY CLEANING (Ofoc U, uUme iS'luref.ts Chimney Sweeping Relining OUL '?<ndu»«td StvMCt Fully Insured 16 Ifuvu Sx^tnUKU Bruce Vierling (540) 675-3508 EXCAVATING BROWN’S EXCAVATING 7 Quann Lane. Chester Gap, VA 22623 (540)635-7273 aSSSS‘ a BM*S°** Service Truck Mowing Water, Utility, Gravel, Sand, Dirt Landscaping Drains Lines Topsoil & Mulch Snow Removal Footers & Hauling Culverts Driveways NO JOB TOO SMALL FOR FREE ESTIMATES CALL TODD BROWN FENCING FENCING High Tensile, Bart) Wire, American Wire, Chain Link, Board and Electric, Split Rail » ■ - - r-1-«-ll-l-l- 4 ~ rnvmcy fencing miwmdiv a/k Curtis Crawford Home: 540-675-3943 Pager. VMM CARPET EARLY’S CARPET, INC. Th« Ons-Stop Shop lor complete Home Decoraang Service Floor Cowmgi • Wnto* TtMlmenB Walpaptr * Slip Cows & Upholstery »« — ‘ -r-Ai_r m ft . —, —, - , . I - l ntsAJVfi imi • lomminw RL 211 AmluvMt.VA _937^500_ CONSTRUCTION T.G. TAYLOR CONSTRUCTION, L.L.C. Custom Homebuilder Class A License 540-987-8043 KREYLING CONSTRUCTION Top Quality Custom Homes Since 1975 540-987-3145 BILL CATO & CO. DESIGN / BUILD HOMES AND ESTATES 540-937-3039 CASTLETON, VA VA CLASS A 2705 037627 A Joseph F. Keyser Building Construction Quality Renovations & Custom Homes VA Class A Contractor 540-675-2395 Construction "Specializing in quality workmanship.” Greg Hutcheson C540J 622-2875 Class "A" Licensed And Insured EXCAVATING Keys Excavating & Landscaping We do it all! Free estimates Insured 540*987-9259 Excavating Pivtuixi ufljcc I rintun^ & hjmpintiH Iik Quality work and satisfied customers are our #i priority Maurv Sutphin (540) 675 3429 374 Ben Venue RA Hmu Hill, VA 22027 Vest's Excavating Specialized Backhoe, Dump Truck Hauling, Ditch Digging, Culverts, Mewing, Busnhcgging & Driveway Grading, Snow Removal 675-1117 MASONRY Don Corbin MASONRY Brick & Stone Restoration Patios, etc. (540) $47*3452 PAINTING Sp&ciSlptac£’f‘Jnt Vinyl siding Interior & Exterior Painting Full service, experienced Gina Johnson 540-923-4652 BOB S CUSTOM PAINTING & REMODELING Roofs, barns and fence painting 540-778-1187 PUMP INSTALLATION EXPERT PUMP INSTALLATION & REPAIR SERVICE Ayailable at RAPPAHANNOCK FARMERS CO-OP Sperryville, VA 987-8555 PLUMBING ELECTRICAL pnrnvs Pumps & Watertieaters In-Stock Installation ELECTRICAL A PLUMBING Class A Certified Complete Line Haler Soft Conditioners Free Estimates on Sew Hbrtt 540-875-3249 Restaurants THE COUNTRY CAFE Whiter Hour* Mondey-Thureday 8 am to 8 pm Friday-Saturday 8 am. to 9 p.m. Sunday 8 am. to 3 pm 675-1066 Take out Available SIGNS & CALLIGRAPHY STORAGE South Wales Business & Mini Storage Located 5 miles west of Warrenton at intersection of Route 211 and Route 229 All Sizes Available Monthly and yearly rates, all ground-level units, tractor & trailer acess, individual wide roll-up doors, restroom, business and vendors welcome. (540) 341-7000 SPEKKWILLE STORAGE CO. Kafv HmuiIv Storage Kc»idcntial ('oMMcrcial Rva«onabk* Ra(c« 540/087-8507 M’I HRVVIl.l i:. VA TAX PREPARATION TA "V PREPARATION Delta Accounting 937-7541 H&R BLOCK* 309 N. East Street Culpeper, VA 22701 (540) 825-8700 159 Moffett Avenue Wantnton,VA 20189 (540)347-7517 34 E. Jackson St. Front Roval, VA 22630 (540)635-3637 TELEVISION GREYSTONE TV & APPLIANCE Sales & Service GE&flCA Video Products Antennas A Satellite Systems Radio Shack Dealer. Kitchen Aid. Whirlpool A Roper Appliances 312 North Mam St. Madison (540) 948-2200 WOODSTOVES WOODSTOVES The largest selection m VA Sierra, Jotul, Waterford, Hearthstone & Pellet Stoves ACME STOVE CO. 1329 E, High Street CHARLOTTESVILLE (804) 971-6777

Rappahannock News "T J Rentals 000 Rentals - Apartments 011 Rentals - Condo 022 Rentals - House 033. Rentals • Lots & Acreage 044 Rentals - Mobile Homes 055 Rentals • Room 066. Rentals - Shared Housing/Roommates 077. Rentals • Townhouses 080. Rentals • Office 088 Rentals ■ Wanted Vacation Places 090 Vacation - Rent 095. Vacation - Sale 099. Vacation - Wanted Residential Sales 100 For Sale By Owner 111. Sales - Condo 122. Sales - Houses 133. Sales - Lots & Acreage 144. Sales - Manufactured/Custom Housing 155. Sales • Mobile Homes 166. Sales - Townhouses 177. Sales • Wanted Commercial Real Estate 180. Commercial - Rent 188. Commercial - Sale 196. Franchises/Business Opportunities Merchandise 200. Antiques & Collectibles 204. Arts & Crafts 208. Auctions 212. Cemetery Lots 216. Computers/ Electronics 220. Farm Equipment & Supplies 224. Firewood 228. Furniture/ Appliances 232. Garage/Yard/Moving Sales 236. Hay, Straw & Feed 240. Horses 244 Jewelry 248. Lawn/ Garden Equipment 252. Livestock 256. Miscellaneous For Sale 260. Miscellaneous For Rent 261. Miscellaneous Wanted 262. Musical Instruments/Equipment 266. Office Equipment/Equipment 270. Penny-Pinchers 274. Pet Supplies/Sale/Service 278 Produce 282. Recreational Equipment/Health 286. Seasonal Sales Free Merchandise 290. Found 294. Giveaways 298. Lost Services 350 Business Services 355. Child Care Offered 356 Child Care Wanted 360. Commuters Comer 365 Domestic Services 370. Financial/ Mortgages 375 Home Health Care 376. Home Improvement 380 Instruction 385 LawrVGarden 390 Personal Services 391 Services - Miscellaneous 395. Services - Wanted Announcements 400. Adoption 410. Announcements 420 Birthdays/Happy Ads 430 Coming Events 440. Entertainment 450 Personals 460. Seasonal Specials 470. Tributes Legal Notices 480. ABC License 490. Legal Notices 485. Bids & Proposals Employment 500. Domestic Help Wanted 515. Employment Services 545. Full Time Employment 560 Part Time Employment 575. Seasonal Employment 590. Wanted: Jobs Transportation 600. Antiques & Classics 605. Automobiles 610. Jeeps 620. Aviation 625 Boats & Accessories 630. Campers/ RVs 635. Construction/ Heavy Equipment 640. Motorcycles 645. Off-Road/ Unlicensed 650. Parts/ Accessories 655. Rentals 660. Repair/ Service 665. Sport Utility Vehicle 670 Trailers 675. Trucks/ Pickups 680. Vans/ Buses 685. Vehicles Wanted Automotive Reston Times Herndon Times Vienna Times Great Falls Times McLean Times Centreville Times Chantilly Times Loudoun Times-Mirror Eastern Loudoun Times Clarke TimesCourier Fauquier Times-Democrat Rappahannock News Fairfax Times Fairfax Station Times Burke Times Springfield Times-Courier Weekend Classified vlt Ml Cflt UldU'Vh \N'l6jjlJ- Up-! 1-800-852-4797 Fax 703-689-1278 http://www.timespapers.com NORTHERN VIRGINIA P&Accrh&p+t = By Phone: Loudoun 703-777-1110 Loudoun 703-689-1260 Metro 703-444-4480 Fauquier 540-340-9577 Clarke 1-800-339-6267 Rappahannock 1-800-8524797 By Fax: 703-689-1278 By Web : http://www.timespapers.conn By Mail: Times Community Newspapers Classified Department, P.0. Box 359 Leesburg, VA 20176-3013 In Person: Stop by our offices located at: Loudoun Times-Mirror 9 East Market St., Leesburg, Virginia Eastern Loudoun Times 101 East Holly Ave., Suite 7 Sterling, Virginia Fairfax County Office 1760 Reston Parkway, Suite 411 Reston, Virginia Fauquier Times-Democrat 39 Culpeper St., Warrenton, Virginia Clarke Times-Courier 16 West Main St., Berryville, Virginia Rappahannock News Rappahannock News Building Washington, Virginia Employment Classified 4:00 p.m. Monday General Classified 5:00 p.m. Monday Legal Notices 5:00 p.m. Friday Your Community Directory 12 Noon Friday Horse & Farm Directory _ 1:00 p.m. Monday EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY All real estate advertising herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations, or discrimination. Additionally, the Commonwealth of Virginia forbids discrimination based on elaerliness, parenthood, or handicap. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate wnich-is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. After An Ad Is Ordered it cannot be changed or cancelled after the posted deadline for that issue. At the time of placing your ad, it will be read or faxed back to you for any corrections to be made. Read your ad carefully the first time It appears in the paper. If it contains an error, or if you wish to make changes, call at once. No adjustments will be made on errors that do not materially affect the value of the advertisement. All errors must be reported by 3:00 p.m. Monday following the date of publication. The Times will not accept liability for its failure, for any cause, to insert an advertisement and reserves the right to reject any advertisement deemed objectionable in subject matter, phraseology or setup. The Times Newspapers are not liable tor the quality of advertised products or services. We Accept |» —11[ ! ]| | | f ’| ma Renta** House* v-.. .V 3 BR, Brick, full bsmt CAC/heat, 5 acres. $875/mo. NS, Lease, dep., & refs. Sperryville, Va 540-987-8975. WASHINGTON VA Beau stone house on horse facility. 2BR. 1BA, elec heat, W/D, 2 porches, $850 540-675-3228. MALE HOUSEMATE needed to share house in Rapp. Co. $390+ V4 utils. W/D, AC avail. 540-675-2068, Iv msg. j 700 SQ.FT. Office Space in Training Zone Bldg, Main Street, Culpeper. $450/ mo. utils includ. 540-547-4380. RENT WITH OPTION SEARCH: Long lease considered. Desire fairly secluded property, large enough for horses. Prefer Rappahannock County, will consider Fauquier County. We’re a family of 5 and excellent tenants. Need to move between now and August We’re open minded and consider all options! Call 540-9377912 CULPEPER starter/ retirement home 2BR, w/den or 3rd BR, 1 BA, inclosed screened porch, hrdwd firs. 540347-4279. JOHN DEERE 2640 70HP, high/low, hand brake, new paint, good tires, $9400/obo. 703594-2308/ 703-7540136. WANTED TO BUY used farm tractors in running cond. or not running cond. 540-657-9910 />"". <v MRy Straw A ■ww f0C(| l _ 50 LARGE ROUND bales. Orchard mix. $15 each. You haul. 540347-2791 BLACK ANGUS BULLS $800 & up. Delivery avail El Rancho Grande Farm 540-9374900 WEDDING Invitations, Announcements, Accessories, Social & Commercial Printing Thermograthy, Call Sarah Latham for Appoint. 540-937-4410. BARN HOMES NEEDED for shy unadoptable cats, ail medical prov., spayed/neut 703-295- • 0678. 208 Awetion* ANTIQUE & COLLECTIBLE AUCTION SUN., MAR. 21 12 NOON Viewing Sat. 10-4 Sun. 9 till Auction Prince William Center (VAF#255) 16326 Lee Hrjiway. GainesvieVA Another fine acution consisting of numerous antique furniture, collectibles and glassware, plus coin collection, fruitwood carvings Netsuke), American Indian collectibles, toys, etc. No Buyer’s Premium. For info: (703) 754-9006 or (540) 825-9045 Auctioneer: Ron Lettwich (VAR#2137) www.culpeperauction.com PAGEANT DRESSES Sale Prices at Sandy's Pageant Shop 540-6367717 or 304-262-9152 480 mm ItV 1LJ iff* Sir -'K, 1ft ABC LICENSE Rae Gaedke Ross trading as Rae's Place, 12018-A Lee Hwy., Sperryville, Rappahannock, Virginia 227400184 is applying to the VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL for a Beer On license to sell alcoholic beverages: Rae Ross, Owner 3/17 & 3/24/99 #246503 ABC LICENSE Restoration Associates of Virginia trading as Blue Moon Cafe, 11763 Lee Highway, Sperryville, Rappahannock, Virginia 22740 is applying to the VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL for a Wine and Beer On, Mixed Beverage license to sell alcoholic beverages. George Rosenbaum, President 3/10 & 3/17/99 #245164 ’89 5-10 Tahoe Blazer - 4x4, auto, 4.31 V6, all extras. $4500. Call 540-439-9139 Days, 540-439-0722 evenings This Could be YOUR AD! Call 777-1110 Apartment Li vines Brand New Apartments <y>o> CULPEPER COMMONS 1 $18,750 2 S21.400 3 S 24,100 4 826,750 5 828,900 _fi_§31.050_ fn cnifi. damo on vw numotf of ptnooi Nvino w\ »» ■partw—it_ • 2 & 3 bedroom apartment homes • Fully equipped kitchens • Gas heating and hot water Wall-to-wall carpeting • Walk-in closets with linen shelving • Pool clubhouse and fitness center • Private balconies/patios Directions: hrom Main street, proceed to a right on James Madison Hwy, Left on Belle Ave. to a right on Spring Meadow Lane. Leasing office is on left. Located across from Wal-Mart. 1301 Spring Meadow Lane • Culpeper, VA 22701 Tel (540)829-8595 Fax (540)829-8596 J{V 5 X Professionally Managed by IfJ J KSI Management Corp. r.. J.t Legal Notices V- ■ ". J BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS RAPPAHANNOCK COUNTY, VIRGINIA COUNTY COURTHOUSE WASHINGTON, VIRGINIA APPLICATION FOR VARIANCE PURSUANT TO SECTION 170-136 of the Rappahannock County Code and Section 15.2-2204 of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended, notice is hereby given that the Board of Zoning Appeals for Rappahannock County, Virginia, will hold a Public Hearing on Thursday. March 25. 1999. at seventhirty in the evening at the Rappahannock County Courthouse on Gay Street in Washington, Virginia. Consideration shall be given to all applications presented in accordance with submission requirements. VARIANCE # 99-03-02 Frank J. Berta, owner of Tax Map 51, Parcel 12A, on Rt. 616 (Castleton View Road) in Castleton, Virginia, zoned “A”-Agricultural and “C”-Conservation, fin Stonewall District), desires a variance from the side yard setback of 50-feet to 29-feet to construct an addition (garage and shop) to his house. Allowed under Section 170-136 of the Rappahannock County Code. 3/10 & 3/17/99 #245093 PLANNING COMMISSION TOWN OF WASHINGTON, VIRGINIA Pursuant to Section 6-1-2 of the Town of Washington Zoning Ordinance and Section 15.2-2204 of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended, notice is hereby given that the Planning Commission of Washington, Virginia will hold a public hearing on Monday, March 22, 1999, at 7:30 p.m. at the Town Hall on Gay and Calvert Streets in Washington, Virginia to consider the following application: TW SUB #99-03-01 Application by Claybert Smoot to create a parcel of approximately Vt acre on Tax Map 20A-1, Parcel 5 leaving a residue of approximately 9/10 of an acre. A copy of the foregoing application is on file at the Zoning Office and available for public inspection, Monday through Friday 8:30 a m. to 4:30 p.m. at 290 Gay Street, Washington, Virginia. The above-named applicant, adjacent property owners, and any other parties wishing to be heard should be present at said meeting or should address their written comments to the County Administrator, P.O. Box 519, Washington, Virginia 22747, in advance thereof. By: John W. McCarthy County Administrator 3/3, 3/10 & 3/17/99 #244383 Legal Notices PUBLIC NOTICE The Rappahannock Association for the Arts and the Community Notice is hereby given that the RAAC Board of Directors will vote on amendments to the existing by-laws at the next regular RAAC Board of Directors meeting. The meeting will be held on March 24th in the Rappahannock Library at 7:30 P.M. All RAAC members are invited and encouraged to participate in the by-laws amendment process. Copies of the proposed by-laws may be obtained through the RAAC web page (www.raac.org) or from Ellen Manson on 540-675-1349. 3/10 & 3/17/99 #245795 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS RAPPAHANNOCK COUNTY, VIRGINIA PURSUANT to Section 170-129 of the Rappahannock County Code and Section 15.2-2204 of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended, notice is hereby given that the Board of Supervisors for Rappahannock County, Virginia, will hold a public hearing on Monday, April 5, 1999 at 7:00 pm in the Courthouse in Washington, Virginia, in order to consider the following application: SE *99-02-01 Joseph and Roxanne Miller, owners of Tax Map 2, Parcel 14C, Wakefield District, zoned “A” - Agricultural, (through their agent, John Delmare) desire to subdivide 164.6026 acres into six (6) parcels. Use allowed under Section 170-36(A) of the Rappahannock County Code - Residential lot development greater than three(3) lots cumulative since 1973. A COPY of the foregoing application is on file at the Zoning Office in Washington, Virginia, and is available for inspection, Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Said application will be presented to the Rappahannock County Planning Commission at their regular meeting on Wednesday, March 17, 1999 at seven-thirty in the evening at the Rappahannock County Courthouse for such recommendation as the Commission may wish to make pursuant to Section 170-55, if any. The above-named applicant, adjacent property owners, and any other parties desiring to be heard should be present at said meeting or should address their written comments to the Board of Supervisors, c/o P.O. Box 519, Washington, Virginia 22747, in advance thereof. BY: John W. McCarthy Zoning Administrator 3/3, 3/10 & 3/17/99 #243500 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE In execution of a certain deed of trust dated OCTOBER 6, 1994, and recorded on OCTOBER 11, 1994 in the Clerk's Office of the Circuit Court for jhe COUNTY of Rappahannock. Virginia, IN DEED BOOK 208, PAGE 711, from Gregory Alan Moere and Susan R. Calabria, husband and wife' to CARLA COMMONS AND JANICE V. VASQUEZ. Trustee(s), and default having been made in Jhe payment of the debt secured, and at the request of the beneficiary under said deed of trust the undersigned, having been duly appointed Substitute Trustee(s), has declared all the debts and obligations secured by the deed of trust due and payable and will offer for sale at public auction to the highest bidder in front of RAPPAHANNOCK COUNTY COURTHOUSE Po. Box 517, 208 GAY STREET, WASHINGTON, Virginia, on APRIL 2, 1999, at 9»45 am, the following described property located*at Route 610, Chester Gap, Virginia, and more particularly described as LEGAL DESCRIPTION ATTACHED HERETO AND MADE A PART HEREOf All that certain tract or parcel of land lying and being situate in Wakefield Magisterial Distract, Rappahannock County, Virginia, being known and described as Lot 1 containing 1.641 acres, more or less, according to plat and survey prepared by William P. Gimbel, L.S., dated September 14, 1994 a copy of which is attached hereto and recorded herewith in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Rappahannock County, Virginia. * Together with and subject to the rights of others in and to the use of that certain private ingrqss egress easement as shown on plat of subdivision recorded along with Deed of Subdivision and Dedication and Easement in Deed Book 1*0, page 89 in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Rappahannock County, Virginia. ' This conveyance is subject to all easements, restrictions, conditions, and reservations of record effecting the title to the property hereinabove described. * The beneficiary reserves the right to bid at s6id sale. TERMS OF SALE: Cash, certified funds, cashiers checks, trust account checks. • A bidder's deposit of ten percent (10%) MAY Jje required on date of sale with settlement in full to.be made within 15 days from date of the said sale. • This notice is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose: TS#: 99-V4896VA Loan Type: VA For Information Contact: • SPECIALIZED INC., OF VIRGINfe, SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE 722 E MARKET STREET Suite 200 LEESBURG, VIRGINIA 20176 T 703 779 0080 1 3/10, 3/17, 3/24 A 3/31/99 *244932 *,*. jRa|>|Kihitutiiirk Nrw* &appafjannorfc J-tetos Get Into It! Call 703-777-1 f 10 and ask about our Home Improvement and

