It's a Go

BY VICKY MOON

Last summer, polo aficionados were in a swivet when Nacho Figueras, the handsome Argentinean polo playing/Ralph Lauren model, came to town to swing his mallet at the Ambassadors' Cup, joining a plethora of handsome polo players, fetching young women and diplomats.
Now, it appears as if we're going to top that one. Get out the white gloves and your best bonnet because the British are coming. The prattle around the paddocks out here is that a polo match of royal proportions will take place at the 1,100-acre Morven Park in Leesburg. We are ecstatic to hear HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh may attend the Americas Cup Polo match on May 12 as part of their visit to Virginia for the 400th anniversary of Jamestown.
Polo guru Charlie Muldoon is among those sprucing up the pitch to assure level play. Dashing polo player and Oasis Vineyard owner Tareq Salahi is working on details as chairman of the event. The word is, a British team will face off against a team of U.S. riders. No names to report yet, so watch this space for details.

No Glow
Meanwhile, the locals are charged up over the possibility of Dominion Virginia Power erecting a 240-mile line that will cut through this beloved corner of the countryside. The plans call for 15-story towers transmitting 500,000 volts.
But folks out here aren't going to take this lying down. Just like they fought back Disney, the powerful Piedmont Environment Council is bringing out the big guns. Longtime resident and Academy Award-winning actor Robert Duvall spoke on the subject at Beverley Mill, a Civil War battlefield not far from his farm in The Plains. An estimated 100 soldiers were killed at the mill on August 28, 1862 in a showdown between commanders Lt. Gen. James Longstreet and Brig. Gen. James Ricketts.
Rep. Frank Wolf and our favorite weatherman, Willard Scott, were on hand. "We should not be solving tomorrow's power problems with yesterday's technology," Middleburg resident and conservation activist Missy Janes said.

All Aglow
Commander John P. Molière recently organized a reception at Middleburg American Legion Post 295 in which Sen. John Warner (a longtime presence in this community, most notably while married to actress Elizabeth Taylor) was given a commemorative plaque for his service in the U.S. Navy during World War II and as a Marine Officer during the Korean War.
Warner was also presented with a Letter of Recognition from Secretary of Veterans Affairs R. James Nicholson with the comment, "There is no better friend to the veteran." In addition, former Virginia State Department Commander Brett Reistad gave the senator a plaque commemorating "Sixty Years of Public Service."
Dana Reuter, owner of the Red Fox Inn, and Diane Brown of Tiffany hosted a luncheon to benefit the Loudoun Abused Women's Shelter at the Red Fox. Sue Curtis, director of the shelter, gave a talk and then it was time for the door prizes. It seems that Ann or Anne was the lucky name for the day ... Ann Ritonia won a nice bauble from Tiffany and Anne Hazel took home a lovely equine inspired scarf from Hermès.
Elaine Broadhead hosted the Community Leadership Network brunch at her home Glen-Ora (the estate once leased by President Kennedy and his horse-loving wife, Jackie). The party was a book signing celebration for On Shifting Ground: Muslim Women in the Global Era, which was edited by Fera Simone.
The Sheila C. Johnson Performing Arts Center at Hill School was packed for the eighthgrade production of "Guys and Dolls." Many parents and grandparents attended in order to watch their children and grandchildren perform. But there was a big buzz in the air for one Clancey Yovanovich. Her mother, Robyn Yovanovich, is director of drama at Foxcroft and has performed with the Middleburg Players for years. Clancey, (who will attend Foxcroft next year) played the part of Miss Adelaide and sang with great aplomb.

Gone Away
The Annual Christmas Parade in Middleburg takes place in two parts. In the morning, members of the Middleburg Hunt, dressed to the nines in formal hunting attire, come down the main street following the huntsman and the hounds.
Joint Masters Jeff Blue and Penny Denegre led the riders on December 2nd as folks lined up along the sidewalks for a spectacular ride through town. The afternoon procession included tenor Carl Tanner riding in a carriage with his producer Maureen Hanley, who owns Fox Chase Farm. They were followed by representatives of many local organizations including the Middleburg Library Book Worm, the West Highland Terrier Rescue with dozens of Welsh Corgis, big red fire engines and, of course, Santa Claus.
One needed not even consider the long haul to New York City for that other parade. In Middleburg, children waiting on the curb scoop up massive amounts of candy tossed from the "floats." And speaking of scooping ... in addition to horses, there were llamas on parade. All of which produced "puddles" of youknow- what along the street. Where else but Middleburg could you find an official pooper-scooper? Reggie Dawson, co-chairman of the parade, did the honors with his shovel. Monday through Friday he is senior vice president of the Middleburg Bank. "I shovel it everywhere I go," he said.

Georgia Herbert, attorney for the Piedmont Environmental Council, Mike Morency, Piedmont Environmental Council board member, and Willard Scott - everyone's favorite TV weatherman - at a press conference to oppose Dominion Power's plans to erect a series of power line towers through the Piedmont and horse country	Luciana Duvall, Robert Duvall and Missy Janes at the same press conference. Duvall spoke at the event

Penny Denegre and Jeff Blue, joint masters of the Middleburg Hunt, lead the parade through town	The Middleburg Hunt - hounds and all - comes through town during the morning session of the Middleburg Christmas Parade

Santa Claus arrives in Middleburg - via horse, of course