SUMMER 2005

26 Years still FREE but not cheap

“Cool Cows” by Ellen Burgoyne 2

Issue number 107 Vol. XXVII No. 2 Established May 1979

PUBLISHER Shepherdstown Ministerial Association Contents ADVISORY GROUP Mary Ann Clark SUMMER 2005 Marge Dower Essays Cindy Keller Tobey Pierce Joan Snipes 3 In Life and Death. By Randall Tremba Martin Sibley Michael Schwartz 17 WARNING! Grumbling Ahead. By Marge Dower EXECUTIVE EDITOR 19 Once Upon a Time, Old McDonald Had a Farm. By Al Henderson Randall W. Tremba EDITORS Hunter Barrat Nan Broadhurst Friends & Neighbors Elizabeth Costa Al Henderson 4 KIDS PAGE: The Secrets in My House. By Eliza Wallace Claire Stuart Ed Zahniser 5 Hoppy Kercheval. By Jim Laise FORMER EDITORS 6Mary Valentine: Sacred Art as Windows to Heaven. By Nan Broadhurst Martha Jane Snyder Quinith Janssen 7 Meeting Farzad Mahootian. By Thomas Harding Malcolm Ater Bob Naylor 8 Anne Murphy, Unity Minister. By the Shepherdstown Unity Board Cassie Bosley Tara Bell 9 Studio 105: Where Good Designs Flourish. By Hunter Barrat Naomi Rohrer Susan Ford Pritchard 20 Community Bible School Registration. Anne Winter PRE-PRODUCTION EDITOR Libby Howard Story, Art & Poetry SENIOR DESIGNER Melinda Schmitt 10 Poems. By Ilona Popper PHOTOGRAPHERS Lars Wigren 11 The Sotto Voce Poetry Festival. Marc Rutherford TYPIST 12-13 ARTWORKS: Chris Robinson. By Nan Broadhurst Mary Ann Strider PROOFREADERS 14-15 Lullabye for George: Act 2. By Hope Maxwell Snyder Betty Lou Bryant John Foxen Rie Wilson Earth, Sea & Sky Karen Winget DISTRIBUTION 16 ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL: The Lord God Bird. By Mark Madison Dabney Chapman (ret) Clyde Kernek (ret) 18 St. John’s Wort: Summer Sunshine. By Virginia Provenzano John Van Tol (ret) Hank Buckner Kitty and Ed Kelly Faith, Hope & Charity TREASURER Alex Shaw DESIGN & LAYOUT 21 Religious Communities Ann McCollum, HBP, Inc. 22 Donors Circulation: 13,000 copies printed 23 Business & Service Directory Bulk mail (11,500) Shepherdstown all patrons (3,400) Cover Artist Our cover artist for 2005 is Ellen Burgoyne. Ellen Burgoyne loves to see people smile. She reaches out to quell Kearneysville PO, RR 1-4 (3,050) sadness through her art, and hopes that she can provide moments of quiet pleasure sparkling with fantasy and mystery. Shenandoah Jct (800) Burgoyne cites Robert Frost’s little poem “The Secret Sits” as especially inspirational for her: Harpers Ferry PO, RR 1,3 (2,420) Bakerton (80) We dance round in a ring and suppose, But the Secret sits in the middle and knows. Martinsburg RR 3 (565) Sharpsburg PO, RR 2 (1,090) Direct mail by request (1,000) If you are not already receiving the GOOD NEWS PAPER we will be happy to send it to you or a Stacks: area restaurants, shops and visitor centers friend free of charge. Fill in and mail the coupon below. (1,000)

Address Name ______GOOD NEWS PAPER, P.O. Box 1212, Shepherdstown, WV 25443 Address ______Telephone (304) 876-6466 • FAX (304) 876-2033 Town ______State ______ZIP ______Copyright 2005 Shepherdstown Ministerial Association, Inc. GOOD NEWS PAPER All rights revert to the author on publication. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the P.O. Box 1212 • Shepherdstown, WV 25443 views of the Advisory Group or the publishers. 3 In Life and Death Awakening to Love By Randall Tremba

When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his In life and in death we belong to the earth. From the earth we feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother have come; to the earth we shall return. We belong to the earth, would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and those which itself belongs to God. Ecology and theology belong together. who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in According to a certain gospel story, Lazarus, the brother of spirit and deeply moved. He said, “Where have you laid him?” Mary and Martha, was dying and Jesus did nothing to prevent it. They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus began to weep. There are many ways to read that gospel and many insights to — John 11:32 be found. It’s thick with possibilities. But there’s just one I want to emphasize. * * * “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep,” said Jesus, “but I am My brother Jerry died April 4 at age 65. going there to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he After the tears there was time to ponder life has fallen asleep, he will be all right.” Jesus, how- and death. The heart, it seems, goes further ever, had been speaking about his death, but than the mind. they thought that he was referring merely to In February, tests had revealed sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, fourth-stage liver cancer. Inoperable. “Lazarus is dead.” Untreatable. Even though he was a Jesus did not keep Lazarus from teetotaler all his life, his liver was dying. He called death a “sleeping,” as if riddled with cancer. Other things took to say we shall awaken from death their toll. someday, somehow. The liver is an awesome organ. It Awaken to what? Awaken to whom? filters toxins from the blood and trans- Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrec- forms many otherwise harmful substances tion and the life. Those who believe in me, into useful ones. It works quietly and dili- even though they die, will live, and everyone gently on our behalf day and night. It never who lives and believes in me will never die. Do sleeps or slumbers. But it can’t work forever. you believe this?” Like everything else in our body and in this Death, it seems, is full of possibilities. world, the liver has a limit. Its main function is If Jesus is “the Resurrection and the Life,” my guess conversion; conversion of bad stuff into good stuff. is that our awakening is always to Love in one form Or, we might say, transformation. or another. The liver. What a piece of work! I’ve seen a few clues. Oh, the things we take for granted until they’re nearly gone! A few months ago, I spent some time with a young man We could spend a year praising human physiology — lungs, whose intended bride had been killed in an auto accident two heart, eyes, knees, pituitary gland, autonomic nervous system, and months before their wedding date. He wept when he spoke of her. on and on — and never exhaust the subject. And to think we are We sat in silence. (What else can you do?) And then he spoke of but one species in this stupendous web of life, five billion years in the expansive and engulfing love he had received from family and the making. friends in the wake of her death. And he wept again. We sat in As far as we can tell, everything has always been around in silence for a long while. one form or another. Nobody or nothing is going too far away for Where does such love come from? What awakens it? It happens too long. Or we can put it this way: in life and in death we belong time and time again — after sudden deaths and during slow ones. to God. What shall we make of such a thing, this revelation of love We belong to God and not merely to ourselves. We don’t need unknown until death brings it to life? I’m not exactly sure what it the Bible or creeds to tell us that. We can see it for ourselves if we means. But I have seen death unbind love in a way that nothing just look around and pay attention. We don’t possess our lives; else can. I saw it the Sunday before Easter this year. That evening, we live our lives as gifts — or should, as long as we have breath. my brother’s long-estranged daughter reached out to him in the And just where did that come from? According to the mythic nick of time. story in Genesis, God fashioned humankind from the humus, I don’t mean to rationalize death or the unspeakable pain that from soil. Then God “breathed” into our nostrils and we became comes with it. Death is not a riddle to solve. It’s a mystery to inspirited. We carry God’s breath in our lungs. fear — to fear with reverence and hope. In our living and in our In life and in death we belong to the Spirit. We belong to God dying we belong to God. We belong to love. not as slaves belong to masters,but as children belong to a family. We have a home not of our own making. SUMMER 2005 • GOOD NEWS PAPER 4

This Kids Page offering features a meditative piece inspired by an exchange of information between generations. The young author compares what she learns about another person’s life many decades in the past with how she lives in the present — and contemplates what her life may mean for those in the future. The Secrets in My House By Eliza Wallace

he basement in my house is Schley holds one up and tells me, “This spooky, dark, cobwebby, and one is a Confederate for sure.” We show Tcold. But there is a secret there, a him a building and some bent tracks special secret that comforts me. It’s in from a tin train set, and he thinks he the very floor of our basement. A foot- remembers it. Then he tells me about print in the concrete, a child’s foot with taking Red Cross swimming lessons in her name carved underneath it. Mary. the river and going canoeing and play- Mary Stockton Schley. She grew up in ing cowboys and Indians in the yard. I my house long before I was born with find that I can relate to his wild sum- her younger brothers and sisters. They mers with his brother and sisters, going knew my house when it was young and canoeing and kayaking on the Potomac, the gardens were full of hollyhocks and swimming, and playing perhaps not iris. I know my house as an old man, cowboys and Indians but certainly over one hundred years old, full of fire- Photos by Karene Motivans princesses and unicorns. I used to play places and secret cupboards. The John Schley examines part of a tin train set that he had as a boy while the author, on the back porch just like he did. My Eliza Wallace, looks on. Schleys’ world was very different from sister and I store our games in the same mine, but we share the same special wooden bench that he did. My sister secrets that belong to this house. extra life insurance calendars, used them store where the Shepherdstown Bakery writes crazy notes in her spelling book Mary Stockton, Ben, Becky and to insulate a wall. My parents have care- is now,” he explains. He also sees a tiny just like Mary Stockton wrote in hers, John were the four Schley children. fully lined up the medicine bottles, tins, Christmas tag that says, “To Mother, which we found behind a baseboard. Mary was eldest and John was the and even a cannonball on a table so we From Becky,” and tells me that Becky I love having secrets in my house to youngest. John — now Captain John can examine these hints to the past. was his favorite in the family. I show discover and like to think that some day, Schley — is the only living sibling, and We show Captain Schley all the him a little box with handwritten tags long into the future, someone may find he often comes to visit his old house. artifacts, and he dredges up memories of piled in it. Each tag is numbered, and on my old toys that have sprinkled their My parents are renovating it, and on the his childhood in the 1920s for us. One each one is written, “Reckless driving.” way down into the walls from the wob- weekends, they sometimes tear into a item we found was an old box, and writ- Could these have been citations from his bly boxes up in the attic. wall or a floorboard and find artifacts ten on it in red was “Red Goose Shoes mother? Captain Schley thinks about it; from the Schley family. We know that for boys for girls . . . they are half the “I don’t think these were meant for me.” Eliza Wallace, age 12 and a student at Mrs. Schley subscribed to the Ladies fun of having feet.” Captain Schley We show him lead soldiers, and he Shepherdstown Middle School, lives on Home Journal in 1921 and that Mr. examines it, smiling. “Uncle Pinkney remembers how he played with them on High Street with her family and wants to Schley, not knowing what to do with his used to sell these shoes in his grocery summer days on the back porch. Captain become a writer someday.

A selection of the items uncovered during renovation that belonged to the Schley household during the late 1900s and 1920s.

