Staunton, VA – Mervyn Peake once wrote: “Each day I live in a glass room, unless I break it with the thrusting of my senses and pass through the splintered walls to the great landscape.” Whether you look at the world as a glass half empty or half full, you’re sure to enjoy the fascinating world of the glass blower, who literally creates works of art with each breath.

The 2010 Virginia Hot Glass Festival is being held on Saturday, April 24, ( 9 am to 6 pm) and  Sunday, April 25, (10 am to 5 pm) at  Sunspots Studios, 202 South Lewis St., in Staunton, Virginia. Organizers are asking other glass blowers to join in the event, to show their techniques and to sell their wares.

The Details:

- Booth set up times:  All day Friday, April 23, until 10 pm
- Saturday morning, April 24, 7am until opening at 9am.

- Demonstration Times: Time slots will be given upon arrival.  Average time will be about 45 minutes/day.  Two complete breaks will be taken, one in the morning, and one in the afternoon to let visitors shop. (There will be skill challenge contests – with prizes donated by local tool and supply vendors.)

Nearby Lodging Options:

A complete list of lodging is available here.  There are many B & B’s within walking distance of Sunspots that are in beautifully-restored historic buildings.  The closest, Staunton Choral Gardens B & B (540/885-6556; ), has rooms starting at $115, including breakfast, or rent a house for up to 8 guests for $500/weekend.

The Belle Grae Inn – (888)541-5151) -  is very close by. They offer elegant rooms &  suites, a hot breakfast, and a Thai restaurant.  The Miller House is also an amazing Victorian beauty, as well as The Stonewall Jackson Hotel downtown.  This 1920s hotel has been restored to its past grandeur and reopened in 2005.  It has an indoor pool, restaurant, & bar.  Phone (866) 860-0024; .

Other places that the artists like to stay at are –

* The Howard Johnson Express is within walking distance of Sunspots.  Rooms are inexpensive, usually under $60/night – with 1 King or 2 Queen beds.  Use AAA or AARP or other memberships for additional discounts.  .  Continental breakfast included. (540) 886-5330.

* The Best Western is at I-81, Exit 222. 540/885-1112.  Deluxe Continental Breakfast included.   Some rooms with microfridge; all have coffee makers.  Indoor pool.

Places you might also want to visit in and around Staunton include-

- There’s a new music venue/restaurant, called The Mockingbird. It offers roots music on Thursday through Saturday.

- You should also make a point of visiting the Newtown Bakery.

For an application to be a glass blower at the Festival:

- Send an email to:  info at sunspots.com;

- Call (540) 885-0678; or

- Visit the Sunspots web site.

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If you’re anything like me, I had no idea where glass comes from and how’s it’s made. Here are the basics:

A Glass Blowing Primer

Glass is made from sand. Different sands give different properties of color and quality to the glass. The types of sand are mixed together. Metal oxides can be added to give color to the glass. The sand is placed in a stone crucible and heated in a furnace until it melts.  A blob of glass is lifted from the crucible on the end of a long pipe called a Blowing Iron. The blob of glass is very hot, and runs about like thick syrup.

The Glassblower must work quickly to stop the blob of glass falling off the blowing iron. The glassblower blows a puff of air into the blob of glass. The air expands and the blob of glass blows up like a balloon. The glassblower uses tools to press the glass into shape before it cools and hardens. If the glass cools too much, the glassblower uses a furnace to heat it up again. The glassblower often needs help to finish the piece of glass.

When it is finished, the glass must be cooled. If glass cools too quickly it shatters, so the glass is placed in an oven which cools the glass slowly over a whole day and a night.

*****

Here’s an informative web site that explains more about the history of glass and the glass creation process.

Berryville, VA – The Clarke County Conservation Easement Authority is proud to present an exhibit, CELEBRATING OPEN SPACE -  Winning Photos from the Clarke County Conservation Easement Authority’s Photo Contest, at the Fire House Gallery in Berryville, Virginia. The show started March 19th and will run through April 3rd, 2010.

The exhibit features winning photos from a contest the Authority launched last fall, in order to:

• Celebrate Clarke County’s abundant natural riches.

• Raise awareness about the importance of protecting Clarke’s open space for future generations.

• Honor the opening of the Clarke County Historical Association’s new museum exhibit: “Our Land Is Our Legacy.”

The Authority challenged area photographers to shoot photos of Clarke County’s magnificent open spaces and enter them in a contest to be judged by noted editorial and commercial photographer, Matthew Klein.

Twenty-four local residents accepted the challenge, submitting a total of 65 photographs.   Klein singled out eleven winners.

First Place – Bonnie Jacobs, Berryville
Second Place — John Lewis, Millwood
Third Place — Steve Lee, Bluemont

Special Mention
Richard Campbell, Boyce
Jo Domenica, Bluemont
Christy Dunkle, Bluemont
Tim Farmer, Round Hill
Janet Hitchen, Millwood
Carol Joyce, Berryville
Emily Mason, Berryville
Karen Shull, White Post

Commenting on the entries, Klein said, “It was a very sophisticated group of images, and I had great difficulty choosing winners.  These are the ones that resonated with me personally.” He will attend the opening on the 19th.  The show runs through Saturday, April 3rd.

Bring family and friends to see the amazing photographs that capture the incredible beauty of Clarke County in every season and remind us of our responsibility to be wise and watchful stewards of our bountiful resources.

For details on specific dates and times that the exhibit will be open,  please see the 7Bends Community Calendar.

Woodstock, VA – As Spring arrives, we’re reminded to draw joy from the songs of birds and to celebrate the music within us and around us. This email message from Jane Miller is requesting support from Shenandoah County residents who value music and arts education for their children – to show up tonight, March 11, 2010 – at a Shenandoah County Schools meeting to help ensure that funds for the District’s music education program are not cut.

Here is the message:
“Urgent – Please express support for Music Education – Dear Friends,

We wanted to make you aware of a situation which threatens the future of music education in Shenandoah County Public Schools. Right now, the Board of Supervisors is considering cutting all before school morning music activities. For many students, particularly those taking AP classes, this is the only way they can participate in music at their school.

There is a public hearing tomorrow night at 5 pm at Peter Muhlenberg Middle School in Woodstock, VA and we urge everyone who is interested in music education to attend and show their support for music in our schools.

Hard financial decisions are necessary, but cutting this program is not the way to go. Here is why:

- Music and arts programs were already –under-supported before the budget crunch so cutting them further would be catastrophic;

- Music education advances the curriculum at the schools;

- The amount of savings would be negligible in comparison to the impact it would have on the quality of education at our schools.

Currently, teenagers voluntarily get up early each morning so that they can participate in these programs. Anyone with a teenager knows that for a teen to choose to rise early speaks volumes to how important these programs are to them.

It is extremely important for voters to come out to voice their support, particularly in light of our county’s history with not supporting the arts. Remember: we are the only county in the surrounding area with no auditorium; Frederick and Warren Counties have an auditorium in each school.

If you can’t make the meeting, please call or e-mail a member of the Shenandoah County School Board today. Here are the e-mail addresses for Board members:

kswhetzel@shenandoah.k12.va.us
rkoontz@holtzmancorp.com
kgholsinger@shenandoah.k12.va.us
glrutz@shenandoah.k12.va.us
skeeter5@shentel.net
swgiersch@shenandoah.k12.va.us
bkrowland@shenandoah.k12.va.us

To clarify: Tonight’s meeting (March 11) at 5 p.m. at Peter Muhlenberg Middle School in Woodstock, VA, is open to the public and we want as many supporters of the arts as possible to attend. Please note that the meeting at which the public may actually speak out is on March 18. The board will then cast their vote on March 25, 2010.

Please come show your support for the arts tonight if you possibly can.”

Winchester, VA – The second Friday of each month, from February through June 2010, the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (MSV) in Winchester will hold “Galleries at Night.” At each of these special events, the Museum’s new exhibit will be open for viewing. The remaining “Galleries at Night” dates for 2010 are February 12, March 12, April 9, May 14, and June 11.

The new exhibit “Come In and Have a Seat: Vernacular Chairs of the Shenandoah Valley” opened at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (MSV) in December 2009, and will be on view through June 20, 2010.

Those attending Galleries at Night are also encouraged to enjoy the rest of the Museum. From 4 to 9 p.m., visitors may experience all of the MSV galleries, purchase a glass of wine in the Museum Lobby, browse in the Museum Store, and visit the Museum Café. For Galleries at Night, the galleries, the Museum Store, and the Museum Café are open from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m.

