John Rector Friant

John Rector Friant, of Berryville, VA died peacefully at home on Sunday, January 16, 2011 surrounded by family and friends. He will at last be re-joined by the love of his life, Nancy Leachman Friant, who predeceased him in 2002. Mr. Friant was born on Dec. 3, 1919 in Cape Girardeau, MO, the son of Bertha Rector Friant and Julien Nicholas Friant.
In 1932 his family moved to Washington DC where his father served as Assistant to the Secretary of Agriculture under Roosevelt, and young John became a page in the US Senate. He then earned a degree in Economics from Georgetown University in Washington, DC and was working towards his Masters in Agricultural Economics at Iowa State College in Ames, Iowa, when he was called to service. In March of 1942 he was drafted into the Army and served proudly as a Lieutenant in the Signal Corps of the Army Air Force in the Pacific theater, earning 2 Bronze Battle Stars.

After the war and upon returning to Washington D.C., he met and married Nancy Leachman, “the most gorgeous woman in the world,” in 1948. They moved to Berryville, where John wasted no time starting a family and serving the community in his beloved Clarke County. He owned and managed the Berryville Lumber Company and was an active member of the Clarke Co. Chamber of Commerce, Ruritan Club, Library Advisory Council, and St. Bridget’s Catholic Church. He also owned Whitmore Lumber Co. in Charles Town, WV. He was a founding board member of Heritage Child Development Center and former Chairman of the Clarke Co. Planning Commission. He served on the boards of The Barns of Rose Hill and Grafton School. His initiatives included Clarke Co. Recreational Center, The Route 7 Triangle Beautification Project, Dictionary Project, and the international guest program at the Annual Ruritan County Fair. Using his highly effective power of persuasion along with a gift of homemade paw paw ice cream, he convinced Norfolk Southern to upgrade the grade crossing on Main Street, at no expense to the Town of Berryville. In 1998 he was awarded The Clarke County Citizen of the Year.

John Friant was a lifelong Democrat, though he loved and engaged in spirited discussions with many Republican family members and friends. He will be greatly missed as an active community member and as a family man who left a lasting legacy of service, sacrifice and faith.
Surviving family members include a son, John R. Friant, Jr. of Berryville; 5 daughters, Katherine (Clissy) Funkhouser of Charles Town, WV, Mary Veilleux of Berryville, VA, Margaret Pittman of Virginia Beach, VA, Nina Geiger of Waynesboro, PA, and Caroline Watkins of Charlottesville, VA, 22 grandchildren and 1 great-grandson. He was predeceased by his wife Nancy, his parents, Bertha and Julien Friant, a sister, Katherine Post, and a daughter Molly P. Friant.

The family will receive friends at Enders and Shirley Funeral Home, Berryville on Friday from 1-3 & 5-7 pm. A funeral Mass will be held at 2 pm on Sat. Jan. 22 at St. Bridget’s and a private burial will follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Bridget’s Chapel in the Field, 130 Keating Dr., Winchester, VA 22601; or Clarke County Education Foundation (in memo designate: The Nancy L. Friant Scholarship for the Performing Arts or The Dictionary Project) P. O. Box 1252, Berryville, VA 22611.

Commissioners eye adding a CFO

Commissioner Dale Manuel asks the county commission to pass a motion that would direct the County Administrator to shape a plan that would create the office of a County finical Officer with an employee that would be in charge of the Human Resources.
A new position could be created for the CFO. After debate it was decided that maybe two positions need to be created. One would be for a CFO and the other would be a director of Human resources.

"What I envisioned doing was to task (County Administrator) Tim Boyde to come up with a plan, which would require us to have a CFO in charge of all financial matters," Manuel said.

The Jefferson County Commission looked at restructuring the county's government by adding a chief financial officer during their daily meeting this past Thursday, Jan 20. Budgeting, payroll, all of the functions of payment of bills would be under the CFO, who would report to Mr. Boyde. Originally Manuel wanted a human Resources employee who would report to the County Administrator.