BARBERS Historic Madison's Barbershop, Main Street, Warrenton, for rent. Only licensed Barbers need apply. Call 540-347-1942. CASHIER Full time day/evenings benefits Apply in person at: New Baltimore Shell 5021 Lee Hwy . Dairy Farm Field work & relieve milker. Salary based on experience. Housing available. 703-754-0136 ENTRY LEVEL POSITIONS •. For Finance Officers. Training provided. .•First full year poten• -tial $80,000. Start • immediately. Outgoing personality a MUST. Fax resume to (540) 825-3921 ADS Work 777-1110 „ - mnr Mechanic Experienced mechanic in agriculture equipment. Full-time position. Contact Ray 540-825-0188 Mechanic/ Front End Specialist Tired of Working for Peanuts ? Established and Busy shop in Warrenton needs a responsible and experienced mechanic to do general repair, front end alignments, and State Inspections (not an immed. requirement). Good pay & benefits. To bring your Good Attitude and qualifications to an interview. Call 540-347-9687 POOLS Seasonal Pool Service Laborers Call 540-675-3792 This Could be YOUR AD! Call 777-1110 tree service Cavalier Tree Service is now hiring experienced • tree climbers • grounds persons • laborers Top pay and benefits. 703-753-9194 TRUCK MECHANIC Needed Truck-Mechanic to work in agricultural based shop. Inspection license needed but not required. Insurance, sick leave, paid holidays & uniforms. Experience a must. Call 540-3474238. ELDERLY CARE In your home. C.N.A. and CPR certified. Night Shift. (540) 341-0342 Tired of Working for Peanuts? Mechanic/Front End Established and BUSY shop in Warrenton needs a responsible and experienced Mechanic to ao general repair, front end alignments, and State Inspections (not an immediate requirement). Good Pay and Benefits. To bring your Good Attitude and qualifications to an interview, call 540-347-9687. COMPUTER PROGRAMMER C, Perl on Unix LEAD NETWORK PROGRAMMER C, Perl on Unix Premium for Clearances Send Resume To PO Box 1261 Warrenton, Va 20188 J Bindery Operators Piedmont Press & Graphics, the area leading commercial printer us seeking additional bindery operators in our award winning Warrenton plant. Applicants need to be skilled in folder and cutter operations with a minimum of two years experience. This is a day shift opportunity with fulltime benefits including vacation, medical, dental and 401K. Please apply in person or mail resume to: Piedmont Press & Graphics, 30 South Second Street Warrenton, VA Or by Fax: (540) 347-9335 Ore-mail: les@pledmontpress.com ATW: EXPERIENCED LOAN OFFICERS!! We are one of the largest Mortgage Bankers in the DC Metro Area. We are looking for a few TOP ORIGINATORS for our Culpeper Office. Some leads provided, however you must have an established referral base. Minimum 1 year experience in A paper and subprime loans. If you made at least $60K in 1998, we will DOUBLE your income for 1999. Excellent commission structure for top producers. Easy going office environment with a TOP NOTCH processing team ready to place and close your loans, with over 65 different investors as well as our own flexible portfolio in-house underwriting and funding. If you are interested in making well over $150K this year, then call Clifford at (540) 825-3259 or fax resume to (540) 825-9800. REPORTER AND MANAGING EDITOR POSITIONS AVAILABLE Rappahannock News * Part-time/Full time * Flexible hours/schedules * Experience necessary, must be able to cover local county government news; general news assignments and/or features Send resume and clips to: Barbara Wayland Rappahannock News P.O. Box 59 Washington, Va. 22747 WEDDING STATIONERY Beautiful Wedding Stationery INVITATIONS ANNOUNCEMENTS NAPKINS • BRIDAL BOOKS ACCESSORIES Rappafcanttocfe J^etos 675-3338 weuntjsuay, rviarcn i /, iyyy Of Congratulations to Easthams Congratulations to John R. Eastham Jr. and Patti Herning of Culpeper, who were wed at the Washington Baptist Church on Saturday evening. A group from Washington Baptist Church and Rev. Phil Bailey didn’t make it to Philipsburg, Pa. last Saturday to complete work on transforming a Jewish Synagogue into a Baptist Church. The group had the misfortune to encounter snowy roads and got involved in a wreck which was no fault of theirs. Jack Preston’s truck sustained the damage and it was a blessing that no one was injured. The Lenten services will continue on Wednesday evening with potluck at 6:15 p.m. and worship services at 7 p.m. at the Trinity Episcopal Church. The speaker is Jon Heddleston. On Monday Mrs. D.C. welling of Fairfax Station was a guest of her mother, Mrs. Jean B. Moffett. They visited Mrs. Moffett’s brother, Edward Nelson Buxton at the President’s Madison Inn in Orange. Billy Moffett of James Madison University in Harrisonburg spent Thursday with his grandmother, Mrs. Jean B. Moffett. On Saturday Andrew Burke attended the TSA Regional Fair Technology Student Association in Manassas at the Grace E. Metz Jr. High School. Andrew will go on to TSA’s Tech in Hampton April 16-18. Andrew enjoyed the day. Other boys from Rappahannock attended the TSA in Manassas as well. Doug and Beverly Exline and Andrew were Saturday night and Sunday guests of Allan and Lisa Streightiff and children, Stacy, Jason, Sara and Amber in Amissville. The Trinity Church Garden Guild in Washington is sponsoring its second annual garden sale on Saturday, April 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Washington residents are reminded to mark their calendars for this special date. Other happenings on that day include the annual Fodderstack Race and the annual sale at the Washington Baptist Church. Donations are currently being sought for the Washington Baptist Church’s grandma attic sale and for the ever popular silent auction. All proceeds will benefit the building fund. The support of the public will be appreciated. Anyone with items to donate should call 675-3608. - Saturday, March 20 is the first day of spring, time to plant your garden. Happy birthday to Jack Preston on Sunday, March 21 and to Mrs. Ivy Racer of Amissville, formerly of Washington on Wednesday, March 24. Members of the Washington Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department will have a Easter egg hunt and a bredkfast on Saturday, April 3 from 8 a.m. to 11 a m. The Easter egg hunt will begin at 11:15 a.m. All area children are invited to participate. For more information contact Thora Pullen at 987-9339. The Weighdown program is on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Washington Baptist Church. Weekend guests of Mrs. Alice Butler were Alicia Butler and Kevin McGuire of Vienna, Phil Butler of Falls Church and Judy Covell of McLean. Mrs. Gentry attends seminar Mrs. Barbara Gentry' attended a Postmasters seminar in Roanoke from Thursday until Saturday of last week. Mr. and Mrs. Bill Welch and Elizabeth had dinner at Bertucci’s in Manassas on Friday. The annual Ben Venue Kite Fly has been scheduled for April 17. The event is sponsored by the Ben Venue Kite Festival, Inc. and the Piedmont Environmental Council. Heidi Eastham is organizing the event and volunteers are needed. Organizations wishing to set up or participate at the event should contact Heidi at 6753444. Proceeds from the event will benefit PEC, Rappahannock Farmers’ Association, Rappahannock Girl Scouts and Rappahannock 4-H. Leigh Gomez and children, Michael and Emily of Virginia Beach spent from Friday until Sunday with her grandmother, Mrs. Christine Vest and among other relatives in the area. Visiting with Mrs. Vpst on Saturday were Ren^e and Nikki Calisto, Doris Vest, Kirkland Vest and Ethel Nicholson. The Flint Hill United Methodist Church has worship service each Sunday at 8:45 a.m. The pastor, the Rev. Merlin Shorb invites the public. Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Dodson of Staunton were recent guests of Mrs. Barbara Gentry. Bill Welch took Elizabeth Welch to the Dominion Health and Fitness Club in Front Royal for swimming on Thursday. David and Renee Calisto and Nikki attended the Regional Piedmont Science Fair in Charlottesville on Friday. Nikki was participating in the fair. The Flint Hill Baptist Church will have worship service on Sunday, March 28 at 11 a.m. They currently hold services on the second, fourth and fifth Sunday of each month. The Rev. John P. Oliver Jr. delivers the message. The public is welcome. Debbie Dennis of Jackson, S.C. arrived on Monday to visit among friends and relatives in the area. Easter camp meeting at New Hope The New Hope Baptist Bible Church would like to invite you to their fourth annual Easter camp meeting April 4-11. The service times are Sundays 10 and 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.; services from Monday until Saturday will be held at 7 p.m. There will be a ladies fellowship at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 10. New Hope will host the Southeastern Independent Baptist Fellowship group on Friday, April 9 from 1 to 5 p.m. There will be preaching each evening by Evangelist Dr. Floyd Brewer and others called from the floor. Preachers will be in attendance from Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and West Virginia. Also featured will be great gospel singing each night by the Davidsons, the Mondays, The New Hope Singers and others. The church is located on the comer of Sons Road and Water Street in Sperryville. Everyone is invited. For more information call 987-8378. Crop loss disaster assistance program BY BOB WILLIAMSON Rappahannock News Contributing Writer All farmers ( insured or non-insured) are eligible for compensation for 35 percent or larger losses on all 1998 crops. This means from apples to zucchinis, and also prevented planting. Quality losses may also be covered. Or insured farmers are eligible for losses in any three or more crop years between 1994 and 1998 (multi-year^ for an additional payment equal to 25 percent of insurance claim payments made during that period. USDA will compensate farmers with eligible losses of non-insurable crops under the multi-year with an additional 25 percent of what their NAP (non-insured assistance program) payments were or would have been had they received NAP payments. NAP area loss triggers do not apply. • Sign up is now through April 9, 1999. • Producers must comply with sod-swamp provisions • Producers that had 97 annual gross income of 2.5 million do not qualify • Producers who receive benefits under either the 1998 single year or multi-year provisions of this disaster program will be required to purchase crop insurance for the 199 and 2000 crop years. Loan deficiency payments If producers have soybeans in storage or recently delivered to a buyer, they may be eligible for a payment. This is a cash payment, not a loan. Payment is based on the difference between the loan rate and an average market price that is updated daily. Soybeans planted on farms not participating in the seven year PFC Program are eligible. Contact the FSA Office for more information. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status. Not all prohibited basis apply to all programs. To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250 or call 202-720-7327. Miss Rappahannock Pageant set for April 24 The annual Miss Rappahannock Pageant sponsored by the Sperryville Volunteer Rescue Squad will be held on Saturday, April 24 at 7 p.m. at the Rappahannock County Elementary School. The rehearsal will be on Tuesday, April 20 at RCES at 6 p.m. The contestant must be a resident of Rappahannock County. This year the categories will include the following: Miss Rappahannock, Junior Miss, Little Miss, Wee Miss, Tiny Tot, Little Mr. Rappahannock, Sisters, Mother/Daughter and Grandmother/Granddaughter. For more information contact Debbie Fantaci at 987-. 3354 or Harriet Kindall at 987-1211. SUBSCRIBE TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK NEWS. Call 675-3338. JP

