Autumn in Hunt Country

BY VICKY MOON

The grapes at the local vineyards have been blessed and harvested for the season. The autumn leaves are bursting with fiery color. Foxhunters are going full-tilt - tally ho - and Thanksgiving is just around the corner.
Barbara and William Scott's parties are best described as "events" and this fall they created two such productions at their Willoughby Farm. First, they hosted "An Evening of Baroque" along with Nancy and Tom Dungan and Barbara and Jim Wilson. The Shenandoah University Kammermusik Players conducted by Jan Wagner played a medley of Bach, Vivaldi and Handel.
A large white marquee was set up beside their circa 1898 home. Horses grazed in nearby paddocks as the sun set slowly. Later, an unexpected display of fireworks from a charity event at Wakefield School could be seen in the distance. There was only one minor glitch when the electric generators turned temperamental. It almost added authenticity as the musicians read their sheet music, not by candlelight but flashlight.
The 150-plus guests included: Marsha Carter and artist Robin Hill, Barbara and Mark Augenblick, Betty and Hank Long and Beth and Wayne Gibbens, all listening attentively.
The Scotts have indulged their passion for gardening and planted over 200 varieties of heirloom apples, pears, peaches, plums, cherries, apricots, grapes, gooseberries, raspberries and strawberries. They are especially fond of apple trees and for many years had a commercial orchard in West Virginia.
The apple orchard is now part of the Summit Point Raceway. William Scott is a former world champion race car driver - he won six major championships, two U.S. amateur titles, one European and two world championships in Formula II. He now runs a defensive driving school at the track with clients that include the State Department, TSA and FBI.
So it was a natural tie-in when, a few weeks after the musical event, British auto aficionados gathered at Willoughby Farm for the Hunt Country British Car Classic, sponsored by the MG Club of Washington. Bright red, hunter green and blue Austin Healeys, Jaguars, Rolls-Royces and Bentleys cruised down the country roads.
All types of cars were on view, from Midgets and Sprites to Triumphs. And of course, the Scotts achieved their "purpose" with proceeds from admission fees and refreshments going to the nearby non-profit Middleburg Humane Foundation, which is run by founder Hilleary Bogley.
The Arundel Family - Nick and Peggy, Tom, Kara and Nathan - had a gathering at their Merry Oak Farm in honor of John Berry, director of the Smithsonian National Zoo. It was another stunning setting. As many in the area know, the Arundel family has a longtime association with the zoo. Nick recounted his adventures in bringing back the first two gorillas to the zoo from the Congo in l956. They flew on Sabena Airlines. "They were 18 and 20 pounds," Nick Arundel says, adding, "I learned how to do baby formula from that."
Now his son, Tom, is carrying on the tradition as a member of the board of Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ). There were plenty of animal lovers on hand, including Rose Marie Bogley and Missy and Bill Janes. And to top off the evening? What else... fireworks. This time they were totally intentional and on cue... a Nick Arundel signature happening.

Chukkers

Over at Great Meadow, the U.S.A. vs. England polo match took place. The U.S. Team, led by Juan Salinas-Bentley, won the International Silver Cup by an 8-5 margin. Vinnie Ryan scored two goals and was honored as MVP and local favorites Kevin Dougherty and Dougie Barnes also played.
Mark Cann, Lt. Phillip Kaye, Lt. Quentin Hicks and Maj. Rupert Lewis, all members of the British Combined Services Polo Association, played for England.
We found former Washington Redskin George Starke entertaining guests at the Excel Institute tent. Starke and John Lyon (CEO of Parking Management, Inc.) started the post-secondary automotive technology school in 1997 for atrisk youths. The school, based in Northeast Washington, had 28 graduates last June.

All I want for Christmas

With the holidays just around the corner, it's worth mentioning a few new businesses in the village. Melissa Neal and her mother Kennie Neal are owners of the Hampton House, an elegant gift boutique. They recently had a showing of Jim Dratfield's Petography work. Jim makes house and barn calls for portraits (many in sepia tones) of beloved pets. His work has been published in numerous books with the latest one, A Dog for All Seasons, out in time for gift giving.
And speaking of photographers, Janie Stockton can best be described as a dynamo with a camera. She has launched a new location for her business, The True Studio, in downtown Middleburg. Janie and husband Heath Stockton have renovated a historic building that once housed the clothing and gift shop "The Iron Jockey".
The décor is done in shades of beige and brown, with a large bright room for the portrait work, which includes family, children and babies (which evoke the feeling of Anne Geddes' work). There is a viewing room with large leather couches where clients are able to select photographs as an overhead digital projector plays.
When Janie is not in town, she's on the road with Oprah Winfrey. She recently completed an assignment for the Angel Network/Habitat for Humanity-Katrina project. Janie took portraits of all the families moving into new homes. She's also scheduled to undertake several other missions for Oprah. In between, Janie travels all over the country to children's shops doing portrait work, with a frequent flyer file to envy.
Around the corner on Liberty Street, Katie Rowand has opened Clothes Minded, a women's contemporary clothing shop.
For anyone looking for the perfect Christmas bauble, Elizabeth Madros Miller has opened her Mystique Jewelers (also in Alexandria) in the same building along Washington Street as Janie Stockton. Here one can find the dazzling designs of Fine Arf... ahem, art - charms for pets and people. A former polo player, Elizabeth also carries gold earrings and bracelets from Slane & Slane, Judith Ripka, Jack Kelege, HIDALGO and more. Dear Santa... I want it all.

Shana Heilbron with former Redskin George Starke, who was entertaining guests at the Excel Institute tent during the polo matches.	Ten-year-old Jane Braswell and her horse Gizmo are already getting ready for hunting season.

Lionel Mitchell with his Triumph TR6 at the Hunt Country Classic British Car Show.	Janie and Heath Stockton. Janie, a photographer, runs "The True Studio" in downtown Middleburg.