October 2013 - Front Porch Fredericksburg

YOUR GUIDE TO THE LOCAL GOOD LIFE

front porch 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 E

L o c a l G o o d N e w s S i n c e 1 9 97 YEAR 17 • ISSUE 196 • OCTOBER 2013

Frontporchfredericksburg.com

Transitions

Men of Action Barfield Bar None 5

The Right Way

Vera at 95 7

Kellen Gerenser

The Possibilities 8

Ren Fields

Yoga’s Finest 11

Sensitive Remodeling

Soft Opening 12

FredaPhysical

Meta in Fxbg 23

FCCA at 50

Art Strong 26

The S.G.I.

Trailblazers 27

A New Dawn

Darkness Fades 31

contents

closeups 5

7

24

Transitions ... 4 men of action Vera Way ... at ninety five Her creative kids rule! ... Deb Munro

5

porch talk 4

on the porch...life in fredericksburg Messages

..8

Anything is possible: Kellen Gerenser

10

retired on the back porch: size matters

11

18

Our Heritage... masonic lodge 7 history’s stories.: historic route 1

20

companion care: .when you move

21

autoknown better: how i spent my summer vacation

22

Senior Care: capturing life stories

23

let’s get metaphyiscal fire in the hole!: fire prevention in the kitchen

25

scene & heard...in the ‘burg!

26

celebrate fcca 50 years & beyond poetryman

27

community link: spotsy greenways initiative

28

my own path: power of truth disability resource center

29

porchlight: postscript

30

an easier & better way

31

from out of the darkness

28

...And more!

vimala ren fields: medicine for the mine & spirit

12

on restaurant row Cooking with kyle

13

season’s bounty: pass the pecan pie

10

810 caroline street: old building revisited

15

will power: .. fresh ingredients=fresh beer

14

changing careers: lisa marsh

19 16-17

Calendar of Events

Bubbling & flowing: water street writer’s/artist’s studio opens

19

Cover Photo by Sue Henderson

Hauntingly Rich in Flavor

Lavishly Presented!

2

October 2013

Front porch fredericksburg

front porch fredericksburg

October 2013

3

contents

closeups 5

7

24

Transitions ... 4 men of action Vera Way ... at ninety five Her creative kids rule! ... Deb Munro

5

porch talk 4

on the porch...life in fredericksburg Messages

..8

Anything is possible: Kellen Gerenser

10

retired on the back porch: size matters

11

18

Our Heritage... masonic lodge 7 history’s stories.: historic route 1

20

companion care: .when you move

21

autoknown better: how i spent my summer vacation

22

Senior Care: capturing life stories

23

let’s get metaphyiscal fire in the hole!: fire prevention in the kitchen

25

scene & heard...in the ‘burg!

26

celebrate fcca 50 years & beyond poetryman

27

community link: spotsy greenways initiative

28

my own path: power of truth disability resource center

29

porchlight: postscript

30

an easier & better way

31

from out of the darkness

28

...And more!

vimala ren fields: medicine for the mine & spirit

12

on restaurant row Cooking with kyle

13

season’s bounty: pass the pecan pie

10

810 caroline street: old building revisited

15

will power: .. fresh ingredients=fresh beer

14

changing careers: lisa marsh

19 16-17

Calendar of Events

Bubbling & flowing: water street writer’s/artist’s studio opens

19

Cover Photo by Sue Henderson

Hauntingly Rich in Flavor

Lavishly Presented!

2

October 2013

Front porch fredericksburg

front porch fredericksburg

October 2013

3

ON THE PORCH Rob Grogan

Editor

Photographer Archer Di Peppe Contributing Writers & Artists A.E.Bayne Megan Byrnes Collette Caprara C.Ruth Cassell Lezlie Cheryl Arch Di Peppe Christine Ferber Rob Fergusson Fran k Fratoe William Garnett Sue Henderson Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks Katie Hornung Rob Huffman Will Loring Karl Karch Jo Middleton Amy Millis Susan Carroll Morgan Kandra Orr M.L.Powers Vanessa Moncure Scott Richards Paula Rose Emily Taggert Schricker Jennifer Skarbek James Kyle Snyder Matt Thomas Christine Thompson Rim Vining Sara Zolnick

Front Porch Fredericksburg is a free circulation magazine published monthly by Olde Towne Publishing Co., Inc. Virginia Bigenwald Grogan, Publisher.

