Dana Dell Shaffer, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at the age of 77.

Dana Dell Shaffer

Born September 16, 1946, in Savannah, Georgia, to Virginia and Osgood Shearouse, Dana moved to McLean, Virginia, as a teenager with her family, where she would later meet her husband, Elmer Shaffer. They started a family in 1973 and moved to Front Royal, Virginia, where she was a loving and guiding wife and devoted mother to her four children.

Dana gave all to her family and prided herself on getting the kids off to school on time with clean clothes and a good breakfast, or even just the smiles on her family’s faces when a family’s (or neighborhood’s) favorite recipe made it into the meal rotation!

Dana loved knitting and was always eager to share her creations with those she loved. She took pride in her canning skills and enjoyed her word search puzzles and watching her soaps in her spare time. Dana had a deep love for her church and singing on Sundays. Her love extended to everyone who knew her, and she will be remembered for her warm smile, loving personality, and mischievous giggle.

She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Elmer; her children, Charles Shaffer (Laura Maxey), Brian (Tina) Shaffer, Edith Shaffer, and William (Sara) Shaffer; two grandchildren, Duane Shaffer and Lisa Shaffer; siblings, Mary Bach and Charles (Linda) Shearouse; and last but not least, her family at Grace Bible Fellowship Church where she loved all so dearly.

The family will receive friends on Friday, April 26, from 6-8 p.m. at Maddox Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at Maddox Funeral Home on Saturday, April 27, at 1:00 p.m., with Sammy Campbell officiating. Interment will follow in Panorama Memorial Gardens in Warren County.

Instead of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Blue Ridge Hospice at (540) 313-9200 or https://www.brhospice.org/donate. 

Rest in peace, mom. You will forever be in our hearts and memories.

Breakfast, often dubbed the day’s most important meal, has seen its share of evolutions and revolutions. While some dishes have stood the test of time, others serve as nostalgic reminders of the past. Here’s a look at five classic breakfast dishes that have either become timeless favorites or faded memories:

1. Granula: The Original Cereal – Not to be confused with its modern-day cousin “Granola,” Granula was the brainchild of nutritionist Caleb Jackson in 1863. This early cereal was made by baking graham flour into hard cakes, then crumbling and baking them again. The result was so tough it required an overnight soak in milk to be palatable. Despite its initial inedibility, Granula paved the way for the breakfast cereals we know and love today.
2. Milk Toast: Comfort in Simplicity – This quintessential New England dish is as straightforward as it sounds: warm milk poured over cubed pieces of buttered toast, with either sweet or savory seasonings added. Milk toast represented comfort food at its simplest, evoking a sense of warmth and home.
3. Pork and Beans: A Hearty Start – In 1886, a cookbook suggested a breakfast of beans baked with salt pork and molasses, served hot or cold alongside a fried cornmeal pancake. This hearty dish was a testament to the creativity of cooks aiming to provide a filling meal at the start of the day.
4. Codfish for Breakfast – At the turn of the 20th century, codfish was a popular breakfast choice in America. It could be found fried, in balls, or salted and cured. Even guests at the prestigious Waldorf Astoria in 1914 could enjoy creamed codfish on toast, highlighting its widespread appeal.
5. Meat Hash: A Legacy of Resourcefulness – Hash has ancient roots but gained significant popularity during World War II when home cooks needed to be inventive with leftovers due to rationing. The tradition of transforming yesterday’s meals into a delicious breakfast hash has endured, proving that necessity is the mother of invention.

While some of these dishes might seem unusual or even unappetizing by today’s standards, they each hold a place in the culinary history of breakfast. From the hard-to-chew Granula to the comforting simplicity of milk toast and the inventive meat hash that has outlasted wartime rationing, these foods offer a glimpse into the tastes and traditions of the past. Whether they inspire a sense of nostalgia or curiosity, one thing is clear: the evolution of breakfast continues to mirror changes in society, technology, and taste.

