Printed using recycled fiber Lions Club BE LOCAL Citrus Sale BUY LOCAL Page 13 Middleburg’sMiddleburg’s CommunityCommunity NewspaperNewspaper SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY AND SHOP LOCALLY Volume 15 Issue 9 mbecc.com December 13, 2018 ~ January 24, 2019 Supervisors Tony Buffington & Geary Higgins Advance Programs to Protect Rural Loudoun Full Story on Page 3 Joe Fargis: Always Put The Horse First Lauren R. Giannini ington International Horse Show welcomed Joe into the oe Fargis is a world-class WIHS Hall of Fame for his rider, trainer and teacher many decades of involvement, whose show jumping ca- contributions as competitor and reer earned his place in the judge, and for his service on the elite category of Who’s Who Board of Directors. The 60th Jin world sports by way of two anniversary of the prestigious Summer Olympics. At the 1984 indoor show also celebrated the Los Angeles Games, Joe and historic performance by Touch Touch of Class earned team and of Class and Joe when, as newly individual gold medals in show minted gold-medal Olympians, jumping. Four years later at the they were victorious in the 1984 Seoul Olympics, Joe piloted President’s Cup Grand Prix. There’s so much more to Joe Mill Pearl to garner team silver than his competitive record. and 7th individually. He’s articulate and his brain is Joe’s many accolades include as good as gold. For this think- being named the 1984 Horse- ing horseman, however, win- man of the Year by the American ning isn’t the end all and be all. Horse Shows Association, and “Of course, you’re elated and Lifetime Achievement Awards happy when you win something, from the US Equestrian Federa- but on a day-to-day basis, if you tion (formerly AHSA) and the can deal with the horse and have US Hunter Jumper Association. some success and deal with the He has been inducted into the rider and have some success, I Show Jumping think that’s just as important as Hall of Fame, Vir- the biggest win possible,” Joe ginia Horse Show said. “I mean, you have to sur- Association HOF, vive on a daily basis with little the Virginia Horse victories. That’s what I like — Center HOF, and just every day doing something the Pennsylvania good for the horse and good for Christmas in Middleburg National Horse the rider.” Show HOF. Joe’s next words raised the On Friday, Oc- bar on cultivating an attitude of Photos Page 22 - 24 tober 26, Wash- gratitude when he said, with his PERMIT NO 723 NO PERMIT DULLES, VA DULLES, Continued page 16 POSTAL CUSTOMER POSTAL US POSTAGE PAID POSTAGE US ECRWSS Request in homes by Thursday 12/13/18 Thursday by homes in Request facebook.com/MiddleburgEccentric STD PRST Page 2 Middleburg Eccentric • December 13, 2018 ~ January 24, 2019 Middleburg Eccentric • December 13, 2018 ~ January 24, 2019 Page 3 News of Note Leadership: Supervisors Tony Buffington & Geary Higgins Advance Programs to Protect Rural Loudoun developing the property. The led by Supervisor Geary Higgins of the Board. They offer tools, major issue with conservation and Supervisor Tony Buffing- options and flexible solutions easements however is the set- ton, is exciting and truly innova- to preservation. Ironically, both up costs. These can be as high tive. Successfully implemented programs have been routinely as $40,000 in many cases. This in many counties, this program opposed by the Loudoun Coun- cost creates barriers for lower would allow a landowner in ru- ty Planning Commission. This income land owners who wish to ral Loudoun to sell their rights commission is in the final draft- see their lands preserved but do to develop their land to a land ing stages of writing Loudoun’s not have the money to pay for the owner in the east who would new Comprehensive Land Use creation of the easement. then be permitted to increase the Plan. They have said many times The newly adopted conser- density on their property. It is a they want a plan which has tools, vation easement assistance pro- win-win. This creates income options and flexible solutions for gram, proposed earlier this year for the “sending” land owner development. It is unfortunate by Blue Ridge Supervisor Tony and the “receiving” land owner the Commission does not feel Buffington, is changing this! The get additional density to build this way when it comes to con- program, passed last week by the more houses on the same piece servation of our natural resources Board of Supervisors with a vote of land – hence the development and open spaces. of 8-1, set up a fund of $150,000 rights to build more houses have I want to thank Supervisors to assist lower income land own- been “transferred”. Last week the Buffington and Higgins for the ers with grants that will help Board approved an in depth study continued leadership in