Clifton’s own Paradise Springs Winery was recognized at the 2012 San Francisco International Wine Competition, the largest international wine competition in the nation. “We are always thrilled to have some acknowledgment from the higher ups and we are excited about what we are doing,” said Jane Kincheloe-Wiles, co-owner of Paradise Springs. The winery was given a silver medal for their 2011 Petit Manseng, a $25 bottle of wine. More then 4,500 wines from 26 states and 29 countries competed in the contest which took place in June. Several other Virginia wineries also took home medals, with …

A brick-oven pizzeria and Italian restaurant will open in Clifton this October. “There’s really nowhere in Clifton that serves Italian food...Not many people deliver in Clifton either,” said co-owner Sal Speziale. “So I moved to the town and the opportunity came so I said, 'Why not?'” The Villagio of Clifton restaurant will open in the space formerly occupied by Weston’s restaurant at 7145 Main St. in the Buckley building. Speziale and business partner Marcus Silva are working together to open the restaurant. Speziale said that he has been in the restaurant business since 1991 and this will …

The NOVA Music Center of Clifton has moved to a Manassas storefront. The business relocated at 12704 Chapel Rd. at the end of May, though they continue to offer private lessons in the town as needed, said storeowner Erich Russekrobbins. They are working to finish up gathering permits for their new location at 8963 Center St. in Manassas and plan to open soon. “The owners of the place where we were at wanted to move back into their place,” Russekrobbins said. “They are going to renovate the building and live upstairs and have a different store upstairs.” Their new location is 2,600 square feet…

Two Fairfax Station women are charming area swimmers with their Wolligogs. Wolligogs are charms for children that can be put on swimming goggles, backpacks, flip flops, and anywhere else. The idea for the business started a year ago when friends Kim Lewis and Jen Koberg were poolside with their children and noticed how difficult it is for children to hold on to their goggles when so many of them look alike. “We said wouldn’t it be great if there was a way for kids to hold on to their goggles,” Lewis said. The pair started the process for setting up their business last summer, and their …

The Clifton Wine Shop and Tasting Room will be popping some corks to celebrate their two-year anniversary. “It’s been going really well,” said owner Julie Thompson. “I feel blessed.” Their anniversary is on Saturday, and with it will be a wine tasting from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.; customers can also nibble on some finger foods.  Getting into the wine business has been successful for Thompson, who first got into wine in 2003 when visiting family in California with her husband. They visited film director Francis Ford Coppola’s vineyard and became enamored. “I knew nothing about wine,” Thompson said. “…

A lifelong love of baking prompted a Clifton woman to start her own cupcakery. “I’ve been baking cakes for my family for the last 19 years,” said Laurie Gaffney. “Everyone said ‘You should open your own business’ so I did a bit of research and decided to try it out.” With her children soon leaving for college, the time was right for the stay-at-home mom to pursue her baking full time when she started her business, Clifton Cupcake, last year. Gaffney obtained a permit to work from her home, and thankfully her kitchen is large enough to handling a lot of baking, she said. The biggest challenge …

Is Don Lovett a photographer or a wizard? His magic and artistry with a camera indicate unmistakably that he truly is a whiz. Prints of fairy children and young knights in an enchanted forest line the hallway leading to the D Gallery Photography Studio. Inside the studio, which is located in The Clifton House Shoppes on 12644 Chapel Road, an array of Lovett’s art captures the viewer’s attention and imagination. Lovett opened his studio at the urging of Virginia Buersmeyer, who owns the neighboring VA Spa & Salon. She first saw his work when he was at a photo-shoot in the town. She noted, “…

The wine industry in Virginia has seen "tremendous growth" in the last few years, Gov. Bob McDonnell said recently, and an example of that trend can be seen no further then the blossoming Paradise Springs Winery right in Clifton.  “The wine industry has gotten better and better,” said Kirk Wiles, owner of Paradise Springs Winery on Yates Ford Road. The industry contributes $747 million annually to the state’s economy, an increase of 106 percent since 2005, according to an economic impact study released recently. Frank, Rimmerman + Co., an accounting and consulting firm that specializes in the…

Business: F&F Lanscaping Services: Lawn service, maintenance, snow removal, and more Employees: Two  Business opened: November 2010 Website: FandFLandscapingllc.com Two college-aged entrepreneurs started a landscaping business that has blossomed from just 10 clients to 47 since November 2010. “We wanted to start something that had low start-up costs and big gains,” said 21-year-old Justin Faint. Faint, of Manassas and his friend, Scott Fitzsimmons, 24, of Fairfax Station had both mowed area lawns to make some pocket money growing up. After graduating high school, Fitzsimmons attended the …

