Charity Spa Cuisine Page 12 A Pleasurable Perennial Page 16 Middleburg’s Only Locally Owned and Operated Newspaper Volume 4 Issue 5 www.mbecc.com August 23, 2007 ~ September 27, 2007 The Beginning of the Inn Hospice Cup Polo Charity Match Council Approves Salamander Zoning Daniel Morrow Katherine (“Bundles”) Murdock, who had Page 28 consistently opposed the project under both t its regular monthly meeting on Au- Mayor Tim Dimos and Mayor Betsy Davis, was gust 9, 2007, the Middleburg Town absent. Council passed four key motions, The End of the Beginning amending the Town’s zoning ordi- Anances and maps, and granting a special use The fi nal vote, the culmination of almost six permit that will allow construction to begin years of hard work, controversy, debate and com- on the Salamander Inn and Spa and its related promise, was, at fi rst, greeted with silence by a housing and mixed-use developments. packed gallery, representing an almost complete Two of the four critical motions passed cross-section of the roughly 640 residents of the unanimously: one granting Salamander a criti- town, reinforced by a large contingent from Shi- cal “special-use” permit; the other amending loh Baptist Church, on hand to witness passage the Town’s zoning ordinance to allow con- of an offi cial resolution honoring the140th an- struction of a resort and spa. niversary of its founding in 1867. More problematic were motions to create Only when Mayor Davis quietly broke the a new “Mixed Use Village” zoning designation silence did the crowd appear to realize the full for Middleburg, and the all-important motion impact of what they had just witnessed. formally rezoning the 341.28-acre Salamander “I’d like to extend my congratulations,” she property. began, “to Dr. Johnson, her family, and Sala- Both these motions mander Hospitality; . to our staff . for all passed 4-2. Eura Lew- their hard work; and to Council . “ is, Trowbridge Little- As she spoke, glances were exchanged, ten- ton, Lisa Patterson and tative smiles broke out, and whispers began to Karen Robinson voted spread around the Council chambers. “yes.” “I’m looking forward, along with Council, Vice Mayor to having a great project,” Davis continued, “in Darlene Kirk which we’ll all work together. I know we’re all and Mark going to be proud of this and make it the best Snyder resort in the nation.” voted By the time she fi nished, it was clear what “no.” had been done. Cheers and applause spread around the room. As the applause faded, Sheila Johnson, edu- cator, entrepreneur, co-founder of BET, and by Continued Page 33 Pan American Glory for Karen O’Connor and Theodore, World’s Bravest, Most Beloved Event Pony Patricia Vos imagine how plucky a 14.1 and a bit pony appears as it does so. Theodore O’Connor, the 12-year old he XV Pan American Thoroughbred/Arabian/Shetland cross, is now quite Games took place July 13- possibly the bravest, most beloved event pony in all 29 in Rio de Janeiro, Bra- the world. zil, featuring 5,500 ath- While getting a pony to an international event Tletes from 42 countries competing is never a sure thing, the purported troubles at the in 28 different sports. The US del- Rio venue nearly made it a non-starter for the entire egation was made up of nearly 600 squad. As the team was being selected, prepared, athletes and they brought home an trained and beginning their travels with a trip to Mi- impressive 237 medals with the ami for quarantine, word from Brazil was not encour- Marc Swedenburg US leading the fi nal medal count, aging. The cross country course building was behind not-so-closely followed by Cuba schedule. There were health concerns. The dressage and host nation Brazil. teams that had traveled ahead for their competitions Continues His But does anyone from reported back with stories of nightmarish bureaucra- Middleburg pay much mind to medal cies. Parents’ Legacy sweeps in synchronized swimming Back home, veterinary concerns over two of the or table tennis? Unlikely. Not to take horses chosen for the US Event team forced last min- anything away from the Herculean ef- ute changes to the squad. When, at last, they left for Page 6 forts of the judo team or the swimmers or Rio, the US team was comprised of Phillip Dutton of badminton players who came home with West Grove, PA with Truluck, Gina Miles of Creston, the gold, but our concerns tend to run with all things CA with McKinlaigh, Stephen Bradley of Leesburg, equestrian. VA with From, Mara Dean of Round Hill, VA with Lucky for us then that the equestrian event Nicki Henley and Darren Chiacchia of Springville, squad, a decent percentage of whom were locals, NY with Better I Do It. Speaking Up in came home with a small pile of medals, including Continued Page 33 a few for The Plains resident and The Plains eventing star Karen O’Connor PRST STD who