History of vernacular chairs

It is the first exhibition devoted to the study of chairs that are distinctive to the Shenandoah Valley region. By 1800, the Shenandoah Valley was home to many craftsmen of German, Swiss, English, Irish, and Scottish descent. Using familiar European craft traditions, these craftsmen made durable and comfortable chairs, but they also were influenced by fashionable designs from cities like Philadelphia and Baltimore. Their creative blending of old and new ideas resulted in distinctive chair styles that speak of the Valley’s diverse cultural heritage and are called “vernacular.”

The MSV exhibition presents the three basic Valley vernacular chair designs: ladder-back, Windsor, and fancy chairs. The display includes 43 chairs on loan from nine different private collections, most of which have never before been presented in a public display.

Guest Curator Jeff Evans – an expert in vernacular chairs – is president of Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates, in Mt. Crawford, Virginia. Museums that have sought his expertise in early American glass and eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Shenandoah Valley furniture, pottery, and glass include the Corning Museum of Glass, The Sandwich Glass Museum, and The Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA), among others.

Evans presented a lecture, “Shenandoah Valley of Virginia Seating Forms of the Late Eighteenth to Early Twentieth Centuries,” at the 2009 MESDA Furniture Seminar and a related lecture at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (MSV) on January 8, 2010.  In addition, he was guest curator and author of the catalogue, “A Great Deal of Stone & Earthen Ware,” at the Shenandoah Valley Folk Art & Heritage Center (Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society)  in Dayton, Virginia.

(He has authored a catalogue to accompany the MSV exhibition. The publication will be available in March of 2010.)

Special pricing, food, and drinks

In honor of the Museum’s fifth anniversary in 2010, general admission to Galleries at Night is just $5. The event is free to MSV Members. In 2010, the Museum Café will also celebrate the fifth anniversary by offering a light dinner for $5 during Galleries at Night events. This Friday’s dinner option is a combination of a cup of soup and a half sandwich for $5. In addition to the one dinner option, the café’s Galleries at Night menu will also include a variety of desserts and more than 20 types of tea. Just for Galleries at Night, the café will serve a free cup of Shenandoah Blend tea with each dessert purchase.

MSV Executive Director, Jennifer Esler, announces resignation

In a separate release, the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (MSV) announced that its executive director, Jennifer Esler, will be leaving the Museum to become the President and CEO of the Battle of Franklin Trust in Franklin, Tennessee. Her resignation ends more than 12 successful years serving as the chief professional officer of the MSV.

According to MSV President of the Board Kit Molden, the Museum is saddened by but supportive and understanding of Ms. Esler’s decision. “Jenny has directed this Museum extremely well over the years she has been with us,” he says, “and she deserves immense credit for what the MSV has become today. We hate to see her go, but also understand and support her decision.”

“I have enjoyed working with the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley over the past twelve years, am extremely proud of what we have accomplished together, and will greatly miss the Museum family and all my other friends and colleagues in Winchester and the Shenandoah Valley,” says Ms. Esler. “But I am also excited and pleased that a new career opportunity that so perfectly suits my experience, skills, and interests has been offered to me, and I am looking forward to joining my husband in the Nashville area.”

Ms. Esler will remain with the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley until February 28. A nationally-focused search effort to hire her replacement will get underway immediately.

*****

The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley is located at 901 Amherst Street in Winchester, Virginia. The MSV complex — which includes the Museum, the Glen Burnie Historic House, and six acres of gardens — is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The house and gardens are open March through November; the Museum is open year-round. The historic house and gardens are not open for tours during Galleries at Night. Additional information is available by calling (540) 662-1473, ext. 235, or on the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley web site.

SPECIAL EVENTS

STARGAZING
Do you want to learn how to find the constellations or the North Star?  Do you want to take a long look at another planet and its moons?  How about viewing a Ring Nebula or a Double Star?  August’s event is tied to the annual Perseid meteor showers; because of that, we’ve added a rain date in hopes of getting one good night for stargazing!  This event is for all ages; please bring the entire family!  Bring a picnic chair, your binoculars or your own telescope, a flashlight, and dress for the nighttime temperatures.   The hosts will provide telescopes and instruction.  There is no pre-registration needed, but please be sure to check the cancellation line at 984-3030, Option 9, before heading to the park.  For ALL ages!  FREE!
DAY    TIME    SESSIONS        LOCATION
Sat.    5:00pm    January 9        Shenandoah County Park, Maurertown

ANNUAL WINTER ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW
As the winter season gets going, please mark your calendar for this annual tradition.  Get your craft items ready to sell or just plan to attend and shop for those special birthday or anniversary gifts.  The show is set for Saturday,  March 6, 8:00am-3:00pm at Peter Muhlenberg Middle School.  Admission is FREE for the public.  If you’re interested in attending as a vendor, please contact SCPR for an application.  Tables are available for $20 or $35.

YOUTH PROGRAMS

SILLY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS
(Ages 5-12 yrs.).  Do you like to make things and experiment?  Join us for the eight-week course in which we investigate and perform silly science experiments.  Even if science isn’t your thing, children will be sur to enjoy the many different approaches to science that will be presented.  Class will run on Mondays, January 4-March 8 (no class 1/18 or 2/15), 3:30-5:00pm at Central High School.  The cost is $30/child and the deadline to register is December 23.

COLORING FOR FUN
(Ages 2-4 yrs.).  Here’s a chance to do some great coloring while socializing with other children!  Each week will be a different coloring theme; all coloring sheets and crayons will be provided.  Coloring for Fun will be held on Mondays, January 4-March 1, 10:00-11:00am at the Edinburg School.  The cost is $10/child and the deadline to register is December 30.

WATERCOLORING FOR FUN
(Ages 2-4 yrs.).  What can be more fun that watercoloring with your friends?  Bring your pre-schooler for some watercoloring fun while socializing with other pre-schoolers and their parents.  Each will will have a different theme, and all supplies will be provided.  Watercoloring for Fun will be held Wednesdays, January 6-March 3, 10:00-11:00am at the Edinburg School.  The cost is $15/child and the deadline to register is December 30.

DANCING THROUGH THE WINTER
Rhythm, movement, music, and making dancing FUN!  This is a quality dance program in a positive and enthusiastic environment, which boosts self-confidence, positive peer interaction, fosters teamwork, and encourages children to be the best at whatever it is they choose to do.  At the end of the session, dancers will provide a dancing performance.  For ages 4-6 yrs., class will be held on Wednesdays, January 6-February 10, 5:00-5:45pm at the Edinburg School.  For ages 7-9 yrs., class will be held on Wednesdays, January 6-February 10, 6:00-6:45pm at the Edinburg School.  The cost is $40/child and the deadline to register is January 4.

ROCKIN’ ROBIN RECREATION
(Ages 5-12 yrs.).  Does your child need something to do after school?  Check out Rockin’ Robin Recreation as this class offers fun games and activities and gives your child a chance to socialize with all of their friends.  Please send a snack with your child.  This class will run on Tuesdays, January 19-February 9, 3:30-5:00pm.  Cost is $30/child and the deadline to register is January 18.

AMERICAN RED CROSS BABYSITTER’S TRAINING
(Ages 11-15 yrs.)  This course is fun and fast-paced with hands-on activities, exciting videos, role plays, and lively discussions.  You’ll gain the confidence to make smart decisions and stay safe in any babysitting situation.  You’ll learn how to supervise children and infants, perform basic child-care skills such as diapering and feeding, choose safe, age-appropriate games and toys, handle bedtime and discipline issues, identify safety hazards and prevent injuries, care for common injuries and emergencies such as choking, burns, cuts and bee stings.  You’ll receive a first-aid kit and handbook along with a certificate of completion.  Please register with the American Red Cross by calling 459-2913.  Class will be held on Saturday, January 9, 9:00am-5:00pm, and the ARC office in Woodstock.

LITTLE TYKES SOCCER
(Ages 3-6 yrs.)  All participants will learn the basics of how to kick, dribble, and shoot.  Kids will receive a kit to keep so they can train all year-round in their backyard.  Parents are encouraged to help out with their little all-star while our instructor provides class instruction to everyone.  This class will run on Saturdays, January 9-February 13, 8:30-9:30am at the Edinburg School.  The cost is $35/child and the deadline to register is December 30.

LITTLE TYLES T-BALL
(Ages 3-6 yrs.)  All participants will learn the basics of how to catch, throw, and swing.  Kids will receive a kit to keep so they can train all year-round in their backyard.  Parents are encouraged to help out with their little hitter while our instructor provides class instruction to everyone.  This class will run on Saturdays, February 20-April 3, 8:30-9:30am at the Edinburg School.  The cost is $35/child and the deadline to register is February 12.