The mission of Front Porch Fredericksburg is to connect the diverse citizenry of Fredericksburg with lively features and informative columns of interest to our community’s greatest resource, its people.

Messages from our readers are welcome. All submissions must be received by e-mail by the 19th of the month preceding publication.

Writers are welcome to request Writer’s Guidelines and query the Editor by e-mail.

Front Porch Fredericksburg PO Box 9203 Fredericksburg, VA 22403 Phone: 540-220-1922 E-Mail: frntprch@aol.com Web Site: www.frontporchfredericksburg.com The opinions expressed in Front Porch Fredericksburg are those of the contributing writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Front Porch Fredericksburg or its advertisers.

Copyright 2013 Olde Towne Publishing Co., LLC All rights reserved.

Robgwrites 4

Transitions

October 2013

afterglow

4 men of action

How does October stand a chance on the community satisfaction meter after the outstanding September we just had, compliments of the Arts and Mother Nature?

It stands on its own as the month of the Autumnal Equinox and the Harvest Moon, with select art events and a cornucopia of culinary arts experiences added to the palette of our colorful community.

And for me personally, it stands more deeply — it’s an afterglow, a continuance from one outstanding month into the next as I adjust to what is now my new normal. Having this community’s monthly offerings open to me is one gift I will cherish as I move forward a little differently than before. With major surgery and procedures behind me, I awoke one morning last month and realized, “This is it. How I live my life from now on is what is now normal for me.”

With a manmade part inside my Godmade body, in the moment is the way to live. In the moment — Bob Sima’s music so reminds me as I wear out his trio of CD’s; with love and compassion and wonder, as Lynda Allen’s twin volumes of poetry (Illuminate and Rest In The Knowing) carry her message to me, hand-delivered by heartfelt goodness – in the moment, is what the warmth of living and being is all about.

The overwhelming event that raised my hopes and funded a sizeable portion of my outstanding medical bills is behind me now, except for that sustaining

afterglow. My pace is dialed back after three days in which my body reminded me I was pushing too hard and not heeding Mr. Sima’s call to loosen my grip and recognize my formidable foe. Stubbornly, I see the need and view my own mortality with sobering truth as I transition into the autumn of my years and the autumn of the season.

I am soberly reminded by so many acquaintances and friends with various illnesses, ailments, and cancers, that taking it one moment at a time is both wise and inspiring. I pray for them daily, for Susan and Ted and Vanessa, and more.

The death of Paul Akers shook me, not only because he was a fine man, but because he, too, had been making progress and mending with promise. I was able to speak with his widow, Karen, his two adult daughters and two granddaughters.

To the little ones I imparted my simple not sage advice to hold onto their memories of him close to their hearts. The afterglow of earlier that September carried me through that mournful evening at the Covenant Funeral Home and allowed me to leave a positive thought for the most vulnerable of Paul’s survivors to ponder.

Looking ahead into this new month, I see transitions in the works for good “porch people” and think about my own ongoing changes, too.

I am passionately birding and reading and soaking up music as well as the sun, enjoying the earth’s bounty and lying

messages

from a tremendous talent pool we are so fortunate to have. I hope these covers encourage others to submit ideas.

Archer Di Peppe

About the Cover: Sue Henderson’s apples evoke the autumn harvest season in southern Stafford County. Makes you want to pick and eat!

Hi Rob,

In Memoriam: This issue is dedicated to Paul Edward Akers (October 13, 1949September 20, 2013), a gentleman, family man, fine journalist, and good citizen of our community. Best known locally for his work at The Free LanceStar, Paul’s extensive career included military service to our country. He will be missed. (Photo courtesy the Akers family)

A friend of mine just told me about her mother’s aversion to all newspaper/radio/ television news because it is always the bearer of Bad Things. But last week she gave her the August issue of Front Porch and she read it cover-to-cover and raved about it, saying, “People are doing so many things!”

Collette Caprara PS - Your essay in the Aug. issue (“On The Porch – Loosen Your Grip”) is as beautiful as Bob Sima’s music!