pressing his past week saw the opment rights program, known defray the cost of putting their of how a TDR program could be for ways in which the County passage of two Board of as TDR. Both programs will help land into conservation easement. implemented in Loudoun and can encourage and support the Supervisors initiatives to citizens and county leaders pre- Each applicant can receive up to staff is expected to report back protection of our rural heritage. help protect and preserve serve more of Loudoun’s open $15,000 toward to costs and they early next year. We are excited to Action speaks volumes. the open spaces of Loudoun’s ru- spaces. must have an annual household see this moving forward. Tral countryside. They include the If you wish to contact the Conservation easements are income of less than $117,200. Lastly, it is important to note Board and express your support full passage of a conservation an effective tool that are used to This is an exciting step forward that both programs, one now for these program, email them at: easement assistance program and to preservation of rural Loudoun. implemented and the other under protect rural lands. Once in place [email protected] a county study and assessment of they essentially prohibit any cur- The TDR program initiative, study, have broad support from implementing a transfer of devel- rent or future land owner from the public and many members P.O. Box 1768 Editor In Chief Production Director Publisher Middleburg, VA 20118 Dee Dee Hubbard Jay Hubbard Dan Morrow 540-687-3200 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] ~ Be Local ~ mbecc.com mbecc.com ~ Be Local ~ Page 4 Middleburg Eccentric • December 13, 2018 ~ January 24, 2019 Middleburg Eccentric • December 13, 2018 ~ January 24, 2019 Page 5 News of Note Middleburg American Legion Post 295 Awards n Saturday, Decem- ber 8, 2018, at the Middleburg American Legion Post 295 Christ- mas Party, awards were made to Omembers of the Post and to one special member of our commu- nity. Commander Eric Lindengren was recognized for his contribu- tion and leadership over the past three years to the Post by being named Legionnaire of the Year. Ricky Bell and his wife, Terry Greenhill Bell were commended by the en- tire membership of Post 295 for their over four decades of Out- standing and Dedicated Service to the Legion in addition to their demonstrated Leadership, Patrio- Give local Giftto those you love Guide this holiday season by shopping a tism, and Service to our Commu- nity, State, and Nation. variety of locally sourced items in our Farm Store, open Ms. Catherine “Bundles” Murdock was recognized and commended for her over Four Friday-Monday Noon ‘til 6pm. Decades of Outstanding Ser- vice, Leadership, Patriotism and Dedicated Service benefiting the Catherine “Bundles” Murdock and John Moliere Tasting Room open daily Noon ‘til 6pm American Legion, and in par- as a Director of Protocol and as has been a long-time friend of cally as “Pappy” was a member lishing the American Legion in ticular to our Community and Special Liaison to Kuwait, she the Middleburg American Le- of the original caucus in Paris Middleburg. A painting of him (Open Noon- 4pm on Christmas Eve & Closed on Christmas Day, New Years Day.) Nation. Ms. Murdock served un- has performed admirably on the gion. Her Grandfather, William that founded the American Le- hangs proudly in the Legion Hall der President George H.W. Bush Middleburg Town Council and Philander Hulbert known lo- gion and instrumental in estab- wearing his WWI uniform. Middleburg Town Council Report Dan Morrow February 1 is the current dead- A select Town Committee will historic integrity of the property; of life in the Jay Street neighbor- line for proposals from interested review all applications, focusing the applicant’s ability to both get hood; and drive “other econom- County Supports Conservation buyers. on their: impact on Middleburg’s started and manage the project ic, social and cultural develop- town’s economy; respect for the effectively; enhance the quality ment in town.” The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, by an 8 to 1 vote, approved a proposal by Blue Ridge District Supervisor Tony Buffington to begin a program of small grants to help landowners cover some of the costs of put- ting acreage into conservation easements: 50% of the total cost, with an upper bound of $15,000 per application. The Board budgeted $150,000 to kick off the program. After one year the county will re-eval- uate funding. Applications for grants may be made online twice a year. The Board also agreed to un- dertake a thorough study of a new Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program, initially proposed by Buffington and Ca- toctin Supervisor Geary Higgins.