Barbara Barr's Column

Season's reason: There are quite a few events coming up at Mount Pleasant during the month of December: Dec. 3 a Birthday party for Jesus was held and was a great success as usual. Dec. 10 is the date scheduled for the Christmas Program practice. The program will be held Sunday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. Dec. 10 is also the deadline for bringing in your presents for the three families the church adopted for Christmas.

Traditions: I was shopping last week for a present for my grandchild at Kohl's and since I couldn't find what I wanted I became a little frantic. However, I asked for help from one of the store's employees. Not only did the employee look for what I wanted but to my amazement in this day and age, the employee stated they were sold out, but I could probably find what I wanted at Wal-Mart. This statement reminded me of a movie 40 or so years ago in which the employee at Macy's referred the customer to a store across the street. I was shocked, surprised and pleased that some things don't change.Bag of candy: Also, I was reading a handwritten book last week and to my surprise, it was stated that Mount Pleasant Church started treating the Sunday school children with a bag of candy back in the early 1930s and still does to this day.

Baptism: The congregation of Mound Pleasant UMC recently celebrated the baptism of Andrew Dempsey Towe, son of Jim and Emilie Towe. Andrew is the grandson of Connie Breeden and Dr. and Mrs. Jim Towe Sr.Birthday: Happy birthday to Wesley Bretzin, Maggie Grezch, Donna VanWagoner, Brandi Baker, John Baker, Debbie Barr, Sophia Coates and Johnny Wilt.

The Thanksgiving season is behind us and we must move on. Hopefully, everyone is remembering all the blessings and things we have to be thankful for each and every day as we go into this Christmas season and not focus on material things.

Editor's note: The movie Mrs. Barr refers to is "Miracle on 34th Street" (1947). Indeed when Macy's sold out of a toy, the store's Santa referred customers to Gimbel's across the street.

Weather Alert

HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING... A HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING. A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE AREA FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND WILL BE ACCOMPANIED WITH A LINE OF HEAVY SHOWERS AND POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS. LOW LEVEL WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE QUITE STRONG THAT ANY SHOWER OR THUNDERSTORM COULD PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS. BEHIND THE FRONT...A STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL CAUSE WINDS TO INCREASE TO 20 TO 30 MPH WITH POSSIBLE GUSTS TO 60 MPH ESPECIALLY OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS AND AREAS CLOSER TO THE PENNSYLVANIA BORDER. A HIGH WIND WATCH MEANS THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT. SUSTAINED WINDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH...OR GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR STRONGER MAY OCCUR. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

Weather Alert

HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING... A HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING. A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE AREA FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND WILL BE ACCOMPANIED WITH A LINE OF HEAVY SHOWERS AND POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS. LOW LEVEL WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE QUITE STRONG THAT ANY SHOWER OR THUNDERSTORM COULD PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS. BEHIND THE FRONT...A STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL CAUSE WINDS TO INCREASE TO 20 TO 30 MPH WITH POSSIBLE GUSTS TO 60 MPH ESPECIALLY OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS AND AREAS CLOSER TO THE PENNSYLVANIA BORDER. A HIGH WIND WATCH MEANS THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT. SUSTAINED WINDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH...OR GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR STRONGER MAY OCCUR. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

Weather Alert

HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING... A HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING. A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE AREA FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND WILL BE ACCOMPANIED WITH A LINE OF HEAVY SHOWERS AND POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS. LOW LEVEL WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE QUITE STRONG THAT ANY SHOWER OR THUNDERSTORM COULD PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS. BEHIND THE FRONT...A STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL CAUSE WINDS TO INCREASE TO 20 TO 30 MPH WITH POSSIBLE GUSTS TO 60 MPH ESPECIALLY OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS AND AREAS CLOSER TO THE PENNSYLVANIA BORDER. A HIGH WIND WATCH MEANS THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT. SUSTAINED WINDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH...OR GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR STRONGER MAY OCCUR. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

Blog Site Featuring Tara Linhardt and Danny Knicely

Here's an interesting site featuring news and photos from their project in Nepal: http://mountainmusicproject.blogspot.com/

Barbara Barr's Column

Thanksgiving service: Everyone is invited to the community-wide ecumenical Thanksgiving service at the Mount Pleasant UMC on Tuesday, Nov. 21, at 7:30 p.m. The Rev. Armstrong, pastor of Mount Zion and Bethel churches, will be the guest speaker for the evening.