Commissioner Walter Pellish took exception to this saying “I have strong reservations about a Human Resources person working under the Mr. Boyde.” Pellish thinks that the position should be separate. “He should be more independent. He needs to be a person who has an educational background and has worked with the problems that a HR Director Faces.” he said." Pellish does believe that a CFO is needed. We absolutely need one," Pellish said of the chief financial officer position. "Our size and expenditures warrant it."
Manuel feels that with a CFO the County Commission would have a better idea of the amount of discretionary money at its disposal during the course of the year.
"Having a CFO in charge of all finances, I think, would help the county government know how much discretionary money it has," Manuel said.

Commission President Patsy Noland is pleased the commission is taking steps to reorganize the county government's structure “I feel that this is worth looking into,” she said. Noland oppose adding a human resource director. "We already have one in Mr. Boyde," she said.
Commissioner Lyn Widmyer added "We need more effective, efficient government,"

Manual divided his motion first asking on the vote to have Mr. Boyde come up with a plan for a CFO the vote was 4-1 with Commissioner Frances Morgan voting against.
The commissioners voted 4-1 to have County Administrator Tim Boyde look into Creating a HR Director the vote was again 4 to 1 with Commissioner Morgan voting against.
both positions should be reported back to the board before the commissioners start to work on the budget for next year.
James P. Whipple

News briefs and County notices

Auditions
Auditions for the Comedy/Drama “Catfish Moon,” will be held on Sunday, January 23 at 2:00pm and Tuesday, January 25 at 7:00pm. Wonderful roles are available for 3 men and 1 women, approximate ages 35-45.
“Catfish Moon” will be directed by Glenn Frail, who most recently directed “Steel Magnolias” at the Apollo Civic Theatre and has appeared on the Old Opera House stage in “Dicky’s Last Stand,” “Leading Ladies,” “Night Watch” and “The Full Monty.”

Democrats plan monthly meeting
CHARLES TOWN - The Jefferson County Democratic Executive Committee will hold its first meeting of 2011 at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 24. The meeting will be held in the Old Charles Town Library's meeting room, located on the lower level.
The meeting will be canceled if there is inclement weather or if Jefferson County schools are closed, dismissed early or have evening activities canceled.
Information on the JCDEC can be found online at http://www.decjc.org/

Soccer registration
Oakland Church Begins Soccer RegistrationOakland Church will soon be taking registration for their Upward Soccer program, open to all pre-kindergarten through fifth grade boys and girls. Early registration will begin February 1. Cost for registration is $65 per child. After March 12, the cost of registration will raise to $75 per child. Registration deadline is March 19.
Each child must attend one of two soccer evaluations to be held at Oakland Church, located at 70 Oakland Terrace in Charles Town. The first evaluation is Saturday, March 12, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm. The second will be held on Saturday, March 19, 9:00 am-11:00 am. Shin guards are required. Cleats are recommended. For more information about Oakland Church and its Upward Sports program, contact the church office at 304-725-3737, or go to their website at http://oakland-church.net/

BOARD OF REVIEW AND EQUALIZATION
APPEAL PROCESS
PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION
On Thursday, January 27, 2011 at 2:00 o’clock p.m. at the Jefferson County Commission Meeting Room on the lower level of the Old Charles Town Library, 200 E. Washington Street, Charles Town, West Virginia, the Jefferson County Commission will host an informational session for the public with regard to the Board of Review and Equalization Appeal Process for Jefferson County property owners. The tutorial will be presented by local attorney Michael Thompson. Angela Banks, Jefferson County Assessor, will also be present and available for questions.
The purpose of the tutorial is to clarify for the public how the appeal process works and who is eligible for a reduction in property tax as well as regulations and procedures of the County and the Board of Review and Equalization.
The Jefferson County Commission invites you to attend this meeting and to ask questions and discuss concerns. Please take this opportunity to learn more about the appeal process.