ALL AGES PROGRAMS

INTERMEDIATE ROUND DANCING
(All Ages)  Location:  Edinburg School, Edinburg.  Round dancing sessions include learning the Waltz, 2-Step, and many more round dances.  Sessions:  Thursdays and Sundays, January 14 & 28, February 11 & 25, and March 11 & 25, 6:00-9:00pm.  The cost is $4/session.  Pay at the door.

SQUARE DANCING
(All Ages)  Location:  Edinburg School, Edinburg.  Join this group as a drop-in anytime for fun and fitness with basic line and square dancing.  Casual dress.  Sessions:  Sundays, January 10 & 24, February 14 & 28, and March 14 & 28, 6:00-7:00pm.  The cost is $3/session for adults and $1/session for children; all children must be accompanied by an adult.  Pay at the door.

OPEN GYM – BASKETBALL
Shenandoah County Parks and Recreation will hold an OPEN Gym for all basketball players every Wednesday evening from 8:00-10:00pm at the gym in Edinburg.  Cost will be $1 per person; starting January 6, the cost will be $2 per person.  Call for more info if needed.

THE ART OF BASKETRY
(Ages 16 and over)  Location:  944 Moose Road, Woodstock.  These successful basket classes are back for the winter months!  During the cold winter months, come inside where it’s warm and try your hand at basketmaking.  In January, you will make a Bushel Basket with handles to carry around all those books.  The basket will be 8” x 5”.  In February, you will make a You’ve Got Mail Basket to carry all of that mail and those magazines.  The basket will be 3” x 8” x 10” and will include a wire wall hanger to put anywhere in your house.  January’s class will run on January 21, 5:30-9:00pm and February’s class will run on February 18, same time.  The cost is $25/person and the deadline to register is the Wednesday before each class.

BEGINNING BANJO
(Ages 10+).  Learn to play the 3-Finger “Scruggs” and melodic style banjo.  This class will get students started on the chord shapes and right hand rolls needed for basic banjo.  There will also be an introduction to reading “tab” as a means of learning songs, and also the basics of picking out a song by ear.  Students will need to have a 5-string banjo and tuner.  Two classes will be held on Mondays, 7:00-8:00pm:  January 4-25 and February 1-22.  The cost is $80/person and the deadline to register is the Wednesday before each class.

NON-BEGINNER BANJO
(Ages 10+).  This class is for students that have already learned the basic rolls and chords and are ready to progress through some songs.  A purchase of a songbook in tab format is recommended.  Students need to have a 5-string banjo and tuner.  Two classes will be held on Mondays, 8:00-9:00pm:  January 4-25 and February 1-22.  The cost is $80/peson and the deadline to register is the Wednesday before each class.

FITNESS

ZUMBA
(Ages 13 and over.)  Zumba is a type of international dance that combines the fundamental elements of fitness with dancing fun.  Zumba utilizes the principles of fitness, burns calories, tones muscles, incorporates full range of motion, improves the cardiovascular system, utilizes balance, and improves coordination.  Come get fit while getting your groove on!  Classes will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays, December 1-22, January 5-28, and February 2-25, 7:00-7:45pm at W.W. Robinson. Cost is $52/student for full class or $8/class drop-in fee; the December class fee is $45.50 or $8 drop-in fee.

PILATES
(For ages 13 and over.)  Pilates is a form of exercise that uses concise controlled movements focusing on the body’s core to improve flexibility and posture.  The moves are smooth, slow, continuous, and focused on strength, stability, and alignment.  You will need a Pilates mat and lightweight exercise band.  Classes will run on Tuesdays, January 5-26 and February 2-23, 6:00-6:45pm, at W.W. Robinson.  Classes will also run on Thursdays, January 7-28 and February 4-25, same time and location.  The cost is $26/student for full class or $8/class drop-in fee.

HATHA YOGA
(For ages 12 and over.)  De-stress and revitalize with yoga.  This class will teach you breathing, balancing, and relaxation techniques that stimulate the spine and nervous system, endocrine glands, and muscles of the physical body.  Yoga is a great way to end a stressful day and go home stress-free.  You can pay the full class fee or the drop-in fee each night.  Classes will run on Mondays, January 4-February 8, at either Sandy Hook ES or W.W. Robinson.  SHES’ class will run from 5:30-6:45pm and the WWRES’ class will run from 7:30-8:45pm.  The cost is $50 (full fee) or $10/class drop-in fee.  Please bring a mat or rag rug to class.

BELLY DANCING
(For ages 16 and over.)  Belly dance is one of the oldest, simplest, and most effective ways to achieve and maintain fitness.  Participants will learn the basic moves, while improving flexibility, posture, balance, and muscle tone.  This is a very low-impact workout, ideal for women of all age groups, shapes, and sizes.  No previous experience needed.  You can pay the full class fee for the drop-in fee each night.  Classes will run on Mondays, December 14-February 1 at Sandy Hook ES or on Tuesdays, December 15-February 2 at Peter Muhlenberg ES.  Both sessions run 7:00-8:00pm.  Cost is $42/class (full fee) or $8/class drop-in fee.

INTRODUCTION TO TAI CHI
(Ages 18 and over)  Are you looking for an exercise to not only build muscles, but also enhance your mind?  Well, we have the class for you.  Tai Chi is the original core fitness exercise system.  Traditional Yang Family is the most popular style in Chine (and the world).  The large, energetic, graceful and slow movements are derived from traditional Chinese Medical theory and martial arts.  This class will focus on the fundamentals of Tai Chi and the traditional barehand form.  This class will run on Mondays, January 4-February 22, 7:00-8:30pm at the Edinburg School.  The cost is $60/person and the deadline to register is December 30.

BUS TRIPS

NYC:  ON YOUR OWN!
(For ages 8 and over).  Join SCPR as we spend some time in the Big Apple!  Join us in New York City for an overnight on-your-own trip.  You can visit the museums, check out Central Park, see a Broadway matinee, shop until you drop, and enjoy some nightlife.  We will be departing the Woodstock Lowe’s parking lot at 6:00am on Saturday, April 24, 2010 and will arrive NYC at approx. 11:00am.  We’ll be staying in mid-town Manhattan within walking distance of most NYC landmarks.  We will depart NYC at 3:00pm on Sunday, arriving back in Woodstock at approx. 9:00pm.  Included is a continental breakfast on Sunday, your transportation, all taxes, and baggage fees.  NYC maps and city info. will be provided to you before the trip so that you can plan your free time.  When registering, please indicate your roommate’s name.  The cost of this trip is $215/person (single or double occupancy), $187/person (triple occupancy), or $172/person (quadruple occupancy), and the deadline to register is March 12, 2010.

LET’S GO SKIING AT WHITETAIL RESORT
(Ages 18 and over)  If you enjoy snow skiing and a lot of excitement, this bus trip is for you as we travel to Whitetail Resort in PA.  Whitetail has 21 trails designed for skiers of all abilities.  This would be a great Christmas gift or just a fun getaway.  We will be leaving the Lowe’s parking lot in Woodstock at 8:00am and departing from Whitetail at 9:30pm.  All meals will be on your own.  The price includes transportation, ski, and snowboard rentals.  There is a $10 fee if you wish to switch equipment after check-in.  Also, tubing is available for a separate fee; sessions vary, so check the resort’s website before we go.  This trip is set for Saturday, February 27; the cost is $118/person and the deadline to register is February 10.”

How to register

All registration can be done in-person at Shenandoah County Parks and Recreation, 508 Piccadilly Street, in Edinburg, VA 22824, via their online registration system , or people can mail or fax their registration forms.  Registration forms are available at the office or online. The office is open Monday-Friday, 8:30 am – 12:00 pm, and 1:00- 5:00 pm. Their fax number is 540-984-8032.

Some of the items in their Annual New Years Day Auction include the following:

10-pc Italy made Dining Room suite; 5-pc Aico bedroom suite; 3-pc Pennsylvania House entertainment wall unit; 7-pc Italy made Living room suite; Wash Stands; Tilt top table; Plus other stands; Selection of Prints and Paintings; Longaberger baskets & other accessories; Coke Cooler; Lg. sel. of Older metal 7 tin collector Toys; Post Cards; Hummels; Mantle Clocks; Lots of glassware – Pottery – Dept 56 – Jewelry – and many more collectibles. Craftsman 28” cut snow blower, almost brand new; Craftsman 15-gal Air compressor; Bench Pro miter saw w/ stablemate stand. Plus much more.

