Wait, what?

Berryville sits west of the Blue Ridge mountains and across the Shenandoah River, yet the performing arts juggernaut has hired the DC firm Arent Fox LLP to file suit against the bucolic outpost for the arts.

The suit filed on December 14th 2001 in U.S. District Court in Alexandria states that The Barns of Rose Hill, by the use of its name,  will confuse Wolf Trap’s patrons and concert-goers and thus harm Wolf Trap’s concert and cultural activities business.

In what amounts to a classic David and Goliath story, the Wolf Trap Foundation seems to have made a massive public relations blunder. The community organization they are now suing has an annual budget of $150,000 a number which Ann St. Clair Lesman, Chair of the Board of Directors for The Barns of Rose Hill, says is roughly one-third of the salary for the CEO of the Wolf Trap Foundation.

The genesis of the project and the name has a clear lineage in the Town of Berryville where it stands. “Rose Hill” was a dilapidated farm donated to the town in 1964. In the 1970s civic leaders proposed that it be turned into an arts center.  In 1978 the mansion burned, so the plan shifted to  the property’s two dairy barns.  Over the next forty years, the barns fell into increasing disrepair as the town lacked restoration funds and several citizen efforts fell short.

Then in September 2004, the present group of local volunteers, organized The Barns of Rose Hill as a nonprofit.  In a six year effort, they raised the $2.4 million necessary to transform the old barns into a 21st Century arts and visitors center.   The Barns of Rose Hill is the largest private undertaking in Clarke County, Virginia, and represented a true community effort.

One week after its Grand Opening on September 6, 2011, Wolf Trap attorneys sent The Barns of Rose Hill a letter asserting trademark infringement.

A month later on October 7, 2011, Wolf Trap filed application with the U.S. Trademark Office to attempt to lock down “The Barns.”

Finally a summons was served on The Barns on Thursday January 12, 2012.

Residents are outraged at the lawsuit. Comments are pouring in from all over the area decrying what residents call “Bullying with Cash.”

Unfortunately this may turn out to be a losing battle for the little guy in the fight. Lesman said that the Barns cannot possibly go up against a giant foundation like Wolf Trap in court whose annual operating budget is in the range of $28 million. They have however started a fund to “Save our Name,” and plan to raise money for the fight. For more information visit their website at www.barnsofrosehill.org

According to Sgt. F.L. Tyler of the Virginia State Police, sixty-five year old Thomas E. Swartz of Mountainville PA was driving a 1997 Ford F150 pickup westbound on Route 7. At 9:56 p.m. Swartz lost control of the vehicle, then ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a utility pole three tenths of a mile east of Pierce Road (Rt. 635).

Emergency personnel responded to the scene and transported Swartz to Winchester Medical Center where he later died of his injuries at 11:25 p.m.

via Clarke Daily News.

Read full story via Clarke Daily News.

Cuevas-GonzalezMembers of the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office and FBI traveled to Houston, TX and took possession of Cuevas-Gonzalez. Cuevas-Gonzalez was delivered to the United States by representatives of the Mexican government following his arrest in Mexico some months ago.Cuevas-Gonzalez was delivered without incident to the Northwest Virginia Regional Detention Center in Winchester, Va., where he is being held.

Read full story via  Clarke Daily News.

The smile on the first grader’s face really says it all; How does it feel to be seven years old and hold a genuine Civil War sabre that you dug up just down the road from your house?

“Really cool!” Lucas says with a grin.

Read full story via  Clarke Daily News.

A Community Summit meeting has been scheduled for November 17th at 6:00pm in the Main Meeting Room of the Government Center to discuss the idea. This meeting will be conducted like the recent summit meetings on tourism and agriculture and will be an open forum for anyone to voice ideas about the challenges members of the arts community face, as well as the opportunities that exist to bring the arts to a much larger audience. Discussion will include all forms of art in the county, from traditional visual arts as well as music, dance and other performing arts.

The meeting is being facilitated by Town Councilman for Ward 2, Allen Kitselman, and Town Planner Christy Dunkle.

via Berryville to Hold Summit – Clarke Daily News.

Read full story via  Clarke Daily News.

Earthworks Landscaping works closely with clients to bring landscape ideas to life. The design/build company provides clients with solutions tailored to fit individual needs and budgets. The company continues to flourish and finds many new clients through referrals from satisfied customers who appreciate and recommend their experienced staff, commitment to quality, and exceptional service. Earthworks serves clients in Frederick, Clarke, Loudoun, Fauquier, Rappahannock, and Warren Counties.

Visit their new website here: www.earthworksva.com

Read full story via  NOVA Business News.

The grounds of Long Branch have recovered from the prolonged dry spell of the summer and returned to their lush glory to provide a wonderful setting for the festival. Music from bands like “Souled Out” and “Furnace Mountain” entertained crowds and provided a musical score for the entire festival to enjoy.

Read full story via Balloon Festival Soars Despite the Wind – Clarke Daily News.

Read full story via Eagles Open Up District Schedule With Shutout Against George Mason – Clarke Daily News.

