April A-Z ~ A Final Look Back

April 2020 was a month we will always remember for so many reasons. One of those reasons I hope, is the feeling of community we cultivated with the debut of this blog, On the Streets Where We Live.

When the creators of the April A- Z Challenge first came up with this idea, calling it a challenge was apt. I’ve participated before on my other blog The Day After and can attest to that, but this month, collaborating with other people has been so much more, that the word challenge almost takes on a new meaning.

I’m grateful to my community; to all of who have supported me this month and contributed and shared and liked. Thank you.

I’m grateful to my local photog friends who searched their archives each time I needed something and delivered without hesitation.

I’d also like to send a special shout out to Rochelle Wisoff Fields, who through her blog Addicted to Purple taught me how to edit and to make every word count. I am eager to re-join my Friday Fictioneer Group and do some Fiction Writing!

If you are a fan of some of my photog friends you can find them by looking for their tags
Carole Fortune
Sharon Bly Ferguson
George F. Hoffman
Linda Walcroft
Nancy Grandstaff Shrum
Kathy Evans
Michael Terndrup

If you are following the upcoming election please look for two of the mayoral candidates featured on this blog
Brandy Boies
Don Le Vine
And friends and supporters of Christie Monahan can read her words by clicking here.

If you love the iconic people in our community be sure to visit posts from
Diane Artz Furlong
Susan Haynes
Kath Stanley
Sharon Ferguson
David Lassiter
Barbara Plitt
Maggie Maloney
Janet Heishman
Kitty Miller
Mary Redmon
Lana Le Vine
George F. Hoffman
Kathy Kehoe
Jenae Jenkins
Alice Muellerweiss

If you love the iconic places in our community be sure to read about
E.Pearls
Clementine Vintage
Pot Town Organics
Riverview Cemetery
Lydia’s Clothes Closet
The Shenandoah River
Fishers Hill Battlefield
Butterfly Murals
Queen Street Diner
Strasburg Museum
The Hopewell House Bike & Bed

If you love Strasburg History watch for this tag, we plan to add more to it soon.

I hope that everyone, from those who have stumbled upon this blog, to those who have followed from the beginning are happy with the content. If you have other ideas for future posts please feel free to message me here.

One small request before I go. If you have enjoyed these posts and think our content worthy please invite your friends to like us on facebook here: On the Streets Where We Live.

April A-Z ~ Z is for Zzzz’s

I knew from the time I first decided to reach out to the community for this A-Z Challenge I wanted to include Alice Muellerweiss and The Hopewell House Bike & Bed somehow, somewhere. I started to ask her to do “B”for Bed and Breakfast but Barbara’s butterflies were too beautiful to put on hold.

I was set to ask her to do H (for Hopewell) but then Kathy Kehoe wanted it for The Strasburg Heritage Society. How could I say “No” to that honor?

Finally, like a light bulb, an idea. One message to Alice was all it took and she agreed. What a joy to work with! She said I could use images from their website or my own from my Christmas tour. I figured I would use my own. Trouble is I didn’t look at them until yesterday and guess what, they are all pretty Christmasy (I know, duh).
But fortunately it was a nice enough day to at least get some outside shots of this beautiful place in our community.

Thanks again Alice for your words:

Make your Zzzz’s a top priority to balance good health. We all know exercise and good nutrition factor into a healthier YOU, but did you know equally important is getting enough sleep? The quality of your sleep can depend heavily on the quantity of your sleep. Consider sleep as your daily reset button and an investment in your health.

Set the right environment to achieve sleep success. Start with a comfy bed – whether a firm or soft mattress, fluffy or flat pillow, or cotton or satin sheets – only YOU know what is comfy for YOU. Remove televisions or other screened devices about an hour before bed. Taking the last call or text from work or watching your favorite action movie will interrupt the calmness to prepare for those Zzzz’s.

Healthy eating will contribute to improved sleep. Heavy meals or very spicy foods may cause havoc to your digestive system and can have some impact on the best Zzzzzz YOU can get.
Resetting your body each day with essential Zzzz’s gives your body and mind the best opportunity to be at your best.

Curious about the above submission I asked Alice what type of bedding they used at The Hopewell House Bike & Bed . She replied: medium to firm mattresses, cotton sheets with down stuffed comforters year round. Sounds divine…year round.