The auction house is located at 632 East Main Street in Berryville, VA 22611

DIRECTIONS: From intersections of RT. 340 and Business RT 7 (Main Street) in downtown Berryville, Travel Main Street EAST thru town, across RR Tracks, approximately one-half mile to building on left.

Visit their website to see photos of many of the items, and view a list of other upcoming auction dates.

Doors open at 8:00 am the day of auction. an identification card is needed to get a bidders number. Cash or good checks accepted  for payment;  out-of-state checks accepted with pre- approval. Mastercard and Visa cards are accepted ( with 5% added.)

The Hash Auction Center is a member of the National and Virginia Auctioneers Association.  The auctioneer is: Brian Hash, CAI CES VAAR. For more information, call (540) 955-0277

Edinburg, VA – Question: What do all of these things have in common? Answer: They are all part of the schedule of exciting classes and events offered by Shenandoah County Parks and Recreation (SCRP) during October, November and December 2009.

Many of these Shenandoah Valley events are free. Some are for children; some for adults; and some for all ages. They include:

SPECIAL EVENTS

STARGAZING
Do you want to learn how to find the constellations or the North Star? How about viewing a Ring Nebula or a Double Star? Let’s join together for a good night of stargazing!

This event is free and for all ages; bring the entire family. Bring a picnic chair, your binoculars or your own telescope, a flashlight, and dress for the nighttime temperatures. The hosts will provide telescopes and instruction. There is no pre-registration needed, but please be sure to check the cancellation line at (540) 984-3030, Option 9, before heading to the park.

Time, Date and Location: Saturday, November 14 at 4:45 p.m. at Shenandoah County Park, in Maurertown , VA.

YOUTH PROGRAMS

SIGN AND SING
(Ages 3 and Under). This is a developmentally-appropriate music and movement program children with a parent or caregiver. A parent/caregiver and child learns the signs for “mommy,” “eat,” and you’ll know if he/she wants “more” juice and when he/she is “all done.” This research-proven program speeds language development in hearing children, eases frustration, and enhances long-term learning abilities. Price includes high-quality materials (Family Activity Guide, DVD glossary, and clip-on flashcards). This class will run on Thursdays, November 12 – December 17, 10:00 – 10:45am. The cost is $100/student.

CREATIVE MOVEMENT
(For ages 3-5 years). This class will combine movement experiences, body awareness activities, strength building and flexibility exercises, locomotor skills, parachute play, tumbling, and balancing in a fun, friendly class environment. Parents will have an active roll in class. This class will run on Thursdays, November 5 -December 3 (no class – 11/26), 4:30 – 5:15pm. Cost is $35/student.

ROCKIN’ ROBIN RECREATION
(For 3rd-5th graders). Does your child need something to do after school? Check out Rockin’ Robin Recreation as this class offers fun games and activities and gives your child a chance to socialize with all of their friends. Please send a snack with your child. This class will run on Tuesdays, November 3 – 24, 3:30- 5:00 pm. Cost is $30/child.

HOLIDAY KIDS CAKES
(For ages 8 and over.) Let’s get together and make a holiday cake! We will use a holiday theme using red, green, and white. Candy canes? Candles? A wreath perhaps? Get ready to make a decorated cake for your holiday party. You will need to bring a pre-baked sheet cake from home. Frostings will be provided. Class will run on Friday, December 4, 3:00 – 5:00 pm. The deadline to register is December 3. The cost is $15/student.

ALL AGES PROGRAMS

INTERMEDIATE ROUND DANCING
(All Ages) Location: Edinburg School, Edinburg. Round dancing sessions include learning the Waltz, 2-Step, and many more round dances. Sessions: Thursdays and Sundays, October 29, November 12 & 29, December 10 & 27, 6:00 – 9:00 pm. The cost is $4/session. Pay at the door.

SQUARE DANCING
(All Ages) Location: Edinburg School, Edinburg. Join this group as a drop-in anytime for fun and fitness with basic line and square dancing. Casual dress. Sessions: Sundays, November 15 & 22, December 6 & 20, 6:00-7:00pm. The cost is $3/session for adults and $1/session for children; all children must be accompanied by an adult. Pay at the door.

OPEN GYM – BASKETBALL
Shenandoah County Parks and Recreation will hold an Open Gym for all basketball players every Wednesday evening from 8:00-10:00pm at the gym in Edinburg.Cost will be $1 per person. Call for more information, if needed.

BASKETRY
(Ages 16 and over) Location: 944 Moose Road, Woodstock. These successful basket classes are back! For November, you will make a Rectangular Mail Basket to hold all of your important mail. This class will run on November 19, 5:30 – 9:00 pm. The cost is $25/person. The deadline to register November 18.

ROSES, ROSES, ROSES
(For all ages.) Have you always thought you might like to make roses for your decorated cakes? We will spend the entire evening learning the technique of making the classic and elegant Wilton Rose. You will need tips #12 and #104 as well as a Flower Nail. This class will run on November 3, 6:30 – 8:30 pm; the deadline to register is November 2. When registering, be sure to provide an email address so that the instructor can send more pre-class information. The cost is $15/student.

GARDEN FLOWERS
(For all ages.) Let’s grow a garden full of sugar flowers. This will be the perfect class for you if you love daisies, violets, apple blossoms, and daffodils. We will spend the entire evening learning to make these beautiful flowers. You will need tips #3 and #104 as well as a Flower Nail. This class will run on November 10, 6:30 – 8:30 pm; the deadline to register is November 9. When registering, be sure to provide an email address so that the instructor can send more pre-class information. The cost is $15/student.

FITNESS

ZUMBA
(Ages 13 and over.) Zumba is a type of international dance that combines the fundamental elements of fitness with dancing fun. Zumba utilizes the principles of fitness, burns calories, tones muscles, incorporates full range of motion, improves the cardiovascular system, utilizes balance, and improves coordination. Come get fit while getting your groove on! Tuesdays & Thursdays, 7:00 – 7:45 pm, October 20 – November 19. Cost is $65/student for full class or $8/class drop-in fee.

PILATES
(For ages 13 and over.) Pilates is a form of exercise that uses concise controlled movements focusing on the body’s core to improve flexibility and posture. The moves are smooth, slow, continuous, and focused on strength, stability, and alignment. You will need a Pilates mat and lightweight exercise band. Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6:00 – 6:45 pm, October 20 – November 19. Cost is $65/student for full class or $8/class drop-in fee.

HATHA YOGA
(For ages 12 and over.) De-stress and revitalize with yoga. This class will teach you breathing, balancing, and relaxation techniques that stimulate the spine and nervous system, endocrine glands, and muscles of the physical body. Yoga is a great way to end a stressful day and go home stress-free. You can pay the full class fee or the drop-in fee each night. Two more sessions available: Mondays, November 9-December 14, 5:30 – 6:45 pm at Sandy Hook Elementary School, and Mondays, November 9 – December 14, 7:15-8:30pm at W.W. Robinson Elementary School. The cost is $50 (full fee) or $10/night. The deadline to register is the Friday, November 6. Please bring a mat or rag rug to class.

BELLY DANCING
(For ages 16 and over.) Belly dance is one of the oldest, simplest, and most effective ways to achieve and maintain fitness. Participants will learn the basic moves, while improving flexibility, posture, balance, and muscle tone. This is a very low-impact workout, ideal for women of all age groups, shapes, and sizes. No previous experience needed. You can pay the full class fee for the drop-in fee each night. Two more sessions available: Mondays, November 2 – December 7, 7:00 – 8:00 pm at Sandy Hook Elementary School, and Tuesdays, November 3 – December 8, 7:00 – 8:00pm at the Edinburg School. The cost is $42 (full fee) or $8/night. The deadline to register is October 30.

BUS TRIPS

Plan ahead for Spring 2010, with this fantastic trip at a great price:

NYC: ON YOUR OWN!
(For ages 8 and over). Join SCPR as we spend some time in the Big Apple! Join us in New York City for an overnight on-your-own trip. You can visit the museums, check out Central Park, see a Broadway matinee, shop until you drop, and enjoy some nightlife. We will be departing the Woodstock Lowe’s parking lot at 6:00 am on Saturday, April 24, 2010 and will arrive NYC at approx. 11:00 am. We’ll be staying in mid-town Manhattan within walking distance of most NYC landmarks. We will depart NYC at 3:00 pm on Sunday, arriving back in Woodstock at approx. 9:00 pm.