GOOD NEWS PAPER • SUMMER 2005 5 Hoppy Kercheval By Jim Laise

This story continues the series on Jefferson High School (JHS) alumni who have succeeded in their jobs and careers. JHS, a consolidation of Charles Town, Harpers Ferry and Shepherdstown high schools, opened in 1973. Photo supplied by Hoppy Kercheval

oppy Kercheval is all West know someone or know somebody who Daily Athenaeum, he wrote “Hopalong furious because he thought I had set him Virginia all the time, which knows them,” Kercheval said. U,” a Hunter Thompsonesque weekly up; sandbagged him . . . but he hung in Hmakes his morning drive-time Every workday at 10 a.m., column. But his heart was set on radio. there. Off the air I tried to assure him radio show on Martinsburg’s 1340, the Kercheval sits down with the state’s His senior year he worked for WAJR, that politicians of all stripes were airing state’s most popular. powerbrokers, politicians, business lead- and he teamed up with Miller, who paid spots throughout the day. This one “He is an Eastern Panhandle guy ers, industry dynamos or labor chiefs became operations manager in 1977. just came up at an inopportune time.” and he’s always been an Eastern and just talks folks. The best part of the WAJR was owned by West Virginia “I liken him to Tim Russert,” said Panhandle guy,” said Dale Miller, show is the callers, who come from all Radio Corp., and Miller and Kercheval Miller. Russert moderates NBC’s “Meet Kercheval’s boss for almost 30 years at over the state — and now the nation, started MetroNews in 1985. MetroNews the Press.” “He never ambushes [the the West Virginia Radio Corp. “At the online. distributes Kercheval’s shows to stations interviewee], but he will bring your own same time, he’s a state native who Kercheval “doesn’t browbeat you,” like WEPM, and also employs nine full- quotes out and say, ‘Now you said here knows ‘You can do better, we can do said Miller, who first knew Kercheval time reporters out of Morganttown and that you believed in such and such. How better.’ And he makes no excuses. He’s when he became WAJR news director in Charleston. do you explain that?’” protective of his home turf, but not 1976. “He will ask you the tough ques- Leaving the state has rarely passed “Talkline’s” popular “Steam afraid to challenge those in the state tions . . . The person answering the through Kercheval’s well-read mind. Release” segment airs at 11:30 a.m. who are not pulling their weight.” question might try to avoid it . . . he’s “Hoppy could do anything he wants to,” Fridays. “Part of that is to let them take From his early days as a 14-year- got a high respect for his listeners. He said Miller. “He could be anchoring shots at me,” Kercheval said. “Why not? old doing weather for Charles Town knows that everybody just got the fact weekends for one of the networks on I’ve talked all week to them. It’s not fair radio station WXVA, Kercheval, 50, has that the guy tried to sidestep the issue. TV. We’re fortunate to keep him. If it for me to be a pontificator, and never been talking about West Virginians with He has ultimate respect for the listeners makes sense for us to syndicate (nation- ask for a response.” West Virginians for more than 35 years. at home . . . he’s one of them.” ally), we would. But the show is about Kercheval and his wife, Karin, will Today, he’s “kingmaker”: West Virginia Kercheval is a Summit Point native. this state. He has the compassion, see their son, Ben, graduate from high Radio Corp. owns some 15 radio stations, His family owned the farm that became distrust and curiosity to make it work in school this month. “I turned 50 on and its subsidiary, WVMetroNews, Summit Point Speedway. They moved to West Virginia.” February 28, and at this stage of my syndicates Kercheval’s “Talkline” to Charles Town, where he and his brother Kercheval became embroiled in the career, with the creative freedom they some 60 stations statewide. Yet this attended Charles Town Middle School McGraw reelection race last fall have allowed me, I can’t think of a Jefferson County native and longtime and Charles Town High School. because it was so close to him. A long- better situation. I wouldn’t want to be at Morgantown resident never forgot where Kercheval’s was the first class (1973) to time colleague of the former West the national networks . . . I never want he came from, nor does he make excuses graduate from Jefferson High School. Virginia Supreme Court justice, to leave.” for it. In his early teens, Kercheval met Kercheval gave McGraw carte blanche You can be sure he’ll keep angering “The show is based on how I was Steve Cooper of WXVA, “who allowed because he always had something to say WVU and Marshall, Democrats and raised,” Kercheval said from WAJR me to come down, hang out, maybe read and they made good radio partners. It Republicans, big industry and unions, studios in the University City of his call- the weather, although I was terrible at it. bothered Kercheval that one of the because each thinks he’s for the other in/news program. “My parents . . . are My voice hadn’t changed yet, and I groups that fought McGraw was funded guy. Across the mighty Mountain State, very decent people to their neighbors sounded like a child.” Kercheval by coal people. He wasn’t afraid to call men and women, Ph.D.s and blue collars, and to strangers; the fruit doesn’t fall far sequestered himself in the station and them on it. young and old, feel like they’re drawing from the tree.” honed his presentation skills. He brings McGraw, a populist from southern up a chair in the kitchen, pouring a The name Kercheval has been syn- the same ethic to his current job; he reads West Virginia, never feared going after cup of coffee, and just talking with an onymous with the Shenandoah Valley state codebooks at night to research the the state’s big coal operators on behalf old friend. Which, in effect, Hoppy is. for centuries. Samuel Kercheval wrote next day’s show. of the little man. He saw Kercheval as a * * * “A History of the Valley of Virginia” Eventually, WXVA owner John hardline conservative, however, because generations ago. Hoppy’s retired farm- Luce hired Kercheval, a Shepherd his corporation, West Virginia Radio Jim Laise has been writing for most of ing father, Harvey, learned his skills in College freshman, to produce Sunday Corp., is run by the Raese family of his life since he could find nothing else storytelling here. His mom, Pat, has morning religious programming, and Morgantown. They’re on the owners’ to do. While his background is sports, he used her communication skills in count- finally to host the 4 to 10 p.m. country end of the mineral industry and heavily has worked the news side for several less Jefferson County civic activities. music slot. He also volunteered at involved in Republican causes. dailies, taking down writing honors from “I feel like I’m a West Virginian Shepherd University student-run WSHC. At one point, Kercheval’s show ran the Associated Press Managing Editors, through and through. I don’t think of Kercheval transferred to WVU to anti-McGraw campaign commercials, Quill & Scroll and others. West Virginia necessarily as a state as study journalism, graduating with hon- one right as Kercheval interviewed much as it’s a small town. Either you ors three years later. For the student-run McGraw on air. “Justice McGraw was

SUMMER 2005 • GOOD NEWS PAPER 6 Mary Valentine Sacred Art as Windows to Heaven By Nan Broadhurst

ary Valentine’s passion is to years ago. The house is remarkable, visible. An icon is compared to a care- give people an opportunity to since it rests on two enormous steel fully constructed poem. All of the Mconnect to the creativity beams that support the house over a images used originate in the Eastern (sometimes lying dormant) in all of us, ravine — the spot with the best view. Orthodoxy rite’s divine liturgy, and the Mary describes the house construction aim of producing an icon is to reveal and to allow this force to manifest as an Mary Valentine expression of our own sacredness. She as a Project of Confidence. and venerate what is holy. has witnessed how sacred art impacts Mary ran an assisted living home Every detail of an icon from the artists’ lives and the lives of those for the elderly in Baltimore for 12 years, preparation of the wood, to the images, This last step is considered to be a bless- around them. The processes become a but she always wanted to be a visual materials, and colors has a liturgical ing and baptism of the image. If all the spiritual practice of prayer, and thus it is artist. To this end, she studied in the significance. Only the highest quality steps are completed correctly, the icon is the discipline of mindfully performing evenings at the Maryland Institute of materials are used, to reflect the respect considered to be a liturgical object, not each step that allows us to learn and Art, and was attracted to many different and importance of the eternal ideas and to be hung as a picture, but used as an absorb the benefits. There is a profound mediums. However, to learn egg people depicted in the images. Non- object of prayer and veneration. peace that results when our creativity tempera she needed to look elsewhere, resinous wood panels (symbolizing the Manuscript illumination is a tech- and spirituality meet, and this peace so she took a two-week intensive class tree of life and knowledge) are carefully nique from the Middle Ages, applying leads to a deeper understanding and a in creating icons from Vladislov prepared by routing out an internal luminous pigments made from gold and better grasp of life. Andreyev, a Russian iconographer who (heaven) and external (earth) plane, ground jewels and calligraphic penwork Sacred art can take many forms and owns and runs the Prosopon School of covering with heated animal glue and to depict biblical scenes on parchment. be expressed in any medium. Mary Iconology in upstate New York. She was linen, and many layers of gesso. Each It also includes the rare art of gilding on coordinates several intensive one-week hooked. That class sparked an intense of these time-consuming steps has levels paper. Creating these manuscripts is also Spiritual Expressions Workshops (“e” interest in sacred art, and in 1998 she of symbolic meaning. considered to be a form of devotional expressions) once a year, which offer a co-founded The St. Michael’s Institute The artist is also bound in the practice. Eastern European Egg Painting variety of techniques for all skill levels. of Sacred Art on Enders Island, Mystic, composition, drawing, and colors by the (Pyzansky) is a technique from the She brings in master teachers to the Connecticut with Sister Jeannette Serra. meaning of the images. The image is Ukraine, using the pure white surface of Priestfield Pastoral Center, and each Mary spent three years starting up the traced from traditional sources from a a blown egg as a canvas for traditional class participant leaves with a finished school, obtaining the needed regional particular school or region. Mary fol- and elaborate miniatures, using methods work of art done in the old master tech- approvals, and developing the curricu- lows the Russian traditions for the icons of wax resist (batik) and cold water niques. Classes include Early Christian lum. Subsequently, she directed St. in her classes. Each tradition has its dyes. The egg is poetically referred to as Icon Writing, Eastern European Egg Michael’s for three years, all the while particular colors and technical applica- the “icon of the universe.” Painting (Pyzansky), Manuscript commuting from Baltimore by train. tions. The first step after the image is Future “e” expressions workshop Illumination and Gilding, Gregorian Mary retired from both the assisted transferred to the prepared panel is the dates are: Manuscript Illumination, June Chant, Fresco, Stained Glass and living business and St. Michael’s application of gold leaf (heaven). Red 25–July 1, 2005; Creativity and Painting on Glass, and Woodcarving in Institute when she moved to Shepherds- clay (Adam, earth) is mixed with glue Spirituality, August 27, 2005; Gregorian Relief. Mary also teaches a one-day town. Her interest in sacred art persisted, and refined as a paste, and applied to Chant, Jan. 27–29, 2006 and Sept. 1–3, workshop called “Creativity and and it pushed her to offer classes in certain areas as a bed for the gold. Small 2006; Woodcarving, Jan. 13–19, 2006; Spirituality: A Work in Progress” held West Virginia. She is a perpetual stu- areas are warmed with the breath Eastern European Egg Painting, March the last Saturday in August. It is a dent, having taken a couple of classes at (created life) to receive the fragile leaves 17–19, 2006. For workshop information lecture with hands-on experience, where Shepherd University and also attending of gold. Then the painting begins with or registration, contact Priestfield the participants explore their creativity most of the classes that she brings to thin layers of egg tempera, made from Pastoral Center at (304) 725-1435. Mary and connect it to their spiritual life. Priestfield. Her home is full of examples the yolk of an egg mixed with natural Valentine is also available for Sacred Art Mary describes herself as a city of her own icons, stained glass, wood- pigments derived from plants, minerals presentations, and can be reached at person, having lived most of her life in carving, frescoes, and paintings. and the earth. After several months, the (304) 876-3843. Baltimore. But she is slowly becoming The process of writing an icon is a final step of writing an icon can be * * * fond of rural living in her house perched complex and fascinating one. It is called completed. It is called the Olifa, which Nan Broadhurst is a graphic designer on a hill overlooking the river. Mary’s “writing” instead of “painting” because is the application of a warm linseed oil and artist living in Shepherdstown, husband, Joe, and son, Dominic, who it is considered to be depicting the Word mixture, which penetrates all the layers and learning to be grateful for all life’s lives next door, built their house six of God in image — making the Word making them translucent and unified. lessons. All photos by Nan Broadhurst Icon: Savior of Zvenigord (Peacemaker) Stained Glass: Rebirth Eastern European Eggs Icon: Rachel (from Old Testament) New Testament Illuminated Manuscript GOOD NEWS PAPER • SUMMER 2005 7 Meeting Farzad Mahootian By Thomas Harding Photos by Thomas Harding

