The first Nokesville business exposition, titled Know Nokesville Business Expo, will be held on February 21 from noon to 4:00PM at the Nokesville Volunteer Fire Department. Sponsored by the Nokesville Business Association, this free event is intended to help Nokesville-based businesses and area customers get to know each other. Churches and civic organizations are also encouraged to participate.

There are about 200 businesses within the Nokesville zip code, the vast majority of which are home-based. There are also a great number of new residents in the area, including the Vint Hill Road/Linton Hall Drive corridor. Because the newcomers commute, starting with a left turn onto Route 28, many don’t even know there’s a downtown Nokesville.

The Expo is designed to change that lack of awareness of the wide variety of businesses that are available right in the neighborhood.

Participating businesses may not sell merchandise or services at this expo but they are encouraged to bring handouts and other promotional materials and set up appointments with clients.

We hope to see you there.

The Nokesville Church of the Brethren Youth Group is undertaking a project to raise funds for a trip to their Church Youth Conference in Colorado. They will be selling handmade chocolate truffles in handmade origami boxes for the unbelievable bargain price of $5 per box. The teens are making the truffles themselves and estimate that the over 1000 assorted ganache centers they have piped out and rolled will be sufficient to meet demand of friends, family, and the congregation.

This project was actually inspired by local pastry chef Colleen Apte of pastryarts.com. She suggested the venture and volunteered to teach the group to make French-style chocolate truffles that will absolutely blow your socks off. (Trust me - I got to taste a couple and they were really yummy!) Apte felt the project would be a way for them to learn an interesting new skill and to make something that would be special because it is out of the ordinary, is really good, and is made by hand. Who knows, maybe she sparked some budding pastry chefs?

The group worked for over five hours one Sunday making the ganaches. As there are no preservatives, they can be saved by carefully wrapping them in plastic and freezing them. I worked with Colleen and her friend Jennifer Browne on January 17 to help the group meet their deadline. There is clearly a lot to chocolate that one never thinks about when eating it. I could go on about selecting chocolate, making ganache, the art of melting chocolate for coating chocolates, but that is for another day.

The Youth Group will finish the project on February 13, when they’ll coat their truffles in tempered chocolate (which gives the consumer a nice crunch on the way to the soft chocolatey centers). They will also have made over 200 origami boxes. A local graphic artist, I have been working with the teens to design the boxes; in addition, I’m handling their marketing. Purchasers will be able to collect their prizes to give away to their Valentines on February 14 and 15 at the Church of the Brethren.

To order your truffles, please fill out the order form below and send to the Nokesville Church of the Brethren.

Congressman Tom Davis looked out for his constituents when the FY2004 omnibus appropriations package was moved through the US House of Representatives. Davis, who represents much of norhtern Virginia, managed to get funding for several transportation, education, public safety and infrastructure improvement programs.

Among those appropriations was $200,000 toward the revitalization of downtown Nokesville. Davis and members of his staff had previously attended Nokesville’s first town meeting on October 21, 2003 to hear residents forward their ideas for use of the money. (Please see Nokesville Biz, December 2003.) This is seed money to initiate some of the work, including studies and beautification.

The Second Annual Tree Lighting on December 12 was a well-received event by Nokesville residents. Though the weather was very cold, it was held outside as intended, unlike the previous year, when it was forced indoors. About 150 people came out to enjoy the evening, see the tree, listen to music, chat with Santa, have some goodies, take a chance on the quilt, and visit with friends.

The guest of honor was life-long Nokesville resident T. Clay Wood, who lit the tree along with the first year’s guest of honor, Anna Hooker. The BDHS Jazz Band, under the direction of Sharon Still, played holiday music for the crowd. An engine from Nokesville Volunteer Fire Department chauffeured Santa to the event for a chat with the children. Cookies, coffee and hot cider were available outside Dr. Dan Desmedt’s chiropractic clinic. Nokesville resident Donna Toth, who had purchased her ticket that evening, won the handmade quilt which was created by Nokesville Brethren Church members.

Many thanks to everyone who bought raffle tickets for the quilt. The proceeds paid for the tree, lights, and refreshments for both that evening and the NBA Holiday Open House on December 16.

The NBA extends special thanks to Mason’s Landscaping for planting the tree, Majestic Landscaping for tending to the sign area, Tom Basham for the tree lighting and power for the Jazz Band, and Dan Desmedt for removing the lights.

The Nokesville Ruritan Club is looking for new members and the NBA might be a good place to find some. After all, business owners are accustomed to working hard and occasionally putting in some long hours. Many also want to give back to their community.

The NBA and Ruritans have worked together on several occasions, including on the Nokesville sign and on Nokesville Day preparation, so you may already know some Ruritans and are aware of their willingness to help.

While the Ruritans are known primarily for Nokesville Day and Brunswick Stew Day, they also sponsor and support many activities and programs, especially for the youth and elderly. All their efforts benefit the local community: Nokesville, Brentsville and Bristow. They typically raise and donate between $7500 and $12,000 annually. The Ruritans have no political or religious affiliation and all volunteers, especially happy, hard-working ones, are welcomed.

Club members also take time for fun amongst themselves. The Ruritan Club holds one dinner meeting per month, which often includes a speaker or entertainment. Unless an unusual circumstance warrants a schedule change, these meetings are on the first Wednesday of the month, 7:30PM at the Nokesville United Methodist Church. Dues are $35 a quarter to cover meals and other incidental club expenses.

(This is the fourth and final article in a series on Estate Planning.)

In the previous three articles we addressed and discussed the benefits and savings of a revocable living trust (as opposed to having a Will). The revocable living trust (1) can save or eliminate federal and Virginia estate taxes (currently the exemption equivalent per person is $1.5 million. That exemption equivalent will increase to an unlimited amount in 2010 and then decreases to $675,000.00 in 2011 unless Congress changes the tax laws); (2) totally avoid probate if you transfer all your assets into the trust before you pass away; (3) provide for the maintenance and preservation of your assets if you become incapacitated or disabled during your life and (4) maintain privacy of your personal wealth since the trust is never recorded (unlike a Will which needs to be recorded and is subject to probate at the courthouse in the county where you reside at death.) Did you know if once a Will is recorded it becomes a public document and can be reviewed by anyone? In Fairfax County and soon in all counties in Virginia you can access information contained in a Will through the internet! One problem now facing state officials is trying to conceal social security numbers in many documents which have already been recorded.

A revocable living trust is supported by a pour-over Will which transfers all your assets into the trust at death if you have not made the time to transfer them into the trust while you were alive. It is important to get everything into the trust so your successor trustee (you are the original trustee of a revocable living trust) has authority over it for preservation and distribution purposes. It is also important to transfer everything you own into the trust while you are alive in order to avoid the probate process.

Rebuilding Nokesville One Brick at a Time

You can help in the revitalization of historic Nokesville village by purchasing a personalized brick for only $20. Each brick can have up to two lines with 15 characters each. (For example: Line 1: In Memory of; Line 2: Jack Hobbs) These bricks will be used in the construction of a park-like common area. To purchase a personalized brick, please fill out the application below and mail it, with payment, to NBA, P O Box 482, Nokesville, VA 20182. Please make checks payable to: Nokesville Business Association. Thank you for your order.