The Clifton boutique All That Glitters will be moving to a new location with a longtime employee taking over the reigns of the business. “We will be bringing in some new lines but the look and charm of the store will remain the same,” said Alexandra Soper. The store is not straying far from its current location on 12644 Chapel Road. It will move less then a mile away to 7144 Main Street. Soper, who grew up in Clifton, is currently the store manager and will officially become the owner in March. The store’s founder, Martha Mikesa, had been running the store for over 30 years and is now …

Dr. Ylva Bostrom The Animal Clinic of Clifton on 12702 Chapel Road Years in practice: About 16 years in the Fairfax Station area Services: Dogs and cats Dr. Ylva Bostrom took over the Animal Clinic of Clifton practice since July of last year after the clinic’s former vet Dr. Raymond Van Lienden passed away. Bostrom, who grew up in Northern Virginia, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 1996. Most recently, she worked at the Companion Animal Clinic in Fairfax Station. Ask the Vet:  How do you think practicing medicine differs in a small town like …

When you think spa, dance classes aren’t the first thing that comes to mind, but VA Spa and Salon in Clifton is hoping to reconfigure your definition of spa. On Jan. 2, the spa will offer fitness, dance and nutrition classes as well as dietary coaching programs. The new additions to the spa are a part of the overall healthy and wholesome philosophy of owner Virginia Buersmeyer. “When I opened the spa, I knew I wanted to go into the wellness direction. I wasn’t sure where that would lead me, but there seemed to be a need for these classes,” said Buersmeyer. Nine teachers in two studios across …

Clifton antique store La Bella Luce is all decked out for the holidays. Dec. 15, 2011.

Shirley Casey is the creative genius behind Shirley’s Catering, which for decades has been a Fairfax Station-Clifton institution. Described as “a full service, off-site catering company bringing our kitchen to you,” Shirley’s Catering is frequently the first and only place that individuals and businesses turn to for help with entertaining. Shirley’s Catering offers a wealth of choices for your menu. Casey, whose personal taste in food is “eclectic,” enjoys “reinventing” herself in her cooking. As a result, you will never be bored with the same tired dishes prepared for every other event. “I …

Despite winning two top videography awards from the Wedding and Event Videographers Association (WEVA) International, Cameo Video Productions’ owner Jerry Werthman remains humble. “Winning an award in this competition is a tremendous honor. You can never count on or expect to win with such good producers from around the country and the world up against you,” Werthman said. “It would be presumptuous to think I had it coming.” Werthman, a Fairfax Station resident, recently won two Creative Excellence Best-of-Category Gold Awards from WEVA: one for Social Event Coverage and the other for Social …

Jay’s Brewing in historic downtown Clifton is simple. A single wire rack is filled with homebrew starter kits as giant bags of malt lay piled on the floor. In this store, there’s no need for fancy décor or comfortable furniture, it’s all about the knowledge streaming from behind the counter. “Derek is a big help, he has lots of pointers,” said Andrew Lewandowski, a relative newcomer to the homebrewing scene. “I’m a loyal customer.” Derek Satz, owner of Jay’s, explained beer is almost literally in his blood—his parents, grandparents and great grandparents all homebrewed their own beers. Having…

Everyday Valet Services:  Personal and corporate concierge services Launched: September 2010 Address:  P.O. Box 7352, Fairfax Station Website: http://www.everydayvaletva.com Two Fairfax Station moms got the idea for starting Everyday Valet when a working couple who let their car registration lapse jokingly asked if they could take of it because they didn’t work. "Yes, but you’ll have to pay us," quipped Jennifer Broderick. But then Broderick and her friend and neighbor Debbie Williams got to thinking that there had to be lots of other people burning the candle on both ends. So, in September …

The NOVA Music Center in Clifton has a new address, and a lot more space.  The store recently moved from 7144 Main Street to 12704 Chapel Road. “We’re four times the size we used to be,” said owner Erich Russekrobbins.  “We’re a full line music store.” Russekrobbins said that means NOVA sells everything to do with instruments; guitar, band and orchestra.  They also have a wide selection of print, which means music books and sheet music. One of the store’s specialties is the ukulele.  “We’re exclusive dealers of some of the best brands,” said Russekrobbins.  “People will drive four to five …

Global Music Academy Services: Art, Music, Dance programs for children and adults Opened: May 2011 Address: 5622 Ox Road, Fairfax Station (in the same shopping center as the Gold’s Gym) Website: http://www.globalmusicacademy.org/ When Nediana Pavlova immigrated from Bulgaria 17 years ago, she had the dream of starting her own arts center for children. In May, that dream became a reality. “When I was applying for citizenship here, they asked me if I had any exceptional abilities or things that I would bring to this country,” Pavlova said. “I wrote that I would benefit the arts by starting a …