Sperryville news notes The annual Miss Rappahannock Pageant sponsored by the Sperryville Volunteer Rescue Squad will be held on Saturday, April 24 at 7 p.m. at the Rappahannock County Elementary School. The rehearsal will be on Tuesday, April 20 at RCES at 6 p.m. For additional information call Debbie Fantaci at 987-3354 or Harriet Kindall at 987-1211. The Sperryville Volunteer Rescue Squad Auxiliary is pleased to announce they will host a swap/trade/and/or sell event on March 27 at the Rescue Squad Building on Main Street in Sperryville. The community is encouraged to support this endeavor. The Sperryville United Methodist Church will have worship service at 11:15 a.m. on March 21. Rev. Merlin Shorb invites the community. The Sperryville Historic Committee has plaques for properties in the Historic District. There are a total of 78 properties included in the Historic District. Anyone who would like a plaque should contact Barbara Williams at 987-8384. The annual Ben Venue Kite Fly has been scheduled for April 17. Heidi Eastham is once again organizing the event and volunteers are needed. Organizations wishing to set up or participate at the event should contact Heidi at 675-3444. Lent services continue each week at Trinity Episcopal Marriage Licenses The following marriage license was issued during the past week at the Rappahannock Clerk’s Office in Washington. Frank J. Coviello, Gaithersburg, Md. and Elizabeth McCandliss, Gaithersburg, Md. Church until March 24. Reynolds Memorial Baptist and Sperryville Methodist are participating. A fellowship pot-luck dinner will be held at 6:15 p.m.; the Lenten service begins at 7 and ends at approximately 8 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend. The Sperryville Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary will hold their second annual Easter egg hunt on Saturday, April 3 from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Lots of special things are in store for the children. There is a $5 admission charge per child. For more information call Teresa Wayland at 987-9204. Real Estate Directory Real estate transactions Ihe following real estate transactions were recorded during the past week at the Rappahannock Clerk’s Office in Washington. Claudia Lee McCue to Paul G. Delozier and wife, parcel B, 7.172 acres, Wakefield Combo Real Estate Advertising Rates Available 675-3338 “The Real Estate Store” NEW: Conveniently located four bedroom home on 10 acres with pool and great mountain views. Formal living and dining plus kitchen with breakfast room. Big family room with fireplace, 1st floor MBR suite. $279,000 NEW: Great getaway or permanent residence. Cedar home on 3.7 acres, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, very large family room, separate dining area, living room with two stone chimneys for wood stoves. Board fencing, two outbuildings, private and more land available. $179,500 BIG OLD FARMHOUSE with lots of room, 3.5 baths on 47 private acres. Wood floors, country sized kitchen and dining room. Updated with central air and heat. Land is ready for horses. $265,000 REDUCED! Rt. 211 Gateway to SNP. Commercial and residential combined on 20 acres. Plat available. Views vary with elevation. $90,000 Rick Kohler 937-6146 Mitzie Young 675-3555 Amy Sloane 987-8668 tflfi Real Estate III 291 Gay St./The Theater Building Washington, Virginia 675-1373 kj Experience Something New ^ Every Time You Visit! WA Make Your Plans Now To Attend The 3rd Annual Craftsmen’s Classic Arts & Crafts Festival The Numbers Are Impressive... More than 350 Artists & Craftspeople From 26 States, With More Than 60 New Exhibitors Something for Every Taste and Budget ) 6 miles south of Dulles Airport For directions call 703-802-0066 All Indoors * Free Parking Adult $5.50* Child (6-12) $1 Same Day Free Return More Information: ©1999 CEI. Watch Working Artisans In The Demonstration Village Capital Expo Ctr. Chantilly, VA Rt. 28 & Willard Wd’ Sponsored District. $52,000. Dabney Hughes Eastham to Thomas Edward Davis and wife, 39.3416 acres, Wakefield | District. $175,000. Stephne D. West to Frederick P. Chambers and wife, lot B-l, 2 acres, Stonewall District. $21,500. Anthony Stanley Garafano to Robert J. Foley and wife, lot A-2, 25.2744 acres, Wakefield District. $185,000. Sperryville Realty James W. Leake, Broker 540-987-8088/office Park Boundary and Broad Hollow stream are features of these 10.1 wooded acs. James W. Leake 987-8236 Bud Corder • John Eubank 675-3291 987-8146 I—I OPPORTUNITY All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based pn race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin or an intention, to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination." This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll-free at 1-800-4248590. For the Washington, DC area please call HUD at 4263500. The toll-free telephone number for the hearing impaired is 1-800-543-8294. $75,000 EQUAL HOUSING LAND BUYERS PRIVATE, QUIET YET CONVENIENT 25 wooded acres at end of private road, one mile from Route 211 near Amissville. Building site overlooks stream meandering through the Hemlocks, (possible pondsite?) Under appriasal at $90,000 The Buyer’s Agency, Inc. □J (540) 675-1190 fit ROY WHEELER REALTY COMPANY Offering Piedmont Virginia’s Finest Rea! Estate For Over Half a Century. FLINT HILL - 161 acres in scenic easement located in Old Dominion Hunt territory & enhanced with Blue Ridge Mt. views, large stocked pond, approx. 70 acres of woodlands, apple orchard, excellent building sites & flexible owner terms. $479,900 CASTLETON - Enjoy a quiet setting & distant mountain views from the porches of this 7 room Farmhouse. Totally updated w/well-proportioned rooms, oak floors. 5 acres. $159,000 FLINT HILL - Just listed 3 BR/2 BA Split Level home located on quiet country road. 5 acres. $169,995 MADISON COUNTY - Red Oak Farm has it all - charming renovated Farmhouse, 46 acres, office w/bath, barn, garage, inground pool, fenced pastures, mountain & valley views. $375,000 A Flint Hill Office 540-675-7171 m ■a* Jean Lillard 540-675-3670 IS Just Listed Listen to the rain on the tin roof in the Cottage by the roadside. 1 BR, 1 BA, large kitchen/dining/living area. Available on 2+ open acres for $87,500. Additional 4+ acres open and/or 25+ acres open & wooded can be purchased. Call today for additional information. Eileen M. Day, Realtors / r ^ A\ /LH T A/A S') I ■ -ni.nl: ». mJr"n» J.» \ - r*. .111»> (■>40) 6/ S' 50 3 3 \\VhS„i:inlJ,v.R,,|„,rvll.n I he C'lumiiv l-;;,),,., Pa.i'lr Washington, Vhj>miu ta ^ Real Estate Auction I ViUmiis&WiUimm' K I A [ IS I All INV IS I M I SIS ANI) AUCTIONS Seven Springs Farm Culpeper, VA 483 acres selling in 12 tracts from 16 to 76 acres. Centrally located in Culpeper Co., these country estates include excellent building sites, rolling pastures, and miles of Cedar Run creek. The beautifully wooded hillsides provide great views o surrounding countryside. Located off Hwy 15, just 4 miles southwest of Culpeper, 1 hour from Charlottesville via Hwy 29. Directions: From Culpeper, take Hwy. 15 south approx. 4 miles. Property on right, look for three* board fence along entire property and yellow signs at both entrances. Sells: 1 pm Fri. Mar. 26 at Tract 12 Opening Bid: $1,000 acre f Open: Property can be driver and/or walked over dally from 9 a.m. to 6 p.restarting March 1 st. For more Info: Gary (918) 250-2012, Ext. 234 www.wiUiamsrealestate.com VA AUCT. KS07002SSS

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Save ‘country’ by fostering wild flora By Jocelyn Sladen . Times Newspapers Contributing Writer ^ hose of us living in Fauquier ^County share natural beauty hard to rival anywhere else in the nation. Many of us have moved here just to awaken each day close to wonderful rural land scape; here we are rarely far from a view of the gentle, ancient Blue Ridge mountains. The richly varied native plants, songbirds and other wildlife of this Piedmont region form an inseparable part of that natural beauty, but are an element in need of our caring protection. The mountains will not soon leave us. The wildlife may, unless we give nature a better chance. For this reason, increasing numbers of homeowners are planting shrubs, trees and gardens that provide habitat for songbirds, or just letting a few patches of natural growth take over. As interest spreads in a more natural, more relaxed landscape that restores nature in our lives, it can preserve the best of “the country” for us those of us who like it that way. Asking people what “country”means inspires many answers. For serious farmers, it can certainly mean a life of hard work; however, it comes with its benefits. As one of the lucky ones who has lived here since childhood, for me it means meadowlarks in hayfields greeting morning with a song invented in heaven, or scurrying bob-white quail in the com stubble. In winter, it is the russet expanses of native grass — little Bluestem and Broomsedge — against the snow in old fields. Scarlet tanagers come north as the first lettuce is ready. Summer comes, and the emerald chrysalises of Monarch butterflies hatch to fly away on brilliant orange wings. Children pick buckets of blackberries in July, discover a box turtle, get scratches and poison ivy, survive. Much country landscape is disappearing. Economic necessity and the availability of large machinery pushes farmers to erase thickets and hedgerows, places much needed by wildlife. When farms become subdivisions, tractors are replaced by fleets of See SLADEN, Page 19 . . For Ih.e Best Looking Driveway On Your Street Driveway Paving Specialists Family Owned & Operated Since 1988 Licensed • Insured ASPHALT-SEALCOATING AND PAVING - Driveways Residential & Commercial • Resurfacing p ‘NewConstruction • Sealcoating 9 Forking Lots, Extensions & Line Striping Repairs • Grading & Graveling P 9 540-364-7368 800-551-2727 • 703-361-2727 Photo by Jocelyn Sladen NATURALLY: Jocelyn Sladen enjoys the native grasses near her home. / J o. %4> ' % $200OFF "II II II Any Complete Drivewayi i Installation (Up to 2000 sq. ft.) Exp. 4/2/99 Not valid with any other offer. | | Coupon must be presented at time of estimate $300 off”"! Any Complete Driveway! Installation (Over 2000 sq. ft.) Exp. 4/2/99 Not valid with any other offer. Coupon must be presented at time of estimate. , FREE ESTIMATES!

The magic is in the landscaping By Laurae Lyster-Mensh Times Newspapers Special Writer agic is an endangered if if species, and our children (I rj\ \| need it, so the yard I see liafrom my living room window is a protected habitat for wood sprites and tree nymphs and woodland spirits of all races. We can all do our children a favor by creating sanctuary for any enchantment we can find in these hard times. The dryads and leprechauns need our help. Luckily, the care and feeding of these rare species is not very difficult, and may improve your environment as _ Native spirits like native plants When you landscape with native plants you accomplish several goals. The most obvious is that native plants are better adapted to the climate and soil and will require less fuss and watering. Less obvious is that native plants attract and nurture local insects and small animals, not to mention Virginian Pixies and Fauquier Fairy People. The most important reason is that planting and allowing a space for native Virginian plants creates a well. unique and intensely personal set of memories for your children. They can know by sight and through the seasons the native flora of their own home, and make those scents and colors and textures a part of their enchanted memories of childhood. Leprechauns don’t like lawn lawns Lawns have limited use for children: cartwheeling, soccer, and as a staging area for inflatable pools and great battles. Too much lawn is too much work, watering and noisy mowing (which scares away pixies). Your children will forgive you and may thank you if there are more dandelions and more permission granted to build canals. A terrific compromise can be paths of lawn connecting other attractions: small meadows, tall grasses, rock gardens and fallen logs. Conjure up new habitats Leaving out food for wild animals is risky business and best avoided, but luckily, the most attractive wildlife to most kids are bugs, salamanders, toads, snakes, and worms. These faunas are easily accommodated in inexhaustible numbers. You provide habitat and entertainment right at a kid’s level by leaving ADVANTAGE REALTY,,, S-/ r Call On Us! 540-351-0900 or visit our new office The Gateway Center 6530 Commerce Ct. • Suite 200E Warrenton, VA 1 You'll Soon Know Why We're "The Builder, Buyer, Seller Advantage" In Area Real Estate! Our Mortgage Rates Really Hit Home! Buying A Home? Improving the One You Already Own? Call Us. f \\ c offer 24 1 lour Conditional Approx.il F&M Bank-Peoples Main Street Warrenton 347-1711 • Warrenton Center 349-3491 Marshall 364-1511 • Stafford 899-3882 • 1-800-910-8144 • www.fmbank.com flat rocks for overturning and for creatures to sun on, unclaimed space for digging (for worms or gold), homemade birdhouses, toad rests, and other lowtech habitats. Indigenous Piedmont elves will often take shelter in abandoned nests and between warm rocks. Encourage surprises Planned landscapes lack many of the surprises of natural growth, competition and decay. By observing the seasonal and life cycle of their own small world, children gain a visceral understanding of ecology in an indelible way. Leaving some spaces undisturbed can yield long-dormant plant species and other unexpected treasures. See KIDS, Page 22 HOMEMADE: Leaving land wild could be Times Newspapers File Photo the best thing you do for your children. #8 co%. Heating Air Conditioning 439-3315 VISIT US AT THE HOME & QARDEN SHOW MARCH 20TH AT BOOTH #21 Choose your next electric bill by purchasing a new IRANE COMFORT SYSTEM Do You Have... 1. Rooms being at uneven temperatures? 2. Thermostat difficult to use? 3. Noisy system? 4. Household members have allergies? 5. High cost of operation? Let us help resolve these problems. Han] Tb Stop ATWinr

Wanted: bees, pollinators By Mike Gensler Times Newspapers Staff Writer f airborne honey, gift of l heaven, ear and listen to it buzz. “When I was 4 or 5 years old, my mom would always scream at me. I saw bees traveling from flower to flower,” Harman recalled, “so I would pick them up and move them from one flower to another. “I told my mom I was helping the bees.” Harman chuckled merrily at the memory, a tale of a child’s natural, devil-may-care curiosity, with buckets of foreshadowing poured on. Now, the Flint Hill resident is a hobbyist beekeeper with 20-40 bee colonies. A busy bee herself, Harman is active in a number of local, regional and national beekeeping organizations. She teaches beekeeping courses, writes a monthly article for Bee Culture magazine, co-authored a honey cookbook, and travels around the world Q - Virgil A Ann Harman always wanted bees. As a child, she’d hold a bee up to her I now take up the tale. Photo by Jocelyn Sladen See BEES, Page 6 BUSY: Honey bees are rare sights these days, as pesticide use and insect mites have decreased their numbers. Byler Buildings Crafts, rumiture & More... In the Amish Tradition. Custom Made ~ Quality Built ~ Storage Buildings Lawn Furniture ~ Bird Feeders ~ Ironworks and much, much more... MON. - FRI. 8 A.M. - 5 P.M. & SAT. 9 A.M. - 3 P.M. (540) 788-4919 ~ Route 28 ~ Catlett, Virginia I Her Tomor row Depends On Where You Put Your Money Today/ Since 1902, The Fauquier Bank has been providing Virginia families and businesses a level of service second to none. We are the oldest independent community bank in Fauquier County. We have been providing many services designed to make your financial life easier for almost 100 years. Some of them include: Investments and Trust, Loans, Commercial Banking, Personal Banking, and convenient home PC Banking. Visit our Manassas location. New for April! !i DThe Fauquier Bank Making your financial life easier. Old Town Warrenton • View Tree-Warrenton • The Plains New Baltimore • Catlett • Manassas (1999) 540-347-2700 www.fauquierbank.com 1-800-638-3798 BMMt 4mm ftjk:

Bees From Page 5 as a volunteer adviser to beekeepers in other nations. But it’s not the specialized art of honey production or avoiding stings that turns Harman on. In many ways, her work is all about putting food on the world’s dinner tables. The real buzz U.S. Department of Agriculture studies from 1991 to the present point to an “impending pollination crisis” in which managed and wild pollinators are disappearing at astonishing rates. Habitat loss, pesticide poisoning, diseases and pests are all contributing to the decline of America’s pollinators, from bats and birds to butterflies and bees. Apis mellifera, the American species of honey bee, is not the only victim of the crisis, but shrinking bee populations clearly reflect the nature and extent of the problem. “You can no longer find honey bees in hollowed-out trees, which is where they should be” Harman said. “Nearly 100 percent of the bees are with beekeepers.” As of 1991, nearly one-third of the nation’s crop output, at an annual value of more than eight billion dollars, was bee-pollinated. In the late 1940s, the U.S. was home to 5.9 million commercial bee colonies. By 1995, that number dropped to 2.7 million. In 1994, local bee shortages forced California almond growers to import honey bees to ensure that their $800 million crop would be pollinated. Farmers in New York observed pumpkin blossoms covered with pollen long after they had opened, when, in the past, they were stripped of pollen in no time at all. Part of the problem is the arrival of the Africanized bee, which poses threats to beekeepers and other bee species. Furthermore, both the Africanized and Asian bees carry parasitic mites, which, said Harman, are largely responsible for the honey bee’s decline. “A good parasite doesn’t kill its A honey bee out foraging has nothing to defend. They sting for a purpose. It’s defensive, not aggressive. Ann Harman host,” Harman observed, but the mites in question are accustomed to heartier carriers. Since the mites have become such a menace, Harman concluded, “We cannot consider, at this time, that a natural colony of honey bees' could live in the wild.” Bumble bees have stepped up to fill a niche left vacant by the now carefully managed honey bee, but the bumble bee is a poor substitute. In addition to being difficult to manage, Harman noted that a large bumble bee colony has 50-150 bees, while a honey bee colony population can exceed 60,000. See BEES, Page 7 Glen-Gery H Brick Center | 9905 Godwin Drive Manassas 703/368-3178 703/631 -2350 Glen-Gery Paving Brick. Extruded, Repressed and Molded. The only thing more beautiful than how they look is how they perform...featuring the richness and warmth of brick. Quality crafted Glen-Gery paving brick is favored by homeowners for a rapid and economical installation - as easy as concrete pavers. Manufactured in a wide assortment of beautiful color ranges perfect for any landscape4 scheme. Add the value of Glen-Gery paving brick and enhance the design of your project today. Store Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. Visa & MC accepted Deliveries available Quality You Expect 1 Treadlock's exclusive Posilok™ detent locking mechanism is the best you can buy 1 Relok™ remote relocking device is virtually impossible to find and attack 1 Treadlok uses the most sophisticated hardplate mounting system 1 Treadlock's tubular steel door frame is substantially stronger than commonly used angle frames ■ Unique-rectangular door bolts offer more security than any other safe 1 Built to perfection ’ More standard features without added cost cllolc* --' ftulll With 9» 14* Sine* <972 Clark Brothers Rt 29 S. » Warrenton, VA 20186 (540) 439-8988 MID-COUNTY FARM SUPPLY Corner 29 Business & Falmouth St Warrenton 347-1742 l SPRING SAVINGS Po~ when you bring in this ad - Potting &Top Soil SAVE NOW THRU APRIL 15TH! We Also Carry Fertilizer ■ Straw ■ Peatmoss J 1 Xo\i can buy your own home witK 100% financing Ju$t 1% Vown! ! ! Think of it!! You can buy a new or existing home and stop renting !! • Many spacious floor plans available • We can build on your lot or find one for you i i • Single family homes start at $109,900 We can help first-time homebuyers! We can help with credit problems! Just call Carolyn & Dick Kleppinger at: 1-800-891-3051 (E-mail: klepping@crosslink.net) and well show you how YOU CAN! I! ft '&) Loml& Fostkk Rk M IOUS y 'Varrcnton m

Lawn & harden Time! Mukh & Top Soil Double Shredded Hardwood $14.95 Cu. Yd. Cedar Mulch ...$17.95 Cu.Yd. Top Soil ...$24.95 cu. Yd. Pick up or FREE local delivery on quantities. Bagged: Peat Moss, Cow Manure, Potting Soil Spring Plants Available Primrose, Geraniums & More 100’s of Concrete Planters, Statues, Fountains & Bird Baths Purchase of $15 or more Bill's Farm Market & Greenhouse Next to 7-11 & Town & Country 5051 Lee Highway, New Baltimore Call 341-7509 Now open: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily j i \Jackson Sc Per In ns) REFACE YOUR KITCHEN CABINETS NOW AND SAVE OVER 50°o AMERICAN CABINET REFACERS “We don't thmw away your vaktabie cabinets or your money" CALL FOR FREE FINANCING IN-HOME ESTIMATES AVAILABLE 540-373-8700 Over 1,500 hu ks<Ikrkins Potted Roses to choose from 12S iuirictics for itour selection | Smalts I Garden Center IJ.? Vilion.il \'> \\ 11, I '.I [ \ it I (540) 002-2173 Bees From Page 6 Efficient honey manufacturers and prolific pollinators, honey bees are key players in everything from commercial crop yields to the beauty of a backyard garden. But, adds Harman, their survival and growth is now entirely dependent on human intervention. A bee in Brazil’s bonnet She’s worked with “killer bees” in Brazil and Panama. She’s assisted beekeepers in Macedonia, Russia, and the Ukraine. Next stop — Armenia in April. Having traveled extensively on behalf of Volunteers in Cooperative Overseas Assistance and other international organizations, Harman observed that the United States and Canada are doing more than any other nation to address the pollination problem. In many cases, it comes down to a distorted view of capitalism. While U.S. beekeepers are paid to bring their bees to crops for pollination services, beekeepers in other countries have to pay the farmers for the “privilege” of allowing their bees to buzz about. “They think the bees and beekeepers are benefiting from the crop usage,” said Harman. “The only crop that might benefit the bees, in terms of honey production, are citrus crops, and you don’t see many of those in Eastern Europe.” Harman added that while the issue of pollination is on the minds of North American beekeepers, apiculturists in other nations are more concerned about honey production. Expanding their awareness, Harman noted, requires some very delicate diplomacy. Even more delicate is the relationship between beekeepers and “killer bees,” those legendary, sting-crazy harbingers of an insect apocalypse. “They are a sub-species of honey bee, and they are not to be taken lightly,” Harman warned. “They are unpredictable, and a danger to people. “But a policy of education is very effective,” Harman continued. “Mexico knew the bee Was coming, and the government did an excellent job of educating people.” Harman prefers the more accurate label, “Africanized,” to the mediainflated concept of a “killer” bee. Nonbeekeepers often perceive pollen as a sign of allergy attacks, and bees only mean stings. In that context, the “killer” bee is a logical exaggeration. Defusing the bad image of the bee is part of Harman’s educational mission. In addition to the Africanized bee, Harman attributed some of the honey bee’s image problem to the “trigger happy” yellow jacket. “A honey bee out foraging has nothing to defend,” Harman said. “They sting for a purpose. It’s defensive, not aggressive. “When you swat at a bee, you become the aggressor. If someone walking by you on the street suddenly punched you, you would want to punch back. The bee is doing the same thing.” See BEES, Page 27 Horse Bam - Any Size Built on Site Special 6 Month Same As Cash Financing Available! Portable Buildings 4'x4' to 12'x48' We Everything We Sell! Log Cabin Payments as low as *25.00 per month WOODSTOVES UNLIMITED Quality at Guaranteed Lowest Prices (Ml James Madison Highway, Culpeper, VA • 540-825-5838 \\c aevrpl Mastri'C anl \ \ isi • lVliwry'Within a 100 Mile Radius Mon. I ri., 10-0 Salurdav, 10-5 *()n Approved Credit WOOD COM nTD\I> • n K\All > • <. \> IO(,s • IIAKI) COAL l» • HARDWOOD PKIJJ-TS • HRI l’IAlKS \ MCKSSORIKS • 1’K1.1JT STOCKS

Landscape gardening goes natural By Regina Yurkonis Times-Newspapers Contributing Writer ore and more Amencans are getting the “gardening bug.” Worse than the flu, .it sticks with you for years, causes sunburn, rashes and an uncon trollable desire to grow things. It fills up every comer of your home with a mass of books, magazines, notes and sketches (indoor compost piles) and drains your checkbook (not, as yet, covered by health insurance). Many never recover. Symptoms are aggravated in late winter. Luckily, it’s a great time to look hard at the design of your home landscape. The eye isn’t confused with bright colors and moving leaves. You can easily see the “bones” or basic shapes and decide where to act. Mature trees are usually best left where they stand unless they are causing damage or danger to people using the space. Everything else can be thought of as chess pieces and may be moved around according to your own strategy. As my own specialty is designing attractive landscapes which also benefit wildlife, let’s go there. First, look to surround your trees Photo by Jocelyn Sladen BLOOMING BEAUTIFUL: Some of the prettiest gardens don’t look ‘designed.’ with shrubs. Many shrubs provide good nesting habitat if allowed to grow together, unpruned. Also, they prevent mower damage to trunks, provide a living mulch and are more to scale for a tall tree than annuals or just mulch. Dig carefully around tree roots. Native azaleas, hollies and itea all do well in the shade of trees. Next, see if you can connect trees into larger islands. If an area of grass is not used for foot traffic, island beds of shrubs and groundcovers can add a lot of style and color and cut back on mowing time. Many of our native songbirds nest in dense shrubbery and most flowering shrubs attract butterflies. In the brighter sun between trees, try sweet-scented clethra, summery Saint John’s wort or the beloved lilacs and mock orange. Although lilacs and mock orange are non-native, they are low-maintenance, not invasive and provide cover and pleasant memories. Buddleia and Chaste-tree are two butterfly feeders that can be kept at a smaller size by cutting to the ground each spring. At the feet of the shrubs lay the groundcovers. Formerly defined as very low-growing plants, groundcovers are now as varied as Black-eyed Susans, ornamental grasses and vines. There is even a much-promoted groundcover rose. Avoiding the typical groundcovers of pachysandra, vinca and English ivy will open up a world of color for your garden. Look for the native Tiarellas — low, evergreen, spring bloomers. Mix in some phlox stolonifera or divaricata for pink or blue. All handle shade elegantly and provide an early sugar rush for sleepy bees. Ferns are often over-looked in favor of flowers, but you may be surprised at the variety of ferns available. If you can’t tell them apart, read the labels See GARDEN, Page 27 MADDIE PRESTON, REALTOR® LONG & FOSTER WARRENTON Whether you 're buying, selling or relocating, call Maddie for all your Real Estate Needs. (540) 347-2250 (800) 374-7253 E-mail: maddie.preston@longandfoster.com | THE TOWN DUCK , Gifts, Wine & Gourmet Foods, Bridal Registry ^ Garden Art ^ Hand Painted Pots p Wrought Iron Accessories Our New Garden Department will be opening this Spring. 15 Main Street • Old Town Warrenton 540-347-7237 & Crime Does Pay Up to $10,000 reward for tips on auto theft. 1-800-947-HEAT Window Clewing Crystal Clear Window Cleaning Company Licensed - Insured - Residential Specialists Professional Window Cleaning and Pressure Washing 800-CLEAR-99 540-349-4700 BROWN'S GLASS SHOP All Types Of Residential Glass 10 Years Of Serving Fauquier & Surrounding Counties • Auto Glass • Plate Glass • Mirrors * Table Tops • Shower Doors • Storm Doors • Storm Windows • Screens • Windows • Insulated Glass FREE MOBILE SERVICE 1-800-644-4527 James R. Brown Michael W. Brown (540) 439-1625 *FAX (540) 439-9306 BROWN'S GLASS SHOP ‘ U

AAVflll'V/ ^ \JL>! U/t/ f tffouucouay, iviaiOll l/f I C7C7C7 9 Gorilla gardener strikes again By Joe Winkelmann (jj Times Newspapers Special Writer ^ irst, let’s get the cliches jj! out of the way. Other garden writers are waxing rhapsodic about the “first I,: blooms of spring, pushing up their Lil tiny foliage from the heart of Mother Earth to bask in the first rays of the sun’s warmth.” Yuk. The Gorilla Gardener’s view is that it’s high time they get their little buds in gear and bloom so I can remember what I planted where. Can the rhapsody. We have a lot of work to do to win this final garden battle of the millenium. The year 1998 was tough on the garden, horticulture’s version of handto-hand combat. Winning will require Gorilla warfare. The first stategy is to save time. Remember that you can leave your backyard looking any-such-way as long as you mow the grass in the front. Tell your neighbors you’re into sustainable Times Newspapers Staff Photo/Yayoi Ayukawa See GORILLA, Page 30 HARD LABOR: Joe Winkelmann, the Gorilla Gardener works diligently at what he does best. Don't Worry, Be Happy We offer SOLUTIONS: For bays, arches and those two story foyer windows that no one can reach... See us to coordinate, measure and install. 1. Visit our shop for display ideas and our personal assistance. Our Interior Masterpiece collection by Lafayette has nearly 3,000 fabrics. 2. Borrow fabrics and wallpaper at your leisure. through March Or, in a pinch for time? Leave us a sofa sleeve and we will scout for you. 3. We can then visit your home to measure, order and install. Warrenton Decor -- WARRENTON CENTER 347-1020 Home & Garden Providing Quality Products & Service Since 1979... EARLY'S CARPET, INC. Over 33 Years in One Location THE LARGEST IN-STOCK INVENTORY ON CARPETS • VINYL • HARDWOODS • REMNANTS The One-Stop Shop For Complete Home Decorating Service Floor Coverings • Carpet • Vinyls • Tile • Hardwood • Ceramics Area Rugs • Remnants • Orientals • Window Treatments Shades • Wallpaper • Slipcovers & Reupholstery Residential • Commercial Serving Fauquier, Rappahannock and Culpeper Counties Local Dialing Area Use 937-5500 Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m. • Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. John & Lorraine Early, Owners & Operators Out of area use 1-800-870-9098 _ Rt. 645 Rt. 643 Flashing Light Washington, VA I I Warrenton m I Rt. 211 —I 1 a Iarpe? • IIK.HWU KOI II 211 \\ I S 1 • V.MlSSN 11.1.1.. \A