Today’s post comes from Alice Muellerweiss, a certified Health Coach and Weight Management Specialist with the American Council of Exercise. She focuses on healthy eating and enjoys sharing tips and strategies to fuel people nutritionally. Alice inspires people to move everyday whether in the gym or outside. Alice owns The Hopewell House Bike & Bed and Anytime Fitness with her partner, husband, Kevin Watson.

Edited by Dawn M. Miller.
Photography by Dawn M. Miller

Because of the restrictions put on us due to COVID-19 I enlisted the help of several wonderful community members in order to complete this month’s series.  Some sent me images, some, their own narrative, that I used with just a little editing, others needed more tweaking.  I truly hope, that now that we have reached the  the end of this month long challenge together we have brought you,  the reader, a glimpse of  Life on the Streets Where We Live, and I hope you will continue to follow along, perhaps even join us. Feel free to message me here.

 

April A-Z ~ Y is for Yaymaker!

From my friend, artist, teacher, and Yaymaker, Jenae Jenkins:

The number one comment we get when anyone finds out we host paint and craft parties is, “Oh, I couldn’t do that, I’m not artistic at all!” We always respond that having artistic talent is not a requirement to having fun at our events. For the past four years, Yaymaker (aka Paint Nite) Shenandoah Valley has been a way we can connect with our community and bring people together for a fun night out.

My assistant, Debbie Benson, and I look forward each week to bringing creative events to local venues. We are looking forward to the next time we can come together to celebrate all the little “Yays” in life.

If you have ever attended a Yaymaker event, you know that it is more about the joy of the process and not the product. For Debbie and I, our “Yays” come from hearing how our events have changed people’s lives.

We love it when someone chooses to celebrate a major milestone with us. Birthday parties for ages 6 – 96, anniversaries, and bachelorette parties are fun celebrations.

When someone approaches us and says, “Painting with you has given me a new lease on life” it simply melts our hearts. Celebrating the end of chemo treatments or providing a safe place to go out and be creative without thinking about the pressures of life is a very rewarding “Yay” for us. Creating opportunities for participants to try out a new venue on their own or with friends in a nontraditional way is certainly a win-win “Yay”.

Giving back to the community through fundraisers and vendor contributions is an important part of what we do. This is just a small example of how fulfilling it is to be able to give people a place to share whatever “Yay” is happening in their life.

While we have this time to take things a little slower and realize what our personal “Yays” may be, take the time to celebrate them. Continue to be creative especially if you’re at home for an extended period. Connect with others any way you can whether it be virtual meetings, Social Media, Facetime, or handwritten letters. Our world may be revolving a little differently right now, but we can’t wait to get back to our regular venues and celebrate all your “Yays” with you!

Today’s post was submitted by Jenae Jenkins, a teacher at Signal Knob Middle School in Strasburg and Yaymaker Local Partner and Creative Events Host along with her assistant Debbie Benson.
All pictures courtesy of Debbie and Jenae.

Because of the restrictions put on us due to COVID-19 I have enlisted the help of several enthusiastic community members. It’s a wonderful collaboration and we all hope at the end of this month long challenge we will have truly expressed our love for life On the Streets Where We Live. We hope you, the reader will follow along.

April A-Z ~ X is for Express Baseball!

From Matt Neal, Strasburg Express board member:

Strasburg residents Mike Whittle, Frankie Conner, Butch Barnes and Jay Neal had dreamed of bringing a Valley Baseball League franchise to Strasburg. In summer of 2011 this dream became a reality and the Strasburg Express took the field for their inaugural season.

Ramping up quickly and fueled by the best fans in the Valley, in 9 seasons the Express have reached the playoffs 7 times and have amassed 5 North Division titles on their way to 2 Valley League championships. The organization was rated as the best in the league by All Things Valley League in 2017 and 2018, and has been ranked nationally multiple times since the 2016 season.

Playing a 42-game schedule, you can catch all of their home games at First Bank Park and follow every road game via http://www.strasburgexpress.com.

Today’s post comes from Matt Neal and team photographer Michael Terndrup. See more of Michael’s photos here.

April A-Z ~ W is for (Strasburg) Witchy Dancing Queens

From Joan Williams:

In May 2017, while  sipping a cup of coffee, my dear friend, Barbara Plitt, sent me a video. It showed a group of German women, dancing a German dance to the beat of some German music. The music and dance joyfully celebrated the planting and harvesting seasons. We thought this type of celebration would be perfect for Strasburg since we were settled by Germans. We agreed that between the two of us we should be able to find a group of nutty, fun-loving women to participate. We wanted to find light-hearted women who would come together, enjoy themselves, bring their inner energy, put a smile on the face of others, and make children giggle.

