Lt. Mike Prince stood in for Middleburg Police Chief A. J. Panebianco at this month's regular meeting of the Middleburg Town Council on Thursday, August 14. He didn't say why in so many words, though it soon became apparent that some, if not all the members of Town Council knew why.

No one on the Town Staff spoke of it either.

Prince had stood in for the Chief before. It wasn't all that unusual.

Prince gave his report. Thanked everyone for their help in making the Town's most recent "National Night Out" celebration a success. Asked for questions. There were, unusually, none of substance.

When Prince left Council chambers, the Vice Mayor quickly left her seat and followed him out.

The next day the website of the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police posted the following statement:

Amy Panebianco, the beloved wife of Middleburg Police Chief AJ Panebianco, has been dealt a heartbreaking blow in her courageous fight against cancer. AJ and Amy lead lives of selfless service to others, as all police officers and nurses do. Please help if you can.

Readers were referred to a gofundme.com site headlined, "One Last Gift for Nurse Amy" (www.gofundme.com/d1e0as)

At press time the gofundme post had been shared nearly a thousand times, and many of those whose lives had been touched by the Panebiancos had donated nearly $7,000.

Middleburg Bank has also established a fund to support the family. Checks made out to "AJ Fund" may be deposited at any branch of Middleburg Bank.