Nokesville Biz  October, 2005

Brunswick Stew Day Brings Out the Community

The Nokesville Ruritan Club’s annual Brunswick Stew Day is October 15. In years past, the third Saturday in October was a day for residents to buy the stew cooked outside over flames in a few pots; they could eat the meal on site under the tent or take it home.

      Brunswick Stew Day is now somewhat of a Nokesville festival, with participation or sponsorship by the Nokesville Business Association, Nokesville Church of the Brethren and Nokesville Lions Club.

            The Ruritans are locally famous for this event, which raises funds to support their services helping local schools, locals needy and other community service organizations. The Club also supports hurricane relief efforts in other parts of the country, through donations and direct support by some of its own members who personally assisted and will do so in the near future. At least two members are still helping repair homes damaged in the 2004 hurricanes. They plan to assist in Katrina/Rita recoveries when they can. In the meantime, in addition to sending money to the Katrina relief, the Ruritan Club will donate half the proceeds from the Brunswick Stew sale to Alabama’s victims of hurricane Katrina because they have received less attention than those in Louisiana and Mississippi.

            The Brunswick Stew sale is near the corner of Nokesville Road and Fitzwater Drive. Though the Ruritans begin dishing out around 11:00AM, customers start lining up early, if only to watch club members tending to the large iron pots full of the bubbly secret recipe. Stew sells for $7.00 a quart or all-you-can-eat for $8.00, which includes a drink and dessert.

                        This is also the day the Nokesville Business Association raffles off the Nokesville quilt (at 2:00PM) and hands out the Nokesville Business Directory. It’s not too late to purchase  raffle tickets for this beautiful quilt, handmade by the Nokesville Brethren Church’s Martha Early Circle.It’s on display at the church and then at the bank for a few days before the drawing. Tickets are $2.00 each or three for $5.00, available at the bank and from several NBA members, including Board members. They can also be purchased at the stew.

            The Nokesville Business Directory is a free guide listing all known businesses in this zip code. After Brunswick Stew Day, the Directory will be available at the library or Patriot Bank. The NBA extends special thanks to Christine Taylor for once again publishing this special community resource.

            Visitors to the NBA booth can purchase Nokesville barn sweatshirts, denim and golf shirts, and the unique barn ornament as well as learn about the NBA’s role in the community. As of this writing, the NBA is working on entertainment for the crowd.

            The Nokesville Lions Club asks the community to bring phone cards, or donate money to buy them, for hospitalized veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. They will also be collecting used printer cartridges to raise funds for hearing aids and used eyeglasses for their recycling program. Both programs benefit the needy here and throughout the world. The club invites visitors to learn more about their work in the community and consider joining them as a member to help.

            The Brethren Church will hold a community bazaar from 9:00AM to 2:00PM on the lawn. Crafters can rent space for $25 and the church will use proceeds from the rentals for a community project. Hot dogs, soda and baked goods will be available for sale. For more information, call 703-594-2685.

            Turnout has been growing over the years, so it’s a great time to come out, meet up with friends and have fun.

SPOTLIGHT: The Nokesville 4-H Club

            The Nokesville community has several service and church organizations, and now there’s one for youth, backed by a nationwide reputation and membership. The Nokesville 4-H Club was chartered in September 2004 with about 30 members; their ages range from ages five to eight.

            Based at the Nokesville Brethren Church, the club follows the 4-H mission of helping youth, and adults working with them, realize their full potential of becoming effective, contributing citizens through participation in hands-on educational experiences.

            The 4-H motto is “To make the best better”. The four H’s in the familiar four-leaf clover stand for head, heart, hands and health.

            The leaders plan activities around the interest of the members, focusing on skills not generally taught in schools. Meetings are fun and hands-on, with minimal business included. When more planning and business must be conducted, the adults meet in a separate room. Monthly meetings are held on the second Friday at 6:45PM at the church.

            The club has a busy schedule for the year September 2005 to August 2006. It is currently collecting spare musical instruments for donation to an orphange in Ghana. Examples of other activities and events through the year follow.

            Upcoming meeting activities include: collecting supplies for hurricane evacuees; making apple sauce, snow globes, birdfeeders; Chinese/European culture day.

            Upcoming outings/activities include: Lipizzaner stallions performance; apple picking tour; water treatment or landfill tour; Vulcan quarry tour; bird watching and identification; Nokesville Day parade; camping trip.

            Fundraisers include: nuts and poinsettia sales at various events such as Nokesville Horse Society shows; Christmas cards; yard sale.

            Does the Nokesville 4-H Club sound like way too much fun? Check it out by contacting Sandy Arnold at 703-791-4586, sandy@a-w-c.com; or Amy Owsenek at 703-791-2909, aowsenek@csc.com; or Chris Taylor at 703-753-4632, chris@taylorddesign.com. Visit the website Nokesville4-h.com.