We rounded up 16 women for our original group. In no time we grew to 22. Then we discovered 32 other folks who actively wanted to support and encourage us. We made our brooms and costumes, found a choreographer, started practicing, and then it was “showtime”. Our first event was Strasburg Oktoberfest 2017. Much to our delight, the crowd truly enjoyed us and requested an encore performance later in the day.

Well, this group of fun-loving women have reached and exceeded our goals. We have grown in numbers, grown closer together, expanded our repertoire, performed not only in Strasburg but in other valley towns by invitation. We have been invited to perform up and down the Valley for festivals, special events, art galleries, museums, parades, and senior living centers. We have had fun putting smiles on the faces of the young and old alike. Making people smile and giggle not only touches their hearts but ours as well.

Ruth Hoffman

Patti Mullin

Strasburg Witchy Dancers

Strasburg Witchy Dancers as Jellfish

These women are loving, caring, community involved individuals, and a pleasure to know. Currently, we are not performing by dancing but by lovingly providing hundreds of handmade masks for our local medical professional heroes. Our gift of love is sharing happiness with others and that gift nourishes us as well.

Today’s submission comes from Strasburg’s Witchy Dancing Queen, Joan Williams.
Photography by Laura Berryman, Carole Fortune, Mary Redmon, and George F. Hoffman.

Because of the restrictions put on us due to COVID-19 I have enlisted the help of several wonderful community members. Some are sending me images, some send their own narrative, that I can use with little editing, others need more tweaking, but I hope at the end of the day this month long challenge will truly exhibit Life on the Streets Where We Live, and I hope you, the reader will follow along, perhaps even join us. Feel free to message me here.

If you’d like to join click here for more info.
Or follow along at #AZChallenge

April A-Z ~ A Day of Rest to Gather

We are almost through the month of April and it’s been a busy one, at least for me. This was not my original plan for this month but I love the way it has brought so much of us together. I hope that everyone who has stumbled upon to those who have followed from the beginning is happy with the content. If you have other ideas for future posts please feel free to message me here. Please don’t be offended if I don’t get back to you right way. I promise I will, in due time.

We are almost at the end but I wanted to remind you that if you are a fan of my photography, thank you.
If you are a fan of some of my photog friends you can find them by looking for their tags
Carole Fortune
Sharon Bly Ferguson
George F. Hoffman
Linda Walcroft
Nancy Grandstaff Shrum
Kathy Evans
Michael Terndrup

If you are following the upcoming election please look for our two mayoral candidates featured on this blog
Brandy Boies
Don Le Vine
And friends and supporters of Christie Monahan can read her words by clicking here.

If you love the iconic people in our community be sure to visit posts from
Diane Artz Furlong
Susan Haynes
Kath Stanley
Sharon Ferguson
David Lassiter
Barbara Plitt
Maggie Malioney
Janet Heishman
Kitty Miller
Mary Redmon
Lana Le Vine
George F. Hoffman
Kathy Kehoe

If you love the iconic places in our community. Be sure to read about
E.Pearls
Clementine Vintage
Pot Town Organics
Riverview Cemetery
Lydia’s Clothes Closet
The Shenandoah River
Fishers Hill Battlefield
Butterfly Murals
Queen Street Diner
Strasburg Museum

This N That

Sugar Creek Snowy & Sweet Co

Lydia’s Storefront 2018

Photo of King St. on a Snow Day by Susan Haynes

#chalkthewalk art by Barbara Plitt

Maggie Maloney’s Mask Making Machine

The Shenandoah River at the Boat Launch in the Strasburg Town Park

April A-Z ~ V is for Vintage Strasburg

More than 35 years ago Leo M. Bernstein came to town and brought his love of collecting, artifacts, and history with him. He created the Strasburg Emporium and soon Strasburg was dubbed “The Antique Capital of Virginia”. Mr. Bernstein has been gone for many years and The Emporium is under new ownership but Strasburg still loves it’s vintage.

Besides The Emporium, The Strasburg Flea Market, King St. Flea Market, and Clementine Vintage, we have E.Pearls, owned by David Lassiter.
I asked David to write something for me and he sent me this:

E. Pearls, our little Antiques and Garden collectibles shop has been housed in an old log cabin, circa 1740, at 188 W. King Street, in Strasburg Virginia, since 1997.