I have taken many many of the photographs for covers for Front Porch, but two of my favorite aren’t mind. Last month’s of the hummingbird and river by Jay Anderson and Sept.’s by Sue Henderson are fantastic. Their creativity is astounding. The cover is the front porch of Front Porch. It is the first thing people see and has a lot to do with how many people pick up the magazine and take it home. I also enjoy seeing artwork on the covers using guest photographers

Front porch fredericksburg

Thanks so much for plugging our soon-to-be-published book of Knox Family Civil War letters.

The transcription of over 100 letters has been a labor of love for volunteers at the Heritage Center. Katie Hornung did a fine job of describing our excitement over being able to share the Knox story with the public. We all thank you for your interest in and support of our mission to preserve local history.

Judy Chaimson Central Rappahanock Heritage Center Thank you for including my Sept. article [A Day In The Life]! I was so excited to see the letters you received about my previous article. If you have any ideas for the future and need someone to write or photograph, please contact me. I’d love to contribute again!

Thanks so much for the great experience!

Natalie Wilson

By rob grogan

lower than September allowed me to.

Things negative are not invited. Positive of thought and heart, I embrace my baseball, my Scotch, and above all my family. The handyman who will not come, the truck for sale that will not sell are not a worry now.

I’d rather plant a colorful mum or watch a Downy Woodpecker than fret about getting things on a to-do list done.

I’d rather be a human being than a human doing (again, Mr. Sima), while basking in the afterglow of that sweet September in Fredericksburg.

There are others who feel this way, too, and some of them we honor inside on these pages. So enjoy the issue, cover to cover, as you would your favorite passion, and feel the inner warmth emanating from within the new month.

Peace.

magazine “because I saw better opportunities with real estate and grew tired of the franchise model I was working under.”

Real Estate, however, is definitely a long term endeavor, as are his kids and wife: “My kids are Deacon and Sam, age 5 twins, and Vera, age 15 months. Deacon & Sam are your typical 5-year old boys, energetic, fun, and at times whiny. They rely on

Kevin Caffrey Brandon Barfield is resilient and Ben Wafle is forever forward-moving. deservedly retired. Ron Swaney has a toy story. And Mr. Caffrey is Kevin, the singersongwriter…

These four men came on my radar recently for different reasons.

Brandon, a catch-up coffee date to learn his latest, post-Snap. Ben, to acknowledge his retirement from Quarles Petroleum and to say best wishes to as fine a gentleman as Fredericksburg knows. Ron, to examine the lighter side of life beyond the badge for this city cop and candidate for sheriff. And Kevin, because we owe him a correction and an encore after printing his name “Ken” in a feature in August (Medium Talent – the name of his latest concept CD).

Update: Brandon received his real estate license in July. He had started working on it in 2012 and was interested in for some time before, so it wasn’t in response to walking away from his publication, Snap.

“Mind you, I was 24 when I started Snap. Most of my jobs were either in cooking, construction, and I served some time in the Coast Guard Reserves.”

He gave up the local franchise of the

each other and need their own t i m e , space, and attention.

Vera is a sweet and personable baby. She loves to interact and talk w i t h people.”

good. I’m passionate about seeing the Downtown area turn into something special. It’s got a long way to go but I’d like to see it be more of a regional arts and culture hub in the future.” His business tip? “Practice prudence. Use your time wisely and don’t become unbalanced.” His favorite quote is “Prudence is the virtue of the senses.

It is the science of appearances. It is the outmost action of the inward life. It is God taking thought for oxen. It moves matter after the laws of matter. It is content to seek health of body by complying with physical conditions, and health of mind by the laws of the intellect.”

R.E. Emerson O f p e r s o n a l challenges, he says, “All things must pass.

Finish the job, wake up, and do each day to the best of

Ben Wafle Pixi bicycle, but most of his collection is older than he is!

Since most packaging is discarded or used for other purposes, or simply deteriorates over time, original packaging, in tact, will usually bring more money. For Ron, the value will be when his “children realize the historic meaning of their heirlooms,” says the man of his “passion, not hobby.” All in good time…

Rob Grogan is passionate about the fascinating people of this great community.

Brandon Barfield

“Dad time” is extremely important to him. “I never had a father around growing up, so it’s something I want my kids to remember when they are older, that their father was not just around but involved.” His wife, Katie, is a stay-at-home who runs a home day care watching three kids. “She also does Red Tent Photography in which she does family portraits but specializes in birth photography. She’s a natural at it.”

The Barfields love Fxbg. “The community is strong and business can be

your ability and you shall overcome!”

