Front Porch Fredericksburg - September 2014

front porchYEAR 18 • ISSUE 206 • SEPTEMBER 2014 Frontporchfredericksburg.com

T H E R E G I O N ' S free C O M M U N I T Y M A G A Z I N ELocal Good News Since 1997

Y O U R G U I D E T O T H E L O C A L G O O D L I F E

Cover Photo By Sue Henderson

con

ten

ts closeups

6 Sprelly’sAdrian Silversmith

11 kathleen harrigan....new FOR executive director

30 hometown heroes....6 named locally

porch talk4 on the porch...life in fredericksburg

Messages

..5 Community inclusion for all.......disability resource center

.7 la petite celebrates 33 year milestone

9 VA Wineries... tips on getting most from winery visit

10 stafford 350: aquia stonecreating entrepreneurs in the burg

12 vino: glen manor, world classCooking with kyle

13 season’s bounty: sponge

14 spencer brewing company

15 will power: the brews are a changin

16-17 Calendar of events

18 Our Heritage: fredericksburg greek colonyhistory’s stories.: sophia st, the flip side of rte 1

19 spotlight on the va deli

20 companions: hey, nice to meet you!

21 My own path: late summer days in petty acresshoe drive benefits micro-enterprises

22 Senior Care: bucket list

23 back to school bluessustaining healthy habits

24 Art in the Burg: pictures that tell a story

25 scene & heard...in the ‘burg!

26 applause ....for piper

27 fxbg music: gaye adegbalola

28 BSG featured artistpoetryman

29 new Downtown Businesses

30 the garden as art:tale of two artists

...And more!3 dancing with the stars 2014

8 a clowder of cats: elizabeth seaver new works

28 ayana sala baugh anti-bullying play

31 recovery in motion gains momentum11

30

6

Dancing with the FredericksburgStars returns to Dodd Auditorium on theUniversity of Mary Washington campusSaturday, October 11, 2014. Tencommunity leaders will partner withMichael and Melissa Scott, owners ofStrictly Ballroom Dance Studio inFredericksburg, to compete for a mirror-ball trophy and the People’s Choice Award.A portion of the proceeds will fund theUMW Performing Arts in the CommunityScholarship, awarded annually to regionalstudents who excel in music, theatre ordance at University of Mary Washington.These students give back to thecommunity, not only in musical,theatrical, and dance performances oncampus, but also as volunteers, workingwith area school programs, producingtalent shows at senior homes, performingat city events, and more.

Our Fredericksburg stars alreadyare practicing their rumba, samba, tangoand more, to be critiqued by a panel ofjudges, who will offer commentaryfollowing each dance and determine thewinner of the coveted mirror-ball trophy.

Adding to the excitement, the evening willbe hosted by renowned WashingtonRedskins running back and NFL Hall ofFamer Darrell Green.

The Stars include Terrie Crawley,dentist and member of the UMW Board ofVisitors; Lisa Crittenden, executivedirector of Hope House; Janel Donohue,president of Rappahannock United Way;John Fick, president and CEO of J.F. Fick,Inc.; Rose Hurley, UMW’s first lady; RegisKeddie, senior vice president ofinvestments at Davenport and Company;John Moss, partner with the Rinehart,Butler, Hodge, Moss & Bryant law firm;Florence Ridderhof, community volunteerand arts patron; John Wack, president ofEastern Sports Management and owner ofFredericksburg Field House; and JoeWilson, president of PermaTreat PestControl.

In addition to Cory Von Ginkel,member of National Dance Council ofAmerica, two regional and entertainingpersonalities will serve as judges: GayeTodd Adegbalola, internationallyacclaimed jazz musician and former

member of Saffire–The Uppity BluesWomen; and Susan Garnett Spears,(pictured) president and CEO of theFredericksburg Regional Chamber ofCommerce, Virginia Chamber ofCommerce President of the Year, and2013 Dancing with the FredericksburgStars contestant. While the judges rate theperformers’ artistic moves, audiencemembers will cast their vote for thewinner of the People’s Choice Award.

According to Florence Ridderhof,“Life is just better and much more joyouswhen there is music, dance, drawings tolook at, poetry to hear, and any kind ofartwork being created, and it is all muchmore wonderful when you know it is beingshared…. STEM is all right,” she says, “butI am a believer in STEAM!”

Dancing with the FredericksburgStars will begin at 7 p.m. on Saturday,October 11, in George Washington Hall’sDodd Auditorium. The event will befollowed by a reception “Under the Stars.”Seats are filling fast, so select and reserveyours now by purchasing a ticket athttp://fredericksburgstars.umw.edu. The

cost is $85 (plus a $5 processing fee), ofwhich $75 is tax deductible. For moreinformation, contact (540) 654-1065.

Lori Izykowski & Ranny Corbin are UMW employees and fans

of the arts in Fredericksburg.

Dancing with the Fredericksburg Stars 2014

rumba, samba, tango & more!

By Lori Izykowski & Ranny Corbin

front porch fredericksburg September 2014 32 September 2014 Front porch fredericksburg

Celebrating Our 20th Anniversary!

Hey, 20!

Cover Photo By Sue Henderson

con

ten

ts closeups

6 Sprelly’sAdrian Silversmith

11 kathleen harrigan....new FOR executive director

30 hometown heroes....6 named locally

porch talk4 on the porch...life in fredericksburg

Messages

..5 Community inclusion for all.......disability resource center

.7 la petite celebrates 33 year milestone

9 VA Wineries... tips on getting most from winery visit

10 stafford 350: aquia stonecreating entrepreneurs in the burg

12 vino: glen manor, world classCooking with kyle

13 season’s bounty: sponge

14 spencer brewing company

15 will power: the brews are a changin

16-17 Calendar of events

18 Our Heritage: fredericksburg greek colonyhistory’s stories.: sophia st, the flip side of rte 1

19 spotlight on the va deli

20 companions: hey, nice to meet you!

21 My own path: late summer days in petty acresshoe drive benefits micro-enterprises

22 Senior Care: bucket list

23 back to school bluessustaining healthy habits

24 Art in the Burg: pictures that tell a story

25 scene & heard...in the ‘burg!

26 applause ....for piper

27 fxbg music: gaye adegbalola

28 BSG featured artistpoetryman

29 new Downtown Businesses

30 the garden as art:tale of two artists

...And more!3 dancing with the stars 2014

8 a clowder of cats: elizabeth seaver new works

28 ayana sala baugh anti-bullying play

31 recovery in motion gains momentum11

30

6

Dancing with the FredericksburgStars returns to Dodd Auditorium on theUniversity of Mary Washington campusSaturday, October 11, 2014. Tencommunity leaders will partner withMichael and Melissa Scott, owners ofStrictly Ballroom Dance Studio inFredericksburg, to compete for a mirror-ball trophy and the People’s Choice Award.A portion of the proceeds will fund theUMW Performing Arts in the CommunityScholarship, awarded annually to regionalstudents who excel in music, theatre ordance at University of Mary Washington.These students give back to thecommunity, not only in musical,theatrical, and dance performances oncampus, but also as volunteers, workingwith area school programs, producingtalent shows at senior homes, performingat city events, and more.

Our Fredericksburg stars alreadyare practicing their rumba, samba, tangoand more, to be critiqued by a panel ofjudges, who will offer commentaryfollowing each dance and determine thewinner of the coveted mirror-ball trophy.

Adding to the excitement, the evening willbe hosted by renowned WashingtonRedskins running back and NFL Hall ofFamer Darrell Green.

The Stars include Terrie Crawley,dentist and member of the UMW Board ofVisitors; Lisa Crittenden, executivedirector of Hope House; Janel Donohue,president of Rappahannock United Way;John Fick, president and CEO of J.F. Fick,Inc.; Rose Hurley, UMW’s first lady; RegisKeddie, senior vice president ofinvestments at Davenport and Company;John Moss, partner with the Rinehart,Butler, Hodge, Moss & Bryant law firm;Florence Ridderhof, community volunteerand arts patron; John Wack, president ofEastern Sports Management and owner ofFredericksburg Field House; and JoeWilson, president of PermaTreat PestControl.

In addition to Cory Von Ginkel,member of National Dance Council ofAmerica, two regional and entertainingpersonalities will serve as judges: GayeTodd Adegbalola, internationallyacclaimed jazz musician and former

member of Saffire–The Uppity BluesWomen; and Susan Garnett Spears,(pictured) president and CEO of theFredericksburg Regional Chamber ofCommerce, Virginia Chamber ofCommerce President of the Year, and2013 Dancing with the FredericksburgStars contestant. While the judges rate theperformers’ artistic moves, audiencemembers will cast their vote for thewinner of the People’s Choice Award.

According to Florence Ridderhof,“Life is just better and much more joyouswhen there is music, dance, drawings tolook at, poetry to hear, and any kind ofartwork being created, and it is all muchmore wonderful when you know it is beingshared…. STEM is all right,” she says, “butI am a believer in STEAM!”

Dancing with the FredericksburgStars will begin at 7 p.m. on Saturday,October 11, in George Washington Hall’sDodd Auditorium. The event will befollowed by a reception “Under the Stars.”Seats are filling fast, so select and reserveyours now by purchasing a ticket athttp://fredericksburgstars.umw.edu. The

cost is $85 (plus a $5 processing fee), ofwhich $75 is tax deductible. For moreinformation, contact (540) 654-1065.

Lori Izykowski & Ranny Corbin are UMW employees and fans

of the arts in Fredericksburg.

Dancing with the Fredericksburg Stars 2014

rumba, samba, tango & more!

By Lori Izykowski & Ranny Corbin


Celebrating Our 20th Anniversary!

Hey, 20!

If it has not already happened,there will come a day when you’ll be struckwith the realization that life has its owndesigns, that the place you thought youwould be at 30…50…80 is not exactly asyou had pictured it, and you’ll reflect onyour story looking for the sweet spots, theturning points, the common chords whereit veered from your plan to bring you tothis day. The people with whom you’veinteracted, the places you’ve visited, andthe choices you’ve had to make, these willbe your history. In retrospect, thecircumstances will give you pause, and theminute choices that have shaped your lifewill make you dizzy.

Like many, my personal historyincludes being a transplant toFredericksburg, though after many yearshere I claim it as my home. I was born inGeorgetown Hospital in Washington, D.C.,and I grew up comfortably amidst NOVA’ssuburban sprawl. When I was a kid, myfather and I often rode our bikes along theW&OD Trail from Falls Church to Restonand back. We walked to 7-Eleven acrossthe muddy terrain that would become theWestmoreland Street exit of Route 66, andwe traveled to National Airport to eatwhite chocolate and watch the planes flyin and out over the Potomac River. Mymother and I caught movies at the ViennaTheater on the weekends and wore holesin our shoes shopping at Tysons Corner.As a teen, I navigated the Metro withfriends and mastered the Beltway ballet ofRoute 495 in my first car, a MercuryTopaz. After moving to Blacksburg forcollege, after my boy was born at the endof my final year there, and after a shortperiod of living in Kent, Ohio, I moved toFredericksburg to support my mother andspend time with my father as he battledesophageal cancer. That was 1998. Thatwas sixteen years ago.

Since that time, I’ve made acareer of teaching English to middleschool students in public school. Of anyjob I have ever had, teaching has by farprovided me with the most opportunity to

change lives, and in return my own hasbeen altered as well. If you want toexperience life’s penchant for steeringthe course, become a teacher, becauseevery day is a surprise. For thirteenyears I have spent close to 135 hourswith my students over the course ofeach year. I am keenly aware that I ama part of roughly 1,800 histories, forbetter or worse, in a small role orlarge. It’s quite a responsibility thatwe have to each other. But then,shouldn’t it always be so?

My son’s personal history hasbeen written in Fredericksburg. Withthe exception of yearly visits with hisfather in California, every milestonehas taken place here from the time heturned three years old. When we firstmoved, we lived in a townhouse on thecorner of Amelia and Prince Edwardstreets, allowing us to walkeverywhere. We frequented favoritekid-friendly shops, like the sorelymissed FUNdaMentals, JabberwockyBooks, and what my son referred to as“the train store” (officially Quilts andTreasures). His childhood inFredericksburg wouldn’t have beencomplete without visits to the sodafountain at Goolrick’s for milkshakes andgrilled cheese sandwiches, or the cornerCards and Cones for hard-packed ice-cream. We often ate at Roma, which isnow Poppy Hill, whose spaghetti marinaracontained so much minced garlic that wewould wake up the next morning smellinglike bulbs mashed into the ground. Wewould grab slices of pizza at Castiglia’s andread our Sunday Post at Hyperion, muchlike I see young parents doing today,sharing hot chocolate and muffins orcookies. He’s been in college for a yearnow, writing his own history, rolling inlife’s waves.

Like my family, each of you has astory to tell, whether to your inner circleor the wider public. Each is a piece of ourcommunity’s history. Such a simple,seemingly obvious thought at first, but

the intricacies of our interactions arenothing to scoff at; though subtle, theyare far-reaching. The stories recordedin Front Porch Magazine over the pasteighteen years have impacted multiplehistories – those of the subjects, of thewriters, and of the audience. FrontPorch has introduced us to each other inunexpected ways, encouraging empathy,spotlighting commonalities we share, andbroadening our perspectives beyond whatwas written in our past. Front Porch sendsus into the community in pursuit of newadventures to add to our own stories.Whether those adventures go as planned isnot always up to us, and where they willtake us next is what makes lifeworthwhile.

A.E. Bayne is a writer, teacher, and artistwho has had the pleasure of recording

stories from the community ofFredericksburg in Front Porch for the

past three years.Thank you Amy!

Amy Bayne Guest Porch PageEditor

Contributing Writers & Artists

Nancy BauerA.E.Bayne Megan ByrnesCollette Caprara C.Ruth CassellAshleigh Chevalier Randy CorbinRyan Davis Arch Di PeppeFrank Fratoe Christina FerberJoan Geisler Alexis GroganDavid Henderson Sue HendersonRalph “Tuffy” Hicks Lori IzykowskiKarl Karch David KerrWendy LaRue Susan LarsonKim Lett William LoringBob Martin Matthew MastalskiVanessa Moncure Gary OlsenJenna Pastorek M.L.PowersScott Richards Warren RichardJames Kyle Snyder Rim ViningChristine Thompson Suzy Woollam

Ellen Worthy Stokes

Front Porch Fredericksburg is afree circulation magazine

published monthly by Olde Towne Publishing Co.

Virginia Bigenwald Grogan, Publisher.

The mission of Front PorchFredericksburg is to connect the

diverse citizenry of Fredericksburgwith lively features and informative

columns of interest to our community’s greatest resource,

its people.

Messages from our readers arewelcome. All submissions must be

received by e-mail by the 19th of themonth preceding publication.

Writers are welcome to requestWriter’s Guidelines and query the

Editor by e-mail.

Front PorchFredericksburg

PO Box 9203Fredericksburg, VA 22403

Ad Sales: E-Mail: [email protected]

Web Site:www.frontporchfredericksburg.com

The opinions expressed in Front PorchFredericksburg are those of the contributing writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of

Front Porch Fredericksburg or its advertisers.

Copyright 2014 Olde Towne Publishing Co.

All rights reserved.


OONN TTHHEE PPOORRCCHHpersonal histories

BY a.e.bayne

This summer I had a wonderful treat.My treat came in the form of a trip to asmall town in northern Alabama namedTuscumbia. Tuscumbia is the birthplaceof Helen Keller, the woman born deaf andblind who overcame significant obstaclesand went on to achieve fame andadmiration advocating for the needs ofpeople with disabilities.

As a person who works towards andpromotes independent living for peoplewith disabilities and as the mother of agrown child with disabilities, visiting

Helen’s birthplace and museum,was inspirational. Putting myeyes and hands on the waterpump where Helen learned tocommunicate her desires,frustrations, and thoughts to theoutside world overwhelmed mewith a mix of feelings …admiration, courage, strength,and perseverance. I can onlyimagine the conflux of feelingsHelen must have had thatmiraculous day the water flowedthrough her fingers and letterswere spelled out in her hand.

As most people, I’m sure, wouldadmit to admiring Helen. She went tocollege, traveled the world meetingdignitaries, and helped the worldunderstand that having a disabilitydoesn’t have to limit one’s dreams orabilities. It took courage for Helen Kellerto do this and it made me reflect andwonder if I was doing enough through mywork to help others understand thatpeople with disabilities deserve theopportunity to live a life of independenceand inclusion in their communities.

I work at the disAbility ResourceCenter (dRC) in Fredericksburg as anadvocate for the rights of people withdisabilities. Advocacy, independent livingskills training, peer counseling, andinformation and resources are the coreservices of the dRC. A majority of the staffat the dRC are people with disabilities ortheir family members. We work to helppeople with disabilities live independently.Living independently doesn’t necessarilymean living on your own; it means beingable to make choices and decisions aboutthe supports you need and about your life.We all deserve that opportunity.

Under the Alabama sun, I wonderedwhat would have happened to Helen if shedidn’t have parents with the educationand perseverance to seek help for theirdaughter. All her gifts and talents wouldhave never been known. Communityinclusion wasn’t a term introduced or eventhought of in the 1880’s. Back then, andeven more recently, people withdisabilities were either hidden away athome by their families or segregated ininstitutions. Large institutions for peoplewith disabilities weren’t mandated to close

in Virginia until 2012 and that was due tothe advocacy of people with disabilities.How many other gifts and talents havebeen hidden from the world over the yearsbecause there wasn’t support at home andin the community?

Visiting Helen’s home this summerconfirmed my passion for the work I do. I,as well as the dRC, believe in communityinclusion for all. As for Helen, she not onlybelieved it, she lived it too.

For more information on thedRC’s services, contact Kim [email protected] or 540-373-2559.

The disAbility Resource Center islocated at 409 Progress Street,Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401 Phone:540-373-2559 Relay &Voice: 1-800-648-6324. Website: www.cildrc.org

Kim Lett is the Program Manager andDeputy Director of the disAbility

Resource Center in Fredericksburg VA.The dRC provides services to those in

Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania,King George, and Caroline.

Community Inclusion For Alldisability resource center

By Kim Lett

messages

Dear Front Porch:What a great issue! I was

fasinated by Paro, the robot seal andwish they were in use more. I also wasmoved by the Service Without Pawsarticle on the service dogs. What a greatcommunity service. Colleen Weaver , Pittsburgh, PA

Virginia and Staff--I was delighted with the current

issue since it contained so muchinformation about dogs. I was completelyunaware that Dogtopia had opened, soam grateful to you for passing the word!With this issue you touched on a nichethat has been empty for some time.Thanks for FPF, Jill A. Deming, Fredericksburg

Hi Virginia:Thanks so much for the

generous article you did about myartwork in the July issue! And thanks forthe tremendous support Front Porchgives all the arts in fredericksburg.Casey Shaw, Fredericksburg

Lexi Grogan’s Pet Sitting Service

“Your pet becomes my petwhile in my care, and I care alot!” - Lexi (540-903-0437;

[email protected]) On facebook as

“lexi grogan’s pet sitting service”

Prices:Dogs - $15 per canine per visitCats - $12 per feline per visit

Better value, more love for your pet than if you

kennel board him!

ROXBURY FARM & GARDEN CENTERMAIN: (540) 373-9124

NURSERY: (540) 371-8802601 LAFAYETTE BLVD

roxburyfarmgarden.comSince 1929

We have all your gardening needs!

Come Shop With Us

ARCHER DI PEPPECAGA

CERTIFIED APPRAISER

Insurance Riders Estate SettlementsDivorce Cases Damage Claims

Oral or Written AppraisalsSPECIALIZING IN ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES

Certified AppraiserCertified Appraiser’s Guild of America

[email protected] (540) 373-9636

"On the Porch" selfie:Amy Bayne with her son, Xaviar Jenerette, and

her mom, Micki Bayne.

If it has not already happened,there will come a day when you’ll be struckwith the realization that life has its owndesigns, that the place you thought youwould be at 30…50…80 is not exactly asyou had pictured it, and you’ll reflect onyour story looking for the sweet spots, theturning points, the common chords whereit veered from your plan to bring you tothis day. The people with whom you’veinteracted, the places you’ve visited, andthe choices you’ve had to make, these willbe your history. In retrospect, thecircumstances will give you pause, and theminute choices that have shaped your lifewill make you dizzy.

Like many, my personal historyincludes being a transplant toFredericksburg, though after many yearshere I claim it as my home. I was born inGeorgetown Hospital in Washington, D.C.,and I grew up comfortably amidst NOVA’ssuburban sprawl. When I was a kid, myfather and I often rode our bikes along theW&OD Trail from Falls Church to Restonand back. We walked to 7-Eleven acrossthe muddy terrain that would become theWestmoreland Street exit of Route 66, andwe traveled to National Airport to eatwhite chocolate and watch the planes flyin and out over the Potomac River. Mymother and I caught movies at the ViennaTheater on the weekends and wore holesin our shoes shopping at Tysons Corner.As a teen, I navigated the Metro withfriends and mastered the Beltway ballet ofRoute 495 in my first car, a MercuryTopaz. After moving to Blacksburg forcollege, after my boy was born at the endof my final year there, and after a shortperiod of living in Kent, Ohio, I moved toFredericksburg to support my mother andspend time with my father as he battledesophageal cancer. That was 1998. Thatwas sixteen years ago.

Since that time, I’ve made acareer of teaching English to middleschool students in public school. Of anyjob I have ever had, teaching has by farprovided me with the most opportunity to

change lives, and in return my own hasbeen altered as well. If you want toexperience life’s penchant for steeringthe course, become a teacher, becauseevery day is a surprise. For thirteenyears I have spent close to 135 hourswith my students over the course ofeach year. I am keenly aware that I ama part of roughly 1,800 histories, forbetter or worse, in a small role orlarge. It’s quite a responsibility thatwe have to each other. But then,shouldn’t it always be so?

My son’s personal history hasbeen written in Fredericksburg. Withthe exception of yearly visits with hisfather in California, every milestonehas taken place here from the time heturned three years old. When we firstmoved, we lived in a townhouse on thecorner of Amelia and Prince Edwardstreets, allowing us to walkeverywhere. We frequented favoritekid-friendly shops, like the sorelymissed FUNdaMentals, JabberwockyBooks, and what my son referred to as“the train store” (officially Quilts andTreasures). His childhood inFredericksburg wouldn’t have beencomplete without visits to the sodafountain at Goolrick’s for milkshakes andgrilled cheese sandwiches, or the cornerCards and Cones for hard-packed ice-cream. We often ate at Roma, which isnow Poppy Hill, whose spaghetti marinaracontained so much minced garlic that wewould wake up the next morning smellinglike bulbs mashed into the ground. Wewould grab slices of pizza at Castiglia’s andread our Sunday Post at Hyperion, muchlike I see young parents doing today,sharing hot chocolate and muffins orcookies. He’s been in college for a yearnow, writing his own history, rolling inlife’s waves.

Like my family, each of you has astory to tell, whether to your inner circleor the wider public. Each is a piece of ourcommunity’s history. Such a simple,seemingly obvious thought at first, but

the intricacies of our interactions arenothing to scoff at; though subtle, theyare far-reaching. The stories recordedin Front Porch Magazine over the pasteighteen years have impacted multiplehistories – those of the subjects, of thewriters, and of the audience. FrontPorch has introduced us to each other inunexpected ways, encouraging empathy,spotlighting commonalities we share, andbroadening our perspectives beyond whatwas written in our past. Front Porch sendsus into the community in pursuit of newadventures to add to our own stories.Whether those adventures go as planned isnot always up to us, and where they willtake us next is what makes lifeworthwhile.

A.E. Bayne is a writer, teacher, and artistwho has had the pleasure of recording

stories from the community ofFredericksburg in Front Porch for the

past three years.Thank you Amy!

Amy Bayne Guest Porch PageEditor

Contributing Writers & Artists

Nancy BauerA.E.Bayne Megan ByrnesCollette Caprara C.Ruth CassellAshleigh Chevalier Randy CorbinRyan Davis Arch Di PeppeFrank Fratoe Christina FerberJoan Geisler Alexis GroganDavid Henderson Sue HendersonRalph “Tuffy” Hicks Lori IzykowskiKarl Karch David KerrWendy LaRue Susan LarsonKim Lett William LoringBob Martin Matthew MastalskiVanessa Moncure Gary OlsenJenna Pastorek M.L.PowersScott Richards Warren RichardJames Kyle Snyder Rim ViningChristine Thompson Suzy Woollam

Ellen Worthy Stokes

Front Porch Fredericksburg is afree circulation magazine

published monthly by Olde Towne Publishing Co.

Virginia Bigenwald Grogan, Publisher.

The mission of Front PorchFredericksburg is to connect the

diverse citizenry of Fredericksburgwith lively features and informative

columns of interest to our community’s greatest resource,

its people.

Messages from our readers arewelcome. All submissions must be

received by e-mail by the 19th of themonth preceding publication.

Writers are welcome to requestWriter’s Guidelines and query the

Editor by e-mail.


PO Box 9203Fredericksburg, VA 22403

Ad Sales: E-Mail: [email protected]

Web Site:www.frontporchfredericksburg.com

The opinions expressed in Front PorchFredericksburg are those of the contributing writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of

Front Porch Fredericksburg or its advertisers.

Copyright 2014 Olde Towne Publishing Co.

All rights reserved.


OONN TTHHEE PPOORRCCHHpersonal histories

BY a.e.bayne

This summer I had a wonderful treat.My treat came in the form of a trip to asmall town in northern Alabama namedTuscumbia. Tuscumbia is the birthplaceof Helen Keller, the woman born deaf andblind who overcame significant obstaclesand went on to achieve fame andadmiration advocating for the needs ofpeople with disabilities.

As a person who works towards andpromotes independent living for peoplewith disabilities and as the mother of agrown child with disabilities, visiting

Helen’s birthplace and museum,was inspirational. Putting myeyes and hands on the waterpump where Helen learned tocommunicate her desires,frustrations, and thoughts to theoutside world overwhelmed mewith a mix of feelings …admiration, courage, strength,and perseverance. I can onlyimagine the conflux of feelingsHelen must have had thatmiraculous day the water flowedthrough her fingers and letterswere spelled out in her hand.

As most people, I’m sure, wouldadmit to admiring Helen. She went tocollege, traveled the world meetingdignitaries, and helped the worldunderstand that having a disabilitydoesn’t have to limit one’s dreams orabilities. It took courage for Helen Kellerto do this and it made me reflect andwonder if I was doing enough through mywork to help others understand thatpeople with disabilities deserve theopportunity to live a life of independenceand inclusion in their communities.

I work at the disAbility ResourceCenter (dRC) in Fredericksburg as anadvocate for the rights of people withdisabilities. Advocacy, independent livingskills training, peer counseling, andinformation and resources are the coreservices of the dRC. A majority of the staffat the dRC are people with disabilities ortheir family members. We work to helppeople with disabilities live independently.Living independently doesn’t necessarilymean living on your own; it means beingable to make choices and decisions aboutthe supports you need and about your life.We all deserve that opportunity.

Under the Alabama sun, I wonderedwhat would have happened to Helen if shedidn’t have parents with the educationand perseverance to seek help for theirdaughter. All her gifts and talents wouldhave never been known. Communityinclusion wasn’t a term introduced or eventhought of in the 1880’s. Back then, andeven more recently, people withdisabilities were either hidden away athome by their families or segregated ininstitutions. Large institutions for peoplewith disabilities weren’t mandated to close

in Virginia until 2012 and that was due tothe advocacy of people with disabilities.How many other gifts and talents havebeen hidden from the world over the yearsbecause there wasn’t support at home andin the community?

Visiting Helen’s home this summerconfirmed my passion for the work I do. I,as well as the dRC, believe in communityinclusion for all. As for Helen, she not onlybelieved it, she lived it too.

For more information on thedRC’s services, contact Kim [email protected] or 540-373-2559.

The disAbility Resource Center islocated at 409 Progress Street,Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401 Phone:540-373-2559 Relay &Voice: 1-800-648-6324. Website: www.cildrc.org

Kim Lett is the Program Manager andDeputy Director of the disAbility

Resource Center in Fredericksburg VA.The dRC provides services to those in

Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania,King George, and Caroline.

Community Inclusion For Alldisability resource center

By Kim Lett

messages

Dear Front Porch:What a great issue! I was

fasinated by Paro, the robot seal andwish they were in use more. I also wasmoved by the Service Without Pawsarticle on the service dogs. What a greatcommunity service. Colleen Weaver , Pittsburgh, PA

Virginia and Staff--I was delighted with the current

issue since it contained so muchinformation about dogs. I was completelyunaware that Dogtopia had opened, soam grateful to you for passing the word!With this issue you touched on a nichethat has been empty for some time.Thanks for FPF, Jill A. Deming, Fredericksburg

Hi Virginia:Thanks so much for the

generous article you did about myartwork in the July issue! And thanks forthe tremendous support Front Porchgives all the arts in fredericksburg.Casey Shaw, Fredericksburg







kennel board him!

ROXBURY FARM & GARDEN CENTERMAIN: (540) 373-9124

NURSERY: (540) 371-8802601 LAFAYETTE BLVD

roxburyfarmgarden.comSince 1929

We have all your gardening needs!

Come Shop With Us

ARCHER DI PEPPECAGA

CERTIFIED APPRAISER

Insurance Riders Estate SettlementsDivorce Cases Damage Claims

Oral or Written AppraisalsSPECIALIZING IN ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES

Certified AppraiserCertified Appraiser’s Guild of America

[email protected] (540) 373-9636

"On the Porch" selfie:Amy Bayne with her son, Xaviar Jenerette, and

her mom, Micki Bayne.

6 September 2014 Front porch fredericksburg front porch fredericksburg September 2014 7

More than two decades agoRaymond Renault was an eight-year-oldboy standing knee-deep in cool waters nextto his father and grandfather in thefamily's homeland of France. They were ona farm tucked into the cleft of acountryside where rolling hills explodewith hues of green. He watched the men inhis life catch fish: black speckled Troutwith enflamed pink bellies; he watched hisgrandmother move effortlessly in a simplekitchen, cooking those fish not from arecipe, but entirely by feel. That

experience, along withmany others, providedthe catalyst that ledthe son of ChefChristian Renault topursue his passionwith food andeventually becameOwner and Head Chefof La Petite Auberge.

C h r i s t i a nRenault, Raymond'sfather, opened LaPetite in 1981 afterhaving establishedseveral successful

restaurants in Northern Virginia. Whenasked about the motivation of his fatherto move the family to Fredericksburg,Christian Renault recalled, "My dad wantedto be in a smaller town. Even back then heknew this area was growing and hethought it would be a good opportunityfor us." His intuition and businessforesight was correct as evidenced by thefact the restaurant is celebrating its 33rdanniversary this year. According toRenault, the accomplishment is quite afeat and their sustaining presence in

downtown Fredericksburg reflects thefamily's vision of setting high standards ofquality for themselves.

The customers have made thisbusiness what it is and many have beencoming since the day they opened. "It'sbeen great to see the community supportus from day one. I take great pleasure inpreparing food they will enjoy," Renaultsaid. La Petite strives to provide the bestquality food to their guests: they buyproduce from local farmers inFredericksburg during the growing seasonand source the freshest seafood fromFlorida to Maine. According to theirwebsite, they provide delicacies such asRockfish year-round, Soft-Shell Crab in thesummer and Shad Roe in mid to latewinter.