Question: What do you get if you cross me, Farzad — short, crazy, grey Einstein always saying they want to live some- I can tell he is getting excited, his a NASA educator, a Shepherd University hair, huge smile, shining Robin Williams where else. I loved the parades where eyes are now darting back and forth, his fund-raiser and an Iranian philosopher? eyes — is telling me that he grew up in they celebrate life and have a great time. arms as animated as the “Lost in Space” Answer:Farzad Mahootian. Iran but at age fifteen moved to the And I love the Farmers’ Market in robot. “Things will change, and then United States. His father was president Shepherdstown.” suddenly someone will grasp parts of ast week I was out of town in of one of the country’s top schools, the Farzad takes a nibble of his golden the world we never suspected could Pittsburgh. I was becoming an Free University in Tehran. His parents honeyed baklava and moves onto to his exist, and the science that we hold as LAmerican Citizen after more than moved to America shortly after the revo- pet project, “Nexus of Science and self-evident will become ‘just another ten years of trying. We stood up one by lution. “Do you feel more Iranian or Spirit,” a series of lectures he is hosting belief system’ that seemed so right in its one as the immigration officer, called American?” I ask him. at the University over the next three years. heyday!” out our names along with our country of “It’s a tough one,” he says. “I don’t He is now in full professor mode. “You Wow. No wonder our politicians origin: “Ukraine, Mexico, Russia, feel either or both. Socially I feel know, the word ‘religion’ comes from want to keep hold of their economic Poland, Pakistan…” and then finally my American. I love the freedoms we have. the Latin, religio,which means tying power for as long as possible. No won- country, “United Kingdom.” For many It is very easy to live here, it is very back, binding together, or reconnecting, der they worry about China becoming of those in the room, this day really did comfortable, there is no day-to-day liv- to the Source, God, Spirit.” He raises his an economic superpower. It’s not only mean new-found liberty and freedoms. ing anxiety. But emotionally I am lost eyebrow, “You know religion is all jobs at stake, according to Farzad’s the- We raised our right hands and swore somewhere in between. I’ve never really about a quest, finding the path, the way.” ory, it’s the entire American sense of allegiance as one. The officer pushed a arrived anywhere I’ve been, and I’ve And what about his quest? Does he reality. I make a note to go to the next videotape into the player and President been to some lovely places — Alaska, have one? “My quest is to understand lecture that Farzad is going to present at Bush appeared on the television screen. Boston, California, and now Shepherds- nature. When I was a child, I wanted to the University. I also make a note to He welcomed us and congratulated us town. It is like being a chameleon: you invent something, something that would invest in some security stocks. on our new citizenship. Even though the adapt to your environment.” change people’s lives for the better. We finish our coffees and sweets. immigration officer has seen this hun- “Would you go back to Iran?” I ask. Something small, but with a big impact. As we are leaving I ask Farzad about his dreds of times, she wiped a tear away “Only to visit,” he says. “Since the Like the transistor. This became my name. “Oh,” he says smiling, “Farzad from her eye. revolution things would be hard for my dominant myth. As I got older this means ‘radiance-born’ in Persian and When I returned home I saw that I wife and kids. It is still very conserva- became more about ideas.” Mahootian means ‘wool merchant’ or had an e-mail from the editor of the tive there.” Farzad has lived in the “For my doctoral thesis, my big ‘wool gatherer.’ I guess that makes me a GOOD NEWS PAPER. I’m late again United States far longer than I have. idea was that every society has a differ- radiant wool gatherer in the town of with my article; they need a profile “like And yet, he tells me, he still goes to the ent grasp on the world, and from this Shepherds!” He guffaws and I join him. yesterday!” I call my friend Farzad and local supermarket and feels disoriented. comes their technology, art and their As I walk down German Street I ask him if he would be interested. “It just isn’t how food should be sold. sense of value.” I’m totally entranced, think to myself, I am proud to be an “Sure,” he said, “Anything to help a fel- You can’t smell it. It’s dead. Dead food. my tiny coffee cup hovering in front of American, with its melting pot of people low American!” I like to buy food from a market where me, waiting for him to finish, transfixed and customs. And I’m proud to live in When I put the phone down I my nose decides. It just doesn’t feel by his honey-dipped ideas and dilated Shepherdstown as an American, full of decide to Google “Farzad.” Here is what right to me.” He has lived in this country eyes. exciting and diverse people like Farzad I found: Farzad has a doctorate in phi- for over forty years. I guess come year “And guess what? This is exactly Mahootian and his brilliant flock of losophy from Fordham University and a 2045, I will probably be complaining what happens. Look how medical jokes and ideas. master’s in chemistry from Georgetown. about not getting milk in my tea and my science is different in China with To find out more about the Nexus He has worked for NASA and for the beer being too cold. acupuncture and herbal medicines. The series of lectures, visit www.shepherd.edu University of Alaska as an environmen- I ask him how he came to reason American culture is so dominant or e-mail [email protected] tal educator. He currently raises funds Shepherdstown. “We were living in is that it is the flower of a 400-year-old for Shepherd University and sits on the Boston and not very happy with the European synthesis of science, tech- * * * boards of the American Conservation place. We were looking for something nology, and banking. America holds the Thomas Harding has had a portfolio Film Festival and Shepherd University smaller, somewhere with a sense of economic power right now. But if we career including environmental activism, Friends of Music. For good measure, he community; a good place for our three have learned anything from history and television production and most recently sits on an advisory board for the United kids to grow up. I heard about science it is that nature is multivalent, it real estate sales with Greg Didden States Antarctica Program. Shepherdstown, and came for a look- is responsive to our ideas, it can be Associates. He lives in Shepherdstown Two days later, I’m sipping Turkish see. It was great — full of people who different than what we think it is, and with his wife and two children. coffee at Shepherdstown’s Middle really enjoy living here. It is so rare to what we have made of it. I mean really Eastern oasis, Shaharazade’s. Opposite find that these days. Most people are different . . . .”

SUMMER 2005 • GOOD NEWS PAPER 8 Anne Murphy, Unity Minister Unity: Seeing the good in all religions; helping people find Christ in themselves

By The Shepherdstown Unity Board

ust recently ordained a minister of Unity is a way of life that leads to Washington, D.C. area, says Murphy, the Unity faith and just recently health, prosperity, happiness and peace they envisioned a Unity Church in their Jnamed the pastor of Unity of of mind. We believe there are many new hometown. Bill had been a leader Shepherdstown, Anne Murphy is the paths to God.” in Unity and Diana was taking classes to newest minister in town. She is the Charles and Myrtle Fillmore complete her credentialing as a licensed group’s first ordained spiritual leader. A founded the Unity School of Christianity Unity teacher. Initially they advertised in graduate of Unity Institute, her call to in the late 1800s. Unity grew out of local newspapers and began meeting on ministry came after a 30-year career in teachings based on the conviction that Sundays at various locations around hospital and hospice nursing. As pointed God is readily accessible to all people at Shepherdstown. Unity met for several out in the May–June 2005 issue of the all times. years at New Street Methodist Church. AARP Magazine, Murphy is among the “No matter what an individual’s Later, the group moved to the growing number of men and women personal circumstances are,” says Shepherdstown Train Station. coming to the ministry at midlife, often Murphy, “he or she can communicate The group frequently had guest following years of successful business with God directly and receive guidance speakers, Unity ministers from the area and professional careers. from that personal connection.” She as well as leaders from many of the Murphy is the mother of four grown explained that Unity was originally con- major traditional faiths. Diana Eldridge children — two girls and two boys — ceived not as a separate religion or was the first spiritual leader for Unity of and a three-year-old Tibetan terrier, denomination in the traditional sense but Shepherdstown until her husband Bill Matty, who suffers from severe separa- as an adjunct to existing religions using experienced a serious health challenge tion anxiety. Murphy has ten grandchil- spiritual principles developed by Unity’s and died in 2002. In 2003, Edna Fritz, dren. founders. People were expected to apply a licensed Unity leader from Unity of Photo by Al Henderson This pixie-like, fun-loving blonde those principles to their current life situ- Frederick, Md. assumed the role of Anne Murphy grew up in Oak Park, Ill., the hometown ations. Hence, Unity is often spoken of spiritual leader. of novelist Ernest Hemingway. She as “a way of life,” as well as a religious When Fritz was accepted into the graduated from the College of DuPage movement. This basic philosophy has Ministerial Education program at Unity, Season of Nonviolence or SNV. It is a (the country’s largest community col- shaped the approach of Unity School of the group decided it was time to recruit grassroots organization started by the lege) in Glen Ellyn, Ill., received her Christianity to this day. a permanent minister. They conducted a grandchildren of Gandhi. It starts on B.S. from the College of St. Francis in Unity School publishes books, mag- search and hired Anne Murphy as their January 30, the anniversary of the assas- Joliet, Ill., and lived and worked in azines, pamphlets and other materials first ordained minister in July of 2004. sination of Gandhi and ends on April 4, LaGrange, a suburb of Chicago. that are distributed throughout the world Murphy began her service as pastor in the anniversary of Martin Luther King’s Raised and educated in a traditional to whomever wants them, regardless of October of 2004. assassination. For 64 days, Unity of Christian faith, Murphy began searching faith. Unity’s prayer ministry, Silent The congregation, says Murphy, is Shepherdstown sent out messages to for answers to a number of personal Unity, responds to calls and letters most proud of thriving and growing promote peace and nonviolence on its issues — among them her divorce and a requesting prayers and never asks about against what seemed like insurmount- Yahoo site and each Sunday lesson bout with cancer. She says she found the seeker’s religious beliefs. able odds. The stress of dealing with a taught aspects of peace and nonviolence. answers in Unity. “Unity does not ask anyone to serious health challenge depleted the The ending celebration was held on That, in a nutshell, is Anne Murphy. become a member and exacts no dues energy of Diana and Bill, however, other April 3 as an interfaith service with But what is Unity? from its supporters,” says Murphy. members stepped forward to assist with prayer or participation from many other “Unity is positive, practical “Unity School is committed to serving leadership. faiths including Jewish, Baha’i, Native Christianity,” says Murphy. “We empha- the spiritual needs of all people who The group is known in the area for American, Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim. size spirituality more than religion.” contact us, regardless of their other reli- its Circulation Days, a garage sale in Shepherdstown Unity’s Sunday She lists the five basic Unity principles: gious affiliations.” which items are given away. Unity’s morning services are held at 11 a.m. at 1. God is all good and active in Today Unity churches exist prosperity consciousness promotes giv- the Shepherdstown Train Station, everything, everywhere. throughout the United States and in ing away useable but no longer needed between German and High streets. 2. I am naturally good because many other countries, enough so that items. Membership is perhaps no larger than God’s Divinity is in me and in everyone. Unity currently fits the definition of a “It is an event that celebrates giving 40 or 50 congregants, some of whom, 3. I create my experiences by what I denomination. In the United States, and receiving, and affirms there is no Murphy says, are “most generous” in choose to think and what I feel and Canada and Puerto Rico, Unity churches lack when we share,” says Murphy. their giving. The group is now working believe. are served by the Association of Unity “Unity believes we are all members of on creating bylaws and other vehicles 4. Through affirmative prayer and Churches. In other countries, they are one human family and sharing from our necessary to receive full church status meditation, I connect with God and served by Unity School. abundance is the most loving thing we with the Association of Unity Churches. bring out the good in my life. Unity of Shepherdstown was can do for our brothers and sisters. As Unity of Shepherdstown is affiliated 5. I do and give my best by living organized as a study group affiliated we give, we also receive an abundance with the Association as an expansion the Truth I know. I make a difference! with Unity Christ Church in Gaithers- of loving rewards.” Unity of ministry. “Unity teaches the practical applica- burg,Md. in 1997. The group was Shepherdstown will have a Circulation tion in everyday life of the principles of organized and developed through the Day June 25 starting at 9 a.m. on Route * * * Truth taught and exemplified by Jesus efforts of Diana and Bill Eldridge, long- 45 in front of Maddex offices. This article was written with the assis- Christ,” says Murphy. “We believe that time students of Unity. When they This year Unity of Shepherdstown tance of the GNP editorial staff. all people are created with sacred worth. moved to Shepherdstown from the celebrated 64 Days of Peace for the GOOD NEWS PAPER • SUMMER 2005 9 Studio 105 Where Good Designs Flourish By Hunter Barrat

