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Sunday, June 7th, 2009
A bright sunny Sunday turned into a great evening for The Friends of Laura Ratcliffe and for Merrybrook.
The Frying Pan Park Conference Center provided a perfect setting for our Down Home" dinner and special evening to celebrate the 173rd anniversary of Laura Ratcliffe's birth. The old barn, converted to a very modern but still warm welcoming space, saw numerous partygoers gathering for the event under wooden beams decorated with the rich blues and iridescent greens of peacock feathers lending a touch of Victorian elegance.
Dave Goetz, in his perennial role as Master of Ceremonies, did a masterful job making sure each guest felt at home and well enough informed to take part in every feature of the program, from bidding on the great Silent Auction prizes to writing letters of support for Merrybrook's preservation.
Rick Garland's piano brought to life some of the favorite songs of Laura's era. J.E.B. Stuart (AKA Rick) provided a lively background for our guests, and, true to his gallant nature, came to our rescue when the Center's mike failed for a time.
Our keynote speaker, State Senator Mark Herring, spoke about the wins and losses of
preservation in Virginia from the point of view of someone familiar with the process. He gave us encouragement laced with caution and warned that persistence is the "must have" for success. He also graciously offered to meet with one of our Board later in the summer to further discuss some of the issues he presented. Many thanks and much appreciation go to Senator Herring for his talk and his support.
We also had as a guest speaker local author, Chuck Mauro, giving a behind-the-scenes look at some of the tangled web he encountered in researching his latest book--"Laura Ratcliffe, a Southern Spy in Northern Virginia". Hot off the press, the book sold very well at this, its first appearance, and Chuck later presented The Friends of Laura Ratcliffe with a generous share of the receipts as his donation to Merrybrook. If you would like a copy of this interesting and detailed account of Laura's life, the Herndon Town Depot is the spot to go. Thank you, Chuck.
Dance master, Todd Harding, was present to teach period dancing, but the lights go out early at Frying Pan, so we could only sample his skills. Maybe Todd will join us at one of our Fall events so many more members can enjoy a full evening with him.
In fact, the evening had so many worthwhile and enjoyable activities that we have saved some for those who could not make it. Inside you will see a list of Auction items still available for the bidding. It's your chance to grab a bargain or try something entirely new, and help Merrybrook at the same time. The prize winners will be the highest bidders, but you will have to make sure your bid is in the running, so don't bid too low!
Most important, your evening would not be complete without taking part in the on-the-spot letter-writing we asked of the guests. Read about it in Words from Win in this newsletter, and join in with your thoughts on the Preservation of Merrybrook. The Park Authority and the Supervisors need to hear of the wide public support for keeping Merrybrook available for future generations. Names and addresses are provided, so please write!
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