And with those wise words, Brandon moves forever forward…

Ron Swaney, on the other hand, is moving into the past (so it seems) – he collects vintage toys, the rarities you see on those cable shows. Ron began collecting about 20 years ago, “starting with pedal cars because they were large and flashy.”

Given the enormous space they took up, he went smaller.

A hobby at first, collecting became an investment potential about 10 years ago: “Toys that were produced before WWII have unique value, as many of them were recycled due to their metal content during the war.” His childhood favorites were Hot Wheels, Tonka Trucks, and GI Joe’s. The pride and joy in his collection is a “Hones Viking Truck from Cleveland, OH. Most collectors feel it was produced by ‘Sturdytoy’ around the 1920’s.” The truck comes in red or green and only 10 or fewer original trucks exist!

Value: $5,000. He has his original Schwinn

Ron Swaney

Dearly Wanted: Fredericksburg's Oldest Residents For Our Oral History -A Fredericksburg Treasure Front Porch is calling for Our Town's Ageless Citizens to let us know who they are so our writers can sit and hear their wonderful stories.

We treasure your lives and memories.

front porch fredericksburg

October 2013

5

ON THE PORCH Rob Grogan

Editor

Photographer Archer Di Peppe Contributing Writers & Artists A.E.Bayne Megan Byrnes Collette Caprara C.Ruth Cassell Lezlie Cheryl Arch Di Peppe Christine Ferber Rob Fergusson Fran k Fratoe William Garnett Sue Henderson Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks Katie Hornung Rob Huffman Will Loring Karl Karch Jo Middleton Amy Millis Susan Carroll Morgan Kandra Orr M.L.Powers Vanessa Moncure Scott Richards Paula Rose Emily Taggert Schricker Jennifer Skarbek James Kyle Snyder Matt Thomas Christine Thompson Rim Vining Sara Zolnick

Front Porch Fredericksburg is a free circulation magazine published monthly by Olde Towne Publishing Co., Inc. Virginia Bigenwald Grogan, Publisher.

The mission of Front Porch Fredericksburg is to connect the diverse citizenry of Fredericksburg with lively features and informative columns of interest to our community’s greatest resource, its people.

Messages from our readers are welcome. All submissions must be received by e-mail by the 19th of the month preceding publication.

Writers are welcome to request Writer’s Guidelines and query the Editor by e-mail.

Front Porch Fredericksburg PO Box 9203 Fredericksburg, VA 22403 Phone: 540-220-1922 E-Mail: frntprch@aol.com Web Site: www.frontporchfredericksburg.com The opinions expressed in Front Porch Fredericksburg are those of the contributing writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Front Porch Fredericksburg or its advertisers.

Copyright 2013 Olde Towne Publishing Co., LLC All rights reserved.

Robgwrites 4

Transitions

October 2013

afterglow

4 men of action

How does October stand a chance on the community satisfaction meter after the outstanding September we just had, compliments of the Arts and Mother Nature?

It stands on its own as the month of the Autumnal Equinox and the Harvest Moon, with select art events and a cornucopia of culinary arts experiences added to the palette of our colorful community.

And for me personally, it stands more deeply — it’s an afterglow, a continuance from one outstanding month into the next as I adjust to what is now my new normal. Having this community’s monthly offerings open to me is one gift I will cherish as I move forward a little differently than before. With major surgery and procedures behind me, I awoke one morning last month and realized, “This is it. How I live my life from now on is what is now normal for me.”

With a manmade part inside my Godmade body, in the moment is the way to live. In the moment — Bob Sima’s music so reminds me as I wear out his trio of CD’s; with love and compassion and wonder, as Lynda Allen’s twin volumes of poetry (Illuminate and Rest In The Knowing) carry her message to me, hand-delivered by heartfelt goodness – in the moment, is what the warmth of living and being is all about.

The overwhelming event that raised my hopes and funded a sizeable portion of my outstanding medical bills is behind me now, except for that sustaining

afterglow. My pace is dialed back after three days in which my body reminded me I was pushing too hard and not heeding Mr. Sima’s call to loosen my grip and recognize my formidable foe. Stubbornly, I see the need and view my own mortality with sobering truth as I transition into the autumn of my years and the autumn of the season.

