Mind matters

John Thomas (right), the president of Jefferson Asphalt in Charles Town, put together a team of friends to compete in Brain Games. The 45-year-old has long taken part in the annual fundraiser put on by Literacy Volunteers of the Eastern Panhandle. The event, in its 15th year, was held earlier this month at James Rumsey Technical Institute in Hedgesville. Thomas and his younger brother Michael followed their father into operating the family-owned business. The company located at 9390 Middleway Pike has been serving clients in the Eastern Panhandle for more than 40 years.