While the ownership hastransitioned from father to son, upholdingthe standard of excellence has neverwavered. "I've cherished the time learningfrom my dad and our goals remain thesame: we want to provide good food, growthe business and stay true to what webelieve in," Renault said. The time in thekitchen between father and son hascertainly provided a successful business

venture, but it has also sustained theirfamilial connection. "Working to make arestaurant successful requires a lot oftime away from home, so the fact that myfamily works here is great because weactually get to see one another," Renaultsaid.

As the family looks to the future,the imprint patriarch Christian Renaultleft will continue to inspire them. Therestaurant business is competitive, it'salways evolving and there is a temptationto jump on flash-in-the-pan ideas. Toguard against temporary fads, Renaultholds true to a business ethos his fatherinstilled in him:

"It's natural for tastes to changeand you want to be attentive to that, butwhat's most important is offeringexcellent food we believe in and remainingconsistent with the standards we've set forourselves."

For current menu offerings and hours of operation, visit:www.lapetiteaubergefred.com/

Ryan Davis is a graduate of theUniversity of Mary Washington and has

aspirations of becoming a publishedauthor.

Sweet Thai Chili Peanut Butter,White Chocolate Almond Butter, SaltedButterscotch Peanut Butter. If any ofthose flavors make your mouth water,imagine them combined with fresh jam ona sandwich or crepe, and you have justtasted a little bit of what Sprelly has tooffer.

Sprelly is the brain child ofAdrian Silversmith, and because ofSilversmith’s creativity and determination,it will be a permanent part of theFredericksburg area restaurant scene verysoon. Right now, Sprelly offers manydifferent flavors of hand-crafted gourmetnut butter at area Farmer’s Markets, butwill be offering more once it opens in theMade in Virginia store in October.

“Think as big as you can, andthen think bigger,” says, Silversmith. Thathas been his philosophy as he drewinspiration from his kids, and grew his ideainto Sprelly. Over a decade ago,Silversmith started out in sales on 100percent commission which helped tofoster his determination, but when hesuddenly found himself as a stay at homedad, “the idea started picking up steamand came together.”

In January of this year,Silversmith pitched an idea for a gourmetsandwich shop and creperie focusedaround artisanal nut butters at StartupWeekend Fredericksburg. “I had doubtsand wasn’t sure, but thanks to my wifewho pushed me to pitch the idea, Ireceived customer validation when I gotmy first sale,” he says, and that validationhasn’t stopped. After a Kickstartercampaign helped fund the launch of thecompany, Sprelly has become a favorite inthe Fredericksburg area. The companyand its concoctions have won People’sChoice Awards at Startup Weekend, theMade in FredVA competition, and therecent Sandwich Invitational.

When Sprelly opens at its newlocation, customers can expect to seemany types of unique sandwiches andcrepes such as “The Peppered Rooster”(cashew butter, Thai chili jam, chickenbreast, and pepper jack cheese) and the“Awesome Salami” (almond butter,pomegranate jam, salami, and cheddarcheese). Items will be available assandwiches or stuffed in a crepe. Stapleslike “The Elvis” and Sprelly’s winningcombination from the Sandwich

Invitational, the “Maui Wowi,” will alsobe on the menu along with a nutbutter bar complete with toppings.

For something on the sweeterside, Silversmith has teamed up withPaul’s Bakery to offer “Spronuts”,donuts made using Sprelly’s creations.Jams are also sourced locally and hand-made.

“I am living my dream,” saysSilversmith. “I wantto keep casting mynet and see what itcatches.” With a goalto expand into acommunity centricfranchise thatcontinues to keepthings sourced locally,Silversmith will keepcasting that net.

Sprelly willbe open for breakfastand lunch, but untilthen stop by one of the local Farmer’sMarkets in Spotsylvania, Stafford, NorthStafford, Manassas, or Dale City to getyour nut butter fix and choose from tenfabulous flavors. For more information

about Sprelly visitsprelly.com orfollow them onFacebook forupdates on theiropening.

Christina Ferber is a teacher, writer, andpeanut butter lover. She is patiently

waiting for her two passions (crepes andnut butter) to come together on

Caroline Street.

sspprreellllyy:A Nut Butter Lover’s Paradise

By Christina Ferber

606 Caroline Street Old Town Fredericksburg

373-7847 www.gemstonecreations.org

Tuesday - Saturday 10-5 Wednesday 10-6:30

Where Fredericksburg Gets Engaged

She makes you wishyou could live

foreverBecause that’s how long

you’ll love her.

Private SecurityInvestigations Services

Employment VerificationBackground Checks

Certified Process Servers

Justice Cucci

540-324-6265

www.cops-pi.com

La Petite Auberge: Family-Owned Restaurant Celebrates 33-year Milestone

By Ryan Davis


More than two decades agoRaymond Renault was an eight-year-oldboy standing knee-deep in cool waters nextto his father and grandfather in thefamily's homeland of France. They were ona farm tucked into the cleft of acountryside where rolling hills explodewith hues of green. He watched the men inhis life catch fish: black speckled Troutwith enflamed pink bellies; he watched hisgrandmother move effortlessly in a simplekitchen, cooking those fish not from arecipe, but entirely by feel. That

experience, along withmany others, providedthe catalyst that ledthe son of ChefChristian Renault topursue his passionwith food andeventually becameOwner and Head Chefof La Petite Auberge.

C h r i s t i a nRenault, Raymond'sfather, opened LaPetite in 1981 afterhaving establishedseveral successful

restaurants in Northern Virginia. Whenasked about the motivation of his fatherto move the family to Fredericksburg,Christian Renault recalled, "My dad wantedto be in a smaller town. Even back then heknew this area was growing and hethought it would be a good opportunityfor us." His intuition and businessforesight was correct as evidenced by thefact the restaurant is celebrating its 33rdanniversary this year. According toRenault, the accomplishment is quite afeat and their sustaining presence in

downtown Fredericksburg reflects thefamily's vision of setting high standards ofquality for themselves.

The customers have made thisbusiness what it is and many have beencoming since the day they opened. "It'sbeen great to see the community supportus from day one. I take great pleasure inpreparing food they will enjoy," Renaultsaid. La Petite strives to provide the bestquality food to their guests: they buyproduce from local farmers inFredericksburg during the growing seasonand source the freshest seafood fromFlorida to Maine. According to theirwebsite, they provide delicacies such asRockfish year-round, Soft-Shell Crab in thesummer and Shad Roe in mid to latewinter.

While the ownership hastransitioned from father to son, upholdingthe standard of excellence has neverwavered. "I've cherished the time learningfrom my dad and our goals remain thesame: we want to provide good food, growthe business and stay true to what webelieve in," Renault said. The time in thekitchen between father and son hascertainly provided a successful business

venture, but it has also sustained theirfamilial connection. "Working to make arestaurant successful requires a lot oftime away from home, so the fact that myfamily works here is great because weactually get to see one another," Renaultsaid.

As the family looks to the future,the imprint patriarch Christian Renaultleft will continue to inspire them. Therestaurant business is competitive, it'salways evolving and there is a temptationto jump on flash-in-the-pan ideas. Toguard against temporary fads, Renaultholds true to a business ethos his fatherinstilled in him:

"It's natural for tastes to changeand you want to be attentive to that, butwhat's most important is offeringexcellent food we believe in and remainingconsistent with the standards we've set forourselves."

For current menu offerings and hours of operation, visit:www.lapetiteaubergefred.com/

Ryan Davis is a graduate of theUniversity of Mary Washington and has

aspirations of becoming a publishedauthor.

Sweet Thai Chili Peanut Butter,White Chocolate Almond Butter, SaltedButterscotch Peanut Butter. If any ofthose flavors make your mouth water,imagine them combined with fresh jam ona sandwich or crepe, and you have justtasted a little bit of what Sprelly has tooffer.

Sprelly is the brain child ofAdrian Silversmith, and because ofSilversmith’s creativity and determination,it will be a permanent part of theFredericksburg area restaurant scene verysoon. Right now, Sprelly offers manydifferent flavors of hand-crafted gourmetnut butter at area Farmer’s Markets, butwill be offering more once it opens in theMade in Virginia store in October.

“Think as big as you can, andthen think bigger,” says, Silversmith. Thathas been his philosophy as he drewinspiration from his kids, and grew his ideainto Sprelly. Over a decade ago,Silversmith started out in sales on 100percent commission which helped tofoster his determination, but when hesuddenly found himself as a stay at homedad, “the idea started picking up steamand came together.”

In January of this year,Silversmith pitched an idea for a gourmetsandwich shop and creperie focusedaround artisanal nut butters at StartupWeekend Fredericksburg. “I had doubtsand wasn’t sure, but thanks to my wifewho pushed me to pitch the idea, Ireceived customer validation when I gotmy first sale,” he says, and that validationhasn’t stopped. After a Kickstartercampaign helped fund the launch of thecompany, Sprelly has become a favorite inthe Fredericksburg area. The companyand its concoctions have won People’sChoice Awards at Startup Weekend, theMade in FredVA competition, and therecent Sandwich Invitational.

When Sprelly opens at its newlocation, customers can expect to seemany types of unique sandwiches andcrepes such as “The Peppered Rooster”(cashew butter, Thai chili jam, chickenbreast, and pepper jack cheese) and the“Awesome Salami” (almond butter,pomegranate jam, salami, and cheddarcheese). Items will be available assandwiches or stuffed in a crepe. Stapleslike “The Elvis” and Sprelly’s winningcombination from the Sandwich

Invitational, the “Maui Wowi,” will alsobe on the menu along with a nutbutter bar complete with toppings.

For something on the sweeterside, Silversmith has teamed up withPaul’s Bakery to offer “Spronuts”,donuts made using Sprelly’s creations.Jams are also sourced locally and hand-made.

“I am living my dream,” saysSilversmith. “I wantto keep casting mynet and see what itcatches.” With a goalto expand into acommunity centricfranchise thatcontinues to keepthings sourced locally,Silversmith will keepcasting that net.

Sprelly willbe open for breakfastand lunch, but untilthen stop by one of the local Farmer’sMarkets in Spotsylvania, Stafford, NorthStafford, Manassas, or Dale City to getyour nut butter fix and choose from tenfabulous flavors. For more information

about Sprelly visitsprelly.com orfollow them onFacebook forupdates on theiropening.

Christina Ferber is a teacher, writer, andpeanut butter lover. She is patiently

waiting for her two passions (crepes andnut butter) to come together on

Caroline Street.

sspprreellllyy:A Nut Butter Lover’s Paradise

By Christina Ferber

606 Caroline Street Old Town Fredericksburg

373-7847 www.gemstonecreations.org

Tuesday - Saturday 10-5 Wednesday 10-6:30

Where Fredericksburg Gets Engaged

She makes you wishyou could live

foreverBecause that’s how long

you’ll love her.

Private SecurityInvestigations Services

Employment VerificationBackground Checks

Certified Process Servers

Justice Cucci

540-324-6265

www.cops-pi.com

La Petite Auberge: Family-Owned Restaurant Celebrates 33-year Milestone

By Ryan Davis


When an artist instinctivelycreates something unique, there is arecognizable spark that transfers throughthe end of the brush to the work. Sobelieves Elizabeth Seaver, an artist with aninstantly recognizable style who revealsher spark through anthropomorphismand whimsy, color and collage. A fixtureof the Fredericksburg arts communitysince her residency and show atLibertyTown Arts Workshop in 2009,Seaver reveals the secret lives of cats inher latest series on display at BistroBethem.

Well admired for her fantasticalpaintings of birds, Seaver explains, “Ineeded a change, so I decided on cats. Weassign them human characteristics, and Iwanted to find the similarities and humorin our relationships with them. Cats exudea quality of being standoffish, so I createda series about what they do when we arenot looking. I found that once I startedpainting there was sometimes more goingon than I was aware of until I saw thefinished product. It was interesting to seethe paintings evolve from beginning toend.”

Seaver says she allowed the cat’spersonalities to develop as she painted,and she was sometimes surprised to findthe faces changing to reveal their ownattributes as she worked. Some took onfamiliar traits of people she knew, whileothers manifested characteristics thatwere a little closer to home. She laughs,“They’re probably all faces of me. Youknow, it’s like writing; you don’t mean towrite about your own life, but sometimesthat’s a starting place. ”

As she has developed her style

over the years, Seaver has come to realizehow important an artist’s methodologyand choices are to the public. She saysthat people often ask her why she chosecertain text to include in her paintings orwhy she portrays certain character traitsthrough her subjects. She reflects, “I’vegrown more thoughtful in my choices. Itend to try to use complimentary colors; Ialmost never meet a neutral.” While herprocess of using paint and collage in thisseries is similar to the methods she usedwith her birds, Seaver says she madeexplicit choices with her cats thatpurposefully differ from the past. In herprior series, she used collage to cover thecanvas and revealed messages through theunderpainting; however, Seaver decidedfrom the beginning with her cats to usepaper with specific text to reflect theirrelationships with the world. Sheelaborates, “This time I used paper tocreate form and shape in the paintings. Ichose pieces that matched in textualappropriateness with the images or thatfit the color scheme, and I tried toeffectively play around with thecombination of text and imagery.”

When asked if she has a favoritecat among her characters, Seaver isnoncommittal. She says, “People arealways asking me which is my favoritepainting, and it’s usually the one I’mworking on, unless it’s giving me a devil ofa problem; however, I do love that part,making choices and problem solving.” Sheadmits to purposely choosing aparticularly handsome guy with clouds inhis eyes for her event poster, and shedescribes others with special meaning. “Idid one called The Wind in Her Ears,

depicting a cat flying a biplane that wasinspired by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. Herhusband Charles was famous for aviation,but she also was an early woman aviator,and I have a dedication to her on theback. I love detective stories, so of courseI painted Sherlock, and I had a commissionfor a black cat named Nero, so I paintedhim with a fiddle.”

Lucky for Fredericksburg, onepainting leads to the next. Stop intoBistro Bethem through the end ofSeptember for instant smiles and toexperience firsthand Elizabeth Seaver’sunique spark of artistry.

A.E. Bayne is a teacher, writer, artist,and ailurophile living in

Fredericksburg, VA.

VA. WINERIESget the most from winery visit

by nancy bauer & Warren Richard

A Clowder of CatsElizabeth Seaver unveils new paintings at Bistro Bethem

By A.E.Bayne

Nearly two million happy,sensible, orderly wine enthusiasts findtheir way to Virginia wineries each year.And then there are the others. The oneswho “drop by” for a tasting at 9:30 whenthe winery doesn’t open until noon, or theundulating (unreserved) bacheloretteparty weaving a drunken conga throughunsuspecting tasting room guests. Thelimo crew that piles in and out withoutbothering to pay. The TGIFers whoregularly show up fifteen minutes beforeclosing, and the picnickers with a coolerof Coors and a Weber Go-Anywhere Grill.

Folks, no. Just no.We asked Warren Richard from Virginia’soriginal wine blog, Virginia Wine Time, toshare a few tips on how to get the mostout of wine travel in Virginia’s boomingwine country. With nearly 200 Virginiawinery visits under his belt, few have seenmore, or know this subject better.

TIPS FOR A MEMORABLE VIRGINIA WINE

COUNTRYFall is the perfect time

to visit Virginia wineriesto taste the latestreleases, enjoy a picnicwith a favorite glass ofwine, and beholdgorgeous views ofvineyards andmountains. In thisarticle, I share tips thatcan make your visits toVirginia wineriesmemorable ones.1. Plan Ahead: This tipcannot be emphasizedenough. There arecurrently seven AVAs inVirginia, so identifywhich wine region in thestate that you would like

to visit. Next, narrow down the wineriesto frequent on your trip, and be aware ofwhen they are open. Some may require anappointment. Do you intend to bring alarge party along with you? Youngchildren? Pets? It is a very good idea tocall ahead to find out the wineries’policies.2. Know Your Limits: There are over 200wineries in Virginia, and several wineriesmay be located within short distances ofeach other. Keep in mind that mostwineries will have at least five wines totaste, and you will likely want to linger atthe winery to enjoy a glass of yourfavorite pour. The goal should be to enjoythe whole winey experience—-not to getintoxicated. If a designated driver is noton board, then limit the number ofwineries to visit in one trip. If the tastingeducator is pouring a little too heavily atthe tasting bar either ask for a smallersplash or use the dump bucket after a

small sip. Don’t be afraid to spit aftersipping—-it’s what the pros do especiallyat wine competitions where hundred ofwines are judged.3. Have an Open Mind: Are Virginia wineslike California wines, or are they more OldWorld? We get this question all the time.Virginia wines taste like Virginia wines andpreconceived biases may inhibit yourability to enjoy Virginia wines. Wineregions within the state may have theirown unique terroir and micro-climates,and that is what you should expect toexperience when you visit Virginiawineries. Ask questions about the winesthat are being tasted. What kind of soildoes the vineyard have? What was theweather like for particular vintages? Whatis the winemaker’s style? The answers tothese questions will allow you toappreciate Virginia wines as much as yourfavorites from Napa.4. Be Respectful: Did you bring along apicnic lunch? Great—-be sure to clean upwhen you are done enjoying food andwine. Is the line long at the tasting bar?

Most Virginia wineries are small, family-owned businesses, and tasting room staffmay be limited. A little bit of patience willgo a long way in maximizing yourexperience. Did the winery allow you tobring the kids and Fido too? Be sure tokeep on eye on them and remember thatminors cannot be near the tasting bar orconsume alcohol during or after yourtasting. Does hubby like a brew ratherthan a Virginia chardonnay? It is illegal tobring outside alcohol to Virginia wineries.Perhaps the beer aficionado in your groupcan be the designated driver!Plan to visit Virginia wineries this summer,and keep these helpful hints in mind whenyou do. You are certain to sip and savorthrough many wonderful tastingexperiences.

Nancy Bauer is the co-founder ofVaWineInMyPocket.com, the social media

website & travel app.Warren Richard from

Virginia Wine Time.com.Photo : Paul Armstrong, VA Wine Time

photo by robert a. martin Warren Richard at Chrysalis Vineyards

Looking for a Venue to have a Meeting or Event?

We offer State-of-the-art Meeting Space for all of your business needs.

Enjoy our OnsiteCatering for

your Dinner orReception Parties!

Visit us at:Courtyard by MarriottFredericksburg.com

540-373-8300

620 Caroline Street Fredericksburg VA 22401


When an artist instinctivelycreates something unique, there is arecognizable spark that transfers throughthe end of the brush to the work. Sobelieves Elizabeth Seaver, an artist with aninstantly recognizable style who revealsher spark through anthropomorphismand whimsy, color and collage. A fixtureof the Fredericksburg arts communitysince her residency and show atLibertyTown Arts Workshop in 2009,Seaver reveals the secret lives of cats inher latest series on display at BistroBethem.

Well admired for her fantasticalpaintings of birds, Seaver explains, “Ineeded a change, so I decided on cats. Weassign them human characteristics, and Iwanted to find the similarities and humorin our relationships with them. Cats exudea quality of being standoffish, so I createda series about what they do when we arenot looking. I found that once I startedpainting there was sometimes more goingon than I was aware of until I saw thefinished product. It was interesting to seethe paintings evolve from beginning toend.”

Seaver says she allowed the cat’spersonalities to develop as she painted,and she was sometimes surprised to findthe faces changing to reveal their ownattributes as she worked. Some took onfamiliar traits of people she knew, whileothers manifested characteristics thatwere a little closer to home. She laughs,“They’re probably all faces of me. Youknow, it’s like writing; you don’t mean towrite about your own life, but sometimesthat’s a starting place. ”

As she has developed her style

over the years, Seaver has come to realizehow important an artist’s methodologyand choices are to the public. She saysthat people often ask her why she chosecertain text to include in her paintings orwhy she portrays certain character traitsthrough her subjects. She reflects, “I’vegrown more thoughtful in my choices. Itend to try to use complimentary colors; Ialmost never meet a neutral.” While herprocess of using paint and collage in thisseries is similar to the methods she usedwith her birds, Seaver says she madeexplicit choices with her cats thatpurposefully differ from the past. In herprior series, she used collage to cover thecanvas and revealed messages through theunderpainting; however, Seaver decidedfrom the beginning with her cats to usepaper with specific text to reflect theirrelationships with the world. Sheelaborates, “This time I used paper tocreate form and shape in the paintings. Ichose pieces that matched in textualappropriateness with the images or thatfit the color scheme, and I tried toeffectively play around with thecombination of text and imagery.”

When asked if she has a favoritecat among her characters, Seaver isnoncommittal. She says, “People arealways asking me which is my favoritepainting, and it’s usually the one I’mworking on, unless it’s giving me a devil ofa problem; however, I do love that part,making choices and problem solving.” Sheadmits to purposely choosing aparticularly handsome guy with clouds inhis eyes for her event poster, and shedescribes others with special meaning. “Idid one called The Wind in Her Ears,

depicting a cat flying a biplane that wasinspired by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. Herhusband Charles was famous for aviation,but she also was an early woman aviator,and I have a dedication to her on theback. I love detective stories, so of courseI painted Sherlock, and I had a commissionfor a black cat named Nero, so I paintedhim with a fiddle.”

Lucky for Fredericksburg, onepainting leads to the next. Stop intoBistro Bethem through the end ofSeptember for instant smiles and toexperience firsthand Elizabeth Seaver’sunique spark of artistry.

A.E. Bayne is a teacher, writer, artist,and ailurophile living in

Fredericksburg, VA.

VA. WINERIESget the most from winery visit

by nancy bauer & Warren Richard

A Clowder of CatsElizabeth Seaver unveils new paintings at Bistro Bethem

By A.E.Bayne

Nearly two million happy,sensible, orderly wine enthusiasts findtheir way to Virginia wineries each year.And then there are the others. The oneswho “drop by” for a tasting at 9:30 whenthe winery doesn’t open until noon, or theundulating (unreserved) bacheloretteparty weaving a drunken conga throughunsuspecting tasting room guests. Thelimo crew that piles in and out withoutbothering to pay. The TGIFers whoregularly show up fifteen minutes beforeclosing, and the picnickers with a coolerof Coors and a Weber Go-Anywhere Grill.

Folks, no. Just no.We asked Warren Richard from Virginia’soriginal wine blog, Virginia Wine Time, toshare a few tips on how to get the mostout of wine travel in Virginia’s boomingwine country. With nearly 200 Virginiawinery visits under his belt, few have seenmore, or know this subject better.

TIPS FOR A MEMORABLE VIRGINIA WINE

COUNTRYFall is the perfect time

to visit Virginia wineriesto taste the latestreleases, enjoy a picnicwith a favorite glass ofwine, and beholdgorgeous views ofvineyards andmountains. In thisarticle, I share tips thatcan make your visits toVirginia wineriesmemorable ones.1. Plan Ahead: This tipcannot be emphasizedenough. There arecurrently seven AVAs inVirginia, so identifywhich wine region in thestate that you would like

to visit. Next, narrow down the wineriesto frequent on your trip, and be aware ofwhen they are open. Some may require anappointment. Do you intend to bring alarge party along with you? Youngchildren? Pets? It is a very good idea tocall ahead to find out the wineries’policies.2. Know Your Limits: There are over 200wineries in Virginia, and several wineriesmay be located within short distances ofeach other. Keep in mind that mostwineries will have at least five wines totaste, and you will likely want to linger atthe winery to enjoy a glass of yourfavorite pour. The goal should be to enjoythe whole winey experience—-not to getintoxicated. If a designated driver is noton board, then limit the number ofwineries to visit in one trip. If the tastingeducator is pouring a little too heavily atthe tasting bar either ask for a smallersplash or use the dump bucket after a

small sip. Don’t be afraid to spit aftersipping—-it’s what the pros do especiallyat wine competitions where hundred ofwines are judged.3. Have an Open Mind: Are Virginia wineslike California wines, or are they more OldWorld? We get this question all the time.Virginia wines taste like Virginia wines andpreconceived biases may inhibit yourability to enjoy Virginia wines. Wineregions within the state may have theirown unique terroir and micro-climates,and that is what you should expect toexperience when you visit Virginiawineries. Ask questions about the winesthat are being tasted. What kind of soildoes the vineyard have? What was theweather like for particular vintages? Whatis the winemaker’s style? The answers tothese questions will allow you toappreciate Virginia wines as much as yourfavorites from Napa.4. Be Respectful: Did you bring along apicnic lunch? Great—-be sure to clean upwhen you are done enjoying food andwine. Is the line long at the tasting bar?

Most Virginia wineries are small, family-owned businesses, and tasting room staffmay be limited. A little bit of patience willgo a long way in maximizing yourexperience. Did the winery allow you tobring the kids and Fido too? Be sure tokeep on eye on them and remember thatminors cannot be near the tasting bar orconsume alcohol during or after yourtasting. Does hubby like a brew ratherthan a Virginia chardonnay? It is illegal tobring outside alcohol to Virginia wineries.Perhaps the beer aficionado in your groupcan be the designated driver!Plan to visit Virginia wineries this summer,and keep these helpful hints in mind whenyou do. You are certain to sip and savorthrough many wonderful tastingexperiences.

Nancy Bauer is the co-founder ofVaWineInMyPocket.com, the social media

website & travel app.Warren Richard from

Virginia Wine Time.com.Photo : Paul Armstrong, VA Wine Time

photo by robert a. martin Warren Richard at Chrysalis Vineyards

Looking for a Venue to have a Meeting or Event?

We offer State-of-the-art Meeting Space for all of your business needs.

Enjoy our OnsiteCatering for

your Dinner orReception Parties!

Visit us at:Courtyard by MarriottFredericksburg.com

540-373-8300

620 Caroline Street Fredericksburg VA 22401

front porch fredericksburg September 2014 11

What do an organic grocerystore, a website that helps you learn tocode, and an app that compiles huntinginformation regulations have in common?They were all ideas pitched and developedinto business products over a span of 54hours last January at Startup WeekendFredericksburg.

Startup Weekend is a chance forideas to become true business realities andit is returning to our area this month.From September 26-28, GermannaCommunity College will play host andpartner to the third Fredericksburg areaStartup Weekend and if you have an idea,this is your chance to possibly make it areality.

Startup Weekends are held tohelp communities foster homegrownbusiness ideas and develop and launchcompanies. Over the span of 54 hours,participants pitch ideas, form teams, andcreate a minimum viable product.

“One of the benefits of StartupWeekend is that you get to take your idea,work on it risk- free and receive hands-onexperience with tools that will help yougrow,” says Christine Goodwin, who wasinstrumental in bringing Startup Weekendto our area, “It’s a transformationalprocess.”

The weekend unfolds on Friday,when individuals give a one minute pitchof their idea during the pitch fire opener.Next, participants vote for their favoritepitch, while teams form around the topideas. Once teams are formed, the realwork begins.

Participants come from manydifferent backgrounds and each adds valueto a team. “People add their own skill sets,whether it’s marketing, public relations,social networking, or a more technologyrelated talent,” says Matt Norris, who isheading up September’s event.“Everyone’s role is important.”

Teams work late into Friday, allday Saturday, and most of Sundaycreating and honing their product.Collaboration and support are a key partof the weekend with business coachesreadily available and 90 minute check -ins.“Participants get the benefit of expertinsight and learn deeper parts of how abusiness works,” says Goodwin, “You can’tdo it alone and this weekend gives you thechance to network, collaborate, andexpand your idea with the support ofothers.”

On Sunday, teams give a finalpitch in front of judges that include angelinvestors, venture capitalists, and otherentrepreneurs who have successfully soldcompanies. “It’s an extremely valuableopportunity to receive feedback andinsight,” says Norris. There are also prizesawarded to the top teams.

The last Startup Weekendlaunched three local businesses that are

still going strong. Plants Map, a socialnetworking and cataloging app forgardeners, Sprelly, a gourmet peanutbutter and jelly spread and sandwichcompany, and Kickshaws, an organicgrocery store all originated from the lastevent.

September’s event is takingregistration now for anyone who wouldlike to pitch or be a team member, andyou can also attend a “Boot Camp” onSeptember 20th that will prepare you forthe weekend’s events.

Another option is to observe theevent during the pitch fire and final pitchportions of the weekend. Friday’s eventstarts with a welcome at 6:30 and pitchfires at 7pm. The event concludes Sundaywith the final pitches starting at 5 pm.For more info and to register visit.up.co/communities/usa/fredericksburg/

“It’s a chance for your idea toactually become something,” says Norris.Bring your idea to Startup Weekend. Whoknows? You could be Fredericksburg’s nextentrepreneur. Twitter: @swfxbg #swfxbg

Christina Ferber got the startup bug asan observer at January's event and got

hooked. She is can't wait to get hercreative juices flowing again at

September's event.

10 September 2014 Front porch fredericksburg

Jewel Box Since 1940

Your Hometown Jeweler

On-Premise Jewelry Repair

Watch Batteries

Gold Buying

Engraving

212 William Street,Fredericksburg540-373-5513

Mon-Fri 9-5:30; Sat 9-5

Stafford 350aquia stone builds nation’s capital

By david s. kerr

A lot of cities and counties inAmerica like to lay claim to their role inthe building of our nation. StaffordCounty is no different. However, when itcomes to the notion of building ourcountry, in Stafford, we take thisdefinition more literally than most. Atleast when it comes to building thenation’s capital in Washington, D.C.

One of the most significantchallenges in constructing the greatbuilding on the ground laid out for ourcountry’s new capital was findingadequate building materials. A goodsupply of stone was critical. How else werewe going to build the Capitol and theWhite House? And what’s more, in a timebefore railroads and modern roadhaulage, shipping the stone by water wasthe only practical alternative.Fortunately, Pierre Charles L’Enfant, thearchitect and engineer who developed thelayout of the new capital, found the stonehe wanted along the Aquia Creek about 40miles south of Washington, D.C. inStafford, Virginia. It was Aquia sandstone,and made up of bits of fine quartz, heldtogether with silica and mixed with chunksof clay was easy to quarry and relativelyeasy to shape. It fit the bill perfectly.

The quarry site, originally knownas Wigginton’s Island, was first owned byGeorge Brent, one of Stafford’s earliestsettlers in 1694. For years it was thesource of stone for such colonial buildings

as Gunston Hall in Fairfax, Christ Churchin Alexandria, and right here in our owncounty, the Aquia Episcopal Church. Butlong before that, what later becameknown as Government Island had beenquarried by Native Americans thousandsof years before. The island’s gray and tanstone, with occasional streaks of red,appealed to these early Americans. Just asit did to Pierre L’Enfant years and yearslater.

The stone, though ideal forshaping and carving, had its limits. It wascomparatively soft and tended to wearquickly. Many of the exterior features ofthe Capitol Building were made fromAquia sandstone but after a hundred yearsor so, its structural limitations and rapidwear began to show. The Aquia sandstonecolumns on the exterior of the Capitolwere replaced about 50 years ago, butthese architectural gems continue as aspecial exhibit at the National Arboretum.Though use of the stone declined in termsof exterior use, most of the stone that wasused in interior construction did just fineand is all over Washington. Many of themajestic carvings inside the Capitol aremade from Aquia sandstone, as arecolumns and carvings inside the NationalPortrait Gallery, the Treasury Building,and of course the White House.