I am soberly reminded by so many acquaintances and friends with various illnesses, ailments, and cancers, that taking it one moment at a time is both wise and inspiring. I pray for them daily, for Susan and Ted and Vanessa, and more.

The death of Paul Akers shook me, not only because he was a fine man, but because he, too, had been making progress and mending with promise. I was able to speak with his widow, Karen, his two adult daughters and two granddaughters.

To the little ones I imparted my simple not sage advice to hold onto their memories of him close to their hearts. The afterglow of earlier that September carried me through that mournful evening at the Covenant Funeral Home and allowed me to leave a positive thought for the most vulnerable of Paul’s survivors to ponder.

Looking ahead into this new month, I see transitions in the works for good “porch people” and think about my own ongoing changes, too.

I am passionately birding and reading and soaking up music as well as the sun, enjoying the earth’s bounty and lying

messages

from a tremendous talent pool we are so fortunate to have. I hope these covers encourage others to submit ideas.

Archer Di Peppe

About the Cover: Sue Henderson’s apples evoke the autumn harvest season in southern Stafford County. Makes you want to pick and eat!

Hi Rob,

In Memoriam: This issue is dedicated to Paul Edward Akers (October 13, 1949September 20, 2013), a gentleman, family man, fine journalist, and good citizen of our community. Best known locally for his work at The Free LanceStar, Paul’s extensive career included military service to our country. He will be missed. (Photo courtesy the Akers family)

A friend of mine just told me about her mother’s aversion to all newspaper/radio/ television news because it is always the bearer of Bad Things. But last week she gave her the August issue of Front Porch and she read it cover-to-cover and raved about it, saying, “People are doing so many things!”

Collette Caprara PS - Your essay in the Aug. issue (“On The Porch – Loosen Your Grip”) is as beautiful as Bob Sima’s music!

I have taken many many of the photographs for covers for Front Porch, but two of my favorite aren’t mind. Last month’s of the hummingbird and river by Jay Anderson and Sept.’s by Sue Henderson are fantastic. Their creativity is astounding. The cover is the front porch of Front Porch. It is the first thing people see and has a lot to do with how many people pick up the magazine and take it home. I also enjoy seeing artwork on the covers using guest photographers

Front porch fredericksburg

Thanks so much for plugging our soon-to-be-published book of Knox Family Civil War letters.

The transcription of over 100 letters has been a labor of love for volunteers at the Heritage Center. Katie Hornung did a fine job of describing our excitement over being able to share the Knox story with the public. We all thank you for your interest in and support of our mission to preserve local history.

Judy Chaimson Central Rappahanock Heritage Center Thank you for including my Sept. article [A Day In The Life]! I was so excited to see the letters you received about my previous article. If you have any ideas for the future and need someone to write or photograph, please contact me. I’d love to contribute again!

Thanks so much for the great experience!

Natalie Wilson

By rob grogan

lower than September allowed me to.

Things negative are not invited. Positive of thought and heart, I embrace my baseball, my Scotch, and above all my family. The handyman who will not come, the truck for sale that will not sell are not a worry now.

I’d rather plant a colorful mum or watch a Downy Woodpecker than fret about getting things on a to-do list done.

I’d rather be a human being than a human doing (again, Mr. Sima), while basking in the afterglow of that sweet September in Fredericksburg.

There are others who feel this way, too, and some of them we honor inside on these pages. So enjoy the issue, cover to cover, as you would your favorite passion, and feel the inner warmth emanating from within the new month.

Peace.

magazine “because I saw better opportunities with real estate and grew tired of the franchise model I was working under.”

Real Estate, however, is definitely a long term endeavor, as are his kids and wife: “My kids are Deacon and Sam, age 5 twins, and Vera, age 15 months. Deacon & Sam are your typical 5-year old boys, energetic, fun, and at times whiny. They rely on

Kevin Caffrey Brandon Barfield is resilient and Ben Wafle is forever forward-moving. deservedly retired. Ron Swaney has a toy story. And Mr. Caffrey is Kevin, the singersongwriter…

These four men came on my radar recently for different reasons.

Brandon, a catch-up coffee date to learn his latest, post-Snap. Ben, to acknowledge his retirement from Quarles Petroleum and to say best wishes to as fine a gentleman as Fredericksburg knows. Ron, to examine the lighter side of life beyond the badge for this city cop and candidate for sheriff. And Kevin, because we owe him a correction and an encore after printing his name “Ken” in a feature in August (Medium Talent – the name of his latest concept CD).