om Conant, creative director of Instrument Company, based in founded On Site Services with longtime marketing and communications Kearneysville. At morning meetings, the friend and Shepherdstown resident Bill Tcompany Studio 105, recalls what staff goes through the client list and Howard. Randy Tremba said at the office’s open- discusses tasks that need to be accom- “Tom and I met when he needed a ing in the summer of 1997: “You know, plished for as many as eight to 10 play poster designed for a client. He got the life expectancy of new businesses in clients at a time. “Though it would be in touch with me at Shepherd College, Shepherdstown is three years.” nice to be able to concentrate on just where I was a full-time design instruc- “We proved him wrong!” Conant one or two clients, it’s the nature of the tor,” says Scheerer. “Shepherd College gloats. business for us to juggle several,” then found a full-time design instructor With partner Jared Scheerer, Studio Conant says. to take over the design program. I 105’s senior designer, Conant helms a “And for better or worse,” he con- started working on a few other projects team that totals six and specializes in tinues, “we’ve been working with most with Tom, and then we joined forces in print media, electronic media, and Web of these companies for years. The key is 1993.” design. They work in the barn-red build- to develop a level of trust and loyalty. They set up shop in the James Burr ing at 105 Princess Street (“this way I We know these clients well, know how House in Kearneysville and took the can always remember both our name to anticipate their needs.” name Burr House Company: Encore and our address,” says Conant), the Scheerer says that they get most of Communications—another mnemonic walls decorated with colorful samples of their clients by word-of-mouth. “We moniker. “Frederick Brewing Company Photo supplied by Studio 105 designs they’ve created for clients — haven’t had to go out looking; people was our first big client,” recalls Conant. Jared Scheerer logos, labels, ads, playbills, brochures. contact us and ask us to propose a plan,” “It was the heyday of microbreweries.” Also on view in various nooks and he explains. An example of this is a The fruits of this relationship are appar- desktop publishing program to lay out corners is their own art work — photo- long-term job they do for the consumer ent in the tantalizing array of beer and the pages. “Prior to that, Melinda graphs, prints, drawings — as well as products division of pharmaceutical ale label samples that hang on Studio [Schmitt] painstakingly pasted up the pieces they’ve created for the heck of giant Pfizer, maintaining Web sites for 105’s walls. “We took it through its pages and photos by hand,” he says. He it — fake magazine covers featuring their various over-the-counter medications expansion project [when Frederick figures he spent between 14 and 20 friends or coworkers, several years’ and other products. “Their strategic Brewing purchased Wild Goose and hours an issue, depending on if he had worth of firm Christmas cards that marketing guru lives in Harpers Ferry. Brimstone] and did all its labels, pack- to do special graphics or photo manipu- incorporate their unofficial holiday He saw our Web site and called us. He aging, advertising. In 1999, it was lation. “Libby Howard has been integral trademark, a reindeer springing from the was looking for a company that was bought out [by Cleveland-based Snyder to the process. She’s the gatekeeper. She digits in their name. The results convey small enough to be ‘agile’; Pfizer likes International Brewing Group], and we provided me with the files containing a sense of professionalism mixed with to dictate the schedule and needed a no longer worked for it. The new com- the text and images, and we would go whimsy. These folks work hard, but they responsive company on a day-to-day, pany ended up shutting it down.” back and forth. Nan Doss prepared the know how to have a good time. hour-to-hour basis,” says Scheerer. Scheerer and Conant have been in photos and then sent them to me. After I Studio 105 does not court the Adds Conant, “It’s like that with a the biz long enough to see incredible was done, we would send the files to the town’s retailers who just want a small lot of our clients. It’s a delicate balance, changes in graphics and computer printer.” job done, business card layout or logo but it’s become our hallmark to create technology. “It’s a digital world now. Note the past tense? Studio 105 design, for example, though Scheerer high-quality work and turn it around Anything on a page is transferable to the relinquished the production privileges to did create images for the Old Pharmacy quickly.” Web, a CD, a DVD,” Conant says. He a new source, HBP in Hagerstown, Md., Café and Dickinson and Wait. “That Studio 105 is in Shepherdstown and Scheerer are savvy about the latest with the summer 2005 issue. Scheerer type of job doesn’t fit our profile,” because Conant and Scheerer live in the technological trends, though he admits it has an extra 14 to 20 hours to kick explains Conant. “We are not a ‘graph- area, not because they plotted out can be a financial challenge to con- around this month; a vacuum he has no ics to go’–type operation. We mainly Shepherdstown as a prime place to open stantly upgrade their equipment and doubt instantly filled with attention to work with small businesses in the $5- to a business. Scheerer is from software. “It’s not always necessary any- his long list of satisfied clients. $10-million range that have an ongoing Shepherdstown and graduated from way,”Scheerer says, showing just how need for marketing and creative services Shepherd College with a bachelor of savvy they really are. “The newest isn’t Editor’s note: At the GOOD NEWS on a monthly basis. We create their fine arts in graphic design. He began always the best or doesn’t always end up PAPER’s 25th Anniversary Banquet last advertising and promotions; design, set teaching design at Shepherd in 1991 and being the industry standard.” fall, the Executive Editor showered end- up, and maintain their Web sites; was the interim coordinator for the The GOOD NEWS PAPER has less praise and gratitude on Tom Conant redesign logos or other marketing mate- design program for five semesters. certainly benefited from Studio 105’s and Jared Scheerer for their five years of rials if a corporate-image update is nec- Conant grew up in the Washington, D.C. expertise. “I have to take the blame,” brilliant and gracious pro bono work on essary.” suburbs, and while he was in high confesses Conant. “Randy invited me to behalf of this sweet little community Though it’s not necessarily inten- school, he began working springs and a meeting, looking for advice on the tabloid. They felt unworthy and conse- tional, many of their clients are local summers with Blue Ridge Outfitters in next steps the paper needed to take to quently asked to be relieved. (depending on one’s definition of local), Harpers Ferry. After he graduated from move to the digital age. The next thing I * * * such as The Woods Resort and Middlebury College, in Vermont, with a knew, I had agreed that Studio 105 Conference Center near Hedgesville; the B.A. in English, he moved to the area would take over the production of the Hunter Barrat is a freelance editor and Eastern Management Development full time to be the general manager of paper.” Beginning with the winter issue writer who never fills her time vacuums Center, a federal facility on the outskirts Blue Ridge, also handling all its market- of 1999, Scheerer took up the challenge, by vacuuming. of Shepherdstown; and Schonstedt ing and advertising. In the late 1980s, he redesigning the masthead and using a SUMMER 2005 • GOOD NEWS PAPER 10

Poems by Ilona Popper I Wanted You To Have Colors for Martha Tabor Talk of War

Now she was dying I was the child in front of my car in the night dust rises they all said or she was the child a deer’s trying to cross the road and it could be anything we were two children its head pulling out then in the fallout from the first bombs I carried a vase with roses put down to nap like a girl trying to time her jump it could be chemicals to her bed in the afternoon into the swinging rope dropped from the sky her blue eyes hot as white ash my face pressed against her ribs pale animal form swaying it could be fire in her fallen face her eyes her hand fingering my backbone in the moonlight from a missile held mine what a relief in the car’s lights it could be fire wow she whispered you are a generous friend everywhere there are the bodies there in the desert that’s over the top I began of animals this afternoon where a shepherd and lifted her brows tears sluiced down my cheeks I counted ten full grown deer walks behind a clownish under the stocking cap lying in the same dying position line of animals but now is the time we looked up through the big window their heads lifted back on their necks docile plodding over for going over the top up into the sky as if calling to the moon a rich clear blue the sun the earth at dusk she took one rose the ivory arms of the sycamore lying on the road plumes smoking up behind their hooves and held the flower to her nose reached up it could be simple shut her eyes good chips of color in the lower bark the animals it could be dust when she looked at it olive cream beige sand moving in a line creating dust in the I reached over to pull away dead petals field “Talk of War” first appeared on the they smeared in my fingers look at the sky Martha I said as a man walks behind them at dusk Voices Against the War web site at and the tree herding them to the barn www.voicesinwartime.org it was late in the day those are your colors when I climbed into bed with her in the tree I thought I would rub her back can you see it against the sky? but she lay back and I curled against her side yes she said she put her arm around me held me the world is very beautiful stroking my back like a mother smoothing her hand sliding over and over down my spine

* * * Ilona Popper’s first book of poems, “Break,” was published in 2002 by The Bunny and the Crocodile Press. Her poems have appeared in The Beloit Poetry Journal, The Antietam Review, Weavings 2000: the Maryland Millennial Anthology, and other journals. Ilona has performed her poetry at The Writers Center in Bethesda, Md., in “Excavations: New Works in Language and Movement” in Washington D.C., on cable television, and Photo by Lars Wigren on WPFW’s “The Poet and the Poem.” Recent work includes a poetry/dance collaboration of “Time Zone” with choreographers Therese Keegan and Lizard Walker-Keegan of Updraft. To order a copy of “Break: Poems by Ilona Popper” or to find out about upcoming performances, visit her Web page at http://ilonapopper.oldwillow.com

GOOD NEWS PAPER • SUMMER 2005 ANNOUNCING

otto oce oetry estival SIN SHEPHERDSTOWNV P F WV October 14 and 15, 2005

Readings from Gerald Stern, Winner of the National Book Award for Poetry in 1998 and Rob Carney, Winner of the 2005 Frank Cat Press Annual Chapbook Competition.

Writers are invited to submit 1-3 poems. No more than five pages total.

Deadline: August 15, 2005

Mail To:

Gerald Stern This Time otto oce oetry estival S VP.O.P Box 1690F Shepherdstown, WV 25443

Author’s name, address and telephone number and e-mail address should Rob Carney appear on the cover page only. New Fables, Old Songs Include a SASE for notification of selections. Manuscripts will be not be returned.

Selected poems will be included in local readings. If chosen, Special thanks to the Shepherdstown Town Council and to Jefferson Security Bank, our community bank poets will be expected to participate in the festival. and corporate sponsor of the festival.