The quarry itself, as much a partof our nation’s history as it is, wasn’t anational landmark until fairly recently.For a while its title was open to question,no one quite knew who owned it, and thenafter decades of wrangling over its future,it was officially purchased by StaffordCounty. Now, the island, the evidence ofthe quarrying work still easy to see,complete with trails, and a raised walkwayto get there, is a county park. Its one ofthe gems of the county park system andeven if you’re not into history, or don’treally care what was quarried there, it’sstill a great place to visit.

David Kerr’s knowledge of local historyis a welcome addition to Front Porch

Kathleen Harriganto head friends of the rappahannock

By susan larson

Kathleen (Kathy) Harrigan wantseveryone in Fredericksburg to value thetreasure of the Rappahannock River. “Idlike locals to enjoy the river and to seemore of it that just through a car windowover a bridge crossing,” said the newexecutive director of Friends of theRappahannock (FOR). “I want people to getin a boat or on the shore and reallyappreciate the beautiful resource we have.”

Harrigan grew up on Long Island,in East Northport, N.Y. In 1976 she cameto Fredericksburg to attend MaryWashington College, where she studiedenvironmental science and earned a B.S.degree in Biology. She began her careerworking in Fredericksburg at the oldwastewater treatment plant.

Her care and concern for theenvironment were piqued by family travelsto National Parks and other wilderness

places. “Myparents wereteachers andwe travelede x t en s i v e l yduring ourva c a t i on s , ”Harrigan said.“By the time Iwas 12, we

had camped from the Canadian MaritimeProvinces to Florida, and through theMidwest to the Northern Plains and theRockies to California.”

For more than 30 years, Harriganworked with the U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) and state agencieson water pollution control and water qualityprotection and restoration programs.

When Friends of theRappahannock Executive Director JohnTippett decided to step down in order tofocus on treating his Lyme disease,Harrigan saw the opening as anopportunity.

“I’d worked with people acrossthe country to identify the sources ofpollution to the rivers and lakes in theircommunities and how to protect andrestore them,” she said. “I wanted to

bring my experience back to protect theRappahannock River, the watershed I’dchosen as my home more than 35 years ago.”

Harrigan compared the start ofher tenure at FOR to jumping onto amoving train. “There’s a lot of work to bedone,” she said.

“For the first two months, I’mfocusing on the partners who work withFriends of the Rappahannock — themembers of the organization, ourvolunteers, donors, and funders, soil andwater conservation districts, and ourrepresentatives from the localgovernments, both staff and electedofficials,” she said. “This network of peopleis vast since Friends of the Rappahannockis concerned with the entire river, fromthe mountains to the bay.”

“Friends of the Rappahannockhas always constructively engaged thestakeholders in the watershed. I want tocontinue that approach for a cleaner river.I want to expand our educational,restoration and advocacy programsthroughout the basin, and build a greaterawareness in the upper basin and thelower basin.”

“I believe Friends of theRappahannock has a great opportunity to

help people understand the part they playin the river’s health,” she said. Grassclippings, pet waste, fertilizers, cigarettebutts – all of it goes to the river and isharmful. “People need to understandwhat they do on the land has an effect onthe watershed,” she said. People canchange their practices to help improve andprotect the river.

The new executive directorinvites everyone to become a member ofFriends of the Rappahannock. “We willkeep you informed about river news andissues, and your membership will helpsupport the work throughout theRappahannock River Watershed.” VisitFriends of the Rappahannock online athttp://www.riverfriends.org/.

Susan Larson writes about theFredericksburg area and its residents on

her online publicationhttp://fredericksburg.today/, on

Facebook (Fredericksburg Today) andTwitter @Fxbg2day.

Publisher’s Note:Kathy a well-known FXBG resident, has

been the president of the board ofdirectors for Empowerhouse, an areagroup dedicated to supporting thoseaffected by domestic violence and a

member of many fundraising events inthe community.

Creating Entrepreneurs in the Burg

Startup Weekend september 26-28

By Christina Ferber

Original Aquia sandstone column for theU.S. Capitol preserved at the

National Arboretum.


What do an organic grocerystore, a website that helps you learn tocode, and an app that compiles huntinginformation regulations have in common?They were all ideas pitched and developedinto business products over a span of 54hours last January at Startup WeekendFredericksburg.

Startup Weekend is a chance forideas to become true business realities andit is returning to our area this month.From September 26-28, GermannaCommunity College will play host andpartner to the third Fredericksburg areaStartup Weekend and if you have an idea,this is your chance to possibly make it areality.

Startup Weekends are held tohelp communities foster homegrownbusiness ideas and develop and launchcompanies. Over the span of 54 hours,participants pitch ideas, form teams, andcreate a minimum viable product.

“One of the benefits of StartupWeekend is that you get to take your idea,work on it risk- free and receive hands-onexperience with tools that will help yougrow,” says Christine Goodwin, who wasinstrumental in bringing Startup Weekendto our area, “It’s a transformationalprocess.”

The weekend unfolds on Friday,when individuals give a one minute pitchof their idea during the pitch fire opener.Next, participants vote for their favoritepitch, while teams form around the topideas. Once teams are formed, the realwork begins.

Participants come from manydifferent backgrounds and each adds valueto a team. “People add their own skill sets,whether it’s marketing, public relations,social networking, or a more technologyrelated talent,” says Matt Norris, who isheading up September’s event.“Everyone’s role is important.”

Teams work late into Friday, allday Saturday, and most of Sundaycreating and honing their product.Collaboration and support are a key partof the weekend with business coachesreadily available and 90 minute check -ins.“Participants get the benefit of expertinsight and learn deeper parts of how abusiness works,” says Goodwin, “You can’tdo it alone and this weekend gives you thechance to network, collaborate, andexpand your idea with the support ofothers.”

On Sunday, teams give a finalpitch in front of judges that include angelinvestors, venture capitalists, and otherentrepreneurs who have successfully soldcompanies. “It’s an extremely valuableopportunity to receive feedback andinsight,” says Norris. There are also prizesawarded to the top teams.

The last Startup Weekendlaunched three local businesses that are

still going strong. Plants Map, a socialnetworking and cataloging app forgardeners, Sprelly, a gourmet peanutbutter and jelly spread and sandwichcompany, and Kickshaws, an organicgrocery store all originated from the lastevent.

September’s event is takingregistration now for anyone who wouldlike to pitch or be a team member, andyou can also attend a “Boot Camp” onSeptember 20th that will prepare you forthe weekend’s events.

Another option is to observe theevent during the pitch fire and final pitchportions of the weekend. Friday’s eventstarts with a welcome at 6:30 and pitchfires at 7pm. The event concludes Sundaywith the final pitches starting at 5 pm.For more info and to register visit.up.co/communities/usa/fredericksburg/

“It’s a chance for your idea toactually become something,” says Norris.Bring your idea to Startup Weekend. Whoknows? You could be Fredericksburg’s nextentrepreneur. Twitter: @swfxbg #swfxbg

Christina Ferber got the startup bug asan observer at January's event and got

hooked. She is can't wait to get hercreative juices flowing again at

September's event.


Jewel Box Since 1940

Your Hometown Jeweler

On-Premise Jewelry Repair

Watch Batteries

Gold Buying

Engraving

212 William Street,Fredericksburg540-373-5513

Mon-Fri 9-5:30; Sat 9-5

Stafford 350aquia stone builds nation’s capital

By david s. kerr

A lot of cities and counties inAmerica like to lay claim to their role inthe building of our nation. StaffordCounty is no different. However, when itcomes to the notion of building ourcountry, in Stafford, we take thisdefinition more literally than most. Atleast when it comes to building thenation’s capital in Washington, D.C.

One of the most significantchallenges in constructing the greatbuilding on the ground laid out for ourcountry’s new capital was findingadequate building materials. A goodsupply of stone was critical. How else werewe going to build the Capitol and theWhite House? And what’s more, in a timebefore railroads and modern roadhaulage, shipping the stone by water wasthe only practical alternative.Fortunately, Pierre Charles L’Enfant, thearchitect and engineer who developed thelayout of the new capital, found the stonehe wanted along the Aquia Creek about 40miles south of Washington, D.C. inStafford, Virginia. It was Aquia sandstone,and made up of bits of fine quartz, heldtogether with silica and mixed with chunksof clay was easy to quarry and relativelyeasy to shape. It fit the bill perfectly.

The quarry site, originally knownas Wigginton’s Island, was first owned byGeorge Brent, one of Stafford’s earliestsettlers in 1694. For years it was thesource of stone for such colonial buildings

as Gunston Hall in Fairfax, Christ Churchin Alexandria, and right here in our owncounty, the Aquia Episcopal Church. Butlong before that, what later becameknown as Government Island had beenquarried by Native Americans thousandsof years before. The island’s gray and tanstone, with occasional streaks of red,appealed to these early Americans. Just asit did to Pierre L’Enfant years and yearslater.

The stone, though ideal forshaping and carving, had its limits. It wascomparatively soft and tended to wearquickly. Many of the exterior features ofthe Capitol Building were made fromAquia sandstone but after a hundred yearsor so, its structural limitations and rapidwear began to show. The Aquia sandstonecolumns on the exterior of the Capitolwere replaced about 50 years ago, butthese architectural gems continue as aspecial exhibit at the National Arboretum.Though use of the stone declined in termsof exterior use, most of the stone that wasused in interior construction did just fineand is all over Washington. Many of themajestic carvings inside the Capitol aremade from Aquia sandstone, as arecolumns and carvings inside the NationalPortrait Gallery, the Treasury Building,and of course the White House.

The quarry itself, as much a partof our nation’s history as it is, wasn’t anational landmark until fairly recently.For a while its title was open to question,no one quite knew who owned it, and thenafter decades of wrangling over its future,it was officially purchased by StaffordCounty. Now, the island, the evidence ofthe quarrying work still easy to see,complete with trails, and a raised walkwayto get there, is a county park. Its one ofthe gems of the county park system andeven if you’re not into history, or don’treally care what was quarried there, it’sstill a great place to visit.

David Kerr’s knowledge of local historyis a welcome addition to Front Porch

Kathleen Harriganto head friends of the rappahannock

By susan larson

Kathleen (Kathy) Harrigan wantseveryone in Fredericksburg to value thetreasure of the Rappahannock River. “Idlike locals to enjoy the river and to seemore of it that just through a car windowover a bridge crossing,” said the newexecutive director of Friends of theRappahannock (FOR). “I want people to getin a boat or on the shore and reallyappreciate the beautiful resource we have.”

Harrigan grew up on Long Island,in East Northport, N.Y. In 1976 she cameto Fredericksburg to attend MaryWashington College, where she studiedenvironmental science and earned a B.S.degree in Biology. She began her careerworking in Fredericksburg at the oldwastewater treatment plant.

Her care and concern for theenvironment were piqued by family travelsto National Parks and other wilderness

places. “Myparents wereteachers andwe travelede x t en s i v e l yduring ourva c a t i on s , ”Harrigan said.“By the time Iwas 12, we

had camped from the Canadian MaritimeProvinces to Florida, and through theMidwest to the Northern Plains and theRockies to California.”

For more than 30 years, Harriganworked with the U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) and state agencieson water pollution control and water qualityprotection and restoration programs.

When Friends of theRappahannock Executive Director JohnTippett decided to step down in order tofocus on treating his Lyme disease,Harrigan saw the opening as anopportunity.

“I’d worked with people acrossthe country to identify the sources ofpollution to the rivers and lakes in theircommunities and how to protect andrestore them,” she said. “I wanted to

bring my experience back to protect theRappahannock River, the watershed I’dchosen as my home more than 35 years ago.”

Harrigan compared the start ofher tenure at FOR to jumping onto amoving train. “There’s a lot of work to bedone,” she said.

“For the first two months, I’mfocusing on the partners who work withFriends of the Rappahannock — themembers of the organization, ourvolunteers, donors, and funders, soil andwater conservation districts, and ourrepresentatives from the localgovernments, both staff and electedofficials,” she said. “This network of peopleis vast since Friends of the Rappahannockis concerned with the entire river, fromthe mountains to the bay.”

“Friends of the Rappahannockhas always constructively engaged thestakeholders in the watershed. I want tocontinue that approach for a cleaner river.I want to expand our educational,restoration and advocacy programsthroughout the basin, and build a greaterawareness in the upper basin and thelower basin.”

“I believe Friends of theRappahannock has a great opportunity to

help people understand the part they playin the river’s health,” she said. Grassclippings, pet waste, fertilizers, cigarettebutts – all of it goes to the river and isharmful. “People need to understandwhat they do on the land has an effect onthe watershed,” she said. People canchange their practices to help improve andprotect the river.

The new executive directorinvites everyone to become a member ofFriends of the Rappahannock. “We willkeep you informed about river news andissues, and your membership will helpsupport the work throughout theRappahannock River Watershed.” VisitFriends of the Rappahannock online athttp://www.riverfriends.org/.




Publisher’s Note:Kathy a well-known FXBG resident, has

been the president of the board ofdirectors for Empowerhouse, an areagroup dedicated to supporting thoseaffected by domestic violence and a

member of many fundraising events inthe community.

Creating Entrepreneurs in the Burg

Startup Weekend september 26-28

By Christina Ferber

Original Aquia sandstone column for theU.S. Capitol preserved at the

National Arboretum.

Some of my fondest childhoodmemories come from the days I spenthelping my grandparents landscape theirmountainside property outside ofWarrenton, VA. Little did I realize thatthese experiences were my first in tacklingthe hurdles that Virginia wine makersovercome daily: rampant humidity, rockyclay soils and an endless number of pests.In those same years Jeff White and hisfamily, the owners of Glen ManorVineyards near Front Royal, were plantingtheir first vines. Since then, Jeff has beentaking the same hurdles in stride andbreaking down the stigma of Virginiaproducing only mediocre if occasionallyoffensive wines.

When the farm was firstpurchased in 1901 by Jeff’s greatgrandparents a winery was the last thingthey envisioned. The farm successfullysustained the family and as time passed itwas divided and passed down until GlenManor found its way into the hands of JeffWhite. Today the original farm endures andthe Commonwealth of Virginia recognizes itas a Century Farm continuously owned andoperated by generations of the same familyfor over 100 years.

With 12 years of wineryexperience but still a farmer at heart, Jeffrecognized that the slopes now referred toas Hodder Hill were ideal candidates forviticulture as they experience a uniquemicro clime conducive to drainage andventilating wind currents. Here in 1995the vineyard’s original 6 acres wereplanted with Sauvignon Blanc and fourBordeaux varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon,Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.The vineyard was expanded in 2006, 2008and in 2009 with the additions of Merlot

and Petit Manseng. The work in thevineyard is intensive and Jeff and his teamspend most of their time hand pruningvines and adjusting the grape clusters tomaximize flavor and minimize thehumidity problems inherent to Virginia.Jeff is meticulous when it comes to theircare and even during brief vacations heconstantly calls to check on all the detailsof the weather and day-to-day labor.

In 2012 Jeff’s diligence anddedication paid off when his 2009 HodderHill Bordeaux style blend, named for hisgrandfather Raymond Hodder Rudacille,won the Virginia’s Governor’s Cup. Jeff’sniece Ashleigh White, who is often foundrunning the tasting room at the winery,tells visitors that Jeff approached theGovernor’s Cup modestly for generalfeedback and was bewildered when the2009 Hodder Hill won the Cup. The 2009Hodder Hill is a blend of CabernetSauvignon (63%), Merlot (25%), CabernetFranc and Petit Verdot (6%) and is abright but rich and youthful red withnotes of currant, black cherry, fig, andmild spices with complex body and silkytannins.

Sadly you would be hard pressedto find the 2009 vintage and the 2010blend only yielded 350 cases (the wineryhad only 2 bottles remaining) but thisyear’s first release of the “T. Ruth” aMerlot blend and the Morales Rosé, namedfor the family that labors among the vineswith Jeff, are both fantastic introductionsto a Virginia winery that is world class andgrowing better every year.

Matthew Mastalski, [email protected],is one of Bistro Bethem’s long time

servers, a recent college graduate andhas a passio for wine.


Vinoglen manor vineyards:

world class in our back yard

By matthew mastalski

Season’s Bountya sponge by any other name

By vanessa moncureI’m in the middle of a very

painful, very necessary, culling of mycookbook library. Outside of a commercialbookstore or community library system, Ican’t imagine any individual needing fifty-five (55!!) Chinese cookbooks. And I don’thave nearly enough coffee tables for the40+ large, beautifully photographedassays and essays of the worlds’ culturesand cuisines. Tasked with weighing themerits of over 100 Junior Leaguenationwide cookbooks, I found just a fewunique enough for my slimmed-downbookshelves. Julia, Jacques, Beard,Escoffier, basic textbooks and techniques -and, I confess, a gifted copy of “DuckDynasty” recipes - made the cut. As did allthe signed copies, many with personalmessages. And mother’s and bothgrandmother’s beginning cookbooks - all Ineed to do is skip to the most-stainedpages to find family favorites. The bestmemories, though, just fell out of thecookbooks - stained notepapers flutteringto the ground as I flipped through oldcookbooks, most not titled or merited bythe recipient. So, I have only my mother’ssmall, very correct cursive on a partialphoto from a 1964 calendar with therecipe for a bread sponge - unknownprovenance, utterly the best.

The sponge recipe for bread Iremember well - yeasty and rising in anoiled ceramic bowl covered in a linentowel, out of any draft. I have a friendwhose family sponge predatesArmstrong’s “that’s one small step forman” - she turns out weekly batches of themost delicious sourdough bread, pancakes,waffles, then feeds and stirs her bubbling,living refrigerator staple until the nextbatch. San Francisco bread companies, inparticular, have honed their reputation onthe age of their sponge. So this week Itook the recipe, switched from yeast barsto packet amounts, and, since I hadnothing written but the sponge to workwith, came up with a fantastic pita recipe(grilled, baked or griddled on a cast-ironpan) and a simple baguette.BASIC SPONGE - Mix this together and letrise 30 minutes or up to 8 hours - thelonger the rise, the deeper the flavor. I’musually of the 30-minute group.

Stir together in a large bowl 2tsp. yeast, ½ tsp. dark sugar, 1 ¼ c. warmwater (not over 90 degrees) and 1 ¼ c.whole wheat flour (she specified a brandno longer being milled, try King Arthurinstead). Stir until the mixture is smoothand shiny. Wrap bowl with a towel, thendrape a linen cloth over the top. I know,you could use plastic wrap - the reason forlinen is that you don’t want little fabric-pills in your bread. When you’re ready,sprinkle the top of the sponge with 2 tsp.

kosher salt (iodized salts have anti-clumping agents - and this is an oldrecipe)and 1 T. olive oil, then stir in anadditional 1 ½ - 2 c. all-purpose flour.

Turn out onto a floured surfaceand knead about 8 minutes or until thedough is smooth (add flour as necessarywhile kneading). Clean then lightly (olive)oil the sponge bowl. Place the dough in thebowl and turn until all sides are coveredwith oil. Cover bowl again and let rise atroom temperature for 1-2 hours or untildoubled. Turn the dough out onto lightlyfloured surface and knead briefly. Ifmaking pita, shape dough into a log andcut into eight (for large) or sixteen (forsmall) pieces. Heat grill or griddle MED-HIor oven to 450F. Roll 8 pieces into 9”rounds, 16 pieces into 5” rounds. Verylightly oil bread surface, then place oncooking surface. When large bubbles form,turn the pita - they will begin to resemblea blown-up balloon. You may turn again,but 3 minutes is about the most they needto cook. Use the linen towel to cover themas you stack them. They are great freshand for the next day, but wrap airtight tofreeze. I don’t think you’ll ever buy pita atthe grocery store again!

BAGUETTEFollow the pita recipe, letting the doughdouble in bulk. Roll by hand into 12-16”length, then slash several times along itslength. Cover with the linen towel! then letrise again until almost doubled - bake inbaguette pan or baking sheet dusted withcoarse cornmeal 450F preheated ovenapproximately 20-35 minutes or untilgolden and sounds hollow when rapped.Open oven door quickly and spray with

water 3-4 times in the first 15 minutes ofbaking - this will harden the crust. Don’tsoak the bread, just spritz in the oven.Some bakers place a pan of water on thebottom rack instead.

OR ROLLSInstead of rolling the dough for abaguette, shape dough into ovals, place onparchment-covered baking sheet dustedwith coarse cornmeal, slash and let riseuntil doubled (yes, with the linen towelcovering), bake in preheated 450F oven 8-10 minutes, also spritzing with watermaybe twice if desired, or use the bottomrack pan of water.

Next month I’ll be back with myending-of-season garden update. I’mthrilled to report that tomatoes came intomy kitchen by the buckets-ful, daily for awhile. Cucumbers - never had such aseason! Picklemania. I know I’ll be sohappy in the winter, but once actuallyexperienced a night terror concerningthose cucumbers...baking a bit has helped!

Cooking With KyleSimple, easy, delicious

by james kyle snyder

Brats have been a theme thisyear. Mitzi and I traveled throughSheboygan WI, on the way to Kohlerwhere Judge Bolgert of the circuit hadcourt ruled, “It is the judgment of thiscourt that Sheboygan is and of rightought to be Bratwurst Capital of theWorld.” Mitzi and I have a travel rule ofsorts: If you are in a new city and they arefamous for something, you go to it or, inthe case of food, you eat it. Ya gottacelebrate the brat capitol of the world.Off to The Charcoal Inn where, the silver-haired waitresses served us with a smile,poise, and grace you can only get in aworld capitol. Everyone in Wisconsin wasamazingly nice. Everyone is Kohler andSheboygan also knew The Charcoal Innand said we had chosen wisely. Onesummer brat wouldn’t hurt our healthefforts … right? I am not a doctor, nornutritionist. Always find the bestinformation for yourself.

Our travels also took us toNashville TN. We were there with 6000other convention goers searching for foodand fun. Nashville had rolled out the redcarpet for the decision makers and thechefs were all trying to impress. Mitzi andI brought our protein shakes for breakfastand a supplemental Kale, carrot, beet, fetasalad with rice chips and saag to help staythe temptation of eating the rich delicious,but calorie heavy convention food.

We liked to see the area. WhileMitzi got ready for the evening’s events, Ihappened off to a draught emporium, The

Flying Saucer, which was a landmark ofsorts, according to the locals.

It must have been a part of theoriginal train station with its 20-footceilings and huge archways. There wereplates on the ceilings and walls top tobottom. The plate trophy is for thosewhom have tried 200 different beers atThe Flying Saucer. There is a “SaucerClub” and everything! The number in themiddle of the plate represents the numberof time that task has been accomplishedby that person. I saw one with a 6 in themiddle but was quickly assured that wasn’tthe champ’s plate. Well done indeed, sir.

Perusing the menu of pub fair,right in the middle of the menu to the leftof all the salads read, “Sheboygan Side-by-Side.” What are the odds that within oneweek’s time, in cities 620 miles apart, Iwould see the word Sheboygan and wouldknow the history and the culinary dutythe second time. “May I please celebrateSheboygan’s feat with a Side-by-Side,” Iproudly said beginning to quiz the staffabout Sheboygan. HA!

When it came time to choose a“healthy theme” for this month’s article, Ichose not to ignore the recent events.“Celebration” was the clear winner. Food isfun and can be comforting and/orcelebratory. Oktober fest, has a strongtradition in food and drink. When youchose a less physically healthy fare, do itknowingly and make sure it is for thecorrect reason. To the recipe!

In a pot with a lid, cover onepound of your favorite brat with a richstout beer, ringed onions, and red andyellow pepper slices. Bring the pot to aboil, cover, cool, and refrigerate till youare ready to eat them the next day; Storeovernight. Fire-up the wood grill and charthe outside casing. Warm the peppers intinfoil next to the charring brats. Toast apotato roll over the fire and assemble thetreat with your favorite condiments.

Simple, easy, delicious. Be well!

SSammy ammy T’T’ ssServing Great Food Since 1981

801 Caroline Street (540) 371-2008

Try Our Self-Serve Yogurtopen 11:30 am Daily

Still Owned by the Emory Family

DOWNTOWN FREDERICKSBURG’S

Home of the “Camper Special” & the Best Burger in Town

Olde Towne BUTCHERCorner of William & Charles Streets

Downtown Fredericksburg

540.370.4105

www.oldetownebutcher.com

9am - 9pm Monday through Saturday11am - 6pm Sunday

Lee Russell Proprietor

The General StoreRestaurant

Italian/American FoodMonday-Saturday 11 am-10 pm

371-40752018 College Ave.

Fredericksburg

Since 1978

Fall IntoOur Kitchen

For A Cooking Class

At WhittinghamPlease call for information, 540-374-0443

[email protected]

Some of my fondest childhoodmemories come from the days I spenthelping my grandparents landscape theirmountainside property outside ofWarrenton, VA. Little did I realize thatthese experiences were my first in tacklingthe hurdles that Virginia wine makersovercome daily: rampant humidity, rockyclay soils and an endless number of pests.In those same years Jeff White and hisfamily, the owners of Glen ManorVineyards near Front Royal, were plantingtheir first vines. Since then, Jeff has beentaking the same hurdles in stride andbreaking down the stigma of Virginiaproducing only mediocre if occasionallyoffensive wines.

When the farm was firstpurchased in 1901 by Jeff’s greatgrandparents a winery was the last thingthey envisioned. The farm successfullysustained the family and as time passed itwas divided and passed down until GlenManor found its way into the hands of JeffWhite. Today the original farm endures andthe Commonwealth of Virginia recognizes itas a Century Farm continuously owned andoperated by generations of the same familyfor over 100 years.

With 12 years of wineryexperience but still a farmer at heart, Jeffrecognized that the slopes now referred toas Hodder Hill were ideal candidates forviticulture as they experience a uniquemicro clime conducive to drainage andventilating wind currents. Here in 1995the vineyard’s original 6 acres wereplanted with Sauvignon Blanc and fourBordeaux varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon,Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.The vineyard was expanded in 2006, 2008and in 2009 with the additions of Merlot

and Petit Manseng. The work in thevineyard is intensive and Jeff and his teamspend most of their time hand pruningvines and adjusting the grape clusters tomaximize flavor and minimize thehumidity problems inherent to Virginia.Jeff is meticulous when it comes to theircare and even during brief vacations heconstantly calls to check on all the detailsof the weather and day-to-day labor.

In 2012 Jeff’s diligence anddedication paid off when his 2009 HodderHill Bordeaux style blend, named for hisgrandfather Raymond Hodder Rudacille,won the Virginia’s Governor’s Cup. Jeff’sniece Ashleigh White, who is often foundrunning the tasting room at the winery,tells visitors that Jeff approached theGovernor’s Cup modestly for generalfeedback and was bewildered when the2009 Hodder Hill won the Cup. The 2009Hodder Hill is a blend of CabernetSauvignon (63%), Merlot (25%), CabernetFranc and Petit Verdot (6%) and is abright but rich and youthful red withnotes of currant, black cherry, fig, andmild spices with complex body and silkytannins.

Sadly you would be hard pressedto find the 2009 vintage and the 2010blend only yielded 350 cases (the wineryhad only 2 bottles remaining) but thisyear’s first release of the “T. Ruth” aMerlot blend and the Morales Rosé, namedfor the family that labors among the vineswith Jeff, are both fantastic introductionsto a Virginia winery that is world class andgrowing better every year.

Matthew Mastalski, [email protected],is one of Bistro Bethem’s long time

servers, a recent college graduate andhas a passio for wine.


Vinoglen manor vineyards:

world class in our back yard

By matthew mastalski

Season’s Bountya sponge by any other name

By vanessa moncureI’m in the middle of a very

painful, very necessary, culling of mycookbook library. Outside of a commercialbookstore or community library system, Ican’t imagine any individual needing fifty-five (55!!) Chinese cookbooks. And I don’thave nearly enough coffee tables for the40+ large, beautifully photographedassays and essays of the worlds’ culturesand cuisines. Tasked with weighing themerits of over 100 Junior Leaguenationwide cookbooks, I found just a fewunique enough for my slimmed-downbookshelves. Julia, Jacques, Beard,Escoffier, basic textbooks and techniques -and, I confess, a gifted copy of “DuckDynasty” recipes - made the cut. As did allthe signed copies, many with personalmessages. And mother’s and bothgrandmother’s beginning cookbooks - all Ineed to do is skip to the most-stainedpages to find family favorites. The bestmemories, though, just fell out of thecookbooks - stained notepapers flutteringto the ground as I flipped through oldcookbooks, most not titled or merited bythe recipient. So, I have only my mother’ssmall, very correct cursive on a partialphoto from a 1964 calendar with therecipe for a bread sponge - unknownprovenance, utterly the best.

The sponge recipe for bread Iremember well - yeasty and rising in anoiled ceramic bowl covered in a linentowel, out of any draft. I have a friendwhose family sponge predatesArmstrong’s “that’s one small step forman” - she turns out weekly batches of themost delicious sourdough bread, pancakes,waffles, then feeds and stirs her bubbling,living refrigerator staple until the nextbatch. San Francisco bread companies, inparticular, have honed their reputation onthe age of their sponge. So this week Itook the recipe, switched from yeast barsto packet amounts, and, since I hadnothing written but the sponge to workwith, came up with a fantastic pita recipe(grilled, baked or griddled on a cast-ironpan) and a simple baguette.BASIC SPONGE - Mix this together and letrise 30 minutes or up to 8 hours - thelonger the rise, the deeper the flavor. I’musually of the 30-minute group.

Stir together in a large bowl 2tsp. yeast, ½ tsp. dark sugar, 1 ¼ c. warmwater (not over 90 degrees) and 1 ¼ c.whole wheat flour (she specified a brandno longer being milled, try King Arthurinstead). Stir until the mixture is smoothand shiny. Wrap bowl with a towel, thendrape a linen cloth over the top. I know,you could use plastic wrap - the reason forlinen is that you don’t want little fabric-pills in your bread. When you’re ready,sprinkle the top of the sponge with 2 tsp.

kosher salt (iodized salts have anti-clumping agents - and this is an oldrecipe)and 1 T. olive oil, then stir in anadditional 1 ½ - 2 c. all-purpose flour.

Turn out onto a floured surfaceand knead about 8 minutes or until thedough is smooth (add flour as necessarywhile kneading). Clean then lightly (olive)oil the sponge bowl. Place the dough in thebowl and turn until all sides are coveredwith oil. Cover bowl again and let rise atroom temperature for 1-2 hours or untildoubled. Turn the dough out onto lightlyfloured surface and knead briefly. Ifmaking pita, shape dough into a log andcut into eight (for large) or sixteen (forsmall) pieces. Heat grill or griddle MED-HIor oven to 450F. Roll 8 pieces into 9”rounds, 16 pieces into 5” rounds. Verylightly oil bread surface, then place oncooking surface. When large bubbles form,turn the pita - they will begin to resemblea blown-up balloon. You may turn again,but 3 minutes is about the most they needto cook. Use the linen towel to cover themas you stack them. They are great freshand for the next day, but wrap airtight tofreeze. I don’t think you’ll ever buy pita atthe grocery store again!

BAGUETTEFollow the pita recipe, letting the doughdouble in bulk. Roll by hand into 12-16”length, then slash several times along itslength. Cover with the linen towel! then letrise again until almost doubled - bake inbaguette pan or baking sheet dusted withcoarse cornmeal 450F preheated ovenapproximately 20-35 minutes or untilgolden and sounds hollow when rapped.Open oven door quickly and spray with

water 3-4 times in the first 15 minutes ofbaking - this will harden the crust. Don’tsoak the bread, just spritz in the oven.Some bakers place a pan of water on thebottom rack instead.

