Book reading featuring animal/environmental activist Cynthia Fain

Animal/environmental activist Cynthia Fain will be reading from her book, “Mystical Animals of Ancient Oak,” at Cranberry’s Grocery and Eatery in Staunton on Saturday, July 9.

The event begins at 2 p.m.

In this collection of true stories about animals and nature we meet a flightless duck, a domineering black squirrel, a feline ambassador, a family of mischievous ground hogs and many other sacred creatures that brought healing, wisdom and joy to our community.

Fain, a Charlottesville area resident, has published “Mystical Animals of Ancient Oak”. A civically active, environmental and animal protection advocate, Cynthia writes about true stories that reflect the healing that comes with time spent in nature – honoring all animals on their life’s journey.

As our planet’s forest habitat and green space is lost to development, the importance of finding nature and parks became vital to people and animals.  There is a wisdom that nature brings us, and in our modern world, those hidden powers are often lost.

Fain served on the Board of Directors of the West Montgomery County Citizen’s Association from 2009-2011. She was an active member of the Montgomery Village Foundation’s Environment Committee and Wildlife Rescue Committee from 1992-1995.  And she worked and volunteered for non-profit animal protection organizations.

The book is now available on Amazon.com in both Kindle and paperback versions.    

Red Wing Roots Music Festival

Single day and 3-day passes for the fourth annual Red Wing Roots Music Festival are available online or at the gate, until they have sold out.

The event is held from July 8-10 at Natural Chimneys Park in Mount Solon. The Steel Wheels host the festival and perform several times during the weekend. This year they welcome the following headliners: Dawes, Shovels and Rope, The Lone Bellow, Aoife O’Donovan, Steep Canyon Rangers, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors and many more.

To see the full lineup visitredwingroots.com/2016-line-up.

Held in the heart of the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the family-friendly festival will feature more than 40 bands on four stages, over three days of music, surrounded by the great outdoors. Incredible camping, an impressive list of kids activities, bike rides organized and led by the Shenandoah Valley Bike Coalition, fun runs organized by VA Momentum, and a group of food vendors that set a high bar for delicious, unique food set this festival apart from many others.

The Steel Wheels’ Trent Wagler explains, “there is a momentum that is comfortable and yet, many times has surprised us all with collective beauty and joy. In our first three years we’ve had the opportunity to define what Red Wing is and it’s nice to start feeling the consistency and dependability of traditions seeping into this gathering. This year we hope to maintain that richness, but make no mistake, we still have some tricks up our sleeves!”

The festival is environmentally aware with attendees encouraged to use their own reusable beverage containers or souvenir steel cups which can be purchased on site. Drinking water is available for free and craft beer, wine, and hard cider are sold in the South Street Beer Garden.

Last year’s third annual Red Wing Roots Music Festival was wildly successful with approximately 2,750 attendees who raved about the music, the beauty of the setting, and the intimate and friendly atmosphere. Festival organizers are determined to retain that atmosphere and are limiting availability to 3,000 tickets this year. With sales running ahead of last year, fans are encouraged to purchase tickets soon, while they are still available.

National Park Service announces Shenandoah Valley history events

Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park and its partners will offer a series of special National Park Service ranger programs and other events this July to highlight various stories related to the history of the Shenandoah Valley.

“These programs will give visitors a chance to explore important events of the Valley,” said Eric Campbell, the park’s chief of interpretation. “We will cover a variety of subjects, including critical moments of the Battle of Cedar Creek, the constantly changing landscape of the park throughout history, a study of the Bowman-Hite farmstead, anniversary reenactments and also a special exhibit on Virginia and the American Slave Trade.”

These special presentations include both the popular “History at Sunset” programs and also the new “Battlefield Series” programs.  All of these programs are free and last between 90 minutes to two hours.

