Rappahannock News, March 29, 2000

274994 LIBRARY OF.VIRGINIA - SERIAL'S SECTION 800 E BROAD ST RICHMOND VA 23219-1905 ti-n.r. 123st Year ... No. 13 Phone (540)675-3338 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 2000 www.timespapers.com 50 cents Rapp Briefs r > Daylight Savings time begins Daylight Savings Time begins this weekend. Don’t forget to “Spring Ahead” one hour before going to bed Saturday night, particularly if you’re planning to attend church on Sunday. Baldwins set to appear April 3 Danny and Bonnie Sue Baldwin will be tried for bear poaching and the sale of illegally taken wildlife on Monday, April 3 at 10 a.m. in Charlottesville. Bear poaching is considered a felony and the maximum penalty is five years incarceration and a fine of $250,000. The Baldwins were indicted on March 11,1999 due to the ongoing Operation SOUP (Special Operation to Uncover Poaching) conducted by the National Park Service, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Cleanup slated The Smokehouse Winery is sponsoring a road cleanup on Saturday, April 1 from 9 a.m. until noon along Scenic Byway 231 as it runs south from Route 522 towards F.T. Valley Grocery and a little beyond. The winery will provide refreshments and munchies for all those participating afterward at the winery as a thank you for coming out and helping to keep Rappahannock and one of the state’s more picturesque byways beautiful. Please meet at F.T. Valley Grocery on Saturday morning around 8:30. For questions or information call the winery at 987-3194. Fodderstack 10-K 2000 set April 15 On Saturday, April 15 the 22nd annual Fodderstack 10-K Race will be run from Flint Hill to Washington. There are 11 categories again this year. Bus service begins from Washington to Flint Hill at approximately 3:45 a.m. Registration in Flint Hill at the volunteer fire department starts at 8:30 a.m. and runs until 9:30 in time for the race’s start at 10. Pre-registration (postmarked by April 8) is $17, and $20 the day of the race. For additional information and/or registration forms call 6757171 or 675-3342. Happenings • Monday, April 3 the Rappahannock Board of Supervisors will meet at 2 and 7 p.m. at the Rappahannock Courthouse. New agenda items include: Culpeper Soil & Water District memorandum of understanding; Primary Road Pre-Allocation Hearing scheduled; set date for school budget public hearing. The 7 p.m. session will include: Playhouse Corp/Lorin Maazel private school; Review of underpass request by Maazel for Route 617 and Mulky Mountain Agricultural and Forestal District renewal. Rappahannock News P.O. Box 59 Washington, Va. 22747 (540) 675-3338 (540) 675-3088 (fax) Spring blossoms Photo courtesy of Cynthia Stamps Many fields throughout Rappahannock County are ablaze with yellow blossoms, commonly known as Mustard or Turnip blooms. In the background sits the Woodville Baptist Church. See related poem B-1. Threat of urban ‘sprawl’ to be discussed at forum 1 BY JAMES P. GANNON Rappahannock News Contributing Writer Pick up any newspaper these days and you are likely to see an article about suburban sprawl. Turn on the radio and you get “sprawl and crawl” reports on traffic. oprawl has become one ot the buzzwords of our era. The problem with discussing sprawl is that it is sort of like pornography, it’s hard to define, but you know it when you see it. You see it when you drive through Manassas and Centreville, once peaceful Virginia country towns turned into congested bedroom communities. You see it creeping from Gainesville along Route 29 to surround Warrenton. You see it in nearby Culpeper County, with its housing developments on Route 211, edging up to the borders of Rappahannock County. So now the question becomes: Can Rappahannock County be saved from the steadily expanding spread of sub urban sprawl? That issue will be explored in depth at a public forum next month to be sponsored by the Rappahannock League for Environmental Protection and the Amissville Area Community Association. The program, “Saving Rappahannock County from Urban Sprawl,” will be presented at the Amissville Fire Hall on Friday evening, April 14, at 7:30 p.m. The program is free and open to the public. This program is the first in a series of “town meetings” planned by RLEP this year. The program on sprawl will feature recognized experts and activists deeply involved in the escalating public contention over Ar A Glance What: “Saving Rappahannock County from Urban sprawl When: April 14, at 7:30 p.m. Where: Amissville Fire Hall Details: Program sponsored by the Rappahannock League for Environmental Protection and the Amissville Area Community Association sprawl and its enects in Northern Virginia. As rapid growth has overrun large portions of open land in nearby counties such as Prince William, Loudoun and Fauquier, sprawl and its consequences, such as traffic jams and high taxes, have become Northern Virginia’s hottest political issue. Rappahannock County has been spared from sprawl so far, but as development creeps closer, the danger of a spillover of sprawl into our county grows. This is the issue that will be explored at the April 14 forum, which will examine the experience of nearby counties and explore whether Rappahannock can do anything now to avoid following the same pattern in the future. The lead-off speaker at the Amissville meeting will be Ed Risse, a leading authority on land use and community planning. Mr. Risse’s consulting firm, Synergy Planning, Inc., based in Fairfax County, specializes in See THREAT, Page A8 School board caught in the headlights By Gerald Ochs Rappahannock News Special Writer In a move that appeared more symbolic than substantive, the school board last night defied the will of the attending public and moved to reduce the salary increases for administrators proposed in the superintendent’s budget. Speaker after speaker decried the motion to shave what was estimated to be from $7,000 to $18,000 from the budget by dropping step increases that were designed to bring Rappahannock school administrator salaries in line with state averages but, despite ample opportunity, the board declined to consider alternatives. E-mails and phone calls alerting Rappahannock residents to the possibility of budget cutting at Tuesday night’s school board meeting brought out a respectable <yowd apd forced a venue change from the school board offices to the high ^school auditorium. Nearly thirty attended, land those who spoke were unanimous in their opposition to any cost-cpjStting that would impact upon school ^taff pay. Superintendent Dr. Da*id Gangel appeared surprised by tbe motion forwarded by Jackson District member Rebecca Cordani and seconded by Stonewall-Hawthqtme representative Franklin Warner to “keejiiadnunistrator salaries] at one stdjjp increase this year” and he Offered to find another non-salary sourca for budget cuts. At this point in the discussion, the motion was interpreted as the elimination of the proposed 2.5 percent increase as well as the multiple step increases that were promised by last year’s board to make administrator salaries regionally competitive, and he characterized such a move as “punitive.” After his pronouncement, Ms. Cordani modified her motion to restore the 2.5 percent increase, but to maintain the elimination of all but one step of the multiple step increase. The amended motion was seconded by Hampton’s Rose Ann Sharp, and the vote for the cut was three in favor and one opposed (Chair Rosa Crocker) and with Mr. Warner responding to the call by variously answering “here” and “present.” Mr. Warner’s vote was taken as an abstention. After the vote Dr. Gangel asked for a clarification, and that request led to apparent board confusion and, ultimately, a second motion by Mrs. Sharp to “adopt the salary scale on page 46 of the budget and stick with one step increase.” The motion was seconded by Ms. Crocker and after much additional discussion was unanimously adopted. The public rejects cuts After board approval of the salary increase-cutting motion, the public See BOARD, Page A8 Ready, set, read! Would parents encourage their children’s love of reading if they could? Of course. What’s more, they can! Scholastic Book Fairs comes to Rappahannock County Elementary School Library on April 4 through 10, to bring the newest books and exciting learning products from more than 150 publishers to readers of all ages. The fair is open to the community. The Book Fair features traditional children’s favorites and the latest works by popular authors and illustrators. Parents and teachers will find plenty to interest them too. The fair is open each day from 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. A special “Family Night” will be held on Thursday evening, April 6, until 8 p.m. to accommodate those who cannot come during the day. Everyone is welcome! Building classroom libraries is one goal of the fair. Fair visitors can review the “Classroom Wish List” display and then purchase and donate requested books for any classroom’s library. The Book Fair helps Rappahannock County Elementary Library promote learning while raising money for library projects. For more information, you may contact Mrs. Aney Massie at 9878259 during school hours. Mountain Lions? A large Royal Mute Swan was found killed on a farm lake near The Plains this week by an animal the Warrenton State Lab autopsy concludes was caused either by huge dog (80 to 100 pounds) or by a Mountain Lion. These big cats are known to have migrated in recent years east into the Blue Ridge Mountains. It would be appreciated if anyone knowing of a Mountain Lion sighting would telephone 540347-7144.

‘Bird’s eye’ views The bluest of blue flowers of a tiny earth-hugging plant is a sure sign of spring for me. I found a patch in our driveway, and it looked as if a bit of blue sky had fallen. These very early blue flowers appear just when I long for spring color and am winter weary. The odd thing about the flowers is that they close in on themselves and disappear — or seem to — at the slightest change such as rain, a cold wind, a cloudy day or even the sun disappearing behind a cloud for a few minutes. The common names are “speedwell” and “bird’s eye.” The origin of the first is curious, and I will get to that. Bird’s eye baffles me, for I have only seen one bird with a blue eye — a fledgling raven, just out of the nest. Speedwell, with its cobalt-blue flowers, is one of a group of plants that I call “elegant aliens,” one of those herbaceous plants from Europe that have adapted to the New World and become part of spring. Like us, they came and thrived, often at the expense of1 native inhabitants. Kenilworth ivy, which grows over the stone walls of Flint Hill, is one of my “elegant aliens.” Another is the field or wild pansy, a tiny violet of the palest lavender that carpets the ground in some areas. The little blue flower that has captured my affection is in a large group of plants — mostly introduced — with the genus name of Veronica. Legend relates the gentle story of St. Veronica who wiped the tears from Christ’s face on his way to Calvary; the flowers resemble the imprint of his tears left on her hand kerchief. Another version states that the image of the face of Christ was imprinted. The word “veronica” is derived from two Latin terms meaning “true image,” so the second version seems more appropriate. It’s a lovely story. Why were the Veronicas — some are considered to be invasive weeds — brought to America? Many of these plants accompanied settlers as seeds to be planted in the New World for their medicinal properties. Others were used as herbs in cooking, while most, it seems, were accidental and arrived clinging to the great stones used as ballast in sailing ships. The tiny seeds of the Veronicas were also included in shipments of seeds of plants for food. At any rate, they are here and will remain so — like us. A number of stories surround the All Things Wild And Wonderful John Trott name “speedwell.” The most interesting is that the word is a corruption of “spit-well.” In England — and no doubt, in America — a brew was made from the plant to relieve coughs and act as an expectorant. So — spit-well. Makes sense to me. Maybe I should have brewed up some “spit-well” to relieve my cough instead of spending so much for a concoction I bought at the drug store. On a cold and overcast morning in mid-March after a night of wind and rain, I went out to pick a bit of Veronica to verify my identification. I found it to be Veronica persica. (Persica means “of Persia.” Is that where the plant originated?) The flowers were tightly closed in on themselves. Leaves, about a halfinch across, were arranged alternates ly on hairy stems of a most delicate shade of purple. The leaves were nearly round with shallow, upwardturned teeth. In the warmth of the house, the four petals began to expand outward. With a magnifying glass, I saw that the flower at the end of the reclining stem was elegance in miniature. The underlying color of the petal is nearly white; there is only a hint of blue. Deep purple lines from the base to the tip combine with the nearly white petal to give the illusion of sky blue. Even the stamens — there are only two — have minute anthers of the deepest and purest indigo blue. What marvels are revealed under a magnifying glass! Write Virginia naturalist John Trott care of this newspaper: PO. Box 59, Washington, Va., 22747. RCPS News BY JAN MAKE LA Volunteer Coordinator Public School System • RCES Primary Science Fair is in progress this week. Science projects from students in grades kindergarten through third are on display in the gym through Friday morning. If you have an opportunity to stop by to visit the fair, please do so. So much is gained by participating in a Science Fair. Students learn to research, organize, analyze and record data, summarize, and so much more. All of these are skills which will benefit the students in other areas. It is a great exercise in critical thinking, a skill we will use for the rest of our lives. • We have rfiany 4-H All Stars in our midst! Apparently All Star status is extremely difficult to achieve and you hold that distinction for a lifetime. RCES Volunteer and former School Board Member Mrs. Frances Thornton, RCES Guidance Counselor Mrs. Candace Lamma, RCES Aide Mrs. Jennifer Gray, and RCES Parents Mrs. Jan Palmer and Mrs. Hazel Zinn-Day have all been honored with this title. • There seems to be some confusion as to the exact dates of .Spring Break this year. Schools will be closed from April 17-24. They will re-open r on Tuesday. Please mark your calendars. Students should come back well rested and ready to tackle the last month of school. • Did you know that March is Women’s History Month? Women through the ages have made major contributions to the arts, medicine, science and more. Harriet Tubman, Florence Nightingale, Eleanor Roosevelt and Madame Curie are just a few examples. Take time to discuss some of these incredible achievements with your children. • Fourth to seventh grade students at RCES were treated to a multi-media presentation last week about the perils of immigrating from another country and entering the United States near the beginning of the 20th century. Many came to this country looking for freedom; others were looking for jobs. We were in the midst of an industrial revolution and factory owners needed workers. Other immigrants came expecting to find great wealth and were, more often than not, disappointed. The program dealt with the passage on ship across the ocean, the manner of processing immigrants once they reached Ellis Island and the tragedies associated with working in “sweat shops”. PUBLIC HEARING Amendment of FY 2000 Town of Washington Budget On Wednesday, April 12, 2000, at 7:30 p.m. the Town Council of Washington, Virginia shall hold a Public Hearing at the Town Hall in Washington, Virginia, to consider amending its current fiscal year budget. The nature of the amendment is to expend $175,000.00 plus settlement costs to acquire a certain parcel of real estate, briefly described as Tax Map Parcel 19-71A containing 21.0293 acres, more or less, situate on Virginia Route 626 in Hampton Magisterial District, Rappahannock County, Virginia. Additionally, the Town will consider the expenditure of additional sums for engineering and other studies relating to the property not to exceed $10,000.00. A copy of the option agreement relating to the acquisition of the real estate is on file at the Town Clerk's office and at the Zoning Administrator's office and may be inspected during normal business hours. You are invited to attend and to express your view. This hearing to amend the FY 2000 Town of Washington Budget is held in accordance with § 15.2-2507 of the Code of Virginia 1950, as amended. JLV/s3« □ Please enter my new subscription to: Sappahanuocb Subscription Rates By Rappahannock.*21.°° Elsewhere in the U.S.*27.°° Name Address City. State_ Zip. Mail subscriptions arc payable in advance. Make check or money order payable to: Sappaikamtock Situis, P.O. Box 59, Washington, VA 22747 This form may also be used for CHANGE OF ADDRESS Old Address: New Address: I The Rappahannock New* (ISSN #’s 1050-7655 & 188280) is published every 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. Many thanks to Gifted and Talented Teacher Mrs. Amy Gubler for arranging this wonderful program. The program was from the point of view of a young Irish girl, but many of us have ancestors who shared the same kinds of experiences, i Whether they were German, ■ Finnish, Italian or whatever, £ we owe them a debt of grati- i tude for sacrificing so much to come to America in search of a better life. Children are very interested in family history. Try sharing some stories of your family’s ancestry with your little ones. • Kindergarten registration will take place at RCES during the week of April 4-6. If you have a child who will be entering kindergarten in the fall, please call now for an appointho will irten all A meiiL. ivirs. r ay Smoot or Mrs. , Danette Opseth j will be available J to help you at fl 987-8259.' Remember, | appointments are made on a first come, first served” basis. • During kindergarten registration there will be an information table in the lobby by the main office containing brochures, booklets and flyers with information for parents of children aged 0-5. The infor mation will cover immunizations, nutrition and other services pre-school children. Please take time to stop by and browse through this information. The table is sponsored by the RCES PTO in cooperation with the Social Services Department, the Rappahannock Health Department and the Virginia Cooperative Extension Office. • The Rappahannock County Health Department WCDS News BY LORI FERREIRA Rappahannock News Contributing Writer • Last weekend, under the direction of Mrs. Aney Massie Hoehn and with music by Mrs. Emma Sue Amos and Yenan Boya. • On March 16, Dr. IMarilene Patten Henry accompanied her A.P. Economics students on a field trip to New York by train. While in the city, they staved at the Whitney Matthews, the WCDS Drama Club delighted audiences with two showings of its Spring Play, “The Importance of Being Earnest”, an Oscar Wilde comedy about love, deceit, and mistaken identity. A splendid performance was presented by cast members James Mumper, Dana Ferreira, Sarah-Elizabeth Hunt, Brittany Hammelman, Maureen Dale, Britton Wood, Mandee Judd, Christina Luke, Elizabeth Williams and Morgan Neil, many of whom made their stage debut in “Earnest”. The stage crew included Whitney Matthews, Eileen Cummings, Anja Stolzel, Morgan Neil and home oi Francois and Coreen Henry. The group witnessed the incredible wealth of Henry Clay Frick, who made his fortune in steel in the early nineteenth century and whose art collection includes works by Rembrandt and Van Dyke, contrasted against the poverty of the South Side tenements, where many European immigrants first made their home in America. They also visited the New York Stock Exchange and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The students enjoyed their spare time by taking in a movie at Times Square and visiting Soho. The group returned to Virginia on March 19. will be offering school physicals on Tuesday, April 4 and April 11 from 1-4 p.m. If you have a child who will be entering school in the fall, you may wish to take advantage of this opportunity. If your child needs immunizations only, shots will be given on Friday, April 7 from 9-11 a.m. Just call Mrs. ^ Melinda Beach, Public Health Nurse, at 6753516 for an appointIL ment. The joy of get^-jB ting the physical comH9W pleted so early is that your cnna will not k tend to associate ^ the shots with entering school. B It will make for SB a more positive B transition. W • The RCES Book Fair will run from Tuesday, April 4 through Monday, r w April 10 in the RCES Library. This event is enjoyed by children and adults af all ages and provides our library with funds to purchase wonderful new materials. Please stop by and support this very worthwhile fund raiser. • Mrs. Aney Massie, RCES Librarian, is asking for volunteer assistance each day from 1-3 p.m. to help the kindergarten and first grade students with their book selections and purchases. If you are able to help, please call, Mrs. Massie or Jan Makela, Volunteer Coordinator, at 9878259 • The next RCES PTO dinner meeting will be held on Friday, April 7. The pot luck dinner will begin at 6 p.m. followed by the meeting at 7. Special guests for the meeting will be School Superintendent Dr. David Gangel and Assistant Superintendent Mrs. Mary Anne Biggs. They will be making a presentation on the Budget Process. If you would like to know how a school budget is formulated, where the funding comes from, how an item makes it into the budget and more, please come. The meetings are always fun and informative. Questions? Please call Mr. Jimmy Swindler, PTO President, at 987-8259. • The dinner theme will be “Salads”. If you plan to come for dinner, please bring an interesting salad to share. The possibilities are endless (garden, Caesar, chicken, macaroni, seafood, ham, pasta, potato, hot, cold, oriental); whatever you think others will enjoy. • Have a wonderful week. Baseball and soccer seasons are beginning. You don’t have children at home? That’s OK. Please attend a game or practice anyway. Having a cheering section really does make a difference to the young athletes, and you just may have fun too. RCHS celebrates read across America During the week of Feb. 27, RCHS students ana start celebrated Read Across America Week j with many varied | activities. A book exchange took place each day with staff and students exchanging books to read. Parent volunteers manned the exchange table in the commons daily giving everyone an opportunity to pick up great used titles. Every student who brought in books to exchange had their names entered in a drawing to receive & new book donated by businesses. On Thursday, March 2 RCHS students and staff participated ^^^_and in a Read Drop Day. hiVery class period set aside ten minutes for silent sustained reading where everyone could celebrate reading together. RCHS wishes to thank Holden Group Insurance of Culpeper, WalMart of Warrenton, Kmart of Warrenton, Sam’s Club of Charlottesville and Kroger’s of Charlottesville for their generous donations of new books! Also many thanks to Faith Dickerson of The Corner Shelf for many generous donations of books to RCHS all year long! — 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 Ptiwiding Affordable, Oaalily Legal Services Since 19/5 i . .. ... C -jk Mn * a| v 'i 1yX In Brief Lions Club set for auction The Rappahannock County Lions are preparing for their annual auction. This year the event will be held on Saturday, May 13 at 6 p.m. at the Washington Fire Hall. If you have something to donate call H.B. Wood at 9873301; Charlie Whorton at 9879217 or Jim Dellinger at 9879027. Marriage License The following marriage license was issued last week at the Rappahannock Clerk’s Office on Gay Street in Washington. William > Ray Smoot, Washington and Brenda Kay Todd, Sperryville.

RCHS students arrested Two tenth grade students caught with alcohol on their breath by Assistant Principal Mike Tupper By John Toler Rappahannock News Staff Writer Four days after citizens, school officials and law enforcement officers met to discuss substance abuse in the public schools at a forum sponsored by the “First Thursday Education Support Group,” two tenth grade students at Rappahannock County High School were caught with alcohol on their breath. The investigation started on the afternoon of March 24, when RCHS Assistant Principal Mike Tupper noticed the smell of alcohol on the students and brought the matter to the attention of School Resource Officer Capt. Jeffrey Brown of the Rappahannock County Sheriff’s Office. Capt. Brown’s investigation — which included observing the students’ behavior and administering an alco-sensor (breath) test — indicated that the students had been drinking. The two juveniles were then placed under arrest. “Zero tolerance” “The law requires a zero tolerance of the possession of alcohol by minors, especially on school property,” said Rappahannock County Sheriff Larry Sherertz. “Alcohol on the breath or in the body is considered possession of alcohol,” he explained. “If we detect an odor or behavior that leads us to believe that minors have been drinking, we give them an alco-sensor test.” This is the same field test administered by police to suspected drunk drivers, according to Sherertz. “The test performed on the high school students detected alcohol in their systems, which gave us probable cause to make the arrest and bring them before the court,” said Sherertz. According to Sherertz, there have been seven instances of students caught with alcohol or drugs on school property so far this school year. Because of this, school officials have been growing more concerned about the abuse of drugs and alcohol by students. “We have dealt with a number of situations in a vari ety of ways this year,” said School Superintendent Dr. David Gangel. “In the past, the incidence (of drugs or alcohol on school property) has been relatively low ... perhaps one a year.” Along with rigid enforcement of rules governing alcohol and drugs on school property, officials are reaching out to the students, parents and the community in general for help. In addition to parent newsletters addressing the topic — with the latest coming out next week — school officials are conducting ongoing projects, including the DARE program and Character Education, both intended to help students make responsible choices. These initiatives — along with the presence of the onsite School Resource Officer and public forums like the one held March 20 — are meant to meet the problem head-on. Superintendent Gangel notes that increased substance abuse at the schools must be approached as a community problem, not just a school issue. “The Sheriff’s Office is also looking into the problem, and working with families,” Gangel noted. “They want to make inroads.” Comedy to be presented BY JEAN ELIZABETH Rappahannock News Contributing Writer Rappahannock High School presents the Greek comedy, “The Birds” by Aristophanes in two performances scheduled Friday, March 31 and Saturday, April 1 at 8 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Aristophanes (450-387 B.C.) was one of the giants of classical theatre. This modern day translation is an acting version of the play by Walter Kerr. Jean Elizabeth, former director of “The Shepherds’ Play” directs this production. Lainie Morgan is the stage manager. The 16 member cast includes: (in order of appearance) Jeremy Slack, Aaron Price, Jessica Manak, Derrick Hiserman, Dawn Andreoni, Jami Gillis, Mark Williams, Sara Dodd-Henze, Holly Long, Cecilia Falk, Jennifer Bywaters, Jeff Simeson, Lainie Morgan, Sara Thomas, Wendy Gillis and Matt Ralston. Many cast members play multiple roles in this entertaining, fast paced comedy. The play is set in a rugged mountaintop near Athens in 414 B.C. and opens with two adventurous Photo courtesy of Rapplinks.com CAST MEMBERS: front row, left to right, Jessica Manak, Aaron Ralston, Dawn Andreoni, Holly Long, Jamie Gillis, Jennifer Bywaters and Sara Dodd-Henze. Middle row, Sara Thomas, Mark Williams and Wendy Gillis. Back row, Jeff Simeon, Jeremy Slack, Cecilia Falk, Aaron Price and Derrick Hisserman. and humorous travelers, Pithetaerus (Jeremy Slack) and his sidekick, Euelpides (Aaron Price). They are bored with their life in Athens and are in search of the kingdom of the birds. They start out, using only a crow and a jay as guides, on a journey that is filled with hilarious antics. They encounter entertaining characters that include: a butler bird, King of the birds, a nightingale, a captain, a priestess bird, a poet, a prophet, a real-estate person, an inspector, a lawyer, messengers, a smalltime Goddess, a herald, Prometheus, Hercules, a barbarian god, Neptune, a leader and chorus of birds. Tickets are $5 and are available at the door and in advance by calling 675-1518. Nationally known educator to moderate panel on April 13 John C. Esty Jr., resident of Concord, Mass, and life long educator will be panelist and moderator at the Headwaters Forum, publiceducation.com scheduled for Thursday evening April 13 at Rappahannock County High School at 7. Mr. Esty, a graduate of Amherst College and Yale University, was Principal of the Taft School, Watertown, Conn. before becoming President of the National Association of Independent Schools for 13 years. He has served as a school board member for the Concord public schools and as a trustee of a number of educational institutions and founding trustee of Recruiting New Teachers, Inc. Currently he is a consultant to two inner city Boston public high schools and fund raising adviser to a rural public charter school. Mr. Esty John C. Esty, Jr. continues teaching at the University of Massachusetts School of Education where he offers a course on institutional change for principals and Goat Hill Farm Opening April Fools' Day 'astly expanded, twice as many plants and ^varieties, selling rhubarb roots, purple and green asparagus crowns, Heirloom apple & Asian pear trees, blueberry, raspberry and strawberry plants as well as vegetable and flower seeds, and fingerling seed potatoes. Open Fndavs. 1 to 6 p.m., Saturdays & Sundays 9 a m. to 6 p.m. Closed Sundays July through September or by appointment, group tours available E mail oldgoat@goathillfarm com 365 Tiger Valley RtL, Washington, VA » Phone 540 675 3982 spring Cleanup Jenkins Tree Service _ _ - , Fully Insured & Landscaping Bonded Trimming • Topping • Take Downs • Stump Removal Mulching • Fertilizing • Root Feeding • Spraying • Lot Clearing • Cleanup Free Estimates • We Seivice All MD & VA C.R. Jenkins PO Box 331 540-987-9048 Sperryville. VA 22740 YARN & MORE Anniversary fya-Cc 30% Discount on= All Yarn, Fabric, Patterns, Books, Knitting Needles, & Sewing Notions ConW' rvr fv rtett: Thank You For A Great First Year of Business! 540-675-1350 Subscribe to the Rappahannock News, Call 675 3338. superintendents. Parents, students, teachers and community members are invited to attend an evening exploring new ideas and trends in teaching and learning with an emphasis on academic reform, vocational opportunities and the challenge of school funding in the next five years. Open discussion workshops will follow the 45 minute panel presentations. A lasagna dinner will be provided by the Rappahannock PTO and Headwaters from 5:30 to 6:45 preceding the panel. Call the Headwaters Office at 6751819 mornings between 8:30 and 12 for more information. I V * CAFE 11763 Lee Hwy., Sperryville, Vfi Thursday 3/30: OPEN MIC. Sponsored by Oasis CD Friday 3/31 Th« Garth Ross TVio Saturday 4/1 Holey Moley NOW OPEN Thursday - Sunday 5:30 to closing Family Dining & Fine Musk 540-987-3162 www.blaomooncafo.com - J Students place at state tournament BY JON HEDDLESTON Rappahannock News Contributing Writer Four Rappahannock County High School public speaking students finished among the best in the state at the Virginia High School League (VHSL) state tournament on Saturday, March 25. The state tournament was held at Charlottesville High School. Seniors Ian Blubaugh, Sara Dodd-Henze and Rebecca Metcalfe placed second in their respective categories; junior Tatiana Siccardi, fourth. A fifth RCHS contestant, senior Allison Baker, competed in three preliminary rounds but did not qualify for the final round, which involves the top six speakers in each category. All five students previously had earned berths to the state competition by placing in the top three at district and regional tournaments. For Blubaugh it was a second state appearance; he finished fifth in foreign extemporaneous in 1999 and second on Saturday. Extemporaneous involves current events; students draw a topic and then have 30 minutes to prepare a seven minute speech. A first year competitor, Dodd-Henze placed second in the spelling bee category, which is a written test, not the more familiar stand up competition. Dodd-Henze’s high rating can be traced to her life long interest in language, past studies in Latin and preparation. Metcalfe and Siccardi placed second and fourth, respectively, in original oratory. In this category, the student delivers from memory an original speech of up to ten minutes, using several current sources and quoting not more than 150 words. Subjects for orations are varied, but must involve something that “troubles” the student enough to research and write persuasively about it. The subject of Metcalfe’s speech was partial-birth abortion; Siccardi’s involved the movie industry’s R-rating. Approximately 400 Virginia high school students competed in ten forensics categories at the state tourney. Single, double and triple A schools all were represented, each competing in its respective division. Although there are few opportunities to compete after the state tourney, Blubaugh qualified earlier in March for the Catholic Forensics League (CFL) national tournament, which will take place in Rochester, N Y., Memorial Day weekend. Metcalfe is a first alternate at the CFL tourney. CLOTHING BAG SALE April 1st and 2nd (Rain Date April Mi and 9th). We will furnish bags. $5 Per Bag Mountain Spring Antiques 11727 Lee Highway Sperryville. VA Look Who’s Looking Nifty and Turning 50 on April 4th! Love, your wife and daughter. Breeden's Plant House Tfa'ef* Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Daily House Plants, Gifts, Planting ' Supplies, Hanging Baskets; Flowering and Vegetable Bedding Plants 89^ per pack. Make sure to visit our shop featuring silk arrangements and gifts. 540-923-4381 Directions: From Sperryville, take Rt. 231 S for 12 miles, turn left on 642, go 1.5 miles. Are you expecting bad news about your tax bilR Does tax time mean writing another check to the IRS< If that sounds familiar, then you should consider opening an Individual Retirement Account or contributing to an existing IRA account at Rappahannock National Bank. We can’t make your taxes go away, but we can help you with an IRA, tell you when your IRA is tax-deductible and explain what an IRA can mean if you are self-employed. We can show you how an IRA will grow faster, earning more interest than a savings account. We have several IRA options from which to choose, including several different ROTH IRA products designed to help you save your money regularly At Rappahannock National Bank we can help you take some of the mystery out of planning for a comfortable future. If you live in Rappahannock County, shouldn’t you bank with Rappahannock National Bank£ IrNb Rappahannock National Bank P.O. Box 179 • 257 Gay Street • Washington, Virginia 22747 • 540-675-3519 • FAX 540-675-1225 Member FDlC