Each One, Reach One: Each One Can Reach One is a good theme for the Thanksgiving season. Mount Pleasant has adopted four families for the Thanksgiving season. Please bring your gifts of nonperishable foods to the church by Nov. 19. We encourage every community to make this effort to go out and give beyond their immediate families this Thanksgiving season.

Craft show: Mark your calendar for the Taylorstown annual craft show at the Taylorstown General Store on Friday night, Dec. 1; Saturday, Dec. 2; and Sunday afternoon, Dec. 3.

Get-well wishes: Get-well wishes and prayers go to Brad Bretzin, Randy Coates, Leo Virts, Rev. Gay Lynn and Shirley Eichelberger.

Happy birthday: Happy birthday to Kelly Ayers, Jane Bretzin, Kathy Shipley, Joey Tyrrell, Courtne Coates, Holly Tyrrell, Judy Ross and Ronnie Williams.

Weather Alert

HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS POSSIBLE THURSDAY AND THURSDAY EVENING ACROSS NORTHERN AND CENTRAL VIRGINIA...EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND WEST OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY... A STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE FROM THE TENNESSEE VALLEY TODAY INTO THE NORTHERN GREAT LAKES REGION BY THURSDAY EVENING. ABUNDANT MOISTURE WILL MOVE NORTHWARD FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO INTO THE MID ATLANTIC TODAY AND TONIGHT. A COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP ACROSS THE REGION THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. INTERACTION BETWEEN THE COLD FRONT AND A MOIST AIRMASS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE 1 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. MUCH OF THE AREA RECEIVED HEAVY RAIN THIS PAST WEEKEND... AND ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAIN COULD CAUSE SMALL STREAMS TO OVERFLOW THEIR BANKS. STORM DRAINS COULD ALSO BECOME CLOGGED WITH LEAVES...LEADING TO FLOODING OF LOW LYING URBAN AREAS. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COLD FRONT THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE STRONG TO SEVERE WINDS. WIND GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE. TREES MAY BE UPROOTED WITH THESE WINDS AND MOIST GROUND.

Intruder Alert

A Taylorstown resident who does not wish to be identified reports that an unknown intruder entered her home on Booth Rd. on Friday, Nov. 10 at around 5:45 p.m.

While home alone, she was in an upstairs bedroom when her dogs started to bark in the living room and she heard a male voice trying to quiet them down. Assuming it was her mate, she continued her task until she realized that some time had passed and he did not come to say hello. Looking around the house, there was no sign of her mate -- he was still at work. The unknown intruder, who arrived and left the property on foot, most likely knew she was alone.

The Sheriff's Department assessed the scene and advised that everyone should lock their doors when they are home, particularly women who are alone.

Barbara Barr's Column

Election: Don't forget to get out and vote. There are quite a few important issues on the ballot as well at the candidates.

Senior citizens: The senior citizens in the Taylorstown and Lovettsville area love to get together to have a good time. Recently the seniors met at the Lovettsville Community Center with approximately 25 in attendance for their regular scheduled luncheon and while there decided to celebrate the birthdays of Phyllis Spinks and Joan Walls. We never get too old to joke and have fun. Joan turned 90 and is indeed a delight. Another friend, Walter, who attends the dinners also turned 90 in October, and he decided to serenade Joan and the group with songs from back in the 1970s.

Fall dinner: Mount Pleasant is preparing for its fall dinner on Saturday, Nov. 4, beginning at 5 p.m. The public is invited to this country ham-and-turkey dinner served family style. This is a fundraiser for the church.