* July 9—Battlefield Series: “Battling in the Streets” Middletown and the Battle of Cedar Creek (2:00 pm)Middletown constantly found itself in the middle of war.  At no time was this truer than on October 19, 1864 during the Battle of Cedar Creek when fighting raged through the town’s streets both during the morning Confederate assault and the afternoon Union counterattack.  Join Ranger Jeff Driscoll as he explores this critical, but often overlooked action.  Meet at the Visitor Contact Station (7712 Main Street, Middletown).

* July 15 —History at Sunset: A Diamond in the Rough: The Forgotten Story of the Bowman-Hite Farmstead

Join Ranger Kyle Rothemich as he explores the history of the Bowman-Hite Farmstead. This farmstead stands as a unique example of a 19^th century Shenandoah Valley agricultural landscape. Learn about the families who called this place home, structures that shaped their experiences and soldiers who marched by during the Battle of Cedar Creek.  This will be the first time in the park’s history that visitors can access this property on a ranger led program. Meet at 621 Bowman’s Mill Road (Warren County) Middletown, VA 22645. NPS signs will mark the site.

* July 22-24 —155^th Anniversary of the Battle of First Manassas Reenactment Reenactments, sutler’s row, symposium tent and more. Sponsored by the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation.  Fee.  For more information or tickets see (www.ccbf.us) or call (540) 869-2064.

* July 26 — “To Be Sold” Virginia and the American Slave Trade: A special exhibit from the Library of Virginia will open at Belle Grove.  The exhibit examines the impact of the domestic slave trade on African American families. Exhibition runs through September 25^th.  For more information call (540) 869-2028.

* July 29 —History at Sunset: An Every-Restless Landscape: Change, Continuity and the Creation of Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park (7:00 pm) For thousands of years people have changed the landscape that became Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park. Native Americans burned fields to grow crops, early settlers built mills, and roads were built to connect town and country. Over time various groups preserved certain aspects of the landscape, eventually leading to the creation a National Park. Join Ranger Kyle Rothemich as he asks visitors to experience the landscape of the park to learn about: past cultures, community values, technological change, and historic preservation.  Meet at the National Park Service Visitor Contact Station (7712 Main St. Middletown, VA). This program consists of both a car caravan tour, plus moderate walking.

* July 30— Battlefield Series: “An Appalling Spectacle of Panic” The Collapse of the Army of the Shenandoah(2:00 pm) The amazingly successful Confederate surprise attack on the morning of October 19, 1864 at Cedar Creek caused the near total collapse of the Union Army of the Shenandoah.  Park Volunteer Guy Young will examine this attack through the perspective of the three Union corps who bore the brunt of the Southern assault.  Meet at the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation Headquarters (8437 Valley Pike, Middletown).  Visitors will then car caravan to various locations on the battlefield.

For details and updates, call (540) 869-3051 or see: www.nps.gov/cebe.

King Lear opens at the American Shakespeare Center

The American Shakespeare Center is getting ready to open the third show in its Summer/Fall Season, William Shakespeare’s King Lear, an exploration of family betrayal, human frailty, and the meaning of life.

Following her direction of last year’s The Winter’s Tale, the ASC was delighted to welcome back Jenny Bennett to guest direct King Lear.  The story, which traces the collapse of King Lear’s kingdom, his family, and his own mind, can seem unnervingly contemporary. “Our world’s also full of wise fools, men and women of astonishing service, and radiant moments of quiet peace with our dearly beloved ”  notes Bennett, finding in King Lear a “lifting of burdens in a mad 2016 world.”

For ASC Artistic Director Jim Warren King Lear is the perfect companion piece to Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and The Rise of Queen Margaret (Henry VI, Part 2) this election year.  “These plays about power-hungry politicos can offer insight on current events and provide a cathartic outlet for election year angst.”

“Fortune, good night, smile once more; turn thy wheel.”  As the characters of King Lear find their way through storms both political and meteorological, they also discover the necessity, sanctity, and strength of human love.  Redemption, reunion, and reconciliation make for a stunning counterpoint to the play’s bloody resolution.  René Thornton Jr. plays the fallen King; Lauren Ballard, Allison Glenzer, and Jessika Williams his daughters; and Chris Johnston is the King’s fool.