SUMMER 2005 • GOOD NEWS PAPER 12 ARTWORKS Chris Robinson Join the Personal Revolution

By Nan Broadhurst

oming into Chris Robinson’s attention to our culture’s shortcom- space is like entering a ings in the way that captures the Cvortex of high-energy philo- most attention, and to move the sophical ideas and wild colors. people to join in protest whenever He is an ardent proponent for his it is called for. message to the world: “WAKE UP Robinson is true to his ideals, and join the Personal Revolution!” and his shows reflect his burgeon- He believes freedom is doing the ing ideas. His graduate show was right thing even if no one else called Genetic Ascension and Other agrees with you, and his adrenaline Short Cuts, pointing out the role of level is high for protests of every genetic manipulation in defining ilk. His desire to reform a world humans as worshippers or creators. gone wrong is passionate. A later exhibit at the Lost Dog was Robinson has spent his whole titled The Golden Fleece and Other life here. He was born in Unseen Elephants, which was a Shannondale and moved across collection of his current musings from the Mill in Shepherdstown and prolific output. One of his when he was three years old. He ideas for a future show is images of now lives in the house on High Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty Street that his family bought in Photo by Nan Broadhurst together protesting the deteriorating 1987. He graduated Summa Cum Chris Robinson condition of our country. Lady Laude from Shepherd College in Liberty’s torch represents the part 2002 with a degree in sculpture and a minor in painting. He interned of America that’s disappearing — “the Ideal over the Reality.” with Lee Badger in Hedgesville doing forging and welding, and has Robinson also constructs slab furniture, and it is in learning this craft also learned much from Scott Cawood, a local sculptor. that he learned the true joy of hard work. In the summers, you’ll find Robinson farming at Sunnyside Farm Robinson’s work is evident throughout Shepherdstown. The trans- and Orchards and running Smith’s Market on Rt. 340, between formation of the chairs at the Lost Dog is his work, and you may have Charles Town and Rippon. This activity feeds his concerns about the noticed Robinson’s large painting in the Blue Moon, called the Secret loss of self-sustaining farms. His sculpture, The Last Barn Flower, is Garden. In case you were wondering, it represents a fertile womb made of wood from the last self-sustaining farm in Jefferson County. giving birth to babies that don’t know they can’t fly because no one But in winter, it’s full time for his art, which he calls the most serious told them they couldn’t. It is a treatise on the idea that the power of part of his life. our imagination can make the world what we want it to be. Robinson has a hunger to keep learning and growing. On Sunday Robinson is an accomplished writer as well as a visual artist. In nights, friends come over to share his bounty of arts paraphernalia — addition to the book mentioned above, he writes poetry and is produc- including a printing press, kiln, dark room, metal working equipment, ing an almanac with Dylan Kinnett, which will contain local stories, stained glass supplies, airbrush tools and of course lots of paint and advice and anything that people want to submit. He describes it as a brushes. Robinson does it all and is deep into a self-directed, intense blending of Martha Stewart and Hunter S. Thompson. His inspirations process to learn as much as he can so that some day he ca n do his are Thompson, Tom Robbins, and Richard Brautigan. He sees these “real” art. He envisions multi-media installations, using ceramics, three men as using words to expand our visions by removing conven- glass, metal, paint, photographs, videos and anything else that gets tional limits and restrictions. Words define and limit the world, but across his point (VERY LOUDLY). words can be used to reconstruct what has been broken down. All this is in preparation for where he’d really like to be — build- Robinson contributed spirited essays to the GOOD NEWS PAPER ing a town that has all the solutions to our crippled planet’s problems regularly for a couple of years. He is beginning to explore the elec- securely in place. To this end, he is writing a book called “Saving the tronic world as another platform for his ideas, constructing a Web site Village,” about Shepherdstown, using Dungeons and Dragons called sinisterstudio.com. metaphors to point out that Pogo was right — the enemy is us. Look for Robinson and his ideas in town. They will be Robinson believes that it is the job of artists everywhere to call everywhere . . .

GOOD NEWS PAPER • SUMMER 2005 13

Justice

After the Fall (New York City)

The Last Barn Flower Jennifer Landing

Black Bird Slab Table Rag Doll

SUMMER 2005 • GOOD NEWS PAPER 14 Lullabye for George Act 2 By Hope Maxwell Snyder

Editor’s Note: Assign parts. Read at home. Have fun.

Last issue a macaw named George joined the Gutierrez family at their home in Rivertown. He became babysitter and cook for the family household along with Grandpa. The neighbors are unsettled by this moving talking parrot, but Lila and Miguel, Maria’s children, enjoy having him around, since their mother works full time and is very busy with her job. Artwork by Perk Hull

CAST OF CHARACTERS LILA GEORGE MIGUEL What for? Coming! Now, Vicki, remember to repeat (Joins them) Maria Gutierrez single mother every morning in front of the mirror, “I Do you like of 30, who works GEORGE am free from smoke, I am free from candy, George? as a translator Freedom from smoking. She wants to smoke, it does not control me.” quit. GEORGE Lila Gutierrez Maria’s daughter, George and Lila cross the yard to their I do! Chocolate is my favorite. I haven’t 10 years old LILA own house. had it in years. Why? Miguel Gutierrez Maria’s son, VICKI MIGUEL eight years old GEORGE (Yells) Don’t worry. We’ll share with you. It’s bad for you, your health and your Luis (Grandpa) Maria’s father Don’t tell Marty I’m doing this, just in lungs. case it doesn’t work. GEORGE and Lila’s and Miguel’s No bubble gum, though, it will glue my grandfather from Mexico LILA GEORGE beak shut forever. Why do people smoke then? George a macaw, middle-aged No faith, no freedom; it’s going to be GEORGE hard for her. Scene 2 Paul Thomas Maria’s boss, Because people don’t always do what’s (To Lila) Later that night, George, Grandpa, Lila 37 years old good for them. It’s part of the human Now, what’s this Halloween experience? and Miguel sit at the kitchen table with condition. They have the choice and the mountains of candy in front of them. Vicki Smith a retired neighbor LILA Miguel is dividing it into four piles. He’s strength to change, though. Kids get dressed in costumes and go Marty Smith Vicki’s husband dressed as a pirate. Lila is a princess. LILA around the neighborhood asking for George is keeping track of the four (To Vicki) candy. You get bag-loads to eat. mounds of candy. Can’t your daughter help you? Isn’t she a GEORGE psychologist? GEORGE ACT 2 In one sitting? Sugar and chocolate? Hey, Miguel, you can’t give yourself two VICKI That’s not good for anyone. pieces and me one! How are you doing Scene 1 Yes, darling, but she’s busy working in in math? George and Vicki are on Vicki’s deck. He LILA the city. We tried hypnosis once. It didn’t We can save it. Find a hiding place for it. stands in front of her, muttering some- work. MIGUEL thing; she repeats it over and over again. We can’t let Grandpa find it; he’ll go Not too good. Lila watches for a while and then goes to LILA wild, and it will make him sick. GEORGE talk to them. George, aren’t you supposed to be baby- GEORGE sitting us? I’ll help you. We’ll use seeds. LILA Does Miguel like candy? GRANDPA What are you doing, George? GEORGE LILA I’ll be right there. Just give me all the tootsie rolls. That’s GEORGE Not too much. He ate so much the day easier. I’m hypnotizing Mrs. Vicki. MIGUEL our father left, he was sick for three (Screams from the house) days. GEORGE VICKI George! I need help with my costume! What about me? I want to try them. Call me Vicki. GEORGE Trick-or-treating starts in an hour. You see? Overdoing it is the human con- LILA She continues to stare at the macaw for a dition. Balance is the only way. They’re too chewy for you, George. few minutes before the spell is broken. Besides, you got that whole piñata for best costume. It’s full of candy. Are you going to share with us?

GOOD NEWS PAPER • SUMMER 2005 15

GEORGE Scene 3 (To Paul) PAUL Perhaps. Maria is setting the kitchen table while Did you get it half-price? I thought I asked for water! What is this? George and Grandpa finish making It tastes like cough syrup. GRANDPA dinner. The door bell rings twice. Lila PAUL What were you supposed to be? GRANDPA and Miguel run into the kitchen. Maria And who are you? Still wearing your Just a little of George’s special medicine. GEORGE freezes. costume? You’ll see how good it makes you feel. A young macaw. GRANDPA LILA Me, I’m a hundred and four, but a little Maria walks in with her briefcase and Are we expecting company? Meet George, the family macaw. bit of this potion every morning keeps sees the candy on the table. me young. MARIA George bows. Paul stares. MARIA I forgot. Paul is coming to dinner. MIGUEL PAUL What is this? You’re kidding! It burns. GEORGE Every family should have one. He cooks, GRANDPA It’s a good thing I made enough. You cleans, baby-sits and helps with home- GEORGE Halloween candy. We got it tonight. should never do that to the cook. work. That’s only because you’re a tough patient. Once you’re cured, it stops burning. MIGUEL The doorbell rings again. Grandpa goes George ruffles his feathers. Outside, it Remember? You promised to get me a to answer it. starts thundering. PAUL SpongeBob costume and to I didn’t even know I was sick. MIGUEL GRANDPA take us out trick-or-treating. Why is he coming He’s much more than that. He’s like the GEORGE MARIA to dinner? I hope family doctor, a family friend, a That’s because you’re blind. I’m so sorry. I forgot. I’m he doesn’t try to psychologist, a . . . PAUL working on this translation. . . act really cool or PAUL Thanks, doc. I’m afraid to ask what’s for something. LILA A pet? dinner. I thought you were going to cook, We know, mom. You’re LILA The thunder grows louder. Maria. always working. If he pretends MARIA he’s our dad, I’ll GEORGE GRANDPA I don’t have time to cook. Grandpa and have to show him I’m Maria’s godfather. I don’t think a pet No harm. We improvised. Do George do all the cooking, and I have to the dictionary. could do that. you like my shaman look? confess they do a great job. Don’t they, GEORGE MARIA children? MARIA Calm down, calm What would you like to drink, Paul? Where did you find the long MIGUEL down. He’s just a How about some special punch George hair? They’re better cooks than laundry men. guy. made? They shrink everything. GRANDPA MIGUEL PAUL Lila let me borrow it. GRANDPA Mom’s boss. No thanks, I have to work tonight. I’ll We’re learning. MARIA have water. GRANDPA (To Maria) Oh no! Tell me you didn’t let him have GEORGE I didn’t know he liked you. MARIA my hair piece! But it’s your birthday! Let’s eat! GEORGE LILA PAUL She likes him too. PAUL You haven’t worn it in a long time. I have so much paperwork to complete. It (To Maria) MARIA Is he sitting at the table with us? MARIA never gets done if I don’t do it. It’s none of your business. He gave me a And is this what we’re having for dinner? GEORGE really nice bonus, and I found out that GEORGE Candy? Father, I thought you and George What do you want me to do? Go to my today was his birthday and he didn’t Oh, so you’re one of those? were in charge tonight. tree house? have any plans. Oh my, what is he going PAUL MIGUEL to think when he finds out a macaw lives Pardon me? GRANDPA Let’s order a pizza! Or Chinese. in this house? George is part of our family. GEORGE GEORGE She looks at George imploringly. One of those who hides under his paper GEORGE Not on my night for cooking. That stuff Besides, I want to be here when my GEORGE work. A slave to papers and receipts. is full of ingredients that can kill you. medicine starts taking effect. What? You want me to retire to the PAUL MIGUEL basement? Someone will have to stir the I wouldn’t say that! PAUL Really? beans. What do you mean? MARIA GEORGE MIGUEL What do you have in your hand? LILA Eventually. If George goes, I go. It makes you tell the truth. PAUL GRANDPA LILA I almost forgot. It’s for you. PAUL We do all die eventually. Same here. I don’t lie anyway. Hands her a package. She opens it. It’s a GEORGE Paul enters the room escorted by Grandpa. book of poetry. GRANDPA But better to die well fed. We’re making This should be interesting, then. GRANDPA a salad, frijoles and rice. I have a special MARIA The guy was turning into a statue out PAUL recipe that takes two minutes. Children, The latest translation of Pablo Neruda’s there. You all need hearing aids. Maria, are you having any? put the candy in separate bags for all of poems! Thank you so much. us. Maybe my goddaughter would like a Paul lays a package on the table. PAUL MARIA baggie? No way. I don’t want to bare my heart PAUL You’re welcome. Now, I didn’t bring out to all of you. MARIA Some candy for the kids. anything for your father or the bird. A small one. I’m trying to lose weight. GEORGE Miguel and Lila look at each other. GEORGE We already know how she feels. GRANDPA We need no gifts from you. GEORGE I’ll help you, George. Everyone out! (Under his breath) Grandpa pours George’s special punch in . . . TO BE CONTINUED Doesn’t he know they just had a glass for Paul and hands it to him. Paul Halloween? takes a long gulp, then starts coughing. SUMMER 2005 • GOOD NEWS PAPER 16

ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL The “Lord God Bird” Back from the Dead By Mark Madison