Amissville commercial development plan forwarded BY GERALD OCHS Rappahannock News Special Writer In response to the Planning Commission’s village planning process, an unsolicited “draft” commercial development plan for Amissville has been forwarded by Robert Lindquist of Amissville. Mr. Lindquist and other “longtime citizens” of the Amissville area spent about a year preparing this plan hp provide their perspective to the planning process. Mr. Lindquist said that he feels that Amissville has long been neglected by the county, and that the viewpoint of many of the older county families has been co-opted by newcomers to the county and by environmental organizations such as RLEP, PEC, and RCCA. He said that “It seems that it’s unfair that county resources go to the western part of Rappahannock,” and he suggested that the plan provides a “way to make Amissville a better place to live” by providing Amissvillearea residents with amenities and shops that are not now available. It also would provide income to those who have no resources other than their land. Mr. Lindquist gave the example of Helen Dixon, whose land is key to the proposed commercial development. “She can’t earn from her property,” he said, “what are they supposed to do?” AACA not involved in plan development Mr. Lindquist and his associates did attempt to forward their views through the recently established Amissville Area Community Association (AACA) that is also in the process of creating a plan for the future of Amissville. They quit the AACA, according to Mr. Lindquist, because “they were doing nothing and they pulled the rug out from under us on the water system.” The water system he is referring to is the system developed and owned by Tom Moore that was offered to Rappahannock last fall for $1, and “with no strings attached.” AACA President Steve Miller responded to Mr. Lindquist’s comments by noting that Mr. Lindquist, Helen Dixon, Tom Moore, Mr. and Mrs. Emiel Smet, and Mr. and Mrs. Donald Brown, when they were members of the AACA, did not inform the AACA membership of the Moore water system proposal, nor did they inform the membership of the commercial development plan that they were in the process of formulating. Mr. Miller said that the AACA had never taken a position on the water system because they were not informed about it, and he responded as an individual when he heard about the proposal and the hearing scheduled at the Board of Supervisors meeting that next week. “When I heard that Mr. Moore was making a presentation to the Board of Supervisors I only had a few days to respond, so I put together a petition and got sixty signatures in opposition to the water system proposal. The AACA had nothing to do with that,” Mr. Miller said. He further stated that the AACA’s position is not at all represented in the commercial development proposal forwarded by Mr. Lindquist. He remarked that the AACA is developing its Amissville village concept based upon the preferences of Piedmont Research Institute Amissville, VA March 3. 2000 /'Amissville? ^Amissville.shp fs/ Amisslarge.shp /\/ Water.shp a Public.shp • Firestations.shp a Facilities.shp /\/ Roads Jl.shp Roads.shp A/us a/va /vc° OPTION FOUR: Amissville boundaries as proposed by Mr. Lindquist. Amissville-area residents, and that the organization is in the process of collecting information through a survey that should be completed by the end of April. Mr. Miller said that “we have (survey information from) sixty, but we are holding Loans Fix-up now. Clean-up at tax time. Adding that new breezeway can be a breeze with a 1-2-3 Home Equity Loan from F&M Bank-Winchester. And now, you can borrow up to 95% of your home’s equity. We'll even deduct from the interest rate when your payment is automatically deducted from your F&M Bank-Winchester Checking Account. What could be easier? And remember, home remodeling isn't the only way you can utilize the equity you’ve earned in your home. You can buy a new car or consolidate debt. In many cases, the interest is tax deductible.* Contact any F&M Bank loan officer or call our Instant Loan Line today at 1-800-903-5399. It’s as easy as 1-2-3. ' Consult your tax advisor the results so far because we do not wish to bias others.” Survey information is being solicited from more than 700 residents, but AACA expects only 200 or so responses. He cautioned those who might see the “Lindquist plan” that it is not representative of .the collective wishes of the iimore than fifty members of the AACA, nor is it of a majority of Amissville residents. He suggested that it was the work of Mr. Lindquist and the other six in the “development group,” and that the impending AACA plan will be representative of a majority of AACA survey respondents. Commercial development plan highlights A review of the proposed plan and its cover letters indicates that some of the motivation for the direction taken is the “inequity” of opportunities available to the landowners and residents of Amissville compared to those in other areas of Rappahannock County. Mr. Lindquist asserts that Sperryville, Washington and Flint Hill residents have access to “business services” unavailable to Amissville residents, and that the “Rappahannock Commercial District” on U.S. 211 between Sperryville and Washington proved a boon to those owning land in what became the commercial district. The plan further promotes the convenience of having a “grocery supermarket” and other businesses in Amissville, and their benefit to the county in tax revenues and in establishing and maintaining the sense of community. As Mr. See PLAN, Page A8 The Perfect Gift ♦..Anytime UMUHST11 “On The Morning Side Of The Blue Ridge” tells the story of Rappahannock County and its people The soft-bound book includes old photographs and special articles which appeared each month of the 1983 sesquincentennial year in the Rappahannock News plus stories of historical interest from past years. Featuring chapters on education, soldiers, doctors, slavery, freemen and integration, mountain people and the park, The Depression, old mills and settlements, travel, entertainment, natural disasters, mountain justice and farming. The collection of articles was written by the Rappahannock News staff with the help and cooperation on hundreds of Rappahannock people. Stop by the Rappahannock News office or call 675-3338 for your copy “On The Morning Side Of The Blue Ridge” $11.95 plus tax and $ 1.90 for postage

Fodderstack 10-K 2000 set BY JOHN MCCARTHY Rappahannock News Contributing Writer The first Fodderstack 10-K of the new millennium is fast approaching! This year’s race, on April 15 at 10 a.m. boasts a record accumulation of prizes for participants because for the first time random drawings will be held at the awards ceremony. Prizes include an overnight stay for two at Washington’s own Middleton Inn, a gift certificate for $30 from The Country Cafe and for $50 from Rare Finds, both also in Washington. In addition, from Flint Hill, 4 & 20 Blackbirds is offering brunch for two and the Flint Hill Public House has provided dinner for two while Rae’s Place and Deli in Sperryville is providing lunch for two. In a case tom from the pages of the headlines, this years’ event was recently thrown into doubt by the theft of all of the Fodderstack trophies from our vendors’ load ing dock in Viewtown. Our crack investigative team leapt into action and had lunch, then sought out the perpetrators from one end of our fair county to the other. This took a good four hours. Having no luck at all (but a dam fine meal at both ends of the sweep), a “sting” operation was prepared whereby an ad was placed in local media outlets (Mr. Arundel's and Sharon Kilpatrick’s) for “trophies sought” by “runners who would have won but for bungled starts in previous races”. This being a completely convincing disguise for the team, we were contracted by “ the perpetrators who attempted to sell us the attractive and highly sought trophies for larcenous $25 per (you can win one by being first, second or third in any of 13 age categories each for men and women). The nefarious trio of trophy thieves are now resting comfortably in Club Rappahannock (“Swaying palms, balmy breezes, sandy beaches”, or jail motto), pending our figuring out what laws, exactly, may have been broken. We were interested to note that the ads also prompted 367 other runners to contact us to say that they too were deserving of a trophy due to one or more incompetent race starts in years’ past, and how could they get in on the action? They were disappointed to learn that they would have to win a trophy like everyone else as our high standards of probity, integrity and dignity forbade us selling an unearned trophy to any but the truly obscenely wealthy and influential. I am pleased to report that thus far there is only a single registrant for the race who is less than thirty years of age, thereby assuring a field rich with deviousness and guile if short on actual speed. For further information or registration materials, please contact 675-3342. Rappahannock News file photo RACE TIME: Runners come from all around for the annual Fodderstack 10K race scheduled for Saturday, April 15. Normally, the weather is great and the race kicks off springtime in Rappahannock. Applications accepted for program Shenandoah National Park is now accepting applications for the 2000 Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program. YCC provides gainful employment for area youths and an educational experience in the conservation /of our natural and historical heritage. Youth Conservation Corps members work to maintain park trails, roads, buildings, and icampgrounds while learning about Shenandoah National Park. The program runs for eight weeks from June 19 to Aug. 11. Applicants must be between the ages of 15 and 18. Enrollees in the program ‘Will work 40 hours per week for the eight Weeks. The salary is minimum wage, $5.15 per hour. Enrollees must have transportation to and from Shenandoah National Park. Applications are available from Shenandoah National Park or through the guidance offices at the following schools: Luray High School; Madison County High School; Page County High School; Rappahannock County High School; Spots wood High School and William Monroe High School. YCC enrollees will be chosen at random from all submitted applications. A ratio of half boys and half girls will be selected. Completed applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 12 and mailed to Lee Taylor, YCC Program Coordinator, Shenandoah National Park, 3655 US Highway 211 East, Luray, Va. 22835. Producers reminded of April 14 deadline Eligible producers whose pastures were damaged by drought in 1999 can receive payments to help them reestablish forage crops. Established pasture is eligible where livestock are normally grazed and that was so damaged by drought that reseeding is required. No assistance is authorized for hayland and any acres receiving assistance must be maintained in pasture for five years. There will be two payment rates, one for reseeding with seedbed preparation and one without. Payment rates will cover the cost of the seed, seeding, and fertilizer but will not exceed $75 per acre. There is also a maximum payment limitation of $2500 per person. However, participation in the program is expected to exceed the total funding allocated for the program; therefore, final payments received by producers may be reduced. Signup for the program is going on now through April 14, 2000. Any re-seeding done before filing a Pasture Recovery Program (PRP) application will not be eligible for payment. All PRP practices will be completed by Sept. 30, Responses in for contest Several weeks ago a notice appeared in the Rappahannock News for an essay contest entitled, Thinking About Rappahannock: Today and Tomorrow. The deadline was March 22. The deadline has passed and essays are in the hands of the judges. When additional details are available we will make the same known to the public. The contest is sponsored by the Rappahannock National Bank, Trash Free Rappahapnock, Hampton Foundation and the Rappahannock News. There were two age groups: one for 18 and over and one for under 18. A total of 142 responses were received. Sixteen were received for the over 18 category. Several classes at Rappahannock Elementary School responded to the essay, however 22 of the under 18 were brought directly to the Rappahannock News office or e-mailed to us. Winning essays will be printed in the Rappahannock News. Sharp Rock Vineyards open Sharp Rock Vineyards is open every Saturday from noon until 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. The vineyards are also open by appointment during the week. To reach the vineyards from Sperryville take Route 231 approximately eight miles, turn right onto Sharp Rock Road and go one plus miles and the winery is on the right. For more information call 987-9700. Benefit dinner at Amissville The Amissville Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company is sponsoring a fried chicken dinner on April 8 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the fire hall. Prices are $8 for adults and $5 for children ages five to ten and children under four may eat for free. 2000. If you would like more information about the program, contact the Culpeper/Rappahannock FSA Office at 351 Lakeside Drive in Culpeper or by phone at 825-4200, extension 2. Rapp rips Handley 17-3 BY RHONDA JENKINS Rappahannock News Sports Writer The Varsity Softball Team hosted the nancuey duages, in a non-district game on Saturday. On a beautiful spring day for softball, Rapp came out fired up, and took the lead 1-0 in the second inning. Kachael Sharp was on the mound, and kept the judges scoreless until the third inning. The judges scored one run, but Rapp answered right back, with a big triple by Jessica Nawrocki, the Panthers exploded for eight runs in the third. Handley scored two more in the fifth, but the Panthers still had a commanding lead 9-3 at the bottom of the inning. The Panthers exploded in the bottom of the sixth scoring eight more runs with key hitting by Austin Bouffard, Crystal Grigsby and Rachael Sharp who all contributed with singles. Dana Caldwell hit a double and Amy Clinedinst belted a triple. The Panthers won the game 17-3. Rachael Sharp ended the game with ten strikeouts and three walks. The Panthers will be in action on Wednesday against Luray and Page County on Friday. 1 Complete Dispersal of Ballantrae Farm Stevensburg, Virginia (Near Culpeper, VA) Saturday, April 1, 2000 -10:30 a.m. Selling: Real Estate & Farm Equipment A 3 bedroom, 2 bath home on 42,5 +/- acres; Tractors & Combines: Ford 8340 w/Cab, 4x4, 5610 w/7610 Loader, 4x4, & 8N Tractors, JD 7700 Combine w/ Cab, 4x4; Trucks & Trailers: 1976 GMC, 1972 7500 GMC, 1972 F-600, 1964 Int. 1700 Loadstar, 1959 F-600, 1993 Wil-Ro & 1980 Valley Livestock Trailers; Hav Equipment: NH 660 Round Baler, 488 Haybine & 56 Hay Rake, Agrozer SP 4046 Hay Tedder; Miscellaneous Equipment: Kinze 2000 6 Row Planter, Miller Offset Disk, JD E1710 Mulch Tiller, Bush Hog 3126 Rotary Cutter, Rear Blade, Pasture Drag, 2 Bottom Plow, MF 5 Bottom Plow, Shop Tools and Much More. For a Detailed Brochure Contact: Coleman Sales Inc. 804-286-2743 VA.A.F. 197 Spring Specials Ideal For All Your Farm, Lawn & Garden Work. Stop In & Look It Over. You Will Never Get A rDeal! Longtrac with 5'finishing mower or 5' bush hog. $9800 J 2 year warranty, parts and labor, 3 pt hitch, independent FIX), power steering, 28 hp. 8 forward, 2 reverse. PULLEN’S TRACTOR 8C EQUIPMENT . Culpeper, VA 22701 (540) 829-0893""""* % Wakefield Country Day School Inc. Huntly • 540-635-8555 Wakefield Country Day School at Huntly in proud to announce that the following students received honors for their marks during the third grading period. 1st Grade - Second Honors Kayleigh Rasnick, Rileyville Grace Albrecht. Amissville Hirsh Lai, Luray Sarah Hazel, Sperryville John Richard Bell, Front Royal Bret Heddleston. Sperryville Amanda Callihan. Front Royal Amy Schmiedeler, Front Royal Christine Pankow, Flint Hill Thomas Ciskanik. Front Royal Katherine Huang, Amissville 2nd Grade - Second Honors Albert Bechtold, Washington Katie Callihan, Front Royal Dominique Peters, Front Royal Chance Beatty, Luray J. Paul Guiffr6, Huntly Jill Wood, Washington 2nd Grade • First Honors Abigael Whitaker, Front Royal Annelise Riedel, Washington 3rd Grade - Second Honors Jim Hennessy, Luray Suheel Mehta, Front Royal Neil McClung, Linden 3rd. Grades First Honors Kristina Stone, Bentonville Michael Safford, Warrenton 4th Grade - Second Honors Nicole Espinola, Washington Michelle Hytner, Warrenton Emma Clark, Flint Hill Jamie Langlais, Browntown Andrew Schmiedeler, Front Royal Iesh Lai, Luray Stephanie Kahrs, Front Royal Lisa Hytner. Warrenton 4th Grade - First Honors Marguerite Beattie. Woodville Matthew Wingfield, Flint Hill Andrew Ulrich, Front Royal Joy Heddleston. Sperryville Taylor Hammelman, Warrenton Alex Shafran, Viewtown Katherine Russo, Flint Hill Meredith Silek, Front Royal 5th Grade - Second Honors James Bell, Front Royal Nell Mann, Marshall 5th Grade • First Honors Kate Kevis, Washington Devin Sherwood. Washington Saawan Mehta, Luray Brittany Mountjoy. Amissville Taylor Miller, Huntly Sawyer Sutton, Winchester Kevin Riedel, Washington Ben l,uke. Washington Patrick Dale. Luray 6th Grade juSecond Honors Laura Cooper. Winchester Marissa Sullivan Front Royal Sam Beatty, Luiay Chris Callaway, Marshall Genie Knight, Washington Lauren Guiffre, Huntly Caitlin Hammelman, Warrenton Nicole Fegcas, Warrenton Michelle Fegeas, Warrenton Allison Russo, Flint Hill 7th Grade - Second Humors James Nilan, Warrenton Mary Sullivan. Front Royal Lacey Judd. Front Royal Jordan Hammelman, Warrenton Kate Guiffre, Huntly Rachel Marx, Strasburg 7th Grade - First Honors Paul Beattie, Woodville Aaron Marx, Strasburg Jesse Ferreira, Front Royal Alec Toth, Front Royal 8th Grade - Second Honors Joseph Owens, Front Royal Adam O’Connor. Front Royal Steven Fernandez. Front Royal Eileen Cummings. Rixeyville Sam Wood, Washington Whitney Mathews, Flint Hill Wayne Beatty. Luray 9th tirade - First Honors Sheena Rye. Front Royal David Riedel. Washington Christina Luke, Washington Mandee Judd, Front Royal Stephen Dowell, Castleton Arlen Sherwood, Washington Liz Williams. Winchester Maureen Dale. Luray LOth Grade • Second Honors Morgan Neil, Amissville Thomas Marlin. Front Royal 10th tirade - First Honors Connor Hammelman. Warrenton Whitney Sealock, Front Royal Antonia Toth. Front Royal Judson Hurlbert. Linden 11th Grade - Second Honors Britton Wood. Washington 11th Grade - First Honors Anja Stolzel, Washington Dana Ferreira. Front Royal Thomas Dowell. Castleton 12th tirade - Second Honors Sarah Hunt, Washington Jung Mm Lee, Flint Hill 12th Grade - First Honors Yenan Boya. Warrenton Alissa Rye. Front Royal Brittany Hammelman, Warrenton James Mumper. Strasburg Brought to you courtesy of Sharon Genebach Luke, Attorney at Law P.O. Box 6 • Washington, Virginia 22747 SUBSCRIBE TO THE RAPPAHASNOCK NEWS. Call 675-3338.

-ftappabannocfe J2etos— Established 1877 An Independent Newspaper Published Every Wednesday ARTHUR W. ARUNDEL, PUBLISHER Barbara C. Wayland, Executive Editor and General Manager Carl Ebom, 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 29, 2000 Our View | The census Take a few minutes to complete form and be counted. Recently, county residents received packets from the Census Bureau. This is part of an effort to conduct the most accurate census possible. The form is short and will require only a few minutes to complete the questions about household members. The Census Bureau is mandated by the U.S. Constitution to take a census every ten years. The Census 2000 data collection process can be divided into three major phases. These phases consist of: Compiling and Updating the Address List (July 1998 to March 2000); Collecting the Data or Enumeration (March 2000 to September 2000) and Processing the Data (March 2000 to September 2001). The Census data is completely confidential, and will not be divulged by the Census Bureau to any other government agency, private business or individual. All individual responses will be compiled into statistical form, and the information released will not identify any particular person. The data gathered is vital to planning by the federal, state and local government. Many programs have their funding level determined by population figures, and the Census data, forms the base for those figures. For households not answering the first Census questionnaire, an enumerator will pay a personal, follow-up visit. It’s a much mere expensive process than the mail-in response form. It is estimated that those not returning their forms in 1990, actually cost the program at least six times more than those who did. If you need help completing your questionnaire call 1-800-471-9424. Rappahannock Today Photo courtesy of Cynthia Stamps Sheds such as this one on Woodward Road in Sperryville speak volumes for the character of old buildings in Rappahannock. Letters Treasurer clarifies hours, responsibilities At the last Washington Town Council meeting a question was brought up about whether or not I was earning my salary as treasurer. I wish I could have been present and had the opportunity to respond directly. Unfortunately, I was in Houston attending the funeral of my father-in-law on that day. My job outline requires that I work two hours a day for a total of ten hours a week, however I average many more hours than this. I consider it an honor to have been entrusted with this job. I find my work as Treasurer/Council Member both interesting, and rewarding. In the next few weeks I will be writing to the residents of the town to bring them up to date on some important issues. I am always happy to visit with anyone at my home or the town office, to discuss issues concerning the community. Elaine Viguerie Treasurer, Town of Washington We have to be more responsible There has been a lot of talking lately about gun control. You see Charlton Heston on television talking in favor of the NRA and attacking President Clinton for the most recent deal with Smith and Wesson. What is the issue, really? Is it our right to bear arms that is in question? Or is it just trying to keep them out of the hands of our children? And making them safer. Let’s face it guns are available to everyone. They are out there. There is no control. We can no longer count on our neighbors/communities to set examples about humanity, (when lifestyles vary as they do.) For youth, solutions for anger, choices, ways to deal with problems. Not just a quick fix. With a quick fix, what about repercussions? Are kids so out of control now, quick tempered and full of rage and frustration that they resort to violence without considering the consequences. Our country was founded on violence, it’s the American way! To look back at American history, ours is not a gentle one. If guns are to remain a part of our heritage, then we have to become a more responsible gun nation. Guns represent power and skill, why not make them also represent safety. What can we do? Are we helpless citizens trapped in a world of violence? We as mothers of teens think that the responsibility lies with everyone that owns a gun. Why are they not locked up, out of the reach of children? We have childproof medicine bottles and cleaning products. Why not childproof guns? What is wrong with parents who do not take this responsibility seriously? Yes, we should be able to own guns. But no, we should not be enabling our youth to practice violence on each other. The old West is over with. The time is now to have a safer world to raise our children. This is the new millennium. We must no longer facilitate this type of violence. We, as mothers must unite and regain our childrens’ safety while retaining our rights to own guns. Guns are here to stay. We must go into this era with a new attitude. If we value our youth we must each do our part to become responsible gun owners as this does begin at home. We are not paying enough attention to what our children are doing. It is the responsibility of each and every parent, whether you own a gun or not, to know what your children are doing. We are concerned mothers. Margaret Best Pam Parker Boston Down Memory Lane From Back Issues of the Rappahannock News 50 YEARS AGO March 30, 1950 Fifty Rappahannock school children will be guests in Front Royal Saturday to take part in the parade and see the premiere showing of Bing Crosby’s new movie, “Riding High.” The youngsters will be furnished a free lunch and will be on hand to see the dedication of the stadium. Carroll Menefee Jr., who re-enlisted in the Army Air Force, left Monday for Lockland Air Base at San Antonio, Texas. During World War II he served in the Air Force for two years, stationed in Mississippi and Florida. The Rappahannock Garden Club met Wednesday afternoon at the Lee Highway Hotel in Sperryville with Mrs. J.G. Revercomb, Mrs. S.E. Hening and Mrs. John Revercomb as joint hostesses. A Mrs. Grimes of the Waynesboro Nursery showed slides of flowers, shrubs and gardens near Waynesboro. WA Whitmer of Manassas was the purchaser of the farm of the late Buck Cook near Crest Hill, which sold at public auction March 25. The farm consisted of 148 acres of land with a six-room residence and a four-room tenant house. All of the personal property, livestock and farm equipment sold at top prices. An unusually large crowd attended the sale. 25 YEARS AGO April 3, 1975 Jim Bankston has assumed the duties of Game Warden for Rappahannock County, just in time for the opening of trout season. His appointment was effective Monday, March 31. He is a native of Arlington, but traveled extensively with his family when his father was in the U.S. Air Force, spending seven years in a rural area in Texas. He is a graduate of George Mason University and attended George Washington University. He served four years with the U.S. Navy and is married to the former Joanne Greffenstette. Mrs. Mabel P. Lillard has been appointed postmaster of the Flint Hill Post Office. Mrs. Lillard has been the clerk at the Flint Hill office since 1954. She became officer-in-charge when Mrs. Barbara S. Gentry retired in November 1974. In a photograph Aney Melissa Massie was proudly displaying the six pound large mouth bass which she caught in a pond in the county on Sunday. The fish was 22 and one half inches long and according to another successful fund raising campaign, according to campaign coordinator, Eino Siira. More than $5,000 was raised, according to Jon Heddleston, president of the local unit. —COMPILED BY BARBARA C. WAYLAND the young lady, it almost broke my fishing pole.” She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas B. Massie of Washington. Mrs. Sarah Latham was honored with a house warming at her home in Amissville Saturday evening when 30-plus members of her family joined her for dinner. 10 YEARS AGO March 29, 1990 Members of the RCHS Environmental Club have been collecting soda cans for recycling. This Saturday, the entire county will observe Beautification Day, with a roadside clean-up planned beginning at 9 a.m. at the county park. There will also be an aluminum can drive. Proceeds will benefit the seventh grade trip to Williamsburg. ' The Rappahannock School Board’s first budget work session was its last for this year. The board unanimously passed the $4.5 million budget submitted by School Superintendent David Gangel last Tuesday evening. Re-elected to another term, the county Republican Committee’s officers are: Treasurer Hugh Chrisman, Secretary Sheilah Sweet and Chairman John Maroochi. To help fight heart disease, America’s No. 1 killer, The Rappahannock Unit of the American Heart Association wrapped up Photo courtesy of Robert B. Settle OUT-OF-THE-ATTIC: Members of the 1940 graduating class of Washington High School included: front row, left to right, Bill Downing, Charlene Reed, Olive Gay Poe and Charles Stienmentz; middle row, left to right, Robert B. Settle, Earl Yancey, Annie Pierce, Mabel Foster, Mary Racer, Elizabeth Jenkins, George Johnston and Jessie Miller Smith; top row, left to right, Gardner Mills, Carlyle Barron, Trenton “Pete” Burke, Margaret Cook, Lyle Foster and Earl Gore. Only eight of the classmates are living: Burke, Foster, Settle, Yancey, Pierce, Racer, Smith and Poe and one cannot be located, Stienmentz.