The prices are per person and are based on double-occupancy; a continental breakfast on Sunday, your transportation, all taxes, and baggage fees are included. NYC maps and city information will be provided to you before the trip so that you can plan your free time. When registering, please indicate your roommate’s name and if you prefer twins or King bed. The cost of this trip is $215/person and the deadline to register is March 12, 2010.

How to register:

All registration can be done in-person at Shenandoah County Parks and Recreation, 508 Piccadilly Street, Edinburg, VA 22824, via the Shenandoah County Parks & Rec web site, or you can mail or fax your registration form. (Registration forms are available at the office or online. The SCPR office is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m.- noon; and from 1 to 5 p.m.)

Get ready to fly!

Edinburg, Va. –  Relax.! It’s not too late.

When people envision taking a perfect mental picture of  Fall leaves for the year, they often consider The Shenandoah Valley as one of their best bets.

Allow yourself to go beyond that – just for once – and consider the Shenandoah Valley as  the “Garden of Eden” – gorgeous at all times of the year, proudly wearing the vibrant yellow leaves of Fall, the white snow of Winter, the still green crispness of Spring, and the firecracker-red America-freedom Spirit of Summer.

The Yellow Barn in Mount Jackson, VA is the place to be on Saturday, November 14. Though the trees may be bare, the hospitality will not. Plan to come on out  for fun family activities – Valley-style – and an opportunity to meet with with the vinters and taste all of the exceptional Valley wines -  in one location – made right here between the mountains.

This week, Simply Local,  Shentel’s local television channel, and The Yellow Barn at Shenandoah Caverns, jointly announced a new event they will be hosting that designed for fun – and to highlight agritourism in Shenandoah County.

The “Shenandoah Uncorked” event will feature all five of the vineyards located in Shenandoah County, along with local food vendors and artisans. Wine lovers will enjoy plenty of local options,  as selected wines will be offered for tasting  by many of the Shenandoah Valley’s premiere vineyards and wineries, including:

- Cave Ridge Vineyard;

- Crooked Run Cellars;

- North Mountain Vineyard;

- Shenandoah Vineyards and;

- Wolf Gap Vineyard.

“Shenandoah Uncorked” focuses on the importance of supporting local businesses which will be displaying and selling their products. Shenandoah Uncorked is a family-friendly event with activities for children,  and live musical entertainment, in addition to the finest wines in the United States of America.

Want somethying to complement that wine? Gourmet Food will also be available, in addition to Arts & Crafts by local Valley artisans.

“Shenandoah Uncorked” will be held rain or shine at The Yellow Barn on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009. The festivities will begin at 10 a.m. and will feature musical acts from the Shenandoah Valley throughout the day.

Musicians include:

- Pam Uhl;

- Robbie Limon;

- Con and Cash;

- Five of a Kind;  and

- Amanda Wilkins.

Local community groups are also participating by providing activities for children in attendance.

Some activities will be provided by the:

- Virginia Cooperative Extension;

- the local Boy Scouts; and

- the Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River.

There also will be barrel train rides and an outdoor petting zoo on site. Other on-site attractions include nearby Shenandoah Caverns and American Celebration on Parade.

In preparation of “Shenandoah Uncorked,” Simply Local will air small vignettes from each of the area vineyards. These interviews highlight the vineyards as attractions and also offer educational information about wine in the Valley.

About Shenandoah Telecommunications (Shentel)
Shenandoah Telecommunications (Shentel) Company is a holding company that provides a comprehensive portfolio of telecommunications products and services through its operating subsidiaries. The Company’s operating subsidiaries provide local and long distance telephone, Internet and data services, cable television, wireless voice and data services, alarm monitoring, and telecommunications equipment, along with many other associated solutions in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States. For more information about Shenandoah Telecommunications Company, please visit www.shentel.com or call 1-800-SHENTEL. For more information, visit their web site.

About The Yellow Barn
The Yellow Barn at Shenandoah Caverns is the Valley’s newest attraction and entertainment venue. It offers visitors a whimsical look at our agricultural heritage and rural life with historical displays that include restored antique farm wagons, equipment, carriages and vehicles. An indoor bee hive depicts the social life of honeybees and a mineral cave pays homage to the caverns. A Country Store Gift Shop and a Virginia Wine Shop are all part of the Barn experience. For more information, visit their website.

Directions: The Shenandoah Caverns family of attractions is conveniently located just two minutes from the Shenandoah Caverns Exit (#269) off I-81. We are five miles north of New Market, Virginia in the heart of the beautiful and historic Shenandoah Valley and near Shenandoah National Park – a great place to start your Virginia family vacation.

If you are using a GPS, enter: Quicksburg, VA.

Rocco’s presentation is entitled “Historical Art Capturing the Past,” with comments also from Richard Kleese.

In style, subject matter, quality, and inspiration, Keith Rocco’s work evokes the masters of historical art. Rocco has earned acclaim as one of the most respected artists painting today.

In 1985, Uniformes Magazine proclaimed him as an artist “in the tradition of Remington and Detaille”. In 1987, his first limited edition print was issued to the market. Since then, American History Illustrated, Civil War Times Illustrated, Confederate Veteran, America’s Civil War, Strategy and Tactics, Uniformes Magazine, and Virginia’s Civil War have all featured his work on their covers.

His paintings hang in every major collection of historical art in the United States and in prestigious institutions abroad. In 1992, Rocco was commissioned to create three huge murals for the new Wisconsin Veterans Museum. Rocco now lives and paints in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.

The event will be held at the American Legion Post 199, located at 411 South Muhlenberg Street, in Woodstock. Social hour is at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. The menu is: pork loin, chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, corn, fruit salad, rolls, and dessert.

Docents, including some of the Museum’s founding members, will be guests of the Museum.  The cost for all others is $25 per person.

For more information on this event, call Anne at (540) 459-9558 or Alma at (540) 459-2542 (Monday – Fruday, noon – 4 p.m.)

To learn more about Keith Rocco and his historical art, check out his website.

Part 2 of 4 – From the Fall issue of 7Bends of the Shenandoah Valley Magazine:

Winchester, VA – What is it like to be a young, talented artist today? Peek into the lives of four Winchester superstars:

On this planet we’re used to insisting on being presented with familiar, yet redundant pictures of things, in hopes perhaps of assuring us of our permanence on some level. Yet, we know there is something more…

Contemporary artist Dennis Wymer, Jr, 32, is into abstract art. Putting all bias aside, the abstract is amazingly realistic.

“I work with acrylic, chalk, powdered charcoal and spray paint. I see what I can do with disembodied figures, with life that does not yet have form to it,” he says.

Dennis is energetic and very physical with his work. His painting are huge. “I leave my work open-ended. Even if you think it’s crap, that’s completely valid,” he says with no defensiveness whatsoever in his voice.

“Abstract art speaks to the masses. It speaks of change,” Dennis says. One of his creations, called “Heartbeats,” pulses with life. The actual paint seems to quiver. He expounds a bit on the piece: “It’s organic. It’s a human piece, a complete flesh and bloodied-out field. It’s the farthest thing from violence; it’s a piece of peace. It’s a crowd of living, breathing, teeming life. It’s humanity hanging out together – human bodies waking up, pumping blood, and doing the things that we do.”

Color is certainly an integral part of art and life. Dennis uses a lot of oranges, and particularly purples. He says that his painting are actually “facilitated by purple.” In his man-on-the-street style, Dennis concludes, with a glimmer in his eye: “If you take away the physical, you see what’s there. “

*****

At the Woodstock Rotary meeting on October 14, 2009, Dennis spoke about the “Business of Contemporary Art in the Valley,” also describing the place from which he draws from to create his paintings.  A versatile man, Dennis was also recently hired as the new Wrestling Coach at Massanutten Military Academy (MMA) in Woodstock, VA.

For more information, call Dennis at (804) 332-8758, or to see some of his other paintings,  visit his web site.

Part 1 of 4 – From the Fall issue of 7Bends of the Shenandoah Valley magazine…

Winchester – What’s it like to be a young, talented artist today? Take a peek into the lives of four very different Winchester area men/women who are giving life – and expression – all that they have.

Sarah Gallahan, Jamie Smith, Amanda Bryant and Denny Wymer, Jr. If you don’t know their names and their work already, get ready to be wowed. And, a tip for you: consider investing now in one of their vibrant pieces – before they hit the big time. All of them will.

