Bleutge and Darr:

Here's a fun fact about Sterling that involves some Playmakers who influenced hometown celebrity Hilarie Burton. Kathy Bleutge and Peggy Darr were both teachers in Loudoun County when Burton was young. In her recent tour to promote her new book, Grimoire Girl: A Memoir of Magic and Mischief, Hilarie Burton stopped in her hometown of Sterling and greeted students at her alma mater, Park View High School. She talked about the people who influenced her during her youth, and Kathy and Peggy are both part of her story. Peggy was the 4th grade teacher who gave Hilarie her first writing award, which inspired her love of writing. Kathy was Park View's crafty drama teacher, who reached into the elementary schools to find young
performers for productions she was directing at Park View. Little Hilarie was one of those performers. Peggy and Kathy sparked Burton's acting and writing talents that led to her successful career. Read more about this story in the Patriot Press.