NOTICE
Board of Review and Equalization
The County Commission of Jefferson County will convene as a Board of Review and
Equalization in the County Commission Courtroom at the Courthouse of said County on
Tuesday, February 1, 2011, at 1:30 p.m., for the purpose of reviewing and equalizing
assessments returned by the Assessor of Jefferson County for the year 2011.
The Commission will continue to sit as a Board of Review and Equalization on Thursday,
February 3rd, 2011, at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, February 8th, 2011, at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, February
10th , 2010, at 1:30 p.m., and thereafter, until all questions concerning assessments are heard.
Persons wishing to appear before the Commission must apply to the Assessor no later than
Friday, February 11th, 2011, at noon, in order to complete the proper forms and to schedule a
hearing date prior to the final date of Tuesday, February 15th, 2011.

Book Review

ASK NOT

Ask Not: The Inauguration of John F. Kennedy and the Speech that Changed America Thurston Clarke, Henry Holt,

When he became president of the United States on Jan. 20, 1961, John F. Kennedy delivered a memorable inaugural speech that foreshadowed the oratorical skills of his brief presidency. The key line, "Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country," has been repeated over and over both by politicians and historians.
At the time, Cold War tensions dominated world politics, so listeners also responded to the aggressive promise that the United States would "bear the burden of a long twilight struggle . . . against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease and war itself."
The speech was notable for its "quotable quotes" and its use of parallel construction.
Thurston Clarke's new book "Ask Not" tries to show how JFK worked to create the right words to define his ambitions for the country. In doing so he brings to mind a book published earlier this year with a similar theme and style, "Lincoln at Cooper Union: The Speech that Made Abraham Lincoln President," by Harold Holzer. Lincoln's speech to the New York Republican establishment was notable for its substance and its flourishes.
Those who heard the Lincoln speech said he "was transformed before us . . . for an hour and more he held his audience in the hollow of his hand." When four newspapers with a combined circulation of 170,000 reprinted the entire speech the next day, Lincoln knew he had made an impression. In a world where great orations are rare, a talented speaker can make unusually important inroads of support.
Whereas Lincoln lived in a day when a political candidate was expected to write his own speeches, Kennedy ran for office in the 20th century, when it was taken for granted that speechwriters did the bulk of the work. Ted Sorensen, Kennedy's confidant and speechwriter, is usually credited with the inaugural address, as he has been credited with most of Kennedy's public words.
In this book, however, Clarke destroys that assumption by convincingly demonstrating that the most important words and thoughts of this address emanated from Kennedy himself.
Kennedy was known to scribble ideas and phrases on whatever was handy — the backs of letters, airline tickets, envelopes or telegrams. His handwriting was allegedly so poor that aides routinely sent these scraps to Evelyn Lincoln, the president's secretary, for translation. Ted Sorensen practiced the same habit, writing phrases whenever the ideas popped into his mind.
But the inaugural address was clearly influenced by several different people, including historian Allan Nevins, Joseph Kraft, Douglas Dillon, Dean Rusk and Arthur Goldberg. The author also argues that both Adlai Stevenson and Gore Vidal made several important but unacknowledged contributions to the address — and that Kennedy made more than 30 extemporaneous changes to the speech while he was reading it.
The phrase "We shall never negotiate out of fear, but we shall never fear to negotiate" was the contribution of Harvard economics professor John Kenneth Galbraith.
In his effort to uncover the inspiration and sources of the speech, Clarke has made an admirable contribution — and he has strengthened the speech-making credentials of JFK as someone who could not only deliver a speech with panache but originate most of the ideas as well.