Rock gardens add texture, interest By James A. Faiszt Times Newspapers Contributing Writer my houses have yards with steep banks or areas of irregular terrain that may be used for a rock garden. A ^rock garden is an ideal way to stop son erosion while creating an appealing landscape feature. The most attractive rock gardens are those with a natural setting that blend with a pile of stones on level ground. A hillside with a rocky outcrop is ideal. Location and design An informal design is most effective, and simplicity is very important. Unless the area is quite large, avoid the use of excessive numbers of plants or elaborate rock formations. The most desirable location is a steep bank that may be available at the back or side of the property. A pool of water or a miniature stream and waterfall will add charm to the rock garden. Trees are desirable to provide partial shade, and shrubs should be used for background. If adequate Space is available, the garden may include paths made with flat stones or pine needles and steps on steep slopes to encourage closer inspection and greater enjoyment. Plan the rock garden for easy maintenance. The most attractive ones are usually so wide you cannot reach to the center to remove undesirable weeds, prune plants or set out new species. A sufficient number of large flat or rounded stones should he present to serve as a place to walk or stand while doing maintenance jobs in the garden. These must be deeply embedded to provide secure footing as you work. A rock garden should express the creative ability of the gardener to use the terrain and plant materials that are available. Each garden should be a unique development and not a reproduction of one that has been observed on other residential or public property. Construction and soil The construction of a rock garden is easy if an irregular terrain is available. A rocky hillside or a series of ledges wjth small irregular terraces for plants works well. For the best effect, at least half of the surface should be made up of exposed rocks. If more rocks are needed, use weathered native stones. Start at the base of the slope, and work up from there. Place the rocks in a natural position with strata in the same plane as existing material. Tip the stones toward the bank to cause water to run into the soil around the roots of your plants. The rocks should be large, and each one should be about half buried in the soil to make it stationary. Provide an adequate depth of good soil for your plants in the pockets between and behind rocks. This should be done while the garden is being constructed. The soil should be well drained to a depth of at least 18 inches to promote desirable growth of plants. Most rock garden plants cannot tolerate poor drainage. Add compost or shredded peat moss to the soil to increase the organic matter content, and add dried manure to improve the fertility. Do not use too much manure — it will cause excessive vegetative growth of your plants. A mixture containing 2 parts loam soil, 1 part shredded peat moss, and 1/2 part dried manure is suggested. Plants for the rock garden Except for trees that provide partial shade and shrubs that serve as background or accent features, most of the plants in a rock garden should be relatively small or dwarf in size. Plants are used to complement the rocks and must not hide or detract from the beauty of the stones. Plants for the rock garden should require a minimum of care. Select plants that will tolerate the growing conditions, such as a wet or dry soil or an exposure that is windy, hot and sunny, or cool and shady. Dwarf evergreen shrubs may be used to give a permanent quality to the rock garden. Hardy native ferns, perennial flowering plants, miniature roses and spring-flowering bulbs add interest and color. Except for a few carefully selected accent plants or groups, the flowers should be somewhat inconspicuous and similar to the wild areas the rock garden is intended to emulate. Avoid the use of large masses of plants or those with oversized, intensely colored blooms. Annual flowers should be used sparingly, especially such common species as petunias, or the large-flower varieties of aster, marigold or zinnia. Consult the catalogs of nurseries and seedsmen who offer dwarf shrubs, native plants, perennials and bulbs. In some catalogs, plants suitable for rock gardens will be listed in a separate section. The pictures and descriptions will help you select plants suitable for your particular garden. James A. Faiszt is associate professor Emeritus, Department of Horticulture, Virginia Tech. STORAGE SHEDS Sizes from ?x? to 16x24 • Larger Buildings and Garages available ■ ?x10x? 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Prestige Cable TV, Inc. £ is proud to announce the April 1, 1999 launch of.. Stop by our booth for prizes and have our artist draw a characiture of you as a famous historical figure To order cable, call 349-8000 www.prestige.net Daffodil sale April 13 celebration of daffodils sounds the arrival of spring . at the Upperville Garden i\ Club Daffodil Show and j\ Tea, Tuesday, April 13, 25 p.m., Trinity Parish ^ House, Upperville in the heart ot hunt country. One of Virginia’s oldest continuous daffodil shows, this unique rite of spring is seldom seen today — from its Virginia tradition and hospitality to exhibitions of high tech hybrids and floral designs. The show began 36 years ago ip members’ homes and plantations. It has since earned American Daffodil Society accreditation of its horticulture competition, attracting exhibitors from the tri-state area and beyond. Seasoned pros and hopeful newcomers are seen jotting down notes and arranging bulb exchanges. This 1999 show presents an exciting array of the latest hybrids in ADSaccredited competition and five artistic/inter-club classes. All amateur growers are invited to exhibit. The public is welcome! Admission is free/voluntary donation. Entries are received Monday, April 12, 2-5 p.m. and Tuesday, April 13, 8-10:30 a.m. Convenient parking is available. The sh8w committee of the 45 members representing Loudoun, Fauquier and Clarke counties is chaired by Lucinda Mullett, Berryville. William Vance, Upperville, is club president. The show is located on U.S. 50 or one-half hour east of Winchester, Va. on U.S. 50. Call (540) 955-0428. FOR SALE: Daffodils will be the order of the day April 13 in Upperville. [We Now Do Water Qardens r«' iy V /><•' Landscaping '7 j for Homeowners and Other Creatures REGINA YURKONIS Wammton, VA W (540) 347-0027 Plumbi Have You Ever had an Arborist help you with your Trees & Shrubs'? We would like to meet with you and yout trees. Free Estfmsti (540) 6?7-6?00 i the CARE of TREES ISA Certified Arborist J. Peter Deahl

* ^ < Photo by Joe Alderman TRACKING: Marilou Vivano and Aileen Crawford on the Native Plant Trail. Local plants prove dependable here By Val Van Meter Times Newspapers Staff Writer \ ardening in Virginia is ** challenging. \ Here in the northern J section, in zone six Clarke r County, we have the worst of both worlds. We shiver through the worst chills of a northern winter and wilt through the heat and steam of summers in the Deep South. A drought of at least two months duration is normal, and going without rain for four or five months isn’t that unheard of. And in some years, El Nino turns your side yard into a swimming pool. So, what kind of plants can survive such an environment? Native plants, of course. /! Adding natives to your landscaping will give you tried and true plants that will stand up to the vagaries of Virginia weather, with much less work on your part. Who could ask more than a lovely landscape, and more time to just sit back and enjoy it? Spring is a great time to focus on native plants, because so many flower this time of year. Virginia Bluebells are famed for their spectacular blue color, and Bleeding Heart gives you the look of an exotic and the dependability of a native. Wild Columbine is a late spring star, and has the added distinction of luring hummingbirds to your yard. Spring flowering trees include the Dogwood and the Redbud, trees to “native” that they are everywhere. If God landscapes with them, what better recommendation is there? Serviceberry turns the woodlands white in March, and can do the same in your lawn. Moving into summer, consider the common milkweed. Its pinkish flowers are dependable in the border, but perhaps its most alluring feature is the fact that it attracts butterflies. In fact, it is a host flower for monarchs. Looking ahead to fall, a no-care plant that can offer a great patch of color is the goldenrod. Don’t listen to See NATIVE, Page 13 BUILDING MATERIALS Lumber • Hardware • Insulation • Plywood • Roofing • Sand Gravel • Cement • Plumbing Electrical Flooring • Doors Wallboard • Paint • Nails * Glass • Windows Small A Large Orders We/come __ QUALITY MATERIALS Custom Millwork & Cabinets Locally Owned & Operated Prompt Delivery CXA JL O TF API Q 106 South Madison Street SW'Oo/"OO I O Middleburg, VA Creative Bathro Custom De Specializing in... • Bathroom Remodeling • Basement Baths Bath Additions Fixture Replacement """ ^m mm mmm mm mmm mm mm am■ am FREE Pressure Balancing Moen Faucet for Tub & Shower with any With Coupon • Vcrild on i ($175,00 Value) ar)y Job scheduled before. Expires 4/17/99 LICENSED* BONDED* INSURED All work performed has a one year guarantee! ALSO INSTALL GAS FIRELOGS! 20 Years Experience _ Progressive Plum Builder Owned & Operdted • Bob Donnelly. Plumbii FREE ESTIMATES! Call 540-3

Native From Page 12 rumor, it is not the culprit in allergy attacks. That is actually ragweed, a wind-pollinated plant that puts out clouds of the aggravating stuff. Goldenrod is insect pollinated, and how often have you heard a bumblebee sneeze? Goldenrod will stand up to weather that wilts more sensitive plants. In winter, turn to the American holly for a bright spot of color that will also feed robins, waxwings and mockingbirds. There are many more natives which can lend charm to your garden, at little maintenance cost. An easy way to learn more about Virginia’s native plants is to visit the Native Plant Trail at the Virginia State Arboretum at Blandy Farm in Clarke County. Dedicated last November, the trail features some 60 trees, and shrubs, and more than 700 perennials, ferns and grasses, specifically suited to a shade and semi-shade environment. You can stroll the trail and see these natives in their habitat, checking form and color and visualizing how they would look on the home front. In the future, the trail will be extended to take in an open field habitat and a pond habitat to spotlight other species of native plants. Another resource at the state Arboretum is the office of the Virginia rnoio oy joe Aioerman NATURE AT ITS BEST: Blandy State Arboretum is a wonderful place to explore. Native Plant Society, which is headquartered there. One of the leading plant conservation organizations in Virginia, the VNPS was founded in 1982 as the Virginia Wildflower Preservation Society. It works to protect endangered species, preserve habitats and educate citizens about native plants and their needs. Contact the VNPS at Route 2, Box 214, Boyce, Va. 22620, or call (540) 837-1600. To reach the state Arboretum at Blandy Farm call (540) 837-1758. Blandy is growing The 170-acre Blandy State Arboretum includes the largest collection of boxwood varieties in North America and more than half the world’s pine species, and today comprises the largest mature collection of woody plants in the mid-Atlantic states. It is also the headquarters for the American Boxwood Society and the Virginia Native Plant Society. Programs include the Saturday Leaves free guided tours on the first Saturday of each month at 10 a.m., and the Summer Concert Series, June 12, July 10 and Aug. 7 at 7 p.m. A botanical illustrators’ “art exhibit continues at Blandy through April 7, open daily from 10 a.m. to 4p>nt And the annual Garden Fair, plant and garden supply sale, wifi be held Mother’s Day weekend, May 8 and 9 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, featuring a live radio broadcast with Andre Viette. For more information, call Blandy at (540) 837-1758. us at the Home & Garden Show! Improve your wall art choices with our framing designs. We help you CHOOSE the RIGHT design. Our prices are always 30-50% below suggested retail prices! The RIGHT Choice at the RIGHT Price! 64 Main Street • Warrenton, Virginia • 540-JW1-0001 r Generation* Florist * Your Full Service Florist & Cut Flowers * Plants & Weddings * Parties * Wire Services 1 Come by and visit our booth at the j 1999 Home and Garden Show I Bealeton Village Center * 139-9301 (888) 399-1939, /vionigomery Shade & Awning Award winning awnings, blinds, shades and shutters of every available type! Hr'u' iit)t mil (O l (■/(*(/ 540-347-1941 800-300-1941 "Our Experience, Your Advantage!" SHOP AT HOME SERVICE Open Monday - Friday, 9-5 Saturday by appointment only Lester Shaw ♦ Ricky Settle ♦ Nancy Rutherfcrrd • CARPET • SHEET VINYL • TILE • HARDWOOD • SLIPCOVERS • CUSTOM DRAPERIES * Now Baltimore Business Park • W arrenton H >tf Ri'lfU ») (3 540'347-0400

Invasive plants can crowd out natives By Alan R. McDaniel Times Newspapers Contributing Writer he gardeners’ battle against weeds is continuous. We use many techniques to control them, yet they still invade our gardens and landscapes. Plants that become “weedy” are very good competitors, and they move in with ease from nearby vacant lots, fence rows, fields. pastures, woodlands and even our own or the neighbor’s garden. Our concept of what a weed is depends on our perspective. Bermuda grass serves as a good example. This is a welcome forage in a southern farm pasture and an excellent lawn and athletic turf grass in warm areas. On the other hand, if it becomes established in a bluegrass lawn or spreads into a flower border, it suddenly becomes “wiregrass” and in need of rigorous control methods. Now consider your own perspective if you saw bermuda grass spreading into a meadow of native grasses and wildflowers. Is it a weed here? A great many of our garden and landscape plants have been imported from other parts of the world. In most cases, these plants are poor competitors and survive only with human Photo by Jocelyn Sladen FOREIGNER: Honeysuckle may look innocent, but it is not a native. assistance. However, other non-natives are more aggressive and can escape from cultivation. They spread rapidly because the native plants are not able to compete successfully. Most of us pay little attention to these imports as they naturalize in our wild areas, but in many areas they have become serious enough to threaten the stability of the native plant habitats. Kudzu was introduced from the Orient as an ideal soil stabilizer to pro tect damaged soils in the South. But this plant can grow 50 feet in a season, smothering every other plant in its path, and is now referred to as the “green cancer” of the South. Multiflora rose was brought from Japan and promoted for widespread planting as a “living fence” for pastures and an ideal food and shelter source for wildlife. The succulent garden weed, purslane, was brought from Europe as a vegetable greens crop. Ailanthus or Tree-of-Heaven, another import, is a tree very tolerant of poor soil and urban air, but now is naturalized and a persistent weed. Other imported ornamental plants gone out of control in parts of the country include Oriental bittersweet, bamboo, morning-glory, Scotch broom, bracken fern, foxglove, pampas grass and Japanese honeysuckle. Gardeners are called upon to take a personal role in controlling the spread of invasive plants. Even reputable garden companies will offer many of these plants, or government agencies will recommend them for particular purposes, presuming they will be maintained and controlled in the landscape. Alan R. McDaniel is a Virginia Cooperative Extension vocational horticulturist. pecify Propane and Bury Your Energy Concerns. Where natural gas lines don't go, propane does. So wherever you choose to build, propane provides warm and efficient gas heat. In most cases, the propane tank can be installed underground, leaving a small dome as Its only visible sign. And, since propane is not harmful to our soil or water, it poses no threat to the environment when stored underground, dean, safe and economical, propane is the natural alter native ror many energy uses throughout the home, inducing water heating, clothes drying, heating and cooking. Commonwealth Propane has been giving builders and homeowners reliable, efficient propane service since 1941. For more information, call our branch office nearest you. Propane. It's An Underground Success. In Fauquier County 540-439-8792 Outside of Fauquier County 800-368-2277 Golumtna Propane STOP BY OUR BOOTH AT THE HOME & GARDEN SHOW and bring this ad to receive SPECIAL SAVINGS on products and services from any of our 3 divisions. Home Theatre Systems [ • 18” Digital Satellite Systems • Big Screen TVs • Custom Designed (((Surround Sound) 540-349-9497 i ftirewaves Wireless . i Communications Digital Micro Portables • Unlimited Phone to Phone • Ask about Weekend Air time! 540-351-61901 I American Computer Services • Networking & i Internet Service • Custom Built ^ Computer Systems-* & Repairs * ■ * upgrades 540-349-3984

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TO* TEt n mim ■ J Exhibitors A Brown’s Wood Stuff B Rasmussen Stained Glass C Home Theatre Systems D Home Theatre Systems E Payne Pools & Spas E Payne Pools & Spas G Rappahannock Electric H Body By Design I Care of Trees »J Greco Remodeleus, Inc. K Heilig-Meyers Furniture L ASAP Aspholt & Paving M Hi tchel 1 I ^lMiggaptiig A Pullens Tractor & Equipment, Inc. 0 Floors/Home Design P Lanes Pressure Wash Q Advantage Realty R Cnlligan Water S Weichert Realtors T The Fauquier Bank U American Cabinet Refacers V Pro-Clean W Clark Brothers A Van Luven A Co., Inc. Y Prestige Cable Z Framecraft Frames 1 Lowes 2 Smith & Sons Equipment, Corp 3 Brown’s Wood Stuff 4 Brown’s Wood Stuff 5 Bartlett Tree Experts 6 BarbequC Country Jk. W J M Clawroom ( la<kM*ooin t tassittom A I* I Seminars all day longsee next page foi* schedules H.L. Pearson National Guard •• • >%■ * ■ , * .. ' >>• '• J»W' jpa % „r iF* «e; • ■ ... ■ I — V-- /i. v •* ! " '•« "• r c 5Jf : — . | . _ Wm Registration gggjjpf 7 'v Entnuicc ■ a* - E —R « s • 1 —— & — F 6 H M Pil! — iff • • V:«S£‘! T .. u <«>&. • ■ , 4 fcw 'MsP Mgl 3 K X iw’;-■“*' ■■ . z

Seminar 9:00a.m. Classroom A Lecturer: Beverly Butterfield Extension Office Topic: Indoor Air Quality 10:15 a.m. Lecturer: Chuck Hoysa Extension Office Topic: Low Impact Pesticides 11:30 a.m. Lecturer: Glenn Covington Warrenton Farmers Co-op Topic: Small Farm Pasture & Paddock Care & Maintenance 12:45 p.m. Lecturer: Joyce Wake Warrenton Farmers Co-op Topic: Basic Vegetable Gardening 2:00 p.m. Lecturer: W.C. Brown Warrenton Farmers Co-op Topic: Lawn Care and Maintenance 9:00a.m. Lecturer: Paul Patton Culligan Water Experts Topic: Water Quality 10:15 a.m. Lecturer: Denny McCarthy Extension Of lice Topic: Small Forest Managemen for the Homeowner 11:30 a.m. Lecturer: Carrie BlauMaster Gardener Topic: Choosing Trees & Shurbs y. r / • 12:45 p.m. Lecturer: Cindy Kirk Business Owner Topic: Organize for Success 2:00 p.m. Exhibitor: Howard Walker Pro-Clean Topic: Types of Cleaning with Power Wash and Safety / Classroom C 9:00a.m. Lecturer: Deirdre Clark & Heather Slattery Soil & Water Conservation Topic: Backyard Conservation 10:15 a.m. Lecturer: John Mayhugh M & M Consulting Topic: Types of Grasses and Fertilizers 11:30 a.m. Lecturer: Chris Fox Home Theater System Topic: Surround Sound Demo 12:45 p.m. Lecturer: Sarah Burton Daffodil Breeder Topic: Types/Care of Daffodils 2:00 p.m. \__ Lecturer: Joycelyn Sladen Master Gardener Topic: Gardening with Native Plants