Where imagination and creativity abound EPearls is an interesting place to wander into just to see what is new. There is a mammoth fireplace, often adorned with in-house designs, vintage finds, or the creations from others in the community. You might see floral wreaths and paintings or old books combined with primitive furniture.
Like looking for treasure, you never know what you might find inside E.Pearls.

The name, E. Pearls honors my grandmothers, Edna Pearl Talbert, Emily Lassiter, and my wife, Sara’s mother, Eva Thornton, all artistic women. Edna Pearl, my maternal grandmother inspired my creativity, encouraged my diversity in talents and infused a passion for gardening and a love of people. Sara’s mother inspired her in similar ways. We honor all these women with the name, E. Pearls.

We invite you to visit the gardens, greenhouses, and our other creations, once we are open again. Perhaps you will be inspired to create or collect. Come see me at E. Pearls on King St. in Strasburg.

There are several other great places in Strasburg to find vintage treasures and goods at affordable prices. Be sure to visit our many other thrift stores, Blue Ridge Hospice, Kids Come First, and of course, Lydia’s.

Blue Ridge Hospice Thrift 390 E King St,

King St Flea Market 327 N Massanutten St, Strasburg, VA 22657

Kids Come First 115 E King St, Strasburg,

Lydia’s Storefront 2018

Today’s post was inspired by the words of David Lassiter. Editing and photography by Dawn M. Miller. Unwavering support from, despite my indecisiveness, Sharon Bly Ferguson.

Because of the restrictions put on us due to COVID-19 I have enlisted the help of several wonderful community members. Some are sending me images, some send their own narrative, that I can use with little editing, others need more tweaking, but I hope at the end of the day this month long challenge will truly exhibit Life on the Streets Where We Live, and I hope you, the reader will follow along. Feel free to message me here.

If you’d like to join click here for more info.
Or follow along at #AZChallenge

April A-Z ~ U is for Unity

The basis of every society is unity. For Strasburg, unity is no mere concept – it is a reality.

Unity requires respect, trust, and common goals; still, unity can thrive when ideas differ for achieving these goals. When ideas create vigorous debate, goals can be best achieved with compromises.

Unity may become quiet, sometimes even forgotten but unity often has the resilience to reappear when we must confront a serious challenge.

The COVID-19 virus is such a challenge and Strasburg’s sense of unity is coming forth. Together, people are overcoming anxiety, uncertainty and confusion; together, people are giving of themselves to assist others; together, people are discovering solutions to prevent (or repair) the negative impacts of this virus.

Examples abound; people donating homemade bread, offering rides to medical appointments, making masks. People conceiving of an Easter bunny atop a fire truck, encouraging sidewalk chalk art, creating painted butterflies. People creating social media groups to minimize our isolation, encouraging strangers wherever they meet (at a distance, of course), raising awareness for the value each person brings to society.

#chalkthewalk art by Barbara Plitt

Maggie Maloney’s Mask Making Machine

Unity thrives when people realize no one has the answers, yet, together, we can overcome whatever difficulties appear and light the path to an inviting, vibrant and healthy future.

A Gallery of Strasburg Friends and Neighbors Working and Playing together.

Don Le Vine with fellow Veterans at Strasburg Express Game 2014

Strasburg Christmas Parade 2018

Strasburg’s 3rd Annual Grilled Cheese Festival

Front Porch Fridays From Carole Fortune

Strasburg Truck 2012

Christmas parade by Sharon Bly Ferguson

Midget Football 2014

Our contributor today is Don Le Vine; retired after 44 years supporting the National Defense and Intelligence Communities, Don is running for mayor of Strasburg. You can find him at Don Le Vine for Mayor of Strasburg 2020
Photography from Maggie Maloney, Sharon Bly Ferguson, Michael Terndrup, Carole Fortune, and Dawn M. Miller.
Editing by Dawn M. Miller

Because of the restrictions put on us due to COVID-19 I have enlisted the help of several wonderful community members. Some are sending me images, some send their own narrative, that I can use with little editing, others need more tweaking, but I hope at the end of the day this month long challenge will truly exhibit Life on the Streets Where We Live, and I hope you, the reader will follow along, perhaps even join us. Feel free to message me here.

April A-Z ~ T is for (Strasburg) Teachers!

Kitty Miller, substitute teacher at Strasburg High School shared this:

Teachers have always maintained a unique position, in that they need not only educate, but inspire, and affect positive change. They have a direct impact on their students and during the school year often spend more time with them than the students spend with their parents.