Stay On The Road To Safety

(NAPSI)-The number of senior drivers on the road continues to rise. According to AAAseniors.com, there will be approximately 54 million Americans over 65 years old in 2020 and many members of that group will be driving. Being an older driver doesn’t mean that person shouldn’t drive, but it’s helpful to plan ahead and take steps to ensure the safest trip or drive possible.
• Assess the situation—While it should be up to the older driver to evaluate his or her own driving abilities, senior driver or senior improvement courses are great ways to help in that assessment. Senior driving classes can reacquaint a driver with the rules of the road, point out warning signs and discuss new driving issues such as distractions, including texting and cell phones. Check with your local senior center, AARP or AAA for senior driving courses near you.
• Be prepared for emergencies—Consider getting a cell phone if you don’t have one. Donated and recycled phones programmed to only dial 9-1-1 are available. Some cell phones come with larger buttons and displays to make them easier for seniors to use and several service carriers have special senior calling plans. Have an emergency preparedness kit in the trunk that includes phone numbers to call in an emergency (relatives or neighbors, towing company, local garage or dealership), quart of motor oil, tire gauge, white cloth or sign that will help you signal for help, jumper cables, flashlight and blanket.
• Running smooth—A well-maintained vehicle is another factor in safe driving. That’s why it is important to follow regular maintenance practices. Check the air pressure and condition of your tires and have them rotated. A good rule of thumb is to rotate them every other oil change. Get your oil changed and, to extend the life of your car and the oil, consider using a synthetic motor oil. Cars using a synthetic oil such as Royal Purple can go up to 10,000 miles between oil changes, which means less money spent on oil changes and less impact on the environment with less oil disposed.
• Keep it safe—Other items to check for safe driving include: Clean and adjust your headlights. A technician at a dealership or repair shop can adjust the aim to help you see the road better and help other drivers avoid glare. Keep your windows clean inside and out to increase visibility. Repair any windshield chips or cracks before they have a chance to spread.
For seniors or anyone who enjoys driving, one of the first steps for safety on the road is following the basics and being prepared. For more information on Royal Purple products, visit http://www.royalpurple.com/ or call (888) 382-6300.

Discussion on Nourishing Children

Join us for the viewing and discussion of: Nourishing Our Children, Timeless principles for supporting learning, behavior and health through optimal nutrition. When: January 27th from 7-8pm Where: Stony Brook Farm, Hillsboro, VAWho should come: For anyone concerned or interested in optimizing health though nutrient dense, organically grown food. Also for patents concerned about the health of their children and their child's... current diet. Cost: Free but priceless. This one is not to be missed.

Nourishing Our Children is a non-profit campaign of the Weston A. Price Foundation established to address the dramatic deterioration in the health of our children.What separates our campaign from other groups focused on nutrition?Nourishing Our Children is not just about identifying the dangers of Oreos, cola, candy and other obvious junk foods. The campaign also presents research illustrating how foods widely assumed to be nutritional – including packaged foods commonly described as "organic", "natural" or "fortified" – are themselves heavily processed and stripped of nutritional value. Although these labels provide a convenient way for parents to determine which foods to buy, the items associated with those labels often betray the standard of optimal nutrition.

PresentationOur campaign offers a dynamic presentation to parents groups that explains why many traditional foods now considered unhealthy are, in fact, vital to the growth and intellectual development of our children. The presentation is given free of charge, and/or may be obtained as part of our educational materials. For more information please visit: http://www.nourishingourchildren.org/Home.html Presented by Dr. Alissa Harris, owner of Harpers Ferry Chiropractic and leader of the Harpers Ferry Weston Price Chapter.
Nourishing Our Children is a non-profit campaign of the Weston A. Price Foundation established to address the dramatic deterioration in the health of our children. This decline is evidenced by the rise in child obesity, dental deformities such as crooked teeth, learning disabilities, behavior problems and chronic diseases such as asthma, allergies and diabetes. Years of research initiated by nutrition pioneer Dr. Price have linked these and other conditions to dietary deficiencies, among other causes. The campaign is dedicated to educating parents on the serious nutritional risks of today's standard American diet, and to restoring to that diet the nutrient-dense foods that are crucial to the health of our children.