In a recent interview at the Royal Examiner, Connie Marshner, the newly elected chairman of the Planning Commission and a noted author, delved into the fascinating themes of her latest book, “Monastery and High Cross: The Forgotten Eastern Roots of Irish Christianity.” The book explores Ireland’s early Christian history, influenced significantly by Eastern Mediterranean cultures, particularly from Alexandria, Egypt, and Armenia.

Marshner’s research, which spanned four years, including two for her master’s degree and two dedicated solely to this project, reveals that St. Patrick was not the first Christian in Ireland. This distinction sets the stage for her comprehensive study of the less-known yet profoundly impactful connections between Irish and Eastern Christian practices.

The cover of her book, adorned with a Celtic cross set against a backdrop of Egyptian hieroglyphs, visually encapsulates the blend of cultural influences that define early Irish Christianity. Marshner states this period was marked by unity among Christians before the divisions into Catholic, Protestant, or Orthodox beliefs. Her book traces these connections back to the third century, highlighting the significant role of Egyptian monks who sought solitude and spirituality away from the burgeoning theological debates in Alexandria, a pivotal intellectual hub of early Christianity.

Marshner pointed out architectural and archaeological similarities, such as the beehive-shaped, dry stone huts on Skellig Michael, which resemble structures found in the Egyptian desert. These similarities support her thesis of a trans-Mediterranean connection to Ireland, bypassing the Roman influences due to Ireland’s non-incorporation into the Roman Empire.

The scholarly work in “Monastery and High Cross” also draws attention to the survival of apocryphal gospels in Ireland, texts that were forgotten or ignored elsewhere in Europe. This aspect underscores the unique preservation of ancient religious texts and practices in Irish monastic life, which remained vibrant and distinct from the broader Christian practices of the time.

Connie Marshner’s dedication to uncovering these historical connections is evident in her rigorous compilation of evidence and her detailed discussion of the implications of these findings for understanding the broader spectrum of Christian history. She hopes this book will inspire future scholars to explore the rich yet under-examined field of Hiberno-Coptic studies.

“Monastery and High Cross” is available on Amazon and SophiaPress.com, promising readers a deep dive into the entwined histories of Eastern and Irish Christianity, brought to life through Marshner’s passionate research and compelling narrative.

In an urgent Facebook post on Monday, April 22, Sheriff Crystal Cline alerted the community to the plight of a deputy whose home was severely damaged by a fire that day.

“This morning, we were reminded of the unpredictable challenges that life can throw at us,” she wrote. “One of my deputies faced a heartbreaking tragedy when a fire severely damaged his home, resulting in the loss of everything he held dear, including his beloved pet.

“This deputy has lived his life on the frontlines—he served in the Army, then as a volunteer and professional firefighter, and now as a deputy with the Warren County Sheriff’s Office serving our community.

“Your support, whether through prayer, donations, or financial contributions, will help provide the immediate needs of shelter, clothing, and other essentials during this critical time. The Warren County Sheriff’s Office (200 Skyline Vista Drive, Front Royal, VA) will be a drop-off location for any physical items or financial donations—ask for Jenn.

I appreciate your kindness, generosity, and support. We are more than a community; we are a FAMILY!”

Out of respect for the deputy, his identity was not revealed. Even so, the sheriff’s Facebook page has been inundated by people who want to help. Many types of donations are welcome, as the sheriff emphasized, and for those specifically wanting to make online financial contributions, a link is provided on the WCSO’s page. Michael Glavis of the WCSO has organized that site for raising funds, the “Sheriff Deputy House Fire Relief Fund.” Glavis considers the deputy a dear friend and work colleague. “He has given blood and sweat for others, and now I’m asking for everyone to give a little to help him and his family through the process of recovery,” Glavis said.

Click here to donate.

Every meeting of the Town Council has a scarlet thread weaving through a thicket of information. On Monday, April 22, at a regular meeting, starting at 7 p.m. in the Warren County Government Center on 220 North Commerce Avenue, the items threading the labyrinth were related to an out-of-town utility connection contract with the Catholic Diocese of Arlington for 0 Criser Road.