OR ROLLSInstead of rolling the dough for abaguette, shape dough into ovals, place onparchment-covered baking sheet dustedwith coarse cornmeal, slash and let riseuntil doubled (yes, with the linen towelcovering), bake in preheated 450F oven 8-10 minutes, also spritzing with watermaybe twice if desired, or use the bottomrack pan of water.

Next month I’ll be back with myending-of-season garden update. I’mthrilled to report that tomatoes came intomy kitchen by the buckets-ful, daily for awhile. Cucumbers - never had such aseason! Picklemania. I know I’ll be sohappy in the winter, but once actuallyexperienced a night terror concerningthose cucumbers...baking a bit has helped!

Cooking With KyleSimple, easy, delicious

by james kyle snyder

Brats have been a theme thisyear. Mitzi and I traveled throughSheboygan WI, on the way to Kohlerwhere Judge Bolgert of the circuit hadcourt ruled, “It is the judgment of thiscourt that Sheboygan is and of rightought to be Bratwurst Capital of theWorld.” Mitzi and I have a travel rule ofsorts: If you are in a new city and they arefamous for something, you go to it or, inthe case of food, you eat it. Ya gottacelebrate the brat capitol of the world.Off to The Charcoal Inn where, the silver-haired waitresses served us with a smile,poise, and grace you can only get in aworld capitol. Everyone in Wisconsin wasamazingly nice. Everyone is Kohler andSheboygan also knew The Charcoal Innand said we had chosen wisely. Onesummer brat wouldn’t hurt our healthefforts … right? I am not a doctor, nornutritionist. Always find the bestinformation for yourself.

Our travels also took us toNashville TN. We were there with 6000other convention goers searching for foodand fun. Nashville had rolled out the redcarpet for the decision makers and thechefs were all trying to impress. Mitzi andI brought our protein shakes for breakfastand a supplemental Kale, carrot, beet, fetasalad with rice chips and saag to help staythe temptation of eating the rich delicious,but calorie heavy convention food.

We liked to see the area. WhileMitzi got ready for the evening’s events, Ihappened off to a draught emporium, The

Flying Saucer, which was a landmark ofsorts, according to the locals.

It must have been a part of theoriginal train station with its 20-footceilings and huge archways. There wereplates on the ceilings and walls top tobottom. The plate trophy is for thosewhom have tried 200 different beers atThe Flying Saucer. There is a “SaucerClub” and everything! The number in themiddle of the plate represents the numberof time that task has been accomplishedby that person. I saw one with a 6 in themiddle but was quickly assured that wasn’tthe champ’s plate. Well done indeed, sir.

Perusing the menu of pub fair,right in the middle of the menu to the leftof all the salads read, “Sheboygan Side-by-Side.” What are the odds that within oneweek’s time, in cities 620 miles apart, Iwould see the word Sheboygan and wouldknow the history and the culinary dutythe second time. “May I please celebrateSheboygan’s feat with a Side-by-Side,” Iproudly said beginning to quiz the staffabout Sheboygan. HA!

When it came time to choose a“healthy theme” for this month’s article, Ichose not to ignore the recent events.“Celebration” was the clear winner. Food isfun and can be comforting and/orcelebratory. Oktober fest, has a strongtradition in food and drink. When youchose a less physically healthy fare, do itknowingly and make sure it is for thecorrect reason. To the recipe!

In a pot with a lid, cover onepound of your favorite brat with a richstout beer, ringed onions, and red andyellow pepper slices. Bring the pot to aboil, cover, cool, and refrigerate till youare ready to eat them the next day; Storeovernight. Fire-up the wood grill and charthe outside casing. Warm the peppers intinfoil next to the charring brats. Toast apotato roll over the fire and assemble thetreat with your favorite condiments.

Simple, easy, delicious. Be well!

SSammy ammy T’T’ ssServing Great Food Since 1981

801 Caroline Street (540) 371-2008

Try Our Self-Serve Yogurtopen 11:30 am Daily

Still Owned by the Emory Family

DOWNTOWN FREDERICKSBURG’S

Home of the “Camper Special” & the Best Burger in Town

Olde Towne BUTCHERCorner of William & Charles Streets

Downtown Fredericksburg

540.370.4105

www.oldetownebutcher.com

9am - 9pm Monday through Saturday11am - 6pm Sunday

Lee Russell Proprietor

The General StoreRestaurant

Italian/American FoodMonday-Saturday 11 am-10 pm

371-40752018 College Ave.

Fredericksburg

Since 1978

Fall IntoOur Kitchen

For A Cooking Class

At WhittinghamPlease call for information, 540-374-0443

[email protected]


Hard to believe that summer iscoming to an end. Surprised I haven’t seenany Christmas candy at Wegmansyet…But thats ok, because fall is one ofthe best times of the year to be a beerdrinker! (...and I’m not just talking aboutpumpkin beers).

The often emulated Oktoberfestcelebration is a great way to enjoy thatone last blow out before the cool weathersets in. This years, hosted by Capital AleHouse on Caroline St. will fall on Saturday,October 4th. Get read for Wurst,Schnitzel, Pretzels, Lederhosen, and maybea beer or two. Oktoberfestbier/Marzenwas traditionally a dark lager producedtowards the end of spring and left toferment over the summer to be served atthe festival. The modern style, evolvedaround 1840 with the meteoric rise ofVienna lager becoming the popular styleof the day. While the traditional MunichBreweries still produce some version ofthe darker lager, it is used mostly forexport to the US. But enough about beerhistory that no one will remember afterparticipating in an Oktoberfest!

So, what else is there to do in thislate summer/early fall transition? I’m gladyou asked, because there are a coupleworld class beer events happening just tothe north of us in September! First off wehave the 3rd annual SnallygasterGargantuan Beer Jamboree! “Named forthe fearsome and toothy mythical beastsaid to terrorize the region at the turn ofthe century,” this will be one of thepremier beer festivals to hit this area thisyear. This isn’t your run of the mill,breweries bring a year round and seasonaloffering and sit back and relax. Every beeris selected by Greg Engert, the beerdirector for Churchkey, Rustico,Bluejacket, etc, etc. Besides his enormousbeer knowledge, his connections, andability to bring in any keg to DCguarantees an epic beer list. Over 250offerings, including; Cantillon Fou’ Foune,

Perennial Abraxas, Green Flash Silva Stout,Allagash Bourbon Black, New Belgium Felix(aged on VA peaches), Founders KBS,Firestone Walker Bretta Weisse, BearRepublic Cognac Barrel Aged Baba Yaga toname a few. These are just a few of theinsane standouts from the first 100 beersthey have announced. Plus a lengthy list ofCask ales as well as traditional FranconianRubber Clad Gravity Kegs straight fromGermany. They pull all the stops out forthis one folks! If you are interested tocome geek out with me at the Navy Yards(the location) on September 13th from11:30am to 6pm (1pm for generaladmission), get your tickets soon!

Next up is Cantillon’s “ZwanzeDay”, being held Saturday, September20th at Churchkey in DC. Located inBrussels, there is a small producer oftraditional belgian lambic namedCantillon. Because of the extremelylimited quantities that enter the US, it canbe quite difficult to procure any of thesehighly sought after brews. And whilescarcity does not necessarily denote worldclass, in the case of Cantillon, it does. Afew reasons for the small quantities is theshortness of the brew season and the factthat these beers take years to mature.Lambic is spontaneously fermented beeraged in oak barrels until the desired levelof acidity/barnyard/funk is reached. It canthen be aged on fruit or blended withother years. Once a year, the owner JeanVan Roy releases a special lambic that istapped simultaneously around the worldat the best beer bars (23 are in the US).This is your best opportunity to try someof the most esoteric styles in the beerworld. Just get their early, cause the keg isusually kicked in about 11-12 minutes….

So, enjoy the next month, thereis plenty of rejoicing to be had, even if thetemperature is beginning to drop.

Will Loring is a local Craft Beer salesrepresentative

TheSoup & Taco,

Etc.

813 Caroline St.Fredericksburg, VA

Serving TraditionalMexican, Tex-Mex Foodand Something More!!

Tuesday to Saturday11am-9pm

Sunday 11am-6pm

Phone: 540-899-0969E-mail: [email protected]

720 Littlepage sunkenwelltavern.com 540-370-0911Eat Well Drink Well Live Well

The Sunken Well Tavern

WELCOME TO OUR

GREAT OUTDOORS

It’s Beautiful ~Night and Day!

SPENCER DEVON BREWERYNew Entry to the Pint PurveyorsBy james Kyle Snyder & Ryan davis

September is a time of harvest,remembrance, and celebration. Withnationally recognized holidays like: LaborDay, VJ Day WWII, 911 Remembrance,coupled with some less know holidays: BeLate for Something Day, FightProcrastination Day, Chocolate Milk ShakeDay, International Talk Like A Pirate Day,and Ask a Stupid Question Day, to namejust a few, September is primed for one ofthe world’s largest celebrations,Oktoberfest.

The first Oktoberfest was 1810as a celebration of the October 12thmarriage between Bavarian Crown PrinceLudwig and the Saxon-HildburghausenPrincess Therese. The entire town wasinvited for the five days of festivities. And,as in the case of modern times, involvedthe consumption of lots of food and manybeers. Like the Crown Price,Fredericksburg is continuing thattradition of celebratory inclusion startingSeptember 19th and 20th in fine fashionat Blue and Gray Brewery and continuingdowntown September 28th at Capital Ale.These pint purveyors are about to get anaddition to the team; Our own downtownbrewery, Spencer Devon Brewery, beingopened by Shawn and Lisa Phillips at 106George Street.

Shawn, wide eyed and excitedwith the vivid memory of wine mentor,David Covington recollects, “you couldtaste the weather and the dirt as (David)talked about how the wine should tastefrom the different years because of thediffering conditions.” Having completedhis Masters degree, Shawn moved to thearea to finish his Marine Corps career. HisFirst stop was the Blue and Gray Brewery.

“There was a young mansweeping up grain. He gave me a taste andbegan talking about the beer like Davidtalked about wine. I knew what I wanted todo.” Lisa and Shawn became very involvedat the Blue and Gray Brewery. Retiring,after a transfer to a “not for me” positionat Quantico, he and Lisa decided to takethe leap of opening their own place. Thefledgling brewery needed a name.

The duties of name the children

had been split. Lisa named any girls.Shawn would name the boys. Stopping attwo and producing two wonderfuldaughters left Shawn’s choice of boynames adrift. With the advent of theirthird child, the brewery, Shawn could atlast, bestow the moniker Spencer Devonon his man child.

Although currently deep inconstruction, Shawn is adamant they canquickly resolve the growing pains. “We arehere and we are going to make this work!Equipment is inbound, Justin Cunninghamis coming to chef and the brewer is justabout nailed down.” Best of Luck Shawn!

-JKS

The motivation for entering intothe beer world began with humblebeginnings for Phillips. Over the course ofseveral years, through his investment inthe Blue Grey Brewery and brewing atlocal beer tasting events, his knowledge ofthe process and product increased. ForPhillips, throwing back a beer transformedfrom ambiguous tasting to savoring."Things were happening to my palette. Ibegan to identify the different flavors in aparticular beer and I really got excited." Inturn, he desires that the public will tapinto the joy of having a more informedunderstanding of what they are drinking."I want the yet-to-be-converted craft beerdrinkers to have the kind of learningexperience I did."

One might infer that with limitedingredients only so much can be done toenhance this beverage. This is not the case,however, because Phillips views brewingbeer like an artist, "There is somethingvery nuanced about the process. You havelimited ingredients, but they can produceinnumerable flavors and varieties." This iswhy the beer market will not becomesaturated. The options to choose from areplentiful, and at the heart of it is acommunity that has a passion has forquality beer. "While there are otherbrewers in the area, there is enough spacebetween us. The biggest threat to the craftbeer market is an individual craft providernot providing a good product."

Spencer Devon will not onlyoffer the brewery, featuring staplebrew varietals such as a Pilsner, MilkStout, IPA and Brown, it will also boasta dine-in restaurant where patronscan view the glass-encased breweryfrom anywhere in the house. Phillipshas partneredwith Chef JustinCunningham tocreate a higher-end restaurantw i t hContemporaryA m e r i c a nc u i s i n e .Cunningham,Owner ofFizzlebottom's Café, was trying toexpand his own business. "It got mycreative juices going. To be able to creategrass roots, melting pot-style cuisine wasexciting to me. We want it to be veryapproachable for the public." The menuwill offer both snack-sized items as well asentrée offerings.

In the minds of Phillips andCunningham there will be no separationbetween the brewery and the restaurant,as in one takes precedence over the other.It is a collaboration to have both succeed

as one venture. "I want great food toaccompany the brews and Virginia-craftedspirits. Both Shawn and I are not willing tocut corners on this," Cunningham said.

For more information thebusiness and crowdsourcing updates visit

the Spencer Devon Brewing Facebookpage or their website:

http://spencerdevonbrewing.com/-RD

Will Power...the beers, they are a-changin...

By william loring


Hard to believe that summer iscoming to an end. Surprised I haven’t seenany Christmas candy at Wegmansyet…But thats ok, because fall is one ofthe best times of the year to be a beerdrinker! (...and I’m not just talking aboutpumpkin beers).

The often emulated Oktoberfestcelebration is a great way to enjoy thatone last blow out before the cool weathersets in. This years, hosted by Capital AleHouse on Caroline St. will fall on Saturday,October 4th. Get read for Wurst,Schnitzel, Pretzels, Lederhosen, and maybea beer or two. Oktoberfestbier/Marzenwas traditionally a dark lager producedtowards the end of spring and left toferment over the summer to be served atthe festival. The modern style, evolvedaround 1840 with the meteoric rise ofVienna lager becoming the popular styleof the day. While the traditional MunichBreweries still produce some version ofthe darker lager, it is used mostly forexport to the US. But enough about beerhistory that no one will remember afterparticipating in an Oktoberfest!

So, what else is there to do in thislate summer/early fall transition? I’m gladyou asked, because there are a coupleworld class beer events happening just tothe north of us in September! First off wehave the 3rd annual SnallygasterGargantuan Beer Jamboree! “Named forthe fearsome and toothy mythical beastsaid to terrorize the region at the turn ofthe century,” this will be one of thepremier beer festivals to hit this area thisyear. This isn’t your run of the mill,breweries bring a year round and seasonaloffering and sit back and relax. Every beeris selected by Greg Engert, the beerdirector for Churchkey, Rustico,Bluejacket, etc, etc. Besides his enormousbeer knowledge, his connections, andability to bring in any keg to DCguarantees an epic beer list. Over 250offerings, including; Cantillon Fou’ Foune,

Perennial Abraxas, Green Flash Silva Stout,Allagash Bourbon Black, New Belgium Felix(aged on VA peaches), Founders KBS,Firestone Walker Bretta Weisse, BearRepublic Cognac Barrel Aged Baba Yaga toname a few. These are just a few of theinsane standouts from the first 100 beersthey have announced. Plus a lengthy list ofCask ales as well as traditional FranconianRubber Clad Gravity Kegs straight fromGermany. They pull all the stops out forthis one folks! If you are interested tocome geek out with me at the Navy Yards(the location) on September 13th from11:30am to 6pm (1pm for generaladmission), get your tickets soon!

Next up is Cantillon’s “ZwanzeDay”, being held Saturday, September20th at Churchkey in DC. Located inBrussels, there is a small producer oftraditional belgian lambic namedCantillon. Because of the extremelylimited quantities that enter the US, it canbe quite difficult to procure any of thesehighly sought after brews. And whilescarcity does not necessarily denote worldclass, in the case of Cantillon, it does. Afew reasons for the small quantities is theshortness of the brew season and the factthat these beers take years to mature.Lambic is spontaneously fermented beeraged in oak barrels until the desired levelof acidity/barnyard/funk is reached. It canthen be aged on fruit or blended withother years. Once a year, the owner JeanVan Roy releases a special lambic that istapped simultaneously around the worldat the best beer bars (23 are in the US).This is your best opportunity to try someof the most esoteric styles in the beerworld. Just get their early, cause the keg isusually kicked in about 11-12 minutes….

So, enjoy the next month, thereis plenty of rejoicing to be had, even if thetemperature is beginning to drop.

Will Loring is a local Craft Beer salesrepresentative

TheSoup & Taco,

Etc.

813 Caroline St.Fredericksburg, VA

Serving TraditionalMexican, Tex-Mex Foodand Something More!!

Tuesday to Saturday11am-9pm

Sunday 11am-6pm

Phone: 540-899-0969E-mail: [email protected]

720 Littlepage sunkenwelltavern.com 540-370-0911Eat Well Drink Well Live Well

The Sunken Well Tavern

WELCOME TO OUR

GREAT OUTDOORS

It’s Beautiful ~Night and Day!

SPENCER DEVON BREWERYNew Entry to the Pint PurveyorsBy james Kyle Snyder & Ryan davis

September is a time of harvest,remembrance, and celebration. Withnationally recognized holidays like: LaborDay, VJ Day WWII, 911 Remembrance,coupled with some less know holidays: BeLate for Something Day, FightProcrastination Day, Chocolate Milk ShakeDay, International Talk Like A Pirate Day,and Ask a Stupid Question Day, to namejust a few, September is primed for one ofthe world’s largest celebrations,Oktoberfest.

The first Oktoberfest was 1810as a celebration of the October 12thmarriage between Bavarian Crown PrinceLudwig and the Saxon-HildburghausenPrincess Therese. The entire town wasinvited for the five days of festivities. And,as in the case of modern times, involvedthe consumption of lots of food and manybeers. Like the Crown Price,Fredericksburg is continuing thattradition of celebratory inclusion startingSeptember 19th and 20th in fine fashionat Blue and Gray Brewery and continuingdowntown September 28th at Capital Ale.These pint purveyors are about to get anaddition to the team; Our own downtownbrewery, Spencer Devon Brewery, beingopened by Shawn and Lisa Phillips at 106George Street.

Shawn, wide eyed and excitedwith the vivid memory of wine mentor,David Covington recollects, “you couldtaste the weather and the dirt as (David)talked about how the wine should tastefrom the different years because of thediffering conditions.” Having completedhis Masters degree, Shawn moved to thearea to finish his Marine Corps career. HisFirst stop was the Blue and Gray Brewery.

“There was a young mansweeping up grain. He gave me a taste andbegan talking about the beer like Davidtalked about wine. I knew what I wanted todo.” Lisa and Shawn became very involvedat the Blue and Gray Brewery. Retiring,after a transfer to a “not for me” positionat Quantico, he and Lisa decided to takethe leap of opening their own place. Thefledgling brewery needed a name.

The duties of name the children

had been split. Lisa named any girls.Shawn would name the boys. Stopping attwo and producing two wonderfuldaughters left Shawn’s choice of boynames adrift. With the advent of theirthird child, the brewery, Shawn could atlast, bestow the moniker Spencer Devonon his man child.

Although currently deep inconstruction, Shawn is adamant they canquickly resolve the growing pains. “We arehere and we are going to make this work!Equipment is inbound, Justin Cunninghamis coming to chef and the brewer is justabout nailed down.” Best of Luck Shawn!

-JKS

The motivation for entering intothe beer world began with humblebeginnings for Phillips. Over the course ofseveral years, through his investment inthe Blue Grey Brewery and brewing atlocal beer tasting events, his knowledge ofthe process and product increased. ForPhillips, throwing back a beer transformedfrom ambiguous tasting to savoring."Things were happening to my palette. Ibegan to identify the different flavors in aparticular beer and I really got excited." Inturn, he desires that the public will tapinto the joy of having a more informedunderstanding of what they are drinking."I want the yet-to-be-converted craft beerdrinkers to have the kind of learningexperience I did."

One might infer that with limitedingredients only so much can be done toenhance this beverage. This is not the case,however, because Phillips views brewingbeer like an artist, "There is somethingvery nuanced about the process. You havelimited ingredients, but they can produceinnumerable flavors and varieties." This iswhy the beer market will not becomesaturated. The options to choose from areplentiful, and at the heart of it is acommunity that has a passion has forquality beer. "While there are otherbrewers in the area, there is enough spacebetween us. The biggest threat to the craftbeer market is an individual craft providernot providing a good product."

Spencer Devon will not onlyoffer the brewery, featuring staplebrew varietals such as a Pilsner, MilkStout, IPA and Brown, it will also boasta dine-in restaurant where patronscan view the glass-encased breweryfrom anywhere in the house. Phillipshas partneredwith Chef JustinCunningham tocreate a higher-end restaurantw i t hContemporaryA m e r i c a nc u i s i n e .Cunningham,Owner ofFizzlebottom's Café, was trying toexpand his own business. "It got mycreative juices going. To be able to creategrass roots, melting pot-style cuisine wasexciting to me. We want it to be veryapproachable for the public." The menuwill offer both snack-sized items as well asentrée offerings.

In the minds of Phillips andCunningham there will be no separationbetween the brewery and the restaurant,as in one takes precedence over the other.It is a collaboration to have both succeed

as one venture. "I want great food toaccompany the brews and Virginia-craftedspirits. Both Shawn and I are not willing tocut corners on this," Cunningham said.

For more information thebusiness and crowdsourcing updates visit

the Spencer Devon Brewing Facebookpage or their website:

http://spencerdevonbrewing.com/-RD

Will Power...the beers, they are a-changin...

By william loring

Monday, September 1Brush Strokes Gallery opening of “Retreats andRespites”, featuring art by Collette Caprara, takesus on a nostalgic walk to places of respite andretreat with her inspirational acrylic and oilpaintings. Also, see new works presented bymember artists that include paintings in allmediums, glass works and sculptures, fabric art,photography, pen and ink drawings, jewelry andmore creations that make wonderful gifts.

Tuesday, September 2Fredericksburg-area artist and jewelry makerSandra Kennelly is the featured artist forSeptember at Art First. Her show is called “PicturesThat Tell A Story.”The show opens on Tues., Sept.2 and runs through Sun., Sept. 28

First Friday, September 5Sandra Kennelly reception @ Art First. 6-9

Collette Caprara opening reception, Brush StrokesGallery, 6-9pm thru September. 28

Water Street Studio presents The Quilt Art ofCarolyn Van Der Jagt. Opening reception 6-9 PM.Show thru September. 29

Saturday, September 6Virginia Historical Society Explore Americanhistory with arts and crafts and discoverconnections to the story of Virginia. Stories at theMuseum features a group reading of a children’shistory book and a make-it-and-take-it craft. 11a.m.—noon. It is free and open to all ages.Richmond. contact Caroline Legros [email protected]

Come celebrate Fredericksburg’s 20th-centuryhistory with the Historic FredericksburgFoundation, Inc. at the Vintage Route 1 Tour &Downtown Community Day @ Riverfront Park,Sopha St. Riverfront Park will be the hub of thisyear’s free activities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. visitwww.VintageRoute1.com. For tickets to the SophiaStreet tour please visit www.HFFI.org or call 540-371-4504. A special thank you to theFredericksburg EDA JumpStart! program for itssupport of the Vintage Route 1 Event.

39th Annual Orange Street Festival ,Orange, VA. 10-6pm. This family friendlyfestival will take place along Main Street

in historic downtown Orange, Virginia featuringtraditional street vendors, local craftsmen andartisans, a variety of food and a Kids Fest area.Music in Taylor Park will begin at 10:30 am andcontinue throughout the day. When the festivalshuts down at 6pm the music will carry on until8pm so stay for “Dancing ’til Dusk in Taylor Park”.Beverage garden featuring beer from 11am to8pm in Taylor Park. Festival admission is free andopen to the public. Don’t miss this annualcommunity event!

Monday, September 8Whole Health Weight Loss: a FREE introductoryclass to a 3 month comprehensive and holisticweight loss program from Dr. Christine Thompson.6:30 pm at Whole Health Chiropractic, 434Bridgewater St, Fredericksburg (540) 899-9421 [email protected]

Tuesday, September. 9The Vreelands @ Bistro Bethem @ 8:00 pm –11:00 pm Join us for drink specials and live musicfeaturing The Vreelands on our “stage” from 8PMto 11PM. No cover!

Award-winning singer-songwriter Bob Gramannentertains with lively, funny, and thought-provoking songs. Come get comfy in the EnglandRun Library’s living room. Almost like having aconcert in your own home! Free to the public.7pm.

Friday, September 12Stage Door Productions Presents: Proof by DavidAuburn on September 12, 13, 19, and 20 at 7:30September 13 at 2:30 Kitt Creative Studio 810Caroline St .One of the most acclaimed plays of the1999-2000 season, and winner of the 2001Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Proof is a work thatexplores the unknowability of love as much as itdoes the mysteries of science.Tickets are $15 foradults, $10 for students (Suggested for ages 13and up) For more information visithttp://www.stagedoorproductions.org

Saturday, September 13Dierks Bentley @ Celebrate Virginia Live. PanchoVilla Pavillion.6 pm. $

Stafford County Agricultural Fair and HartwoodDays Festival starts @ 5:00 pm runs thru Sept. 14@ 10:00 pm Festival is a FREE (no admission) Fairheld in the Historic District of Hartwood inStafford County VA along the Civil War Trail.

History comes alive at the 7th Annual Yankees inFalmouth! And Some Confederates Too!thru Sept 14 at the Historic Moncure ConwayHouse Walk back in time and experience Falmouththe way it was 150 years ago during the Civil War!Come out and meet Union and Confederatesoldiers and see their camps! President Lincoln willalso be at this year’s event and be available for aphoto-op! Other event activities include:Encampments, artillery and cannon firingdemonstrations, StrictMilitary Impressions,Civil War lectures, non-combative reenacting,and much more. Theevent will be on thegrounds of the MoncureConway House, built in1807 and recognized aspart of the UndergroundRailroad.

“Art Attack” a grassrootsevent organized by localartists to encourage theexposure, promotion,and celebration ofFredericksburg’s vibrantart community. From10am-4pm, participatingartists will take to the streets with live artdemonstrations ranging in painting and ceramicsto mosaic art and dance on the Caroline StreetCorridor in Fredericksburg’s historic district.

Join us for a family oriented day of fun at theannual Heiwa Matsuri [“hay-wa mat-suri”] FallPeace Festival at Aikido in Fredericksburg. 10-4pm.6155 Hickory Ridge Rd. Spotsylvania. a traditionalJapanese holiday to celebrate seasonal harvest andlocal community. Enjoy tasty local food. Go on aguided nature walk. Pick out a plant at the organicplant sale. Join an aikido class. (Beginners arewelcome.) Watch martial arts demonstrations. Riseto the sumo challenge in fun inflatable suits.Crafts, games and face-painting for kids. Enjoy and

shop high quality crafts and gifts. It’s all free.

Join FAMCC from 1-3 PM for Second Saturdays atthe Museum. This month, children and their caregivers can learn about the various animals that livearound the Rappahannock River and the tracksthey leave behind. During this program childrencan create animal tracks of their own.Recommended age for this program is 8 and below.This event is FREE.Fredericksburg Community Open Mic UndertheSign up starts at 6PM and music and otherperformance starts at 7 PM. We’re across fromCarl’s – so grab a cone, grab yo geetar or whatever,and stroll on over! Stars @General WashingtonExecutive Center 2217 Princess Anne Street

Sunday, September 14Fredericksburg Festival for the Performing Artspresents the popular band Love Canon on Sundayfrom 3-6pm . Enjoy songs of the 80’s covered bythis fabulous bluegrass band

Tuesday, September 16Whole Health Weight Loss: a FREE introductoryclass to a 3 month comprehensive and holisticweight loss program from Dr. Christine Thompson.Monday, Sept 8th 6:30 pm and Tuesday, Sept16th 7:00 pm at Whole Health Chiropractic, 434Bridgewater St, Fredericksburg (540) 899-9421 [email protected]

Clay Mottley @ Bistro Bethem @ 8:00 pm – 11:00pm Join us for drink specials and live musicfeaturing Clay Mottley on our “stage” from 8PM to11PM. No cover

Rappahannock Area Community Services BoardPARENT EDUCATION – INFANT DEVELOPMENTPROGRAM To host Open House from 3 to 6 p.m.

Friday, Septemberember 19The ‘I Am Not Afraid’ Stage Play @ CarolineCounty Community Center @ 7:00 pm The StagePlay is a live stage production about school

bullying, with the message to ‘stop littlebullies from becoming big ones.’ Playwritten, produced and directed by localauthor Ayana Sala Baugh

Saturday, September 20Taste of Freedom Wine Festival, JamesMadison’s Montpelier, MontpelierStation. Family friendly Constitution DayCelebration featuring the Taste ofFreedom Wine Festival. Enjoy tastingsfrom select Virginia wineries from 11:00a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Local cider and craftbeers will also be available, including thenew “Montpelier Ale” developed by Devil’sBackbone Brewing Company of Nelson,VA, as well as a showcase of regional artsand crafts. Entrance to Constitution Dayis $10 per car.

The ‘I Am Not Afraid’ Stage Play @ CarolineCounty Community Center @ 1:00 pm The StagePlay is a live stage production about schoolbullying, with the message to ‘stop little bulliesfrom becoming big ones.’ Play written, producedand directed by local author Ayana Sala Baugh

ArtSplicit, Do You Enjoy the Arts? Join us @ PorterLibrary, 2:30-4:30pm. Imagine being in the midstof several art forms at once! Join us for a ‘cocktail’of various Forms to include: Live PerformancesLive Poetry Painters Dancers Photographers andmore and enjoy the Tea and or Winetasting.Featuring Artistry from:Kathy Shepard

Roller Derby: Five 40 Roller Girls vs. NRV @Golden Skate World @ 6:00 pm Golden SkateWorld 12220 5 Mile Road, Fredericksburg,

Tuesday, September 23Vamos @ Bistro Bethem, 8-11pm. Join us for drinkspecials and live music featuring VAMOS on our“stage” from 8PM to 11PM. No cover!

Friday, September 26, Stafford County Fire/Rescue Company 2 4thAnnual Charlie Robertson Memorial GolfTournament to benefit the Stafford Volunteer FireDepartment Scholarship Fund. Augustine Golf ClubAll golfers are welcome Augustine is located at 76Monument Drive, Stafford VAwww.tournevents.com/svfd2. Questionspertaining to the tournament can be emailed [email protected].

Saturday, September. 27,1–3 p.m. Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher Maura

Schneider, and Skin+Touch Therapy MassageTherapist Brian Lam will lead a yoga and massageworkshop for prenatal clients and their loved one,at Dragonfly Yoga Studio, 810 Caroline St.