Hope is the thing with feathers forests. As the extinction through wildlife habitat is increasingly pressured That perches in the soul. . . forests receded, so habitat destruction. by sprawl and the decline of agricultural — Emily Dickinson (1830–1886) did the ivory bills. Following the lands. Those wildlife habitats that Beginning in the inevitable decline remain endure added pressure as islands oday, like Lazarus, the ivory- 1880s they disap- of forests, the last within increasingly hostile seas of billed woodpecker was resur- peared in the confirmed ivory bill sprawl. Trected from the dead. The largest Carolinas; a decade sighting was in The Lord God Bird’s name also surviving North American woodpecker later they were gone 1944 — that was speaks to the nearly miraculous redis- had been assumed extinct for over 60 from Mississippi; until today. covery of a bird believed extinct for over years, but today (April 28, 2005) it was eventually Texas, In February 60 years. One might imagine missing an announced in Science magazine that at Arkansas and 2004, Gene endangered parakeet, but how could least one ivory-billed woodpecker had Alabama saw their Sparling claimed to such a mammoth woodpecker elude been videotaped in the Big Woods birds disappear with see an unusually birders for so long? (Considering its ecosystem of eastern Arkansas. the decline of con- large woodpecker treatment at the hands of humans per- Scientifically this was akin to finding a tiguous old-growth while kayaking in haps its aloofness was a survival trait.) passenger pigeon in Shepherdstown’s forests. The ivory the Cache River Birds seem to have resonated most Morgan’s Grove Park. Until today the bills retreated to the Alexander Wilson’s drawing of ivory bills National Wildlife strongly with many pioneering and con- (upper right and lower middle) along with two story of the ivory-billed woodpecker had southernmost gulf pileated (far left) and a red-headed woodpecker Refuge. Tim temporary conservationists. The idea been one of unmitigated tragedy. areas and finally (lower right). Gallagher of that the avian obituary page might actu- The ivory-billed woodpecker made their last stand Cornell University ally remove the ivory bill from the sad (Campephilus principalis) went by many in northeastern Louisiana. and Bobby Harrison of Oakwood histories of passenger pigeons, heath names. The Seminoles called it Tit-ka, On the Singer Tract, the last large College went to eastern Arkansas to hens and Carolina parakeets is nothing many early European settlers called it uncut Southern swamp forest owned by investigate and were rewarded with the short of miraculous. King of the Woodpeckers, it was known the sewing machine company, some second sighting of the bird in 60 years. Yet environmental history teaches locally as “Poule de Bois” in southern ivory bills remained. From 1937–39, An avian search-and-rescue team was us to be cautious before declaring Louisiana, and as Kent in northern Jim Tanner studied the birds in the formed. Finally, on April 25, 2004, four victory. Endangered species recovery is Louisiana. But the name that was most Singer Tract, for the first time giving a seconds of video footage were captured often a distressing numbers game. evocative for this largest of woodpeckers complete life history of the ivory bill. of an ivory bill taking off from a tree. Noah’s Ark notwithstanding, small num- was the Lord God Bird, supposedly Tanner determined that ivory bills Predictably, in this media age, it was the bers are not usually a good indicator for derived from startled bystanders who needed much larger forest habitats than video that proved most convincing. By success in saving a species. Inbreeding, saw the enormous bird in flight and previously thought and he found that doing frame-by-frame analysis, ornithol- the inability to find mates and accidental exclaimed “Lord God, what a bird!” there were only 22 birds remaining in ogists were able to note the distinctive deaths weigh more heavily on a small Another possible derivation of this name the entire Southeast, a mere six of these markings on the ivory bill’s back and population than a more robust dispersed is suggested by early ornithologist in the Singer Tract. Unfortunately the wings, important markers to distinguish species. Although there have been multi- Alexander Wilson (1766–1813) who onset of World War II and corporate ivory bills from the more common ple sightings of the ivory bills in the last described it as a “majestic and formida- indifference led to the final destruction pileated woodpecker. Finally, the peer- year, they have all been single birds. ble species” that might “impress upon of this virgin forest. In one of those sad reviewed article announcing the (re)dis- There is, as yet, no conclusive evidence the mind of the examiner the most rever- historical ironies, in 1980 parts of the covery of the long-lost Lord God Bird that there is more than one ivory bill in ential ideas of the Creator.” Singer Tract became the new Tensas occurred a full year after Sparling’s the area. One hopes its fate will not be The ivory bill certainly was King of River National Wildlife Refuge, forty quick identification aboard his kayak. the same as “Martha” the last passenger the Woodpeckers, its wings could be as years after the ivory bill had run out of So what is one to make of this pigeon who died alone in 1914 in the long as three feet, it nested and fed in time and habitat. remarkable resurrection? At one level it Cincinnati zoo, the last symbol of her the tallest trees in the Southeastern The ivory bill’s decline was doubly is a useful reminder that habitat is as species and of human indifference. So forests, and it could live 30 years. Alas, tragic in that the causes (and solutions) endangered as the species that inhabit it. far all the sightings have been of a male the ivory bill’s specialized habitat and were known by the time of its greatest Small enclaves of natural forest pre- ivory bill precluding even the saving lifestyle proved its doom. The ivory bill peril. The ivory bill was not being killed served on the accurately named miracle of Immaculate Conception for was beautiful, a slow-breeder, and a by new avian diseases, introduced “refuges” have once again provided vital the Lord God Bird. For hope to really specialized feeder — all dangerous traits species or invisible contaminants like lifeboats for endangered species. A persist, we need not only a second in a rapidly changing environment. The DDT. Rather it was exclusive habitat promising partnership between The chance to view this magnificent species, ivory bill’s beautiful beak made it popu- destruction that was the cause of its Nature Conservancy, the federal govern- but also a second, female bird to provide lar with collectors ranging from Native decline and (prematurely reported) ment, and the state of Arkansas is doing hope for their next generation and our Americans to our first bird illustrators, demise. The Louisiana ivory bills may its best to restore large sections of next generation of, hopefully, more who collected their bird subjects first well have been salvageable in the 1940s Southeastern bottomland forest. The Big thoughtful humans. with rifles and later on canvas. The birds had the Singer Tract been protected. But Woods Conservation Partnership’s name bred slowly in the Southeastern hard- in spite of lobbying by scientists and the evokes the need for large intact ecosys- * * * woods that provided their home. The National Audubon Society, the ivory bill tems to allow the King of Woodpeckers Mark Madison teaches environmental ivory bill’s preferred food sources were was allowed to go extinct in the state. to stretch its three-foot wings. Yet this history at the National Conservation insects and larvae found in dead but not Actually “allowed” is too passive a term type of restoration is hardly the norm Training Center and Shepherd University. entirely rotten trees in old growth as the ivory bills were literally driven to across the nation as more and more GOOD NEWS PAPER • SUMMER 2005 17 WARNING! Grumbling Ahead

By Marge Dower

am beginning to feel decidedly Certainly the word hero has been sweet.” The language of youth changes flank,” the private can’t stop and look up uncomfortable with the watering watered down to mean anyone doing as rapidly as one’s newest gadget goes at the sky, twiddle his thumbs and Idown of language. Notice how polit- their duty. I quote from a recent news out of date. I don’t mind their jargon. decide to march to the rear. ically correct I am. I don’t say that turn- broadcast: “The heroes were sitting in What I am objecting to is the inability of Therefore, to truly support our ing good strong words into custard the mess hall when the bomb dropped.” the adults to say clearly what they mean. troops it is absolutely essential that makes me furious; that would be too One isn’t a hero just because one has the One has only to read the those of us who still have freedom of direct. No, I must say, “I feel decidedly misfortune to be put in jeopardy while Martinsburg Journal Junction to find choice and speech make certain to hold uncomfortable,” as if it is my fault that doing one’s expected job. Heroism is feeble attempts at sarcasm mixed with our government to the purest, highest the words have this effect. putting oneself in jeopardy when one sincere sentiments. It is common to standards. When we perceive that there For example, last week I heard a has an honorable option to avoid the read, “I want to thank the person who is something amiss, it is incumbent upon news commentator say, “Sometimes it danger. Heroism is an “over and beyond ran over my cat and left it on the road to us to ask questions and demand answers takes courage to turn on the television the call of duty” situation. die.” One wonders if that saved the on behalf of our soldiers who cannot ask these days because of all the horrors.” Elizabethan fence words have writer from going to the trouble of run- questions and demand answers on their Courage? Courage used to mean march- become so common in our every day ning over the cat herself or himself. own behalf. Yes, indeed. Support our ing on into the unknown, keeping on life that they have lost their once-good, Another writer in the same issue said, “I troops: question the government’s when all seems lost. Courage is when earthy shock value. It used to be effec- want to thank the kind person who actions. These soldiers are our children. one is so terrified one can hardly move tive when one or more of those words found my pocketbook at Martin’s and It is our duty to protect and support but keeps on going, taking one more was injected into conversation. People turned it in to the office,” yet in the very them. step into a dark unknown when one sat up, noticed and really listened to find same comment added, “I want to thank wants to run. Courage is “Damn the tor- out what had occasioned such a strong the person who returned it without any pedoes, full speed ahead!” Courage is response. No one really listens to any- of the money.” Another comment was “I what it takes to disagree on principle body these days, except to pick up a want to thank the person who stole the with the majority of the attendees at a possible play on words for a smart and flowers from my front yard, I hope you cocktail party when that might mean one usually vulgar retort. If we allow words are enjoying them.” I hardly think that would never be asked back. to become watered down, what in was the accurate sentiment, but who heaven’s name will we use when we knows? Maybe the caller really was a really need an expletive? How will we saintly soul who wanted the miscreant to define the hero who looks back, sees a have pleasure. child or comrade in trouble, and coura- As long as I am complaining about geously goes to their aid without a language, I will share (see, I’m still Then, too, I wonder if there is any- thought for personal safety? politically correct) my sense of unease one listening out there. The response to In the adult world, words are losing with those bumper stickers that say, “Thank you” is almost always “Thank their power and there seems to be noth- “Support our Troops.” What does that you.” Whatever happened to “You’re ing taking their place. mean? Frequently, “Support our Troops” welcome?” The young know this: that is why means that one shouldn’t criticize the Daily we are assailed by total youth constantly reinvents words to con- government. strangers airily tossing platitudes in our note superlatives. When good, nice and No one prays more sincerely for the general direction, without a moment’s grand got watered down, my mother’s safety of our military men and women consideration of their meanings. A

Illustrations by Marge Dower generation used topping and wizard. My than I, but one should remember that waiter will plop down a plate containing World-War-II generation had neat, hot when young men or women enlist they an unidentified slab of something swim- I find it difficult to equate courage and that really swings. Hot gave way to give up all their rights of free speech ming in a gray sea of glutinous gravy with using a remote, which can, if I cool. Then, somewhere in the change, and free action. No nation can have an and say as he/she retreats, “Enjoy your become even slightly uncomfortable boss and fab surfaced briefly, and in army where there are individual rights. meal.” You know and I know that he/she viewing reality, immediately mute the generational turn, gave way to bad and While I might sympathize with the could not care less about my pleasure. screams, or switch the focus of my awesome. I notice that my college young sailor who last month deserted to (Don’t get me started on the misuse of attention from devastation of a car bomb grandchildren are using sweet to mean protest the war, I agree that he must face that phrase.) to another station that will plunge me great, i.e. a sweet score in a golf game. courts marshal. An officer must have But this is enough complaining for into the manageable, predictable world The answer to the question “Would you confidence that his command will be one article. (I should be allowed one of “Friends,” “The Simpsons” or like two tickets to the Orioles game?” is obeyed without question. When the offi- grumbling exercise in 15 years.) So I “SpongeBob Squarepants”: a world “Sweet!” I really should say “was cer says, “Proceed along the right will close with . . . wherein all conversations are set-ups for Have a good day! one-liners, or “nudge, nudge, wink, * * * wink” comebacks; all problems are dis- covered, discerned and resolved in a When Marge Dower is not grumbling half-hour time slot, less the time for the about the state of the world, she is fight- commercials, which are designed to ing the chickweed in her garden and make me want one more useless item that turning into her sons’ worst nightmare: a will help me escape the realities of life. little old lady with cats.