Town Council meets for regular meeting on the evening of April 22 at the Warren County Government Center.

Sensing what is coming next is an imprecise art in government and the status of the Diocese’s application, suffering much discussion throughout multiple work sessions of the council, lingered in a state of irresolution as it was unclear whether the church body would ultimately receive water and septic service from the town at their out-of-town location on West Criser Road, where they plan to develop a sanctuary as well as an auxiliary building to serve as a gymnasium. Still, on Monday night, to use Councilman Bruce Rappaport’s language, the issue reached the end of its road. Even if the council does not work out a boundary-line adjustment of Town corporate limits to include the parcel at 0 West Criser Road, even if the council cannot, therefore, require the applicant to build a sidewalk in accordance with the rules that would govern the development of a parcel within Town limits; and even if members of the council continue to disagree amongst themselves about the coulda, woulda, shoulda pertaining to the Diocese’ offer to offset the cost of a sidewalk, the Town can still extend service to the church body. And they did in a unanimous vote.

Jaden Matthiae, son of Michelle Matthiae and planning commissioner Brian Matthiae, receives a gift certificate from Mayor Lori Cockrell after he led the gathering in the pledge of allegiance.

Having placed 0 Criser Road on a list of areas outside of town that may receive service earlier in the evening in a unanimous vote, the council proceeded later, before the vote on approving the application, to submit for the record their varying views on whether a sidewalk could have been a part of the deal. A sidewalk on West Criser Road is something that all the members of the Town Council, as well as the town manager, desire passionately, as safety conditions are currently less than ideal for school children walking on that road. A parcel on that road might be developed in a way that would possibly increase pedestrian traffic, but this only serves to cement that desire; however, there are different opinions about methodology.

Before the meeting, there was an equipment display in the Government Center’s parking lot so the public could see their tax dollars at work. Above: Town Manager Joe Waltz tries out the Town’s brand-new rubber tire loader, valued at 212K, which will serve with snow removal and assist in water and septic maintenance. Below: Manager of Vehicle/Equipment Maintenance Donald McPaters stands beside a beauty, a brand-new asphalt roller valued at 74K.

The one hundred and twenty-some thousand dollars that the Diocese offered to the Town to offset the cost of a sidewalk could have, in Councilman Glenn Wood’s view, solved the problem. However, the Diocese did not conduct a study of what the sidewalk would ultimately cost, and according to the information available to Town staff, the ultimate cost, including all the engineering concerns, would be upwards of two million dollars. In her statement at the meeting, Councilwoman Amber Morris strongly underlined those engineering concerns, specifically the utilities that would have to be moved to make that sidewalk a reality. Town Manager Joe Waltz emphasized the inadequacy of one hundred twenty-some thousand dollars. It is his view that the real priority on West Criser Road is installing a sidewalk between Skyline Vista Drive and Route 340, where there is not even a bike lane to offset the safety concern.

Under public comments, Tom Sayre stands up to address the council on what he perceives to be a pressing need for fiscal transparency, referencing a case from 2022 in which funds were appropriated under circumstances that Town Attorney George Sonnett explained were confidential after Councilwoman Amber Morris interrupted Sayre’s comment to call a point of order. The subject was what she called “alleged conduct,” and in her view, it would be inappropriate for the council to engage in such a comment in the context of a regular meeting. Sonnett encouraged the council not to engage the comment. They did not.

The word on the street is that the gymnasium will precede the sanctuary at 0 Criser Road. The intersection of Luray Avenue and West Main Street is a place of force on Sunday mornings, with much vehicular as well as pedestrian traffic, where St. John the Baptist Church is located across from Maddox Funeral Home. A secondary chapel could relieve that traffic somewhat and the gymnasium could be a resource for the Catholic homeschool community. It certainly sounds like a good thing for everybody.

Click here to watch the Front Royal Town Council Meeting of April 22, 2024.