<bt>The longer Taylor Behl has been missing, the more the effort to locate her has grown into something of a movement in Vienna. For three hours on Sunday afternoon, Jammin' Java, the music venue and eatery on East Maple Avenue, became the headquarters for that movement.
Three area music acts — Shane Hines, the Brindley Brothers, and Anthony Fiacco and the Echoes — donated their time and stage presence for a benefit concert at the club to raise money for the reward fund being offered for information on the 17-year-old Vienna resident's whereabouts.
"We're expecting lots of Taylor's friends and people who want to support us," said Ann Davis. She and her husband Mike helped organize the event after returning from a four-week stint in Richmond, where Behl disappeared from Virginia Commonwealth University on Sept. 5.
Davis did not hope in vain. About 20 friends, neighbors and acquaintances volunteered to staff the concert, which raised $8,325 bringing the reward fund total to well over $22,000.
The idea for the show came from the Brindley Brothers, who run Jammin' Java, and Luke Brindley said it took less than a week to put the show together.
"It's been pretty incredible, the response and the speed with which the thing gathered," he said.
THE BRINDLEYS ARE well acquainted with Behl, who used to intern at their club.
"She used to hang out here all the time," said Luke. "She was always around, and now she's not. It's just something you take for granted."
Behl's mother, Janet Pelasara, expressed gratitude for the efforts of the Brindleys and the rest of the community.
"I'm absolutely overwhelmed by the support and prayers of the town of Vienna," she said.
Supporters at Sunday's concert were of every age and rank.
Vienna residents Carlie, Brianna and Kirsten Cronin brought a large sack of change they had earned doing chores around the house.
Mayor Jane Seeman was in attendance. She said she has long known Behl's family and remembers Behl as a perennial elf in the town's winter holiday celebration.
Del. Steve Shannon (D-35), who has been active in the Amber Alert program, spoke briefly to the crowd between sets, imploring audience members to "take no less than five of these [missing person] posters and drive as far as you can" to hang them in business establishments all over Virginia.
Pelasara said the concert was only the latest example of support from the community and beyond for the search for her daughter. "We had an enormous amount of friends and family come down to Richmond and hand out flyers. I can't say how grateful I am for their help," she said, also noting, "I've received donations via PayPal from absolute strangers. One guy from Las Vegas sent $1,000. How incredible is that?"
Sunday's performers kept their acts upbeat, to the elation of several small children who danced and romped at the foot of the stage, but in the crowd behind them, it was not difficult to spot somber faces and damp-eyed girls looking on.
To make a donation to the Taylor Behl reward fund, visit www.friendsoftaylor.com to make a PayPal donation, or send checks to:
Friends of Taylor
C/O Johnson & Scarborough, CPAs
2571 Chain Bridge Road
Vienna, VA 22182-5576