Meet Sarah

Have you ever seen a portrait of someone, and thought… It just doesn’t look like him/her. Yes, his/her features are accurate. But, that spark of individuality, that gleam in his/her eyes, his/her subtle mannerisms…how can any artist capture that? Ask Sarah Gallahan. She does it exceptionally well.

For the last several years, Sarah, 22, has been specializing in creating portraits of people and animals. Much of her work is featured at her own Sleepy House Studio at 4 South Loudoun Street on the Old Town Pedestrian Mall in historic downtown Winchester. “Often, I set up outside and paint, and have my friend, Josh White, play the guitar” she says. “A crowd gathers around and we all have some fun.”

“Doing commissioned portraits and murals is my favorite right now,” says Sarah. She often works from
photographs. “I get the overall idea. I capture the spirit of the person…and then I work from there, concentrating on each step as I go along.”

One of Sarah’s larger pieces is “Pawn,” also known by Sarah as “the big chess guy.” The portrait of a fictional character playing chess measures 4 feet by 5 feet. “I wanted to capture the moment, the feeling. He looks like he’s just getting ready to get beat… and his next move is important.”
A portrait of herself and her husband, and a portrait of her 18-month-old son, Loki (which means “god of mischief”), rounds out the portfolio she recently shared at a Meet the Artist Reception in Winchester.

“I like to capture ideas and images that are just out of common sight,” she says. “Like scenes in nearby Indian Alley in Old Town.”

First National Bank is showcasing young artists as part of their “Visiting Art Exhibit of 2009.” The bank is located at 186 North Loudoun Street in Winchester.

To contact Sarah, Call (540) 931-4920, or email her: sleepyhouseart at aol.com.

From the Fall issue of 7Bends of the Shenandoah Valley magazine…

Here is just a sampling of what’s going on during the weekends  in October in the Shenandoah Valley, and nearby Northern Virginia:

Weekend of Oct. 3

**Oktoberfest – Strasburg
Come celebrate in the Town of Strasburg for the town’s annual Oktoberfest. This festival celebrates our town heritage and the peak of the fall foliage in the Northern Shenandoah Valley. Take a hike along the new Riverwalk, a 1.5 mile trail that runs along the Shenandoah River. Traditional beverages, activities for children and adults, food, music, and more. A Business Expo will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. A street dance will begin at 7 p.m. Off I-81, Exit 298 & 296 – on Washington Street off (in the old town lot.) Call (540) 465-3187, or visit their web site.

**24th Annual Country Fair/Auction – Bristow
A day of family fun, auctions and entertainment to benefit Youth For Tomorrow. The host of the event is Joe Gibbs, YFT Founder and Chairman. It runs from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., ande benefits Youth For Tomorrow, residential youth home and private school for at-risk teenage boys and girls.
The location is at the Youth For Tomorrow Campus, on Linton Hall Road, in Bristow, VA. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children 16 and under. Ages 3 and under are free. No pets. Call (703) 368-7995, or visit their web site.

**Fall Color Weekends
Veramar Vineyard – Clarke County
Take a drive to the mountains and enjoy the festive fall colors of Clarke County, and the Shenandoah Valley. Take advantage of special prices on some of your favorite wines, as well as holiday gift specials. Whisk the family to the Blue Ridge Mountains to taste our award-winning wines. Running every Saturday in October from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (540) 955-5510, or visit their web site.

Weekend of October 10

**Sixth Annual Vesuvius Heritage Day – Vesuvius
Join family and friends on October 10, as they celebrate in this charming old community located 2.5 miles from MP27 of the Blue Ridge Parkway on West 56, or on Exit 205 from Interstate 81. The Festival is celebrated throughout the entire community with yard and bake sales, antiques, music and arts and crafts. Come early for breakfast or enjoy a vast array of country cooking throughout the day. Sponsored by the Vesuvius Community Association and partnered with the O. Winston Link Museum staff, historical displays depict the Village’s rich history in mining, farming and the railroad. Located on the Historical 1776 Bike Trail, the scenic beauty of the area attracts both bicyclists and motorcyclists and those that desire to just kick back and relax awhile. Running from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Community Building, church grounds and throughout Vesivius. Call (540) 377-5861.

**Morven Park Steeplchase, A Loudoun Tradition – Leesburg
The Morven Park Steeplechase is Northern Virginia’s family-friendly steeplechase. Come, relax, get away from the crowds. Enjoy a superb day of hospitality. Finest Steeplechasing conditions with outstanding viewing hills. Family Fun Fair- Youngsters will enjoy the races, and also the petting zoo, duck pond, pony rides, and moon bounce. At noon, don’t miss the  popular “Family Course Walk,” led by Middleburg Jockey Gregg Ryan. Gates open at 11 a.m.. Post time is 1:30 p.m. Call (703) 777-2890, or visit their web site.

The estate, 1,000 acres just west of Leesburg, Virginia off Rt. 7 on Old Waterford Road, was home to two governors: Thomas Swann, a governor of Maryland in the 19th century, and Virginia’s reform governor Westmoreland Davis.

**Apple-Grape Harvest Festival – Mount Jackson
The Mt. Jackson Chamber annually hosts this event which showcases one of the main railroad depot locations during the Civil War. Nestled in the middle of the Shenandoah Valley, a state historical marker was recently erected north of town to commemorate the hospital which treated soldiers from both the North and South. The festival boasts streets lined with Arts & Crafts vendors, a selection of food to satisfy everyone’s taste, and exciting events, such as hot air balloon rides, square dancing, wine tasting, and helicopter tours. As you stroll down Main Street you will also be accompanied by the music of the many bands and performers set up for your listening enjoyment. Free. Call (540) 477-3275, or visit their web site.

**Culpeper Airport Air Fest – Culpeper
Come out and view life from another angle – see Culpeper County from the air. Held at the Culpeper Re3gional Airport, this event has something for the entire family. Tour the airport and meet the pilots. Aircraft from restored antiques to modern jets will be on display. Activities for kids include free airplane rides for ages 8-17, demonstrations, arts & crafts, face painting and the model airplane simulator. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is completley free. Had to 12517 Beverly Ford Road. Call (540) 825-8280, or visit their web site.

**13th Annual Shenandoah Mountain Bike Festival – Stokesville
Held October 9 – 11, this Festival originated in 1997, and since has become a highlight of Virginia’s fall cycling scene. The Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition will be orchestrating the activities; it was created when the Shenandoah Mountain Bike Club and Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Club combined forces in 2007.

The trail riding around Stokesville and in the George Washington National Forest is beautiful and very challenging, expect plenty of fire roads, endless single track and big old fashion mountains. Giving back to the trails is a major focus of the Festival so there will be two trail work sessions. The trail work sessions are great opportunity for those wishing to learn about trail maintenance and wanting to give back to the trails we all use.

Plenty of fun activities for everyone around the campground including: frisbee golf, volleyball and horseshoes. Children of all ages will love the kids’ mountain bike loop set up around the campground. All riders are welcome; there is plenty of room for camping. Prices range from $15 for a single day to $60 for the weekend. Register at: Active.com, or call for more information: (540) 434-9943.

Weekend of October 17

**Fall Color Hike – Delaplane
Enjoy the colors of Fall during this hike at Sky Meadows State Park in Delaplane. Dress for the weather and experience nature as it gets ready for cold wather on this moderate/difficult 3-mile hike. The hike starts at 10:30 a.m. and is expected to last until about 1:30 p.m.

Rich in history, the park has rolling pastures and woodlands, scenic vistas and a look into a bygone era. Tour Mount Bleak House and see how a middle-class family of the 1850s lived. Nature and history programs are offered during the fall seasons. Primitive hike-in camping, picnicking and hiking are favorite activities in this peaceful getaway on the eastern side of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The park offers a bridle trail and serves as an access point to the Appalachian Trail. Call (540) 592-3556, or visit their web site.

**Fall Harvest Festival and Haunted Wagon Ride – Bent Creek
James River State Park
Get ready for fall food, live music and good old-fashioned fun for the whole family. Wagon rides to the Tye River Overlook are $3 per person or $8 per family. Don’t miss the face painting, candle dipping, the corn husking bee, pumpkin painting, butter churning, herbal butter tasting, apple pressing, a corn shelling demonstration, apple bobbing, sack races and corn husk doll making. Kids and adults will love the roaring bonfire at 6:30 p.m, followed by the haunted wagon rides at 7 p.m. At 7 p.m. (fee: $5). All festivities will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. at SHelter 4.

James River State Park, six miles down river from Bent Creek, opened June 20, 1999. The park has three miles of river frontage, 1,500 acres of rolling farm meadows, three fishing ponds, beautiful vistas, 15 miles of hiking trails and quiet forests.