Sladen From Page 3 lawnmowers and armies of weedeaters. Americans spend more than $25 billion maintaining turf grass. Few homes lack this essential element of the landscaping. Lawns are safety zones for our children, backdrops for our plantings, places of order and they are peacefully green. But lawns take out the woodlands, the thickets of tall grasses and other plant life that provided habitat for creatures from earthworms to red-tailed hawks. There’s good news. A strong new trend toward a more relaxed and natural gardening landscape is gaining ground. Native plants, proving hardy, drought resistant and free of diseases, are gaining special popularity. Nurseries and garden centers report a growing demand for shrubs and other plants that attract songbirds and butterflies. Instead of mowing every comer and property line, homeowners are selecting areas they can “let go” for habitat. A small meadow plot left to grow tall with native grasses and wildflowers becomes a summer carnival of butterflies. Savings in time and money are part of the reward. An island of trees and shrubs including berrying natives such as dogwood and black haw (a lovely viburnum that grows wild locally) bring in the songbirds. Plant them and they will come, believe it. Suddenly the songs of bluebirds replace the grinding of mowers. Homeowners benefit in other ways since more shrubs and trees along the property lines provide natural privacy screens and reduce noise. The science of ecology tells us that our gardens are not isolated slivers of land. What we do with our home landscapes has a ripple effect on larger, natural systems. If one homeowner has a bird planting with shrubs and trees while a neighbor enjoys a wildflower garden, there is a flow in the natural system. Linked habitats allow beneficial insects, songbirds and wild plants to get around from place to place. We can never have natural beauty back in places where it has been destroyed to build a shopping mall, but A strong new trend toward a more relaxed and natural gardening landscape is gaining ground. Jocelyn Sladen we can preserve Or restore rich elements. We can give back a bit of habitat to those wild creatures and wildflowers from whom, after all, we took, this lovely land. Perhaps it will help our children grow up with a sense of place, a feeling that they belong to a special countryside. That’s better than belonging to the malls. Jocelyn Sladen is conservation chairman of the Piedmont chapter of The Virginia Native Plant Society. A lifelong resident of Fauquier County, she is a writer, gardener and naturalist with a special interest in the wild native plants of our region. r 1 (Times NORTHERN VIRGINIA General Manager/Executive Editor: John Toler Assistant General Manager: Barbara Norris Managing Editor: Robin Earl Writers: George Rowand, Mike Gensler, Chuck Backhaus, James Faiszt, Alan R. McDaniel, Laurae Lyster-Mensh, Mimi Forbes, Jocelyn Sladen, Joe Winkelmann, Regina Yurkonis Advertising Manager: Kathleen Keller Advertising Representatives: Pat Gardiner, Dawn Martin, Cathy Carlton, Kathy Mills Production: Kim Gross, Denise Tate, Cindy Goff, Candy Howland Call: (540) 347-4222 E-mail: ftdeditor@timespapers.com Write: Fauquier TimesDemocrat, P.O. Box 631, Warrenton, Va. 20188 Issue Date: March 17, 1999 Cover Photo: Joan Latane Cover Design: Kim Gross GARAGE SALE Carolyn Robertson Sales Director 800-311-3498 • 540-347-6040 WlNDSONG HOMES HIGHLANDS OF WARRENTON NEW THREE-LEVEL • TOWNHOMES WITH • FREE GARAGE • $5,000 BONUS* •100% FINANCING—NO CASH REQUIRED FOR CLOSING** • BRICKED FRONT A CONCRETE DRIVEWAY •FABULOUSKITCHENWITH PANTRY A BUILT-IN DESK •NEARLY 2,000 SQ.FT. •LOCATION-LOCATION DESIRABLE DC SIDE Of WARRENTON • COMMUTER’S DREAM—QUICK ACCESS TO RTES. 2<?, 17 A 66 RtSK.-Y khtukvt HI1MK Brought to you in part by Columbia Gas of Virginia With natural gas you burn’ you are using the most efficient (fordable energy o/mon available today. VISIT OUR FABULOUS MODEL HOME 7 DAYS A WEEK! Directions: From 1-66, Exit #41A - Rl. 29 to Worrenton Follow Rl 29 Bus . approx 10 miles to left on Blackwell Rd. (across from Giant Food Center). Turn left into The Highlands i=r Sales through Long A Foster D3 •Towad closing costs or options **To qualified buyen. Mongage Deborah Mullan Loan Officer (703) 827-7300 (800) 441-8838 • . Frames, frames, albums & more! 0 McCLANAHAN CAMERA 306 Lee Hwy. • Warrenton, VA 540-347-2533 Monday-Fnday 9 a.m.- 6p.m. • Sunday 9 a.m. - 5p.m. FIRE STRIKES EVERY 51 SECONDS Protect Your Treasures with a Liberty Safe Clark Brothers Rt. 29 S. • Warrenton, VA 20186 (540) 439-8988

Sources abound for background he following list offers a ^ few suggestions from the many fine books available. Some are good for beginners; others are more advanced. Identification and field guides • Flora of West Virginia. E.L. Core and P.B. btrausbaugh. Excellent reference. • Atlas of the Virginia Flora. A.J. Harvill Jr. et al. Reference showing distribution of species by county. • Field Guide to Wildflowers. R.T. Peterson and M. McKenny. Arranged by color. • Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. L. Newcomb. Key system for wildflowers, shrubs and vines. • Wildflowers of North Carolina. W.S. Justice and C.R. Bell. Covers central Atlantic area. • The Audubon Society Field Guides. Audubon Society. A variety of guides for different fields of interest. • The Illustrated Book of Wildflowers and Shrubs. W.C. Grimm. Good line drawings. • The Illustrated Book of Trees. W.C. Grimm. Line drawings. • A Field Guide to the Ferns. Boughton Cobb. Part of the Peterson Series. Gardening and landscaping • The Wildflower’s Gardener’s Guide: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes and Eastern Canada Edition. H.W. Art. 1987. • Gardening with Wildflowers and Native Plants. Brooklyn Botanic Garden. 1990. An excellent and comprehensive introduction to the topic. • The Natural Habitat Garden. K. Druse. 1994. Arranged by natural communities with outstanding photographs. • Native Trees, Shrubs and Vines for Urban and Rural America. G.L. Hightshoe. 1988. A manual for environmental design. • Wildflowers. J.A. Hubbard. 1995. Part of the Burpee American Gardening Series. • Landscaping with Wildflowers See READING, Page 21 Photo by Jocelyn Sladen WAVING IN THE WIND: Indian grass adds adds height to the landscape. APPLETON CAMPBELL INC. PLUMBING • HEATING AIR CONDITIONING Prompt, Professional Service & Repair 347-0765 Serving Fauquier for over 20 years. iqqqqciciijqqijaBBHHaBBBaBBBnaaaoBHuaammH.-i,.,,.,---. Specializing in Custom V and Accessories Residential, Designers & Commercial Silvia P. Hitchings est. 1986 Midland, VA 22728 (540) 788-4720 sikkBns One name for all your woodcare needs. The unique quality and natural beauty of wood is surpassed only by its need for superior protection. Sikkens Exterior and Interior Woodcare Products are borne from innovative technology and a determined pursuit of high quality that is a hallmark of the Sikkens brand. Ask us about Sikkens - a premium line of uncompromising finishes for all your woodcare needs. Beautiful solutions for woodcare.™ r The Mnt&Roor Shfp (540) 347-4484

Reading From Page 20 and Native Plants. Ortho Books. 1984. Good landscaping tips. • Ornamental Grasses: The Amber Wave. C. Ottesen. 1989. Includes native grasses and information on natural meadows. • Landscaping with Wildflowers. J. Wilson. 1992. Growing and propagating • Propagation of Wildflowers. W.C. Curtis. A reprint through the New England Wildflower Society. • North Carolina Native Plant Propagation Handbook. N.C. Native Plant Society. Seed gathering and storage, propagation and cultivation. • Growing and Propagating Wildflowers. H.R. Phillips. Excellent for plants that are easier to propagate. Checklists • Spring Wildflowers of the Blue Ridge Mountains: A Checklist. Blue Ridge Wildflower Society. • Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vines of Virginia: A Checklist. Virginia Native Plant Society. • Ferns and Fern Relatives of Virginia: A Checklist. Virginia Native Plant Society. Available from: Virginia Native Plant Society, P.O. Box 844, Annandale, Va. 22003. Plant and seed sources (Key: F=Ferns, G=Grasses, wmwmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmsmi H=Herbaceous Wildflowers, S=Seed, W=Woody Plants) • Appalachian Wildflower Nursery, Route 1, Box 275A, Reedsville, Pa. 17084. (717) 667-6998. Catalog — $1.25. F,H,W. • Kurt Bluemel, Inc., 2740 Greene Lane. Baldwi^ Md. 21013. (301) 5577229. Catalog — $2. F,G,H. . • Boothe Hill Wildflowers, 23B Boothe Hill, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27514. (919) 967-4091. SASE for price lists. H,S. • Holbrook Farm and Nursery, 115 Lance Road, P.O. Box 368, Fletcher, N.C. 28732. (704) 891-7790. Free catalog. F,H,W. • Huffman’s Native Plants, P.O. Box 39, Otto, N.C. 28763. (704) 5247446. SASE for price list. S,W. • Native Gardens, Route 1, Box 494, Greenback* Tenn. 37742. (615) 856-3350. Catalog — $1. F,G,H,S. • Niche Gardens, 1111 Dawson Road, Department VN, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27516. (919) 967-0078. Catalog and newsletter — $3. F,G,H,W. • Prairie Nursery, P.O. Box 306, Photo by Jocelyn Sladen OUT AND ABOUT: Purple cornflowers, Virginia natives, brighten a field. Westfield, Wis. 53964-0116. (608) 2963679. Catalog — $3. G,H,S. • We-Du Nurseries, Route 5, Box 724, Marion, N.C. 28752. (704) 7388300. Catalog — $2. F,G,H,W. • Wildflower Patch, 442 Brookside, Walnutport, Pa. 18088. SASE for price list. S. Local retail • Edgewood Nursery, Round Hill, Va. 22141. (703) 338-4227. Hours 10-5 Tuesday-Sunday, spring and summer. W,H,F. • Nicholls Gardens, 4724 Angus Drive, Gainesville, Va. 22065. (703) 754-9623. By appointment. Catalog — $1. Native iris. • Riverside Nursery, 2306 West Riverside Drive, Salem, Va. 24153. (703) 387-4020. Regular business hours. H. • Round Hill Garden, Box 196, Round Hill, Va. 22141. (703) 338-7298. Hours 9-6, spring through fall. W,F,H. • Virginia Natives, P.O. Box 18, Hume, Va. 22639. (703) 364-1001. By appointment. Catalog — $1. H,F,G. • Windy Hill Plant Farm, Route 1, Box 29B, Aldie, Va. 22001-9506. (703) 327-4211. Regular business hours. H,F. Note: To protect native species in their natural habitats, it is imperative to buy only propagated plants. To the best of our knowledge, the sources listed here offer nursery propagated plants and do not collect plants from the wild. Compiled by Rita B. Walters, Millboro, Va. Lawnu Rosson MOTOR COMPANY 19 Broadview Avenue 349-0900 Warrenton Ask. about our nationwide tire protection program’ ■ SICK ■iUSt Instant Credit Available COMPUTER-AIDED CUSTOM DESIGN AND ENGINEERING Rice Tire Company OF BUTLER BUILDINGS Farm & Equipment Storage YOUR AUTHORIZED BUTLER DEALER _Since 1971_ • Everything You Need From One Specialized Source • Single Responsibility • Fast Construction Call today for a No Obligation Appointment VA State Contractor’s No. 13488 WV State Contractor's No. 001588 Open Monday - Friday 7:00 to 5:00 Closed Saturday L&L BUILDERS INC. Stonewall Industrial Park 225 Lenoir Drive Winchester, VA 22603 (540) 662-5030 800-524-6372

Kids From Page 4 Weed out invasive intruders Enlist your children in the search for and eradication of non-native plants, especially the virulently invasive ones. By entering into a gallant struggle against the non-native honeysuckle and the wicked garlic mustard, you give breathing room to the natives and make your children into environmental heroes. Some ecologists believe the rapid movement of non-native species around the world presents a greater hazard than any other environmental problem. Tell scary stories Kids like a bit of danger and love to be disgusted. Stories of ticks, poison ivy anecdotes, rabies tales, and lockjaw legends: these will fascinate and engage them. They will repeat these lessons with relish and perfect recall. How many lessons are this easy? Naming magic It has long been believed that naming is a powerful magic. Encourage the kids to name all the things they can see and they will feel dominion over it, and eventually a sense of stewardship. In very little time they will know more than you do Photo by Jocelyn Sladen FLUTTERY: Butterflies are special to children. They hold their own magic. and be instructing you. Leaving things wild will provide a constantly renewing variety to identify- fyDon’t tame the wild things Magic thrives in wild gardens and in slightly untamed children. Enjoy the spell. A child’s imagination will grow practical and realistic in due time. No need to rush it. Laurae Lyster-Mensh, M.S., serves on the board of the local chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society. CARPET • CERAMIC 4 HARDWOOD • VINYL • TILE ( Glascock's Carpet Shop; "Where Quality Comes First" Come See Us For All i Your Floor Covering Needs BUS: 825-0423 1 RES: 825-2519 4 Rt. 522 - 6 Miles North of Culpeper BERRYVILLE FARM SUPPLY Feed & Seed • Garden & Lawn Pet Food WE WILL CUSTOM ORDER FOR OUR CUSTOMERS! 402 E. Main St., Berryville, VA 955-1791 Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sat., 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Expert tHile Reasonable Prices (Eeramtc Residential and Commercial Kenneth A. Warren, Jr. Linden, VA (540) 364-1087 Miller Carpets Mohawk Headquarters Oriental Rugs Braided Rugs Most Other Major Brands All Major Brands of Vinyl Large Inventory of Rolls and Remnants We Install What We Sell 2 Convenient Locations * CO I 133 W. Shirley Ave. W 540-347-9646 Open House March 27 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Enjoy plenty of food and fun! TEST DRIVE A Mule or a f Tractor! r v .. Specials on Parts 20% off Cash and Carry Check out the New TVoy-Bilt Roto-tillers SEE OUR NEWEST PRODUCTS GREAT DANE CHARIOT • CHARIOT JR Smith & Sons Equipment, Corp. 8745 James Madison Hwy., Warrenton, VA 540-347-1991 • 800-248-3301 EVERYONE CAN SAVE AT THE CO-OP! _v f\ J n We Have What You Need To Get Ready For Spring! • Mulches • Fertilizers • Mowers • Paints • Soils & Soil Conditioners • String Trimmers • Poly Tarps & More! New Shipments Arriving Daily! Trees • Shrubs • Perennials • Vegetables • Bedding Plants • Small Fruit Plants Qjt$& op*WARRENTON FARMERS’ CO-OP 3 blocks from the intersection of Culpeper Street and Rt. 29S, 1 block from Horse Show Grounds Store Hours: Mon. - rn. 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Sar; 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 143 Washington Street • 347-7100 Member of VA Nurseryman’s Association WARRENTON