YourYoga-thon! @ Hurkamp Park A full day ofFREE yoga classes to benefit the Virginia FarmProject Foundation. Presented by YourYoga,offering customized, on-site yoga to businesses andthe community. 6am-6pm

The Fredericksburg-Rappahannock Chapter of theIzaak Walton League of America will once againhost The Fredericksburg Dog Mart at their Chaptergrounds in Spotsylvania. The Annual Event is “ATrue Family & Sportsman’s Event” AND A GreatDay of Fun & Enjoyment for ALL.Bring Your FamilyDog and give him “A Dogs Day Out”! (All DogsMust be on a Leash) From Barrell Train Rides forALL, Great Food, a Great Dog Judging Contest, DogDemonstrations, Displays of all Kinds, Vendors,Dog Rescue Clubs, Puppies & Dog Auction, FacePainting for the Children, Local Sheriff Dept. DogDemos, Archery Demos, Boy Scout and Girl ScoutDisplays, WWII Displays, A Patriotic 12-NoonCeremony with a Boy Scout Color Guard,

Gaye Adegbalola & the Wild Rutz –an a cappellablues quartet, will combine their four uniquevoices with percussion to present a humorous,uplifting and entertaining combination of blues,R&B, work songs, field hollers and spirituals.Opening for this quartet will be M.S.G. –TheAcoustic Blues Trio. This trio, made up of JackieMerritt, Miles Spicer and Resa Gibbs, will performtraditional Piedmont blues music.

Sunday, September 28Washington Heritage County Fair, Old Mill Park 3-6pm . Come enjoy our classic County Fair. This isthe perfect opportunity for individuals, couplesand families with children of any age to make themost of a fall Sunday afternoon. Your ticket priceincludes great food, beverages, beer and wine forthe grown-ups and an array of classic carnival-stylegames for the little ones, plus live entertainmentand more. It all takes place on the banks of thescenic Rappahannock River at Fredericksburg’s OldMill Park. $$

Tuesday, September 30Ashleigh Chevalier @ Bistro Bethem, 8:00 pm –11:00 pm Join us for drink specials and live musicfeaturing Ashleigh Chevalier on our “stage. Nocover!

If you are reading this 206th issue of FP, thank an advertiser as we celebrate our

18th year of continuous publication!

If you are an advertiser, list your event. Deadline for September issue is September 20.

To submit events, follow this link:http://frontporchfredericksburg.com/how-tto-

submit-oonline/


Each HomeInstead Franchise Office is Independently Owned & Operated homeinstead.com

CompanionshipMeal PreparationMedication RemindersLaundry

Light HousekeepingShopping/ErrandsPersonal CareFlexible Hours

Call for a free, no-obligation appointment

540.899.1422

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CALENDARof eventsseptember 2014…Back to School Daze

Monday, September 1Brush Strokes Gallery opening of “Retreats andRespites”, featuring art by Collette Caprara, takesus on a nostalgic walk to places of respite andretreat with her inspirational acrylic and oilpaintings. Also, see new works presented bymember artists that include paintings in allmediums, glass works and sculptures, fabric art,photography, pen and ink drawings, jewelry andmore creations that make wonderful gifts.

Tuesday, September 2Fredericksburg-area artist and jewelry makerSandra Kennelly is the featured artist forSeptember at Art First. Her show is called “PicturesThat Tell A Story.”The show opens on Tues., Sept.2 and runs through Sun., Sept. 28

First Friday, September 5Sandra Kennelly reception @ Art First. 6-9

Collette Caprara opening reception, Brush StrokesGallery, 6-9pm thru September. 28

Water Street Studio presents The Quilt Art ofCarolyn Van Der Jagt. Opening reception 6-9 PM.Show thru September. 29

Saturday, September 6Virginia Historical Society Explore Americanhistory with arts and crafts and discoverconnections to the story of Virginia. Stories at theMuseum features a group reading of a children’shistory book and a make-it-and-take-it craft. 11a.m.—noon. It is free and open to all ages.Richmond. contact Caroline Legros [email protected]

Come celebrate Fredericksburg’s 20th-centuryhistory with the Historic FredericksburgFoundation, Inc. at the Vintage Route 1 Tour &Downtown Community Day @ Riverfront Park,Sopha St. Riverfront Park will be the hub of thisyear’s free activities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. visitwww.VintageRoute1.com. For tickets to the SophiaStreet tour please visit www.HFFI.org or call 540-371-4504. A special thank you to theFredericksburg EDA JumpStart! program for itssupport of the Vintage Route 1 Event.

39th Annual Orange Street Festival ,Orange, VA. 10-6pm. This family friendlyfestival will take place along Main Street

in historic downtown Orange, Virginia featuringtraditional street vendors, local craftsmen andartisans, a variety of food and a Kids Fest area.Music in Taylor Park will begin at 10:30 am andcontinue throughout the day. When the festivalshuts down at 6pm the music will carry on until8pm so stay for “Dancing ’til Dusk in Taylor Park”.Beverage garden featuring beer from 11am to8pm in Taylor Park. Festival admission is free andopen to the public. Don’t miss this annualcommunity event!

Monday, September 8Whole Health Weight Loss: a FREE introductoryclass to a 3 month comprehensive and holisticweight loss program from Dr. Christine Thompson.6:30 pm at Whole Health Chiropractic, 434Bridgewater St, Fredericksburg (540) 899-9421 [email protected]

Tuesday, September. 9The Vreelands @ Bistro Bethem @ 8:00 pm –11:00 pm Join us for drink specials and live musicfeaturing The Vreelands on our “stage” from 8PMto 11PM. No cover!

Award-winning singer-songwriter Bob Gramannentertains with lively, funny, and thought-provoking songs. Come get comfy in the EnglandRun Library’s living room. Almost like having aconcert in your own home! Free to the public.7pm.

Friday, September 12Stage Door Productions Presents: Proof by DavidAuburn on September 12, 13, 19, and 20 at 7:30September 13 at 2:30 Kitt Creative Studio 810Caroline St .One of the most acclaimed plays of the1999-2000 season, and winner of the 2001Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Proof is a work thatexplores the unknowability of love as much as itdoes the mysteries of science.Tickets are $15 foradults, $10 for students (Suggested for ages 13and up) For more information visithttp://www.stagedoorproductions.org

Saturday, September 13Dierks Bentley @ Celebrate Virginia Live. PanchoVilla Pavillion.6 pm. $

Stafford County Agricultural Fair and HartwoodDays Festival starts @ 5:00 pm runs thru Sept. 14@ 10:00 pm Festival is a FREE (no admission) Fairheld in the Historic District of Hartwood inStafford County VA along the Civil War Trail.

History comes alive at the 7th Annual Yankees inFalmouth! And Some Confederates Too!thru Sept 14 at the Historic Moncure ConwayHouse Walk back in time and experience Falmouththe way it was 150 years ago during the Civil War!Come out and meet Union and Confederatesoldiers and see their camps! President Lincoln willalso be at this year’s event and be available for aphoto-op! Other event activities include:Encampments, artillery and cannon firingdemonstrations, StrictMilitary Impressions,Civil War lectures, non-combative reenacting,and much more. Theevent will be on thegrounds of the MoncureConway House, built in1807 and recognized aspart of the UndergroundRailroad.

“Art Attack” a grassrootsevent organized by localartists to encourage theexposure, promotion,and celebration ofFredericksburg’s vibrantart community. From10am-4pm, participatingartists will take to the streets with live artdemonstrations ranging in painting and ceramicsto mosaic art and dance on the Caroline StreetCorridor in Fredericksburg’s historic district.

Join us for a family oriented day of fun at theannual Heiwa Matsuri [“hay-wa mat-suri”] FallPeace Festival at Aikido in Fredericksburg. 10-4pm.6155 Hickory Ridge Rd. Spotsylvania. a traditionalJapanese holiday to celebrate seasonal harvest andlocal community. Enjoy tasty local food. Go on aguided nature walk. Pick out a plant at the organicplant sale. Join an aikido class. (Beginners arewelcome.) Watch martial arts demonstrations. Riseto the sumo challenge in fun inflatable suits.Crafts, games and face-painting for kids. Enjoy and

shop high quality crafts and gifts. It’s all free.

Join FAMCC from 1-3 PM for Second Saturdays atthe Museum. This month, children and their caregivers can learn about the various animals that livearound the Rappahannock River and the tracksthey leave behind. During this program childrencan create animal tracks of their own.Recommended age for this program is 8 and below.This event is FREE.Fredericksburg Community Open Mic UndertheSign up starts at 6PM and music and otherperformance starts at 7 PM. We’re across fromCarl’s – so grab a cone, grab yo geetar or whatever,and stroll on over! Stars @General WashingtonExecutive Center 2217 Princess Anne Street

Sunday, September 14Fredericksburg Festival for the Performing Artspresents the popular band Love Canon on Sundayfrom 3-6pm . Enjoy songs of the 80’s covered bythis fabulous bluegrass band

Tuesday, September 16Whole Health Weight Loss: a FREE introductoryclass to a 3 month comprehensive and holisticweight loss program from Dr. Christine Thompson.Monday, Sept 8th 6:30 pm and Tuesday, Sept16th 7:00 pm at Whole Health Chiropractic, 434Bridgewater St, Fredericksburg (540) 899-9421 [email protected]

Clay Mottley @ Bistro Bethem @ 8:00 pm – 11:00pm Join us for drink specials and live musicfeaturing Clay Mottley on our “stage” from 8PM to11PM. No cover

Rappahannock Area Community Services BoardPARENT EDUCATION – INFANT DEVELOPMENTPROGRAM To host Open House from 3 to 6 p.m.

Friday, Septemberember 19The ‘I Am Not Afraid’ Stage Play @ CarolineCounty Community Center @ 7:00 pm The StagePlay is a live stage production about school

bullying, with the message to ‘stop littlebullies from becoming big ones.’ Playwritten, produced and directed by localauthor Ayana Sala Baugh

Saturday, September 20Taste of Freedom Wine Festival, JamesMadison’s Montpelier, MontpelierStation. Family friendly Constitution DayCelebration featuring the Taste ofFreedom Wine Festival. Enjoy tastingsfrom select Virginia wineries from 11:00a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Local cider and craftbeers will also be available, including thenew “Montpelier Ale” developed by Devil’sBackbone Brewing Company of Nelson,VA, as well as a showcase of regional artsand crafts. Entrance to Constitution Dayis $10 per car.

The ‘I Am Not Afraid’ Stage Play @ CarolineCounty Community Center @ 1:00 pm The StagePlay is a live stage production about schoolbullying, with the message to ‘stop little bulliesfrom becoming big ones.’ Play written, producedand directed by local author Ayana Sala Baugh

ArtSplicit, Do You Enjoy the Arts? Join us @ PorterLibrary, 2:30-4:30pm. Imagine being in the midstof several art forms at once! Join us for a ‘cocktail’of various Forms to include: Live PerformancesLive Poetry Painters Dancers Photographers andmore and enjoy the Tea and or Winetasting.Featuring Artistry from:Kathy Shepard

Roller Derby: Five 40 Roller Girls vs. NRV @Golden Skate World @ 6:00 pm Golden SkateWorld 12220 5 Mile Road, Fredericksburg,

Tuesday, September 23Vamos @ Bistro Bethem, 8-11pm. Join us for drinkspecials and live music featuring VAMOS on our“stage” from 8PM to 11PM. No cover!

Friday, September 26, Stafford County Fire/Rescue Company 2 4thAnnual Charlie Robertson Memorial GolfTournament to benefit the Stafford Volunteer FireDepartment Scholarship Fund. Augustine Golf ClubAll golfers are welcome Augustine is located at 76Monument Drive, Stafford VAwww.tournevents.com/svfd2. Questionspertaining to the tournament can be emailed [email protected].

Saturday, September. 27,1–3 p.m. Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher Maura

Schneider, and Skin+Touch Therapy MassageTherapist Brian Lam will lead a yoga and massageworkshop for prenatal clients and their loved one,at Dragonfly Yoga Studio, 810 Caroline St.

YourYoga-thon! @ Hurkamp Park A full day ofFREE yoga classes to benefit the Virginia FarmProject Foundation. Presented by YourYoga,offering customized, on-site yoga to businesses andthe community. 6am-6pm

The Fredericksburg-Rappahannock Chapter of theIzaak Walton League of America will once againhost The Fredericksburg Dog Mart at their Chaptergrounds in Spotsylvania. The Annual Event is “ATrue Family & Sportsman’s Event” AND A GreatDay of Fun & Enjoyment for ALL.Bring Your FamilyDog and give him “A Dogs Day Out”! (All DogsMust be on a Leash) From Barrell Train Rides forALL, Great Food, a Great Dog Judging Contest, DogDemonstrations, Displays of all Kinds, Vendors,Dog Rescue Clubs, Puppies & Dog Auction, FacePainting for the Children, Local Sheriff Dept. DogDemos, Archery Demos, Boy Scout and Girl ScoutDisplays, WWII Displays, A Patriotic 12-NoonCeremony with a Boy Scout Color Guard,

Gaye Adegbalola & the Wild Rutz –an a cappellablues quartet, will combine their four uniquevoices with percussion to present a humorous,uplifting and entertaining combination of blues,R&B, work songs, field hollers and spirituals.Opening for this quartet will be M.S.G. –TheAcoustic Blues Trio. This trio, made up of JackieMerritt, Miles Spicer and Resa Gibbs, will performtraditional Piedmont blues music.

Sunday, September 28Washington Heritage County Fair, Old Mill Park 3-6pm . Come enjoy our classic County Fair. This isthe perfect opportunity for individuals, couplesand families with children of any age to make themost of a fall Sunday afternoon. Your ticket priceincludes great food, beverages, beer and wine forthe grown-ups and an array of classic carnival-stylegames for the little ones, plus live entertainmentand more. It all takes place on the banks of thescenic Rappahannock River at Fredericksburg’s OldMill Park. $$

Tuesday, September 30Ashleigh Chevalier @ Bistro Bethem, 8:00 pm –11:00 pm Join us for drink specials and live musicfeaturing Ashleigh Chevalier on our “stage. Nocover!

If you are reading this 206th issue of FP, thank an advertiser as we celebrate our

18th year of continuous publication!

If you are an advertiser, list your event. Deadline for September issue is September 20.

To submit events, follow this link:http://frontporchfredericksburg.com/how-tto-

submit-oonline/


Each HomeInstead Franchise Office is Independently Owned & Operated homeinstead.com

CompanionshipMeal PreparationMedication RemindersLaundry

Light HousekeepingShopping/ErrandsPersonal CareFlexible Hours

Call for a free, no-obligation appointment

540.899.1422

2264 Fans (& Growing)

Want You to Join

FFrroonntt PPoorrcchh on

CALENDARof eventsseptember 2014…Back to School Daze

Recently while enjoying a meal inone of my favorite restaurants inFredericksburg “The GeneralStore” the owner Bill Kertos,presented me with a book found inthe renovation of a downtownbuilding entitled FredericksburgGreek Colony 1908-1933. Bill whois a long time friend andFredericksburg resident is of Greekdescent; having come to the UnitedStates alone as a young boy in the1950’s, is a story to be told at alater date.

The book was printed in 1933with a foreword by the Mayor ofFredericksburg R. J. Payne. Hementioned a restaurant owned by the Pappandreau family and theAthens Hotel owned by the Acrious family in his introduction. Hewould open his business, “Doxasi ho Theos! (Glory be!). A Greek wouldthen hang his coat and hat, plunge into the Mercurial game of sellingperishable merchandise, with a stock of English words garneredindiscriminately and spoken in fiery Greek accent.

George Calamos came to Fredericksburg in 1908 and opened his store on MainStreet (Caroline Street) and named it Olympian Confectionery. John Pappandreau whowas a teacher in his native Greece and came to America like Calamos and started in theRestaurant business in Fredericksburg. John returned to his native land for a visit andmet Katina whom he married and brought back to the old historic city and she is saidto be the first Greek damsel here. Soon to follow was George Virvos whose family is stillwell know in the city for the famous “Pool Room hot dogs” located on William Street.

Jim Calamos came to Fredericksburg and opened the Liberty Confectionaryacross from the train depot. Jim was killed in an automobile accident. His brother Nicktook over the business. The Calamos name is still well known in business.

Having known Bill Kertos I find that the book when it explains the Greek qualityof life to be very accurate in that it describes him as: Gregarious and pleasant of wordto his patrons, diplomatic with a very strong work ethic and honest in his relationships.I had the pleasure of serving on City Council with Jim Gouvenides who owned a clothingstore in Fredericksburg and was proud of his Greek heritage and instrumental in theyearly Greek festival.

Several other Greek owned ventures are mentioned including the Victory Café(George Calamos), Washington Restaurant (Pete Manjouranis), Savoy Café (TonyPorfios), White House Café (Theo Doumas), and Fredericksburg Billiard Parlor (TheisKataphiotis) Central Lunch (Andrew Tavlaris). This is just one of those untold storiesof our Historic City. Many of these names have faded into the past; however, many ofthem are still contributing daily to our quality of life, such as the Family Forum alongwith the General Store.

Dedicated to Dr. Wyatt Thompson, Robert Tyler and Roy Lee

Tuffy Hicks continues to educate us on Virginia history each month in this space.

front porch fredericksburg September 2014 19 18 September 2014 Front porch fredericksburg

FFrreeddeerriicckkssbbuurrgg GGrreeeekk CCoolloonnyy

By Ralph “Tuffy” Hicksh

isto

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ries

For those of us who rememberalbums, buying a new 45 with the latestsingle was a moment to behold. But flippingthat record over and realizing that the songon the reverse side was a hidden andunexpected gem? Even better! Welcome toSophia Street—the flip side of the busyhistoric Route 1 corridor.

On September 6th, the HistoricFredericksburg Foundation, Inc. and othercommunity groups will come together tocelebrate the legacy of U.S. Route 1.Tremendous attention was paid toPrincess Anne Street and LafayetteBoulevard (then National Boulevard) whenthey became the official Route 1thoroughfare through Fredericksburg in1926. Caroline & William Street remainedcommercial corridors throughout thetwentieth century. But where did thatleave Sophia Street? A first glance wouldsuggest that this area was left behind—what was once a prominent riverfrontlandscape became a haven for rental homes,warehouses, & parking lots. A closerinspection reveals the “gems” of twentieth-century Sophia Street and the significantbuildings, objects, and archaeological sitesthat are notable components to the historicfabric of our town.

What is today 523 Sophia Streetis the oldest confirmed building in thecity. Built as Thornton’s Tavern in 1746,the structure later housed Hunter’s Store.It was a private dwelling during thenineteenth century. By the early-twentiethcentury, though, this 200-year-old buildingwas the home of Genzberger and Brotherjunk shop and taxidermy business. Whowould have thought that this historic taverntook in not patrons in the 1920s, butraccoons, muskrats and minks!

Next door was the Rowe-Goolrickhouse. Now a parking lot, this importanthome was built in the mid-eighteenthcentury and faced south onto the historicwharf road at the foot of today’s WolfeStreet. This dwelling was the war-timehome of future Mayor Absolom Rowe, and

was later owned by the Goolrick family.The city’s only public ice house was on thesame block, and the workshop of notableFredericksburg architect Peck Heflin stoodacross the street.

Further down Sophia, the road toCity Dock was lined with tenant homesand factories, including a tannery andwarehouses to store goods that oncearrived by railroad, steamboat, and laterautomobiles. Most are gone today, but allwere a very important cog in theoperation of daily life in early-twentiethcentury Fredericksburg.

HFFI will be celebrating thetwentieth-century history of Sophia Streetand the Route 1 corridor during its annualVintage Route 1 Event on Saturday,September 6. A guided tour of SophiaStreet will include stories and informationon locations along this forgottencorridor. Tickets are on sale now at 540-371-4504 and www.hffi.org.

Riverfront Park will also be filledwith fun FREE family activities from 10a.m.–5 p.m. For more information pleasevisit www.VintageRoute1.com.

Dr. Kerri S. Barile is President ofDovetail Cultural Resource Group inFredericksburg, is active on the HFFI

Publications Committee, and has doneextensive research on Sophia Street.

Central RappahannockHERITAGE CENTER

Volunteers neededto process historical documents

and aid researchers. Training provided.

Phone 540-373-3704 or email [email protected]

The Heritage Center Maury Commons 900 Barton St Fredericksburg

Open to the public for scholarly research

OUR HERITAGESOPHIA STREET : “FLIP SIDE” OF ROUTE 1

BY KERRI S. BARILE

For those sandwich fans, VirginiaDeli is a great option downtown. Idropped in on Linda and Allen Freeman,owners of above mentioned eatery, and wetalked about their recent move and thebusiness in general. For those who werenot familiar with the Virginia Deli that waslocated at the bottom of William St. beforethe bridge, you really should try the newspot on Caroline St. The deli has movedinto what was the Virginia WineExperience shop located at the corner ofGeorge and Caroline. Linda said they hadbeen watching for a location that wouldallow for more visibility, and finally oneopened on Caroline Street.

The prior location on William St.was always visible with stand up cutouts ofhistoric figures, but just one block off themain thoroughfare can make a bigdifference in the volume of a smallbusiness. The menu has not changedextensively, though there are a few morehistoric names given to the different

sandwiches. Some old favorites such as theAbigail, a basic turkey and swiss on sourdough have returned. They slipped aGrant in there, a basic BLT on white toast.Some of the names given to thesandwiches are local historic spots such asthe Rappahannock (pastrami and swiss onrye), the Ferry Farm (chicken salad andbacon), and a new chicken breastsandwich called the Belmont. I’m a big fanof the James Monroe, which is a roast beefand cheddar on sourdough withmushrooms, onions and a special sauce.They also have Bart’s Dogs, hickorysmoked all beef hot dogs. This spot isalways a hit when company comes to town,and you take them on the obligatoryFredericksburg history tour!

I asked Linda how she becameinvolved with the restaurant business.Sheexplained that they had owned anautomotive transmission shop inWoodbridge for many years, but lost thebuilding due to zoning and an eminent

domain clause. Allen hadbeen in the automotivebusiness for most of his life,but decided to trysomething totally new. Nowcomes the fun part - manytimes we hear of childrenlearning the family business,but in this case it workedthe opposite. The Allens’son, Chris graduated fromJohnson and Wales, a prestigious culinaryschool, and he had run several businessesin Roanoke and Richmond. So theydecided to enlist Chris’s skills to learn therestaurant business. Though they hadsmall business know how, they admittedthat opening and successfully running arestaurant was a totally different beast.But seven years later, they are still at it,and going strong. Allen said they are notthe kind of people who sit still for too

long, so who knows what the next venturecould be.

So, stop in and try a historicgrilled or deli sandwich, or create yourown. The prices are reasonable, theatmosphere is down home pleasant andthe grub is simple and delicious. VirginiaDeli is open daily from 11:00 to 4:00 at826 Caroline St.

Mary Lynn Powers brings us news onlocal businesses monthly.

The Rowe-GGoolrick House at 607 SophiaStreet in the late 1940s (National ParkService). The home was demolished in1973 to make way for a parking lot.

SSppoottlliigghhtt OOnnthe virginia deli

By mary lynn powers

Recently while enjoying a meal inone of my favorite restaurants inFredericksburg “The GeneralStore” the owner Bill Kertos,presented me with a book found inthe renovation of a downtownbuilding entitled FredericksburgGreek Colony 1908-1933. Bill whois a long time friend andFredericksburg resident is of Greekdescent; having come to the UnitedStates alone as a young boy in the1950’s, is a story to be told at alater date.

The book was printed in 1933with a foreword by the Mayor ofFredericksburg R. J. Payne. Hementioned a restaurant owned by the Pappandreau family and theAthens Hotel owned by the Acrious family in his introduction. Hewould open his business, “Doxasi ho Theos! (Glory be!). A Greek wouldthen hang his coat and hat, plunge into the Mercurial game of sellingperishable merchandise, with a stock of English words garneredindiscriminately and spoken in fiery Greek accent.

George Calamos came to Fredericksburg in 1908 and opened his store on MainStreet (Caroline Street) and named it Olympian Confectionery. John Pappandreau whowas a teacher in his native Greece and came to America like Calamos and started in theRestaurant business in Fredericksburg. John returned to his native land for a visit andmet Katina whom he married and brought back to the old historic city and she is saidto be the first Greek damsel here. Soon to follow was George Virvos whose family is stillwell know in the city for the famous “Pool Room hot dogs” located on William Street.

Jim Calamos came to Fredericksburg and opened the Liberty Confectionaryacross from the train depot. Jim was killed in an automobile accident. His brother Nicktook over the business. The Calamos name is still well known in business.

Having known Bill Kertos I find that the book when it explains the Greek qualityof life to be very accurate in that it describes him as: Gregarious and pleasant of wordto his patrons, diplomatic with a very strong work ethic and honest in his relationships.I had the pleasure of serving on City Council with Jim Gouvenides who owned a clothingstore in Fredericksburg and was proud of his Greek heritage and instrumental in theyearly Greek festival.

Several other Greek owned ventures are mentioned including the Victory Café(George Calamos), Washington Restaurant (Pete Manjouranis), Savoy Café (TonyPorfios), White House Café (Theo Doumas), and Fredericksburg Billiard Parlor (TheisKataphiotis) Central Lunch (Andrew Tavlaris). This is just one of those untold storiesof our Historic City. Many of these names have faded into the past; however, many ofthem are still contributing daily to our quality of life, such as the Family Forum alongwith the General Store.

Dedicated to Dr. Wyatt Thompson, Robert Tyler and Roy Lee

Tuffy Hicks continues to educate us on Virginia history each month in this space.


FFrreeddeerriicckkssbbuurrgg GGrreeeekk CCoolloonnyy

By Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks

his

tory

’s s

tori

es

For those of us who rememberalbums, buying a new 45 with the latestsingle was a moment to behold. But flippingthat record over and realizing that the songon the reverse side was a hidden andunexpected gem? Even better! Welcome toSophia Street—the flip side of the busyhistoric Route 1 corridor.

On September 6th, the HistoricFredericksburg Foundation, Inc. and othercommunity groups will come together tocelebrate the legacy of U.S. Route 1.Tremendous attention was paid toPrincess Anne Street and LafayetteBoulevard (then National Boulevard) whenthey became the official Route 1thoroughfare through Fredericksburg in1926. Caroline & William Street remainedcommercial corridors throughout thetwentieth century. But where did thatleave Sophia Street? A first glance wouldsuggest that this area was left behind—what was once a prominent riverfrontlandscape became a haven for rental homes,warehouses, & parking lots. A closerinspection reveals the “gems” of twentieth-century Sophia Street and the significantbuildings, objects, and archaeological sitesthat are notable components to the historicfabric of our town.

What is today 523 Sophia Streetis the oldest confirmed building in thecity. Built as Thornton’s Tavern in 1746,the structure later housed Hunter’s Store.It was a private dwelling during thenineteenth century. By the early-twentiethcentury, though, this 200-year-old buildingwas the home of Genzberger and Brotherjunk shop and taxidermy business. Whowould have thought that this historic taverntook in not patrons in the 1920s, butraccoons, muskrats and minks!

Next door was the Rowe-Goolrickhouse. Now a parking lot, this importanthome was built in the mid-eighteenthcentury and faced south onto the historicwharf road at the foot of today’s WolfeStreet. This dwelling was the war-timehome of future Mayor Absolom Rowe, and

was later owned by the Goolrick family.The city’s only public ice house was on thesame block, and the workshop of notableFredericksburg architect Peck Heflin stoodacross the street.

Further down Sophia, the road toCity Dock was lined with tenant homesand factories, including a tannery andwarehouses to store goods that oncearrived by railroad, steamboat, and laterautomobiles. Most are gone today, but allwere a very important cog in theoperation of daily life in early-twentiethcentury Fredericksburg.

HFFI will be celebrating thetwentieth-century history of Sophia Streetand the Route 1 corridor during its annualVintage Route 1 Event on Saturday,September 6. A guided tour of SophiaStreet will include stories and informationon locations along this forgottencorridor. Tickets are on sale now at 540-371-4504 and www.hffi.org.

Riverfront Park will also be filledwith fun FREE family activities from 10a.m.–5 p.m. For more information pleasevisit www.VintageRoute1.com.

Dr. Kerri S. Barile is President ofDovetail Cultural Resource Group inFredericksburg, is active on the HFFI

Publications Committee, and has doneextensive research on Sophia Street.

Central RappahannockHERITAGE CENTER

Volunteers neededto process historical documents

and aid researchers. Training provided.

Phone 540-373-3704 or email [email protected]

The Heritage Center Maury Commons 900 Barton St Fredericksburg

Open to the public for scholarly research

OUR HERITAGESOPHIA STREET : “FLIP SIDE” OF ROUTE 1

BY KERRI S. BARILE

For those sandwich fans, VirginiaDeli is a great option downtown. Idropped in on Linda and Allen Freeman,owners of above mentioned eatery, and wetalked about their recent move and thebusiness in general. For those who werenot familiar with the Virginia Deli that waslocated at the bottom of William St. beforethe bridge, you really should try the newspot on Caroline St. The deli has movedinto what was the Virginia WineExperience shop located at the corner ofGeorge and Caroline. Linda said they hadbeen watching for a location that wouldallow for more visibility, and finally oneopened on Caroline Street.

The prior location on William St.was always visible with stand up cutouts ofhistoric figures, but just one block off themain thoroughfare can make a bigdifference in the volume of a smallbusiness. The menu has not changedextensively, though there are a few morehistoric names given to the different

sandwiches. Some old favorites such as theAbigail, a basic turkey and swiss on sourdough have returned. They slipped aGrant in there, a basic BLT on white toast.Some of the names given to thesandwiches are local historic spots such asthe Rappahannock (pastrami and swiss onrye), the Ferry Farm (chicken salad andbacon), and a new chicken breastsandwich called the Belmont. I’m a big fanof the James Monroe, which is a roast beefand cheddar on sourdough withmushrooms, onions and a special sauce.They also have Bart’s Dogs, hickorysmoked all beef hot dogs. This spot isalways a hit when company comes to town,and you take them on the obligatoryFredericksburg history tour!

I asked Linda how she becameinvolved with the restaurant business.Sheexplained that they had owned anautomotive transmission shop inWoodbridge for many years, but lost thebuilding due to zoning and an eminent

domain clause. Allen hadbeen in the automotivebusiness for most of his life,but decided to trysomething totally new. Nowcomes the fun part - manytimes we hear of childrenlearning the family business,but in this case it workedthe opposite. The Allens’son, Chris graduated fromJohnson and Wales, a prestigious culinaryschool, and he had run several businessesin Roanoke and Richmond. So theydecided to enlist Chris’s skills to learn therestaurant business. Though they hadsmall business know how, they admittedthat opening and successfully running arestaurant was a totally different beast.But seven years later, they are still at it,and going strong. Allen said they are notthe kind of people who sit still for too

long, so who knows what the next venturecould be.

So, stop in and try a historicgrilled or deli sandwich, or create yourown. The prices are reasonable, theatmosphere is down home pleasant andthe grub is simple and delicious. VirginiaDeli is open daily from 11:00 to 4:00 at826 Caroline St.

Mary Lynn Powers brings us news onlocal businesses monthly.

The Rowe-GGoolrick House at 607 SophiaStreet in the late 1940s (National ParkService). The home was demolished in1973 to make way for a parking lot.

SSppoottlliigghhtt OOnnthe virginia deli

By mary lynn powers

So I hear you’re expecting? SoI’m also guessing you have that onequestion that anyone with pets will ask.“How do I introduce my baby to mypets?”. Well its more the other wayaround, you will be introducing your petsto your baby, because keep in mind; yourpet was your first baby, so somewhat ofsibling rivalry can be expected. As we allknow babies demand a lot of ourattention, so get your pet used tospending less time with you. A drasticchange in attention towards the pet oreven ignoring your pet will cause it to bestressed. If your pet has a closerelationship with mommy-to-be, anothermember of the family should develop aclose relationship with the pet so it doesnot feel neglected.