Anniversary: Happy anniversary to Jim and Emilie Towe, Rex and Kathy Shipley, and Roger and Bonnie Lanham.

Birthday: Happy birthday to Neil Miller and Katie Merchant.

Get-well-wishes: Get-well wishes are extended to Thomas Fletcher, Leo Virts and Brad Bretzin.

Tamar Datan to Speak about the Amazon

Tamar Datan is the next guest speaker in the Taylorstown Community Association Speakers Series. Come hear her at the Taylorstown Store on Sunday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m.

Tami Carlow's Letter to the Editor

Residents of Taylorstown are not happy to hear about the recent "conditional approval" of a subdivision of 79 lots at Waterford Downs along Catoctin Creek, a state scenic river. It's quite simple, this development will take more drinking water and more groundwater from an area that already can't handle it. This will not help the "family" when it comes to the quality and quantity of their future water.

Catoctin Creek is already in trouble with its base flow down by 79 percent since 1930, and many wells in Taylorstown went dry in the drought of 1999.

Who's in charge of protecting this river and our groundwater supply? A USGS study in Loudoun County showed that the water in our well is only five years old. In the not-too-distant future, will we be relying on just rainwater?The term "conditional" sounds suspicious in itself. Who's going to keep the whole process in check? It would benefit the entire community and the family so much more if they decided to put the land into conservation easement. It would benefit Catoctin Creek immensely, and they would get a big tax break. If it were not for a group of Taylorstown residents, Waterford Downs would be under water. In the 1970s, a dam was to be built on the river that would have flooded Taylorstown and surrounding areas. The local citizens stopped that from happening.

Ah, the good old days when citizens' voices were actually heard, and people cared about what happened to the creek and surrounding lands.

Tami Carlow

Taylorstown Community Association president

Barbara Barr's Column

Harvest party: Mount Pleasant UMC will sponsor its annual Harvest Hayride and wiener roast on Sunday, Oct. 29, at 4 p.m. Hayride begins at 4 with wiener roast to follow. Please bring a friend and a snack.

Slide show: On Sunday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m., Tamar Datan will give a presentation slide show about the Amazon. The presentation will be held at the Taylorstown Store, and everyone is invited to attend.Jam session: On Friday, Nov. 3, at 7:30 p.m. there will be a music jam session at the Taylorstown Store. Bring your music instrument and join in the fun.

Harvest party: Mount Pleasant UMC will sponsor its annual Harvest Hayride and wiener roast on Sunday, Oct. 29, at 4 p.m. Hayride begins at 4 with wiener roast to follow. Please bring a friend and a snack.

Slide show: On Sunday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m., Tamar Datan will give a presentation slide show about the Amazon. The presentation will be held at the Taylorstown Store, and everyone is invited to attend.Jam session: On Friday, Nov. 3, at 7:30 p.m. there will be a music jam session at the Taylorstown Store. Bring your music instrument and join in the fun.

Fall dinner: The public is invited to Mount Pleasant's last dinner of the year on Saturday, Nov. 4, beginning at 5 p.m. Dinner will be served family style. A freewill offering will be accepted to benefit the church.Happy birthday: Happy birthday to Madison Fatz, Maryanne Williams, Jim VanWagoner and Johnny Potts.Happy anniversary: Happy anniversary to Kevin and Debbie Barr, Harry and Donna Loy, and Marty and Becky Hile. Fall dinner: The public is invited to Mount Pleasant's last dinner of the year on Saturday, Nov. 4, beginning at 5 p.m. Dinner will be served family style. A freewill offering will be accepted to benefit the church.

Happy birthday: Happy birthday to Madison Fatz, Maryanne Williams, Jim VanWagoner and Johnny Potts.Happy anniversary: Happy anniversary to Kevin and Debbie Barr, Harry and Donna Loy, and Marty and Becky Hile.

Barbara Barr's Column

This past Sunday, stream monitoring was held at the Taylorstown bridge. This project was headed by Kristi Larson.