Do-it-yourself wins satisfaction, $10 y wire paid me ten bucks. Last year when I told my wife that I had | ordered some Impatiens i seeds, my wife taunted me. She said that while it was certainly possible in the abstract tor some people to grow Impatiens from seeds, she didn’t see how I could do it. She threw down the gauntlet in front of our son. “I’ll bet you $10 that you can’t grow Impatiens from seeds,” she challenged. I had to take her up. What kind of precedent would I have been setting for my only heir if I didn’t? At the time I had never even seen an Impatiens seed. When I did, I knew where my wife was coming from. They’re so tiny that 1,000 of them could fit in a shot glass. I had to build a light cart with PVC pipe. Cost about $100 total, and soon my little bet-winners were nestling into their potting soil, and I was monitoring their progress every day. Except there weren’t any in the beginning. As a matter of fact, I considered buying some Impatiens plants, transplanting them into my trays, and springing them on my unknowing wife. Only thing was that she was monitoring them every day as well, and she The BOTTOM LINE George Rowand wouldn’t fall for any shenanigans. She examined the trays every morning and evening with the intensity of a doctor looking for a tumor. Then she would turn to me and say, “Not doing much . . . are they?” with a sly smile. “They’re coming along . . .they’re coming along,” I’d reply, but the truth of the matter was that they weren’t coming along at all. I had planted them in straight Vermiculite to protect against the dreaded “damping off” that had done in my plants the previous year. That stuff just wasn’t providing much nutrition for my babies, so that when they finally emerged and got a bit of growth on them, I repotted them into some potting soil with a mild fertilizer in it. That gave them a big boost. I had proven my point — and my bet — I thought. I had grown Impatiens from seeds. Case closed. Pay up. The Wife found some wiggle room. Well, she started, with that tone in her voice that means that whatever I was thinking, it was definitely wrong. “Well, we really can’t say that just because you got some seeds to sprout that you’ve ‘grown’ Impatiens, now can we?” “But they are growing, and they are Impatiens . . She cut me off with, “How do we know until they’re in the ground and are flowering? How can we know for sure that you haven’t gotten some other seeds mixed up — inadvertently, I’m sure — with Impatiens. So let’s just say that I’ll pay up when we see the first Impatiens flowers.” End of argument. Now I had to nurse them past flower puberty and into full flowerhood. I checked them every day, and when the weather turned warm, I started planting them outside. Day after day, they grew bigger, but no flowers appeared. One day I took a close look at a couple of the plants and saw that their leaves were a bit yellowish. “They need iron,” I said, and I hightailed it to the garden center to get some chelated iron. I doused them with it. It seemed to make no difference. My spirits sagged. Finally, after about a month in the ground, I went on my normal pre breakfast tour of the flower beds, and there it was. A curled up blossom, ready to burst forth. The day had arrived! I called in sick, set up a camp chair in front of the flower and waited. Around about 3:36, the bloom popped open, and I had won my bet! “Who Da Man, huh? Who Da Man!” I shouted. I ran into the house and confronted my wife. “You owe me ten bucks! Pay up!” The Wife had to see it with her own eyes, of course, and grudgingly allowed that I was right. She went back in the house, found her purse and pulled out an Alexander Hamilton. She handed it over. It was one of the best moments of my married life. Following that success, I’ve expanded this year. I have 18 different seed packages to germinate. I have a schedule set up so that they should all be ready around Kentucky Derby Day or shortly thereafter. I’ll be placing seedlings in the ground that morning and watching the races all that afternoon. It’s a pleasant thought that has carried me through these cold winter nights. George Rowand is the business editor of the Fauquier Times-Democrat. Honey, Can I Please Mow the Lawn This Time? Kubota s TQ1860 (18HP) diesel lawn tractor is engineered to be both extremely comfortable and easy-to-operate. You II hardly notice you re "working" sitting in the deluxe, high-back comfort seat and enjoying the cushion-ride suspension, single-pedal cruise control and feather- lg power steering. _ , . You have a choice of mower decks, 48 and 54", a grass catcher, snowblower and front blade. . . And, with a 5-gallon fuel tank, whoever gets to work Kubota s TQ I860 will have a hard time taking turns! 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■ . ~ t r —— : :—7 —; : —; — — Comfort and decorating compatible he country look is unique — it has both a look and feel that is comfortable. And in a time when life can be so fast paced shouldn’t comI fort start at home? £ If you want a room to J be comfortable, its design must support the way you live, consider the following 1U ways to achieve the country look in your home without great effort or expense. • Clean up the clutter. As much as it is difficult to part with our belongings because they have sentimental value, do not get possessed by your possessions. Collectibles should enhance the design, look and feel of a room. Do you need a little space? • Rely on big bold checks in any color to make a room cheerful. Cowtan & Tbut and Brunschwig & Fils make a wide variety of plaids and checks at reasonable prices. Used on an oversized armchair; they can provide a comfortable spot for quiet reflection. • Whimsical accessories create a mood of playfulness in a room. Decorative wrought iron garden pieces and bird cages can be found at garden shops such as The Country living Brady Arundel Bittersweet Garden in The Plains. The shop has a wide selection of urns and garden decoration as well. Take a stroll through the Main Street gift shops for other fun addititions to your home. • Anchor a room with functional pine pieces such as a library table or credenza. They are sturdy and provide a great spot for storing clutter or displaying books and collectibles. Painted finishes can be youthful and just as pleasing as a natural pine finish. • Pictorial toiles de Jouy fabrics depict finely detailed pastoral scenes and provide color and pattern that can be used for slipcovers, pillows or even to cover a three-section screen. Pierre Deux makes affordable French toiles and remnants can often be spotted at discount fabric shops. • Classical architectural elements such as decorative pediments can be installed easily to create the timeless look of ornamental plaster work. Antique molding and architectural pieces might be made of wood or plaster while reproductions are usually made of a lightweight polyester resin. • Impersonate period lighting such as Early American wrought iron chandeliers with modem copies found at Crate & Barrel and Pottery Bam. • Replace that old hand-medown lamp from your grandmother with a fresh new painted wooden lamp. Keep the lines classical. A distressed crackle finish and hourglass shape give hand turned wooden lamps an air of originality. Keep the shade simple and white. • Search flea markets and auctions for old paintings that have potential. Still life paintings and printed engravings that have collected dust have always be reframed. A crisp linen matting and brushed gold frame will awaken tired art. • Look smart. Display a stack of old leather bound books on a table or mantle. They can be found at yard sales, antique and used bookstores. Brady Arundel Design is located in McLean, Va. at (703) 524-4940. Times Newspapers File Photo CANT PART WITH GRANDMA’S ROCKER? Update it. c&s Warren ton’s Florist Simply the Best 254 \V. Lee Huy. Warrenton, YA (540) 347-3493 OLD DOMINION SPECIALTY CONSTRUCTION, INC. Class A #2705038392A (703) 878-3575 FAX (703) 878-2925 Wall to Wall Carpet • Hardwood Floors Resillient Floors • Ceramic Tiles j£|f Oriental Rugs • Runners * Formica • Hartco • Bruce Floors • Mannington • Shaw Industries • Mohawk $ Queen 7373 Miramar Drive, Manassas, VA 30109 dp (703)257-0800 Hey, Fauquier Rappahannock and Clarke Counties! DISH Network Guarantees Local TV . Channels Now! Isnl it time you quit hanging onto cable? With their everincreasing prices and inferior picture quality, cable doesn't give you your money's worth. Ifiiii It ' I'hr lt«-%t Value In Sate Hite 1"V ' iijMi»Ni«B When you join DISH Network M satellite TV, you get a crystal- w clear, digital picture and crisp, clean, CD quality sound. America's Top 40™ programming package delivers 40 of your favorite channels, including 2 Disney Channels, for just $19.99 a month. FREE SYSTEM After rebate and programming contract. Cm Hm ft All. A vie wjla wwa irrre Front Royal 636-1068 AMTiit For /mt Fiat A 't»A0*//

Choice is name of the game By Chuck Backhaus Times Newspapers Staff Writer ust like the houses in which they reside, the kitchens and bathrooms of today are generally much larger and far more sophisticated than their ancestors. But the trend to go big is really just a tiny part of the picture. The real kicker is the ever-growing array of choices. Fifteen to 20 years ago, shopping for a kitchen and/or a bathroom was a fairly simple process, mostly because the choices were fairly limited. For example, in a typical showroom, there was usually one manufacturer who offered four or five cabinet styles. Today there is more likely to be four or five manufacturers, who may offer 100 or more styles. So after enduring the dizzying process of choosing your cabinetry, you can relax, right? Sorry. You have definitely jumped a significant hurdle but the process has only begun. What about counter tops, sinks, faucets, appliances, ventilation, tubs, saunas, showers, vanities, bidets, toilets, mirrors, molding and more? And See DECORATING, Page 26 Times Newspapers Photo/Roselie Malone START HERE: From the countertops to the tile above, the possibilities at Tolson’s Appliance and elsewhere are endless. Cornerstone Landscaping • Landscape Design Installation and Maintenance • Patios • Walkways * • Stone/Timber Walls J&'krmtiL. Water Gardens JjjM ' 'Sometimes the best rooms don't have walls. " 703-754-2843 540-341-4799 v Squeaky S Clean "Providing Friendly Service Since 1989" Commercial and , Residential Marshall, VA 20116 Amy L. Glascock (540)364-1185 ‘Bomby Disig% Women & Inc. Men: Lose 6-20 Inches In 60 Minutes. 100% Guarantee!! b Body Wr *Tai Call lor infoi ask about 01 (540) 34 110 West Shir www.suddenly jand - DIET DIET!! With A BIG 31 Ft.** POOL -31W Outside Dimension 24 x15 Swim Ares OTHERS MODELS AVAILABLE fcHOME EVERYTHING INCLUDED ' • FILTER & PUMP • POOL LADDER • FENCE & STAIRS • VINYL LINING * RATIO DECK • BRACING •WARRANTY -VACUUM ^ANDADOrflONAL^ *CALL24 HOURS A MY, 7 DAYS A WEEK DOOLEY POOLS FREDERICKSBURG, VA 1-800-447-7207 J

Decorating From Page 25 don’t forget about little ditties like lighting, stained glass, flooring, tile work, towel bars, soap trays and dispensers. And, of course, all of the aforementioned have their own intricacies to deal with. By now, it should be obvious, even if you are only replacing your cabinets, the details can quickly become overwhelming. Stay focused Whether you’re trying to win the Super Bowl or are embarking on some other project, it is usually best to have a polished game plan. Plays drawn in the dirt were fine when you were eleven, but now your playing in the big leagues. Elway’s good, but even he has to do his homework, and so do you. As of this moment, you are firmly in control. You are the master of your domain. The idea is to stay that way by becoming as informed as possible. Start your game plan with research. Read, and then read some more. The latest issue of Kitchen and Bath magazine and/or a similar publication would be a prudent move. Consumer Reports is also a good resource, especially for appliances. And as you are reading and compiling this information, reacquaint yourself with the details and habits of your family, while thinking about your wish list. _o_n_n_n__r\ r> r\ Because aside from their aesthetic beauty, kitchens and bathrooms are primarily there to be functional. And you want to make sure that when the project is complete that, at the very least, your family’s current and future needs will be met. For the kitchen, you might start by listing your family’s physical characteristics. Who is the primary cook? What is their age? Is he or she left or right handed? Does the primary cook have any physical limitations? How tall is this person; The height of all family members is very important in planning the design. In fact, you need to assess everyone who uses the space, and for what purpose they use it. Habits are very important. What types of meals are typically have a cooking hobby, i.e., baking or speciabty dishes? Who typically does the cleanup? How often do you shop for groceries? Do you buy in bulk? How do you store your vegetables and fruit? Is the kitchen a place for socialization? Would you like it to be? Where do you normally dine? How would you like the kitchen to relate to adjacent rooms? Do you prefer to display cooking utensils, if so, which ones? Do you recycle? These questions, plus the many prepared, ....—. *“■. and when Photo by Roselie Malone are they WHAT’S COOKIN? When redesigning a kitchen, consider how prepared? you work in the space. This kitchen featured at Tolson’s Appliance Does anyone in Warrenton looks inviting. that you will come up with on your own, should help your ideas to take shape. Choosing the proper fit Even if you are using the conduit services of a contractor, an architect and/or an interior designer, the showroom visit is an inevitable part of the process. In fact, the more likely scenario is that the primary person handling your project will be a kitchen and/or bathroom designer. Even further, kitchens and bathrooms have become. so sophisticated that a good specialist will be far more knowledgeable than the typical architect or interior designer. So, how do you go about choosing the right person for the job? Their are two very important factors: References and products. If you are lucky, the right specialist will also offer the products that you desire. Except at the extreme high end (or pure custom), most showrooms offer similar products. But every so often, an outstanding specialist may not be able to offei* the desired items. In that case, you may decide to work Out a design fee with that person, while purchasing your materials elsewhere. Many specialists will be certified by the “National Kitchen and Bath Association. They pass a test and are accredited as certified kitchen designers (CKD), certified bathroom designers (CBD), or both. Others may have college degrees, either in architecture, or more likely in interior design. See DECORATING, Page 27 Full Service Nursery 4531 Lee Highway (540) 341-2040 New Baltimore Area Warrenton, VA open 7 days r Claire’s Creative Caterin 58 Winchester St. VA 20186 540.341.0302 E-mail: claires@citizen.inh.net WWW.CLAIRESCATER1NG.COM )ne Stop General Contractor Remodel and Restoration Insurance Restoration New Homes Phone (540) 439-8890 Fax (540) 439-4106 Voice Mail (703) 366-4526 Class "A" Contractor License #2705 029428A You’ll Still Need to Work Out... ...if you want to sweat. tList Price1 $312000 Sale Price> $>2499“? Kubota's easy-to-drive T1460 riding mower takes the chore out of yard work. A single-pedal hydrostatic transmission, full flat operator's deck and large fuel tank make short work of the longest yard, no sweat. 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Decorating From Page 26 Credentials are important but they are only part of the picture. In some cases a very good specialist may only possess experience. But whomever you become interested in, investigate him or her and the business. A quick call to the Better Business Bureau and/or the Chamber of Commerce will provide a clue as to the company’s credibility. You may even go further and call the Virginia Home Improvement Association and/or the courts to see if they have any pending civil suits. As for the specialists themselves, ask to see samples of their work and talk to at least three of their former clients — the more the merrier. More importantly, ask to speak with a couple of clients with whom they have had difficulties. Again, these are sophisticated projects and the likelihood for some error is pretty high. The important thing is to find out how they and their company handle mistakes. Bees From Page 7 Harman observed that wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets deserve “three cheers” instead of human fears. “They’re predators. Meat-eaters. Dinner for them is a juicy caterpillar that’s busy eating up your crop.” Beehives in Brooklyn? For individuals who want to play a role in pollination but don’t want to be beekeepers, Harman recommends seeking out local beekeepers who may want to put a hive on your property, or otherwise engage in small-scale pollination. Gardeners should also be more discriminate about pesticide usage, Harman added, and look into methods of integrated pest management. Anyone who buys produce can assist by investing in organic goods. In addition to eating cleaner food, a large market share of organic-produce consumers helps to discourage indiscriminate pesticide application. Beekeeping, or apiculture, need not be limited by space. “You can set up a colony anywhere,” Harman said, noting that some beekeepers are penthouse-dwellers in New York City. For Harman, the benefits of apiculture include an intimate understanding of the natural facts of pollination, along with a more dynamic connection to the world of the bee. “I can go to a colony and listen,” Harman mused, “And I can hear if it doesn’t have a queen.” Harman encourages anyone interested in beekeeping to contact her at (540) 364-4660 (fax & phone), or by email at AHworkerB@aol.com. '?a&Uc SrttfxniuvK Let us help with all your decorating projects • Furniture: Hickory Chair, Wesley Hall & Others • Lamps & Lamp Shades • Unique Accessories • Wallpaper: Shumacher, Thibaut, Stroheim &. Romann, etc. • Custom Window Treatments & Bedding PLUS thousands of yards of Designer Fabrics Discounted 50 - 80% Store Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9:30 - 6:00 Sat. 9:30 - 5:00 78 Main Street Warrenton, VA k 540-349-9467 Garden From Page 8 and watch for mature size — some get four feet tall! Sunny goundcovers are limited only by your imagination. Pick your favorite color and find its compliment on a color wheel. Mix the two and bask in the glory. Some great combinations for full sun are eared coreopsis and veronica in spring. Rudbeckia (Indian summer) and blue lobelia are charming in summer. For a fall show try solidago (golden fleece) and aster (purple dome). Add a third color or white to fill in. More butterflies are attracted to masses of a few species than to a confusing mixture. Be sure to cut an edge around the new bed to discourage turf grass from creeping in. This simple chore will drastically cut down on maintenance. At the foundation Take a look at the foundation plantings around the house. If you’ve grown tired of them or, as often happens, they’ve outgrown their space, think about adding a new shade tree and grouping the old shrubs around it. This is a very economical technique to refresh the look of a landscape. Reconsider whether you even need shrubs circling the house. Many newer homes are attractive right to the ground and look better with plantings a little away from the foundation. Early spring is a great time to add shade trees as many have just arrived at local nurseries and our weather should stay cool while new roots establish. Look for yellowwood (cladrastis lutea), a little-known native tree that absolutely drips with white clusters of flowers every few years. Unusual and fun, yellowwood is now appearing at more nurseries than ever. Sweet gum is wonderful for fancy leaves and fall color, not to mention fairly quick shade. Or plant an oak for future generations. Spring in Virginia can be mercilessly brief. Better get your “gardening bug” in remission before the real fever hits! Regina Yurkonis is the owner of Perennium — Wildlife Landscaping in Warrenton, a design firm that focuses on native plants and wildlife habitat. Don't miss the April daffodil show and sale in Upperville. 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What a concept: incentive cleaning By Laura Weinberg Times Newspapers Special Writer * or some people it seems quite effortless. If they have a foyer, it shines. In the bathroom, there are no y towels on the floor, no mildew in the tub, no spots on the mirror. Throughout the house, high corners are cobweb-free and low comers gather no dust. Enter the kitchen and find a sink tree ot dishes and, even inside closed cupboards, everything is neatly arranged. You’d never step on yesterday’s Cheerios on their kitchen floor. And then, there are the rest of us... Know thyself If a messy house makes you cringe, please read no further: these words are intended for your less fortunate friends. It is not a story for the fainthearted or the pure-at-housekeeping, but a story for those whose intentions are good but whose bureaus need dusting. Does your bureau need dusting? If it does, and you are reading instead, you may be like me. You procrastinate. You may be easy-going, easily distracted, and not overly organized. You make a great guest — because you are not particular — but since the house is a bit disheveled, you may not entertain much yourself. I hope you will find helpful these tips for achieving a neat — not just clean — home. Entertain often Binge cleaning is no way to live, but it can be a good place to start. “Ahh, so that’s what color my carpet is!” you exclaim to your long-lost friend, Mr. Vacuum Cleaner. There is nothing like the impending arrival of guests to encourage a little overdue housekeeping. Just remember, while stuff can be stashed at the last minute, the lingering scent of cleaning agents is a deadgive away that your home is not always House Beautiful. Try to do any chemical cleaning a day in advance. (If you clean more regularly you can do a whole lot more with just soap and water.) The more often you entertain, the more often you will see the attractive possibilities that lie beneath clutter and dust. Be generous “Pack rat” is an unfair term for people who are just a little extra-sentimental. But even nostalgia needs limits. Go to the grocery store and get sev Times Newspapers Staff Photo/R.B. Gassie REWARD: Is this a goal for you? eral large cardboard boxes. Mark some “give away”. Mark others “throw away”. Do you really need to save Reader’s Digests from 1991? Give them to a local nursing home. Call a kindergarten teacher and see if she wants your old Country Livings for the kids to make collages. If you don’t have time to sort right away, just box everything up. Label boxes of clutter according to room (“living room, misc.”, etc). If you don’t miss the contents after a few months, it may be a sign to get rid of them. Paper contents too valuable to toss? Label one box “memorabilia” and from time to time sift through it. It is a good way to determine what is most precious. Letters from old flames, for instance, may best belong in the fireplace, While a letter from a favorite aunt from the old country may be something worth keeping. Treat yourself If you do not have a built in aversion to mess, you simply have to create your own, alternative motivation. And now at last, I can share my most effective invention and favorite chore: “incentive-based sweeping.” What do I really want in the morning? Coffee. But, before I can have a cup of coffee, I must sweep the house. Sound cruel and unusual? Well, it works. (It doesn’t hurt to have a small house.) While the coffee is brewing, I sweep. Boy, does that coffee taste good. Incentives should fit the task. A larger task such as cleaning the tub or the oven might merit a cup of coffee and biscotti at a cafe, for instance. French fries. Anything. Little treats can be great incentives. RE-TECH \SE-iECH e^r.te . We Repair, Resurface. Relevel, Caulk. Rejoint, Protect. Beautify your concrete Repair • Restore • Protect Call (703) 791-1372 ANNE C. HALL, crs. Associate Broker Rainbow-V.I.P. Realtors 2M Broadview Avenue • Warren ton, VA 20186 (540) 341-3538 • (540) 349-1400 Toll Free: 1-800-523-8846, ext. 538 E ntail: messages@ralnbowvip.com QJ jg • zo years oi real estate experience in Fauquier County • Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) • Graduate of the REALTORS Institute (GRI) • Past President. Fauquier Board of Realtors • Fauquier Chamber of Commerce • 1987 Business Person of the Year • Chairperson. Fauquier Hospital Board of Trustees • Member, Fauquier County Architectural Review Board • Associate Broker with Rainbow-V.l.P. REALTORS • Life Member, Million Dollar Sales Club • Greater Piedmont Area Association of REALTORS • Member, Fauquier County Chamber of Commerce • Member, Fauquier Historical Society • Board Member, Fauquier Free Clinic YOUR TREES DESERVE THE BEST OF CARE Trees are valuable assets. Don't entrust their future to less than caring professionals. Bartlett leads the way in tree care with trained arborists, research facilities, nationwide experience and specialized equipment.For a professional evaluation of your tree care needs, call today. There is no obligation. All Phases of Tree Care: Residential and Commercial BARTLETT TREE EXPERTS Scientific Tree Care Since 1907 BARTLETT P.O. Box 398, Marshall, VA (5401 3A4.7401 Backed by the Bartlett Tree Research Laboratones and Experimental Grounds, Charlotte, North Carolina ® 1991 Bartlett Tree Experts