SUMMER 2005 • GOOD NEWS PAPER 18 St. John’s Wort Summer Sunshine By Virginia Provenzano

ou may have heard a lot lately about the use of Great St. John’s Wort (H. pyramidatum) is large all St. John’s Wort as a treatment for mild depres- over. The leaves are three to four inches long, partly Ysion. What is this plant, what does it look like, clasping the stem. The one- to two-inch flowers contain a and where do we find it? dense cluster of long, showy stamens within the five Actually, it’s not an “it” but a “many.” The word petals, and these petals curl up as the flower fades. The “wort” means plant or herb. Worldwide, there are at least plant grows two to six feet high in meadows and along 200 known species of Hypericum, the genus of all St. stream banks, and blooms in summer. John’s Worts. There are 30 or more in the eastern United These last two plants we will look at are from States, and Strausbaugh and Core describe 12 species in Europe; one is a pesky weed and the other is a commonly- their “Flora of West Virginia.” used garden ground cover. These plants share a number of characteristics. They Common St. John’s Wort (H. perforatum) is an herb all have opposite leaves that are simple and entire (smooth growing from a woody base. In North America, it is a edges). They bloom bright yellow in early to mid summer, common weed of fields and waste places. Its leaves are mostly terminal flowers with some lateral flowers forming narrowly oblong, one and a half inch or smaller, and show a cluster. The flowers consist of five sepals and five petals translucent spots when held to the light (perforations). surrounding a large brushlike cluster of stamens. Their The golden yellow flowers, three-fourths to one inch fruit is a dry capsule. Some species grow as herbaceous wide, grow in branching clusters, and show black dots perennials, and some as woody shrubs. along the margins. The common name comes from their flowering time, Aaronsbeard St. John’s Wort (H. calycinum) is a around St. John the Baptist’s Day, June 24, however, the semi-evergreen, stoloniferous little plant, growing one to reputation of this little plant precedes the Christian Era. one and a half feet high by two feet wide. It can suffer The Teutonic tribes of northern Europe held it in high Illustrated by Virginia Provenzano some winter kill at the tops, but since it flowers on new regard as a talisman against evil spirits when gathered on growth, it recovers nicely. The flowers are bright yellow, Midsummer’s Eve. European settlers came to these shores three inches across, borne singly or in pairs from June to with a knowledge of this plant and were pleased to find its by four feet wide, and produces an even showier display. September. This plant does well in poor, sandy soil, and relatives growing here. These two species, Shrubby and Golden, and their culti- makes a fast growing ground cover. Shrubby St. John’s Wort (H. prolificum) is a native vars, can often be found in nurseries for planting in home We mentioned earlier the role of St. John’s Wort to shrub that grows in well-drained sites on mountain and gardens. The next five native species may sometimes be treat depression, but there is much more to the story than piedmont woodland edges from Georgia to New York and found in specialty nurseries, but are not as common. that. Traditionally, the fresh flowers have been used in west to Texas. It has been noted that it seems to prefer a Dense or Glade St. John’s Wort (H. densiflorum) tincture or oil to treat external wounds, ulcers and bruises, limey soil. This plant is fairly common throughout West produces dense clusters of flowers, smaller and more and it was early called “balm-of-the-warrior’s-wound.” Virginia. It grows rapidly, forming a low, rounded, dense profuse than Shrubby St. John’s Wort. The leaves are also The tea has been taken internally to treat bladder ailments, bush, four to five feet high and wide, with stout, stiff, more densely packed on the branches, with small leaves depression, diarrhea and worms. Experiments have shown erect stems. clustered in the axils. It grows as an upright oval, 4 to 6 it to contain a number of biologically active compounds The leaves are glossy, blue-green and grow thickly on feet high and 3 to 4 feet wide, densely twiggy and leafy. including choline, pectin, rutin, sitosterol, hypericin and the branches. Oblong, lanceolate in shape, they grow to one This shrub is found growing in moist, acid soils in pseudohypericin, and further to have sedative, anti-inflam- to three inches long by one quarter to a half inch wide. swamps and pine barrens from Long Island and New matory and antibacterial activities. Recent studies have The bright yellow flowers bloom on new growth, and the Jersey to West Virginia and south. Here in West Virginia, also shown potent anti-retroviral activity with few side numerous protruding stamens give a light fluffy appear- we find it in mountain glades. effects. It is now being studied as an AIDS treatment. ance. The fruit are dry, three-valved capsules that persist H. aureum displays large showy, deep yellow flowers Extracts of H. perforatum have long been used in through winter, and are useful in dried arrangements. in pairs at the ends of its branches. This shrub was modern European medicine as a treatment of choice for This shrub does well in dry, rocky soils in full to part discovered by the younger Bartram in Georgia, and he depression, but according to ethno-botanist Dr. James sun and shows good adaptability to pH and moisture. It described it as “a species of shrub Hypericum of extra- Duke, our native H. prolificun contains more of the active should be weeded and pruned, if needed, in early spring, ordinary show and beauty; the showiest one in flower of ingredients than the commonly studied European plant. but then requires little care. If you want to increase your the whole genus.” The flowering is said to linger late into One word of warning: using St. John’s Wort can increase plants, softwood cuttings root readily, and seeds of most the autumn. one’s sensitivity to sunlight. More information on medical St. John’s Worts germinate with no special treatment. This H. buckleyi, Blueridge St. John’s Wort, is a low- uses of this plant and others can be found on the Web at plant is good for golden summer color in a mixed shrub growing (less than one foot), spreading shrub with the www.ars-grin.gov/duke. border, or massed on a sunny bank. typical yellow flowers. It grows in the wild on rocky cliffs In conclusion, several of the St. John’s Worts would The Golden St. John’s Wort (H. frondosum) is in the mountains of North Carolina and Georgia. make lovely additions to your garden. I even grow two of another of our native shrubs whose cultural requirements Spotted St. John’s Wort (H. punctatum) is a herba- them in my nursery. And if you wanted to learn to use are similar to those of Shrubby St. John’s Wort. It grows ceous plant that grows from a woody base, growing to one these plants medicinally, hey, go for it. somewhat smaller, three to four feet high and about as to three feet tall. The pale yellow flowers grow in * * * wide. It puts on a stunning show in summer with single, crowded clusters and the petals are marked with dark lines golden one- to two-inch blooms centered with long, dense and dots. The leaves are also black dotted. Thickets and Virginia Provenzano helps folks design their gardens with clusters of stamens three-fourths of an inch across, set damp places are home to this plant, and it can be found in habitat for wild creatures in mind. To aid in planting these against the handsome blue-green foliage. The cultivar many areas of West Virginia, as well as generally from gardens, she also has developed a small, native plants “Sunburst” is lower than the species, at only two feet high Texas to Maine. nursery.

GOOD NEWS PAPER • SUMMER 2005 19 Once Upon a Time, Old McDonald Had a Farm By Al Henderson

’m more than just a little ticked off Joe, you just can’t afford to live in com- at my old friends, relatives and for- munities close to the district. Imer neighbors for letting me and my Those 17 acres our farm neighbor wife down. In our last year’s Christmas sold for development border on the letter we beseeched them to pray for the western edge of our property. It raises a continued good health of our neighbor- number of questions, unsettling ques- ing dairy farmer and the continued high tions. What, for instance, if the develop- — but fair — price of milk. We noted ers build high-rise apartment buildings? that we would sorely miss the bellowing There goes our view of the North Ridge, cows, the pesky flies, the pungent aroma along with the magnificent sunsets of manure, and the coughing and chug- we’ve enjoyed from our deck since ging of the farmer’s vintage tractor if moving here three years ago. The devel- misfortune came to him. opers have supposedly made certain rep- Photo by Al Henderson I’m not certain what’s happening to resentations to our farm neighbor about An increasingly common scene in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. the price of milk. But our farmer neigh- housing density, but nothing is legally bor — now in his 60s — had a heart binding and once construction begins all attack, he needs to take it easy, and none bets are off. This has happened to Will any good come of all this out to new developments, putting in of his children or their spouses are friends of ours in Kearneysville who growth? broadband lines for Internet service or interested in farming, certainly not in were “assured” that the area behind Yes. Definitely yes. Downtown just providing bus transportation to dairy farming. I can’t blame them. From them would forever remain forest land. Martinsburg is already perking up. school-aged kids. what I can see, dairy farming is pretty They’re now looking to move. But Stores, offices and even apartments on “As West Virginia struggles to much a 24/7 proposition. Hard work and where? The thought of barren Alaska North Queen Street have been or are improve its economy, encourage new little play. sends shivers up and down my spine. being rehabbed, and new businesses are job growth and improve residents’ qual- So when our farmer neighbor was We have well water. What happens opening in anticipation of increased ity of life, providing these services is a offered a handsome price for 17 of his to the water table if the new homes draw demand. Martins, the grocery store- must. But the state, trapped in a vortex acres near Martinsburg, he reluctantly water from wells? Will we end up hav- delicatessen-pharmacy-bakery, has been of shrinking tax revenues, is wondering accepted the opportunity to become an ing to use bottled water to drink and renovated and enlarged. City Hospital’s just how it will pay for these services in instant millionaire. (The Farmland Trust cook? Recently I was a guest in a home Wellness Center has undergone a areas where the next-closest neighbor is offer didn’t come anywhere near the in a new development just outside of remodeling and expansion to accommo- a half-mile away. developer’s offer.) He plans to continue Shepherdstown where this is the case. date a growing number of clients. New “In a state with many needs, West living on the remaining acreage of his When one neighbor watered her lawn doctors (including at least one obstetri- Virginia has too few (sic) people who farm and trade his milk cows for beef for hours on end, my guests’ water cian!) are actually coming to town. New live too far apart. In fact, a study by the cattle. Less work that way. If the trend turned brown with mud. Despite the fact medical facilities, at least one under the American Planning Association named continues, we’ll soon be importing milk that the houses are all on relatively umbrella of the University of West West Virginia as one of the worst sprawl from Mexico or even China. (I like to small lots, they have septic tanks! All Virginia, have been and are being built. states in the nation.” think that I’m exaggerating, but . . . ) the homes in our development are on at City Hospital in Martinsburg and So as much as the Hendersons have Dairy cattle aren’t the only things least two acres of land to allow for ade- Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Charles for these past three years enjoyed the that are disappearing from West quate drainage fields; nonetheless, we Town are merging. Both the Holiday Inn bellowing cows, the pesky flies, the Virginia, at least not in the Eastern were recently required to hook up with a and the Hampton Inn are being reno- pungent aroma of manure, and the Panhandle. Apple production in West sewer district. How could two adjoining vated. A former grocery store, vacant coughing and chugging of the neighbor- Virginia is down. West Virginia growers counties have such radically different well before we moved here, is being ing farmer’s vintage tractor, maybe, just produced more than 115.5 million sanitation requirements? As a friend of expanded and revamped as a mini mall. maybe, we can take solace in having pounds of apples in 1997, with 475 mine would say, “It boggles the mind.” Things are looking up, both in new neighbors, many new neighbors, orchards and more than 10,000 acres. In (It might even poison it!) Martinsburg and, so I understand, close by. 2003, West Virginia growers produced How many schoolchildren will live Charles Town and elsewhere. (Now if Not really — I still prefer the cows. but 85 million pounds of apples on less in the new development next to us? we could just make a decision about * * * than 7,541 acres. Those missing 2,459 Who’s going to pay for the necessary new sidewalks in Shepherdstown!) acres have got us worried, really wor- classrooms, teachers and the buses to Much has been made of the disap- Al Henderson is a freelance writer and ried, and my wife and I have more than transport the kids? Will the developers pearing farm and ever-increasing subur- photographer. He and his wife, Sharon, a a sneaking notion of what’s happened to be assessed? If so, will the assessment ban population. But — as I recently native of West Virginia, retired from the them — like giving way to the 240 new be adequate? discovered as I did online research for Chicago area to Martinsburg about homes off Dry Run Road, Apple Knoll Dry Run Road, with its up and this article — the opposite has its prob- three years ago. Al can be reached at Estates. And that’s just one of the many downs, twists and turns can only lems, too. [email protected]. apple and peach orchards in the tri- become more dangerous as the number As noted in the May 27, 2004 edi- county area that have fallen to the bour- of cars using it increases with the addi- tion of The State Journal, “the rural geoning growth of what is rapidly tion of more and more homes. Certainly nature of West Virginia can be trouble- becoming dormitory communities for — at the very least — the road will have some and costly, especially when trying D.C.–area workers. If you’re an average to be widened . . . when and if state to make sure people get the services money becomes available. they need, be it extending sewer lines

SUMMER 2005 • GOOD NEWS PAPER 20 Construction Zone Building Character with Jesus August 1–5 (9 a.m.–12 noon) Ages 3-15 or Begin at St. Agnes Catholic Church, proceed to preschool New Street Methodist, close at Trinity Episcopal. through 8th grade Students in 6th grade and above can serve as craft helpers or teacher’s assistants if they do not wish to participate in a class.