A few months in advance takeyour pet to the veterinarian, make surethey are updated on their vaccinations,also if the interaction between pet andbaby make you feel uncomfortable, talkwith your veterinarian to help you makethe right decision for keeping pet andbaby happy and healthy. Also address anytraining or behavioral problems your pet

may have, like ifyour furry friendis using yourfloor as itsbathroom, that isa big no, no.

As youare setting up forthe baby, youranimals will beconfused. What isthis? Why is ithere? Why are mommy and daddy actingfunny? Let the animals get familiar withthe equipment you are bringing into thehouse for your new addition. Startrubbing baby lotion or baby oil on yourhands before you give your pets somelove; let them be familiar with the smell ofa baby.

Have friends with infants visityou frequently; your pets need to befamiliar with the sounds and sights of ababy being in your home. Play a recordingof a baby crying, turn the cradle swing on,play the sound soother. Make thesepositive experiences for your pet, givethem a treat, or have playtime, let them

know that having a baby can be fun! Todiscourage your pet from going into thebabies room install a sturdy barrier, like ababy gate, to prevent your pet fromjumping in the crib or on the changingtable put double sided tape on thoseobjects to deter your pet from thoseobjects.

Now you baby is born,congratulations! Now for the pets. Haveyour partner bring home a blanket or ahat with the babies scent on it, for yourpet to smell. When you return home fromthe hospital, your pet is going to beexcited to greet you and your beautifulbundle of joy. Have someone else take thebaby so you can greet your first furrybaby, have some treats near by to distractyour pet, but also to reward your pet forgood behavior around your baby. Your lifehas completely changed in the mostamazing way you can ever imagine. Yourbaby brings a love that you cannotdescribe to anyone no matter how muchyou try. Just don’t forget to give the loveto your pets as well! If you need someoneto give some love to your pets while you’resetting up for your new addition give me acall! I love your pets like my own.

Alexis Grogan is the owner of LexiGrogan’s Pet Sitting Service”. Contact

her at [email protected] or on facebook.


Fredericksburg Girl Scout TravelGroup #49431 has big plans for thesummer of 2015. This group of highschool girls is planning to travel toAdelboden, Switzerland to visit one of thefive world centers of the WorldAssociation of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.The girls, who come from all over theFredericksburg area, are working hard toraise the funds for the trip themselves byproviding service to the community andtheir fellow Girl Scouts.

One of the ways they are doingthis is by conducting a Shoe Collectiondrive through September 16th to raisefunds for their trip while benefitingmicroenterprise ventures in developingnations and keeping old shoes out of locallandfills. Individuals can help by donatinggently worn, used shoes.

After you do your back-to-schoolshopping, gather the too small shoes andbring them to the Girl Scout office inFredericksburg or Riverby BooksDowntown. There will be a collection binthru Sept 16

In the United States alone,approximately 630 million pairs of shoesare thrown away per year. The materialsused to manufacture a pair of shoes arecreated from chemical compounds thatwill create health hazards if left todisintegrate openly or in landfills. By

donating your gently worn, used shoes tothe Girl Scout Travel Group #49431, yourshoes are given a second chance to make adifference. All donated shoes will beredistributed to microenterprise partnersthrough Funds2Orgs and used indeveloping nations for impoverishedpeople to start, maintain, and grow aunique business opportunity to feed,clothe, and house their families.

“We are very excited to beconducting this shoe drive inFredericksburg” notes Gail Domaleski,Travel Group Co-Leader. “This campaignwill raise funds that directly benefit GirlScouts in our community. The additionaladvantages of diverting shoes from thewaste stream to create commerce andsustainability in peoples’ lives make this awin-win for everyone,” said Domaleski.“Our goal is to collect 2,500 pairs ofshoes. The only way we can do that is ifcommunity members step up and help. Iam calling on everyone to clean out theirunwanted, gently worn, used shoes anddonate them to us.”

The drive ends shortly afterschool begins, making this a perfectopportunity to make closet space for allthose new, back-to-school shoes.

The girls aren’t stopping at theshoe drive, however. They have activitiesplanned throughout the next year in thearea, including, of course, nut and candysales this fall and cookie sales in thespring. These local girls will be out andabout in the community over the nexttwelve months, working hard to earn theirway to Adelboden, Switzerland to meetother Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from allover the world.

Jenna Pastorek is a Co-Leader of TravelGroup #49431. If you, or a local

organization, are interested in learningmore about this opportunity or

participating in your own shoe drive youmay contact Jenna Pastorek by phone at

540.207.4012 or [email protected]

540/374-0462www.woahvets.com 10 Walsh Lane

Stacy L. Horner, DVM; Gary B. Dunn, DVM; Melanie Bell, DVM; Sandi L. Pepper, DVM; Melissa A. DeLauter, DVM ;

Arlene Evans, DVM; Jennnifer Skarbek, DVM

Full Service Hospitalfeaturing:

Grooming Salon Canine Boarding

in Our Indoor/Outdoor RunsDog Training &

Behavioral Consults with certified dog trainer

Feline Boarding in OurSpacious Multi-room Condos

Serving you & your companion animals for 16 years

She called herself the Warden.The rest of the neighborhood knew herthat way, probably because I always usedthe term whenever she would make mybuddy come home early or refuse to let usleave the house with two liter soda bottlesand the baking soda from her refrigerator.

Mother, to my best friendMatthew and the rest of her crew, believednothing good happened past 10 p.m. andeverything was solvable with an ice coldglass of sweet tea.

The afternoon-long game of hitthe top sign was heating up as dusk felland streetlamps lured winged creaturesfrom unseen hiding places.

“Run!” Megan screeched, urgingher brother to pry himself from behindthe giant oak tree in Matt’s front yard andcross the intersection.

Neighbor children appeared fromaround corners and back porches, likebirds answering the unheard call shooingthem simultaneously from treetops.Megan blew her brother’s tenuous cover,and Nick began sprinting to the stop sign.

“Doooong!” Dinner’s ready onPetty Ave.

“Warden’s calling,” I hollered.Nick never made it to the stop

sign. He got wrapped up around the waistby Billy, who didn’t even live on the block.He spoke barely any more words than heread. He never missed a chance to actlinebacker on a kid who thought he mightjust make it.

The Johnson family calls me “theadopted stomach” and I don’t mind a bit.I wouldn’t pass up a good meal. Heck, Iwouldn’t pass up a substandard meal evenif it did interrupt our game.

Matt’s mom ran a tight ship. Sheand his dad both. They sure did pay moreattention than anyone I lived with. Andshe made a mean glass of sweet tea, alwaysserved in a proper tall glass with justenough ice and just enough sugar.

Their flock of five knew to comewhen the dinner bell rang. More oftenthan not, we all roamed the neighborhoodon summer and early fall evenings. Thelight was long and we’d start playing assoon as we got off the bus.

My mom and aunt were neverhome, so I just stayed at the corner ofPetty and Meadowcrest as long as possible.As long as my sister Steph didn’t call tosay a cat escaped, or she was goingsomewhere with a boyfriend. As long asmom wasn’t sick and my little brotherstayed away from the boy down the streetwith the BB gun.

Uually somebody’s mom holleredfrom the front porch, or sent a youngersibling and broke up our game of pick-upfootball or jump the creek. Or, the dinnerbell from Mrs. Johnson’s porch.

Many of the neighborhood kids

stuck around, especially Megan and Nickwho lived directly across the street withtheir driveways facing the Johnson’sdriveway.

We all hoped there’d be porkchops and mashed potatoes on the table.We might’ve had to mix some peas in thetaters to get away with a clean plate. Itwas almost guaranteed we’d be rewardedwith blackberry cobbler made from berriesMatt’s mom picked somewhere along thehighway where she spied some bramblesdriving past. She was always into someproject or chore.

The Johnsons were a well-tendedbunch. Dinner at home every night,church every Sunday and prayer meetingevery Wednesday night. Their motherworked part-time night shift as a nurse ata retirement home. She wanted to behome when they were getting up to go toschool and awake when they were gettingoff the bus. She thought it was a goodhappy medium. She’d rather stay homerun the roost, but Matt’s daddy left his jobwith the City and started his own business.Times were tight.

As the crew clambered throughthe door, Johnny elbowed in front of Nick,pushing him as he passed.

“You never would’ve made it tothat stop sign!”

Matt’s gangly dark-hairedbrother and the scrawny freckled-facedboy from across the street didn’t talk asmuch as yap at each other.

“We’re going to say grace,” adeep voice boomed.

No matter how long you’d beenaround, you knew to hush up when Mr.Johnson prayed.

In Honor of the end of summer and back to school time, Ruth Cassell

shares a fiction based on truth piece shewrote about a simpler time of life.

She lives with her son Nasir and newhusband Dave in Roanoke, VA, where she

visits Petty Acres—her childhoodneighborhood—almost daily to see herparents, sister and niece and nephew.

Old Town’sGreatest Tour35 Monuments, Markers, &

AttractionsAND the

Fredericksburg Battlefields

Weddings ReunionsShuttles Parties

Group Outings

540-898-0737Fredericksburgtrolley.com

ANIMAL RITES, USAPet Cremation Service

When it’s time to say “Good-bye”

Private, Individual Cremation

Personal Pick Up & Delivery

Respect for all “Best Friends”

Serving the Area for 11 Years

Visit Us at Our Website:www.animalritesusa.com

Call Us At: 540-361-7487

"Our family wants to take care of your family."

10839 Tidewater TrailFredericksburg, VA 22408

540-361-7050

www.tidewatertrail.com

We are on Facebook & Twitter.

Hours: Mon, Wed 6:30-6:30

Tues, Thurs 7-7Fri 6:30-6Sat 8-1

CompanionsHey, Nice to meet you!

By Alexis Grogan

My Own PathLate Summer Days in Petty Acres

By c. ruth cassell

Shoe Driveto benefit micro enterprises indeveloping nations

jenna Pastorek

SupportingLocal

ArtistsSince 1997


So I hear you’re expecting? SoI’m also guessing you have that onequestion that anyone with pets will ask.“How do I introduce my baby to mypets?”. Well its more the other wayaround, you will be introducing your petsto your baby, because keep in mind; yourpet was your first baby, so somewhat ofsibling rivalry can be expected. As we allknow babies demand a lot of ourattention, so get your pet used tospending less time with you. A drasticchange in attention towards the pet oreven ignoring your pet will cause it to bestressed. If your pet has a closerelationship with mommy-to-be, anothermember of the family should develop aclose relationship with the pet so it doesnot feel neglected.

A few months in advance takeyour pet to the veterinarian, make surethey are updated on their vaccinations,also if the interaction between pet andbaby make you feel uncomfortable, talkwith your veterinarian to help you makethe right decision for keeping pet andbaby happy and healthy. Also address anytraining or behavioral problems your pet

may have, like ifyour furry friendis using yourfloor as itsbathroom, that isa big no, no.

As youare setting up forthe baby, youranimals will beconfused. What isthis? Why is ithere? Why are mommy and daddy actingfunny? Let the animals get familiar withthe equipment you are bringing into thehouse for your new addition. Startrubbing baby lotion or baby oil on yourhands before you give your pets somelove; let them be familiar with the smell ofa baby.

Have friends with infants visityou frequently; your pets need to befamiliar with the sounds and sights of ababy being in your home. Play a recordingof a baby crying, turn the cradle swing on,play the sound soother. Make thesepositive experiences for your pet, givethem a treat, or have playtime, let them

know that having a baby can be fun! Todiscourage your pet from going into thebabies room install a sturdy barrier, like ababy gate, to prevent your pet fromjumping in the crib or on the changingtable put double sided tape on thoseobjects to deter your pet from thoseobjects.

Now you baby is born,congratulations! Now for the pets. Haveyour partner bring home a blanket or ahat with the babies scent on it, for yourpet to smell. When you return home fromthe hospital, your pet is going to beexcited to greet you and your beautifulbundle of joy. Have someone else take thebaby so you can greet your first furrybaby, have some treats near by to distractyour pet, but also to reward your pet forgood behavior around your baby. Your lifehas completely changed in the mostamazing way you can ever imagine. Yourbaby brings a love that you cannotdescribe to anyone no matter how muchyou try. Just don’t forget to give the loveto your pets as well! If you need someoneto give some love to your pets while you’resetting up for your new addition give me acall! I love your pets like my own.

Alexis Grogan is the owner of LexiGrogan’s Pet Sitting Service”. Contact

her at [email protected] or on facebook.


Fredericksburg Girl Scout TravelGroup #49431 has big plans for thesummer of 2015. This group of highschool girls is planning to travel toAdelboden, Switzerland to visit one of thefive world centers of the WorldAssociation of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.The girls, who come from all over theFredericksburg area, are working hard toraise the funds for the trip themselves byproviding service to the community andtheir fellow Girl Scouts.

One of the ways they are doingthis is by conducting a Shoe Collectiondrive through September 16th to raisefunds for their trip while benefitingmicroenterprise ventures in developingnations and keeping old shoes out of locallandfills. Individuals can help by donatinggently worn, used shoes.

After you do your back-to-schoolshopping, gather the too small shoes andbring them to the Girl Scout office inFredericksburg or Riverby BooksDowntown. There will be a collection binthru Sept 16

In the United States alone,approximately 630 million pairs of shoesare thrown away per year. The materialsused to manufacture a pair of shoes arecreated from chemical compounds thatwill create health hazards if left todisintegrate openly or in landfills. By

donating your gently worn, used shoes tothe Girl Scout Travel Group #49431, yourshoes are given a second chance to make adifference. All donated shoes will beredistributed to microenterprise partnersthrough Funds2Orgs and used indeveloping nations for impoverishedpeople to start, maintain, and grow aunique business opportunity to feed,clothe, and house their families.

“We are very excited to beconducting this shoe drive inFredericksburg” notes Gail Domaleski,Travel Group Co-Leader. “This campaignwill raise funds that directly benefit GirlScouts in our community. The additionaladvantages of diverting shoes from thewaste stream to create commerce andsustainability in peoples’ lives make this awin-win for everyone,” said Domaleski.“Our goal is to collect 2,500 pairs ofshoes. The only way we can do that is ifcommunity members step up and help. Iam calling on everyone to clean out theirunwanted, gently worn, used shoes anddonate them to us.”

The drive ends shortly afterschool begins, making this a perfectopportunity to make closet space for allthose new, back-to-school shoes.

The girls aren’t stopping at theshoe drive, however. They have activitiesplanned throughout the next year in thearea, including, of course, nut and candysales this fall and cookie sales in thespring. These local girls will be out andabout in the community over the nexttwelve months, working hard to earn theirway to Adelboden, Switzerland to meetother Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from allover the world.

Jenna Pastorek is a Co-Leader of TravelGroup #49431. If you, or a local

organization, are interested in learningmore about this opportunity or

participating in your own shoe drive youmay contact Jenna Pastorek by phone at

540.207.4012 or [email protected]

540/374-0462www.woahvets.com 10 Walsh Lane

Stacy L. Horner, DVM; Gary B. Dunn, DVM; Melanie Bell, DVM; Sandi L. Pepper, DVM; Melissa A. DeLauter, DVM ;

Arlene Evans, DVM; Jennnifer Skarbek, DVM

Full Service Hospitalfeaturing:

Grooming Salon Canine Boarding

in Our Indoor/Outdoor RunsDog Training &

Behavioral Consults with certified dog trainer

Feline Boarding in OurSpacious Multi-room Condos

Serving you & your companion animals for 16 years

She called herself the Warden.The rest of the neighborhood knew herthat way, probably because I always usedthe term whenever she would make mybuddy come home early or refuse to let usleave the house with two liter soda bottlesand the baking soda from her refrigerator.

Mother, to my best friendMatthew and the rest of her crew, believednothing good happened past 10 p.m. andeverything was solvable with an ice coldglass of sweet tea.

The afternoon-long game of hitthe top sign was heating up as dusk felland streetlamps lured winged creaturesfrom unseen hiding places.

“Run!” Megan screeched, urgingher brother to pry himself from behindthe giant oak tree in Matt’s front yard andcross the intersection.

Neighbor children appeared fromaround corners and back porches, likebirds answering the unheard call shooingthem simultaneously from treetops.Megan blew her brother’s tenuous cover,and Nick began sprinting to the stop sign.

“Doooong!” Dinner’s ready onPetty Ave.

“Warden’s calling,” I hollered.Nick never made it to the stop

sign. He got wrapped up around the waistby Billy, who didn’t even live on the block.He spoke barely any more words than heread. He never missed a chance to actlinebacker on a kid who thought he mightjust make it.

The Johnson family calls me “theadopted stomach” and I don’t mind a bit.I wouldn’t pass up a good meal. Heck, Iwouldn’t pass up a substandard meal evenif it did interrupt our game.

Matt’s mom ran a tight ship. Sheand his dad both. They sure did pay moreattention than anyone I lived with. Andshe made a mean glass of sweet tea, alwaysserved in a proper tall glass with justenough ice and just enough sugar.

Their flock of five knew to comewhen the dinner bell rang. More oftenthan not, we all roamed the neighborhoodon summer and early fall evenings. Thelight was long and we’d start playing assoon as we got off the bus.

My mom and aunt were neverhome, so I just stayed at the corner ofPetty and Meadowcrest as long as possible.As long as my sister Steph didn’t call tosay a cat escaped, or she was goingsomewhere with a boyfriend. As long asmom wasn’t sick and my little brotherstayed away from the boy down the streetwith the BB gun.

Uually somebody’s mom holleredfrom the front porch, or sent a youngersibling and broke up our game of pick-upfootball or jump the creek. Or, the dinnerbell from Mrs. Johnson’s porch.

Many of the neighborhood kids

stuck around, especially Megan and Nickwho lived directly across the street withtheir driveways facing the Johnson’sdriveway.

We all hoped there’d be porkchops and mashed potatoes on the table.We might’ve had to mix some peas in thetaters to get away with a clean plate. Itwas almost guaranteed we’d be rewardedwith blackberry cobbler made from berriesMatt’s mom picked somewhere along thehighway where she spied some bramblesdriving past. She was always into someproject or chore.

The Johnsons were a well-tendedbunch. Dinner at home every night,church every Sunday and prayer meetingevery Wednesday night. Their motherworked part-time night shift as a nurse ata retirement home. She wanted to behome when they were getting up to go toschool and awake when they were gettingoff the bus. She thought it was a goodhappy medium. She’d rather stay homerun the roost, but Matt’s daddy left his jobwith the City and started his own business.Times were tight.

As the crew clambered throughthe door, Johnny elbowed in front of Nick,pushing him as he passed.

“You never would’ve made it tothat stop sign!”

Matt’s gangly dark-hairedbrother and the scrawny freckled-facedboy from across the street didn’t talk asmuch as yap at each other.

“We’re going to say grace,” adeep voice boomed.

No matter how long you’d beenaround, you knew to hush up when Mr.Johnson prayed.

In Honor of the end of summer and back to school time, Ruth Cassell

shares a fiction based on truth piece shewrote about a simpler time of life.

She lives with her son Nasir and newhusband Dave in Roanoke, VA, where she

visits Petty Acres—her childhoodneighborhood—almost daily to see herparents, sister and niece and nephew.

Old Town’sGreatest Tour35 Monuments, Markers, &

AttractionsAND the

Fredericksburg Battlefields

Weddings ReunionsShuttles Parties

Group Outings

540-898-0737Fredericksburgtrolley.com

ANIMAL RITES, USAPet Cremation Service

When it’s time to say “Good-bye”

Private, Individual Cremation

Personal Pick Up & Delivery

Respect for all “Best Friends”

Serving the Area for 11 Years

Visit Us at Our Website:www.animalritesusa.com

Call Us At: 540-361-7487

"Our family wants to take care of your family."

10839 Tidewater TrailFredericksburg, VA 22408

540-361-7050

www.tidewatertrail.com

We are on Facebook & Twitter.

Hours: Mon, Wed 6:30-6:30

Tues, Thurs 7-7Fri 6:30-6Sat 8-1

CompanionsHey, Nice to meet you!

By Alexis Grogan

My Own PathLate Summer Days in Petty Acres

By c. ruth cassell

Shoe Driveto benefit micro enterprises indeveloping nations

jenna Pastorek

SupportingLocal

ArtistsSince 1997


I have been on a mission for thepast 10 years to discover and illuminatethe reasons why many people are not ableto sustain healthy changes in theirlifestyle and in particular, weight loss. Ihave put great effort into developingwellness programs that I felt were gearedfor success, only to run into problemsgetting people to follow through. As aresult of myexperience andextensive in-depthstudying, reading andpondering, I havecome to somes i g n i f i c a n trealizations abouthealth and why somepeople struggle tosustain changes.

When Itaught classes atGermanna and TheMoss Free Clinic, wewould talk about the effects of stress, diet,sleep and exercise on health, weight andhappiness. One of my favorite questions toask was, “How many of you know of somethings you could do, right now, to improveyour health?” Usually a high percentage ofstudents would raise their hands. My nextquestion was, “Why aren’t you?” You canprobably guess the answers I heard. “I’mlazy,” “It’s too expensive,” “I don’t havetime,” topped the list of excuses. But whenI investigate these answers, they don’thold water.

In reality you are not lazy whensomething is meaningful or fun for you.You find the energy and drive to do somethings in your life that require greateffort. Given your income and budget, youfind the money to do the things that areimportant to you. During the give-or-take16 waking hours each day, you do find thetime to do the things that are a priority toyou. So there IS enough time, money andenergy to do the things that matter in anygiven day.

To further elucidate, supposesomeone (or some furry creature) youloved and cared very much about was verysick and needed help from you to restoretheir health. Would you find the time,money, resources and energy to helpthem? Of course you would! The real cruxof the problem is what you consider mostimportant and where you place yourpriorities. I would venture to say formany, your own health and well-beingdoesn’t rate high on the list of priorities.

I think we would all agree thatwithout our health, life is not worth much.Most people have witnessed a relative or

close friend go through a health crisis andsympathized with the devastating effectsof the loss of health on that person’squality of life. Knowing that, why wouldanyone then shelve or postpone the veryactivities that would help to sustain orpromote good health? I have witnessedpeople who have been through a severehealth crisis return, in time, to the bad

habits that causedthe problem in thefirst place.

On the surfacethis may seem likeinsanity orstupidity, but that isnot the case. I havediscovered that thetrue issue has to dowith self worth.When you do notbelieve (consciouslyand subconsciously)that your own

health and well-being is of the highestvalue and worth great effort, expense,time and focus, you will sabotage yourown health in favor of trying to please ormeet the demands of others, whether theybe family, friends, bosses or society atlarge.

This is what has to be addressed.Otherwise, no health improvement will besustained long enough to cause a real,lasting change in quality of life. Helpingpeople to transform these beliefs andeducating on them the best ways to makepositive lifestyle changes is my missionand my passion.

Dr. Christine Thompson, DC, is theowner of Whole Health Chiropractic, on

Bridgewater Street, 540-899-9421,www.whole-health.net

We frequently hear about theimportance of developing and maintainingcritical documents such as do notresuscitate (DNR), will, power of attorney(POA), and advance directive to name afew. But, another important documentthat helps you lead a more fulfilling life isoften overlooked, the bucket list.

I watched The Bucket List whenit first came to the movie theaters in2007. I had the occasion to watch it againrecently and had forgotten the quality ofthe acting and the wonderful message.Edward (Jack Nicholson) and Carter(Morgan Freeman) were terminally ill menfulfilling their final to-do wish list beforethey “kicked the bucket”. In a tearful andhumorous 1.5 hours, it gave someimportant lessons about life. Carterlearned about the bucket list from aprofessor in his freshman year in college.Back then he wrote that he wanted tomake $1 million and be the first blackPresident. Now that he is much older, andI might add wiser, and near death, the listhas changed to things like: witnesssomething majestic, help a completestranger by doing something good, andlaugh until I cry.

As we age, the things we value inlife also change from material to intrinsicvalues. While Carter and Edward werepart of the Silent Generation (born in1923 – 1945), these life lessons apply toall ages. The Baby Boomer generation isnow between 50 and 68 years old. Theyare on the “south side of the bell shapedcurve”, the latter stage of their workingcareers. Now is the time, if they haven’talready done so, to bring balance to theirlives, to spend quality time with familyand friends, to give back to theircommunities with time and/or financialresources, and to build a lasting legacy ofwhich their families can be proud.

One item on Carter’s list was“find the joy in your life.” Our lives areoften so hectic that we often overlook theimportance of relationships and joy in ourlives. Or, as in the case of Edward, we aretoo stubborn or proud to reach out toloved ones we may have hurt in the past.We also should take time to “smell theroses” and be thankful for what we have.Closely tied to joy is “do something goodfor someone else”.

Another lesson in the movie was“don’t lose things along the way”. At onepoint in the film, Carter asked himself whyhe is doing this with Edward. He statedthat after his daughter Rachel left home,there was a hole and somehow everythingwas different. Over the years, he and hiswife lost something along the way, aloving relationship together. When theybecame “empty nesters”, they lost theglue that kept them together, theirchildren. If you lost something along theway, there is no time like the present torekindle the flames of your earlier years.

So, how do you want to beremembered: fame and fortune,relationships, or the joy you brought toothers’ lives? Have you found the joy inyour life? If you lost something along theway, take time now to write your BucketList and begin, or enrich your journeytoward leaving a legacy that will bring joyto others. When they reminisce aboutyou, they will say “Thanks for theMemories”.

Karl Karch is a Certified Senior Advisorand local franchise owner of Home

Instead Senior Care, a licensed homecare organization providing personalcare, companionship and home helper

services. .


Wellnesssustaining healthy habits

By christine h. thompson, D.C.

Senior Care bucket list

By Karl Karch

Barbara Bergquist, CTN Board Certified Traditional Naturopath

891-6200 www.thenaturalpath.us4413 Lafayette Blvd. Fredericksburg

~Nature’s Sunshine Products

~ Biological Terrain Assessment

~VoiceBio Analysis

~Aura Photography

~Body Cleanse Foot Detox

We CarryHome Brewing Supplies !

The Natural Path Holistic Health Center

Back to School BluesEssential Oils uplifts

By Suzy Woollam

It’s Back-to-School Season! Onceagain it’s time for books and papers,shopping and schedules, lots of excitementand the sleepless nights of the over-stimulated mind. The air has a ring ofexcitement for seeing friends, newchallenges and adventures, and theopportunity for a whole new beginning.

For many, going back to schoolcan also be a very stressful situation. Theapprehension of new people and placescan be overwhelming, and can make for avery difficult start. Not just for the kids,as many parents are headed back into theworkforce for the first time as well, and allof the running, rushing and schedulingcan result in irritability, sleeplessness and

unwanted tears for everyone.To stop those back-to-

school blues, try this fun littleblend. It’s uplifting to thespirit, soothing to theemotions, and it has a kid-friendly bubblegum-llikefragrance! Essential oils ofGrapefruit, Tangerine andYlang are wonderful forsoothing frazzled nerves andoveractive emotions, andEucalyptus Radiata haswonderful antibacterial andanti-infectious properties to

help boost the immune system and let youtake a deep cleansing breath. A happy allaround blend that helps to boost thebody, squelch those first day fears, easesleep and banishes the back to schoolblues!

To a 1 oz spray bottle, add the following Essential Oils:

4 drops Pink Grapefruit2 Drops Ylang Ylang1 Drop Eucalyptus Radiata1 Drop Tangerine

Fill the remainder of the bottlewith distilled water, shake well, andspray away the stress of the day. Thisblend can be misted on pillows to assistwith sleep (and repel monsters underthe bed) use as a body mist or mix inAloe Vera Juice and use as an allnatural Hand Sanitizer. Wonderful touse while commuting to keep temperscool in the car, freshen a stale hotel(or dorm) room, or just relax at theend of a long day.

So as we welcome back-to-schoolseason and the cooler days of September,remember to take a moment to stop,breathe, enjoy and banish those Blues!

Suzy Woollam can be found where it allhappens in the Scenter of Town

on Charles Street.

I have been on a mission for thepast 10 years to discover and illuminatethe reasons why many people are not ableto sustain healthy changes in theirlifestyle and in particular, weight loss. Ihave put great effort into developingwellness programs that I felt were gearedfor success, only to run into problemsgetting people to follow through. As aresult of myexperience andextensive in-depthstudying, reading andpondering, I havecome to somes i g n i f i c a n trealizations abouthealth and why somepeople struggle tosustain changes.

When Itaught classes atGermanna and TheMoss Free Clinic, wewould talk about the effects of stress, diet,sleep and exercise on health, weight andhappiness. One of my favorite questions toask was, “How many of you know of somethings you could do, right now, to improveyour health?” Usually a high percentage ofstudents would raise their hands. My nextquestion was, “Why aren’t you?” You canprobably guess the answers I heard. “I’mlazy,” “It’s too expensive,” “I don’t havetime,” topped the list of excuses. But whenI investigate these answers, they don’thold water.

In reality you are not lazy whensomething is meaningful or fun for you.You find the energy and drive to do somethings in your life that require greateffort. Given your income and budget, youfind the money to do the things that areimportant to you. During the give-or-take16 waking hours each day, you do find thetime to do the things that are a priority toyou. So there IS enough time, money andenergy to do the things that matter in anygiven day.

To further elucidate, supposesomeone (or some furry creature) youloved and cared very much about was verysick and needed help from you to restoretheir health. Would you find the time,money, resources and energy to helpthem? Of course you would! The real cruxof the problem is what you consider mostimportant and where you place yourpriorities. I would venture to say formany, your own health and well-beingdoesn’t rate high on the list of priorities.

I think we would all agree thatwithout our health, life is not worth much.Most people have witnessed a relative or

close friend go through a health crisis andsympathized with the devastating effectsof the loss of health on that person’squality of life. Knowing that, why wouldanyone then shelve or postpone the veryactivities that would help to sustain orpromote good health? I have witnessedpeople who have been through a severehealth crisis return, in time, to the bad

habits that causedthe problem in thefirst place.

On the surfacethis may seem likeinsanity orstupidity, but that isnot the case. I havediscovered that thetrue issue has to dowith self worth.When you do notbelieve (consciouslyand subconsciously)that your own

health and well-being is of the highestvalue and worth great effort, expense,time and focus, you will sabotage yourown health in favor of trying to please ormeet the demands of others, whether theybe family, friends, bosses or society atlarge.

This is what has to be addressed.Otherwise, no health improvement will besustained long enough to cause a real,lasting change in quality of life. Helpingpeople to transform these beliefs andeducating on them the best ways to makepositive lifestyle changes is my missionand my passion.

Dr. Christine Thompson, DC, is theowner of Whole Health Chiropractic, on

Bridgewater Street, 540-899-9421,www.whole-health.net

We frequently hear about theimportance of developing and maintainingcritical documents such as do notresuscitate (DNR), will, power of attorney(POA), and advance directive to name afew. But, another important documentthat helps you lead a more fulfilling life isoften overlooked, the bucket list.