With the holidays just around the corner, its time to start thinking about ordering the best citrus available. Over 130 members of the Clarke County FFA chapter will begin its annual fruit sale on October 5th and will continue until November 10th 2010.

In an effort to help our customers, the Clarke County FFA has kept its fruit prices the same as last year.

Help support our organization by participating in our annual fruit sale! We have partnered with Florida Indian River Groves to provide you with the freshest fruit available.

Your fruit will be harvested the very same day it’s shipped to us, ensuring that you receive fruit that is hours off of the tree. Now that’s fresh!

Now’s the time to pick up a box of Navel Oranges that are sure to be bursting with flavor or a box of sugar-sweet, Indian River Red Grapefruit. And don’t forget your friends, family, and coworkers. Everyone loves fresh fruit from Florida! Clarke County FFA members will begin contacting customers in the area Tuesday Oct. 5th, 2010.

Customers my also order their fruit and cookie dough directly from the Clarke County FFA Program by calling 504-955-6138. Please follow the directions on the answering machine and place your order. Members of the Clarke County FFA will record your order and return your call to confirm your order. As an added convenience customers may order their fruit on line this year by accessing the Clarke County FFA Web Site at http://cchs.clarke.k12.va.us/Activities/FFA/index.htm .

Read full story via  Annual Fruit Sale – Clarke Daily News.

Over fifty plant, gardening, and food vendors offered their products and services during the two day fundraising event for the University of Virginia’s State Arboretum. Customers pulled little red wagons that quickly filled with tree, flower, and shrub purchases as they moved between rows of vendors.

Former Johnson Williams Middle School English teacher and cross country coach, Nancy Specht said that her wagon contained about $70 worth of greenery. “When I retired I purchased a small greenhouse,” Specht said. “I’ve always had a green thumb and now I have some time to work on it.”

Read full story via - Clarke Daily News.

photo courtesy of Clarke Daily News

For the first time in several weeks the Clarke County Eagles were able to get the offense started in the first quarter, driving the ball down the field on the opening drive to punch in the first score of the game with 6:40 left in the first quarter. Capping off a 26 yard run to the 3 yard line by Jesse Smoot, Grant Shaw punched it in with a 3 yard run to draw first blood.

As East Rockingham put their offense on the field for the first time, they were able to mount a good drive but it ended in the first of many turnovers that killed the hopes of pulling off a victory. After driving down the field, East Rockingham’s Zach Kibler tossed an interception in the end zone handing the ball back to Clarke County on the 20 yard line.

Clarke’s offense could not repeat their initial success and was forced into a 3 and out series with Matt Moyer punting the ball away to their

Read full story via Clarke County Eagles Football – Clarke Daily News Sports.

From the opening kickoff, Hedgesville dominated on both sides of the ball. Their offensive unit found early success drawing first blood with a a 17-yard touchdown run by Hedgesville quarterback Casey Horn….

Read full story via Clarke County Sports – Clarke Daily News.

At around noon the Conway Freight driver was attempting to back an approximately 40-foot trainer up to a building loading dock near the intersection of Main Street and the railroad. When the driver encountered difficulty negotiating the narrow service road that parallels the tracks his truck cab was temporarily positioned over the tracks.

Read full story via Truck Driver Narrowly Avoids Major Train Collision – Clarke Daily News.

“I forgot why I was there,” he told Lottery officials. “I forgot the milk.”

$120 Million Cash Blowout is one of dozens of Scratcher games offered by the Virginia Lottery. As the name says, the game started with more than $120 million in total prizes…

Read full story via Clarke Daily News.

Do Clarke County’s AYP scores provide reason for concern? Do the scores reflect a school division in decline?

Nineteenth-century American statesman Henry Clay said ”Statistics are no substitute for judgment.” While AYP results are one indicator of the quality of education delivered by a particular school or school division, there are other considerations that must be taken into account in order to understand the complete picture. Here’s a closer look at just what Clarke County’s AYP scores demonstrate, what the scores do not demonstrate, along with some of the other considerations not reflected by statistics…

Read full article via  Clarke Daily News.

The Eagles started the evening with a brief ceremony remembering their fallen teammate Aaron Shirley who was killed in a tragic car accident in June. In his memory, the team has dedicated the 2010 season to him and will retire his number 80 jersey for the next three seasons.

Clarke County Eagles 2010 Varsity Football team – Photo courtesy Clarke County Public Schools

Prior to the game Indians Coach Angelo Levara said that his team was glad to be in Berryville to open the football season and was excited to see how his team performs…

Read full story via Clarke County Sports – Clarke Daily News.

This annual must attend event features the best agriculture, crafts, and family entertainment that Clarke County has to offer. It also provides the entire community with the opportunity to connect with friends and neighbors as they stroll through the many animal exhibits and the carnival rides…

Read full story via Clarke Daily News.

Read full story via Clarke Daily News.

So, after supper, in the cool of the evening (okay, cooler part of the day), Hubby and 12-year-old Granddaughter, with buckets (huge buckets) in hand head off down the road. Now mind you, Granddaughter is not “country” but does have several years of Girl Scout camp under her belt.

Well, she just turned “all city”!….

Read Full Story via the Clarke Daily News.