The waters of the James have shaped life in this area’s past and will shape its future. Monacan Indians, the earliest known settlers, hunted, fished and traveled the river. In the early 1700s, the Cabell family settled along the river, cultivated the rich soils of the floodplain and shipped produce down river to Richmond. A flat-bottomed boat known as the bateau was invented and the Kanawha canal was built to make travel and shipping on the river easier. The James River brought people to this area, provided for their needs and helped them build a future.

The park offers opportunities to explore the wildlife and habitat native to the foothills of the Blue Ridge. Whether floating, fishing or hiking, you can enjoy breathtaking views found only at James River State Park. Call (434) 933-4355, or visit their web site.

**Harvest Hayride
At Staunton River Battlefield State Park
Take a ride through haunted fields and the forest of fear. Enter a costume contest, play ghostly games and enter “The Maze of Madness,” if you dare. It’s only $5 per person, and children five and under get in free. Held at the Clover Visitor Center, this event will run from 7 until 11:55 p.m. Call (434) 454-4312, or visit their web site.

Weekend of October 24

**The Resurrection Haunted House & Trail – Maurertown
Shenandoah County Parks and Recreation is proud to announce that it will be once again hosting a haunted Halloween event. “The Resurrection” Haunted House & Trail will take place in October at the Shenandoah County Park; this year’s event will feature a haunted walking trail and haunted house. The events dates are Friday and Saturday, October 17 and 18; and Friday, Saturday, Sunday, October 23, 24, and 25. Opens between 7 – 7:30 p.m. each night. Price: $6/adult and $3/child (12 and under).

Tickets will be sold at the gate. At about 67 acres, the Park is situated along Route 11 in the SHenandoah Valley between Maurertown and Toms Brook. Bring out the kids and relax. Call (540) 984-3030, or visit: shenandoahcountyva.us/parks_new/facilities/shencopark.php

**Halloween Safari – Broad Run
Outdoor evening fun for kids and adults alike. See wildlife and attend a bonfire – comeplte with mar4shmallows. Join Bull Run Mountains Conservancy on a Friday or Saturday night for a hike through the Bull Run Mountains. Meet native “wildlife” that perform natural history skits and enjoy face painting, snacks, hot cider, a bonfire, and live music. Held from 7 until 9 p.m on October 18, 24 and 25.

**Arsenic and Old Lace
Theater Shenandoah – Edinburg
Located at the historic old Opera House at 107 Center Street, Theater Shenandoah is a non-profit (501(c)3) community theater serving the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Their mission is to provide a quality theater experience for participants and patrons in the Shenandoah Valley, performing musicals, drama, and comedy.

Accept a treat of a performance on October 23, 24 or 25 when you enjoy “Arsenic and Old Lace.”   This is a must-see, as last fall, the group’s rendition of “The Secret Garden” was a sell-out. For time and ticket information, call (540) 984-3972, or visit their web site.

Weekend of October 31

**Ghosts of Staunton Tours – Staunton
Does Mrs. Bagsby haunt the Belle Grae Inn located on Frederick Street? Does the spirit of Elmer Higgins wander the Daily Grind Building in search of his killer? Come and find out. Explore downtown Staunton on a 90-minute walking tour. The Tour offers many ghostly tales and experiences, along with historic facts of Staunton’s past. All guides are experienced paranormal investigators who will share some of their favorite investigative techniques in the field. Each tour provides a chance to get actual hands-on experience using paranormal equipment.

Presented by the Shenandoah Valley Paranormal Society, tickets can be purchased at the time of the event. Reservations strongly recommended. Runs every Saturday at 8 p.m. through Halloween night. Admission: Adult $10; 6 – 12 years old, $5. Call (540) 448-2743, or visit their spooky web site.

**DarkWood Manor Haunted House – Luray
Page County, VA

DarkWood Manor Haunted House will be open every weekend in October from 7 – 11 p.m. DarkWood Manor is a theatrical and interactive haunted attraction. For 8 years, DarkWood has combined movie quality sets and make-up to create a fun and frightening October event. Unlike traditional haunted houses, DarkWood Manor uses all orignial charcters and storyline. Due to the scary nature of this event, it is not recommended for children under the age of 10. LOcated at 104 North Hawksbill Street, the price is $10 per person. (On October 3, bring a can of store-bought food for the Food Bank, and get $5 off admission.)

Call (540) 743-2408, or visit their creepy web site.

The colors and wavelengths of the electromagnetic light spectrum

As NASA’s Atmospheric Science Data Center Center reports:

“Our eyes are sensitive to light which lies in a very small region of the electromagnetic spectrum labeled “visible light”. This “visible light” corresponds to a wavelength range of 400 – 700 nanometers (nm) and a color range of violet through red. (Traditionally-viewed), the human eye is not capable of “seeing” radiation with wavelengths outside the visible spectrum.

The visible colors from shortest to longest wavelength are: violet, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red. Ultraviolet radiation has a shorter wavelength than the visible violet light. Infrared radiation has a longer wavelength than visible red light. The white light is a mixture of the colors of the visible spectrum. Black is a total absence of light.

Earth’s most important energy source is the Sun. Sunlight consists of the entire electromagnetic spectrum.”

To learn more, visit their web site.

(Photo Source: Pennsylvania State Climatology.)

Ann demonstrates brush techniques at the monthly "Women Celebrating Women" get-together in Strasburg, VA.

Artist Ann Harrison, Front Royal, Virginia resident, tells it like it is: “I’m 73 years old, and still haven’t found out who I am yet.” Her life story tells a different story. At 65, she completed her Masters degree, a feat many consider too much effort at 45.

“You know, we can do anything,” she says passionately.

For years, Ann did not remember much from her early childhood in Wallduern, Germany during World War II. Her dad suffered through a prison camp for two years. She remembers: “He was a total stranger when he came home two years.. He weighed only 98 pounds. I had this tremendous fear of him.”

After the war, Ann’s parents, though educated, had lost nearly everything. They were sweeping streets and planting potatoes. So when, an couple offered work to Ann’s two older sisters in New York City, her parents agreed. Ann felt left behind – and was put to work helping her dad with his oil painting. As she washed his paint brushes and watched him mix colors, Ann complained, and ironically lamented to herself: “This is what I’m going to do for the rest of my life.” And of course, her words became her reality.

One day in the early 1950’s, her mother handed her a ticket, helped her get a VISA, and sent her off to visit her sisters in the States. “This is your only escape,” she remembers her mom saying. Much like Cinderella, who had been kept waiting at home, Ann left her village, and headed out into the world, where many would come to witness her exceptional talent.

Stretching, going beyond

Ann arrived in New York City, but didn’t stay long, heading instead to Philadelphia. She was a sponge, absorbing everything good in her path. “I wanted to study and learn English,” she says.

To make ends meet, she got a job in a factory putting labels into sweaters. “I remember the first time I really stuck up for myself,” she says.

The others workers were getting 80 cents per hours and Ann was only getting 68 cents a hour. She had learned one American expletive, so she went and blurted it out to her boss, telling him she deserved more. “I came home and my friends said to me, how could you have done that? But, the next morning, I got the raise.”

She enrolled in high school part-time in Westchester, and was painting on the side.” After reading one of her compositions, a high school instructor said to her: “You’re college material…what are you doing here?” Soon after, with his help, Ann was attending the local community college. and “in her spare time,” took naturalization classes and became a U.S. citizen. In 1958, she also met a man and got married.

Ann’s gift of art was calling out to her. After graduating with Honors at the Community College, she got accepted to the International Art Institute in Philadelphia. “They kept challenging me, telling to me to ‘go beyond,’ and they said that when you’re there, you will know it.”

With the merger of those words of encouragement and her budding talent, Ann’s career took off. She went on to paint and to show her work all over Philadelphia, and New York, and put on a “one-man show,” traveling to Mexico and Venice, Italy, showing her work.

Early on, working mainly with watercolors, Ann’s work was considered “realism” within the artistic community. As she grew into her own, she would come to label it “conversational realism.”

This floral is characteristic of Ann Harrison's conversational realism.

“I let go a little and became looser and freer with my brush,” Ann remarks. Her painting of sunflowers, entitled “Lift up your heart to the sun” is a great example of her style and approach at that space and time.

“I allow my brush to be an extension of my self,” she explains. Ann works from the seven colors of the electromagnetic spectrum: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.

She shares: “Use colors that speak to you. Paint, wash it out, go to another color. Paint, wash it out, go to another color… and so forth. We choose colors that we need to reveal our energy to the world. In terms of technique, it’s better to just put the color down, and not try and go back over it.”