Letters AACA not associated with ACTION group Our membership understands that a group of developers and investors called ACTION has delivered a massive growth plan for Amissville and Jackson District to the Rappahannock Planning Commission. This plan calls for potential high density village residential rezoning of over 4,500 acres and establishment of a general commercial area nearly the size of Fair Oaks Mall! Our Amissville Area Community Association CAACA) wants to clearly state to district and County residents that we have no involvement with ACTION or this plan. Our association is formed to unite the residents of the Jackson District, to bring back a sense of community to the Amissville area and form an alliance between our community, other concerned organizations, the county government, and our elected officials. One of our objectives is bringing residents into the planning process to assure they have a personal say and stake in the future community environment! To this end and based on the direction of Chairman of the Planning Commission, the AACA is preparing a study which could be the basis for an area “annex” to the county comprehensive plan. Most importantly, this includes cultivating a village character that best represents our area’s rich past and can be a consistent and valuable theme for the future. A planning committee of members is taking a methodical approach to first identify and document that information critical to an effective and representative process. These include: • A current inventory of residents, structures, businesses, developed land and undeveloped land. • A historical compilation of Amissville area events, locations, structures and personal interviews with long time residents. • Identifying approaches with economic promise consistent with broader community desires, the comprehensive plan, and supporting existing businesses. • Conducting a comprehensive community survey to determine the desires and priorities of the citizens of the Jackson District relating to development, business, history and community activities. • Agricultural and forest land preservation, scenic view sheds, maintaining night skies and overall environmental protection. • Learning about planning “tools” and resources, outside support groups, and finding funding sources for village projects. Using this data baseline and working closely with government representatives at all levels the association will prepare a number of public “draft” village area alternatives. These drafts will explore the feasibility including impacts on roads, services, agriculture, land use, population and commercial needs and desires. Most importantly, this is now and will continue to be a fully open process! The ideas, experience and involvement of residents of the Jackson District and Amissville area are key to its success. All residents of the Jackson District and 20106 zip code are encouraged to join the AACA in defining the community’s present and future. Plan to attend the next AACA monthly meeting Friday, April 14 at 6:30 p.m., at the Amissville Fire Hall. This meeting will include speakers on land and community planning and from Loudoun County discussing their growth explosion. We feel that only working together, we achieve a community, we will be proud to be a member of today and into the future. Steve Miller, Chairman Rick Kohler, Vice Chairman Responding to Maazel’s application On March 15, the planning committee of Rappahannock County met to discuss the Lorin Maazel private school in Castleton. The school has approximately 40 students at one site on Mr. Maazel’s farm in Castleton. Many local citizens were there to voice their disapproval that the. school would grow in size. The citizens’ desire was to preserve the rural character of their community and avoid a further increase in traffic. They emphasized that a compromise had already been reached by allowing a wealthy private landowner to open a school for 40 students in a farming community. Mr. John McCarthy, County Administrator insisted that 75 students had already been established in 1997. He stated that any discussion of this number of students (75) would be a moot point, no matter how strenuously the citizens of Castleton might oppose a school this large. Mr. Doug Baumgardner, Attorney for Mr. Maazel insisted, ad nauseam that an increase in number of students to 75 in the Castleton school site had already been approved. On behalf of Mr. Maazel, he requested a further increase to 115 students. Mr. McCarthy has now apologized for giving misinformation. Only 45 students are permitted. This mistake was brought to his attention by a concerned citizen who used his own time to review documents. This citizen is not a professional politician or lawyer. It is very possible that this misinformation would have gone overlooked if not for his efforts. The truth was not told, whether intentionally or unintentionally. This error directly influenced the planning committee meeting. If a physician would have made such an error then his/her licenses would be at risk and rightly so. We live in a democracy where the majority rules. This is a principle on which our country is founded. It is a frightening prospect to live under the rule of a King in Castleton. If Mr. Maazel can create a school which grows in size at his whim on his farmland even though his neighbors strongly disapprove, then it can happen on any farm in Rappahannock County. Debbie M. Mack, M.D. Castleton In your March 22 story about the Rappahannock Planning Commission hearings for expansion of the Hearthstone School, I am incorrectly quoted as saying, “kill the school.” I did not say that in any way, shape or form. I did address the matter that the school should be situated elsewhere, on a highway that could accommodate the traffic it will generate and have access to law enforcement. There was nothing in my comments that anybody could construe that I wanted to, “kill the school.” The argument that so many of us made were not against the school, they were against the school’s location where we are convinced that extreme traffic and environmental problems would be created if it were to be expanded. Many of us were also concerned that approval of the school at its present location and especially the intended growth of the school may be opening the door to other applications to use property in the county in ways that are not in the best interests of Rappahannock residents or our rural environment. The school has a temporal approval until Sept. 1 of this year to operate with 40 students on Lorin Maazel’s farm. At the hearing, Mr. Maazel was asking for permission to increase the size of the school to 115 students and use a bam on one of his properties as a permanent school site. During the hearing, we were told repeatedly in comments made by Mr. Maazel’s representatives that approval had already been given to expand the institution to 75 students. Please let your readers be informed that, in fact, it was learned after the hearing that no such approval to 75 students had ever been made. I ask that the News report if any misrepresentations were deliberately made the night of the hearings on the matter of prior approval of 75 students and to also print a retraction of the statement that was incorrectly attributed to me. Harry I. Clarkson Castleton My letter to you last week was more of an informative letter to explain the position of the people in reference to the location of the school. I feel compelled to write this letter and express a concern for being given misinformation. County Administrator John McCarthy insisted that 75 students had already been established in 1997. He stated that any discussion of this matter would be a moot point, no matter how strong the opposition from the audience might be. I think it should be clear to Mr. McCarthy now that hfe gave misinformation to the people. Mr. McCarthy has apologized and said this was entirely his fault. I disagree once again. He is not the person that started the number 75, I believe is was Mr. Baumgardner at the Feb. 22 meeting of the Rappahannock Planning Commission. Quote: The original special exception permits, said Maazels attorney Doug Baumgardner, allowed for a temporary site for the school with a capacity of 30 students, which was later increased to 40. (Rappahannock News Feb. 23) This site was temporary he noted, because the school was to move to a permanent site in Castleton Meadows with a capacity of 75 full time students, but the permanent site is not yet ready. I feel the oversight is Mr. Baumgardner’s and not that of John McCarthy. Mr. McCarthy’s apology is accepted and we would like to hear from Mr. Baumgardner. It is hard to believe that out of all the people there to petition for more students, Mr. Maazel, Mr. Clifton and Mr. Baumgardner, not one of them had a clue that the numbers were wrong, just the same as the location of the school. I submitted a letter two years ago in protest of the location of this school and informed the Board of Supervisors, the Rappahannock County Code said that a private school had to be on a major collector and was told they did not have a definition of a major collector, and that it was a term used by the state and not the county. As I type this I am looking at a book titled (From the Code of Rappahannock County. Definitions are found under Article II, 147-4, page 14709.) Major Collector Street/Highway - A highway that carries or is anticipated to carry a volume of traffic exceeding three thousand (3000) vehicles per day, the right-of-way of which shall not be less than eighty (80) feet nor more than one hundred ten (110) feet. If I can be of further assistance please call. The only major collectors are: U.S. 211, Route 522 and Route 231. The Maazels have had three years to renovate a bam and have not driven the first nail. This was questioned and the answer we received from Mr. Clifton was: we’ve had bad weather. I don’t quite understand how you can tunnel under a high way but can’t renovate a bam. Phillip Terrell Castleton What has happened to democracy? In the Commonwealth of Virginia, the center of colonial democracy, and of all places, in a town called Washington, Va., what happened to majority rule? What would the founding fathers say, looking at the dawn of a new millennium in America, if they could witness what has been happening in Castleton? A rich landowner with strong European connections is getting what he wants in spite of the protests of a large number or ordinary citizens in the neighborhood, and the local government officials seem to be helplessly shrugging their shoulders, saying, “There is nothing we can do to stop it.” This is the picture in Castleton. A quiet, very rural fanning area with tiny roads and hardly any traffic is about to be transformed into a place where two hundred or more cars per day will be driving back and forth to a school Lorin Maazel is planning to build on his farmland. What started as a temporary site for a 45 student private school has grown in three short years into a proposed permanent campus for 115 students, complete with a concert amphitheater, swimming pool, bowling alley, and athletic facilities. The point of contention between Mr. Maazel and his neighbors is not the school itself. The people of this tiny area of Rappahannock County simply want him to build it somewhere else. There is nothing unreasonable about people wanting to protect their way of life from the intrusion of the private interest of wealthy land developers. So it comes down to the question, “Is Mr. Maazel the only citizen of Castleton whose opinion matters?” This is how it appeared to me at the recent meeting of the Rappahannock County Planning Commission. Mr. Maazel, with his attorney and building contractor, sat in comfortable chairs in the front of the room, right up at the table with the public officials, while the rest of the citizens of Castleton sat back on the benches. The citizens’ protests that the school threatens their rural way of life were brushed aside by Maazel and his attorney as unimportant and inaccurate. The desires of one person with wealth and influence threatened to prevail over the desires of the many. So what happened to democracy? Is Rappahannock County a part of the great traditions that founded this country, or has it become a fiefdom? James C. Jarrell, M.D. Castleton . Get Into Virginia Hunt Country and Orange County Hunt 'm* a FOR SALE Each map measures 17!^” x 23” LAMINATED MAPS I Available at the following locations: Janquier (times'Democrat Rappahannock News toudoun (Jame^-HUrror Clarke i&me^-Courier Or Mail To: v Billing Address: Name_ Address _ City_ State Zip Mailing Information: (if different from above) Name_ Address 1_ City __ State Zip $ _ Virginia Hunt Country Copies Orange County Hunt Copies $_ Virginia residents add 4%% sales tax $_ Shipping & handling charges add $4.50 per order $_ TOTAL $ __ Make check or money order payable to ARCOM Mail to: Fauquier Times-Democrat, 39 Culpeper Street, Warrenton, Virginia 22186 Rappahannock News gift subscriptions are enjoyed 52 weeks a year. Call 675-3338 to give one.

Hearthstone open house BY GERALD OCHS Rappahannock News Special Writer Those who may be seeking an alternative for their children’s education and those who might wonder about the school behind the contention at the recent Rappahannock Planning Commission meetings might avail themselves of the opportunity to see the Hearthstone Whole Family Learning Center in Castleton on April 2. The Hearthstone school will have its Open House on Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. and all are invited to attend. The Hearthstone Whole Family Learning Center offers a Waldorf-inspired curriculum and environment—one in which art, music and nurturing are an integral part of the educational experience. Hearthstone is dedicated to providing an education for the whole child and is directed at reaching that whole child and integrating the child’s capacity for thinking, willing and feeling. Hearthstone is a cooperative school: one in which the member families all contribute to the education of the children. The Waldorf curriculum is music and arts based, and its elements are blended to enhance the lessons of one subject with the skills learned in another. History texts, for example, are nonexistent, but the students create their own from their lessons and readings, and do so with illustrations and calligraphy to produce personal texts that are reminiscent of Medieval illuminated writings. At Sunday’s Open House, visitors will see examples of the children’s work, talk with Hearthstone teachers and parents, and tour the school classrooms and grounds. They will see, for example, the castles created by sixth-graders for their study of the Medieval era, the shields and banners that adorn their classroom, and the illuminated manuscripts that they have prepared. Visitors can see illustrations of Norse deities created by fourth graders, or calendars prepared by younger students. The Hearthstone Whole Family Learning Center is located on Castleton Farms in Castleton. For additional information and directions call 937-4920. Peace ofMmd... ...m Classic Style. The Dignified, Affordable Alternative • Elegant Assisted Living • Specialized Alzheimer's Care • Respite Care Marshall Manor 4248 Manor Drive • Post Office Box 749 Marshall, Virginia 20116 1-800-296-2273 • (540) 364-1200 . RESPECT 1 THE EARTH ..RECYCLE! Scenes from Rappahannock BY CAROL LUCKING Rappahannock News Contributing Writer Independent film maker Allison Argo, from Washington D.C., traveled from Kenya to Florida, Tanzania to Rappahannock County, to create a PBS documentary worth viewing. “Wisdom of the Wild” will be aired Sunday, April 2 at 8 p.m. EST. For those without access to PBS, a video is on loan at the Rappahannock County Library, along with “Keepers of the Wild” and “The Last Frog”, made previously for National Geographic by Argo, that include county scenes. The film features heartwarming stories, blended with educational facts. Each adventure brings the viewer to a different comer of the world. Elephants, chimpanzees, dolphins and the “tiny creatures” that are featured in the Rappahannock scenes are elevated to proportions of respect that they rightfully deserve, and for good cause. A sense of reverence stirs, as the film seeks to highlight what the animal kingdom can teach us about issues such as family relationships, medicine, the environment and compassion. The cinematography is nothing short of top notch. Rappahannock is captured by Keith Burst, from Tucson, Ariz., in all its natural beauty, as local children frolic on a sunset hilltop scene in Gid Brown Hollow, chasing fireflies. As they marvel at the wonders of the butterflies, investigate slugs and salaman- < ders and catch frogs, | familiar Rappahannock backdrops remind view- ' ers just how special it is to live in this comer of the world. The filming last year Place and Deli catered exquisite box lunches while local families took turns making dinners for fifteen. Land owners Bob Bridges and Dick McNear graciously offered their locations for many of the scenes. Months after the fun was over, Argo offered more learning, in the form of an educational trip, to view the editing and film making process in her Georgetown office last September. And then the wait began to actually see the final ere was a wonderful opportunity that featured our community’s cooperative spirit. Locals worked diligently for long hours to cater to the needs of the film crew. The VanNess, Sherwood and Lucking families provided a host of needs that included children for the scenes, housing, location suggestions, and food coordination. Rae’s ation of Argo’s talents. Seldom do independent film makers have the opportunity to receive funds as freely as Argo to follow her visions and dreams. Her work speaks for itself. After seeing “Wisdom of the Wild”, viewers will understand the confidence and respect she is afforded. Plan From Page A1 Lindquist writes, “When our children want a Big Mac and are forced to go to a Big Mac town to get it, the whole community of Rappahannock loses. In the development of the Village of Amissville Commercial Area Plan, the needs of the whole Amissville community will be addressed.” The plan presents three new options for Amissville boundaries, and speaks of the benefits of the “village power” that will result: the empowerment to resist development pressures; the official status that will “give us eligibility to receive government grants and programs to improve our community;” status that “would literally put us on the map;” and the ability to prevent county actions like the Bealeton-Remingtou Ruritan Club" Proudly Presents ®The Warrenton Antique Show March 31st, 2000 April 1st &. 2nd, 2000 Fri. & Sat. 10:00-6:00 Sun. 10:00-5:00 at Pearson Armory 692 Waterloo Road, Warrenton, VA For further information call 540-439-0884 or 540-439-8197 Admission $3.00 With Ad $2.50 i r< n\i/\(. show n \ r1 s s. /'L mh, r J ? J ! «■ 'l 'Onn PRETTY TILE UGLY GROUT? (The Stuff Between The 7 iles!) Tired of moldy, missing, dirty cracked grout? We can clean, seal, repair, regrout & stain/change grout color! FREE ESTIMATES Licensed • Bonded • Insured A,Grout Doctor RL"f DC & MD 301-396-5549 Vj Virginia 703-923-3988 MAKE A DREAM COME TRUE Host an exchange student! For more information call Rene Brown at 540-349-0077 or 1-800-760-4620 ASPECT FOUNDATION 1-800-US-YOUTH www.aspectfoundation.org Financial Problems? Bankruptcy May Help! • Too Many Bills • Harassing Phone Calls • Collection Suits Auto Repossession • Wage Garnishments • Home Foreclosures —” nimni _ cine our new location in 400 South Main Street, 3rd Floor (Upstairs from the Social Security Office) m* EarlJ. Oberbauer, Jr. Attorney At Law 540-829-6900 • 1-800-434-3059 FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION \fjni(lahh\ ()ualil\ Ic^al Services Snice /V75 placement of the landfill “inside our boundaries. The three boundary options would create an Amissville of from roughly three to nearly seven square miles, and with populations, based upon existing residencies, of from 429 to 684 people, compared to the existing Amissville population of 143. The plan calls for the rezoning of the Dixon Farm on U.S. 211 for both commercial and residential development, and for the creation of a “Business Office and Technology Park” on the Moore property on U.S. 211. In addition, the Commercial Development Plan proposes a volunteer Economic Development Office to promote Amissville; a General Custer’s Headquarters tourist attraction located in the home used by Custer in 1863; the use of the old Amissville landfill as the site for a village community center; revisitation of the issue of acquiring the Moore water system to create a centralized water system for Amissville; and an EPA evaluation of water quality in the area. Community reaction The Rappahannock community has reacted negatively to the Lindquist proposal, and a broad hearing before any public body in the county is unlikely. As AACA member Paul Komar wrote, “This influx of commercial entities would in turn require a population and residential building expansion inconsistent with the well being of Rappahannock County as well as being detrimental to the agricultural community. More importantly, if considered or approved would set the precedence for a continuation of the already commercially revolutionized neighboring counties. I do not think the citizens of this county want or desire such a change in their lives. I will always remember why I moved here and commercial/industrial parks was not one of them!” Threat From Page A1 strategic planning of livable communities, and has served as a consultant to the Piedmont Environmental Council, which promotes land conservation in a nine county region, including Rappahannock County. Mr. Risse will present an overview of the sprawl problem, its causes and costs, and possible cures. The program also will feature a dynamic couple from Loudoun County, Peggy and Joseph Maio. Peggy Maio, the Loudoun County field officer for the Piedmont Environmental Council, has spent 15 years working on the front lines of the development battles in the nation’s third fastest-growing county. Mrs. Maio has represented PEC on numerous county committees and has been actively involved in efforts to manage growth and maintain a viable rural economy in a county where farms are being rapidly gobbled by housing subdivisions and commercial development. Joseph Maio, her husband, is the founder of Voters to Stop Sprawl, a political action organization that successfully mobilized a voters’ revolt against rapid growth that resulted in the election of eight new members to the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors in 1999. That county board is now trying to fashion ways to slow down the spread of sprawl in Loudoun. The forum will provide an opportunity for Rappahannock County residents to learn from the experiences of nearby counties and to ask questions of the speakers. All county citizens, whatever their views on development, are welcome to attend. RLEP is a 30 year old nonprofit citizens’ organization dedicated to preserving the rural character, scenic beauty and natural resources of Rappahannock County. The Amissville Area Community Association was formed by residents of the Amissville area last year to foster a sense of community and to serve as a forum for citizens’ concerns and to plan for the future of the area. For additional information, contact James P. Gannon, president of RLEP, at 987-9536. Board From Page A1 was given an opportunity to comment and all voiced their opposition. John Wiese led the criticism by stating that “you are making a terrible mistake cutting salaries when there are greener pastures out there,” referring to the increasing competition for teachers and school administrators. Dave Gillis expressed concern that the board was dealing with salaries and not people. “We are only dealing with a few people,” he said, “we’ve singled out what I consider to be world-class folks,” and he suggested that the board accept the superintendent’s suggestion and “let him find the money without affecting salaries.” Katherine Treanor noted that Fauquier County’s use of signing bonuses for teachers indicates the level of competition and added that Rappahannock’s teachers stay here because of the leadership that they are provided by school administrators. Barney O’Meara reacted to the board’s conduct with his comment, “I know you’re a new board and a new chair-I hope you get beyond your growing pains,” and then criticized their budget cutting by expressing his hopes “that somewhere down the road you will learn to not PermaTreal BEST AND TERMITE CONTROL FREE INSPECTION! Serving Rappahannock County For Over 30 Years www.permatreat.com • 829-0000 If from concept to full bloom Grttnwav Vista Farm & Nursery* LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS Omm A Uc. 27SMM4N parrot what some constituent says, but to advocate for the children and the public schools.” Mr. O’Meara’s sentiments were echoed by other speakers including Susan McCarthy whose family had prayed that “those who are elected to represent us . . . learn and know enough to lead us” and by Jami Gillis who characterized the caring and dedication of Rappahannock administrators by noting that “I don’t know about how many other principals sign everyone’s report card and write a note.” Rick Kohler asked the board “why are we fooling around with pennies-we are wasting our time here.” He said that “we have a wonderful situation . . .we found $40,000 or so that was not in the budget and yet I’m surprised that you are concentrating on cutting a few hundred or a thousand or two thousand from a few people . . . I don’t understand that.” Andy Platt said that he came to the meeting perplexed and that he would leave perplexed: “We spend two hours tonight to take a couple of hundred dollars from a few valuable employees.” Former Jackson District School Board member, Ron Makela said that “I’m very concerned in the way this has come about. You’re in charge of $8 million, and you don’t have a clue about what you’re doing.” Additional public comment supported earlier speakers and Mr. Wiese challenged “the board to undo what you did.” The school board appeared stunned by the depth of feeling, but held off the public and made no move to reconsider their motion. The board will meet on Thursday, March 30, at 6 p.m. for final budget approval.