Nokesville Business Owner Boyd Displays Bees during Farm Tour

            Nokesville Business Association member Chuck Boyd (Boyd Plumbing) participated in the recent Western Prince William Farm Tour, sponsored by several organizations and businesses, including NBA members Bull Run Observer and Nokesville Design. In addition, Prince William Soil and Conservation District, based in Nokesville, participated in some farm tours to explain conservation practices on farms and backyards.

            Boyd and fellow beekeeper Bruce Louchen set up at the Yankey Vegetable Farm on Glenkirk Road to emphasize the importance of honeybees in agriculture as pollinators. They displayed beekeeping equipment, photos and honey and fascinated visitors with a demonstration hive. This mini-hive showed workers, drones, eggs, honey production, cells, all facets of life inside a hive; the queen was not included, however, in order to not disrupt the original hive.

            Visitors were treated to an impromptu view into a real hive after the curious Biz editor asked too many questions to answer with the demonstration hive! She ended up in a beekeeper’s suit, standing between two real hives, as Louchen pulled racks of bees out of one, explained what was going on, and took them to the audience standing just out of harm’s way. Some spectators backed away, respectful of the bees.

            “Don’t try this at home,” said Louchen.

            At one point, the editor was left holding a rack of bees, hopeful that they were oblivious to her presence and their temporary displacement. Boyd explained as Louchen pulled rack upon rack out, where thousands of honeybees were busy with their tasks. Gently, Louchen put them all back, closing the hive so that they could continue making honey and preparing for the winter. They said the drought has impacted how they would care for the bees before winter settled in.

            Boyd and Louchen want to let everyone know about the critical role honeybees play in agriculture. If you spot a swarm of honeybees in your trees, please don’t kill them; call Boyd at 703-754-0194 so that they can gather them.

ACCENT! The Nokesville Community Responds to Katrina and Gets a Great Meal

            Gloria Monroe, the NVFD Auxiliary President, held a spaghetti dinner on September 16 to raise money for Hurricane Katrina victims and efforts. Rather than set a fee, Gloria asked for donations, the net profit of which would go to the Red Cross.

            The community sent $600 for the all-you-can-eat meal, including three types of sauces, salad, garlic bread, drinks and desserts. The crowd was also treated to the great sounds of Southbound Express, a Nokesville-based country and southern rock band headed by brothers Frank and Cory Finley (703-594-3730), who donated their time to be part of this special event.

            Many thanks to Gloria for conceiving the idea, the band for entertaining, and those who came out to help make this fundraiser a success.

WANTED: Member Input for Nominations

            It’s almost time for awards and Board elections and the Nokesville Business Association needs its members to share their opinions and vote for Board members and this year’s awards. The Nominating Committee is chaired by Dona Swanson.

            All Board positions are up for election. The positions and current office holders are: President Tom Basham; Vice President Stan Keys; Treasurer BJ Thomas; Secretary Gail Williams.

            At least two awards are given: Beautification and Member of the Year.

            Only you can express your opinion and cast your vote for Board members and deserving businesses and people.

            Please contact Dona at 703-793-5666 or dswanson@pwcgov.org for any or all of the positions and do come to the October, November and December meetings. Officers will be voted in on November 15 and installed on December 20, which will also include the presentation of awards.  

General Meeting Highlights

August: No meeting was held

September 20, 2005

$                  Tree lighting will be December 10; time will be announced at a later date.

$                  Motion passed to have a non-dinner Christmas dinner as a fundraiser. Details will come at a later date.

$                  Vulcan representatives are scheduled to attend General meeting on October 18 at 7:00PM. NBA meeting will start at 6:00PM.

$                  Dona Swanson will chair the Nominating Committee for new slate of officers. Elections will be at the November 15 meeting, with installation of new officers on December 20. Please contact Dona at 703-792-5666 with your suggestions.

$                  Awards in December ceremony will include Beautification and Member of the Year. Please contact Dona with your nominations.

$                  John Hinkle reminded members to attend Chamber of Commerce events. Contact him at 703-594-3000 or jhinkle@jhnetwork.com.

$                   The Nokesville quilt will be on display at the Brethren Church, then at the bank. It will be raffled off on Brunswick Stew Day, October 15 at 2:00PM.

BITS and PIECES

$          At this time, Vulcan representatives are expected at the October 18 meeting. Doors open at 7:00PM. NBA will conduct its General meeting from 6 - 6:30PM, an hour earlier than usual.

$          The Third Annual Get to Know Nokesville Business Expo is planned for February 18. This is a chance for local businesses, whether or not they’re NBA members, to show the

community what they do. And it’s free for you and potential customers! The NBA asks that you do not sell goods or services at the event and, if possible, offer a door prize or other giveaways or discounts for that day. Please contact Gail Williams to reserve your space.

$          Email corrections: If you are a member but have not been receiving email meeting

notices, breakfast social reminders or anything else from the secretary or other board members, please contact me (Gail Williams) at 703-594-2669 or gracedak@erols.com so that I can update your email address.

$          Visit www.vdem.state.va.us for information on how your family and business can prepare for a variety of threats, natural and man-made in the state of Virginia.