At an unusual August 19 session, Town Council paved the way for the establishment of a new center for music therapy at 15 South Madison Street, in the building that formerly housed Nobel Nielson Shoes.

Building-owner Ben Graham told Council he had not only offered use of the space, but other financial support to Tom Schweitzer, a licensed therapist, well-known for his work in music therapy, and currently a candidate for an advanced degree in the field.

Council approved the requested a waiver of certain site-plan-requirements of Middleburg's Subdivision Ordinance without dissent, following Town Planner David Beniamino's positive recommendation.

Mayor Betsy Davis and Council Member Kathy Jo Shea did not attend the session, which had been delayed for a week after local storms and power outages canceled Council's scheduled August 12 monthly meeting.

Tom Sweitzer

As Ben Graham told Council, Tom Sweitzer has long demonstrated "a special gift" for using music to bring troubled children and young adults "out of their shells."

Sweitzer joined the faculty at The Hill School in 1995, soon after completing a degree in Music Theater at Shenandoah University.

A talented musician, composer, playwright, librettist, performer and teacher, his work for, by and with music lovers of all ages is well known in and around Middleburg.

His outstanding use of music for therapy recently attracted the attention of the White House, where he was invited to perform during the White House Disabilities Theater Day (Watch for it on HBO).

Tentative plans call for the center to be open from 4:00 PM to 9:00 p.m, three days a week and from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sundays. A Saturday evening movie session, and the sale of musical instruments and related equipment are also under consideration.

A Meandering Trail

In late July, by a 5-0 vote, Council approved a request to formally pursue VDOT and Federal funding for what has been described as a new "Middleburg Meandering Trail."

The proposal begins a process that will support, funding, planning and maintenance of an extended walking trail around Middleburg, linked to existing trails Hill School and the M.A.R.E Center.

Council Member Bundles Murdock, who introduced the motion, offered special thanks to Missy Janes and others for their outstanding work on the project to date.

Janes, the author of Life in the Country. Stewarding the Land Responsibly: A Land-owner's Guide, told Council she looked at the trail "as a natural resource library."

According to Janes, tentative plans call for phase 1 of the trail to start at Middleburg Elementary School, meander along a tributary to Wancopin Creek, cross Route 50 just below Middleburg Animal Hospital, swing below property owned by the Daley family, then through land owned by Ron Poston, into the church cemetery, through the back of George White's property, and then "sneak" through the Meadow Kirk property to the entrance of the Hill School, where it would connect to the existing trail.

Health Center Home for Middleburg Museum

Mayor Betsy Davis reported that she, Economic Development Coordinator Cindy Pearson, and former Town Council Member Eura Lewis had recently discussed using a rental apartment in the Town-owned Health Center Building as "a good starting location" for a town museum.

The development of a museum, Davis noted, had long been "a pet project" for Ms. Lewis, and that, at one time, the Town had actually considered purchasing the Asbury Church building on Marshall Street for the purpose. Lewis, Davis noted, would be a perfect Museum Chairperson.

The town currently charges $850/month for the space being considered in the Health Center. "Profit" from rental of the space is donated to charity each year. The Health Center Advisory Board has been asked to discuss the matter and make recommendations.

Payday Lenders

Middleburg, signed on to a request by the City of Staunton, sent to all members of the Virginia Municipal League, urging the Governor and Virginia General Assembly to act swiftly to "prohibit predatory, usurious lending practices in the Commonwealth of Virginia." The pay-day loans in question usually take the form of short cash advances for a set fee, in anticipation of a forthcoming pay check (or social security check). Depending on the terms of the loans and "roll-over" provisions for fees, interest rates as high as 3,600 % per annum have been reported. There are, at present, no such businesses know to be operating in Middleburg.

Shaved Ice Stand

Council granted a "Temporary Zoning Permit to allow for the sale of shaved ice at the Middleburg United Methodist Church" to Middleburg Academy senior, Andrew Rader and his brother, John, a freshman.

The Raders told Council the got their idea for a shaved ice stand last year, in Hawaii, where they saw a man selling shaved ice on the street.

Middleburg United Methodist Church agreed to let the Raders use the church lawn on Friday and Saturday afternoons, and, possibly on Sunday as well.

The senior Rader noted that, in addition to traditional shaved ice covered with syrup, their stand might emulate vendors in Hawaii who put ice cream in the bottom of their cones. Music, he said, was also a possibility.

Low Flow and Water Treatment

Retired Town Administrator Jerry Schiro, now serving as a consultant until his replacement can be found, reported that low demand for treated water in Middleburg is delaying the opening of the Town's new treatment plant.

The new state-of-the art plant was designed to treat 250,000 gallons per day in order to accommodate the anticipated needs of the yet-to-be-opened Salamander Inn and Spa.

On some days, Schiro noted, Middleburg requires less than 80,000 gallons per day, particularly in dry weather.

One approach may be to operate only half the plant at a time, alternating filtration membranes to keep them wet and operational. Unfortunately, the plant is currently designed to automatically run two filtration "trains." Alternating the trains would require significantly more work, and indeed manual work by the plant's operators. Changing the plant's design and operating procedures will also incur unanticipated costs.

Also at issue are anticipated requests from Salamander that the Town reduce performance bonds held by the Town pending delivery of the plant, or that Town take full ownership of the plant once it has been passed all permit requirements.

Middleburg, he noted, needs "to nail down all of the issues before accepting the plant. Given what Schiro described as "tremendous progress", the water treatment plant would "probably be on line by the end of August."

Fire Suppression at The Sporting Library

Loudoun Water has also conducted water flow tests for the National Sporting Library and Museum's new fire suppression system, Schiro reported. The results were not good.

Because the new water treatment plants are not yet on line, the he Town "was having a hard time" meeting water pressure requirements for the Library and Museum's new system.

After a pressure test conducted at the fire hydrant closest to the Library, on The Plains Road, Town Planner David Beniamino and Schiro told Library executives that it they chose to rely on their new fire suppression system in the absence of sufficient water pressure, they would do so at their own risk.

Indeed, according to Schiro, if the Library and Museum were completed before the town's new water treatment plant was operational, the Library would not be allowed to connect their fire system to the Town's water lines.