The American Shakespeare Center has four shows as part of their 2016 Summer/Fall Season. Shakespeare’s heartwarming comedy Twelfth Night, and the rock’n’roll epic Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, are currently playing at the Blackfriars Playhouse. The politically-charged second installment of the Wars of the Roses Ride, The Rise of Queen Margaret (Henry VI Part 2) opens later this summer on September 9.

Audience members may “Pay What You Will” for King Lear tickets to the 7:30pm opening performances onThursday, July 7th and Friday, July 8th by arriving at the theatre, choosing any previously unreserved seat, and making a donation after the show (for more information on Pay What You Will, please call 1.877.Much.Ado).

Tickets for King Lear can be purchased by calling 1.877.Much.Ado (540.682.4236), at the Blackfriars Playhouse Box Office on 10 South Market Street in Staunton, or online at AmericanShakespeareCenter.com.

Best seats start at $49.  Residents of Staunton, Waynesboro or Augusta County can take advantage of $18 local rush tickets on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.  Student, Senior, Military and AAA discounts also are available.

Devils Backbone launches Family Member Beer Project

Devils Backbone Brewing Company has a very special Adventure Pack release available July through September: the Family Member Beer Project.

During this 15-month project, employees from every branch of the Devils Backbone family tree, from servers to members of the sales team to packaging hall employees, formed into 12 groups, each led by a brewer. The groups selected the style, ingredients, and name of their beer and then brewed it together. Our brewers chose five of these beers to include in the final lineup of this Adventure Pack.

The mixed 12 pack includes Ale of Two Cities, an Amero Kolsch-style ale; Apple-achian Pie Stout, an ale brewed with apple, spice, and molasses; Hot Shot IPA, an India pale ale brewed with jalapeno peppers; Space Fruit Pale Ale, an ale brewed with new world hops; and Tropical Thunder, a crystal-weizen ale brewed with pineapple juice. Included in the pack with these five beers is Vienna Lager, the beer that is family to Devils Backbone.

“As our company grows, it’s easy to get caught up in each of our individual roles and become distracted from the core thing that we do and that people love us for: the beer. I proposed the Family Beer Project because it’s hugely important that we all always maintain a strong, personal connection to the art and science of making a beer, no matter what other professional responsibilities fill our days,” says Chief Operating Officer Hayes Humphreys.

The five beers featured in the Adventure Pack, alongside the award winning Vienna Lager, include:

• Ale of Two Cities (4.7% ABV; 18 IBU): Pale, crisp, refreshing
  A blend of traditional German brewing tradition and American hops. Ale of Two Cities has great malt character up-front with a crisp clean finish. Low ABV and very drinkable.
  Brewed by: Aaron (brewer), Michael (packaging line), Karen (Basecamp server), Brittigan (warehouse operator), and Jennifer (Basecamp server)
• Apple-achian Pie Stout (8.0% ABV; 28 IBU): Rich, apple, spice
  The members on this team have close ties to Appalachian Virginia. The stories of Virginia moonshiners using local apples to make their shine was the inspiration behind this brew. Ingredients include apple butter, pie spice, and blackstrap molasses.
  Brewed by: April (brewer), Cara (marketing manager), TJ (maintenance technician), Delmas (lead cook), Daniel (line cook), Siporah (Basecamp server), and Carrie (Basecamp server)
• Hot Shot IPA (6.2% ABV; 55 IBU): Jalapeno, hop, zip
  A tribute to some of the Devils Backbone Mug Club members who travel out west every summer to bravely fight wildfire. The addition of jalapenos provides a nice “hot shot” to this well-balanced IPA. Jalapeno, hop, zip.
  Brewed by: Robbie (brewer), Ann (Craft Adventure Coordinator), Ben (brewer), Annick (Basecamp server), Melanie (Basecamp server), Brodie (HR director), and Tony (hospitality director)
• Space Fruit Pale Ale (4.6% ABV; 38 IBU): Tropical, hop, zing
  Designed to introduce both hop-heads and those who don’t know they’re hop fans yet to a mildly bitter, yet still hop forward beer using Galaxy (Space) and Citra (Fruit) hops.
  Brewed by: Justin (brewer), Coey (quality manager), Majestic (packaging line), and Bryant (packaging line)
• Tropical Thunder (5.3% ABV; 20 IBU): Fruity, tropical, wheat
  A nose of pineapple and tropical fruits with a slight hop linger. Tastes clean and crisp with small amounts of banana Weissbier aroma coming through and finishing with a tropical fruit and pineapple hop kick.
  Brewed by: Josh (brewer), Cherice (hostess), Craig (warehouse operator), Lauren (Basecamp server), Danielle (Basecamp server), and John (Basecamp server)
• Vienna Lager (5.2% ABV;  18 IBU): Mild, toasted, caramel
  Vienna Lager is amber in color with a subtle toasted caramel note and a smooth malty finish.  Brewed using a combination of Northern Brewer and Saaz hops with Vienna, Pilsen, Dark Munich and Caramel malts and allowing five weeks for the lagering process and the flavors to fully develop.

Devils Backbone Brewmaster Jason Oliver says, “The Family Beer Project was a great way for employees in all departments to get to know each other better and gain insight into what goes into a new beer both from the creative aspect to the actual brewing.”

When first timers at Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows are overwhelmed by the array of beers, our helpful staff usually suggests a sampler flight. The Adventure Pack recreates that sampler experience. This pack is on retail shelves now throughout Virginia, District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, and West Virg­inia. It is also available on draft in limited quantities.

Devils Backbone operates two breweries in central Virginia:  Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows (200 Mosbys Run, Roseland, VA) the original brewery, restaurant and the Meadows, the new outdoor beer and dining area, located at the foot of the Three Ridge Mountains in scenic Nelson County; and the Outpost Brewery & Tap Room, a state-of-the-art production brewery and tap room (50 North Wind Lane, Lexington, VA).

For more information on Devils Backbone, please visit the website, www.dbbrewingcompany.com. You can also follow along as they Craft an Adventure on Facebook/devilsbackbonebrewingcompany, Twitter @dbbrewingco and Instagram @devilsbackbonebrewingcompany.

For Adventure Pack Collaboration Sampler beer details, brew day highlights and release information, please follow along on social #DBadventurepack.

Heifetz Institute announces 20th anniversary Festival of Concerts

This summer, a record 95 students from 22 states across the nation and 15 countries from around the globe will descend on Mary Baldwin College to participate in the 20^th Anniversary Heifetz International Music Institute and its 2016 Festival of Concerts.

From the Opening Concert and Convocation on July 2 to the Grand Finale and Farewell Feast on August 11, the Institute’s world-class faculty performers, alumni Artists in Residence, and brilliant young students will present no fewer than 45 public concerts, symposia, and special events, in and around historic downtown Staunton, Virginia, named one of “the Best Small Towns in America” bySmithsonian magazine.

“Our 20^th Anniversary is a moment for us to celebrate this milestone accomplishment for the audience-focused, communicative mission of the Institute, as unique today as when we started in 1996,” notes Founder & Artistic Director Daniel Heifetz. “More importantly, this summer represents a significant new chapter in the Institute’s growth – with a concert every day of the week  – as well as the evolution of our now-five-year partnership with Mary Baldwin College, including the launch of the HeifetzPEGprogram, modeled after MBC’s acclaimed Program for the Exceptionally Gifted, and our joint Take Your Seat! campaign to refurbish our ‘home arena’ of Francis Auditorium.”