I watched The Bucket List whenit first came to the movie theaters in2007. I had the occasion to watch it againrecently and had forgotten the quality ofthe acting and the wonderful message.Edward (Jack Nicholson) and Carter(Morgan Freeman) were terminally ill menfulfilling their final to-do wish list beforethey “kicked the bucket”. In a tearful andhumorous 1.5 hours, it gave someimportant lessons about life. Carterlearned about the bucket list from aprofessor in his freshman year in college.Back then he wrote that he wanted tomake $1 million and be the first blackPresident. Now that he is much older, andI might add wiser, and near death, the listhas changed to things like: witnesssomething majestic, help a completestranger by doing something good, andlaugh until I cry.

As we age, the things we value inlife also change from material to intrinsicvalues. While Carter and Edward werepart of the Silent Generation (born in1923 – 1945), these life lessons apply toall ages. The Baby Boomer generation isnow between 50 and 68 years old. Theyare on the “south side of the bell shapedcurve”, the latter stage of their workingcareers. Now is the time, if they haven’talready done so, to bring balance to theirlives, to spend quality time with familyand friends, to give back to theircommunities with time and/or financialresources, and to build a lasting legacy ofwhich their families can be proud.

One item on Carter’s list was“find the joy in your life.” Our lives areoften so hectic that we often overlook theimportance of relationships and joy in ourlives. Or, as in the case of Edward, we aretoo stubborn or proud to reach out toloved ones we may have hurt in the past.We also should take time to “smell theroses” and be thankful for what we have.Closely tied to joy is “do something goodfor someone else”.

Another lesson in the movie was“don’t lose things along the way”. At onepoint in the film, Carter asked himself whyhe is doing this with Edward. He statedthat after his daughter Rachel left home,there was a hole and somehow everythingwas different. Over the years, he and hiswife lost something along the way, aloving relationship together. When theybecame “empty nesters”, they lost theglue that kept them together, theirchildren. If you lost something along theway, there is no time like the present torekindle the flames of your earlier years.

So, how do you want to beremembered: fame and fortune,relationships, or the joy you brought toothers’ lives? Have you found the joy inyour life? If you lost something along theway, take time now to write your BucketList and begin, or enrich your journeytoward leaving a legacy that will bring joyto others. When they reminisce aboutyou, they will say “Thanks for theMemories”.

Karl Karch is a Certified Senior Advisorand local franchise owner of Home

Instead Senior Care, a licensed homecare organization providing personalcare, companionship and home helper

services. .


Wellnesssustaining healthy habits

By christine h. thompson, D.C.

Senior Care bucket list

By Karl Karch

Barbara Bergquist, CTN Board Certified Traditional Naturopath

891-6200 www.thenaturalpath.us4413 Lafayette Blvd. Fredericksburg

~Nature’s Sunshine Products

~ Biological Terrain Assessment

~VoiceBio Analysis

~Aura Photography

~Body Cleanse Foot Detox

We CarryHome Brewing Supplies !

The Natural Path Holistic Health Center

Back to School BluesEssential Oils uplifts

By Suzy Woollam

It’s Back-to-School Season! Onceagain it’s time for books and papers,shopping and schedules, lots of excitementand the sleepless nights of the over-stimulated mind. The air has a ring ofexcitement for seeing friends, newchallenges and adventures, and theopportunity for a whole new beginning.

For many, going back to schoolcan also be a very stressful situation. Theapprehension of new people and placescan be overwhelming, and can make for avery difficult start. Not just for the kids,as many parents are headed back into theworkforce for the first time as well, and allof the running, rushing and schedulingcan result in irritability, sleeplessness and

unwanted tears for everyone.To stop those back-to-

school blues, try this fun littleblend. It’s uplifting to thespirit, soothing to theemotions, and it has a kid-friendly bubblegum-llikefragrance! Essential oils ofGrapefruit, Tangerine andYlang are wonderful forsoothing frazzled nerves andoveractive emotions, andEucalyptus Radiata haswonderful antibacterial andanti-infectious properties to

help boost the immune system and let youtake a deep cleansing breath. A happy allaround blend that helps to boost thebody, squelch those first day fears, easesleep and banishes the back to schoolblues!

To a 1 oz spray bottle, add the following Essential Oils:

4 drops Pink Grapefruit2 Drops Ylang Ylang1 Drop Eucalyptus Radiata1 Drop Tangerine

Fill the remainder of the bottlewith distilled water, shake well, andspray away the stress of the day. Thisblend can be misted on pillows to assistwith sleep (and repel monsters underthe bed) use as a body mist or mix inAloe Vera Juice and use as an allnatural Hand Sanitizer. Wonderful touse while commuting to keep temperscool in the car, freshen a stale hotel(or dorm) room, or just relax at theend of a long day.

So as we welcome back-to-schoolseason and the cooler days of September,remember to take a moment to stop,breathe, enjoy and banish those Blues!

Suzy Woollam can be found where it allhappens in the Scenter of Town

on Charles Street.

Sandy Kennelly has an art degreefrom Berkeley. She spent years paintingabstract art in the style of Hans Hoffman,a German-born American abstractexpressionist painter popular during hercollege years. But it was motherhood thatmay have most significantly influenced hercareer.

Kennelly had stopped painting.The responsibilities of teaching and familytook all her time. She did, however, makeher own cards.

“I’ve always been intophotography,” Kennelly said. “Originally, Iwould take pictures of things I might liketo paint. Then, when raising a family keptme from painting, I began to look at myphotos as pictures to use on cards I’d sendto family and friends.”

With the development ofcomputer graphics, Kennelly movedbeyond cards. She began to manipulateher photos into new creations. Herphotographs were made to look likepaintings and tell a story. Her work will beshowcased at Art Frist Gallery, where she’sbeen a member for about six years.“Pictures That Tell A Story,” is the gallery’sfeatured artist exhibit for September

But there is more to the story.One day when her children were

older, Kennelly’s daughter asked her totake a jewelry class. “I told her, ‘I don’twear that much jewelry,’” Kennelly said.But she went, to keep her daughtercompany, and a surprising thing

happened.“I fell in love with the colors,”

Kennelly said. “When I was painting, colorand light were my focus. This drew me toglass. I started with stained glass work,then graduated into warm glass work,where one melts various pieces of glasstogether to form something new.”

Her husband bought her a kiln.She named her jewelry line “Eye Candy”and sold more than $2,000 worth ofnecklaces, pendants and earrings at one ofher first shows. Her jewelry is now wornworldwide. “Each piece is wearable artbecause it is unique,” she said.

Kennelly’s jewelry will be part ofher featured exhibit at Art First.

“For my September show, I’vetried something new by constructing fullnecklaces out of dichroic glass beads that Imake combined with already made beads,”Kennelly said. Her earring and pendantswill also be on display.

As for painting? “I’m thinking ofslowly getting back into painting,”Kennelly said. “It’s been 50 years.”

“Whether I’ll go realistic, like myphotographs, or abstract, like my previouspaintings, I don’t know,” she said. We willhave to wait and see.

Art First Gallery ,located at 824Caroline St., opening reception for“Pictures That Tell A Story” will be held 6– 9 p.m. on First Friday, September 5

Visit Art First Gallery online atartfirstgallery.com and on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/ArtFirstGallery




Scene: Brian Lam/Skin Touchand Therapy hosted Laura Craig (below)at their August First Friday opening.Laura’s dreamy, romantic oil paintings willbe on the walls through September (andwith, like, half already sold, you may wantto go check out the show sooner thanlater!). Ryan and Ashley Poe, Claire andKenny Ellinger, Crystal and KevinRodrigue, James Craig, Sue Ann andRonnie Acors, Marianna Smith, ArielFreeman, Mirinda Reynolds, Benny andSusan Brooks all came out to supportLaura at her first ever solo art show!Congrats, girl!

Scene: Charlie Payne on my TV(watching city council meetings onTuesday evenings is actually quiteentertaining), Jen Rowe at Target stockingup on school supplies; Courtney Phillips atCastiglia’s celebrating a friend’s birthdaywith pasta and cannoli; Tommy Manuelgetting his schnitzel on at new downtownGerman eatery Deutchland Downtown.

Everybody say “awww”: the nicestguy on the planet, Jim Tharp, (and he ISthe nicest - I did a scientific study) askedhis sweet lady, Laurie Bendall,(right) tomarry him last month. And She. Said. Yes!Duh! The pair is planning a romanticceremony nearby (I’ve heard talks ofStevenson Ridge) and is radiating joie devivre everywhere they go. Many, manycongrats to the happiest of happy couples!

Scene: Rebecca Thomashanging ten on the Costa Rican surf (with

a chic new ‘do to complete her surfingvibe); Bill Harris helping his son Jacob(below) move into his dorm at VCU for thestart of his freshman year; LauraTenekjian grabbing breakfast to go atEileen’s; Karen Jonas and Tim Bray addingeven more energy to the already to thecaffeine-buzzed crowd at HyperionEspresso with their Sunday afternoonmusic set.

Heard (Fredericksburg bizedition): Verolia Bohemia opened up onPrincess Anne St (think a mix between1960’s hippie chic and 1970’s boho glam);ultra lounge The Orion closed its blacked-out doors for good; Kickshaws OrganicMarket opened at the corner of William Stand Sophia St (their gluten free breadoptions are bangin); DeutchlandDowntown made the switch from a set ofwheels to brick and mortar when they

opened their William St restaurant andbeer garden.

Happy August birthdays toDanielle Payne, Stephen Graham, HannahBloodgood, Morgan Applegate, LexiGrogan, Morgan Hockensmith, ChrisLobmeyr von Hohenleiten and JackMorrison!

Scene: Kadeana Langfordhosted a celebration of her health lastmonth at her home (the actual title of theparty is a little too Rated-R for this family-friendly publication but it is a funny one).BJ Bradley, Julie Scarlata and StephanieDennis were just a few of Kadeana’sfriends who showed up to show support.Cheers!

Heard: Elby Brass hosted ablock party in Market Square to celebratetheir five year (!) anniversary. They sharedthe stage with Trucker Troy and theConvoy, Save the Arcadian and Son de laLoma so that the music continued to thewee hours of the night. I was able to catchthe kinetic finale where the energeticcrowd surrounded the EB boys, everyonedancing and singing in unison. A

quintessential Fredericksburg memory, tobe sure.

Heard from Chris Jones: (withwife Elizabeth, below) "I just received wordtoday that a book that I'm a contributionwriter to called "African AmericanCaregivers: Seasons of Care" is in its finalproduction. I'm grateful that SandraCrewe, Ph.D., a dean at Howard University,saw my writing and invited me to join inon the project. I can't wait for the finishedpiece." Congrats Chris!


by megan byrnes

Art in the ‘Burgpictures that tell a story

By susan larson







kennel board him!

"You can always get a cup of tea at Grandma's

Sandy Kennelly has an art degreefrom Berkeley. She spent years paintingabstract art in the style of Hans Hoffman,a German-born American abstractexpressionist painter popular during hercollege years. But it was motherhood thatmay have most significantly influenced hercareer.

Kennelly had stopped painting.The responsibilities of teaching and familytook all her time. She did, however, makeher own cards.

“I’ve always been intophotography,” Kennelly said. “Originally, Iwould take pictures of things I might liketo paint. Then, when raising a family keptme from painting, I began to look at myphotos as pictures to use on cards I’d sendto family and friends.”

With the development ofcomputer graphics, Kennelly movedbeyond cards. She began to manipulateher photos into new creations. Herphotographs were made to look likepaintings and tell a story. Her work will beshowcased at Art Frist Gallery, where she’sbeen a member for about six years.“Pictures That Tell A Story,” is the gallery’sfeatured artist exhibit for September

But there is more to the story.One day when her children were

older, Kennelly’s daughter asked her totake a jewelry class. “I told her, ‘I don’twear that much jewelry,’” Kennelly said.But she went, to keep her daughtercompany, and a surprising thing

happened.“I fell in love with the colors,”

Kennelly said. “When I was painting, colorand light were my focus. This drew me toglass. I started with stained glass work,then graduated into warm glass work,where one melts various pieces of glasstogether to form something new.”

Her husband bought her a kiln.She named her jewelry line “Eye Candy”and sold more than $2,000 worth ofnecklaces, pendants and earrings at one ofher first shows. Her jewelry is now wornworldwide. “Each piece is wearable artbecause it is unique,” she said.

Kennelly’s jewelry will be part ofher featured exhibit at Art First.

“For my September show, I’vetried something new by constructing fullnecklaces out of dichroic glass beads that Imake combined with already made beads,”Kennelly said. Her earring and pendantswill also be on display.

As for painting? “I’m thinking ofslowly getting back into painting,”Kennelly said. “It’s been 50 years.”

“Whether I’ll go realistic, like myphotographs, or abstract, like my previouspaintings, I don’t know,” she said. We willhave to wait and see.

Art First Gallery ,located at 824Caroline St., opening reception for“Pictures That Tell A Story” will be held 6– 9 p.m. on First Friday, September 5

Visit Art First Gallery online atartfirstgallery.com and on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/ArtFirstGallery




Scene: Brian Lam/Skin Touchand Therapy hosted Laura Craig (below)at their August First Friday opening.Laura’s dreamy, romantic oil paintings willbe on the walls through September (andwith, like, half already sold, you may wantto go check out the show sooner thanlater!). Ryan and Ashley Poe, Claire andKenny Ellinger, Crystal and KevinRodrigue, James Craig, Sue Ann andRonnie Acors, Marianna Smith, ArielFreeman, Mirinda Reynolds, Benny andSusan Brooks all came out to supportLaura at her first ever solo art show!Congrats, girl!

Scene: Charlie Payne on my TV(watching city council meetings onTuesday evenings is actually quiteentertaining), Jen Rowe at Target stockingup on school supplies; Courtney Phillips atCastiglia’s celebrating a friend’s birthdaywith pasta and cannoli; Tommy Manuelgetting his schnitzel on at new downtownGerman eatery Deutchland Downtown.

Everybody say “awww”: the nicestguy on the planet, Jim Tharp, (and he ISthe nicest - I did a scientific study) askedhis sweet lady, Laurie Bendall,(right) tomarry him last month. And She. Said. Yes!Duh! The pair is planning a romanticceremony nearby (I’ve heard talks ofStevenson Ridge) and is radiating joie devivre everywhere they go. Many, manycongrats to the happiest of happy couples!

Scene: Rebecca Thomashanging ten on the Costa Rican surf (with

a chic new ‘do to complete her surfingvibe); Bill Harris helping his son Jacob(below) move into his dorm at VCU for thestart of his freshman year; LauraTenekjian grabbing breakfast to go atEileen’s; Karen Jonas and Tim Bray addingeven more energy to the already to thecaffeine-buzzed crowd at HyperionEspresso with their Sunday afternoonmusic set.

Heard (Fredericksburg bizedition): Verolia Bohemia opened up onPrincess Anne St (think a mix between1960’s hippie chic and 1970’s boho glam);ultra lounge The Orion closed its blacked-out doors for good; Kickshaws OrganicMarket opened at the corner of William Stand Sophia St (their gluten free breadoptions are bangin); DeutchlandDowntown made the switch from a set ofwheels to brick and mortar when they

opened their William St restaurant andbeer garden.

Happy August birthdays toDanielle Payne, Stephen Graham, HannahBloodgood, Morgan Applegate, LexiGrogan, Morgan Hockensmith, ChrisLobmeyr von Hohenleiten and JackMorrison!

Scene: Kadeana Langfordhosted a celebration of her health lastmonth at her home (the actual title of theparty is a little too Rated-R for this family-friendly publication but it is a funny one).BJ Bradley, Julie Scarlata and StephanieDennis were just a few of Kadeana’sfriends who showed up to show support.Cheers!

Heard: Elby Brass hosted ablock party in Market Square to celebratetheir five year (!) anniversary. They sharedthe stage with Trucker Troy and theConvoy, Save the Arcadian and Son de laLoma so that the music continued to thewee hours of the night. I was able to catchthe kinetic finale where the energeticcrowd surrounded the EB boys, everyonedancing and singing in unison. A

quintessential Fredericksburg memory, tobe sure.

Heard from Chris Jones: (withwife Elizabeth, below) "I just received wordtoday that a book that I'm a contributionwriter to called "African AmericanCaregivers: Seasons of Care" is in its finalproduction. I'm grateful that SandraCrewe, Ph.D., a dean at Howard University,saw my writing and invited me to join inon the project. I can't wait for the finishedpiece." Congrats Chris!


by megan byrnes

Art in the ‘Burgpictures that tell a story

By susan larson







kennel board him!

"You can always get a cup of tea at Grandma's

You simply cannot miss him; andyou don’t want to miss him! Piper Barbrebrings all kinds of energy and flavor,performing an eclectic mix of percussiveinstruments: washboard, drums (be it kitor suitcase sets), shakers, hand drums.You can catch him around town andregionally with several of Fredericksburg’sfavorite musical acts, including the KarenJonas Band (kickin’ alt- country), ColonialSeafood (folk rock with Larry Hinkle, MarkPhelan), and VaMos (rockin’ world funkwith Dave Guzman).

Piper first came toFredericksburg to study historicpreservation at the University of MaryWashington fresh out of High School.After working and jamming in the ‘Burg,

he decided to further his education andmusical journey by enrolling in the PeaceCorps International Masters Program.After 27 months living and working inEthiopia, he earned his Masters’ Degree inForest Ecology.

Piper lived in the village ofDinsho, Ethiopia, and worked with theEthiopian Wolf Conservation BaleMountain National Park. “Dinsho is atraditional small African village.”

Piper went on to explain the howopen and social Ethiopian culture is. Heactually suffered from reverse cultureshock. Evidently, it was easier for Piper toadjust to the friendly Ethiopian culturethan it was to return to the United Statesculture. He enjoyed the polychromic time

schedule and three daily coffee/tea breaks,which are akin to siestas.

Side Note: The U.S. culturallyoperates on monochronic time schedules,where time is broken down and utilized insmall segments, with a focus onpromptness and task completion.Polychronic cultures tend to managesmore tasks at one time within a largertime frame, and focus on managingrelationships. Polychronic plans areflexible while monochronic plans are seenas commitments to be kept.

The Ethiopian diet was easier onPiper’s system as well. “Meat. They eat alot of lentils and meat: beef, goat, sheep,legumes, and flat bread.” One of Piper’sfavorite Ethiopian dishes is a slab of rawbeef. Kitfo is a popular raw beef Ethiopiandish enjoyed around the world.

Piper played music all the timewhile in Dinsho. He also judged anEthiopian music idol contest andparticipated in a music video for the PeaceCorps at the U.S. Embassy at one of the

July 4th celebrations. Upon returning to the U.S., Piper

took a job in Montross, Virginia working asan onsite facility manager at Hull SpringsFarm. However, with the summer season,he has transitioned into a new positionwith Bartlett Trees as a plant specialist.Living and working closer to town willenable Piper to easily enjoy the warmsocial music scene Fredericksburg has tooffer. “Music is a mental and creativeoutlet for me. I enjoy listening andcommunicating through the music.”

Ashleigh Chevalier a classically trainedvocal performer.

She lives in Fredericksburg.

When Gaye Adegbalola takes thestage with the Wild Rutz at the Sept. 27Music and Spirits concert inFredericksburg, long time fans of thishometown musician should find acomforting sense of familiarity in whatthey will hear. In many ways it will beAdegbalola’s trademark music that shebecame known for as a founding memberof Sapphire: The Uppity Blues Women.

“It will be all my original materialfor the most part,” Adegbalola said. “Butwith all new instrumentation.”

Contemporary blues music, sheexplained, has been moving in a directionof being more electrified, less acoustic. Butthis group of award-winning musicians isheading in the opposite direction of heavyinstrumentation.

“We’re using the maininstrument of blues, “Adegbalola said.“We’re stepping away from the electricity,and focusing on our voices. We’re doingalmost all a cappella, with some percussionand a tiny bit of guitar.”

The foursome brings together adiverse array of music and life experience.Guitarist and songwriter Agebalola, aformer Virginia Teacher of the Year, hasgarnered an array of awards for her musicwork and amassed a discography thatincludes 15 titles split between AlligatorRecords and her own label, Hot ToddyMusic. San Francisco-native TanyahCotton, who has played with a host ofnoted musicians, plays piano and classicalviolin and is a singer/songwriter, arranger,event promoter, and producer. GloriaJackson, who left a medical career for a

musical career, is the primary vocalarranger for the group. Marta Fuentes,arranger for percussion, has, among hermusical associations, performed with thelocal Unmundo Salsa Orchestra.

“The other three women areseasoned musicians,” Adegbalola said. “Butthis kind of music is different. It’s intenseand uplifting. ”

Co-billed at the concert will beM.S.G. Acoustic Blues Trio, a Piedmont-style blues group that Adegbalola saidplays in a similar tradition to Sapphire.“It’s a slightly different format, but verysimilar,” she said. “You know, differentform, same type of content.”

Band members Jackie Merritt,Miles Spicer, and Resa Gibbs, influenced byArchie Edwards, Etta Baker, and Cephas &Wiggins, offer a diverse pallet of musicthat ranges from house party tunes toblues ballads.

The show, part of a series at theA. Smith Bowman Distillery, begins at 7:30p.m. Tickets are $18 in advance, and $20at the door. Visit musicandspirts.com topurchase tickets and to learn more aboutother upcoming concerts in the series.

Wendy LaRue, owner of AhHa!Consulting, LLC, is a Fredericksburg-

based writer and editor.


FXBG Music SceneTwo Headliners to Raise the Roof at

A. Smith Bowman Distillery

by wendy Larue

Advanced Dental Careof FredericksburgCall Us at 540-891-9911

Because we care for you!www.virginiadental4u.com

10524 Spotsylvania Ave. Ste #104 Fredericksburg, VA

$599Crown

With this Coupon only for non-insuredpatients. Not valid with other offers orprior services. Offer Expires 10/1/14

A $239.0000 Value

$699 Per Arch Full

Denture/PartialWith this Coupon only for non-insuredpatients. Not valid with other offers orprior services. Offer Expires 10/1/14

A $1100.00 Value

Serving Up Local “Good” News

Since 1997


Applause...For Piper

By Ashleigh Chevalier

You simply cannot miss him; andyou don’t want to miss him! Piper Barbrebrings all kinds of energy and flavor,performing an eclectic mix of percussiveinstruments: washboard, drums (be it kitor suitcase sets), shakers, hand drums.You can catch him around town andregionally with several of Fredericksburg’sfavorite musical acts, including the KarenJonas Band (kickin’ alt- country), ColonialSeafood (folk rock with Larry Hinkle, MarkPhelan), and VaMos (rockin’ world funkwith Dave Guzman).

Piper first came toFredericksburg to study historicpreservation at the University of MaryWashington fresh out of High School.After working and jamming in the ‘Burg,

he decided to further his education andmusical journey by enrolling in the PeaceCorps International Masters Program.After 27 months living and working inEthiopia, he earned his Masters’ Degree inForest Ecology.

Piper lived in the village ofDinsho, Ethiopia, and worked with theEthiopian Wolf Conservation BaleMountain National Park. “Dinsho is atraditional small African village.”

Piper went on to explain the howopen and social Ethiopian culture is. Heactually suffered from reverse cultureshock. Evidently, it was easier for Piper toadjust to the friendly Ethiopian culturethan it was to return to the United Statesculture. He enjoyed the polychromic time

schedule and three daily coffee/tea breaks,which are akin to siestas.

Side Note: The U.S. culturallyoperates on monochronic time schedules,where time is broken down and utilized insmall segments, with a focus onpromptness and task completion.Polychronic cultures tend to managesmore tasks at one time within a largertime frame, and focus on managingrelationships. Polychronic plans areflexible while monochronic plans are seenas commitments to be kept.

The Ethiopian diet was easier onPiper’s system as well. “Meat. They eat alot of lentils and meat: beef, goat, sheep,legumes, and flat bread.” One of Piper’sfavorite Ethiopian dishes is a slab of rawbeef. Kitfo is a popular raw beef Ethiopiandish enjoyed around the world.

Piper played music all the timewhile in Dinsho. He also judged anEthiopian music idol contest andparticipated in a music video for the PeaceCorps at the U.S. Embassy at one of the

July 4th celebrations. Upon returning to the U.S., Piper

took a job in Montross, Virginia working asan onsite facility manager at Hull SpringsFarm. However, with the summer season,he has transitioned into a new positionwith Bartlett Trees as a plant specialist.Living and working closer to town willenable Piper to easily enjoy the warmsocial music scene Fredericksburg has tooffer. “Music is a mental and creativeoutlet for me. I enjoy listening andcommunicating through the music.”

Ashleigh Chevalier a classically trainedvocal performer.

She lives in Fredericksburg.

When Gaye Adegbalola takes thestage with the Wild Rutz at the Sept. 27Music and Spirits concert inFredericksburg, long time fans of thishometown musician should find acomforting sense of familiarity in whatthey will hear. In many ways it will beAdegbalola’s trademark music that shebecame known for as a founding memberof Sapphire: The Uppity Blues Women.

“It will be all my original materialfor the most part,” Adegbalola said. “Butwith all new instrumentation.”

Contemporary blues music, sheexplained, has been moving in a directionof being more electrified, less acoustic. Butthis group of award-winning musicians isheading in the opposite direction of heavyinstrumentation.

“We’re using the maininstrument of blues, “Adegbalola said.“We’re stepping away from the electricity,and focusing on our voices. We’re doingalmost all a cappella, with some percussionand a tiny bit of guitar.”

The foursome brings together adiverse array of music and life experience.Guitarist and songwriter Agebalola, aformer Virginia Teacher of the Year, hasgarnered an array of awards for her musicwork and amassed a discography thatincludes 15 titles split between AlligatorRecords and her own label, Hot ToddyMusic. San Francisco-native TanyahCotton, who has played with a host ofnoted musicians, plays piano and classicalviolin and is a singer/songwriter, arranger,event promoter, and producer. GloriaJackson, who left a medical career for a

musical career, is the primary vocalarranger for the group. Marta Fuentes,arranger for percussion, has, among hermusical associations, performed with thelocal Unmundo Salsa Orchestra.

“The other three women areseasoned musicians,” Adegbalola said. “Butthis kind of music is different. It’s intenseand uplifting. ”

Co-billed at the concert will beM.S.G. Acoustic Blues Trio, a Piedmont-style blues group that Adegbalola saidplays in a similar tradition to Sapphire.“It’s a slightly different format, but verysimilar,” she said. “You know, differentform, same type of content.”

Band members Jackie Merritt,Miles Spicer, and Resa Gibbs, influenced byArchie Edwards, Etta Baker, and Cephas &Wiggins, offer a diverse pallet of musicthat ranges from house party tunes toblues ballads.

The show, part of a series at theA. Smith Bowman Distillery, begins at 7:30p.m. Tickets are $18 in advance, and $20at the door. Visit musicandspirts.com topurchase tickets and to learn more aboutother upcoming concerts in the series.

Wendy LaRue, owner of AhHa!Consulting, LLC, is a Fredericksburg-

based writer and editor.


FXBG Music SceneTwo Headliners to Raise the Roof at

A. Smith Bowman Distillery

by wendy Larue

Advanced Dental Careof FredericksburgCall Us at 540-891-9911

Because we care for you!www.virginiadental4u.com

10524 Spotsylvania Ave. Ste #104 Fredericksburg, VA

$599Crown

With this Coupon only for non-insuredpatients. Not valid with other offers orprior services. Offer Expires 10/1/14

A $239.0000 Value

$699 Per Arch Full

Denture/PartialWith this Coupon only for non-insuredpatients. Not valid with other offers orprior services. Offer Expires 10/1/14

A $1100.00 Value

Serving Up Local “Good” News

Since 1997


Applause...For Piper

By Ashleigh Chevalier


The House of Milk and Honeywill be located at 807 William St. AzadehRahmani has long wanted to open a shopof antiques and vintage finds. “That aloneseem[ed] far fetched, but the fact that Iwanted it to be in a historic district madeit even more far fetched,” she said. “ThenI wanted my shop to be in a charminghouse with a front porch and a little yard— and with all these aspects everyone toldme it was impossible and I wouldeventually have to settle in some regard.”

But Rahmani did not have toforgo any part of her dream. She hassigned a five-year lease with ColdwellBanker Commercial Elite for 807 WilliamSt. That retail property is a 3,200 squarefoot home in Fredericksburg’s HistoricDistrict, complete with yard and frontporch. Rahmani’s shop will be called TheHouse of Milk and Honey. She plans aSeptember 1, 2014, opening.

The House of Milk and Honey willfeature top quality fine antiques, countryprimitive decor, Americana vintage,painted furniture, seasonal items andmore. “I would like to maintain a high endshop with a cozy, down home, small townfeel, where clients feel comfortable comingto sit on the rocking chairs on the porchand having a cup of coffee with one of us,”Rahmani said.

Rahmani believes in theimportance of investing in your owncommunity, and calls it the Happy Cycle.“The customer who spends $50 in ourshop, for example, is essentially puttingmoney into a local resident’s pocket, whoin turn will spend a portion of that moneybuying coffee at Hyperion, a sandwich atGoolricks, flowers from Roxberry Farms,which in turn happens to be where thatcustomer buys her plants,” she said. “Icall this the Happy Cycle. The more moneywe spend within our own communities, themore prosperous we all become.”

Lord & Lilly’s and Sandy’s Frugals& Frillys at 900 Caroline St. in downtownFredericksburg. (Lord & Lilly’s for short.)

Owner Sandy Cook’s focus is Christiandecorating and collectibles. “I have a littlebit of everything,” she said. The storeinventory includes figurines, jewelry,candles, wall decor and greeting cards. “Iwant to see what people want and developmy shop from there,” she said.

Deutschland Downtown, (above)a restaurant and deli at 411 William St.offering Bavarian and European cuisine,now opens. Owner Denise Antinori andher chef husband have been planning therestaurant since 2012, and selling theirhomemade bratwurst via a food truck inthe meantime. The restaurant will featurean outside beer garden.

Fraser Wood Elements at 820Caroline St. in Fredericksburg, provides

reclaimed and recycled wood flooring,furniture and features for your home. Theshop is open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily, or asposted.

Pappagallo Fine Gifts andImports. (below) The shop now carriesMajolica Italian ceramics, handcraftedMurano glass jewelry from Venice, Italy,.Rance fragrances and exclusive to the shopare the artisan hardwood puzzles by BentMountain, Va., artist Peter Chapman. Theshop is located at 300 William St., acrossfrom Hyperion. Owner Suzanne Metzger

Sight Studio Optometry hasopened at 829 Caroline St. The full-serviceeye care store includes eye exams,pediatric eye care, a large frame selection,contacts, laser vision consultations, anddiagnosis and management of oculardiseases. Adam and Mitra Madison are thedoctors of optometry at the location.




first published in Fredericksburg.Today.


810 Caroline Street(540) 371-5684

Give a Child Something to Think About

Books, Games, Amusing Novelties

M-Sat. 10am-6pm; Sun. 1pm-4pm

Bullying is a problemaffecting communities and school systemsof all sizes. It frustrates teachers andadministrators, angers parents and eatsaway at the self-esteem of thousands ofvictims every year. The subject of bullyingweighed heavy on the mind of localchildren’s book author Ayana Sala Baughas she prepares her own son for his firstyear of public schooling during thisupcoming year.

“The idea that my son, whois a happy, normal and trusting boy beingtormented by bullies during his first yearof school was more than I could bear. Igot to thinking about it, did some researchand after see all the damage inflicted bythem I then decided to do somethingabout it.”

