Putting The Splish In Your Splash
BY CRYSTAL SCHELLE KNOXVILLE, Md. – Since 1972, River and Trail Outfitters has maintained a place where families can get on the water for some good, old-fashioned clean fun. John Gonano, general manager, came into the business by marriage 15 years ago. His wife, Natasha Baihly, is the daughter of owners Lee and Eunsook “Grace” Baihly. Today, the family still runs the business and keeps its focus on family as well as safety. “Our mission statement is that we want people to have memories to last a lifetime,” Gonano said. “We want people to remember their time with us, and say ‘Remember when ….’ At the end of the day, that’s our ultimate goal.” Annually, River and Trail Outfitters welcome about 25,000 visitors, which includes the campgrounds as well as their other sports. When it comes to people having a good time, Gonano said there are several principles that go into making sure their time with River and Trail Outfitters. The first principle is safety because, he said, “because you don’t have any fun if it’s not safe.” Also, caring for the environment; quality customer service; and to always be respectful to others. “We hope that when people come out with any of us have a good time and want to come back every year,” he said. Out on the water The mainstay of River & Trail Outfitters is the company’s water adventures. Visitors have the option for trips that vary in not only the vessel the person is riding in, but at which body of water. White water rafting finds those who want an adrenaline rush to go on rapids on the Potomac and Shenandoah and rivers; North Branch Dam Release in Bloomington, Md.; and Savage River Dam Release, also in Bloomington. “I would recommend that our whitewater rafting is great for novices,” Gonano said. “You have a trained guide in every raft. Rafts are more stable than other kinds of boats. In many ways, that’s the best trip for beginners.” Other water activities for those who want to do a little paddling including the option of canoe or kayak rentals. Those looking for a guided tour can do that we well. Those who want a little bit more added to their experience, River and Trail offers food and paddle tours – such as Boat & Brew Tours; Water to Wine Tours; Foodie Float Tours and Shuttle/Land Tours. For the water lover who is looking for something on the more relaxing side, there is tubing. Tours include the mellow Shenandoah River; the more beginner whitewater tubing on Antietam Creek as well as the whitewater of the Potomac River...
Get Pampered In Style
By CRYSTAL SCHELLE MARTINSBURG – I’m notorious for not taking the time for a little self-pampering. That’s why on a recent summer day I decided that my haggard nails needed some TLC. I decided to head over to Q-Nails & Spa in Martinsburg. Located next to Boost Mobile on Foxcroft Avenue, there was more than ample parking. I was warmly greeted by the front desk receptionist who directed me to Donna Duangdara, the store manager. What impressed me the most was not only the friendly greeting, but how the space felt – bright, light and welcoming. Behind the front desk are two curved countertops for those wanting to get their nails done. Further back in the space are a row of large chairs on each wall for those looking for a pedicure. And I couldn’t help but notice the two beautiful chandeliers glistening in the afternoon sun. It told me that I was there to be pampered. It has been years since I took the time to get my nails done. So, when Donna asked me if I wanted tips, I excitedly said yes. I always thought tips looked classy, and it had been more than 10 years since I even had a set on my fingers. After looking through several books of colors for my nails, I decided on a nice pale pink. It felt summery and reminded me of cotton candy. Donna said when it comes to colors it varies in what’s popular. Some like the bright colors but ombre is popular right now. When I chose my color, Donna recommended using Dipping Powder to do my nails. It was a first for me, but I liked the benefits of it. Dipping Powder is lightweight and durable, and I especially liked that the process would be odor free. I also liked that it promised to maintain strong nails as well as contains vitamin E and calcium. While Donna started to prepare my hands for the manicure, I noticed that it was busy for a Thursday afternoon. I liked the energy in the room as people chatted while their feet soaked or picked out the color for their own nails. Donna came to the area by way of California, then Arkansas – which she considers home – before she and moved to Winchester, Va., to be with her fiancé. With more than a decade under her belt for working in a salon, it showed. She was gentle with my hands and gauged my talkativeness to keep me engaged while she worked on my nails. But she wasn’t only doing my nails, she was also balancing being a manger....