Historic scrapbook: Everyone in the area is encouraged to bring their historic photographs to Ann Larson at the Taylorstown Frame Shop. These will be put in a scrapbook, which will be for sale at the craft show the first weekend in December. Also, individual photographs will be available for sale. The Waterford Historic Group recently invited the Taylorstown Historic Group to its meeting at the Old Waterford School. The two groups have decided to develop and inactive Web site.

Successful mission: the Mission Team from Mount Pleasant UMC met at the home of Johnny Wilt in Taylorstown to construct a ramp and walkway for him so that he would be much safer when using his motorized wheelchair. Johnny is unable to walk; however, he "supervised" the construction work by watching from the porch. He truly enjoyed having the people around and the camaraderie and teamwork during the construction, the lunch and the cleanup was great. Lesson learned is that you are never too young to help. One little guy, Byrce Lang, about 5 years old, came prepared to help with his "own" shovel.

Operation Teddy Bear: Operation Teddy Bear was a success and because of the article in the newspaper since people in other local towns called and asked to participate in the donation of stuffed animals to the orphanages. More than 300 stuffed animals were collected and hand delivered to Richmond.

Town council: If you are interested in holding a position in the Taylorstown Citizens Association, please contact Tammy Carlow at 540-822-5939.

Happy birthday: Happy birthday to Phyllis Spinks and Joe Tyrrell.

Barbara Barr's Column

Girl Scouts: Girl Scout Troop 5912 participated in the Oktoberfest in Lovettsville. Their project was "Recycling Education Display" to make people more aware of the benefits of recycling.

Budget for Mount Pleasant UMC: Mount Pleasant will be having their administrative council meeting on Thursday, Oct. 12, at 7:30 p.m. to adopt its budget for 2007. Everyone is encouraged to attend.

Lilly's return: Karen Lilly from New Albany, Miss., recently spent 10 days in the area visiting old friends and former neighbors. Her daughter, Sarah, is in the area until Thanksgiving, her son Sale Lilly IV is attending Oxford University in England after graduating from the Naval Academy, and her son Reid is attending culinary school.

Birthdays: Rose Coates, who attends JMU, and Brittany Loy, who attends Virginia Tech, were both home to celebrate their birthdays this past weekend with their families. Happy birthday wishes also go to Kris Blieka, Kathleen Potts, Darren Ridgeway, Carrie Merchant, Junior Wilt, Daniel Sixma, Amy Capilongo, Beth Wenner and Joyce Lively.

Anniversary: Happy anniversary to Chip and Barbara Talbott, and J.J. and Michelle Merchant.

Barbara Barr's Column

TCA board meeting: The Taylorstown Citizens Association's board meeting will be on Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Taylorstown Store. One of the items on the agenda will be a discussion about whether or not to proceed again this year with the Taylorstown calendar for 2007. Please express your opinion to members of the board before Oct. 10.

Families stick together: After Tami Carlow's recent surgery, she and the girls went to New Jersey to stay with her parents for three weeks. Now, Tami's parents and her husband's parents are visiting with her in Taylorstown in help with the girls among other things. Of course, the parents also enjoy being able to spend time with their grandchildren.

Support group: The support group for those who have lost a loved one recently had a delightful lunch at The Grill in Purcellville. This is a group lead by the Rev. Armstrong of Zion and Bethel (Tankerville) churches. This is a time for sharing and caring about one another. This group meets on the fourth Thursday of each month and all are welcome.

Harvest party: Mark your calendar for the Harvest Party sponsored by Mount Pleasant on Sunday, Oct. 29, for a hayride and weenie roast. Everyone must be at the church at 4 p.m. for the hayride. The church will provide the hot dogs and drinks. Please bring a snack to share.In sympathy:

Sympathy and prayers are extended to the family and friends of Regina (Jean) Stine Demory who passed away on Sept. 22. Jean and her husband, Floyd, were married for 65 years and lived in Taylorstown. The Demory family would like to thank the Mount Pleasant Church, neighbors and friends for all their love and support.