Ann explains that like a child moving through life, art of any kind is about simple making your mark.

And numbers, just as colors, seem to show up for reasons, too. The number 7 represents perfection. And, the number 5, for example, is the number of grace.

An unexpectant revelation

A few years back now, Ann’s husband died,and her bright paintings, many beautiful florals, changed. She began to paint abstracts, using darker colors. She reflects: “Every time I’d sit down to paint, I’d have the same obsession. I couldn’t think of anything to paint, except ladders. It was so intense it began to bother me. I knew it was a symbol to me of some sort”

Through the help of a good therapist, Ann explored the ladder, and the result was astounding. Little by little she recalled what had happened to her back in Germany during the war. As a small child, she remembers being in school during a major bombing one day.

The ladders that mysteriously appeared in this painting represented Ann's escape to freedom during WWII.

“We were all huddled down. I had a little apron on and I pulled it up over my little head. It smelled bad, like sulfur. I heard screaming, and everyone was crawling and pushing. I thought we were going to die. I remember that there were prisoners of the Germans being held in our gym. As the bombs exploded, they were able to get free, and they went from room to room rescuing us kids. We had to climb up ladders to escape.”

Amazing. What Ann thought of initially as an obsession, as perhaps a negative symbol in her emerging artwork, was instead a symbol of hope, and a remembrance of freedom.

Like all art, and all lives, Ann’s work continues to change, always serving as a means for greater understanding and growth of her self and others. Over the last several months, mystery has again surfaced in Ann’s painting.

The "Unknown Woman" appears in a recent painting by Front Royal resident Ann Harrison.

One of her most recent works contains a portrait within – of an “unknown woman,” someone that Ann does not know, yet does.

*****

Ann’s work is featured at her own Sun Studio on 8th Street in Front Royal, Virginia, as well as at Bygones Antiques on King Street (Route 11) in Strasburg, Virginia.

Starting this coming Wednesday, September 9, , Ann will be giving watercolor classes from 7 to 9 p.m. at her Front Royal studio. No experience is necessary; she just encourages everyone to bring lots of enthusiasm. “This should be an evening of fun and letting go,” she says. For information, or to register, call (540) 635-8493.

Woodstock — Knitting. Spinning. Felt making. Dyeing. These are the old arts, and they’re still being celebrated, practiced and taught today at Fibersmyth shop in historic Woodstock, Virginia.

The Fibersmyth shop is gorgeous and colorful inside. As Elizabeth, the owner says: “Limitless potential is hidden here waiting for our knitters and fiber artists to unlock it. How exciting it is to follow the progress of each new creation, and then see the finished product proudly shown off!”

Elizabeth offers unique, super-soft, natural fibers from all over the U.S. and the world. It’s surely worth traveling to Woodstock to see her wares.

On Saturday, October 24th from 10 am to 4 pm, and again on Sunday, October 25th from 10 am to 4 pm, Fibersmyth will also be showing at the Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival in Berryville, VA.

The Festival will feature a juried fleece sale this year for both wool producers and buyers. Located in picturesque Clarke County, Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival is held at the Ruritan Fairgrounds. It’s easy to find – just off US 7 about 13 miles east of Winchester, VA.

There will be plenty of parking, easy walking, and comfortable resting areas. Shenandoah Fiber Festival offers quality activities and exhibits without the multi-thousands crowds found in some other regional festivals. Leave the pushing and shoving to others, and enjoy the relaxed Virginia Hunt Country ambience.

There will be an inviting children’s tent with fiber activities for the young, and the young at heart. Animals will be everywhere — to entice little smiles and gentle touches.

The Festival admission charge is $5 per adult; children under 12 enter free. Participants receive a free raffle ticket with each paid ticket. (Extra raffle tickets are $1 each.) Sorry! No pets allowed at the Festival; show animals spook easily

Here is a list of some of the many fiber-related activities. Plan to come out and have some fun!

*Sheep & Goat Breed Exhibit
*Craft Demonstrations
*Fiber Animals Galore
*Fiber Classes
*Petting Zoo
*Tom Forrester Sheep Dog Demonstrations
*Peddler’s Consignment Corner
*Award-winning ARBA-sanctioned Rabbit Show*
*Grand Raffles

(Is there a spinning wheel in your future? Check out the children’s tent and find out.) Enjoy!

For more information on Fibersmyth.
For more information on the Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival.

Strasburg, VA — These days, many people talk about “helping people make their dreams reality.” Denny Wymer and Paul Hysell, the co-owners of Outcast Kustomz (a new truly custom motorcycle shop in Strasburg, Virginia) actually embody that desire. About a month ago, they officially opened their doors, yet the idea for their own business has been brewing forever it seems.

They started their business – in these crazy times – with the conviction to express their creativity via helping others to take an idea (conception) and bringing it into physical reality. Creating a little heaven on earth. The two plan to display their “handiwork” at the Mountain Fest in Morgantown, West Virginia, July 23-26 this year. Cycle Source (magazine) is one of the main sponsors of the Fest.

Paul showed us two of their current “babies” in process right now: “Sin City” and “Devil’s Advocate.” The imagery on “Sin City” is truly enlightening – more from heaven than hell.

Play the hand you’ve been dealt
“Today, I’ve been working on the air brushing, says Paul. “I’ve had to re-do it three times.” But the fourth time is looking good. The image Paul’s been working on (that’s “spun” on the side of the bike) is a hand of cards – a full house composed of three Aces and two Eights. The poker theme doesn’t stop there… Down below, underneath, Paul’s actually cut a heart in the belly pan of the bike – but not a bleeding heart.
Paul explains, “The motor is the heart of the bike. The flames are a burning heart.” (pictured).
Paul is working on the front fender now, too, adding the other three suits: diamonds, spades (up-side down looking hearts) and clubs. They’re not affixed yet, but will be soon. Check out his MySpace page for a peek.
If you are sitting on the bike looking out on the horizon, the diamond will be on your right, the spade in the center, and the club on your left.
A woman, leaning against some dice, looking like she’s in VegaS, will also be added to the bike.
Many of the bikes the two work on have been delivered in wheel barrows, actually in pieces. They work task by task to rebuild them, actually remaking them – creating something larger than life. Such is the case with “Devil’s Advocate.”
“This bike is sharp, pointed, and hellish looking,” says Paul.

“The change, the cure, is near: Masterpieces in the making
Denny and Paul also create bikes for fundraising purposes. Such is the case with their “Racing for the Cure” custom bike. (See MySpace site). It will be auctioned off at a breast cancer fundraiser event in West Virginia later this summer. Call Denny or Paul to get more information.
Both Denny and Paul are open to taking on an apprentice. Similar to blacksmithing, for example, the art of custom bike work is a profession – and a calling – worth passing on. They say that training others for the work ahead… to make sure this art form will be part of our future… is paramount.

To speak with with these down-to-earth, knowledgeable guys, call (540) 465-4004.

Located at 5906 Main Street in Mount Jackson, Virginia, The Art Group Gallery is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit cooperative of artists whose goal is to promote the art and artists in the Shenandoah Valley in a fun and relaxed community atmosphere. The Art Group encourages you to stop in and see the newest additions to the art offerings, including: Jewelry by Merle, Miniatures by Tom Chipley, Digigraphy by Rachel Bernstein and Raku Pottery by Kay Ely-Pierce. The Gallery is also featuring a new artist this month: Linda Lee Bean, a porcelain painter who started painting thimbles for Heirloom Editions in 1987. Disney World, Yosemite National Park, and Mall of America have also carried Linda’s thimbles.

The next event at The Art Group is their “First Friday” celebration on May 1 from 7 to 10 p.m. featuring Travellin’ Jack, one of the Shenandoah Valley’s favorite performers.

Jack is native Texan is a songwriter, singer, guitarist and bassist who has been playing music professionally for over forty years. Since moving to the Shenandoah Valley seven years ago, he has performed and recorded with Tammy Haun, Rick Harris Jr., Lee Blanton, Joe Herbert and Robbie Limon (also performing in Robbie’s theatrical productions, “The Life and Times of Hank Williams” and “The Buddy Holly Story”).
Along with Rick Harris Jr., he has opened concerts for The Marshall Tucker Band and Nothin’ Fancy. He is currently performing and recording with Amanda and Rick Wilkins.

For more information, call 540-477-4131.

The Gallery is open:

Monday -10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Thursday – Saturday – 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Sunday – Noon – 5 p.m.