Update: Brandon received his real estate license in July. He had started working on it in 2012 and was interested in for some time before, so it wasn’t in response to walking away from his publication, Snap.

“Mind you, I was 24 when I started Snap. Most of my jobs were either in cooking, construction, and I served some time in the Coast Guard Reserves.”

He gave up the local franchise of the

each other and need their own t i m e , space, and attention.

Vera is a sweet and personable baby. She loves to interact and talk w i t h people.”

good. I’m passionate about seeing the Downtown area turn into something special. It’s got a long way to go but I’d like to see it be more of a regional arts and culture hub in the future.” His business tip? “Practice prudence. Use your time wisely and don’t become unbalanced.” His favorite quote is “Prudence is the virtue of the senses.

It is the science of appearances. It is the outmost action of the inward life. It is God taking thought for oxen. It moves matter after the laws of matter. It is content to seek health of body by complying with physical conditions, and health of mind by the laws of the intellect.”

R.E. Emerson O f p e r s o n a l challenges, he says, “All things must pass.

Finish the job, wake up, and do each day to the best of

Ben Wafle Pixi bicycle, but most of his collection is older than he is!

Since most packaging is discarded or used for other purposes, or simply deteriorates over time, original packaging, in tact, will usually bring more money. For Ron, the value will be when his “children realize the historic meaning of their heirlooms,” says the man of his “passion, not hobby.” All in good time…

Rob Grogan is passionate about the fascinating people of this great community.

Brandon Barfield

“Dad time” is extremely important to him. “I never had a father around growing up, so it’s something I want my kids to remember when they are older, that their father was not just around but involved.” His wife, Katie, is a stay-at-home who runs a home day care watching three kids. “She also does Red Tent Photography in which she does family portraits but specializes in birth photography. She’s a natural at it.”

The Barfields love Fxbg. “The community is strong and business can be

your ability and you shall overcome!”

And with those wise words, Brandon moves forever forward…

Ron Swaney, on the other hand, is moving into the past (so it seems) – he collects vintage toys, the rarities you see on those cable shows. Ron began collecting about 20 years ago, “starting with pedal cars because they were large and flashy.”

Given the enormous space they took up, he went smaller.

A hobby at first, collecting became an investment potential about 10 years ago: “Toys that were produced before WWII have unique value, as many of them were recycled due to their metal content during the war.” His childhood favorites were Hot Wheels, Tonka Trucks, and GI Joe’s. The pride and joy in his collection is a “Hones Viking Truck from Cleveland, OH. Most collectors feel it was produced by ‘Sturdytoy’ around the 1920’s.” The truck comes in red or green and only 10 or fewer original trucks exist!

Value: $5,000. He has his original Schwinn

Ron Swaney

Dearly Wanted: Fredericksburg's Oldest Residents For Our Oral History -A Fredericksburg Treasure Front Porch is calling for Our Town's Ageless Citizens to let us know who they are so our writers can sit and hear their wonderful stories.

We treasure your lives and memories.

front porch fredericksburg

October 2013

5

Quiet Moments Vera way at ninety five By archer di peppe

My wife and I were delighted to receive an invitation to Vera Way’s ninetyfifth birthday party in September. I first met Vera fifteen years ago when I was doing research for an appraisal on a fur stole. Vera owned Brazzanella’s Fur Shop on Caroline Street. She did not know me from Adam, but that did not stop her from bending over backwards to help me.

She is that kind of person with everyone, and she has helped me a number of times since then.

Vera likes people, and through our many conversations we discovered that my great-grandfather on my mother’s side was from Tyrol, Austria, where Vera’s family is from. From then on she has called me “cousin.” It’s an honor.

Vera was born in 1918 in Rockbridge County, Virginia, where her father and his brother had a farm together. Eventually, they traded that property for a farm in Mineral.

The brothers took the train to Mineral and loaded their family and possessions on a horse- drawn wagon that promptly broke down in the middle of the night in front of a house in Mineral. They woke up the owner of the house and explained that they had traded their farm for the Nixon farm nearby. The man loaned them his wagon and went back to bed. When his wife asked what happened, he explained the story and then said, “These folks are off to the Nixon farm where they will starve to death.” It didn’t happen.