What the author did wasenlist the support of local thespians,secure the Caroline County CommunityCenter for two days in September andwrite a musical stage play ‘I Am NotAfraid’, focusing on the issue andaddressing it from a new and verycommon sense perspective.

“The incidents of bullyingthat make the headlines each year, theones leading to the most dreadful result,almost all occur between the grades ofeight to twelve. I asked myself, ‘where dothese big bullies come from?’ The answer,obviously, little bullies. Bullying that leadsto attempted suicides, suicides, shootingrampages and such is perpetrated byteenagers who were probably bullies at ayounger age. The little bullies of todaywill grow to become bigger bulliestomorrow if left unchecked.”

The play, narrated bycurrent Caroline High principal andformer Bowling Green Elementaryprincipal Jeff Wick, is a story ofLoopiethotamus (a Chihuahua WhoThinks He is a Hippopotamus) who goes toschool for the first time and is beset by agroup of bullies. Helping him face the

challenges are his brother, sister, motherand father and new friends. The storyexamines circumstances that cause a childto become a bully and how other students,teachers and family can help support thevictim and show the little bullies how toovercome the hardships leading to theirbehavior.

The diverse 24-person castconsists entirely of local actors, dancersand liturgical mimes. The play ‘I Am NotAfraid’ is scheduled for two performances,September 19 and 20 at the CarolineCounty Community Center. Localbusinesses wishing to participate assponsors may contact Ayana Sala Baugh at804-552-0193 or by email [email protected]. For moreinformation on the play visit: LoopieT.com

To purchase Ayana’s bookson Loopiethotamus, her new book seriesvisit: LoopieBooks.com or Amazon.com

Featured artist, Collette Capraratakes us on a nostalgic walk to places of“Respite and Retreat” with her SeptemberShow at Brush Strokes Gallery.

Finding inspiration from placesof respite and retreat, Collette takes us toher favorite spots where she experiencesspiritual nourishment and renewal. Hercollection of acrylic and oil paintingscapture moments found outside the bustleof daily life. Images of sun-dappledwoodland paths, a cove near the

Rappahannock River and a favoritecrabbing hole at a nature preserve give usa glimpse of former carefree times.

Once a mural painter, Collettehas found her muse in classes with localartist Johnny Johnson, and feels gratefulfor the gift of this artful world filled withdepth, beauty and messages of love.

Join Collette at the artists’reception, September 5, from 6-9 p.m. atBrush Strokes Gallery in downtownFredericksburg, Virginia. Brush StrokesGallery is open 11-5 p.m. daily at 824Caroline Street in downtownFredericksburg, Virginia.

Also, see new works presented bymember artists that include paintings inall mediums, glass works and sculptures,fabric art, photography, pen and inkdrawings, jewelry and more creations thatmake wonderful gifts. Brush StrokesGallery is open 11-5 p.m. daily at 824Caroline Street in downtownFredericksburg, Virginia.

Contributed by Brush Strokes Gallery

Collette CapraraFeatured artist @ Brush Strokes Gallery

SHOP THEBOULEVARD!

Lafayette Boulevard…DOWNTOWN!

SupportingLocal

ArtistsSince 1997


Every Child Deserves A Family

Learn about our adoption opportunitiesin Russia, China and Guatemala

301-587-4400 Cradle of Hope Adoption Center

online:www.save7lives.org

in person:Dept. of Motor Vehicles

‘I Am Not Afraid’

ayana Sala Baugh’sAnti-Bullying Stage Play

Destination FredericksburgNew businesses open downtown

by susan larson

THE POETRY MANTHE POETRY MAN- BY FRANK FRATOE

Reality & ImaginationReality & Imagination

What is distance to uswho have seen a universeof galaxy after galaxyoutspread beyond the sky?What brings wondermentmore than proof in rocksthat creatures were alivelong before we existed?

So amass worlds and firewithin the imaginationthen rest on shorelandof a billion far oceans;these are all the thingsthat a mind accumulateswhen it has understoodopeneness and compassion.

Frank Fratoe lives and writes in the city


The House of Milk and Honeywill be located at 807 William St. AzadehRahmani has long wanted to open a shopof antiques and vintage finds. “That aloneseem[ed] far fetched, but the fact that Iwanted it to be in a historic district madeit even more far fetched,” she said. “ThenI wanted my shop to be in a charminghouse with a front porch and a little yard— and with all these aspects everyone toldme it was impossible and I wouldeventually have to settle in some regard.”

But Rahmani did not have toforgo any part of her dream. She hassigned a five-year lease with ColdwellBanker Commercial Elite for 807 WilliamSt. That retail property is a 3,200 squarefoot home in Fredericksburg’s HistoricDistrict, complete with yard and frontporch. Rahmani’s shop will be called TheHouse of Milk and Honey. She plans aSeptember 1, 2014, opening.

The House of Milk and Honey willfeature top quality fine antiques, countryprimitive decor, Americana vintage,painted furniture, seasonal items andmore. “I would like to maintain a high endshop with a cozy, down home, small townfeel, where clients feel comfortable comingto sit on the rocking chairs on the porchand having a cup of coffee with one of us,”Rahmani said.

Rahmani believes in theimportance of investing in your owncommunity, and calls it the Happy Cycle.“The customer who spends $50 in ourshop, for example, is essentially puttingmoney into a local resident’s pocket, whoin turn will spend a portion of that moneybuying coffee at Hyperion, a sandwich atGoolricks, flowers from Roxberry Farms,which in turn happens to be where thatcustomer buys her plants,” she said. “Icall this the Happy Cycle. The more moneywe spend within our own communities, themore prosperous we all become.”

Lord & Lilly’s and Sandy’s Frugals& Frillys at 900 Caroline St. in downtownFredericksburg. (Lord & Lilly’s for short.)

Owner Sandy Cook’s focus is Christiandecorating and collectibles. “I have a littlebit of everything,” she said. The storeinventory includes figurines, jewelry,candles, wall decor and greeting cards. “Iwant to see what people want and developmy shop from there,” she said.

Deutschland Downtown, (above)a restaurant and deli at 411 William St.offering Bavarian and European cuisine,now opens. Owner Denise Antinori andher chef husband have been planning therestaurant since 2012, and selling theirhomemade bratwurst via a food truck inthe meantime. The restaurant will featurean outside beer garden.

Fraser Wood Elements at 820Caroline St. in Fredericksburg, provides

reclaimed and recycled wood flooring,furniture and features for your home. Theshop is open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily, or asposted.

Pappagallo Fine Gifts andImports. (below) The shop now carriesMajolica Italian ceramics, handcraftedMurano glass jewelry from Venice, Italy,.Rance fragrances and exclusive to the shopare the artisan hardwood puzzles by BentMountain, Va., artist Peter Chapman. Theshop is located at 300 William St., acrossfrom Hyperion. Owner Suzanne Metzger

Sight Studio Optometry hasopened at 829 Caroline St. The full-serviceeye care store includes eye exams,pediatric eye care, a large frame selection,contacts, laser vision consultations, anddiagnosis and management of oculardiseases. Adam and Mitra Madison are thedoctors of optometry at the location.




first published in Fredericksburg.Today.


810 Caroline Street(540) 371-5684

Give a Child Something to Think About

Books, Games, Amusing Novelties

M-Sat. 10am-6pm; Sun. 1pm-4pm

Bullying is a problemaffecting communities and school systemsof all sizes. It frustrates teachers andadministrators, angers parents and eatsaway at the self-esteem of thousands ofvictims every year. The subject of bullyingweighed heavy on the mind of localchildren’s book author Ayana Sala Baughas she prepares her own son for his firstyear of public schooling during thisupcoming year.

“The idea that my son, whois a happy, normal and trusting boy beingtormented by bullies during his first yearof school was more than I could bear. Igot to thinking about it, did some researchand after see all the damage inflicted bythem I then decided to do somethingabout it.”

What the author did wasenlist the support of local thespians,secure the Caroline County CommunityCenter for two days in September andwrite a musical stage play ‘I Am NotAfraid’, focusing on the issue andaddressing it from a new and verycommon sense perspective.

“The incidents of bullyingthat make the headlines each year, theones leading to the most dreadful result,almost all occur between the grades ofeight to twelve. I asked myself, ‘where dothese big bullies come from?’ The answer,obviously, little bullies. Bullying that leadsto attempted suicides, suicides, shootingrampages and such is perpetrated byteenagers who were probably bullies at ayounger age. The little bullies of todaywill grow to become bigger bulliestomorrow if left unchecked.”

The play, narrated bycurrent Caroline High principal andformer Bowling Green Elementaryprincipal Jeff Wick, is a story ofLoopiethotamus (a Chihuahua WhoThinks He is a Hippopotamus) who goes toschool for the first time and is beset by agroup of bullies. Helping him face the

challenges are his brother, sister, motherand father and new friends. The storyexamines circumstances that cause a childto become a bully and how other students,teachers and family can help support thevictim and show the little bullies how toovercome the hardships leading to theirbehavior.

The diverse 24-person castconsists entirely of local actors, dancersand liturgical mimes. The play ‘I Am NotAfraid’ is scheduled for two performances,September 19 and 20 at the CarolineCounty Community Center. Localbusinesses wishing to participate assponsors may contact Ayana Sala Baugh at804-552-0193 or by email [email protected]. For moreinformation on the play visit: LoopieT.com

To purchase Ayana’s bookson Loopiethotamus, her new book seriesvisit: LoopieBooks.com or Amazon.com

Featured artist, Collette Capraratakes us on a nostalgic walk to places of“Respite and Retreat” with her SeptemberShow at Brush Strokes Gallery.

Finding inspiration from placesof respite and retreat, Collette takes us toher favorite spots where she experiencesspiritual nourishment and renewal. Hercollection of acrylic and oil paintingscapture moments found outside the bustleof daily life. Images of sun-dappledwoodland paths, a cove near the

Rappahannock River and a favoritecrabbing hole at a nature preserve give usa glimpse of former carefree times.

Once a mural painter, Collettehas found her muse in classes with localartist Johnny Johnson, and feels gratefulfor the gift of this artful world filled withdepth, beauty and messages of love.

Join Collette at the artists’reception, September 5, from 6-9 p.m. atBrush Strokes Gallery in downtownFredericksburg, Virginia. Brush StrokesGallery is open 11-5 p.m. daily at 824Caroline Street in downtownFredericksburg, Virginia.

Also, see new works presented bymember artists that include paintings inall mediums, glass works and sculptures,fabric art, photography, pen and inkdrawings, jewelry and more creations thatmake wonderful gifts. Brush StrokesGallery is open 11-5 p.m. daily at 824Caroline Street in downtownFredericksburg, Virginia.

Contributed by Brush Strokes Gallery

Collette CapraraFeatured artist @ Brush Strokes Gallery

SHOP THEBOULEVARD!

Lafayette Boulevard…DOWNTOWN!

SupportingLocal

ArtistsSince 1997


Every Child Deserves A Family

Learn about our adoption opportunitiesin Russia, China and Guatemala

301-587-4400 Cradle of Hope Adoption Center



‘I Am Not Afraid’

ayana Sala Baugh’sAnti-Bullying Stage Play

Destination FredericksburgNew businesses open downtown

by susan larson

THE POETRY MANTHE POETRY MAN- BY FRANK FRATOE

Reality & ImaginationReality & Imagination

What is distance to uswho have seen a universeof galaxy after galaxyoutspread beyond the sky?What brings wondermentmore than proof in rocksthat creatures were alivelong before we existed?

So amass worlds and firewithin the imaginationthen rest on shorelandof a billion far oceans;these are all the thingsthat a mind accumulateswhen it has understoodopeneness and compassion.

Frank Fratoe lives and writes in the city

Last year, the TappahannockArtists’ Guild (TAG) produced a creativeexplosion through the unlikelycombination of two very different artists:Ellen Worthy Stokes of Fredericksburg andDavid Henderson of Tappahannock, whenit presented the wildly successful “TheGarden as an Art Form.” What makes thiscombination of artists stand apart is that,while Ellen wields a brush, canvas, andmore than a little glitter for her art, Daviddesigns with trowels, dirt and plants toachieve art in the form of his gardens.Ellen is a local artist with both local andnational recognition. David, on the otherhand, is an unknown in the artisticcommunity.

From childhood, David has hadan interest in both gardens and oldhouses. In 2007, when he was looking fora place to retire, he found the perfectcombination in “Little Egypt” (c. 1750)and fell instantly in love with the historicproperty. For the past 7 years, David hasworked diligently to maintain the integrityof the original structure, while bringingmodern influences and his personal tastesto the many remodeling projects he hasundertaken.

However, David’s greatest love isworking in the many gardens, new and old,scattered around the property. It isDavid’s approach to gardening that

brought TAG to conceiveof “The Garden as an ArtForm.” David and Ellenmet and the two teamperfectly to create atruly dynamic energywhile sharing theirknowledge and views ofartistic/design principlesand then demonstratehow these sameprinciples apply to thegarden. Just as Ellenmust be sensitive to hersubject matter andaudience for her art,David incorporates a

sensitivity to materials, plants and wildlifewhile demonstrating his concepts for thevarious gardens he nurtures.

Realizing the general publicinterest in history and historical properties,David takes advantage of severalopportunities each year to open his houseand grounds to host fund raising activitiesfor local organizations such as The Haven,The Tappahannock Artists’ Guild, and theEssex County Museum and Historical Society,to name a few. David will be opening hishome once more this year on September 26when he and Ellen present “The Garden asan Art Form, II.”

An exhibit of Ellen Worthy’s artentitled “A Regional Potpourri and AGlittering Come Here” will be at theTappahannock Artists’ Guild from Sept.12

through Oct.4th and will coincide with thegarden event. For more information,please visit the Tappahannock Artists’Guild website at www.TappArts.org.

NOTE:David Henderson is retired and resides at

Little Egypt in Tappahannock. Ellen Worthy Stokes lives, paints and

creates art in Fredericksburg. The dynamic duo looks forward to afruitful collaboration conceiving and

executing more exciting projects.


The Garden As ArtA tale of two artists

By Tappahannock Artists’ Guild

Wills and TrustsProvide for Incapacity

Trusts for Minor ChildrenWealth Preservation Trusts

Avoid Probate

AhearnEstateLaw.com 540/371-9890

Hometown Heroes Fredericksburg winners

brennan spoonhower

J & L Home Improvement

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571-259-4248

[email protected]

Jeremiah Lazenby

Recovery in Motion Gains MomentumPeer Coaching encouraging recovery process

By A.E.Bayne

Mental health has been at theforefront of many of our minds in thewake of beloved comedian Robin Williams’death in August. And how often have webeen shocked to hear of a favoriteperformer, like Phillip Seymour Hoffman,succumbing to a substance abusedisorder? While some may seem immunefrom these issues, many of us, themajority really, know that these systemicproblems not only happen on the frontpages of the entertainment section, butoccur within our own lives, eitherpersonally or through the struggles offriends and loved ones. Fortunately, thereare success stories for every tragedy, butany promising outcomes are bestsupported by further therapy andcounseling. Recovery in Motion is an areanonprofit that provides support to adultswith mental health and substance usechallenges.

About seven years ago, MentalHealth America of Fredericksburg (MHAF)

ran a Wellness Recovery Action Plan(WRAP) series. These WRAP graduatescontinued to meet as a support groupand realized a need for peer support in theFredericksburg area. Through the hardwork of these individuals, Recovery inMotion incorporated in July 2013. WRAP isan eight week course of Strength-Basedtraining that focuses less on past crisisand experiences, and more on whatmembers are doing in the present tosuccessfully navigate their post-crisislives. Executive Director Christy Escher(above) elaborates, “We don’t diagnose ordeal with crisis situations, but we will referpeople to one-on-one talk therapyif needed. Our focus is on helping peopleidentify their triggers so they can create aplan to mitigate them when they occur.Peer coaching is a mutually empoweringexperience, both for the person giving thesupport and for the person who receives itand experiences the results.”

While Virginia does not currentlyhave a recognized training program forPeer Support Specialists (PSSs), Eschersays that one is expected within theyear. For now, prospective PSSs must be ayear post-crisis before offering peersupport services. She says, “Not only arethey facilitating support groupswith sensitive topics, but they are alsoconducting one-on-one wellness coaching,meaning they’re helping link people whoare just starting their recovery process tocommunity resources. They encourageand offer support to recovering peers inempowering ways by facilitating thedevelopment of self-identified goals. PSSsare not going to do the work for them, butthey are there to support them.”

Recovery in Motion resides withinthe Collaboration Zone of theRappahannock Goodwill Industries’Community Resource Center. They havesteadily increased courses and offerexpanded hours for core programminglike WRAP, Pathways to Recovery, Copingwith PTSD, a healthy relationships supportgroup, a general support group, and asupport group for Spanish-speakers. Thenew schedule also opens up space forrecreational groups that do not requiretraining. Escher explains the necessity forthese less structured groups, “It’s a way toget people out of their homes andsocializing in a safe, supportiveenvironment with other people whounderstand what they aregoing through.” Current social offeringsinclude everything from a writingworkshop, a newsletter, a dancegroup, and mindfulness andmeditation groups, but Escher stresses theflexibility of recreationalprogramming. Members may propose anygroup activity that garners interest.

Since Recovery in Motion is freeof charge, Escher notes a need for

resources, “Funding is provided entirelythrough private donations, grant money,through the Community Foundation,through a fundcalled Share Ourselves, Community Give, and other fundraising events. Weare also in the running to receive statefunds, but the money has not yetbecome available.” She hopes that withcontinued donations, Recovery in Motionwill be able to hire more office staff tofacilitate the continued expansion of thisvital community resource.

Find out more aboutvolunteering, donating, participating, andthe latest schedules at: www.recovery-in-motion.org. Contact Executive DirectorChristy Escher at (540) 645-6042or [email protected].

A.E. Bayne is a writer, teacher, and artistliving in the Fredericksburg area.

photo by robert a. martin



Now in its fifth year, the Allen &Allen Hometown Heroes award recognizesVirginians who are responsible generatingpositive change in the community or inthe lives of others. “This is our favoritetime of the year – a time to honor thecitizens of the Commonwealth who definewhat it takes to be a true hero,” said TrentKerns, President of Allen & Allen.

The awards are in celebration oflocal acts of kindness and heroism. “Thewinners of the 2014 Allen & AllenHOMETOWN HEROES represent whatbeing a community is all about,” saidKerns. The Fredericksburg area 2014Hometown Heroes are:

Carl Lawson, FredericksburgCarl has touched many lives inFredericksburg, but few know his name.That’s because he does his good worksquietly, expecting no kudos. He and hiswife Paula have established Feed Fred, acharity that provides food for the workingpoor and homeless of Fredericksburg.Buying and cooking the food themselves,the couple often ventures into the woods,under bridges – everywhere - to find thosewho need help. Carl also supportsthe Fairy God Mother Project, which helpsfamilies of children with cancer. Amongthe many other ways Carl helps hiscommunity are donations to DoctorsWithout Borders and transportingveterans to the VA clinic. Says his friendwho nominated him, “If there were morepeople like them [Carl and Paula] around,this world would be a much better place tolive.”

Gloria Lloyd, FredericksburgAt 73, Gloria, who is a bereavementcommunity educator, shows no signs ofretiring because of her commitment toher bereavement-writing group. She runsthe group with such sincere love foreveryone in the group that members can’thelp but return the affection. Gloria alsocoordinates a vegetarian group atthe Unitarian Universalist Fellowship ofFredericksburg, inspiring others to eatmore nutritiously and improve theirhealth.

Walter Pennino, FredericksburgThe heart and soul of the Chancellor LionsClub, Walter has generated thousands ofdollars through a variety of fundraisersover the years, including the annualpumpkin sale, the spring plant sale, theWhite House Christmas ornament sale,and the Easter egg hunt for blind children.In recent years, Walter, who is battlingParkinson’s disease, has also starteddonating his time, gas, and vehicles todrive people to doctors’ appointments andfor medical treatments.

Michelle Swisher, SpotsylvaniaAs a social worker for the SpotsylvaniaCounty Schools, Michelle works withhomeless students to help secure the

housing, clothes, food, and emotionalsupport they need. She was instrumentalin launching Camp Out Rock Out, an eventto raise awareness about homelessness.Michelle also helped develop The TreasureHouse, a trailer stocked with toiletries,cleaning supplies and clothes. Even withher demanding work schedule, this momrarely misses one of her kids’ (she has six)sports or school events. “She is someone Ican always count on,” says her neighborwho nominated her. “She is always happyto help with carpooling, dog sitting, orjust to lend an ear.”

John Tippett, FredericksburgThe executive director of Friends of theRappahannock (FOR), John has spent thepast 19 years championing the river’shealth through advocacy, restoration, andeducation programs - annually more than7,000 students are reached. Just a few ofhis notable accomplishments includeprotecting 4,232 acres of land along theRappahannock and forging a relationshipwith land developers through low impactdevelopment. His role in the removal ofthe Embry Dam has set precedentsnationwide, making the Rappahannock thelongest free-flowing river in Virginia andrestoring populations of migratoryfish. John is stepping down to seektreatment for complications from Lymedisease, but he leaves a huge legacy.

Lisa Worcester, StaffordAs a pediatric occupational therapist, Lisahas dedicated her life to helping others.“Lisa is caring, kind, loving, dedicated,strong, and selfless. She has all thecharacteristics of a true hero,” writes hernominator. Lisa has served on numerousnonprofit boards, is active in her church, aGirl Scout leader, the founder of a localnonprofit school, The Stafford Academy,and a local business owner at HelpingHands, which offers pediatric occupationaltherapy.

Carl Lawson

Last year, the TappahannockArtists’ Guild (TAG) produced a creativeexplosion through the unlikelycombination of two very different artists:Ellen Worthy Stokes of Fredericksburg andDavid Henderson of Tappahannock, whenit presented the wildly successful “TheGarden as an Art Form.” What makes thiscombination of artists stand apart is that,while Ellen wields a brush, canvas, andmore than a little glitter for her art, Daviddesigns with trowels, dirt and plants toachieve art in the form of his gardens.Ellen is a local artist with both local andnational recognition. David, on the otherhand, is an unknown in the artisticcommunity.

From childhood, David has hadan interest in both gardens and oldhouses. In 2007, when he was looking fora place to retire, he found the perfectcombination in “Little Egypt” (c. 1750)and fell instantly in love with the historicproperty. For the past 7 years, David hasworked diligently to maintain the integrityof the original structure, while bringingmodern influences and his personal tastesto the many remodeling projects he hasundertaken.

However, David’s greatest love isworking in the many gardens, new and old,scattered around the property. It isDavid’s approach to gardening that

brought TAG to conceiveof “The Garden as an ArtForm.” David and Ellenmet and the two teamperfectly to create atruly dynamic energywhile sharing theirknowledge and views ofartistic/design principlesand then demonstratehow these sameprinciples apply to thegarden. Just as Ellenmust be sensitive to hersubject matter andaudience for her art,David incorporates a

sensitivity to materials, plants and wildlifewhile demonstrating his concepts for thevarious gardens he nurtures.

Realizing the general publicinterest in history and historical properties,David takes advantage of severalopportunities each year to open his houseand grounds to host fund raising activitiesfor local organizations such as The Haven,The Tappahannock Artists’ Guild, and theEssex County Museum and Historical Society,to name a few. David will be opening hishome once more this year on September 26when he and Ellen present “The Garden asan Art Form, II.”

An exhibit of Ellen Worthy’s artentitled “A Regional Potpourri and AGlittering Come Here” will be at theTappahannock Artists’ Guild from Sept.12

through Oct.4th and will coincide with thegarden event. For more information,please visit the Tappahannock Artists’Guild website at www.TappArts.org.

NOTE:David Henderson is retired and resides at

Little Egypt in Tappahannock. Ellen Worthy Stokes lives, paints and

creates art in Fredericksburg. The dynamic duo looks forward to afruitful collaboration conceiving and

executing more exciting projects.


The Garden As ArtA tale of two artists

By Tappahannock Artists’ Guild

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Hometown Heroes Fredericksburg winners

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571-259-4248

[email protected]

Jeremiah Lazenby

Recovery in Motion Gains MomentumPeer Coaching encouraging recovery process

By A.E.Bayne

Mental health has been at theforefront of many of our minds in thewake of beloved comedian Robin Williams’death in August. And how often have webeen shocked to hear of a favoriteperformer, like Phillip Seymour Hoffman,succumbing to a substance abusedisorder? While some may seem immunefrom these issues, many of us, themajority really, know that these systemicproblems not only happen on the frontpages of the entertainment section, butoccur within our own lives, eitherpersonally or through the struggles offriends and loved ones. Fortunately, thereare success stories for every tragedy, butany promising outcomes are bestsupported by further therapy andcounseling. Recovery in Motion is an areanonprofit that provides support to adultswith mental health and substance usechallenges.

About seven years ago, MentalHealth America of Fredericksburg (MHAF)

ran a Wellness Recovery Action Plan(WRAP) series. These WRAP graduatescontinued to meet as a support groupand realized a need for peer support in theFredericksburg area. Through the hardwork of these individuals, Recovery inMotion incorporated in July 2013. WRAP isan eight week course of Strength-Basedtraining that focuses less on past crisisand experiences, and more on whatmembers are doing in the present tosuccessfully navigate their post-crisislives. Executive Director Christy Escher(above) elaborates, “We don’t diagnose ordeal with crisis situations, but we will referpeople to one-on-one talk therapyif needed. Our focus is on helping peopleidentify their triggers so they can create aplan to mitigate them when they occur.Peer coaching is a mutually empoweringexperience, both for the person giving thesupport and for the person who receives itand experiences the results.”

While Virginia does not currentlyhave a recognized training program forPeer Support Specialists (PSSs), Eschersays that one is expected within theyear. For now, prospective PSSs must be ayear post-crisis before offering peersupport services. She says, “Not only arethey facilitating support groupswith sensitive topics, but they are alsoconducting one-on-one wellness coaching,meaning they’re helping link people whoare just starting their recovery process tocommunity resources. They encourageand offer support to recovering peers inempowering ways by facilitating thedevelopment of self-identified goals. PSSsare not going to do the work for them, butthey are there to support them.”

Recovery in Motion resides withinthe Collaboration Zone of theRappahannock Goodwill Industries’Community Resource Center. They havesteadily increased courses and offerexpanded hours for core programminglike WRAP, Pathways to Recovery, Copingwith PTSD, a healthy relationships supportgroup, a general support group, and asupport group for Spanish-speakers. Thenew schedule also opens up space forrecreational groups that do not requiretraining. Escher explains the necessity forthese less structured groups, “It’s a way toget people out of their homes andsocializing in a safe, supportiveenvironment with other people whounderstand what they aregoing through.” Current social offeringsinclude everything from a writingworkshop, a newsletter, a dancegroup, and mindfulness andmeditation groups, but Escher stresses theflexibility of recreationalprogramming. Members may propose anygroup activity that garners interest.

Since Recovery in Motion is freeof charge, Escher notes a need for

resources, “Funding is provided entirelythrough private donations, grant money,through the Community Foundation,through a fundcalled Share Ourselves, Community Give, and other fundraising events. Weare also in the running to receive statefunds, but the money has not yetbecome available.” She hopes that withcontinued donations, Recovery in Motionwill be able to hire more office staff tofacilitate the continued expansion of thisvital community resource.

Find out more aboutvolunteering, donating, participating, andthe latest schedules at: www.recovery-in-motion.org. Contact Executive DirectorChristy Escher at (540) 645-6042or [email protected].

A.E. Bayne is a writer, teacher, and artistliving in the Fredericksburg area.

photo by robert a. martin



Now in its fifth year, the Allen &Allen Hometown Heroes award recognizesVirginians who are responsible generatingpositive change in the community or inthe lives of others. “This is our favoritetime of the year – a time to honor thecitizens of the Commonwealth who definewhat it takes to be a true hero,” said TrentKerns, President of Allen & Allen.

The awards are in celebration oflocal acts of kindness and heroism. “Thewinners of the 2014 Allen & AllenHOMETOWN HEROES represent whatbeing a community is all about,” saidKerns. The Fredericksburg area 2014Hometown Heroes are:

Carl Lawson, FredericksburgCarl has touched many lives inFredericksburg, but few know his name.That’s because he does his good worksquietly, expecting no kudos. He and hiswife Paula have established Feed Fred, acharity that provides food for the workingpoor and homeless of Fredericksburg.Buying and cooking the food themselves,the couple often ventures into the woods,under bridges – everywhere - to find thosewho need help. Carl also supportsthe Fairy God Mother Project, which helpsfamilies of children with cancer. Amongthe many other ways Carl helps hiscommunity are donations to DoctorsWithout Borders and transportingveterans to the VA clinic. Says his friendwho nominated him, “If there were morepeople like them [Carl and Paula] around,this world would be a much better place tolive.”

Gloria Lloyd, FredericksburgAt 73, Gloria, who is a bereavementcommunity educator, shows no signs ofretiring because of her commitment toher bereavement-writing group. She runsthe group with such sincere love foreveryone in the group that members can’thelp but return the affection. Gloria alsocoordinates a vegetarian group atthe Unitarian Universalist Fellowship ofFredericksburg, inspiring others to eatmore nutritiously and improve theirhealth.

Walter Pennino, FredericksburgThe heart and soul of the Chancellor LionsClub, Walter has generated thousands ofdollars through a variety of fundraisersover the years, including the annualpumpkin sale, the spring plant sale, theWhite House Christmas ornament sale,and the Easter egg hunt for blind children.In recent years, Walter, who is battlingParkinson’s disease, has also starteddonating his time, gas, and vehicles todrive people to doctors’ appointments andfor medical treatments.

Michelle Swisher, SpotsylvaniaAs a social worker for the SpotsylvaniaCounty Schools, Michelle works withhomeless students to help secure the

housing, clothes, food, and emotionalsupport they need. She was instrumentalin launching Camp Out Rock Out, an eventto raise awareness about homelessness.Michelle also helped develop The TreasureHouse, a trailer stocked with toiletries,cleaning supplies and clothes. Even withher demanding work schedule, this momrarely misses one of her kids’ (she has six)sports or school events. “She is someone Ican always count on,” says her neighborwho nominated her. “She is always happyto help with carpooling, dog sitting, orjust to lend an ear.”

John Tippett, FredericksburgThe executive director of Friends of theRappahannock (FOR), John has spent thepast 19 years championing the river’shealth through advocacy, restoration, andeducation programs - annually more than7,000 students are reached. Just a few ofhis notable accomplishments includeprotecting 4,232 acres of land along theRappahannock and forging a relationshipwith land developers through low impactdevelopment. His role in the removal ofthe Embry Dam has set precedentsnationwide, making the Rappahannock thelongest free-flowing river in Virginia andrestoring populations of migratoryfish. John is stepping down to seektreatment for complications from Lymedisease, but he leaves a huge legacy.

Lisa Worcester, StaffordAs a pediatric occupational therapist, Lisahas dedicated her life to helping others.“Lisa is caring, kind, loving, dedicated,strong, and selfless. She has all thecharacteristics of a true hero,” writes hernominator. Lisa has served on numerousnonprofit boards, is active in her church, aGirl Scout leader, the founder of a localnonprofit school, The Stafford Academy,and a local business owner at HelpingHands, which offers pediatric occupationaltherapy.

Carl Lawson

Documents

Front Porch Fredericksburg - September 2014