The “rules for teachers” in a contract from 1923 were stringent (read here) but began to ease up as the depression took hold (read about that here).

Still, a lot of the customs of the past were reflected as late as the 40’s and 50’s.
Many of the teachers in our local schools, when I began in 1950 were still unmarried women; Miss Addie Sonner, Miss Virginia Cooper, Miss Frances Hoover, all taught me in elementary school.

From the 1957 Staufferstadt (yearbook):

Times began to change, and men joined the faculty, mostly at the high school level, and married ladies were accepted into the workforce.

I remember when classes were small enough that elementary teachers ate at the table in the cafeteria with their class, continuing the lesson in manners. I recall being told to “eat what you don’t like first, then enjoy the rest” (still good advice today). Now we have cafeteria aides who monitor the behavior, and noise levels in our energetic cafeterias.

Teachers today teach to a spectrum of ages, languages, and ethnicity. They are some of the most widely skilled people around. From kindergarten to high school and special education they teach everything from reading and writing, music and the arts, to statistics, quantum physics, psychology and medical ethics.

A teacher’s job does not end when the bell rings. Their “job” extends far beyond standing in the front of the classroom; there is planning, grading, writing IEP’s, continuing education, and so much more. Teaching not only to understand concepts but to put them into practical applications, is a gratifying career. Critical thinking is a must in today’s climate.

Do teachers teach for the money? I think not. Many with not only bachelor’s degrees, but with masters, do not have the earning power of other careers with similar education.

Substitute teachers are in such short supply, that many teachers are being pulled to cover other classes when substitutes are not available.

With the closing of schools due to the Covid 19 Pandemic teachers are grieving. Grieving the loss of valued instructional time and missing their students. They are working to make a difference during this time of crisis by teaching from home using technology and sending messages to students in order to keep them on track and to encourage them. Teachers are superheroes in the best of times and in the worst of times.

Today’s post was brought to you by Kitty Miller, substitute teacher at Strasburg High School and lifelong resident.
Editing by Dawn M. Miller
Photography by contributions from sources of Kitty Miller and the camera of Dawn M. Miller

April A-Z ~ S is for the Shenandoah River

My dear friend, Kathy, who I so often cajole and coerce to follow me along in my blogging adventures, volunteered to write on the letter S. I had this whole thing planned out where I would court her from 6 feet way and ask nice, but before I even had to, she volunteered. I was inspired by her beautiful picture, Serenity, locked away in our now forbidden show at the town hall. This picture told me that she could do justice to the river we all love so much.

From Kathy:

Strasburg, Virginia was founded near the banks of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River. I grew up in Strasburg and have long associated this river as an important part of home. The Shenandoah River is a major tributary of the Potomac River which empties into the Chesapeake Bay and eventually into the Atlantic Ocean. Ever sit on the banks of a stream or river and consider the journey that body of water makes as it meanders to its greater collective? Don’t we, as people have similar journeys? Yeah, I think like that.

The Shenandoah River at the Boat Launch in the Strasburg Town Park

Rafters at Harpers Ferry where the Shenandoah flows into the Potomac River

 

The Mighty Potomac Carries Shenandoah River Water to the Chesapeake Bay

Where the Chesapeake dumps into the Atlantic in Ocean City Md.

Unlike the South Fork of the Shenandoah River, the North Fork is rockier and is known for its seven bends. A Virginia state park recently opened that bears the famous bends in its name. Both forks of the Shenandoah River are an outdoor person’s playground and is a source of drinking water for thousands.

When I was dating my husband, we floated the South Fork. Now, we walk our beloved Standard Poodle along the North Fork’s banks at the Strasburg River Walk. The Shenandoah River represents the flow of life in our community.

Today’s post comes from the heart of Kathy Evans, lifelong resident of Strasburg Virginia and Reference and Instruction Librarian at Shenandoah University in Winchester.

Photography by Kathy Evans and Dawn M. Miller

Because of the restrictions put on us due to COVID-19 I have enlisted the help of several wonderful community members. Some are sending me images, some send their own narrative, that I can use with little editing, others need more tweaking, but I hope at the end of the day this month long challenge will truly exhibit Life on the Streets Where We Live, and I hope you, the reader will follow along, perhaps even join us. Feel free to message me here.

If you’d like to join click here for more info.
Or follow along at #AZChallenge