Creating beauty inside and out
by Bonnie Williamson There’s an old cliché that says, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Cynthia Lloyd, the creator of Handcrafted Bath and Body Emporium, is the embodiment of that quote. In addition, she is distributing her “lemonade” to all who seek it. Handcrafted Bath and Body Emporium is a new online site on Facebook offering products to make its customers have healthier skin and hair, using natural ingredients, all of them made by Lloyd in her Charles Town, West Virginia, home kitchen. She started her business in March. Lloyd’s products are also available at Effleurage Spa and Boutique in Charles Town and local craft and vendor events. Still, more on those products later. The story behind them is almost miraculous. First, concerning attaining beauty on the inside, Lloyd, 54, started working on her doctorate in theology online at age 50, a far different approach to a career than following in her family’s farming tradition. “Doing that online is a lot harder than it appears,” she says, smiling. “But I got it and became a certified Christian counselor and life coach.” She says becoming more aware of her spirituality also gave her more appreciation for all things natural. It also helped her deal with her ensuing health problems. Because of bulging discs and degeneration in her back, Lloyd has had more than 10 back surgeries in the past 10 years and faces more surgery in the future. “After having numerous spinal/back surgeries, I found that I could no longer do a lot of the things that I used to do. Given my new limitations, I was looking for something different that would be fun, but easier on me, as well as helping me serve others,” Lloyd says. Lloyd saw posts and ads online about making natural soaps and bath products. She says it made her reexamine the products she used in her own life. “In everyday items in my home, I saw that so many of them had so many chemicals and other ingredients that are bad for your skin or health. I decided that I could produce something that would be better for myself and my family to use. I believed I could make products that are much more natural than many of the items that I had used. So, my journey began,” Lloyd says. She started research and came up with formulas for soaps that would be as chemical-free as possible and have ingredients that would help with sensitive, dry, or itchy skin. “Those formulas include among other things organic colloidal oatmeal, goat’s milk, and Vitamin E. I gave some of my products to a friend...
Sending Our Little Ones Off With a Smile
The Berkeley County BackPack Program is an on-going program that feeds over 600 students weekly, and the mission of the BackPack Program is to meet the needs of hungry children at times when other resources are not available, such as weekends and school vacations by providing bags of non-perishable food to take home from school. During the summer months when school is out of session, the Program feeds nearly 200 students every other week. This program is vital to ensure that the next generation has an opportunity to succeed regardless of their economic status. In the Fall of 2010, it was brought to the attention of several mothers in the area that a program like this was desperately needed in Berkeley County. The Berkeley County BackPack Program was launched in November 2010. The Program began feeding 36 children at one school. Today, nine years later, we are serving over 600 students each week. Every week, a team of volunteers meet at a facility on Foxcroft Avenue in Martinsburg to organize, sort, bag, inventory, and deliver the food bags to the schools for the students so they have food to eat over the weekends while not in school. During the summer months, the food bags are picked up by the families at our facility every other week. It is supported by a variety of credible studies that students who are not properly nourished perform poorly in school. Our challenge is to ensure that every schoolchild in Berkeley County is prepared to learn by having his or her nutritional needs met. Even with the gradually improving economy, many families are struggling to provide enough food for their children. One in six Berkeley County children live with food insecurity, which means that approximately 4,340 children locally do not always know where they will find their next meal. The cycle of poverty in our community can be mitigated through education, but children must be fed in order to be ready to learn. How can you help? The BackPack Program is a 100% volunteer organization, which is solely funded by donations from local individuals, businesses and churches, as well as fundraisers and grants. Monetary donations are always needed to help with the purchase of food for the students. Donations can be made online at www.feedbcwvkids.org or mailed to P.O. Box 2153, Hedgesville WV 25427. Non-perishable food donations can be made at the schools we service and drop boxes located around the county listed on our website. Attend our Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction Fundraiser on Sunday, September 8th from noon to 3pm at Tomahawk Intermediate School, Hedgesville. Join us for spaghetti, salad, rolls, desserts...
Valley Homes & Style Magazine | August & September 2019 Edition
August & September 2019 Edition
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