• Neighbors/B2 • Obituaries/B5 • Classifteds/B6, B7 • Real Estate/B8 March 29, 2000 Citizen of the Week Amy Hitt Hometown: Amissville Accomplishments: Amy Hitt was born and raised in Lake Placid, N.Y. She was the oldest of six girls. Six years ago, she married Gary Hitt and they have three children; a daughter, Amber and twin boys, Evan and Dylan. It should go without saying that Mrs. Hitt is a stay at home mom and enjoys every minute of her career. The Hitts own Holly Hill Tree Service and Landscaping. Mrs. Hitt is a member of Amissville Baptist Church, where she currently serves as nursery director. She also teaches the Girls In Action Mission class for the first through third grade. Mrs. Hitt is a board member of the Amissville Area Community Association. She also serves as overall chairperson for the Community Identity Activities and Events Committee. She is also editor of the association’s newsletter. She and other members of the association are currently working on getting “Welcome to Amissville” signs complete and in place. In her spare time, as if there is any, she volunteers at Rappahannock County Elementary School. She loves gardening and landscaping her yard. Mrs. Hitt is working toward making the old dump site in Amissville into a community park for the children something similar to Rady Park in Warrenton. According to Mrs. Hitt, “a long term goal is to help keep Amissville a rural community for my children and their children.” Weekend Picks Auction this friday Wakefield Country Day School invites the community to attend its fund raising auction on March 31 at Fauquier Springs Country Club in Warrenton. Over 150 items have been collected from parents, students and friends of the school for the event. The evening begins with the silent auction from 6:30-8 p.m. Dinner follows at 8 with music by talented WCDS parents Tom and Lorraine Espinola, and a live auction of about 20 items follows at 9 p.m. Dinner reservations are $25 per person and can be made by calling the school at 635-8555. CD release party, dinner scheduled Come join Debbie Zinn and Jake Butler's new CD release party at the Salem Volunteer Fire Department on Saturday, April 1 from 7 until 10 p.m. Dinner will be served by the Salem Volunteer Fire Department. Greek comedy set RCHS presents the Greek comedy, “The Birds" by Aristophanes on Friday, March 31 and Saturday, April 1 at 8 p.m. in the auditorium. Admission is $5 per person and tickets will be available at the door. For more information call Jean Elizabeth at 675-1518. Country Cottage ready to serve BY BILL KOSSLER Rappahannock News Special Writer We have a new store in town, just last month, Feb. 5 Thora Pullen’s Country Cottage opened its doors for business. It is a friendly, cozy, coun try place, reflecting Mrs. Pullen’s own gracious personality, with a couple of comfy chairs. When the weather is nice sometime, you might find a few people relaxing, playing checkers and chit chatting. What makes the Country Cottage distinctive amongst the gift shops in the area is its focus on local business and local entertaining. “We want to have things for any Rappahannock News Photo/Bill Kossler READY FOR SPRING: Thora Pullen, owner of Country Cottage has all types of plants, flowers, gifts and cards just in time for the spring season. price range, so anyone can hnd something nice they can afford, and not just very expensive antiques and such for people travelling through” Mrs. Pullen says. If there is a birthday, anniversary, or holiday, or if you want to send something to a sick friend, she has something for you. There is a nice collection of cards and plants; African violets, crocuses, daffodils, hostas and such. She makes very attractive “dish gardens” - baskets filled with a variety of live greenery, a plant bouquet, if you will, as a nice alternative to giving flowers. If you are planning a party, Mrs. Pullen can help you decorate and set up, with plants and decorative helium balloons and pool floats. Having a little gift shop has been a dream of Mrs. Pullens for the eleven years she has been with us in the county, so naturally she’s happy and excited to be open for business and doing well. February apparently was a bang up month, despite the winter weather and its annual slowing of activity around here. Easter is just around the comer, so if you need something, maybe pop in and say hello at the Country Cottage. A sign is on its way, in the meanwhile, the shop is in the blue and ivory building on the left, as you head toward Washington from Sperryville on U.S. 211, a bit past the Rappahannock Farmers’ Coop. The phone at Country Cottage is 987-8763. “Night Must Fall” in Little Washington The Fauquier Community Theatre brings its production of the psychological thriller “Night Must Fall” to The Theatre at Washington for two performances, on Saturday, April 1 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 2 at 3 p.m. The setting for the drama is a classic English country house, presided over by a reclusive, self centered matron, who uses her money and imaginary ailments to control those around her. Among those beholden to her is the lonely niece, forced by circumstances to live and work in this house filled with fear and tension. The household includes the wise cracking and irreverent housekeeper, the optimistic but rather stupid maid, and the cheery nurse. The arrival on the scene of a charming and charismatic young man brings with it mystery, and eventually the entry of the detective from Scotland Yard. The actors of the Fauquier Community Theatre will be joined by Judge Douglas Ginsburg, for a cameo appearance as the Lord Chief Justice of England, at the Saturday evening performance; Diane Bruce, Clerk of Court for Rappahannock County, will play the role of Lord Chief Justice at the Sunday afternoon performance. Tickets for this witty “whodunit” production at The Theatre at Washington on April 1 and 2 are $12 for adults and $5 for students 18 and under. Seating is reserved. For reservations and information, phone 675-1253 or send e-mail to Theatre Va@aol. com. Photo courtesy of Wendy Weinberg TWO PERFORMANCES: The Fauquier Community Theatre will perform April 1 and 2 at The Theatre in Washington. April Slumbering, bronzed, hills that roll, awaken and sing from winter’s browns. Humble sprouts of brand-new green, offer sweet nibbles to a hungering foal, And earthy critters that remain unseen. A cascade of willow’s branches trace, a weeping green of newborn leaves, that bow to the daffodill’s nodding face. Grace pinkbud’s glaze among the trees, (winds whisper “winter’s not a trace”). The meadow’s yearnings, wildflowers free to kiss the breezes, April sings. Earthly stirrings and warm reverie, haunting mysteries, Mother Nature brings (preparing now for summer’s peace). Forsythia’s gold’n waving arms warming the atmosphere, and glowing. They gesture to pussy willow’s charms, "enchanting “— all those hollow’s knowing that fuzzy nod that welcomes spring’s hello. Cynthia Stamps Woodville The Inn at Little Washington on tour to benefit Trinity’s ECW On Tuesday, April 4 The Inn at Little Washington will open its doors to the public for a tour to benefit its a neighbor, Trinity Episcopal Church and it’s charitable arm, the ECW and its Garden Guild. The tours will run from 1:30 through 6 p.m., and will be followed by tea served in the historic town hall next to The Inn, where an exhibition of the work of London designer Joyce Evans will be on display. Tb celebrate the new church garden, the Trinity Church Garden Guild will hold it I third annual Great Spring Garden Sale” under the big tent opposite the church from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Inn at Little Washington tickets are per person, and are available opposite the church on the day of the tour or by advanced purchase. Please enclose your check, along with a self addressed stamped envelope to: ECW, Trinity Church, P.O. Box 299, Washington, Va. 22747. For further information please call 675-3694.

Church A Activities County Methodist services Rappahannock County Methodist Churches will have worship services for Sunday, April 2 as follows: Flint Hill at 8:45 a.m.; Sperryville at 11:15 a.m. and Willis Chapel at 10 a.m. The Rev. Merlin Shorb is pastor and invites the public. Woodville Baptist Pastor: Rev. Alpheus Atkins Sunday: Sunday School 10 a.m. Worship Service 11 a.m. Night Service 7 p.m. Wednesday: Bible Study & Prayer Meeting 7 p.m. Choir Practice 7:45 p.m. Fellowship breakfast planned The Christian Musicians’ Fellowship will hold a fellowship breakfast on Saturday, April 1 at 8:30a.m. at the Beulah Baptist Church, Eggbomsville. Singers, directors, instructors, musicians, writers of Christian music are encouraged to participate. Please bring a breakfast food item to share. For more information contact Mrs. Nan Butler Roberts, 399-9815 or Mrs. Ilona Epperson, 937-4713. 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. New Hope Baptist Bible Pastor: Carl R. Menefee Sunday: Sunday School 10 a.m. Worship Sen/ice 11 a.m. Evening Service 6 p.m. Wednesday: Evening Prayer, Bible Study 7:30 p.m. Gospel concert scheduled A spring gospel concert featuring the Faith Singers of Rappahannock County along with Rev. Flowers and the family and others will take place on Saturday, April 8 at 5 p.m. at the Massaponax High School (near Fredericksburg). Tickets are $10 and available from the members: Mrs. Charlotte A. Johnson 987-3340, Mrs. Alfreda Dean, 636-6088, Rev. Anna Allsberry, 675-1243 or Mrs. Nan Butler Roberts, 399-9815. For more information e-mail: nbrober@yahoo.com. Sunday: Sunday: Wednesday: Sunday: Wednesday: Thursday: First Baptist Pastor: Dr. Wendell Grant Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Communion first Sunday of each month. Amissville Baptist Pastor: Rev. V. DeLong Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship 11 a.m. Evening Service 6 p.m. Bible Study 7 p.m. Mission Groups 7 p.m. Slate Mills Baptist Pastor: Rev. J. Harold Eaton Sunday School 10 a.m. Morning Worship 11 a.m. Children’s Choir 6:45 p.m. Youth & Adult Choirs 7:30 p.m. W.M.U. Meeting St. Peter's Catholic Mission Father Jerry Pokorsky Masses: Saturday Vigil, 5:30 p.m. Sunday, 8:30 and10 a.m. Holy Days of Obligation call 675-3432 Weekdays Tuesday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m. Confessions: 4:30-5 p.m., Saturday, after masses Forest Grove Baptist Sunday: Sunday School 10 a.m. Worship Service 11 a.m. Bethel Baptist Church Pastor: Rev. Forrest Freeman Sunday: Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Morning Service 11 a.m. Wednesday: Midweek Prayer and Bible Study 7:30 p.m. Macedonia Baptist Sunday: 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. Monday: 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 11 a.m. Wednesday: Bible Study, Holy Eucharist 9:30 a.m. Ecumenical Lenten Study/Dinner 6:15 p.m. Thornton’s Gap Regular Baptist Rev. Kirby Shenk Sunday: Sunday School 10 a.m. Worship Sen/ice 11 a.m. Cathy Bigelow weds Reed Gillespie Cathy Wingfield Bigelow and Reed Green Gillespie were married Oct. 2 at 1:30 in the afternoon by Pastor Jon Heddleston at Reynolds Memorial Baptist Church in Sperryville. The bride was escorted by her father and given in marriage by her parents and her children. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Wingfield of Sperryville. Her grandparents are Mrs. Catherine Taylor of Harrisonburg and the late Charles “Ed” Taylor, the late Mrs. Eleanor Swope and the late Lawrence Wingfield. The groom is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Duff Gillespie of Kensington, Md. He is the grandson of Mrs. Betty Swartz of Cleveland, Ohio and the late Eugene Swartz, and the late Mr. and Mrs. Emmitt Gillespie. The bride wore a Sue Tbsch design wedding gown with a jewel neckline and braided bodice attached to a box pleated, duchess satin skirt that flowed into a chapel train. She wore a fingertip veil which fell from a baked bisque porcelain tiara of ivory roses, leaves and pearls. Her bouquet was a cascade of stargazer lilies, white roses, daises, stephanotis, baby’s breath and ivy. Denise Wingfield of High Knob, Front Royal served as her sister’s maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Lorita Yancey of Charlottesville, Candie Lokey of Harrisonburg, both cousins of Mr. and Mrs. Gillespie the bride, Cathy Persiani of Front Royal, Audrey Bryce of Culpeper, Susan Payne of Sperryville and Jenna Papp of Flint Hill, all friends of the bride. They wore Dave and Johnny periwinkle blue formal length slip dresses with rhinestone straps and matching chiffon stoles. Their flowers were similar to those carried by the bride. Junior bridesmaids were the brides’ twin daughters, Angela and Katrina Bigelow. Adrian Lokey served as the flower girl. Mark Gillespie of London, England served as his brother’s best man. Groomsmen were Charles Yancey of Charlottesville,' Scott Lokey of Harrisonburg, Kenneth Baldwin of Flint Hill and Jason Baldwin of Sperryville. Ringbearer was Ty Bigelow, the bride’s son. Organist was James Wodd and the wedding coordinator was Mrs. Jack Lockhart. The bride’s aunt, Mrs. Charles Taylor, was in charge of the guest book. J A wedding reception foillowing the ceremony was held at the Aberdeen Barn in Culpeper. Music was furnished by Kevin Owens of Front Royal. The bride attended Lord Fairfax Community College and is employed as a Family Worker for Skyline CAP Head Start. The groom received a BA in Social Studies from Wittenburg University in Ohio and is a teacher and basketball coach with the Rappahannock County School System. .. A bridal shower was hosted by the Womens Missionary Union of Reynolds Baptist Church. A luncheon was given by the bride for her attendants at the home of her sister at High Knob. After a short honeymoon at the Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, the couple and her children are residing in Sperryville. An extended honeymoon to London, England is planned for the upcoming summer. Boston welcomes Reid family We welcome to our community the Reid family who recently purchased the late Joe and Hazel Hawkins property, across from the post office and store. Mr. and Mrs. Buddy Grigsby entertained with an evening meal on Friday in honor of their son, Kevin’s birthday having several close friends as guests. The public is invited to worship with Pastor Sandy Martin and his congregation at New Salem Baptist Church each Sunday with Sunday School at 10 a.m. and morning worship following at 11 a.m. Our prayers for a quick recovery are extended to Joel Peregory, who underwent surgery in Fauquier Hospital on Monday. Mrs. Ray Frazier was a Friday afternoon guest of her mother, Mrs. Eunice Meade on Hash Lane. Several of our area folk attended the opening of Cooter’s Place in Sperryville over the weekend. Mr. and Mrs. Shelvy Frazier were “grill-cooking’ luncheon guests on Sunday of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Peregory, Joseph and Jennifer. We extend condolences to Mrs. Anna Dodson, former resident of Slate Mills and now of Culpeper Health Care Center, upon the loss of her only son, Carl W. Dodson, who passed away at University of Virginia Medical Center on Thursday. Quite of number of our young people, seventh grade students, at Rappahannock Elementary School, are eagerly looking forward to their trip to Williamsburg next week and we hope they have a great time and safe trip. A reminder before retiring Saturday evening, turn those clocks up that extra hour and you won’t be late for church on Sunday. There will be a Relay For Life meeting at St. Luke’s Lutheran School on April 18 beginning at 6 p.m. and any team captains in our area are urged to be present to help in planning for the event which is scheduled for May 19 and 2°. Reva way residents Mr. and Mrs. Edward Carpenter are the proud grandparents of a new grandson, John Edward Dalton, bom to Mr. and Mrs. David Ingram. Sympathy is extended to our area folk and all family ROSTON Boston By MARIE F. ATKINS 987-8802 ■ members upon the passing of their loved one, Mr. C.E. Coates, which occurred Thursday at Culpeper Health Care Center at the age of 91. Birthday greetings go out to Mrs. K.T. Miller, who celebrates her day on Tuesday. Krystal and Jacob Heflin were Monday evening guests of Mrs. Janet Peregory and children. Have a great week and give me a call with your news. 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 CHERRY STREET Building Supply Corp. ‘See Us For All Your Building Supply Needs" 1418 Orange Road Culpeper (540)8254)937 SperryviUe Emporium “The Shop that has EVERYTHING” U. S. 211, West SperryviUe, VA (540) 987-8235 “Why are all those creatures [minting at me and screeching? Maybe they are those humans’ Mom and Dad told me ahuul. They look happy, hut they might be getting hungry any minute! 1 sure hope they can't reach me. It's a zoo out there!” Baby bear is right. It is a zoo out there Aren't we glad we can trust our faith in God to protect us from fear? This is expressed beautifully as follows... “Build a little fence of trust A round today; Fill the space with loving work, And therein stay; l.oofe not through the sheltering bars Upon tomorrow; God will help thee hear what comes Of joy or sorrow. ... Mary Frances Butts: Trust You can have “the peace that passelh all understanding.' Worship this week. “It’e n 7rsr> out fharal” Sunday j2 Chtomcies 6 34-42 *y,h Tuesday Net'em al i i-n Wednesday Doniei ? no Thursday Jonah 2 MO fnOay Jam«5 5 11-20 Solu'flay Wtilippians 1 111 scnpn*** rn* *m*Ksr: »atty Coor&* 2000 Kixuw mwm %wtc*p<* Strwf > 0 Bo 6005 Ciwton»«vtte /A 22906, *** wmb.UW ABERDEEN BARN Steaks • Seafood • Prime Rib Banquets • Luncheons in the Holiday Inn of Culpeper (540) 825-1037 Jimmie’s Auto Parts Complete line of foreign & domestic parts 161 Saunders St. • Culpeper (540) 825-8030 The Color Shoppe Paint • Carpet • Wallcovering l Blinds Rt. 29 South • 2 miles from Culpeper Old Hudson Ham Building 547*9743 GOLDEN CORRAL Family Steak House (540) 825-5888 • Culpeper r Church Activities are brought to you courtesy of these advertisers and the Rappahannock News -\ j i SUBSCRIBE TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK NEWS. Call 675-3338.

SperryviUe residents welcome visitors Mr. and Mrs. Russell Cave Qf Boston and Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Dodson of Orange were Sunday afternoon guests of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Jenkins. Mr. and Mrs. Jack Baldwin and David were Sunday evening guests of Mr. and Mrs. Ricky Pullen and Ashleigh in Washington. . Cooter’s has reopened for the 2000 season. Great country music will be featured every Saturday and the best in Bluegrass every Sunday afternoon. Store hours will be Thursday through Monday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Make sure you stop by real soon! The Sperryville United Methodist Church will have worship service at 11:15 a.m. on Sunday, April 2. The Rev. Merlin Shorb is pastor and invites the community. Mr. and Mrs. Tom Kwon and three month old son, Jason of New York were Friday evening dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. Billy Wayland and Tiffany. Nia Genther of Front Royal was also an afternoon visitor. The Kwon family spent from Wednesday until Sunday enjoying beautiful Rappahannock County. Daylight savings time begins this weekend. Remember to set your clock up one hour when you go to bed Saturday night so you won’t be late for church on Sunday. Sharp Rock Vineyards on Route 707 is now open every Saturday from noon until 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. and also by appointment during the week. From Sperryville take Route 231 approximately 8 miles, turn right onto Sharp Rock Road and go one plus mile, the winery is on the right. For more information call 987-9700. Mrs. Sandra Jenkins, Ms. Donna Clark and Mrs. Thelma Jenkins attended the gospel singing at Madison County High School on Saturday night. Sperryville residents are reminded of the Greek comedy, “The Birds” that will be performed at Rappahannock County High School on Friday, March 31 and Saturday, April 1 at 8 p.m. in the auditorium. Residents are also reminded of the annual Miss Rappahannock pageant to be held on April 15 at the Rappahannock Elementary School. The Smokehouse Winery is sponsoring a road cleanup on Saturday morning, April 1 from 9 to 12 along Route 231. Please meet at the F.T. Valley Grocery around 8:30. For more information call the winery at 987-3194. It is the time of year when all the roadsides need to be cleaned and we encourage residents to be a part of a cleanup crew if it is near your property. Have a great weekend and give me a call should you have news for the column. Methodist women met with Mrs. Lillard The Flint Hill United Methodist Women met on Monday at the home of Mrs. Mabel Lillard. Mrs. Betty Webb of 'Amissville was guest speaker for the group. Others present were Mary Frances Bywaters, Alice •Pullen, Louise McCulloch, Thelma Crane, Mary Curtis, Barbara Jamieson, Candy Lamma, Ashley Lamma and Barbara Gentry. The Flint Hill United Methodist Church Cemetery Committee met on Tuesday evening with Charles Foster. 1 Those present were Jack ; Curtis, Emory Russell, M.H. • Brady and Wayne Payne. Elizabeth Welch and Bill ! and Joanne Welch attended the 4-H Share-the-Fun Talent ;Show at the Rappahannock ■High School on Saturday evening. Elizabeth was a character in the play, “Pandora’s | Box.” Katie Welch had as her guests on Saturday, Danille Hudson and Ashyln Paul. Spending the weekend with Nikki Calisto was Jennifer Foreback. Bob Curtis of Tulsa, Okla. spent from Thursday until ! Monday with his parents, Jack and Mary Curtis. Jim Curtis of Linden joined them on Friday. On Sunday Bob and his parents visited his brother, ; Jim at Linden. *j . Allison Lillard of Manassas was a Sunday visi-[ tor of her grandmother, Mrs. Edna Lillard. The Flint Hill Baptist It’s a girl! < Mr. and Mrs. David Alther Cand son, David Jr. of Washington are proud to *> announce the birth of a daugh•: ter and sister, Callie Ann on March 7. Callie weighed ,six pounds ‘and eight ounces and was 19 ■inches long. Maternal grandparents •• are Eleanor Pullen of Washington and the late Lewis Pullen. •!.; Paternal grandparents are ’ Levi Alther of Washington and ’the late Edna Alther. RECYCLE IU \ > \V\ -V Flint Hill By POLLY AYLOR 987-8136 Church has worship services on the second, fourth and fifth Sundays at 11 a.m. The public is welcome. Tony Kelly of North Dakota was a Sunday visitor in the home of Bryant and Holly Welch and girls. The Flint Hill United Methodist Church has worship service at 8:45 a.m. each Sunday. The pastor, the Rev. Merlin Shorb invites the public. Bible study of the United Methodist is held at the church on Thursday at 7 p.m. Have a good weekend! Ron and Sharon Frazier Frazier couple to be in concert Country Gospel recording artists, Ron and Sharon Frazier will be in concert April 2 at 7 p.m. at the Amissville Baptist Church in Amissville. This exciting husband and wife team brings the message of Jesus Christ in a most unique musical program. The sincerity of their testimonies is a true witness to the life changing power of God. The music varies, but the style is country and def initely their own. Whether singing traditional hymns, southern gospel, standard or their own original material, the joy is contagious and the presence of God evident. The Fraziers travel extensively throughout the United States giving concerts in churches, prisons, festivals, etc. Their recordings have been a blessing to many. For more information contact Amissville Baptist Church at 937-6159. Viewtown highlights Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Hitt and Mr. and Mrs. Jessie Settle attended funeral services for their brother, Marvin Settle in Waldorf, Md. recently. He was the son of the late Carroll Settle and Ella Lee Settle Deal of Rappahannock County. Prayers go out to Roy Whorton and Allen Hawkins who are scheduled for surgery this week. We are glad to report that Mrs. Brown Compton is home from the hospital. We wish her a speedy recovery. Anyone with news for the Viewtown column is encour Viewtown . , .. By GLADYS DODSON 937-1904 aged to give me a call. Remember to set your clock forward on Saturday night, so you are in time for church on Sunday. Have a great week! Burkes announce birth of son, Richard Jackson Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Burke Jr. of Pewaukee, Wis. are pleased to announce the birth of a son, Richard Jackson on Wednesday, March 8. Jack has a sister, Emily and a brother, Wil. Paternal grandparents are Judith and Richard L. Burke of Huntly. Maternal grandparents are Lois and Wilson Godfrey of Hiddenite, N.C. Great-grandmother is Mrs. Aubrey North of Huntly. Time Is Running Out Professional Tax Assistance Doesn't Cost - It Pays! Electronic Filing Fast Refunds Refund Loans Stephens City/ Winchester 5011 Main Street, Stephens City Next to Lantz Pharmacy 540-869-2007 Manassas 10702 Vandor Lane 703-366-3444 Front Royal 470 S. Commerce Ave. Next to Mom's Kitchen 540-636-3838 Fredericksburg 4036-B Plank Road 540-785-4805 Income Tax Preparation Eve. & Weekend Appointments • Tax Returns & Planning • Computerized Bookkeeping & Acct. • Cash Flow Projections • IRS Problems • Business Plans • Start Ups www. Sareen-A ssoc. com We Welcome: • Early Birds • Late Filers & Extension File • Federal & Out of State Taxes »Future Tax Planning • Part \fear Residents • Difficult Returns pay Taxes R/g/ff . ^ri // e °an work out a pa Plan with the IPS Upcoming Events Kindergarten registration set Kindergarten registration will be held at Rappahannock County Elementary School on Tuesday, April 4; Wednesday, April 5 and Thursday, April 6 from 9 a.m. until noon and from 1 to 3 p.m. by appointment only. For appointments and/or information call RCES at 987-8259. Democratic Committee meets April 4 The Rappahannock County Democratic Committee will hold its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Rappahannock County Library. The upcoming Democratic Caucus, which will be held in Rappahannock on April 17 will take center stage at the meeting. The prefiling forms for Delegates to the 10th Congressional District Convention and the Virginia Democratic State Convention will be available that evening as well as copies of the temporaryrules which will govern the conduct of the caucus. Any county Democrat interested in being a Delegate to the Conventions, offering resolutions to be considered for adoption, or simply participating in the caucus is urged to attend this meeting. Other items on the agenda include updates on the Relay for Life team, reports from the standing committees, news of some very generous anonymous donations to the committee, the soon-to-be launched RCDC web site and success in finding a donkey. The meetings of the Rappahannock County Democratic Committee are always open to the public, and all are welcomed warmly. A time of refreshments and socializing follows every meeting. For more information contact Meredith Gorfein at 6753515 or gorfein® citizen.infi.net. Spring event planned The Washington Baptist Church will hold its annual “Spring Event” during the Fodderstack Race on Saturday, April 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the public is invited. For those with an appetite, there will be hamburgers and hot dogs, chips, drinks, baked goods, popcorn and snow corns. For those looking for bargains, there will be a Grandma's Attic yard sale with many quality items. The proceeds from this event will go toward the Church Building Fund. For more information contact the church at 675-3336. Publiceducation. com presents What’s ahead in the next five years for our schools, our students and our teachers? Come find out Thursday, April 13, 7 p.m. at Rappahannock High School when publiceducation.com presents three panelists to give us a look into the future. Come hear some new thinking about teaching and learning, about academics and vocational education and how school funding can be met. Following a 45minute panel there will be workshops for group discussion and community in-put. Headwaters and the Rappahannock PTO will provide a lasagna supper in the high school cafeteria from 5:30 to 6:45 preceding the panel. Education.com is a chance to explore and contribute to what is happening in our public schools. Call the Headwaters office at 675-1819 mornings between 8:30 and 12 for more information. Physicals at Health Department Kindergarten, school and preschool physicals will be offered at the Rappahannock County Health Department April 4 and April 11 from 1 to 4 p.m., which will include physicals and immunizations. Immunizations only will be offered April 7 from 8:30 to 11 a.m., no appointment necessary. Please bring proof of income and immunization record. Appointment is needed for physicals only. Extended hours The Rappahannock Commissioner of Revenue’s Office has announced that effective now through May 1 they will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to help residents with personal property forms and/or those with income tax questions. For additional information call 675-3513. Dance at Flint Hill A dance will be held at the Flint Hill fire hall on April 1 from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. Music will be provided by Southern Persuasion. Cost is $20 for couples or $12 single. For more information call Connie Huff-Harris at 675-3389. Gospel music program planned A birthday celebration for Annie Clanagan will be held on Saturday, April 1 at 6 p.m. at the Sperryville fire hall. A gospel music program has been scheduled. Groups to appear include: The Deane Spiritualair; David Clanagan and The Free Spirit; The Glory Road Singers; Heaven’s Express; The Faith Singers; Heritage Express and The Voices of Inspiration. All are invited to attend. Youth Alive to meet Exciting news for youth, ages 10-18, of Rappahannock and Culpeper areas. Come join Youth Alive of Amissville, an exciting new youth ministry with contemporary Christian music and awesome Bible teaching. Youth alive meets at the Viewtown Store from 7:30 to 9 p.m. every second and fourth Saturday. Subs, pizza, snacks and drinks will be available for purchase following the meeting. For more information call Kent and Mary Jo Willoughby at 937-4929 or Duane and Joyce Willoughby at 9375210. Shooting matches at Castleton A shooting match will be held every Friday at 7 p.m. at the Castleton Community Volunteer Fire Company. Rules are 12 gauge shot guns and 36 inch barrels, maximum length. Annual fashion show The annual Business and Professionals Womens Organization will be holding a fashion show/luncheon on Saturday, April 8 at 12. The show will be held at the Holiday Inn, Culpeper. Men, children and women will model clothes exclusively from the local J.C. Penny’s. Tickets are available at $17 per person and $10 for children. You can purchase tickets by contacting any member or at the following locations: Southern Hospitality at 825-5011; One Valley Bank at 829-5806 or Battlefield Travel at 825-1393. Financial Mentor training offered Virginia Cooperative Extension is pleased to announce that Financial Mentor Training will be offered for residents of Planning District 9. Sessions will begin April 18 and continue on April 25, May 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30. Time will be 9 a.m. to 12. All training will be conducted at the Culpeper County Library. For more information, directions and class syllabus, contact the Rappahannock Extension Office at 675-3619. Hospital to offer classes Warren Memorial Hospital will offer Healthy Eating, a dynamic, interactive program designed to help you choose foods that are low in fat, high in fiber, yet delicious. This program includes four weekly one-hour sessions, menus, recipes, and resources to help take the guesswork out of selecting and preparing healthful meals and snacks. Class sessions begin on Wednesday, April 19, at 5:30 p.m. at the hospital. For details or to register for the program call 636-0291. X