The Institute has lined up a number of guest artists, noted alumni, speakers, and special events to celebrate its 20th Anniversary Season, as well as a brand new series: the Heifetz Summer Symposium, aseries of free public lectures by notable figures in the world of music, medicine, and journalism, will kick off Monday, July 4th, at 7:30 pm in the American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Theatre and continue every Monday night thereafter, preceded by a short “prelude concert” by the youngest Heifetz performers.

Monday the 4^th of July will also feature the start of Heifetz at the Temple House, free noontime concerts held every Monday in the historic synagogue in the city’s downtown, as well as a Heifetz InstituteFourth of July concert at Monroe’s Highland, the Charlottesville home of Founding Father James Monroe, the nation’s fifth president.

Audiences will get their first look at the freshly-refurbished James D. Francis Auditorium, (replete with new seats, carpeting, lights, and more, thanks to the joint Heifetz/MBC Take Your Seat! campaign) onTuesday, July 5 with the start of the Stars of Tomorrow concert series, taking place on Tuesday,Wednesday, and Thursday nights during the course of the summer Institute. Stars of Tomorrow concerts are mainly devoted to solo performances by the Institute’s students in collaboration with our faculty pianists.

The Celebrity Series Happy Hour Concerts will return again on Fridays, offering “pairings” of notable Virginia beverages with great music. The “Happy Hours” feature local wineries, retailers and gourmet food purveyors offering tastings and nibbles every Friday afternoon starting at 5 pm, before concertgoers settle in to hear an extraordinary concert by Heifetz faculty and guests at 6 pm.

The renowned nine-time Grammy Award-winning Emerson String Quartet will take center stage at the openingFriday night Celebrity Series concert, on July 8, the Institute’s 20^th Anniversary Celebration Concert & Dinner,featuring locally-sourced provisions from Barren Ridge Vineyards, Mike Lund Food, Three Notch’d Brewing Company, Shenandoah Hops, and Paris Cake Company.

The Festival’s Saturday night Heifetz Hootenannies will have a new home in 2016 – the big new “Heifetz Tent” on Mary Baldwin College’s Page Terrace. The wildly popular new series features Heifetz students “stretching out” in informal multi-genre jam sessions ranging from classical to blues, jazz, folk, roots, and pop, often in collaboration with surprise guest artists. The first “Hoot” with be An Evening With Chic Street Man and Friends on Saturday, July 9, featuring the beloved bluesman and Heifetz Institute Communication Training teacher.

Also back for a second season will be the HeifetzSunday Matinees, taking place in Francis Auditorium at 2 pm. Wrapping up the weekend, these delightful programs showcase the talents of the students, faculty, and Artists in Residence. The 2016 series begins on Sunday, July 10, with a program called “Mostly Mozart,” featuring violinist and Ashkenasi/Kirshbaum Chamber Music Seminar co-director Shmuel Ashkenasi joined by a select group of students and alumni.

For a complete listing of the 2016 Festival of Concerts visit www.HeifetzInstitute.org. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone, or in person at the Heifetz Box Office and Gift Shop located at 107 East Beverley Street, Staunton, or at the door prior to each performance.

About The Heifetz International Music Institute

Founded 20 years ago in 1996, The Heifetz International Music Institute is held on the campus of Mary Baldwin College, located in Staunton, Virginia for six weeks each summer. The Institute is highly selective, as hundreds of the most brilliant and deserving young string players (violin, viola, and cello) from all over the globe apply to the Institute for only 80 openings.

In 2015, students from 12 countries and throughout the U.S. were admitted to the Institute for studies with world-renowned faculty, participation in the Institute’s “Celebrity Series,” “Stars of Tomorrow” “Heifetz Hootenannies,” and other festival performances, instruction in the Institute’s signatureHeifetz Performance and Communication Training©, featuring classes in Voice, Public Speaking, Drama, Wellness, Movement, and Freedom of Expression, in addition to intense private lessons and chamber music coaching. In 2012, the Institute formed a partnership with Mary Baldwin College and moved to Staunton.