The brothers farmed and set up a tannery. In 1932 Vera’s father decided to move his family to Fredericksburg. By then Vera was thirteen. She said, “We looked like the Beverley Hillbillies coming

6

October 2013

Front porch fredericksburg

to Fredericksburg.” They rented 711 Caroline (today’s Richard Johnson Inn) for $25.00 a month.

It had electricity, running water, and indoor plumbing, which were amenities they did not have in Mineral.

Vera and her sisters Ester and Polly slept in the attic for six years without heat. Still, they felt rich. Ester passed away in 1978, but Polly is very much alive at 89.

Polly refers to herself as “the brat’ having been the youngest sister.

Vera graduated from Fredericksburg High School in 1935. She is one of only three survivors of that class.

Vera married Edward Way, a local boy, in 1939, who worked at the FMC plant. He was severely wounded in World War II, but recovered and went back to his job. He passed away in 1966.

Because of their tannery experience, Vera’s mother started repairing furs and sewing them together to make coats. In 1936 they opened the fur shop, where Vera worked for years and eventually took over. They never had to advertise. People from here to DC and beyond found them. She sold the location 2009.

Vera has lived on Caroline for 82 years and seems to know almost everybody downtown. Many friends came to her birthday party at Brock’s, and they took turns getting up and telling stories about her. All the stories seemed to end with uproarious laughter from the crowd.

The general agreement is that Vera owes her long life to a positive attitude. One friend warned everyone, though, not to call her during The Young and the Restless, because you will have to call back later if you want to talk to her. Another friend told us the most important thing she learned from Vera is all problems resolve themselves, and it is useless to worry about them. I believe that another secret of Vera’s longevity is that mischievous twinkle in her eye.

I want to be Vera Way when I grow up.

FREDERICKSBURG

Archer Di Peppe writes about porch people, collectibles, and personal experiences.

front porch fredericksburg

October 2013

7

Quiet Moments Vera way at ninety five By archer di peppe

My wife and I were delighted to receive an invitation to Vera Way’s ninetyfifth birthday party in September. I first met Vera fifteen years ago when I was doing research for an appraisal on a fur stole. Vera owned Brazzanella’s Fur Shop on Caroline Street. She did not know me from Adam, but that did not stop her from bending over backwards to help me.

She is that kind of person with everyone, and she has helped me a number of times since then.

Vera likes people, and through our many conversations we discovered that my great-grandfather on my mother’s side was from Tyrol, Austria, where Vera’s family is from. From then on she has called me “cousin.” It’s an honor.

Vera was born in 1918 in Rockbridge County, Virginia, where her father and his brother had a farm together. Eventually, they traded that property for a farm in Mineral.

The brothers took the train to Mineral and loaded their family and possessions on a horse- drawn wagon that promptly broke down in the middle of the night in front of a house in Mineral. They woke up the owner of the house and explained that they had traded their farm for the Nixon farm nearby. The man loaned them his wagon and went back to bed. When his wife asked what happened, he explained the story and then said, “These folks are off to the Nixon farm where they will starve to death.” It didn’t happen.

The brothers farmed and set up a tannery. In 1932 Vera’s father decided to move his family to Fredericksburg. By then Vera was thirteen. She said, “We looked like the Beverley Hillbillies coming

6

October 2013

Front porch fredericksburg

to Fredericksburg.” They rented 711 Caroline (today’s Richard Johnson Inn) for $25.00 a month.

It had electricity, running water, and indoor plumbing, which were amenities they did not have in Mineral.

Vera and her sisters Ester and Polly slept in the attic for six years without heat. Still, they felt rich. Ester passed away in 1978, but Polly is very much alive at 89.

Polly refers to herself as “the brat’ having been the youngest sister.

Vera graduated from Fredericksburg High School in 1935. She is one of only three survivors of that class.

Vera married Edward Way, a local boy, in 1939, who worked at the FMC plant. He was severely wounded in World War II, but recovered and went back to his job. He passed away in 1966.

Because of their tannery experience, Vera’s mother started repairing furs and sewing them together to make coats. In 1936 they opened the fur shop, where Vera worked for years and eventually took over. They never had to advertise. People from here to DC and beyond found them. She sold the location 2009.