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; Herman Atkins Born in county ; Herman Burtnell Atkins, £7, of Luray died on Tuesday, March 21 in Luray. He was bom on March 22, 1902 in Sperryville and was a eon of the late Thomas Franklin and Maggie Dodson fVtkins. j Mr. Atkins had worked as a private contractor and was employed at the Virginia Oak Tannery and the Visco. He was a member of the Luray {Seventh-Day Adventist Church. In 1928, he married Elizabeth Griffith Atkins, who (lied on April 26, 1951. On dune 4, 1952, he married the former Minnie Marie Deavers, who died on Oct. 23, 1999. He is survived by a son, Herman Wayne Atkins of Portland, Tenn.; a daughter, Clarice Doss of Richmond and ten grandchildren. He was predeceased by two sons, James Earl Atkins and Thomas Edward Atkins; eight brothers and two sisters. ; Funeral services were conducted Thursday, March 23 at ithe Bradley Funeral Home. Burial was in Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Luray. Virginia Aylor Born in Madison • Virginia Elizabeth Aylor, 174, of Falls Church died on Sunday, March 19 at Arlington Hospital in Arlington. { She was bom in Madison ;County on July 16, 1925 to the ■late James E. and Mary E. Alexander. J At an early age she joined the Chestnut Grove Baptist Church, where she continued her membership many years upon residing outside the Culpeper area. { Survivors include her husband of 51 years, Lewis E. Aylor; three daughters, Jean ,E. Moses of Nokesville, Ruth E. Grogan of Dumfries and Shirley A. Porter of Washington; one son, Marvin ;E. Aylor of Falls Church; five ■ grandchildren and seven ; great-grandchildren. ; Additional survivors ■ include; one sister, Mary B. I Aylor of Boston; three brothJers, Walter Alexander of ■ Washington, D.C., Luther {Alexander and Lenwood ; Alexander, both of Culpeper ■ and numerous nieces and {nephews. Funeral services were con ducted on Saturday, March 25 at Chestnut Grove Baptist Church in Brightwood with the Rev. Bernardo Snipes of Manassas officiating. Interment was in the family section of the church cemetery at Brightwood. W.C. Thompson Funeral Home of Culpeper was in charge of the arrangements. Phoebe Green Auditor Miss Phoebe Ella Green, 99, of Amissville died Saturday, March 25 at Heritage Hall Nursing Home in Leesburg. She was born March 20, 1901 in Amissville. Miss Green was a graduate of the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg. She then taught for a short time in the Culpeper County Public Schools. In the 1940’s she worked as a buyer for the former Grayson’s Department Store on Main Street in Warrenton. Then she returned to Williamsburg working for the next 23 years as an Assistant to the Auditor and Bookkeeper at the College of William and Mary. Miss Green was an honorary lifetime member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity of the College of William and Mary. She chaperoned for the fraternity in the 1950’s and 60’s. While living in Williamsburg, she was a member of the Williamsburg United Methodist Church, where she served as treasurer. Upon her retirement, she moved back to her home at Amissville where she worked part-time at the post office. She was a member of the Amissville United Methodist Church, where she also had served as treasurer, and at her death, was the oldest member of the church. She was a lifetime member of the Amissville Volunteer Fire Company and Rescue Squad, where she served driving and riding in the ambulance well in to the age of 80 and beyond. She also was a former volunteer with Hospice Support of Fauquier. She is survived by several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Funeral services were conducted on Tuesday, March 28 at Amissville United Methodist Church by the Rev. Richard Gordon. Members display blossoms BY HELEN PLATT Rappahannock News Contributing Writer Members of the !Rappahannock County ! Garden Club were surrounded ;by spring blossoms as they ■ held their March meeting at \ the Washington Volunteer ‘Fire Department hall. The ■ horticulture classes for the j day were Forsythia, Daffodils ; and minor bulbs. Almost every member had I at least one special bloom to | display, making the job of .'judging the entries difficult for i club member Celene Siira. Blue ribbons were awarded !• to Ruth Baumgardner, Joan Herremer, Janet Eastham, | Edna Metzinger, Betty Wood, Helen Platt, Florence Phillips, Mary Revercomb, Mary Priest i and Virginia Scott. | There were two classes for : artistic design and blue ribbon i winners were Carol Miller and ; Helen Fairfax. Hostesses Charlotte Laing, Mary Priest and Louise 1 Bondelid presided over a ! clever St. Patrick’s Day table • of many delightful refreshj ments. “It’s for the Birds” was the | subject for the day’s program i which was presented by Mrs. I Joyce Wake from the | Warrenton Farmers’ Co-op. ; Mrs. Wake referred to an ■ extensive display she had set i up as she spoke of attracting birds by providing them with j food, water, shelter and nest! ing sites. } Her discussion of landscap1 ing plants that attract birds ! was accompanied by a long I reference list of suggested ! plants. Her audience responded J with many comments and ! questions and a number are ■ probably putting up additional ! bird houses this week. President Lucia Kilby • presided over the business portion of the meeting which followed the program. On^izin^ LJlioucjtits. by Randy Minter THE HEREAFTER Some make the argument for immortality by saying that this life is but a single chapter in a long book. We look to the ensuing pages for the resolution of conflicts and for the understanding that presently eludes us. As Jean Jacques Rousseau has speculated, "Had I no other proof of the immortality of the soul than the oppression of the just and the triumph of the wicked in this world, this alone would prevent my having the least doubt of it. So shocking a discord amidst a general harmony of things would make me naturally look for a cause. I should say to myself we do not cease to exist with this life, everything reassumes its order after death." Nothing humbles us more than facing the mystery of death. For many, a belief in something greater offers comfort; for others, satisfaction is found in a life well lived. At the MOSER FUNERAL HOME, 233 Broadview Ave., Warrenton, we understand the stress that grief brings to your life, so we take care of the details to make this time more manageable for you. Call 540347-3431, and we're ready to lend a hand. "Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it." -Helen Keller Burial was in Amissville United Methodist Church Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Amissville Volunteer Fire Company and Rescue Squad, RO. Box 147, Amissville, Va. 20106. Moser Funeral Home in Warrenton was in charge of the arrangements. Larry Wimberley Born in county Larry Lavon Wimberley, 53, of Culpeper died Thursday, March 23 as a result of an automobile accident. He was bom March 18, 1947 in Rappahannock County. Mr. Wimberley was a veteran of the United States Navy. He was also a member of Open Door Baptist Church and a member of the Culpeper American Legion, serving as an honor guard. He is survived by his mother and stepfather, Hazel and Fred Lamb of Culpeper and two sisters, Sheila Wehrmann of Fredericksburg and Sonya Smith of Sperryville. Additional survivors include two nieces, Amber Pierce and Alicia Smith, both of Sperryville; two nephews, Patrick McDonnell of Fredericksburg and Steve Hall of Colorado and several stepbrothers and stepsisters. Graveside services were held on Tuesday, March 28 at Culpeper National Cemetery with the Rev. Mark Jarvis officiating. Honors were provided by the Culpeper American Legion Post #330 and the Culpeper VFW Post #2524. Found and Sons Funeral Home in Culpeper was in charge of the arrangements. Lyle Beatty Sr. Army veteran Lyle “Buck” Edward Beatty Sr., 73, of Front Royal died Sunday, March 26 at Heritage Hall Health Center. Funeral services were conducted on Wednesday, March 29 at Turner-Robertshaw Funeral Home in Front Royal by Samuel Blakely. Burial was in Panorama Memorial Gardens in Waterlick. Mr. Beatty was born April 29, 1926 in Flint Hill, son of the late Samuel and Laura North Beatty. He retired from Avtex Fibers as a press operator and was an U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He was a former member of the Moose Lodge and VFW. Survivors include his wife, Mary Kathlene Shifflett Beatty of Waterlick; a son, Lyle E. Beatty Jr. of Front Royal; two daughters, Barbara A. Rosenberry of Herndon and Mary E. Vermillion of Sterling; a brother, Samuel Beatty of Haynes City, Fla.; two sisters, Ann May of Bristol, Pa. and Jane Dodson of Dickerson, Md.; 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Pallbearers were Keith Rosenberry, Jerry Vermillion Jr., Butchie Beatty, Rusty Beatty, Mike Shifflett and W.T. Shifflett. Honorary pallbearers were Lynn Cameron, Cecil Cameron, Bruce Cameron, James Beatty, Rodney Shifflett and Earl Menefee. Ruth Stewart Born in Washington Ruth Ellen Stewart, 71, of Cleveland, Ohio died on Saturday, Jan. 29. She was born in Washington, Va. on Aug. 1, 1922, the sixth of eleven children born to William Henry and Margaret Elizabeth Hunter. She was predeceased by her parents; two sisters and two brothers. She was raised in the Baptist faith as a child. After she left her childhood home in Virginia, she converted to Catholicism in the 1940’s. Mrs. Stewart retired from the United States Postal Service in 1983. Mrs. Stewart loved her family and friends. She was extremely proud of her daughters, both of whom are lawyers. Survivors include two daughters, Melody Jean Stewart and Cheryl Bellemay and son-in-law Dr. Robert E. Bellemay and three grandsons. Additional survivors include six sisters, Mary Catherine Wilson of Bristol, Pa., Willie Dorothy Hunter of Levittown, Pa., Delilah Frances Daulks of Norfolk, Margaret Ann Freeman of Warrenton, Hazel Virginia Coaxrom of Levittown, Pa., and Joyce Constance Beckham of Tampa, Fla. Martha Barton Washington resident Mrs. Martha Barton, 75, of The Meadows, Washington died Tuesday, March 28 at Fauquier Hospital in Warrenton. She was bom March 31, 1924 in Weldon, N.C., a daughter of the late Benjamin and Emma Purnell. Mrs. Barton was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church and of the Episcopal Church Women. She was also a member of the Culpeper Minuteman Chapter of the D.A.R. She was a homemaker. Memorial services will be held Saturday, April 1 at 2 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church by the Rev. Jennings Hobson. Survivors include her husband, Edward Irving Barton of Washington; three sons, Andrew Edward Barton of Columbus, Ohio, Robert Douglas Barton of Houston, Texas and Peter Alan Barton of Arlington; a daughter, Julia Elizabeth Dunbar of Houston, Texas and two grandchildren, Evan Dunbar and Bonnie Barton. Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 299, Washington, Va. 22747. Clort _-hn« iivh •FUNI R A!. H OH fc • "The Home of Thoughtful Service" 11190 James Monroe'Highway (Rt. 29 South) Culpeper, VA 540-825-2361 • 540-825-0395 Wayne English, General Manager Business & Service Directory Only $4.60 per week foral inch space (540) 675-3338 Next Deadline, March 23 AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR RIVERSIDE AUTO SERVICE Quality Auto Body Repairs Mechanical Repairs Towing Service State Inspection Sperryville (540) 987-8264 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 Cabinetmaker Gene Lyman Cabinetmaker Repairs • Refinishing • Restorations • Reproductions 540-987-8443 MacRae Associates, p.c. Full Service CPA firm Washington, Virginia (540)675-2043 Joseph F. Keyser Building Construction Quality Renovations & Custom Home's VA Class A Contrat tor 540-675-2395 T.G. TAYLOR CONSTRUCTION, L.L.C. Custom Homebuilder Class A License 540-987-8043 EXCAVATING BROWN’S EXCAVATING 7 Quann Lane, Chester Gap, VA 22623 (540)635-7273 st£S5d » Bu*B,s*1"9 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, Barb Wire, American Wire, Chain Link, Board and Electric. Split Rail fljj. ■« m i 1 * i 1 rnvacy rwtcing amumm aibo Curtis Crawford Home: 540-675-3443 Pager 399-2688 CARPET EARLY’S CARPET, INC. The One-Stop Shop Iw complete Home Oeicoraenj Sendee Flooi Coverngs • Wrao» Treatments Walpepei • Sip Cowrs 4 UpMSery w — i-e «i-i a a i _ . nwsKJttfwai a uvranirti* RL 211 AmteevUle VA 937-5500 IUHIMNtY 1 CLEANING 1 Chimney Sweeping Relining OU ScwCct Fully Insured t6 1fttm ZxfunuHet Bruce Vierling (540) 675-3508 CONSTRUCTION KREYLING CONSTRUCTION Top Quality Custom Homes Since 1975 540-987-3145 Interior trim • Wood working -Built-in cabinets • Remodeling/ Mew construction New River Homes 25 yrs experience Class A Lie. • Insured 540 675 2255 540 351-7027 pager EXCAVATING g luitaui iveys excavating ponds* driveways clearing'landscaping snow removal*bushhogging We offer quality work with years of experience. 540-987-9259 Vests Excavating Specialized Backhoe, Dump Truck Hauling, Ditch Digging, Culverts, Mowing. Bushhogging & Driveway Grading, Snow Removal 675-1117 ❖❖ EQUIPMENT RENTAL PAGE GIMP RENTAL CENTER 139 Virginia Avenue • Luray, VA 22835 (888) 843-2670 Lawn & Garden Seeders • Trencher • Chain Saws Jack Hammer • Pressure Washers Log Splitter • Generators Carpet Cleaners WHY BUY, WHEN YOU CAN RENT? Complete Small Engine Repair & Service INSPECTIONS Home Inspections Construction Mgmt7Q.CX'onsulting Since 1987 DPI. Engineers Civil engineer Residential/Conunen lal 540-937-8219 MASONRY Don Corbin MASONRY Brick & Stone Restoration Patios, etc. (540) $47-3452 PAINTING Specialty Paint & Spackle Vinyl Siding Interior & Exterior Painting Full Service Experienced Gina Johnson 540-923-4652 RESTAURANT THE COUNTRY CAFE Monday-Thiscby 8 am to 8 pm. Fnday-SaHiday8amto9pm Sunday 8 am to 3 pm 675-1066 Take out Available >me Home to a n ily Feeling. ” ftenng top quality care in a country setting Caring from ambulatory to non-ambulatory care 103 Lee Burke Road • Front Royal VA 22630 540-635-7923 • Fax 540-636-3397 PUMP INSTALLATION EXPERT PUMP INSTALLATION & REPAIR SERVICE Available at RAPPAHANNOCK FARMERS CO-OP Sperryville. VA 987-8555 STORAGE SPERRYVILLE STORAGE CO. Suft HmimIv K(ur«f(c Kirthlvalial ('•■■crcial Ktraaonahlt- Kale* S40/987-8S07 ■i. ims. »n i .s. tn SFERRYVIUE, VA TV & APPLIANCE GREYSTONE TV & APPLIANCE Sales & Service GE & RCA Video Products Antennas & Satellite Systems Radio Shack Dealer. Kitchen Aid, Whirlpool & Roper Appliances 312 North Main St., Madison (540) 948-2200 STORAGE South Wales Business & ^ Mini Storage^ A New > Units to ^ Choose 7 From _ \J V 1/ 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 WATER TREATMENT WATER RIGHT Water Problems? Have your water tested in your home for PH (green stains), Hardness, Iron, Rust, Stains, etc. Correct any of these problems with WATER RIGHT Treatment System Call for more information Pullen s Electric & Plumbing Also: Pumps & Waterheaters, in stock installation Class A Certified 540-675-3249

INDEX Please refer to category you wish to use Rentals 001. Rentals - Apartments 011. Rentals - Condo 022. Rentals - House 033. Rentals - Lots & Acreage 044. Rentals - Mobile Home 055. Rentals - Room 066. Rentals - Shared Housing/Roommates 077. Rentals - Townhouse 080. Rentals - Office. 085. Property Management 088. Rentals - Wanted 089 Hunting Properties 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 135. Real Estate For Sale 144. Sales - Manufactured/Custom Housing 155. Sales - Mobile Homes 166. Sales - Townhouses 177. Sales - Wanted Commercial Real Estate 180. Commercial - Rent 188. Commercial - Sale 190. Real Estate Wanted 193. Real Estate Services 196. Franchises/ Business Opportunities Merchandise 200. Antiques & Collectibles 204. Arts & Crafts 208. Auctions 212. Cemetery Lots 216. Computers/Electronics 220. Farm Equipment 222. Farm Supplies 224. Firewood 228. Furniture/Appliances 232. Garage/Yard/Moving Sales 233. Estate Sales 236. Hay, Straw & Feed 240. Horses 244. Jewelry 248. Lawn/Garden Equipment 252. Livestock 254. Building Materials 256 Miscellaneous For Sale 260. Miscellaneous For Rent 261. Miscellaneous Wanted 262. Musical Instruments/Equipment 266. Office Furniture & Equipment 270. Penny-Pinchers 273. Pets 274 Pet Supplies/Service 278. Produce 282. Recreational Equipment/Heatth 284. Firearms 286. Seasonal Sales Free Merchandise 290. Found 294. Giveaways 298. Lost Services 350. Business Services 355. Child Care Services Offered 356. Child Care Services Wanted 360. Commuters Corner 365. Domestic Services 370. Financial/Mortgages 375. Home Health Care 376. Home Improvement 380. Instruction 381. Career Education 383. Health & Beauty 385. Lawn/Garden 390. Personal Services 391. Miscellaneous Services 395. Services Wanted Announcements 400. Adoption 410. Announcements 420. Birthdays/Happy Ads 430. Coming Events 440. Entertainment 450. Personals 460. Seasonal Specials 470. Tributes j_ega| Notices 480. ABC License 490. Legal Notices 485. Bids & Proposals 492. Public Notices Employment 500. Domestic Help Wanted 515. Employment Services 545. Full Time Employment 560. Part Time 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 Legal Notices (Real Estate Rentals/ Sales Automotive Use... Directory Tin Soukck ion Hi sim ssi-s. Skrvicks ami I’koi i.ssionai.s. Loudoun County Eastern Loudoun Tiir > | Chantilly Fauquier County Centreville Ti Prince Wiilfc County Nof<i«fn Virgnia ** Area Shewn NORTHERN VIRGINIA New Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-6 p.m. By Phone: Loudoun 703-777-1110 Loudoun 703-689-1260 Metro 703-444-4480 Fauquier 540-347-4222 Clarke 1-800-339-6267 Rappahannock 1-8004524797 By Fax: 703-689-1278 By Web : http://www.timespapers.com 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 Public/Legal Notices 5:00 p.m. Friday General Classified 6:00 p.m. Monday Your Community Directory 12 Noon Friday Horse & Farm Directory 1:00 p.m. Monday cuuni rwusinu 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 elderliness, parenthood, or handicap. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby1 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 forothat 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 tor 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 for the duality of advertised products or services. We Accept H t-3 I 1 tTTil FLINT HILL SPACIOUS p 1 br, garage apt., W/D, $400/mo. Call Wanda at Sam Snead Realty, 540-635-9753 WASHINGTON, VA 1BR UR, Kitchen &BA. Avail / 4/01/00 references and I sec. deposit required. I $375mo 540-937-3439 ' V_i_s_s RAPPAHANNOCK COUNTY, Slate Mills, F near Sperryville, 3 BR, 2 BA, living room, eat-in kit., family room, Ig. . basement. 2 FP, central ac, separate workshop. 2 acres w/ beautiful views. $750/mo. Sec. dep., & ref. 540-5473993. f SMALL GROUP OF professionals are interested in leasing land for hunting. If you have 50 or more acres please call Hugh at 540-9377114. V I.Ml.. ...' 1-3/4 acrege, wooded, $25,000; also, 6-3/4 ac, wooded, $38,000 Both lots Warren Co. 5 min. from I-66. No subdivision. 540-937-3632. COMMERCIAL SPACE. 2400 s.f. on hwy. 211, Sperryville Lease & ref. req. $1400/ mo. Avail. 5/1. 703-712-8443. FIREWOOD FOR SALE. You cut $30/ pickup. Contact: 540-937-5099. C~-s 240 ttOTMM v___) STRAW FOR. SALE Bright & clean $2.00 a bale 540-439-2775 BOXWOODS & LARGE SHRUBS WANTED All sizes Please call 540-347-3838 -_____-_ v_> PRICED TO SELL! Arch Steel Buildings Sizes Include 25x36. 30x44, 35x56., 45-58. Great backyard shope/garages/storage Quantities Limited! 1-800-341-7007 www.steeimasterusa.com V_^ BOXWOODS & LARGE SHRUBS WANTED All sizes Please call 540-347-3838 ERSIAN KITTENS For SALE BLACK male, female tortoise shell, very cute health guaranteed. CFA reg. 540869-5315 Iv msg ARN HOMES NEEDED for shy unadoptable cats, all medical prov., spayed/neut. 703-2950678. REE FIREWOOD - you cut & haul.540-4391869 REE HORSE MANURE. aged, great for gardening, minutes from Warrenton, you-haul. 540349-8777. REE SLAB WOOD long length 540-453-2079 REE SLAB WOOD long length 540-543-2079. J EARLY’S CARPET, INC. The one-stop shop for omrolete Home Decorating Service Floor Coverings • Window Treatments Vallpuper* Slip Coven & Upholstery Residential A Commerical Rt. 211 Amfaftville, VA 937-5500 ESP. PERSON w/ own tranp needed for 8 yr. old. 5-7:30pm & Sat. Good pay for right person. 540-987-3101. CONVALESCENT AIDS, loaned free of charge. Wheelchairs, hospital beds, walkers, etc. Rappahannock Convalescent Loan Closet. 540-9375292, 540-675-3398, 540-675-3765, 540987-3116, 540-9374410. s/ Steven M. Manlon General Contracting, Inc. specializing in all forms of home improvement * Decks * Additions * Screen Porches * Kitchens Call for free estimates Licensed, Bonded & Insured. Refs upon request. 540-937-3588 v_> PERENNIAL GARDENS EST/maint Veg. gardens tilled w/Troy Horse. Nina Moore at 987-8953 /-> 400 Adoption V ADOPTION A loving couple unable to have children longing to adopt an infant. Willing to pay legal/medical costs Call Chris & Jim. 1-877-389-4427 (toll-free) CHILDLESS. Christiar couple can provide i loving, secure home foi baby through oper adoption Laurie/ Craij Collect 703-437-5888 I WILL NOT be responsible for any other debts except for my own. Debra Ann McFarland. APPRENTICE EARLY AIR CRAFT CONSTRUCTION SHOP/ GROUNDS KEEPER/ MAINTENANCE , FT/PT Immediate opening. , Company benefits. ' 540-347-1909 ' AUTO PARTS COUNTER SALES FT/PT Positions. | 15 Northern VA lo- j cations, (Prince Wil- j liam. Loudoun & < Fairfax Counties), < Full benefits. Call: I Fairfax Auto Parts 703-323-5300 Bookkeeper/ Secretary Wanted Part-time, approximately eight hours weekly Experience w/ Quickbooks required, as well as preparation of payroll, payroll tax returns and other light secretarial responsibilities. Please call: 540-364-1912 DELIVERY/ Food Prep • Evenings • $8/hr plus tips Must be friendly & clean cut Apply in person Joe’s Pizza 385 W. Shirley Ave. • Warrenton 347-0022 DRIVER For school van. Flint Hill to New Baltimore route. 4 hours per day starting immediately. Please call 540-635-8555. DRIVERS/ DELIVERY Full-time and parttime positions. AM & PM shifts. Full benefits, year-round work, not seasonal. Locations in Loudoun, Prince William & Fairfax Counties. Call: Fairfax Auto Parts 703-323-5300 ELECTRICIANS MECHANICS & HELPERS Commercial/ Residential- VA Work only. Excellent pay with paid vacation/ holidays, transportation, health insurance, 401K, Apprenticeship Sponsor. Apply by Appointment only: KC ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS, NC. 540-349-8500 (EOE) EQUIPMENT OPERATORS .FLAGGERS .LABORERS .DUMP TRUCK DRIVERS Senoral Excavation, nc. an EOE, curently has ongoing obs in Clarke, Waren. Page, Culpeper, 5 Louisa County arias. mmediate openings in all locations. • e Benefits ncluding insurance, holiday pay and 401k. Apply at 9745 James Madison Hwy. Warrenton, VA Office hours: 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM 540-439-2202 Farm Help Persons needed to milk dairy cows, 4 hr. shifts, some weekends, good wages, home & utilities included. After 7:30 p.m. 540-439-2775 LOADER, DOZER, HOE OPERATORS 703-368-5249 MAINTENANCE HELPER FT, full benefits, not seasonal. Chantilly, VA area. Good driving record req. Call 703-323-5300 NURSING! RN’s WANTED - $500 Sign-On Bonus! Med Surg., Tele, ICU Up to $38/hour to start. Same day pay. Call: Frontier Nursing, LC. 1-877-634-6406 Bids It Proposals I BIDS & PROPOSALS The Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors is soliciting responses to a Request for Proposals (RFP) to provide professional planning & engineering support to Rappahannock County in furtherance of the Sperryville Gateway TEA-21 Project. The terms and conditions, proposal submission and evaluation standards, and other pertinent information, are explained more fully in the full text of the RFP, available from the County Administration Office, 290 Gay Street, Washington, VA 22747 (540) 675-3342 The deadline for bid submission is 4:00 PM Friday, April 7, 2000 BY Order Of: John W. McCarthy County Administrator 3-22, 3-29-00 #304770 OPENINGS FOR EXPERIENCED ELECTRICIANS With a valid drivers license & dependable transportation. Must have HS diploma. Please call Powers Electric 540-547-2489 PAINTERS NEEDED Retirement plan available. 540-439-2300 Security Best Interest Security is now hiring PT/FT for Opal, Haymariret, & Leesburg. Starting at $7.50. (DCJS112720) 703-492-4121 STOP COMMUTING! WORK LOCALLY!!! HVAC Immediate opening for experienced helper or junior installer. TOP PAY!!! Call Goshorn, Inc. (540) 347-3600 Or fax resume to (540) 341-7490 TOP QUALITY HORSEMAN’S POSITION On first class farm near Front Royal. Benefits, housing References. 540-636-2220 TRUCK DRIVER Mechanic experience helpful for small construction company. 703-368-5249 PRODUCTION ARTIST Part-time position available in our Warrenton Advertising Art Department at the Fauquier Times-Democrat. Skills we are seeking include graphic art basics, great organizational skills, good typing ability and a keen eye for detail. Knowledge of Quark Xpress & Photoshop required. Illustrator knowledge a plus. Fax resume to Barbara Norris Fauquier Times Democrat 540-349-8676 Construction ). D. Eicher Builder, Inc. is looking for five roung, enthusiastic, and hard working individuals to train in the dying trade of carpentry. If you are willing to work hard, isten, ask questions, and show up to work svery day, we will provide you with the spportunity to work with experienced carpenters in learning all phases of carpentry. We provide first class equipment and tools, a friendly work environment, and other benefits. So, if you are interested in beginning a new career as a carpenter with a well established builder, please give us a call at 540-347-7591. RN 3-11 Supervisor Full Time and Part Time Positions Culpeper Health Care Center seeks a qualified Registered Nurse to be a 3-11 Supervisor. Full Time and Part Time Available Long term care and supervisory experience is a must. Excellent Salary and Benefits. Contact: ALICE SKUPNICK, RN.DON Culpeper Health Care Center 602 Madison Road Culpeper, VA 22701 (540) 825 2884 EOE Drug Free Workplace Skilled Maintenance! HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing THE INN AT LITTLE WASHINGTON Great opportunity tor top-notch individual with proven skills to work with a very talented manager in nice surroundings. Competitive wages, uniforms, meals, vacation, health insurance and more. Send resume with salary history to Human Resources. POB 300, Washington, VA 22747 Fax 540-675-3100 Church Musician/ Choir Director Needed P-T for Orlean United Methodist Church. Qualified applicant should have a broad range of musical knowledge, with the ability to teach and instruct others in basic music skills. The successful applicant will be required to select, conduct, and perform appropriate choral selections for the adult choir and the hand bell choir. Requirements also include availability for all practices, and special services. Salary commensurate with experience. Position available August 1st. Send resume, references and salary requirements to PPR Committee, Orlean UMC, Post Office Box 135,Orlean, VA 20128. Phone: (540) 3493852,E-mail: OrleanllMCenetscape.net EMPLOYMENT SPECIALIST Full-time position available working our Supported Employment department. Resp. include: intake screening, eval. of consumers, job development, task analysis, placement, training, advocacy, reports/plan/ documentation. BA/BS + 1-2 years related experience. Cert, as Emp. Sec. may replace part college. Must have vocational experience. Salary mid to upper 20’s. Excellent benefits. Exp. w/disabled persons required. Send resume to: HR DEPT, Didlake, 8621 Breeden Ave., Manassas, VA 20110 or fax to: (703) 361-7141. MAINTENANCE/ REPAIR PERSON Town of Washington The Town of Washington, Rappahannock County has a part-time position available for a Maintenance/Repair Person. This position averages 80 hours per month at a rate of $8 to $10.00/hour depending uporr experience. Employee is responsible for maintaining town facilities to include the town water system, landscaping, town cleanliness and other work as required. In,< addition, employee must be reasonably-' available for emergencies and willing to1 work hours required to resolve emergency] situation. Employee should have a vehiclecapable of carrying supplies, good drivingrecord, experience in general maintenance,] plumbing and mechanical repair. Em-, ployee must be capable of supervisingsupport personnel and volunteer workers ] Tools required will be provided by the town. Employee must have a Waterworks Operators License Class 4 or be willing to un-] dergo training and complete requirements for such license. For further consideration Contact: Kaye Kohler Washington Town Hall 540-675-3128 EOE Drug Free Workplace CNA Positions Join our Team of Dedicated Professionals • STARTING PAY UPTO S9.55. INCLUDING DIFFERENTIALS • WE ARE INCREASING OUR STAFFING LEVELS WHICH CREATED NEW OPENINGS • INCREASED STAFFING PATTERNS WITH GREATER FOCUS ON RESIDENT CARE • NEW AND ENHANCED LOW COST MEDICAL PLAN • EXCELLENT PAID DAYS OFF PLAN • NEW LEADERSHIP TEAM For an immediate interview please call: Karen McLeod Apply or call between the hours of: 8 am to 6 pm Interviews also available on weekends Culpeper Health Care Center 602 Madison Road Culpeper, Va 22701 (540) 825 2884 EOE-V/D/M/F WE PROMOTE A DRUG FREE WORK ZONE!