Heifetz On Tour, the Institute’s National Program of Outreach and Career Development, consists of year-round concerts and residencies throughout the country, forming partnerships with school systems and cultural institutions in both major cites and rural areas, including the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the Jamestown, RI Arts Center.

For more information visit www.heifetzinstitute.org.

Lime Kiln Theater presents Walker’s Run in concert

Lime Kiln Theater’s Summer 2016 concert series continues on Saturday, July 2, as Walker’s Run will perform with opener Dori Freeman. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the show starts at 7:30. To celebrate the holiday weekend, parking areas will open at 5 p.m. for tailgating.

Advance tickets are $15 and are on sale now atwww.limekilntheater.org. Tickets will be $20 at the door, with cash, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover all accepted.

Lime Kiln Theater’s summer concert series is sponsored by Devils Backbone Brewing Company and Charles W. Barger & Son Construction. Devils Backbone beer, Kind Roots Café food, and Rockbridge Vineyard wine are available for purchase at all shows. The Walker’s Run concert is presented by Attochron, The Jefferson Florist and Garden, Kappa Alpha Order and Sweet Things Ice Cream Shoppe.

Nearly 20 years ago, guitarist and songwriter Brennan Gilmore began gathering musicians who, like Gilmore, had grown up in the rich traditions of Appalachian music and fused them with a wide range of other musical influences. The musical collective ofWalker’s Run has mutated and evolved over the years and now includes fiddler Nate Leath, mandolinist Daniel Knicely, percussionist Nick Falk and original bassist Zack Blatter. Will Lee, a founding member with Knicely of the legendary Virginia newgrass band Magraw Gap – a major influence on the younger generation of musicians – will be joining the band for this special evening of music. The new lineup of Walker’s Run stretches even further beyond the realm of traditional Americana, incorporating African, jazz and punk influences.

The self-titled first studio album from 24 year-old Dori Freeman announces the arrival of a wonderful new talent. A quintessential Americana album, Dori Freeman has its own unique sound while also drawing from many different genres. Freeman says the distinct sound of the record, produced by acclaimed singer/musician Teddy Thompson, came about organically. “We just wanted it to sound genuine,” she says. “To be current and sincere.” That sincerity is palpable on the album, made up of songs full of longing, wit and haunting vocals from Freeman, who sings in a seemingly-effortless but layered, sensual way, causing each word – and note – to take flight.

Lime Kiln Arts, Inc. is a non-profit (501c3), operating at Lime Kiln Theater in Lexington. It opened in 1984 and is rooted in and inspired by the magic of a natural, outdoor theater. After a brief hiatus that started in 2012, Lime Kiln Theater is thrilled to present its third straight summer season of live music featuring local, regional and national acts.

For more information, visit Lime Kiln on the web at www.limekilntheater.org, or check out our Facebook page atwww.facebook.com/LimeKilnTheater.

Arts and the Parks at the Virginia Quilt Museum

In recognition of the National Park Service Centennial, the Virginia Quilt Museum kicks off a month-long celebration of Arts and the Parks this First Friday, July 1, from 5:00-8:00 pm.

For children, North River Librarian Bly Brown will share adventure-story times beginning at 6:30 or 7:15, followed by chalk drawings on the alley.  Meanwhile, Virginia game-warden-turned-author Frank Mundy will offer up truth-based tales from the great outdoors guaranteed to entertain the rest of us!  Frank will also have his books available for signing.

Admission is free during First Friday events.

Be on the lookout for more ways to celebrate “Arts and the Parks” with us each week during July!

About the Virginia Quilt Museum

The Virginia Quilt Museum was founded in 1995 and exists to celebrate quilting in Virginia.  The Museum is a 501(c)3 non-profit funded solely through private donations, memberships, and revenue from admissions and museum shop sales.  The Museum receives no federal or state funding.