rode a pony, yes a pony, to Request in homes by Thursday 8/23/07 US POSTAGE PAID double gold medal glory. POSTAL CUSTOMER BURKE VA PagePage 48 If an event horse always PERMIT NO 029 strikes one as a particularly brave creature as it approaches daunting ditches, banks and solid obstacles, Editor’s Desk: Page 10 • Faces & Places: Page 26 • Friends for Life: Page 36 Page Middleburg Eccentric • August , ~ September , Middleburg Eccentric • August , ~ September , Page News of Note P.O. Box 1768 Middleburg, VA 20118 540-687-3200 Shiloh Baptist Church Celebrate 140th Anniversary fax 540-687-8035 www.mbecc.com [email protected] Middleburg churches, it origi- In describing the challenges conveyed the Town’s congratula- nated in the Middleburg Baptist the church has faced during his tions and best wishes to the Shiloh Cover Photo Church. The fellowship we share tenure, Pastor Nelson emphasized members in a resolution passed by by Dee Dee Hubbard with the Middleburg community that there is nothing that can’t be the Town Council acknowledging and its pastors is priceless. We are overcome or accomplished with the Church’s important historical Editor In Chief so grateful for that fellowship and God’s help. and spiritual contribution to the Dee Dee Hubbard ~ [email protected] it excites me about the promise of “Middleburg, and our mem- Middleburg Community. Design & Production Director our future.” bers have gone through a profound “We are extremely proud of Jay Hubbard Pastor Nelson’s distinguished transformation during the life of the Church’s heritage and its sig- bearing and deep sense of mission our church, but it is clear that we nificance in the greater Middleburg Publisher is inspirational and reflects his ca- can do all the things we are called community,” she stated. Dan Morrow reer as an officer in the Air Force. to do,” he continued, “because, in Pastor Nelson spoke elo- Copyright ©2007 All rights reserved. No part of When he retired twenty-one years Christ, all things are possible.” quently about his gratitude to the Middleburg Eccentric may be reproduced without written permission of the Eccentric LLC. Middleburg ago as a Lieutenant Colonel and Many families whose history Middleburg’s mayors, Shiloh’s Eccentric is not responsible for unsolicited manu- was called to the ministry, he was is linked to Shiloh Baptist Church neighbors and the many benefac- scripts or artwork. Middleburg Eccentric reserves the right to accept or reject any and all copy. Middleburg invited to Shiloh Baptist Church are well represented in the mem- tors who have helped the church Eccentric is published monthly on the 4th Thursday to take a position as interim pas- bership. Organized by a young and its members over the years. by Middleburg Eccentric LLC. Controlled circula- tion: 41,000 to Loudoun, Prince William, Fauquier & tor. He stayed to lead the congre- preacher named Leland Warring at “Our members have estab- Clarke Counties. gation for twenty-one years. the home of the late Deacon Peter lished themselves in trade, educa- We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Vir- ginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity “When I arrived, this church Tibbs, Shiloh has had only nine tion, travel and many other profes- throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and was, and still is, a very viable pastors in its entire history. The sions,” he explained. “Without the support advertising and marketing programs in which hen the congrega- there are no barriers to obtain housing because of race, tion at Middleburg’s member of the community,” he church was relocated to 304 East support of God, the town and the color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial recalled. “Although time and cir- Marshall Street in Middleburg in fellowship of our community pas- status or handicap. Shiloh Baptist All real estate advertised herein is subject to Church celebrates the cumstance create ebbs and flows, 1913 and has been active at that tors, we could not have achieved Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to we are now growing again and the site every since. as much for our members.” advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination Wchurch’s 140th anniversary next because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, el- month, Pastor Herman Nelson will only obstacle in our paths is our- The church membership was “Everyone is invited to our derliness, familial status, handicap or intention to make selves and our sins.” active in Civil Rights and politics 140th anniversary celebrations,” any such preferences, limitation or discrimination.” officiate at four days of thanks The newspaper will not knowingly accept ad- and celebration September 19th Deaconess Elizabeth Wash- and has always been committed Pastor Nelson said.