Happy birthday: Happy birthday to Isabella Fletcher, Rick Ryker, Eugene Ayers, Carol Whitmer, Briana Biggs, Kathy Wilt, Levi Shipley, Rose Coates, Brittany Loy and Brian Biggs.

Barbara Barr's Column

Homemakers Club: The Homemakers Club recently met for lunch at Talk of the Town. Members were delighted to have Beryl Harrington and Catherine Virts with them again. Beryl recently lost her husband and Catherine will be moving shortly to an assisted living facility in the Lovettsville area. The next lunch will be on Oct. 17 at noon.

Rally Day/Promotion Sunday: This was a great day. The children and teachers were recognized during the worship service. Also, during the worship service Ben and Jasmin Seidl, missionaries in Germany who are supported by the Lovettsville Charge (Mount Pleasant and Bethel), informed us of their mission work. The Lovettsville Charge celebrated Rally Day with a combined picnic, which was quite a success with approximately one hundred in attendance. As usual there was an over abundance of food including homemade ice cream. The praise band played during the afternoon as everyone visited with one another.

Operation Teddy Bear: The Mission Team at Mount Pleasant is collecting previously loved and gently used stuffed animals during September to be distributed to orphanages.Chimes: Mount Pleasant will be starting a hand-chime choir practice on Mondays at 7:30-8:30 p.m. starting Oct. 2. If you are interested in learning to play chimes, please come.

Happy birthday: Happy Birthday to Karen Fletcher, Teresa Grezch, Mark Ridgeway and Troy Zimmerman.

Jean Demory's Obituary

Regina E. Demory, 81, a homemaker and lifelong resident of Taylorstown, died at home Sept. 22. She was born May 10, 1925, in Frederick County, Md., to the late William Carter and Adah Jane Elizabeth Young Stine. Mrs. Demory was an active member of Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church in Taylorstown.

Survivors include her husband of 65 years, Floyd Addison Demory of Taylorstown; a son, Dennis Demory of Leesburg; four daughters, Virginia McReynolds of Tazewell, Joyce Lively of Taylorstown, Darlene Rogers of Fort Smith, Ark., and Sherry Standford of Athens, Ala.; nine grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Demory was buried in Lovettsville Union Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to Capital Hospice, 6565 Lee Highway, Suite 501, Falls Church, VA 22042.Arrangements were by Brown-Loudoun Funeral Chapel of Lovettsville.

See Solar Homes in Taylorstown Neighborhood

See solar energy systems and sustainable "green" design in action at two Taylorstown neighborhood locations (and 14 more in the metro DC area) this weekend, Oct. 7 and 8. The Taylorstown houses will only be open on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. "We present on tour - real buildings for real people - that are among the most affordable, energy efficient, durable, healthy and economical available today." Tickets are $5, or you can download your free ticket/map: http://www.solartour.org/download_booklet.htm. Here is the web site: http://www.solartour.org/

Barbara Barr's Column

Senior citizens: We all look forward to the next senior citizen's luncheon at the Lovettsville Community Center on Sept. 21. At the last luncheon about 25 gathered for an excellent home-cooked meal and social hour. Mark your calendar. These are held on the first and third Thursdays of each month. Call 540-822-5284 so the Community Center will have a head count.

Get in shape: Get in Shape before the holidays arrive. The fall session of Body Genesis, a choreographed fitness program to upbeat music started Sept. 11. Classes are held at the Lucketts Community Center on Mondays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. Classes are also held at the Hillsboro Community Center on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at 9 a.m. For details, contact Barbara Talbot at 540-822-5643.Sympathy: Sympathy and prayers are extended to the family and friends of Clayton Waters. Also, sympathy and prayers are extended to the family and friends of Kenneth Harrington.Happy birthday: Happy birthday to Jim Towe, Brett Ridgeway, Floyd Demory, Susan Biggs, Rex Shipley, Brad Bretzin and Chuck Lively.Happy anniversary: Happy anniversary to David and Carol Whitmer, Ronnie and Maryanne Williams, Randy and Dottie Coates. Donald and Karen Fletcher, and Chris and Dianne Capilongo.

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