Little things count "" ust the right area rug can make or break your home. As an example, a client and I just went shopping for her newly built home. We have been working all along with nice neutrals — warm caramel carpeting, light brown leather sofas, soft antique white walls and white trim. But this was just to be a backdrop to the colors we would select for fabrics and wallpapers, etc. We needed something special to catch our eye. That “something special” can come from any number of items important to exciting design: a spectacular wallpaper for the kitchen; a delicious fabric for the window treatment in the living room; a painting, from your grandmother or newly purchased from a recent trip to a local gallery. In this instance, the something special was a vibrant needlepoint rug for the entry hall. You will be amazed how easily everything starts flowing together when you have found one extraordinary item with which to work. This will then play a pivotal role in developing the color scheme for one room or the whole rest of the house. Fabrics are great sources of inspiration in this respect. You can even pick a very expensive decorator fabric featured in all the decorating magazines. When used sparingly, one fabric Finesse From The Farm Mimi Forbes mixed with a few or lots of other coordinating and compatible patterns becomes the heart and soul of your home design. Being a lover, collector and seller of art, I find real paintings to be viable stimulus in creating a special effect in a room. In the case of my client and her terrific new rug, the entry hall establishes the welcoming tone of the house with a riot of color at your feet. These same colors are reflected in the kitchen wallpaper just to the right of the entry and are sprinkled throughout the living room/dining room — on windows, pillows on the leather sofas, throws, table rounds and seat cushions. When selecting that special something for your own home, be sure that you really love it; it makes you smile, and your husband doesn’t have heart failure when you bring it home! Muni Forbes, the owner of Lilac Farm, is a creator of fine interiors and a seller of fine art; 341-0167. Temperature Controlled Beverage Chiller 25.8 Cu.Ft. Ice'N Water Side-By-Side • Temp-Assure™ Controls • Temperature Controlled Beverage Chiller™ • Clean 'n clear™ Water Filtration • Model SXD26V Tolson Appliance Center 470 Broadview Avenue, Warrenton 347-3030 FurHJUture, gallery FiktZ, LUU!JiS for the, bed, bath St table, QlftS with, Style, Statwnery Soaps, salts St scents 1SS North, Brtuidock, Street, Old Teton, WituAuter/VA, $10-662*1$$ Mondey-Saturday 10ettt-S:$Opm,A. SetneUy 12fmo~S(h*o * * J{er6 Jair & Sale 1 ^ _ Saturday, May l, 1999 10 am - 4 pm rain or ihim Oatiand* Plantation Rt 15, 6 miias south of Lootburg, VA 703 777-3174 Free Admission to Fair Lane’s Pressure Washing •Wolmans certified contractor •Concrete, pools, stone, brick •Bams (cleaned and disinfected) •Serving area since 1990

Gorilla From Page 9 landscaping. A side benefit is that you limit the chances to mow over your plants, which I did with some frequency last year. Have your piles of dirt, mulch, manure, etc. delivered all at once. You’ll have only one argument with your spouse, saving precious time for important stuff like- laying in the hammock and reading those great magazines with pictures of gardens. Don’t, however, waste time thinking your garden will look % like the pictures. They belong to lottery winners, millionaire heiresses and landscape architects who have large, expensive armies. The second strategy is to save money Remember to get free plants whenever possible — neighbors, garden club buddies, roadsides (especially daylilies). Do not believe the rumors that free plants create Y2K hazards. Avoid flowers and shrubs that require a lot of water. One way to find drought-tolerant plants is to garden in Warrenton through a dry spell like we had last summer. Unless you took out a loan from The Fauquier Bank to pay for enough water to keep your plants alive, you found out real quick what lives and dies. Plant more of those that surv i v e d . Water rs-S’ rates in town are not going down. Buy in volume, in one trip the nursery, and find a way get a discount. Increase savings by waiting till late AugustSeptember when the stuff goes on sale. Third, remember that flowers do not a garden make. tm :*N* / Your friends will i b e I impressed I when the f flowers are in bloom but what they will remember later is the little cement cherub you stuck in the wrong place in the flower bed. Garden ornaments, neatly trimmed hedges, stone walls, flagstone or brickwalks, and shrubs with a naturally sculptured form are what create the garden. The flowers, like you, just live there. Mulch (free from the town and Virginia Power if you get there first) conceals a multitude of sins, which as a Gorilla Gardener you’re going to be committing regularly. The flowers, like you, just live there. Joe Winkelmann A two-inch-deep, V-shaped trench between the flower bed and the lawn makes your mulch look deeper and holds the line against grass invasion. Finally, we need to save our strength This is not the last war of the roses. Never garden without a lawn chair and glass of iced tea close by. Spend at least as much time sitting and enjoying as you do working. Never garden alone. Invite friends to drop by when you plan to be working. If your wife or husband promises to behave, they can come, too. Makes a great excuse to put off whatever the next chore is. Never take your phone into the garden. Real people in a real garden under a shady tree are in. Telemarketers and tax collectors are out. Enjoy the victory. After all, it’s your garden. --- mm? "For All Your Water Well Needsn Well Pump Service Water Filter Sytems Now Offering Hand Pumps J (540)937-5994 36 Main St. • Warrenton 347-3636 Open Daily AMISH WIMILL Crafts • Furniture • Gifts • Food I nique Handcrafted Decor and Accessories, All in the Time-Honored Amish Tradition • Jellies & Jams | • Corner Cupbocfds • Pie Safes • Jelly Cabinets • Wooden Toys Continually changing inventory of unique handcrafted decor and accessory items. PRE-SPRING WALL TO WALL CARPET SALE! PAY IN 6 MONTHS • 0% INTEREST* oriental! RUG SALE I all extra I Handmade & Machine Made Rugs With Coupon 20%! OFF ' HKKItKK SPIXIAL 99 sq. yd. (Reg. $21.99) Installed with Pad J homi; SI I 1 I K S dioKi: i$"l "I 99 I 11 sq- yd(Reg. $19.99) * Installed with Pad 11)1 VI . FOR WHOLK HOI SI (Reg. $21.99) j Installed with Pad ® I_I 1)1 rabu; C AKPKT KID PROOF 99 sq. yd. $ 16 | (Reg. $24.99) • Installed with Pad | MAhNINGTON j HARDWOOD $/f ©Q installed per sq.ft. 3.4 Solid Oak Polyurethane Min. 300 sq. ft. 12X9 KITCHEN INSTALLED VINYL $9QQ FROM No Wax Floor Suh-flooring extra if needed .FASHION CARPET & RUG ZT MANASSAS 8618 Centreville Road (Next to Pubtic Library) SUN CLOSED sm 703-690-2277 • 703-361-2266

A/C & Heating Service Bath Remodeling A & B Bath Remodeling Complete Bathroom Remodeling & Repair, Shower Door Installation & Repair Lie. & Ins. • Free Est. 703-257-4778 Basement A & B Basement Finishing Renovations, Remodeling, Repairs, Complete Basement Finishing & Repair Licensed & Insured Free Estimates 703-257-4778 Carpentry CAPITOL CAftPLNilkV Decks Trim Work Framing Sheds Porches Specializing In Doors & Windows Renovations Kitchen Cabinets Hardwood Flooring Licensed & Insured 540-636-6390 Construction Construction Services • Historic Restoration • Building Remodeling • New Construction • Foundation Stabilization • Waterproofing & Drain Installation • Sentry Steel Building (540) 829-6257 Deck/ Power Washing H2O Power Washing Professional Pressurewashing ALL WORK GUARANTEED Complete Deck & Fence Restoration , We Pressure Wash All Concrete & Brick Surfaces House Cleaning of Vinyl & Aluminum_ Sealing of All Surfaces ["10% ~OFF"] CHRIIS DOLAN J wf ™* j 703-771-4946 J Excavating Excavating ‘Division of Lace •Trucking & ‘Equipment, Inc. brain Fields H Ponds • Basements Riding Rings * Clearing Quality Work and satisfied customers are our #1 priority 374 Ben Venue Rd. ISSLlSSS Flint Hill. VA 22627 - (540) 675-342S| Vest's Escavating Specialized Backhoe, Dump Truck Hauling, Ditch Digging, Culverts, Mowing, Bushhogging & Driveway Grading, Snow Removal 540-675-1117 Farm Services County Form Service, Inc. 325 Wausau Place - Culpeper. Virginia 22701 Phone: (540) 825-2381 - Fax: (540) 829-0042 1 1 —Of. uw wnvic« Complete Lawn and Landscape Services * New Seeding • Overseeding • Sodding • Fertilizing • Liming • Free Soil Tests • Specialty Spraying • Weed & Insect Controls * Commercial & Residential Maintenance • Ponds & Lake Maintenance • Fence & Rightway Maintenance Lawn Care IIReliable Lawn Care Plus Mowing Trimming Rototilling Residential/ Commercial Reliable Lawn Care Plus... Call Today! 540-923-48481 ^ CORUMS >1AWN & LANDSCAPE ^ II we cant do It It can’t be done! • FREE ESTMATES CONSTRUCTION LANDSCAPING: Sprtng/Fa# Clean-up SMALL Gravel Tree Work Planting, etc LAWN CARE: Mowing Fertilizing Sodding, etc 3645 Milestone Road The Plains, VA 20198 HAULING: Detons Sand. Etc DESIGN/ PMio's BUILD: Retaining Walls Side Walks. Etc. PROPRIETOR James Edward Coram Office: 540-253-9701 Painting Klinkenberger Painting Services BRUSH • ROLL • SPRAY Exterior/ Interior Commercial • Residential • Lie. • Ins. FREE ESTIMATES Mark Klinkenberger 540-364-4531 Bob's Custom Painting „ & Remodeling Roofs, barns and fence painting 540-778-1187 Toll Free 1-877-883-0792 Home Improvement N.E.P. Construction, Inc. Additions, Remodeling, Decks, Repairs GENERAL CONTRACTOR Residential & Commercial Complete Main. Service For Free Est. Call 540-937-5454

^ ^: > gLFbrniaf • Traditional • Contemporary | v % Ml/i I:\ll7! Firm MEDA1 HON Hi! S139.95 Sa\s. S60 S.iu V? V399.95 $JW SI(10 N499.95 vn, s2n AT ALOW PRICE! S249.vr* Save S^O n2_4.^S Save S“S Simmons Beautvrest WORLD CLASS s599.^.s s.iu' S200 SS99.95 Save S2U0 LOWEST PRICE EVER! 619 Frost Averue Warrenton Tov»n Centre (540) 341-4346