This year’s BREC Fundraiser was a ‘Bluegrass Bonanza’

Dry Mill Road helped propel the ‘Bluegrass Bonanza’ theme of Southern music, food and tradition at this year’s BREC Fundraiser at Blue Ridge Opportunities in Front Royal.

Shortly after Front Royal’s Annual Christmas Parade Saturday afternoon (Dec, 3), staff, friends and supporters of the Blue Ridge Education Center gathered just off the East Main Street parade route at Blue Ridge Opportunities for dinner, entertainment and some holiday fun.

This year’s BREC fundraisers theme was “Bluegrass Bonanza”.  It was very appropriately highlighted by some Southern Cuisine centered around a main course of two styles of chicken with all the traditional sides.

Musical in their own right, BREC Director Carol Olson and hubby Eric trip the light fantastic to Dry Mill Road.

That oh-so-good meal was provided by Devin Smith’s “Deliteful Foods” Catering, in conjunction with Warren County High School’s Culinary Arts students.

And to work off that Southern Cooking, Dry Mill Road added several sets of foot-stomping-good Bluegrass music.  Sean and the boys even threw in some modern (relatively) material from Gram Parsons’ “Hickory Wind” to The Byrds’ “Mr. Spaceman”.

Devin Smith, right, oversees WCHS Culinary Arts students preparation of a chicken and the fixin’s dinner.

Entertainment and dinner were complimented by a Silent Auction, 50/50 drawing, the always anticipated Cake-Walk, and a general good time.

Mom Leslie and daughter Kyra Treutlein get into the down-home, Bluegrass spirit, perhaps to work off some of that Southern-cooked meal prepared by WCHS Culinary Arts students in conjunction with Deliteful Foods Catering.

BREC is a non-profit co-founded by Carol Olson.  It is a licensed day school for students with disabilities, grades 6 to 12; and currently serves students from four counties at its Front

The Cake-Walk is SO popular, even those coming off leg injuries get into the action – to a tension-building piano accompaniment provided by Eric Olson.

Royal headquarters off Kendrick Lane.

The holiday-season get-together and fundraiser has become an anticipated, theme-oriented event for a decade.  But it is also an important moment in helping BREC continue its educational mission.  However, if you missed it, you did not miss the opportunity to contribute to Blue Ridge Educational Center’s service to an important portion of the region’s youth.

BREC staffers and friends, from left, Diane Eiserman, Paula Conrow and Diane’s daughter Leanna, pause between entertainment, socializing, Silent Auctioning, Cake-Walking and dinner.

“The support is always appreciated, is tax deductible and can be given at any time,” BREC Director Carol Olson notes.  “The funds raised go directly to the kids for educational resources like Kindle and computer upgrades; and things like field trips, cooking classes – special projects that enrich the educational environment for our students.”

During Saturday’s event Olson thanked her Board, staff, students and their families, as well as Blue Ridge Opportunities for the space and Joan Harding for the Christmas-themed decorations.

’Tis the season for giving and good fellowship, this time in support of BREC and its educational mission.

And in turn, the community thanked Olson and all those who make the Blue Ridge Education Center one of those SPECIAL PLACES at the HEART of this community.

For additional information on BREC go to its website <blueridgeeducation.org>