Bible school includes opening, storytelling, music, snacks, games, classes and crafts. There will be a closing program on Friday night. Four-year-olds have their feet washed like Jesus. All children are welcome. Please register them at your respective churches or by calling or e-mailing Kathy Blue at 725-4358 ([email protected]) or Suzanne Swartz at 876-6723 ([email protected]).

Helpers are needed for crafts, teaching, assisting and games. Any time you can offer is greatly appreciated. Call or e-mail Kathy or Suzanne if interested.

Primary group has fun. Hope to see you all at Community Bible School!! “Pharoah Pharaoh” at the closing program.

COMMUNITY BIBLE SCHOOL 2005 Registration Form

Child’s Name ______

Age ______Grade Finished______

Parent Name ______The Crafters Gallery of Phone ______Helpers.

Emergency Contact______

Phone ______

Food Allergies ______

Other Allergies______

Other Important Information ______

Singing God’s praise with Sarah and ______Suzanne.

Please mail registration by July 25 to Kathy Blue, P. O. Box 112, Shenandoah Junction, WV 25442. The “Disciples” from Joan Snipes’ class. GOOD NEWS PAPER • SUMMER 2005 21 Religious Worship and Education Schedules

Asbury United Methodist Baha’i Faith Christ Reformed U.C.C Christian Science Society Rt. 480 (Kearneysville Rd.) Entler Hotel, German St. 304 East German Street Entler Hotel, German & Princess Streets Rudolph Monsio Bropleh, Pastor Telephone: 876-3995 Bronson Staley, Pastor Sunday worship & Sunday School: 10 a.m. Telephone: 876-3122 Sunday Worship: 11:30 a.m. Telephone: (301) 241-3972 Testimony meetings: 1st & 3rd Wednesdays Sunday Worship: 11 a.m. Discussion Group: Sunday Worship: 11 a.m. 3 p.m. from September through May Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. 1st & 3rd Fridays, 8 p.m. 7 p.m. during June, July, and August Reading Room: 1st Wednesdays 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Telephone: 876-2021 Sentinel radio program Sundays 7 a.m. on WINC 92.5 FM

New Street United Methodist St. Agnes Roman Catholic St. John’s Baptist St. Peter’s Lutheran Church & New Streets Church & Washington Streets West German Street King & High Streets Dee-Ann Dixon, Pastor Father Mathew Rowgh Joe Liles, Pastor Fred Soltow, Pastor Telephone: 876-2362 Telephone: 876-6436 Telephone: 876-3856 Telephone: 876-6771 Sunday Worship: 10:45 a.m. Sunday Eucharist: 8 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Sunday Worship: 11 a.m. & 7 p.m. Sunday Worship: 11 a.m. Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. Saturday Eucharist: 5:30 p.m. Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. Sunday School: 9:45 a.m. Sunday School: 9:15 a.m. St. James’, Uvilla Sunday Worship: 9:30 a.m. Sunday School: 10:45 a.m.

Shepherdstown Presbyterian Trinity Episcopal Unity of Shepherdstown 100 W. Washington Street Corner of Church & Germans Sts. Anne Murphy, Minister Randall W. Tremba, Pastor George T. Schramm, Pastor Morning Celebration Services Telephone: 876-6466 Telephone: 876-6990 Sundays at 11 a.m. Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 10:45 a.m. Sunday Worship: 8 a.m. & 10 a.m. Shepherdstown Train Station Sunday School: 10:45 a.m. Sunday School: 10 a.m. Seasonal Classes & Workshops Nursery year round 876-3755 www.spcworks.org www.wideturn.com/UOS/page2.htm

SUMMER 2005 • GOOD NEWS PAPER 22

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Storied Evenings Programs begin at 7:30 p.m. at the HISTORIC PRESBYTERIAN MEETING HOUSE

Music, Art & Biography JULY 27 Dr. Scott Beard Pianist JULY 13 JULY 20 Dr. Rob Northrup Ruth Brown ART EXHIBIT SHEPHERDSTOWN PRESBYTERIAN International Health Shepherdstown Day Care Marion Howard CHURCH Consultant Center, Director (Ret.) Printmaker 100 W. WASHINGTON ST. SHEPHERDSTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA David Drosinos Sam Janotta & Lisa Lafferty EXQUISITE DESSERTS 304.876.6466 Clarinetist Guitar, Piano, Vocals Culinary Artists Donors

* By-liners Jean Ehman Carroll & Ruth Palmer Margaret Drennen Sandra D’Onofrio David & Mary Sue Eldridge P. Douglas Perks Robert & Antoinette Edsall Philip & Lily Hill Jean A. Elliott Joan Piemme Miriam Ellis William & Jean Neely Mavis Ferguson H. Potts Sylvia Freedland Brian Palank, DDS Fred Fischer Mrs. Charles Printz Sheri Garner Ron & Lyn Widmyer Richard & Susan Fletcher Annie & David Ricks Nancy Hardesty Lynn & Peter Wilson Wood Geist Sherman & Elinor Ross Calison & Patricia Henkes Edmund & Susan Goldsborough Philip C. Salladay Phebe M. Hoff * Patrons Rebecca & Kenneth Gregory John & Victoria Savage Dorothy & John Huff John R. Foxen Mr. & Mrs. Conrad C. Hammann John Schley Lucetta S. Jenkins Tom Hanna & Sandra Osbourn James & Ada Hatchett Elizabeth S. Scott Douglas & Karen Kinnett Linda Jones Verle & Vivian Headings Rosa Lee Shanton Melida & William Knott, Col. (Ret.) Jo Ann & W.E. Knode, Jr. Jessie & Mary Hendrix Henry Shepherd Margaret T. Laise John & Katheryne Loughran Kathleen A. Herriott Eleanor Ann Shirley Laurin & Phyllis Letart Tom & Lolly Martin Diane Hoffman Thomas & Lenore Sloate Burt & Rebecca Lidgerding Thomas & Laura Martin Jack & Hannah Huyett Sallie Shepherd Spaulding Eveyln & George Mason George & Pat McKee Catherine Irwin & Richard Stephan Vergie G. Spiker James & Elizabeth McGowen Victoria & Peter Smith Perry & Stephanie Jamieson Eric & Gloria Sundback Dabney & Alta Miller Kenneth & Laverne Tremba Edward Smith & Quinith Janssen Agnes H. Tabler Russell & Rhea Moyer Ray & Jane Vanderhook Robert & Ann Johnston Kaye & Gerald Thompson Addie M. Ours Paul & Lisa Welch Arbutus Kearns & G.R. Welsh, Jr. Gerald & Leslie Tremba Avery & Margaret Post Henry K. Willard, II James E. Keel, DVM Mary Franklin Van Meter David & Betty Ramsay Joan Keith Capt. Peter & Dorothy Van Tol Rebecca Murphy * Partners Cynthia & Robert Keller Zelda Virts Charles & Marilyn Sabatos Kristin Alexander & Jeffrey Feldman Edmund & Kathryn Kelly Richard & Joyce Welsh Elizabeth Sheets Robert & Elizabeth Allen Ross & Renee Kenny Robert & Barbara Wibberley Frederick & Joy Shorten George & Beth Alwin Rev. William & Viola Kieldsing Debbie & Nils Wigren Lori A. Simmons Paul Woods & Johnna Armstrong John & Barbara King Van & Maris Wilkins Sandra Slazer Robert & Barbara Ash Joan Kinney Vera Willingham Louisa Sonnik Terry E. Bachmann Robert & Maureen Laffan Doris A. Wilson James & Mary Staley Thomas Banks & Laura Tung Judith Layman Nancy & Bill Wilson Joseph & Shirley Talago Helen Barrow Willoughby & Ellen Lemen Esther Wood Michael & Ann Taylor Dwight & Alma Benson John & Judith Lilga Richard & Marie Yates Mary Franklin Vanmeter Patricia Donohoe & David Borchard Conrad Lotze & Kristina Maciunas Jack & Martha Young John & Sarah Walker Robert & Mary C. Borden James & Nancy Macdonell Michael Zagarella Charles Ware Tracy & Grace Boyer Chris E. Mark Judy Weese Frank & Theresa Bradley Upton & Marian Martin * Friends Eldon Winston Odetta Brown David Mayle Donna Acquaviva & Bob Naylor Chelsey & Lynn Yellott John & Helen Burns Mildred & Floyd Miller Charlotte Adams Alice B. Zahniser Zelma Buskell Frank & Althea Miller Myra & Leroy Ault Snowdon Byron Lige & Jane Miller Tommy & Courtney Baker Key F. Dennis & Lola Clarke Paula & Gregory Miller Sylvia H. Boyer * By-liners ($150-$300 gifts) Frances Brolle & Steven Lietz Elisabeth H. Clarkson Genevieve Monroe * Patrons ($100-$125 gifts) Robert & Kelly Collins Helen & Edward Moore Rev. & Mrs. Albert Burton * Partners ($25-$75 gifts) Rosemarie Robson Coy Charles & Ellen Moore R. Richard Conard * Friends ($5-$20 gifts) Janice Danhart Arthur & Wilma Morabito Thomas & Patricia M. Corley Meade & Honnor Dorsey Betty Myers Karen L. Davison Let us know if your donation Denis & Nancy Doss James & Jan Nixon Carol & Michael Demchik has not been acknowledged: Katherine Edelen Margaret & Robert Northrup William & Sarah Drennen (304) 876-6466.

GOOD NEWS PAPER • SUMMER 2005 23

JOHN J. KUSKA, JR. CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT AND BUSINESS CONSULTANT 56 HACKBERRY CIRCLE SHEPHERDSTOWN,WEST VIRGINIA 25443

SHEPHERDSTOWN 304-876-1819 TOLL FREE 877-985-8752 (877-WVKUSKA) FAX 304-876-1820 EMAIL [email protected] JOHN J. KUSKA, JR., CPA

Jim Day, Owner Certified Master Auto Technician

“We can fix anything but a broken heart!” 425 N. Mildred Street 304-725-2656 Ranson, WV 25438 304-725-1710

WEST VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES Alexander E. Shaw, CPA State Capitol, Room 258-M, Charleston, WV 25305 SHAW & SHAW, A.C. John Overington Certified Public Accountants Member 133 W. German St. • PO Box 1886 491 Hoffman Road, Martinsburg Shepherdstown, WV 25443-1886 WV 25401 (304) 274-1791 (304) 876-3778 • (800) 355-3778 e-mail address: [email protected] alexshawcpa.com Visit my web page at: http://www.overington.com Shepherdstown Ministerial Association Non-profit Organization P.O. Box 1212 U.S. Postage SUMMER 2005 Shepherdstown, WV 25443 PAID Shepherdstown, WV 25443 Permit No. 33

Patron P.O. Boxholder Rural Route Boxholder

26 Years still FREE but not cheap

“Autumn in Provence” by Ellen Burgoyne