STABLE HELP Foxcroft School stables has a full time permanent position available. Candidate must have prior experience working with horses and operating farm machinery. Duties include: daily horse care, grooming and tacking during the school year. Mowing, trimming, fence repairs and painting during the summer and school breaks. Must be reliable and have a valid driver’s license. Position includes benefits. No housing available. Contact Nelly Sheehan Director of Riding at (540)687-4582 E.O.E. MAlNTENANfT TTPHKliriam ROSS INDUSTRIES’ busy maintenance department seeks a skilled MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN to perform a variety of maintenance duties, including rough carpentry, basic facility repairs, including simple electrical work and basic plumbing. Qualifications: Experience in similar environment doing type of work noted: must be able to use common hand and power tools, and able to handle physical requirements of position including lifting, reaching, bending, stretching, and carrying heavy materials, such as lumber. Hours of work are 6 am to 3:30 pm, Monday - Friday. Availability for O.T. is a job requirement. Compensation and benefit package includes sign-up bonus, competitive base pay, comprehensive medical/dental, life and disability insurance, 401 (k), and other important benefits. Qualified applicants should contact HR Dept. Ross Industries, Inc. Midland, VA 22728 540-439-3271 or 800-336-6010 540-439-2740 e-mail: hr@tossirKlnc.com EOE ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE If you are a results-oriented sales professional, energetic and an out-going individual with a minimum of 1 year advertising experience looking to join the Fauquier Times-Democrat, we have the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. This opportunity includes a competitive benefits package plus lucrative earnings potential. Please fax resume & salary requirements in confidence to: Kathleen Keller Advertising Sales Manager Fauquier Times-Democrat (540) 349-8676 Email: kkellerOtlmespapers.com EOE limes SALES Are you looking for a new career with an unlimited opportunity for advancement? Would you like to be recognized as a professional salesperson in one of the area’s leading automobile dealerships? If so, our salespeople earn an excellent income and enjoy the benefits of working with a successful and progressive dealership. If you’re currently a professional in automobile sales or if you're seriously considering a career change and are looking for the training and guidance that are essential for long term success - we'd like to talk to you. I'm John Kuvakas, the General Sales Manager, call me and we'll schedule a time to meet this week. 540-347-6622 Joe Jacoby Chrysler-Jeep Equal Opportunity Employer V FUKNITURl HAS CAREER OPPORTUNITIES! • OFFICE MANAGER/CREDIT MANAGER • ASSISTANT WAREHOUSE MANAGER • (must have valid driver's license) • SALES ASSOCIATE EXCELLENT PAY AND BENEFITS 'Major medical and Dental Insurance *401K Retirement Planning 'Paid Vacation 'Paid Holidays 'Paid sick Days 'Excellent Working Environment 'Must be interested in move up to management 'Must be willing to work Sundays during the Holiday Season, and whenever required during special sales events. Apply at store level 619 Frost Avenue, Warrenton, VA With 17 Newspapers In Our Times Community Newspapers Group, We’ve Got Northern Virginia Wrapped up! Cali 347-4222 or FAX 349-8676 SECRET ARY/OFFICE MANAGER Immediate need for Full-time SECRETARY/OFFICE MANAGER to work out of our Leesburg, VA office from 8:30am to 5:00pm. Duties include phones, word processing, copying, filing, etc. Must be RELIABLE. Excellent benefits, salary $30,000. Please call or send resume with salary history to Andy Jennings: Schnabel Engineering Associates, Inc 751 Miller Drive SE, #C-1 Leesburg, VA 20175 PH: (703) 779-0773 Fax: (703) 589-1246 PRODUCTION WORKERS Supreme Block Co Is now accepting applications for production shifts. No experience necessary. Excellent Benefit package includes vacation, sick, holiday, & overtime pay. Safety incentives & 401K retirement plan. Interested persons apply at: 42824 Durham Ct. Goosecreek Industrial Park Leesburg, VA (703)-777-7150 BANKING $368 million dollar Credit Union is seeking a full time Member Service Representative. This individual must have good customer service and cash handling skills and a desire to SELL Credit Union or Banking experience is a plus. We offer a competitive salary with an outstanding benefits package. Please fax your resume to: 703-709-7551 Attn: Vanette Jackson SECRETARY Join the exciting world of aviation. Saab Aircraft of America, Inc. is in need of a qualified Secretary to support our spares distribution business office Monday thru Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Responsibilities will include extensive file maintenance, taking minutes at meetings, report writing, ordering office supplies, coordinating travel, meeting planning, sales and purchase order administrations, as well as answering department phones. Requires a minimum of 3-4 years secretarial experience in a similar environment, plus proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel. Excellent communication and organization skills required. Must be able to work independently and be committed to hours assigned. Qualified applicants only, please send resume, including salary history to: Saab Aircraft of America, Inc. Attn: Human Resources 21300 Ridgetop Circle Sterling, V A 20166 Fork Lift Operators Smith-Midland Corp., a precast concrete producer, is seeking an associate experienced in the operation of 25,000 capacity forklift. This is a year round position with excellent benefits and competitive salary. Qualified and interested persons may contact: Personnel Dept. P.O. Box 300 Midland, Va 22728 Ph: 540-439-3266 Fax: 540-439-1232 MONTESSORI TEACHERS AND ASSISTANT TEACHERS MONTESSORI CHILDRENS HOUSE OF LOUDOUN, located in Sterling, is currently Interviewing for the following positions for September. MONTESSORI TEACHERS - Montessori Certificate required. ASSISTANT TEACHERS - No degree is required for these positions but experience in early childhood is preferred. Full and part-time positions are available. Call: 703-421-1112 or fax resume to: 703-421-9356 r SECRETARY Travelers Property & Casualty Corp., In Chantilly, Virginia is seeking a team player with a mature attitude to provide secretarial support for its Northern Virginia Staff Counsel office. The right candidate will be flexible to handle diverse responsibilities including handling of confidential materials; will posses excellent verbal, written and typing skills. WILL TRAIN. Salary comrhensurate with experience. Terrific benefits. Contact Sandy Maleski at (703) 818-6940. We are an EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER committed to workforce diversity. We actively promote a drugfree workplace EDUCATION REPORTER Talented, enthusiastic reporter with an interest in the schools. Must have some newspaper background. Send resume, and clips to; Robin Earl, Managing Editor Fauquier Times Democrat P.0. Box 631, Warrenton, VA 20188 NORTHERN VIRGINIA RETAIL HORSE COUNTRY Retail Salesperson Must be customer oriented. Knowledge of riding apparel and tack necessary. Ideal candidate will be a self-starter, have retail/sales experience, and enjoy interacting with our customers. Two full-time positions available. Apply in person at: Horse Country, Ltd 60 Alexandria Pike Warrenton, VA 20186 AIRLIE CONFERENCE CENTER Full & Part Time Positions Day & Evening Shifts ★ BANQUET SERVERS it HOUSEKEEPERS ★ CONFERENCE SUPPORT/ AV TECH it CONFERENCE SUPPORT/ PM SHIFT SUPERVISOR mmmp cler* Competitive Wage, Benefit Package including Health, Dental & 401k Apply in person 6809 Aiiiie Rd. • Wanenton, VA No phone calls please CNA Positions Join our Team of Dedicated Professionals • STARTING PAY UPTO S9.55. INCLUDING DIFFERENTIALS • WE ARE INCREASING OUR STAFFING LEVELS WHICH CREATED NEW OPENINGS • INCREASED STAFFING PATTERNS WITH GREATER FOCUS ON RESIDENT CARE • NEW AND ENHANCED LOW COST MEDICAL PLAN • EXCELLENT PAID DAYS OFF PLAN • NEW LEADERSHIP TEAM For an immediate interview please call: Karen McLeod Apply or call between the hours of: 8 am to 6 pm Interviews also available on weekends Culpeper Health Care Center 602 Madison Road Culpeper, Va 22701 (540) 825 2884 EOE-V/D/M/F WE PROMOTE A DRUG FREE WORK ZONEI If s just around the corner and our over 517,000 I readers in Fairfax, Loudoun, Fauquier, Rappahannock : and Clarke counties are going to need help preparing j i their taxes. Call today to advertise your tax service in j the directory that will get you results! i! To Place Your \\ Tax Time Service Ad... Package ***** Pa°ka^s: Package * f&Z&ST Cla^Ti^^ocrat, Package 3Great Falls lri ’JH^L^nPmes, 1 Times emocra rier k News idon Tii Great Falls rlLTLean T"”est' Package 4- 77,nes e"ft*‘"yte ^s, ’’ Times Fairh. o <*"~“"‘2KSSay G»a, *fciean 77m-.. ’ Buy 1 Package, get a 2nd Package for 1/2 Price!!! We accept the following forms of payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover. Call our Loudoun Office: 703-777-1110 or E-mail: tfields@timespapers.com mallen@kimespapers.com Mail Classified-Tbx Time P.O. Box 359 Leesburg, Virginia 201790359 or Fax 703-689-1278 Community Newspapers NORTHERN VIRGINIA

Effects of last year’s drought will impact this year’s crop BY CHUCK HOYSA Rappahannock News Contributing Writer Most homeowners with backyard orchards had a pretty good crop last year. The dry weather limited disease problems, and we had very few specimens brought in to the Extension Office with insect and disease damage. However, the effects of last year’s drought may be one of the biggest influences we will have on this year’s crop. Any plants that blooms in the spring, like fruit trees, set their flower buds during the previous season. With fruit trees, bud initiation takes place during May and June, just as the tree is starting to set and develop its current crop. Trees that are carrying large crops will often divert most of their energy to ripen the current crop at the expense of setting flower buds for the following year. Drought conditions only magnify the situation. Some varieties of apples, such as Golden Delicious, are notorious for bearing large crops every other year, even under good growing conditions. This condition is referred to as alternate bearing. Add a good drought to the picture, and many types of fruit trees will be affected. Commercial growers routinely thin their fruit crops to ensure a return bloom. Most homeowners do not thin their crops, so their trees will be quite susceptible to alternate bearing this year. If the backyard orchard has fewer blooms this year, it is a direct result of last year’s drought. The summer of 1998 was also very dry, but it followed a wet spring, and last summer’s crop was already set before the drought of ‘98 started. If this year’s crop is thin, or non-existent, chances are the trees will bloom heavily next spring, and require thinning to get them back on schedule. Unfortunately, hand thinning is still the best option for homeowners. Commercial growers have chemicals that thin apples, however, it is a tricky and variable process. There are no chemicals that thin peaches and other stone fruits. One disease that did affect many backyard orchards last year was fire blight. It only affects apples and pears, not peaches, cherries and plums. Fire blight is caused by a bacteria and kills the new growth from branch tips down. It can also kill the fruiting spurs. Infection takes place during and immediately after bloom, but symptoms do not usually appear until mid-May to early June. All dead fire blighted wood should be cut out of trees, preferably by sterilizing the pruning shears with alcohol or bleach between each cut. The bacteria over winters on cankers and oozes out during bloom season and spreads. Since fire blight is caused by a bacteria, it is not affected by the normal sprays homeowners use to control insects and diseases. Fire blight is controlled With streptomycin sulfate, which can be a hard product to find. It would be a good idea to use it this year on trees that were affected last year. One spray during full bloom and one at petal fall should prevent the disease from recurring. Some stores sell streptomycin in small bottles and simply call if Fire blight Spray. Directions are on the label and easy to follow. Some farm supply stores carry Gospel concert planned for Amissville on Sunday Hi everyone! Has anybody been mowing the lawn yet? All the yards look nice and green, so that only means one thing, pollen! I hope it is not as bad as last year. Well, let’s see what’s going on. On Sunday, April 2 at 7 p.m. Country Gospel singing group, “The Fraziers” will be performing at the Amissville Baptist Church. The admission is free! Ron and Sharon Frazier go around the country performing. Come out and listen to some great gospel music. For more information call the church office at 937-6159. On Saturday, April 8 at 5 p.m. The Amissville Volunteer Fire Department will be having a chicken dinner. The fire company would like to thank everyone for their support for their recent breakfast. They also would like to thank the following merchants for their donations: Lombardy’s Restaurant, The Country Cafe, Adam’s Slaughter, Mayhugh’s Grocery, Hillsdale Grocery, Ben Venue Market, Hackley’s Country Store, Laurel Mills Store, Merchants Grocery and the Lee & Williams Orchard. The breakfast was a great success. I am sure the chicken dinner will be too! Prices and complete menu will be in next weeks issue. On Friday, April 14 at 6:30 p.m. the AACA/RLEP will cosponsor a “Town Meeting” on counter sprawling. The speakers are Ed Risse, land use and community planning consultant; Peggy Maio, Loudoun County field officer for Piedmont Environmental Council; Joseph Maio, founder of Voters to Stop Sprawl, which led a movement to elect a new Board of Supervisors in Loudoun County, dedicated to slower growth. This meeting is important to the citizens of Amissville as well as, the entire Rappahannock County area. Plan to attend and voice your opinion. On Saturday, April 15 (tax day) the Culpeper Pregnancy Center is having a Walk For Amissvilie By AMY HITT p7-j4oi Life. Registration is at 8:30 a.m. at the Culpeper Baptist Church. The walk begins at 9 a.m. All the proceeds go to benefit the center. If anyone would like to purchase an Easter Lilly in remembrance of someone, call Mary Priest at 937-4072. The flowers will be displayed at the Amissville Baptist Church and can be picked up after Easter Sunday service. Amissville Nursery has several cold weather annuals and some beautiful ferns and house plants ready for purchase. Get your flower beds ready! That’s all for now. Next week is birthday week, so call me with yours. Don’t forget April Fools Day is on Saturday. Don’t get fooled! streptomycin in larger packages intended to treat large areas. Most brands include the word strep, or mycin in their trade name. Instructions on these packages often talk about mixing solutions in parts per million to treat an entire acre. These products are mixed at a rate of one teaspoon per gallon for smaller applications. If trees are not treated for fire blight this spring, and the disease does show up in May or June, pruning out the affected tissue is the only strategy recommended. The use of streptomycin after symptoms appear is highly discouraged. It will not control the disease, and may help the bacteria develop resistance to the product. The full homeowners spray guide for fruit trees is available on the Internet at http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/p mg. From the home page, select Home Grounds and Animals, and then Home Fruit. There are 36 pages with information on diseases and insects, as well as spray schedules for tree fruits and small fruits. Virginia Cooperative Extension programs are open to all, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, veteran status, national origin, disability or political affiliation. Chuck Hoysa is the Extension Agent, Horticulture for PD 9, and is located at 24 Pelham Street in Warrenton. You may reach Chuck at crhoysa@vt. edu. Real Estate Directory Real estate transactions The following real estate transactions were recorded during the past week at the Rappahannock Clerk’s Office on Gay Street in Washington. Elizabeth P. Meadows to Glenn D. White Jr., 38.5737 acres, - -Jackson District. $112,500. Secretary of Veterans Affairs to Ralph v Glenn Murphy, 1.641 acres, Wakefield District. $67,000. Robert F. Schriver and wife to Jana L. Froeling, 127.88 acres, more or less, parcel B, Jackson District. $410,000. Real Estate deadline Monday at 3 p.m. Call for Information 675-3338 i Does Your Home Have You... I Out on a Limb? Get the payments you want!!! Low Low Rates For Our Purchase and Refinance Programs * Purchase your home and pay the same as rent * Lower existing payments * Pay off your credit cards * Need cash for any reason * Government programs available Start Saving Money Now! Call ToU Free 877-884-1400 Ask for a free copy of our 10 most common home buying mistakes. Courtesy of Community Mortgage Centers, LLC StrentheniHg Our Local Communities. Out Family At A Time. Community Mortgage Centers jfi ROY WHEELER REALTY COMPANY Offering Piedmont Virginia’s Finest Real Estate For Over Half a Century. New Listings Flint Hill - This 3 BR/1 BA frame Split Foyer on one acre is in move-in condition - pine floors in LR & DR, new vinyl in kitchen, rough in for bath in basement & deck off DR, ...Priced to sell $99,950 Flint Hill - A handyman's special with history! Once a bank and post office, now two 1 BR apt. units.$45,000 Under Contract 9.5 acres w/mt. views. 14.2 acres w/3-stall bam.. Flint Hill - 204 acres w/stone house . . . South Wales - 5 BR brick front Colonial ^ Flint Hill Office 540-675-7171 IS Jean Lillard 540-675-3670 $72,000 $99,500 $675,000 $309,500 TKE KeKD The Whole Family Lear m THE HEKRT OPEN Sunday, April Heartstone admits gender, religion, I RECYCLE I Sperryville Realty James W. Leake, Broker 540-987-8088/office Shenandoah Park boundary, stream, wooded level building site for your home or getaway spot on this 10.1 acres. $75,000 Thinking of Selling? | Call James, Bud or John 540-987-8236 540-675-3291 ^ 540-987-8146 M sperryvi I lerl ty@aol. com 12699 Lee Highway • Washington, VA 22747 Phone: 540-987-9243 • Fax: 540-987-9245 Have customers looking for 25 to 75 acres! Between Flint Hill and Sperryville. Will keep any replies strictly confidential. Customers are well qualified and ready to buy. If you're thinking of selling, let us put our shoulders to the wheel. Your property could be sold before it hits the open market. A win-win for everybody concerned. Skippy Giles Louis Moore Sam Snead 675-3637 636-7115 987-9336 Wanda Snead, Property Manager 635-9753/987-9336 E-mail: samsnead@mris.com lulM PRIME COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE Famous landmark location for Sperryville. Grosses nearly 1/2 million annually. Business has expanded and is moving. Located on busy 211 near Skyline Drive, next to Cooter’s. Perfect for antiques, restaurant, hardware store, you name it. Commercial well, town septic. 2,400 square feet. $225,000 Call Tom at 540-987-8834 buyer at $349,000. SMALL HORSE FARM NEAR OLD DOMINION HUNT Six and one-half acres, fenced and cross fenced, run-in shed. Detached 2 car garage with workspace and loft. Three bedroom Rambler with great room. Under assessment at $189,900. The Buyer’s Agency, Inc. Butch Zindel, Broker (540) 675-1190 <=> butchz@summit.net

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New growth By Betsy Parker Times Newspapers Staff Writer The construction is complete. The trucks are gone. The workers no longer tramp in and out, tracking sticky Virginia clay on the new hardwood floors. But what they left behind is more than a legacy. It’s a mess. Like a painter’s canvas, the sad, barren yard of any new home practically begs for color and drama. New construction is the chance for the home owner to start afresh; to make unilateral decisions tying the front yard to the back garden, the side porch cutting garden to the carport herb beds and more. “The use of color, and scale are important to a new garden,” said Sue Bowman of Country Gardens design consultants in Hume. “When starting from scratch, you have the ability to put in those ‘four-layer gardens’ and carefully select for compatible plantings, low maintenance design and pleasing design.” The layered garden effect Bowman described is “how it’s done in nature, with layers of bulbs, then ground covers, then shrubs and trees. It’s a maximum garden in a minimum space.” Photos courtesy of Sue Bowman bee dumijN, Fage 4 wnat a amerence — creative use ot color transforms a Darren young yard (inset) into a walkway of cheerful serenity. Improve Your View Three Level Townhomes Priced from $127,500 • Garages or Full Basements •9ft. Ceilings on Main Level • Natural Gas Heat & Hot Water • 1,500 - 2,400 sq. ft. plan available • Master Suite with “Super Bath ” available • 100% Financing to Qualified Buyers •$5,000 BONUS toward closing costs or options Call Carolyn Robertson, Sales Director 540-347-6040 • 800-311-3498 ^ THE MEWS AT MENLOUGH - - NOW OPEN DAILY 12 p.mu-5 p.m. Fmm 1-66 take 29S (Exit 43A) to Business 29 (Wamenton) Turn Right on Carriage House Lane (just past Fauquier Hospital), then follow signs. Sales through umg & roster I lUioiiu a Part a/ ilir \h nlmr^li ( niiwinnilv and \i’it;hlnn in I nin/nnr llin/nltd! H Pre-Season SALE! V Save on LawnTGarden Tractors ■ Best Deals of the Season! ■ Instant Rebates!* ■ Special Financing Plans!** ■ Full Line of Riding Mowers and Tractors on Sale! Hurry! See Your Participating Massey Ferguson Dealer NOW! L-in/IITED TIME OEEEEtS! ‘Offers on selected models only. Ask your dealer for details "Financing available to qualified customers Prices and tax may vary by dealer Ask your dealer lor details i.com Smith & Sons Equipment, Corp. 8745 James Madison Hwy., Warrenton, VA 540-347-1991 • 800-248-3301 MASSEY FERGUSON » Brick Pavers » Flagstone * Concrete * Aggregate • Custom Ponds • Plant Design • Drystack Stone • Timljer Walls Remington, Virginia (540)439-3058

Design From Page 3 Bowman recommends maximizing the visual impact and drama of a garden by keeping to one palette. Instead of planting a few pinks, some blues, a couple of yellows, several reds and a bit of white, she said that shades within the same color family often present a more pleasing, better harmonized bed. Where to start Bowman said that at a newly constructed home, the “hard-scape” of the garden must be complete before flowers and plants are placed. “Think about it,” she said. “You have to build your house before you can decorate it. Your garden is the same. If you want a walkway, or a patio, build that first. You don’t want the workmen changing the grade of your beds with the job, and you certainly don’t want them tramping all over your new plantings.” After the hard-scape is complete, the home owner needs to step back from the house, to discern scale and determine impact areas. “You want the plantings to balance with the height and depth of the house,” Bowman said. “If the house is two stories, for instance, you want some height at the back of your beds. Add color, and, if it is a garden near a patio or front porch where you’re going to spend a lot of time, you want fragrance, too.” Decisions like these may seem Photo courtesy of Sue Bowman Plants of different textures and heights add interest all year round. daunting to a new home owner overwhelmed by unpacking boxes and hanging pictures, but the time is now for spring planting. Soil temperatures are just right (about 45-50 degrees) for most planting. “Good soil preparation is critical for quality plant performance,” Bowman said, adding that a recently bulldozed new construction site is a prime candidate for complete soil renewal. “Our natural clay soil is usually quite fertile; it is the texture of the soil which needs improvement. Clay is usually too dense to allow proper nutrient and oxygen Is This How You Spend Your Weekends? If not, let us give you towards your Bubbles! • Residential House Cleaning • New Construction House Cleaning • Commercial Building Cleaning • Carpet Cleaning • Strip & Wax Tile Floors • Window Washing • Pressure Cleaning Decks & Buildings • Gutter Cleaning • Snow Plowing • Light Excavating Free in-home estimates. Licensed, bonded & insured. Loni’s Services 540-347-0335 • 1-888-758-9966 •Mention this ad and get $25 off your first cfc-aninj^T)ffer expires 4/30/00 exchange.” Dishing the dirt The best way to break up and aerate clay soil is to mix organic matter. Add a general soil conditioner, such as Bowman’s favorite, Virginia Superfines, or compost, organic peat humus or rotted manure to improve the soil, especially for perennial and annual flowers and bulbs. The planting bed should be roughly 1/4 additives mixed thoroughly with 3/4 existing soil. See DESIGN, Page 23 Choose carefully Remember, planting around new construction is the chance to make the correct choices, appropriate selections and attractive combinations a preexisting home may not have. Some things to consider: • Think scale. A two-story house calls for taller trees, more midheight plantings at the ends of the home. Carefully check mature heights of trees and other plants. The fast-growing, flowering ornamental Bradford Pear is popular, though the river birch or beech can lend more class to a new house site. • Smaller trees that lend fourseason interest include varieties of the Japanese Maple. Leaves are purple, not green, and the tree’s low-growing habit (15-20 feet at maturity) makes this a good selection for an inset corner or one-story home. The weeping cherry, too, is a small tree with lovely spring, summer and fall color. • The mid-level of canopy should include a mixture of See PLANTS, Page 21 No Cash? No Credit? NO PROBLEM!!! I L J Single Family homes start at $104,900 100% Financing Available! Or you can work your way into home ownership! It you are willing to paint, build a deck, do landscaping, etc., you can own YOL R OYV\ home! We find solutions to make you homeowners! Call Carolyn & Dick Kleppinger Your Realty Team Call us today on becoming a homeowner tomorrow. 540-341-9619 E-mail: klepping@crosslink.net LONG & FOSTER REALTORS WARRENTON a a

to renovate, or to move? By Stephanie Kenyon Times Newspapers Staff Writer So you’re considering doing some renovation on your existing home ... but that new model down the street looks mighty appealing too. How do you decide when it’s time to move and when it’s time to remodel? For the most part, doing the math will be your ultimate guide. Movin’ on up In general, experts will tell you that it’s cheaper to renovate your current home than it is to move to another resale house in the same neighborhood, unless of course, you plan to tear down your existing house and rebuild it from the foundation up. When you add up real estate agent commissions and other costs to sell your old home and buy the new one; the cost of a new mortgage, including closing costs, and the cost of hiring movers or renting a moving van, you will probably find that improving is much cheaper than moving, but there are other questions to consider. Are you just ready for something new? Are there logistical benefits to moving out of a particular neighborhood? See RENOVATE, Page 6 House renovations can be difficult — inconvenient and costly. Is it worth it? AMISH t WIMILL Furniture Accessories • Gifts 36 Main St. • Warrenton 347-3636 Open Daily j Unique Handcrafted Decor and Accessories, All in the Time-Honored Amish Tradition • Jellies & Jams J • Comer Cupboarcls * Pie Safes • Jelly Cabinets •Wooden Toys Continually changing inventory ot unique handcrafted decor and accessory items. APPLETON CAMPBELL INC. PLUMBING • HEATING AIR CONDITIONING Prompt, Professional Service & Repair 347-0765 3 Serving Fauquier for Over 20 Years_ MID-COUNTY FARM SUPPLY zz_j Corner 29 Business & Falmouth St r ^ ^ 5E3 Warrenton 347-1742 L^J k SPRING SAVINGS ~ when you bring in this ad - Potting & Top Soil SAVE NOW THRU APRIL 30TH! We Also Carry Fertilizer ■ Straw ■ Peatmoss signature COMPANIES 6612 James Madison Hwy. Haymarket, VA we provide Kitchen Cabinets, Built-ins, Countertops Stairs & Rails We offer the highest quality products including several national manufacturers and our own custom cabinetry line Call & schedule an appointment with one of our professional designers (703) 754-6825

Renovate From Page 5 According to the National Association of Home Builders, the biggest repair problems tend to occur when a home reaches between 10 and 20 years old. Many items start to fail then. Among the costliest items: foundations, waterproofing, furnaces, air-conditioning, water heaters, pumps, ductwork, decks and roofing. However, home owners often add to their expenses by choosing upgraded, r high-end materials and adding space as they modernize. How much? Calculating major repair and replacement costs on a fictitious house over 30 years, housing economist Robert Sheehan, who conducted a Wall Street Journal study, estimated the following costs. The analysis assumed the home was priced at $38,300 new in 1968 and is worth $250,200 today. The report used standard industry sources to estimate the lifespan of various components as well as the cost of labor and materials. Total out-of-pocket costs Bathroom update: $ 26,194 Kitchen update (minor): $7,743 Kitchen update (major): $29, 767 Exterior paint (trim only, three times): $911 Interior paint (four times): $9,161 Carpet replacement (three times): $10,201 Furnace/air conditioning: $3, 088 Water heater: $642 Roofing: $2,082 Insulation: $68 Window replacement: $9,796 Door replacement and garagedoor openers: $1,861 Deck addition and replacement: $18,905 New light fixtures: $191 Six ceiling fans: $1,323 (Times IS9IBS1 NORTHERN VIRGINIA Executive Editor/General Manager: John Toler Assistant General Manager: Barbara Norris Managing Editor: Robin Earl Writers: Stephanie Kenyon, Brian Minter, Betsy Parker, George Rowand, Deborah Shepherd, Regina Yurkonis Advertising Manager: Kathleen Keller Advertising Representatives: Pam Symington, Angela Allison, Marie Rossi, Kathy Mills Production: Stephannie Addison, Kim Phillips, Mary Ann Stewart Call: (540) 347-4222 E-mail: ftdeditor@timespapers.com Write: Fauquier Times-Democrat, P.0. Box 631, Warrenton, Va. 20188 Issue Date: March 29, 2000 Cover Photos: R.B. Gassie/Yayoi Ayukawa Cover Design: Kim Phillips ANNE# C. HAUL, CR8. GUI. Realtor Associate Broker Rainbow-V.I.P. Realtors 211 Broadview Avenue •'Warrenton, VA 20186 (540) 341-3538 • (540) 349-1400 Toll Free: 1-800-523-8846, ext. 538 E-mail: messages@rainbowvip.com HI • 26 years of 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 Ralnbow-V.I.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 7“ 5-U>. Plant FoOdSuppfee mafor nutrients for fcxarpfcnl growth Water sotubte »ti not bum L757 229 B6 Shovel, Rake or Hoe For general purpose use. S 248 297,283.255 B6 bargain yth%wn& 3.75-HF, a fin. i ia m rl i a i CImM m ■ rOwiWu Djf I DnQpl • oiilaOn NW7N1 Can With teat*) sprout Red plastic wont rusl or dent and is G569 852 88 Nest M Cart Conveniently stores ISO leet of 5/8" hose Features large 7* wheels lor portability, i JMS7* (3 M Bypass Loppsr r/r cutting capacity, steel blade Styles may vary S 127 9M K 14* Mf Um ft M Mu Lightwsignt head ana hardwood handle *j 29 Earthgro 75-Lb Potting Sob With high organic matter content & pH adjusted formulation. 1772 «»96 1099 W * W M Smum Mom w,tn light krl nylon reinforcing for extra Kink resistance use rasas 16%H,rShoIc^® Spreaders Choice ol broadcast or <*op spreader. L190 645. 496 9321 Natural by Handcrafted quality... ...traditional through contemporary 540-675-1966 We will work with your arc hitec ( or clire( tly u ith \ on to build t he home ol your dreams.

Customer I Appreciation Month Buy any gas burning appliance & receive 6 months no interest financing or 10% on regular price* Broilmaster • Ducane • Jenn Air Whirlpool • Magic Chef* Ruud Fauquier 540-7884472 800-368-2277 Culpeper & Rappahannock 540-825-0345 Propane Offer good thru April 30, 2000 Putting Energy Into Service We're Here For You Exclusive Offer For Fauquier, Rappahannock & Culpeper Counties Purchase any gas burning appliance By April 30th, 2000 and receive 6 Months No Interest or 10% Off Regular Price* Wiliam RusseD Teresa Kerns Cblumtxia Propane. Putting Energy Into Service Times Newspapers Photo/R.B. Gassie Hole in the wall? No problem. No kidding. Quick fixes for handymen Three weekend projects By Jose Ebro Times Newspapers Staff Writer The brightening sunshine and longer days make some owners look at their property with a fresh eye. That’s when they spot repairs that need to be done. Here are some common problems that can be fixed in a weekend. Let’s say the stress of daily life just gets to you one day ... and suddenly there’s a fist-sized hole in the wall. (If it’s a /lead-sized hole in the wall, some other kind of professional help may be needed. The newspaper has not gotten around to printing that sort of column yet.) I’m assuming, of course, that one was not injudicious enough to vent on mahogany paneling, brick or stone. So, we’re just looking at your everyday wallboard here. You will need the following: • Scrap of wallboard • Ruler and pencil • Wallboard saw • Utility knife • Wallboard knife 1 . • Lightweight spackling • Self-adhesive fiberglass tape. Wallboard comes in different thicknesses and is pretty easy to scrounge. You might even have some scraps in the basement or attic that a lackadaisical workman didn’t clear away. Using a sharp blade, score and snap off a rectangular piece of wallboard that’s slightly larger than the damaged area. Then, trace its outline over the hole, to serve as a guide for the drywall saw. You saw out the hole to correspond to the patch. You’ll need the patch to fasten on to something, so I suggest using a strip of plywood or something like a wooden paint stirrer. Screw this down behind the hole, going diagonally across. Just slip your patching piece in and screw it down. Depending on the size of the gaps, you might not even need drywall tape, but if you do, use the self-adhesive fiberglass type. Just overlap the repair patch. Now, there’s no need to go out and buy professional quality drywall mud. I just use lightweight, vinyl spackling compound. See PROJECTS, Plage 8

Before painting wooden window frames, get down to the bare wood. Projects From Page 7 Spread the spackling on with a four- or five-inch wide Sheetrock® knife. This knife looks like a scraper, but has a more flexible blade. Use just enough spackling to smooth over the tape and bring the repair level. This spackling dries in about three hours. Use medium sandpaper over the whole repair and then paint over, blending into the rest of the wall. The great thing about this repair is that you usually have to do it only once. Salvaging old, wood-frame windows Distressed and weathered finishes are all the rage these days, but somehow just slathering on an additional layer of paint on old windows doesn’t cut it. On sash type windows, not only does new paint not adhere to the flaky stuff underneath, but all those layers makes them sticky to open and shut. Times Newspapers Photos/R.B Gassie Putting in new baseboards is a satisfying project when you have the right tools. You will need: • Paint stripper gel or a propane torch • Metal scraper • Electric palm-sander • Medium-grit sandpaper • Wood epoxy • Outdoor-grade silicon sealant. You can use gel-type paint removed, but I’ve found a propane torch to be the absolutely best way of going down to bare wood. Heat the paint until it bubbles and then scrape away. Don’t overdo it — wood bums. It’s a good idea to do this outdoors, by the way. Especially since you would most probably be dealing with lead-based paint. Collect the scrapings into an old paint can, seal it up and drop off at the landfill on toxic-waste day. For removing broken glass panes under petrified glaze, a little torch heat works well, too. Once down to bare wood, you might find a few soft or rotted parts. Don’t despair, there are new wood epoxies on See PROJECTS, Page 21 BUILDING MATERIALS Lumber • Hardware • Insulation • Plywood • Roofing • Sand Gravel • Cement • Plumbing Electrical Flooring • Doors Wallboard • Paint • Nails • Glass • Windows Small & Large Orders Welcome QUALITY MATERIALS Custom Millwork & Cabinets Locally Owned & Operated Prompt Delivery JL O I Q 106 South Madison Street pW"Oo/"QO ■ c> Middleburg, VA_J MmnJKjWayne Pools and Spas Remember to schedule early to open your pool. Pool Services, Supplies and Renovation. Residential - Commerical We also carry »f \* hr.Yc 9 & gas fireplaces Authorized Pool & Spa Care Center 2326 Plank Rd. Fredericksburg (540) 371-2021 62-C Waterloo St. Warrenton (540) 347-2815 571A James Madison Culpeper (540) 825-5645 Open Year Round Since 1973

Keep your eyes on the prize Part of the American Dream is owning your own home. But living through the renovation process sometimes can feel like a nightmare. The good news is, most home owners are willing to put up with having their lives turned upside down for a little while if it means eventually they will have the house of thendreams. The Walkers Jayne and Tbm Walker are currently about three-quarters of the way through a year-long restoration project on their circa 1790s house just outside Waterford in Loudoun County. What they call their “Random House” reflects centuries of change and many different styles. The original part of the house is Quaker with other parts added in the 1800s, more changes in the early 1900s, and now once again in 2000. Moving into the house in 1992, the Walkers lived in it for seven years before deciding to add on to the home. “Actually, necessity forced us to renovate,” says Jayne Walker. “The deciding moment came when the ceiling in the bathroom started to fall in after a heavy snow. After 100 years, it finally just gave in.” Living in an old house takes a special kind of home owner; it’s certainly not for everyone but the rewards in bringing an older home back to its original glory can be great. Some even find the quirks of a older home to be endearing. “Our house had the usual cracks and holes that any old house will typically have. We even learned to live with the fact that we could see under the kitchen cabinets and out through the backyard,” she laughed. But the Walker’s house needed more than cosmetic changes; it needed major structural repairs. The foundation and the roof were in poor condition, so they decided to bite the bullet and proceed with renovating. “We had been thinking about it for a long time,” Jayne said. “I had put it off for years because I knew it would be major but at least it gave me time to prepare.” The couple elected to rewire the house in order to handle the new fixtures and appliances. The addition they are working on will eventually double the size of their home. They are adding bedrooms, a basement and a family room. The Walkers decided to do all the work at once instead of piecemeal because it would be less expensive in the long run, but with all this work planned, it proved impossible to live in the house during restoration. All utilities had to be cut off and windows were taken out during the coldest months of the year. The family made arrangements to live in a trailer on their property during construction. “We are able to watch over the progress of the construction this way,” said Walker, “but our daughters are looking forward to having their own bedrooms again. “We’re coping,” said Walker, “and but we’ll be happy when we can all eiyoy our home again in June.” The Kochs “This place looks like a bomb went off!” said Natalie Koch of her older house now in the final phase of remodeling. The couple had been in the house almost six years before they started seeing extensive termite damage in an addition built during the 1970s. “We would sit in the room and watch the wood dust float down on us,” said Koch. Carpenter bees also had been busy boring perfect holes into the wood. The older part of the house, which they can date back to the early 1800s, seemed i imes Newspapers btan nnoto/Micnael Kasmarcik Jayne and Tom Walker of Waterford are in the final phases of a major renovation of their circa 1790s home. u) suner no sucn damage, Dut the newer part had reached the point where it was becoming dangerous to live in the house. “Every day, we’d notice new termite tunnels,” said Koch. “They were in the rafters and we knew we were fighting a losing battle.” Since the great room was where they spent much of their time, they decided to demolish everything except stone walls in that section of the house. In the process, they also decided to remodel the kitchen and mud room. Construction started in October and before long, the couple found See PRIZE, Page 21 Homestead 10x12 Carriage House with shutters and window boxes • m Formerly Valley Structures jjr 5282 Lee Hwy. • Warrenton,Y& • (540) 349-8788 10x18 Sunset triple Roof - White Stain M Wishing Wells 10x14 Salt Box

Compost from the ground up By Deborah Shepherd Times Newspapers Staff Writer The compost pile serves so many useful purposes that it’s a wonder the practice ever went out of fashion. Composting is done in townhouses as well as farmhouses, resulting in rich loam that delights the gardener and a lower volume of kitchen waste that delights the environmentalist. Gardeners have enough to worry about, what with planting schedules, watering rotation and remembering to watch for mulch sales at the nursery. The wonderful thing about composting is that all the work can be left to hungry microbes. As long as they have their balanced diet of “greens” and “browns,” and a moist environment with plenty of air flow, microbes will consume yard and kitchen waste. All the gardener needs to do to retrieve the rich, loamy byproduct is bring a shovel. What can be composted? “Browns” are dry, dead plant materials: • Straw • Dry brown weeds • Autumn leaves • Wood chips • Sawdust Think of browns as microbe-candy: they break down into sugars and give the microbes energy. “Greens” are fresh plant materials: • Green weeds from the garden • Fruit and vegetable scraps • Green leaves • Coffee grounds and tea bags • Fresh horse manure • Eggshells Because of their nitrogen content, greens can be thought of as a microbe’s protein bar. A healthy compost pile needs a good balance of browns and greens because air and water are very important. Browns tend to be bulky, promoting good air flow, while the greens usually have lots of moisture. Perhaps even more important to the owner of the compost pile is the fact that a healthy compost pile is a non-smelly compost pile. Without air passages into the compost pile, a different sort of microbe might come to the table, creating a decomposition that smells like a garbage dump. If a smell of ammonia is noticeable, that means the pile is too wet, or the New Construction Renovations • Historical Preservations The Ground Up Construction The Only Full Service Company You Will Ever Need! Call 540-349-2724 Heating Plumbing Electrical Renovations New Additions Roofing & Repairs Custom Work (Interior and Exterior) (Services include but not limited to the list) We will beat any price by 10-20% because we do everything in house. vn\M Mini Storage 6558 Commerce Ct. New Baltimore 20187 IV 540-341-7800 Serving Y 0^ ^storage needs short or longterm! Times Newspapers Photo/R.B. Qassie Galvanized screening prevents rust and pressure-treated wood resists rot. material is packed so tightly that air can’t circulate. Turn the heap with a pitchfork and add filler such as straw or more clippings. No matter what, a compost pile should be turned once a month, putting the outside materials on the inside and vice versa. See COMPOST, Page 15 yards of Desk fF. Brunschwig & Fils Chair -Wesley Hall Phone: 540-349-9467 Hours: Mon.-FrL 9:30-6:00 Sat. 9:30-5:00

Outwitting the wily mole By George Rowand Times Newspapers Staff Writer Standing in the sun on a warm June day last year, I was a beaten man. My shoulders were slumped, the rose bush hanging loosely in my hand. I had been defeated by a small — but very pernicious — rodent. Or pair of rodents. I’m talking moles and voles. The story is this. I like to plant flowers in our yard. The past two years I’ve nursed a series of seeds indoors through the long winter and into the warm spring outside. Both years I’ve had so many plants that I’ve been able to give a lot away, and still our planting areas were refulgent. And yet, by the end of spring, I was in despair. I knew we had a mole problem. I had seen their tell-tale tracks from time to time. And our nutty dog Honey even dug up the yard one day and killed one. It was her finest hour. Still, they hadn’t been too much of a nuisance — until they took it upon themselves to decimate all my hard work. I know what the rodent experts say: moles are actually a plus for the yard. They aerate the soil and kill grubs and they do not eat the roots of plants. All of that may be true. But they make runways for their partners in crime, the voles, and those vermin do eat roots and kill plants. I’ll give some examples. Two years ago I grew white marigolds from seeds, and they were spectacular. We sometimes had 20 or more blossoms on every plant, and we had 100 or more plants around the house. Then one day I noticed that a couple of them seemed to be missing. Not dead or dying — they had disappeared Times Newspapers Photo/Yayoi Ayukawa Comet (left) and Stormy are two hired guns brought in to solve a small problem. completely. It’s as if they had been plant-napped. I almost expected to see their pictures on milk cartons. Then I stuck my finger into the spots where they had been. There was a hole under the peat pots, leading to a tunnel. I instantly knew what was the problem. “Moles!” I said, with the same emphasis that Seinfeld used when he used to say, “Newman!” Actually they probably were voles, but who cares? All I knew was that they had found a way to feast on my beautiful babies. Over the next few weeks more and more of my flowers vanished, but still, I had plenty, so while it was disconcerting, I was still able to live with it. Then they hit our watermelons, and that was going too far. We had a raised bed with about 10 or 12 watermelon plants. Day by day, my son and I watered them and watched the fruit grow larger. We were especially hopeful about one in particular, the earliest on the vine. We figured that we would be snacking on that baby in a couple of weeks. We were wrong. All at once, it stopped growing. I couldn’t tell why until I picked it up. I See WAR, Page 23 Sf 100s of Trees (up to 5" camper) S! Mulcts, bAqqsd, bulk (iNcludioiq cecIar) | Bf CowpRO by tIie bAy , ^ , ffif Over 5,OCK) AzaIeas Bf Over 1,900 JAcksoN^PERkiNs Roses Bf Pansies, PerenniaIs, AnnuaIs ffif SbRubs & UnusuaI Items SpEciAl BlENd Grass SEEd Show-Case Gardens 4531 Lee Hwy. • Warrenton (New Baltimore Area) 540-341-2040 Cool It With A ft /^This _ kvoid being left out in the heat this summer by ring your new pool now! Stop by and see our lays or call us for an at home visit! Featuring nny Weissmuller and the Symphony Series ground pools. Complete sales, service & install (no subs) poolservice com 39 W. Lee Highway, Warrenton Behind Sheetz 540-428-0070 Toll Free 888-574-5407

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Symposium report: Gardens: soul food By Regina Yurkonis Times Newspapers Special Writer For those who missed the Hillscape Seminars at the Hill School in Middleburg, the following are summaries of the speakers’ presentations: Janet Marinelli began by explaining that most humans find beauty in gardening. Our brains give us a pleasurable chemical reward for accomplishing a task, she said. All humans have a “creative tendency” — it helps ensure our survival. By creating a growing garden, we are helping provide ourselves with resources for the future and we are genetically programmed to know the results are a good thing. Marinelli said that our gardening, however, has gone astray from the beneficial to the commercial. We tend to plant the same things wherever we happen to live. You’ll find the same petunias growing in front of a house in See HILLSCAPE, Page 16 Times Newspapers Fite Photo Nature is not reflected in a neatly trimmed and manicured garden. It’s messy and wild — and beautiful. r HomeResourceS Solutions You Cun Kol\ On A package of products and services to improve the energy efficiency of your home, and the comfort and quality of your life. Energy Audits • Energy Efficiency Financing • Energy Saver Home* Security Affordable For Everyone • HomeGuard* Surge Protection FREE Water Heater Repairs • Replacement Water Heater Individual Outage Notification • Outdoor Lighting Rappahannock Electric Cooperative uu vvr.ippflet .( nm • of tit t*" rapprlet.(<>m • 1 2- t‘M)4 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 ot Tree Care: Residential and Commercial BARTLETT TREE EXPERTS Since 1907 P.O. Box 398, Marshall, VA (540) 364-2401 Jtacked by the Bartlett 1>ee Research Uboratone. and Bxpenmental Grounds, Charlotte, North Crohn. ____ ® 1991 Bartlett Tree Experts

Prestige Cable TV IncTHE LEADER IN VALUE, VARIETY & SERVICE Order cable television today and receive all of this free! • FREE INSTALLATION Includes up to 3 outlets FREE 1ST MONTH OF EXPANDED BASIC SERVICE Even if you have a DBS Dish, use Prestige to service the additional TVs in your house! LIMITED TIME OFFER! Offer expires 5/1/00 Call today for a quick and convenient connection! 540-349-8000 Offer valid only when ordering Expanded Basic Service. Promotional offer good for specified items only, thereafter, standard monthly fees apply. Valid only in Prestige Cable serviceable/wired areas. Other restrictions may apply. Expanded Basic Channels Include: Home Team Sports, ESPN, ESPN2, TBS, USA, American Movie Classics, Fox Family, Nickelodeon, The Learning Channel, Discovery, Arts & Entertainment, lifetime, CNN, TV Guide, WRC (NBC) Washington, WETA (PBS) Washington, WNVT (PBS) Goldvein, WNVC (PBS) Washington, WBDC and.) Washington, HSN, C-Span, MSNBC, Headline News, CNBC, The History Channel, TNN, CMT, VH1, MTV, BET, Trinity Broadcast Network, Cartoon Network, TNT, The Weather Channel, FoxNews, Prestige Vision 3, WTTG (FOX) Washington, WJLA (ABC) Washington, WUSA (CBS) Washington, WDCA (Ind.) Washington, QVC, Sneak Prevue, C-Span II, PAX TV Compost From Page 10 What NOT to compost • Sawdust from chemically treated wood products • Diseased plant material • Pernicious weeds such as morning glory or bindweed, sheep sorrel, ivy • Meat scraps, fatty food wastes and bones • Milk products • Human waste • Pet waste. Locating a compost pile As long as the above conditions are met, waste will turn into compost no matter how it’s contained. Some folks set aside a portion of their yard or garden and simply build a pile on the ground. This, of course, won’t work for those who live in apartment or townhouses, so there are many commercial bins on the market. Compost bins can be built from recycled pallets, two-by-fours, plywood and chicken wire. It all depends on how much material is expected to be composted, and how tidy or convenient the proposed composting space needs to be. Some folks have a rotating system of three compost piles in various degrees of decomposition. These piles can be tucked away in bins, set up side by side. Another alternative is trench composting: dig a trench about 8 inches deep for kitchen waste and after a few months, plant along it. Turning it over to the worms Another way to create compost is with the use of worms — and a vermicomposting system can even be maintained indoors. In this system, bedding for the worms is provided by “brown” compost ingredients like shredded leaves. Kitchen wastes are then buried in the leaves and as bacteria come along to decompose the waste, the worms feed on the bacteria. The castings secreted by the worms become compost. But composting requires special worms who live in decomposing organic materials. So the earthworm is out, and the red worm (also known as the manure worm or red wiggler) is in. Red wigglers can often be found in bait shops. Fauquier Extension Office (341-7950) will know other sources. Now put it to use Compost used as mulch protects the soil from erosion, sun and wind and, of course, feeds the soil with its own nutrients. Just remember that weed seeds tend to grow more rapidly in compost than in mulch. Is there an ailing plant in the house? Stu Campbell in “Let It Rot” recommends giving it a drink of compost tea. Combine equal parts of compost and water and let it sit for a while before using the liquid to treat the soil. Compost can be used to pot plants: mix two parts compost, one part garden loam, and one part perlite or sand. Add a tablespoon each of phosphate and potash for each pot of mixture. NEW SIMPLICITY DEALER. THE NEW EXPRESS. RELIABLE, DURABLE, AFFORDABLE. Catch the ] EXPRESS The NEW Express trac tor makes a beautiful lawn easy and affordable. With prices start ing at $1,599, you get a powerful Briggs & Stratton engine, 38” floating mower, tight turns, super traction and plenty of other features found on tractors twice the price, www.simplicitymfg.com SWAN’S J.A. SWAN. JR. & CO LLC 16033 Ira Hoffman Lane Rt 29 Nortf' (Across tiom Co-Op; • Culpeper 8:00 -5:30 Mon.-Fri 8 00 12:00 Sat We accept all major credit cards. 540-825-8371 0 «0 Simplicity

From Page 14 Mexico that you find in New Jersey. Major food crops come from a small number of seed sources. Marinelli said that while some species of plants and animals need woodlands, some need grasslands, some wetlands but all areas are being broken into smaller parcels. Large chunks of habitat are hard to find. Smaller parcels support fewer species and many organisms have a minimum home-range requirement to successfully breed. Species concentrated in small areas are also more succeptible to being destroyed. One thing going wrong in a closed community will affect the entire population and can easily affect every , member. In smaller populations, there is also more inbreeding. Loss of bio-diversity can lead to “genetic meltdown.” Species start to lose their differences and become so closely related, again, they are more susceptible to mass destruction. Marinelli said that habitat fragmentation can be as subtle as a road cut through a woods. It is well known that ants disperse seeds of many plants. Even a small road or change of topography can prevent them from spreading plant populations into other areas. We need ways of linking areas of similar habitat together to allow species to move about, continue inter-breeding and form new populations. Encouraging native plants is also crucial. Once thought to be accidental, it is now known that roughly half of the invasive species plaguing our environment were brought into this country for horticultural use. Importing plants from other countries, many of which have no biological controls here, has led to immense habitat loss. Our native species which came into balance after millions of years, simply cannot compete with the alien rampant growers. Modem aesthetics of gardening are totally against the patterns in the natural world. Instead of planting flower borders of species that would never lay eyes on each other in nature, we could form ecosystems of plants found together in similar habitats. Nothing would be removed from the system. Dead leaves and stems would compost where they fall or be redistributed throughout the garden. Plants would reproduce and change their locations. No water would run off into storm drains but be captured and soaked into the ground right there. We would have spaces of complexity, diversity and cross-pollination. How do we get there? Look at the structure of the landscape. There is a characteristic type of vegetation to each system whether it is woodlands, pine barrens or prairie. Supply all the vertical layers: the canopy, understoiy, saplings, shrubs and groundcovers. Plant diverse species to attract diverse animals. Plants should be present at all seasons from spring ephemerals to fall asters and winter berries. “The garden design should be grounded in the natural context.” You're BUgibte to Join! SYNERGY ONE Federal Credit Union now saves anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in Prince William County, Manassas or Manassas Park. The Only Home Equity Line of Credit You'll Need! • Pay No Closing Costs* when you take an initial advance Of $15,000 (np to $400 savings) • Rates as Low as Prime -1/4% with an initial advance greater than $25,000 • 95% Loan-to-Value Ratio (more borrowing power) 8700 CentrevUle Rd. (703) 361-1422 xl49 7800 Sudley Rd. (703) 361-4202 ^SYNERGY§ •The variable rate is Indexed to the Wall street Journal Prime Rate and a^usts quarterly if the Prime Rate changes. As of 3/17/00 our lowest rate Is 8.25%, not to exceed 18%. Other rates offered. V you dose your Home Equity Line of Credit within one year of opening, you wfll be required to repay (he donfatg costs If paid by SOFCU. Always check with a tax advisor regarding Interest deductibility. An Initial drew of 85,000 is required. 8YNERGY ONE oBert Home Equity Lines of Credit up to $100,000 with a 5-year draw period and 15 years to repay. Certain restrictions apply to Internal refinances. Available on Virginia owner-occupied homes only 3-Cer6 Jair & Sale Saturday, May 6, 2000 10 am - 4 pm rain or shin* Oatlands Plantation Rt 15, 6 mil*s south of L**sburg, VA 703 777-3174 Tabby Finch on Dulcimer Free Admission to Fair SQUEAKY CEEAA Amy L. Glascock P.(). Box 305 Marshall, VA20116 (540) 364-1185 /Goshom, inc\ Since 1988 • Electrical • Heating • Air Conditioning It s Hard lb Stop A Thine.' Committed To A Better "IN"vironment (540) 347-3600 • FAX (540) 341-7490 WAVw.goshorninc.com 5171 B. Lee Highway x New Baltimore, VA m WORKROOM ON OUR PREMISES FOR SLIPCOVERS t-M < tO W nJ O X o —1 w CQ >< & UJ s o X p<t D O >< at O utO at CQ < Uh w at D H D O u HAUTE Your resource for couture fabrics for your home WAY BELOW WHOLESALE MMJFHAT? st loyal clients llpf curiosity, they cried. ed our fabric* g z D O •H fn > H 2 tn Z *-* v> > z a "O t-1 t-1 O Vi o o c H C S» tn •n > oo 2 n n O so vvwwa;>itiw/A\ diVM 1UH/a\ /XYO id« AV/Xv HWOH "HflOA

Sex in the garden By Regina Yurkonis Times Newspapers Special Writer Angela Overy is the author of “Sex in your 'Garden” and spoke on plant reproductive strategies. She defined biodiversity as “the inter-dependence of life on our planet.” There are three facets: plants animals and people. Plants rely on their pollinators and we rely on the plants for food, shelter, oxygen and other vital gifts. Plants tend to be stationary. They can’t move around and select a mate. They have developed fascinating ways of getting their pollen moved around for them. Some pollinators rely on the flowers for food. The plant supplies them with energy and they, inadvertently, help the plant reproduce. Overy explained that the female parts remain inside the flower at all times. They may extend beyond the petals when ready for pollination but, Times Newspapers File Photo Butterflies are nature’s most beautiful pollinators. unlike pollen, always remain attached. The male genes travel around with the pollinator. Overy (yes, she gets teased about her name) focused on how plants attract pollinators. Unlike wind-pollinated plants that cause allergies, colorful plants keep their pollen inside until it is attached to a pollinator. These plants are made to attract attention in a very competitive world. They use colors, scents and other attributes to make themselves attractive to their specific pollinator. Scientists estimate it took 150 million years for flowering plants to develop. Simply put, the pistil is the female part of the flower and the stamen is the male. When compatible pollen contacts the pistil, a pollen tube grows down through the pistil to the ovules by chemical communication. The ovule is fertilized, the ovaries ripen and the plant is essentially pregnant. The nectaries, which many pollinators seek, are located at the bottom of the flower so the pollinator must brush past the stamens to get its nectar reward. Insects need carbohydrates to fly fast and nectar is loaded with carbohydrates. Bees are the only insects that collect pollen. It is a good source of protein and many flowers are shaped to make themselves hospitable to the bee. Abee’s tongue is only 3/8” long so, beepollinated flowers tend to be no deeper. Some, like Foxgloves, are shallow tubes allowing the bee to crawl inside while still having its stinger end protruding for protection. Some flowers even grow a lip at the mouth of the tube as a type of porch for the bee to land easily. Some flowers will self-fertilize. That is, their own pollen fertilizes their pistil. However, the process eliminates genetic diversity and produces identical clones. So most flowers prevent self-fertilization. See OVERY, Page 18 -\ Glen-Gery Glen-Gery Brick Center maji, 9905 Godwin Drive Manassas, VA 20110 703-300-3178 or 800072-4080 Open to the Public Showroom Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30 ajn. - 4:30 p.m. I Contact our Customer Service Center for pricing and availability. Featuring • Genuine Glen-Gery Brick Pavers Whether your plans include an inviting front entrance, a secluded patio or a romantic garden path, Glen-Gery pavers are a distinct addition to any landscaping design. • Ayers Quality Natural Landscaping Stone Garden Rounds, Wallstones & Landscaping Boulders. • L 8 S Cultured Face Stone Authentic look and feel of stone without the natural expense. Great for exterior wall siding, fireplace surrounds and interior wall veneers. • Pavers: Beautiful, Versatile and Manageable Create your own garden path, sidewalk or patio with our durable, lightweight easy to install pavers. Authorized distributor of Belgard Concrete Systems. At Glen-Gery, it's what's behind our brick that counts. You can always count on Glen-Gery for the highest quality brick in a rich variety of colors, textures, shapes and styles. You can count on Glen-Gery's excellent service. We stand behind every brick by offering expert advice, technical assistance, and outstanding customer service. Next time you're using brick, pick the brick nat's more than just a pretty face. ‘

OVERY _ From Page 17 Some, like the primrose, assure cross-pollination by keeping their male and female parts on separate plants. Some keep their pistil above or away from their stamens so pollen cannot accidentally fall on it. Some lilies change from a male phase with stamens protruding to a female phase when the stamens shrivel and the pistil protrudes. Once the flower is pollinated, it closes up. Overy said that color is used by the plant to signal its pollinators that food is available. Flowers will often change color to attract the pollinator at the optimum time for fertilization or to deter the pollinator once fertilization ' Has occurred. Our native Trillium grandiflora turns from white (attractive) to pink (too late). Bluebells turn from pink (not ready yet) to blue (come on). According to Overy, hummingbirds see orange and red. Bees see no red but do see the rest of the spectrum into ultraviolet. Humans cannot see ultraviolet so, we really do not see flowers as bees see them. Blue tends to be the bees favorite color with yellow a close second. Some flowers have colorful “bee guides” on their petals which may or may not be visible to us humans. Yellow throats on many flowers serve the same function. There are “devoted” flowers like Monkshood which will accept only one type of pollinator and “promiscuous” flowers which can be pollinated by many species. Insects cannot produce their own body heat, so must remain in warm air to move about. Consequently, most flowering plants are found in sun. White flowers tend to be pollinated by moths, bats (in tropical regions) and flies. The magnolia, a primitive flower, is often pollinated by beetles. Its wide, flat flower makes it easy for the clumsy beetle to stumble around and contact the pollen. Red tubes are perfectly suited to hummingbirds. The flower’s pollen is dusted onto the tops of their heads while they are slurping up nectar. The flowers stick straight out because the hummingbird doesn’t need to land. Timing is another trait flowers exploit for successful pollination. Spring flowers don’t have to try as hard because pollinators are hungry from the winter and eager to try anything. Summer is tougher competition. Pollinators are bombarded with choices so summer flowers tend to be taller, brighter and have stronger scents. Fall bloomers are the only game in town. They needn’t be as showy but provide lots of nourishment. Overy concluded her talk by saying that everything we do in our gardens affects the balance between us and the pollinators. We should plant natives to match up with the native pollinators, not use pesticides or herbicides, encourage roadside and civic plantings and teach children about the fascinating relationships going on around them. Times Newspapers Photo/R.B. Gass it Flowers, with color and fragrance compete for pollinators. Honey, Can I Please Mow the Lawn * This Time? Special Prices on r T-series Kubota's TGI860 (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-light 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 TO 1860 will have a hard time taking turns! . — - _ See your Kubota dealer today! |^| ■ | PULLEN'S TRACTOR 15133 Kkeyville Kcl. Culprpei \ A 22701 540 829-0893 I 800-829-0893 sikkens / 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*s&»oor (540) 347-4484 51 Alexandria Pike • Warrenton, VA _www.paintandfloor.com_

Symposium report: Tidbits for tree lovers By Regina Yurkonis Times Newspapers Special Writer C. Ritchie Bell, founding director of the North Carolina Botanical Garden, showed slides of American species with brief information on each one. He focused on the trees that built America and gave a rapid-fire slide show. Some of the tidbits he shared: The Arborvitae was found by French sailors to prevent scurvy. Thus, it has the name which translates to “tree of life.” In colonial times, all trees of a good height belonged to the king. Large white pines were especially prized for ships’ masts. A good tea could be made from the pine’s bark and leaves. The Virginia red cedar was found to resist rot and insects, so it was used for chests, fence posts and other outdoor structures. Long-leaf pine needs fire to release its seeds. With the loss of fire in forests, the population changes to oak. Since canoe birch was waterproof, it was also used for roof shingles. The original name of the country, Vineland, referred to the amount of wild grapes growing in the trees. Cranberries are full of vitamin C and stayed fresh for a long time packed in water. Northern sugar maple is a good hard wood. Its sugar was used for commerce. Beech nuts were considered the best forage for pigs and forest animals, so the name "beechnut” came to mean “best.” The American chestnut could grow to be an enormous tree. It is said one tree could extend 80 feet out on a side and shade an acre. Its nuts were food for people and X ‘gtr1 animals. They could be eaten right out of the hand or anea, roasted or made into Hour. The wood was high in tannin, was rotresistant and split well for fence rails. The chestnut blight killed them off early this century. The chinkapin, a small, shrubby native chestnut, survived the blight, but is now showing signs of infection, White oak is a strong, heavy wood good for fuel. The acorns can be roasted and their bitterness leached out in baskets in streams. Hickory saplings were used for barrel hoops. Put on while green, they tighten as they dry and worked as well as iron hoops. Sassafras is highly fragrant. Its young leaves can be dried and are used in file gumbo. The aromatic twigs were used as perches in chicken coops to deter mites. They served the same purpose in bedsteads. The bark of the roots makes sassafras tea, once thought to cure just about anything. Wild cherry also has fragrant, somewhat toxic inner bark used for flavoring. Wilted ■"V cherry leaves are very poisonous to not kept near catlivestock, so cherries were ue ana norses. Tulip poplars have nice fall color and a conical shape easily recognized from a distance. Their trunks can grow to 12 feet in diameter. Ash was highly valued for wagon spokes and mill wheels because of its ’ strength. Sourwood blossoms make excellent honey and are found in July. The twigs have no terminal bud like other trees so, the tree only grows out — giving a natural curve at the end of each branch. This curved wood was prized for sled runners. It would be cut in the light of the moon in January and left to age for a year. Witch hazel flowers in fall and can keep its seeds in small capsules up to a year. The seeds then pop out and can be thrown up to 30 feet. Catalpa flowers have visible bee guides in their throats. The catalpa caterpillar they attract makes excellent _ fish bait. Walnut is a source of food and beautiful wood. Dogwood wood is so hard it was used for weaving shuttles (also called “dogs”). Honey locust has a sweet sap in its seed pods. Many wild animals relish honey locust pods. The natural sugar attracts wild yeasts, as does persimmon fruit. The two were combined to make locust or persimmon beer. As not all wild yeasts are friendly, Bell does not recommend this recipe. Sycamore fruits, with the fuzz removed, made a natural button with its fibrous stem as the thread. Crabapples are high in pectin for making jelly. Take a look at the complete Maytag line ... on line. www.citizenet.com/business/tolsons MAYTAG MAYTAG Top Mount & Side-By-Side Refrigerators Keep Food Fresh! Select Models , ij K _J Tolson Appliance Center \ 470 Broadview Avenue. Warrenton / 347-3030 E-mail: tolsonsf" citizen.infi.net Lane’s Pressure Washing ' . i 40-364-2385 Feature* Quad Power™ angina, uptight fuel tank, and a iigniwoigrn/Daianceci design *149® Features Quad Power™* engine, loop hand a. and "Lifetime* ignition, dutch and dnveshaft warranties S199S Are you ready for a STtHLl Mike Ryan P O. Box 815 Marshall, VA 20116 540-364-1548 • a a* 5T/HL

A spade’s a spade — or is it a shovel? By Brian Minter Times Newspapers Staff Writer For the first-time gardener, the world of tools can be a mysterious one. Do I need a trowel? Do I need a plow? Are coveralls mandatory? How about a straw hat? And what’s the difference between a spade and a shovel? Fortunately, the answers to most of these questions can be found at any local garden center. Yes, you do need a —-irowel. No you do not need a plow. Coveralls are useful but not required. The same goes for the straw hat, although be careful when it gets hot outside. As for the shovel and the spade, both are useful to have around, and yes, there is a difference. The shovel is longer, and has a pointed tip, while a spade has a rectangular blade. “A shovel is used for digging holes, but a spade is useful for cutting and turning soil over,” explained Jim Piurkowsky of Echo Hills nursery in Marshall. “You can use a shovel to turn soil, but it’s much harder.” According to experts, the beginning gardener will typically require about half a dozen basic tools. The whole set will cost about $75, depending on where you shop, and whether or not you buy top-of-the-line tools or bargain tools. If you intend to do some serious gardening, it might pay off in the long run to invest in decent equipment. “I think it’s wise to buy good tools,” said Max Stiff of Round Hill garden center, “which are usually more expensive.” Here are some typical tools, what they are used for, and what they might cost: • Shovel ($22) — used for digging holes. A shovel with a fiberglass handle will generally last longer than one with a wooden handle. • Trowel ($5) — for smaller plants, once the soil is dug up and ready for planting, a small hand trowel is useful for digging the hole. • Hand Clippers ($15) — These won’t be that useful during planting, but you will want them once things start sprouting. • Spade ($15) — used for turning soil rather than digging. Unlike a shovel, these will be expected to take See TOOLS, Page 21 Times Newspapers Photo/R.B. Gassie The right tools can make any gardening job easier. 540-347-1733 800-224-6901 5599 Lee Highway (Rt. 29 North) Warrenton, VA 20187 Germans PaTio and Casual Furniture Quality Indoor-Outdoor Furniture Retractable Awnings Free Delivery Guaranteed Lowest Prices in Northern Virginia Best FLOOR CENTER 'Our Experience, Your Advantage!" SHOP AT HOME SERVICE Open Monday - Friday, 9-5 Saturday by appointment only Lester Shaw ♦ Ricky Settle Nancy Rutherford CARPET • SHEET VINYL • TILE HARDWOOD • SLIPCOVERS CUSTOM DRAPERIES New Baltimore Business Park Warrenton (Off Route 29) 540-347-0400 garden. Super Birki* Clog BIRKENSTOCK German Engineering for Your Feet SHOE CENTER 67 Main Street Warrenton, VA 20186 (540) 347-4330 01999 Bhienhck r«3tp» m S*<t&5 he Miller Carpets Mohawk Headquarters Oriental Rugs Braided Rugs Most Other Major Brands All Major Brands of Vinyl Inventory and Remnants

Projects From Page 8 the market that you can use as gap fillers or to build up large missing chunks. When fully cured, this repair will outlast the rest of the wood. Use an electric palm-sander with medium-grit paper to sand the window frame down. If you don’t have a palm sander, this won’t be a one-day project. After sanding, apply a thin coat of sealing primer and then two coats of your choice of outdoor paint. If you’ve replaced glass panes, or removed the old glazing, I would suggest not using new glaze. External grade silicon sealer is easier to apply, clean up and is even paintable. Baseboards After a major renovation involving knocking down interior walls or putting in new partitions, you might save some bucks by opting to do your own interior trim work. Unless your walls have unusual curves or comers with weird angles, baseboards are pretty straightforward and extremely satisfying to undertake. This is your opportunity to buy that big, yellow, 12-inch compound miter saw you’ve been drooling over. Aside from the miter saw and lumber, you will need: • Finishing nails • Hammer • Nail setter • Wood filler • Stud-finder • Tape measure • Pencil • Construction adhesive. You’ll probably be using 1x6 lumber. This should be kiln-dried, to minimize warpage. If you’ll be using wood stain or some sort of clear coat or varnish, you’ll want to make sure that your wood is approximately the same shade. Measure twice, and write down those measurements, before ripping away. There’s a great gadget for finding studs beneath the wallboard to nail on to. It’s called a stud finder. It has rows of little yellow and green lights and emits a beep to indicate there is something solid and denser underneath. Indicate studs with light pencil marks. To attach the baseboard to the wall, lay a zig-zagging bead of construction adhesive and use a couple of finishing nails at each end of the board and perhaps a just a few more in the middle. Sand the comers. A power saw cuts so crisply that the thin edges of the joint might be prone to chip. Rounding these edges ever-so-slightly improves damage resistance. Use a nail setter on the exposed nail heads and apply touch of wood filler on the holes. Fingers work fine. Then, paint or stain. Prize From Page 9 themselves without the use of their kitchen. They got by using an electric skillet, a toaster oven and a borrowed microwave. “I don’t want to see another can of Progresso soup again!” Koch laughed. “Believe it or not, throughout all this, we haven’t eaten out very much.” The reconstruction project involved attaching the new part of the house to the older, historic part. “We chose to stay in the house during the construction mainly because we had no other option and we realized that it was definitely do-able,” said Koch. “We had our bedroom and bathroom intact, but we lost laundry room for a while. I had to go to Purcellville to do laundry. It makes you realize that you really take for granted small household luxuries.” Koch says the remodeling affected their everyday life. The most stressful part was having so many workers coming in and out of the home. So how did they get through it all? “Don’t look at what you’re living in now,” Koch advised. “You have to focus on what you will have in the end and remember that renovation doesn’t happen overnight.” Tools From Page 20 less pressure during normal use, so a wooden handle is fine. • Rake ($13) — also useful for turning soil, although a hoe will often work as well. Like a spade, these can be wooden-handled. • Digging Fork ($20) — Also useful for turning soil and preparing the ground for planting, especially with smaller plants. Prices are courtesy of Rankin’s Hardware in Warrenton. Plants From Page 4 evergreen selections. A wide range of hollies (Ilex Compacta and Greenluster are two) are good fillers that will not grow above window height. They grow to 3-4 feet. • The understory is limited only by the imagination. Virginia Bluebells, Carex Liriope, Astilbes, Coralbells, Creeping Phlox and Climbing Roses all add spring and summer color. • Plant for your lifestyle: If you plan to spend lots of time on the back porch, plant a flower garden there, with selections for scent. Lawn& Gjgffk Rosson MOTOR COMPANY 19 Broadview Avenue Warrenton Aak about our nationwide lira protection program ? Instant Credit Available EARLYS CARPET, INC. Over 34 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 • Laminates • Wallpaper • Slipcovers & Reupholstery* Residential • Commercial Serving Fauquier, Rappahannock and Culpeper Counties Local Dialing Area Use 703-937-5500 Out of area use 1 -800-870-9098 Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m. • Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 'By appointment only. 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When to plant Key planting period harvest plant & harvest asparagus beans, bush beans, pole beans, lima beans, wax beets broccoli brussels sprouts cabbage Chinese cabbage carrots cauliflower chard, swiss collards cucumbers eggplant teak* lUUlSO 'i' * bibb lettuce leaf lettuce muskmellons mustard okra onion (set) garden peas peppers potatoes pumpkins radish southern pea spinach summer squash winter squash sweet com sweet potato tomatoes turnips watermelon March April May June I 6 16 26| 5 15 25| 5 15 251 4 14124 July August 4 14 2413 13 September October November 2 12 2211 1121 12 22 Times Newspapers Graphic/Kim Phillips

Design From Page 4 Tb mix, lay a plastic tarp beside the planting area. Dig a hole twice as wide as the plant and equally as deep, tossing the soil onto the tarp. Check that the plant is not root-bound —if it is, gently tease the roots out of the massed ball to guarantee good root-soil contact. Then place it in the hole. Backfill with the soil mixture. Leave about a half-inch of the rootball above the ground; not doing so can lead to trunk or stem rot. Water, to settle the soil and mulch, to reduce weed competition and conserve moisture. Do not mulch up to the trunk or stem, as doing so encourages moisture rot. The turning seasons “We are in Zone 7-A," Bowman said. “We can grow a very large number of plants and flowers that are at the edge of their natural habitat. We are at the upper northern limit for the crepe myrtle, for instance, but at the southern limit for the white birch. Coming up in Bowman’s garden now are spring-blooming wildflowers, the native azalea and fruit and flowering trees. Later, in the summer, her four-season garden will feature more perennial interest, with phlox, lilies (both daylilies and “real lilies” or lillium), summer flowering trees such as the magnificent American Yellowwood and Magnolia Virginiana, and an array of grasses. The fall garden can center around asters and the autumn color of spring blooming trees, such as the bronze European Copper Beech. The winter garden centers around winter bloomers such as helleborus, corylopsis and some early bulbs like the hardy winter cyclamen and primrose. Trees selected for winter interest include the witch hazel tree and birches that have textured bark and attractive branch formation that adds to a winterscape. War From Page 11 was dismayed to find that something — a mole or a vole — had eaten through the rind and into the beautiful, red fruit, stopping its growth. “Moles,” I said with despair. Well, Fm not the kind of guy to take things lying down. I decided to do battle with the little creatures. The first wave of attack First I sprayed the affected areas with castor oil. They’re supposed to hate the smell of castor oil. Nothing doing. I think they used it in their little woks to cook up some grub stir fry. Then I heard that they loved Juicy Fruit gum, and that if you balled it up in little pieces they would eat it and become so blocked up they would constipate to death. Zip. They left a note saying that they’d prefer Dentyne. But then they went too far. They taunted me. One day I noticed that our lovely rose bush was looking a little peaked. It had bloomed the previous week, and now it looked withered. I touched the plant ... and pulled it up in my hand. Nary a root on it.. “Newman!” I said with contempt. If you’re in a war, and you’re getting badly outgunned, what do you do? You bring in more firepower. The second wave I was through with oil and gum and other nice-guy stuff. I wanted hired guns, killers. I’m talking cats. Now, I have to say, I’m not much of a pet fan. I mean, I don’t mind them but I can take them or leave them. But this situation was far too serious to let a little aversion to house animals come between me and my mission. It turned out that one of our son’s friend’s cats had kittens. When they were big enough, we took two. Females. I didn’t want males because I knew all they would do would be talk about what they were going to do. They would never get around to doing anything. I have myself as an example. In any case, these are outdoor cats, with a lovely little place in the garage. They come inside for food and attention, but basically they’re working cats. After they got big enough, we had a little briefing. Holding up a photo, I point ed to a mole. ^ “This,” I said, “is the enemy. Wade into them! Show them no mercy!" I think they understood. I can’t tell you how filled with joy I was when my wife hollered out one day, “Stormy has something in her mouth!” And sure enough, that girl had caught a mouse! “That’s a good sign!” I said. It wasn’t the target, but it showed that she understood what she was supposed to do. Then — oh, it was a day of days! — we came home to find Comet with something in her mouth. And from its tiny, digging paws and its snout, we could tell that she had caught and killed a mole. Or a vole. ^ Who cares, really? She had ambushed one of the enemy, and she had taken no prisoners, if you catch my drift. I was so proud! “Come to poppa, baby!” I said with glee. And now the weather’s getting warmer, and the girls are out almost all the time. And I can go to sleep every night knowing that I’m one day closer to ridding my life of the only problem I have. 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