Vera has lived on Caroline for 82 years and seems to know almost everybody downtown. Many friends came to her birthday party at Brock’s, and they took turns getting up and telling stories about her. All the stories seemed to end with uproarious laughter from the crowd.

The general agreement is that Vera owes her long life to a positive attitude. One friend warned everyone, though, not to call her during The Young and the Restless, because you will have to call back later if you want to talk to her. Another friend told us the most important thing she learned from Vera is all problems resolve themselves, and it is useless to worry about them. I believe that another secret of Vera’s longevity is that mischievous twinkle in her eye.

I want to be Vera Way when I grow up.

FREDERICKSBURG

Archer Di Peppe writes about porch people, collectibles, and personal experiences.

front porch fredericksburg

October 2013

7

Anything is Possible

GOT HISTORY ?

Follow in the Steps of the Founding Fathers in the Age of Enlightenment and beyond.

atypical teen kellen gerenser by katie hornung

Late last spring, a seventeen yearold-girl who has had trouble connecting to the world around her found Liberty Town Arts Workshop. The young woman felt a kindred spirit amongst the artists who welcomed her. Potter Beth Perlazza first took her in, and then painter Bill Harris opened her eyes to the power of painting.

Now, Kellen Gerenser wants to be an artist.

Kellen isn’t your typical teenage girl. She’s special. The James Monroe High School junior has a voracious appetite for the undiscovered, the spirituality, and the artistry of life. She’s a spiritual empath, someone who is so connected to the feelings of those around her that she can innately appreciate emotion that is not her own. Kellen is also a Williams Syndrome child.

Early on in her infancy, Kellen distinguished herself as atypical. “Kellen was always irritable, always crying, and wouldn’t eat when she was an infant,” her mother, Lisa, remembers in a sitting room at Liberty Town. Through a series of tests, it was discovered that Kellen was missing the elastin gene on one side of chromosome 7. Williams Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that displays a range of ability levels in the individual, but

Kellen is one of the fortunate ones who has her health.

Supported by her father, Bob, her mother, and her older sister, Kara, Kellen exemplifies the notion that anything is possible. She was recently considered by the Special Olympic community to be a Global Messenger for the program. When they asked during her interview what she liked best about her experiences within the Special Olympics, she said, “I feel everything I do is the best thing I’ve ever done.” That spirit won the committee over, and last week, Kellen was chosen to represent the Special Olympics.

Not to be over-shadowed, some of her long-running passions also include piano, high school band, soccer, golf, tennis, basketball, skiing, and now, painting.

“If you ask Kellen, her world is ‘wonderful’,” says her mother.

It’s important to note because Kellen, like every teenager, has experienced the trials and tribulations of being special, misunderstood, and misrepresented. Many of her peers at school aren’t sure how to speak to Kellen or how to interact with her. There are a few, however, who bring joy to Kellen’s heart. Whether it is an afternoon spent in downtown Fredericksburg or a “C’mon, Kellen, let’s go do an interview,” in her yearbook class, Kellen’s world is enhanced by those who appreciate the beauty she brings to theirs.

“She is so worldly, spirited, and joyful, and she is just the best to be around,” says long-time friend, and J.M. junior Jory Owen.

Junior Emily Frank agrees.

“Her quiet but observant personality allows her to come up with hilarious questions and comments that brighten anyone’s day.”

Welcome Fall

"White Plains Farm".

Circa 1720. Gentleman's Farm of 38 acres in King George County. A stately Colonial house that speaks to Preservationists and transports you to the era when George was King.

$495,000..

211 Caroline Street "The Goolrick-Caldwell House". Circa 1787. always a fashionable address over the centuries. Freedom rings out from this three-story Federal house that is spacious yet comfortable and intimate. Two of our city mayors, Peter Goolrick and John Caldwell, have resided here and enjoyed the river view.

$895,000.

1107 Princess Anne Street "The Charles Dick House".

Circa 1750. A Patriotic Salute to this residence steeped in the early history of Fredericksburg. Spacious 5bedroom house with carriage house apartment and garage. Dine where President George Washington "supped" in 1771.

Katie Hornung teaches at the James Monroe High School.

2010 Fall Hill Avenue "Elmhurst". Circa 1871. Reconstruction of the Good Life by Washington Elms of Saratoga Springs, New York. This lovely Italianate house with its own tower was completely rehabbed in 2006 and placed on the National Register.

It boasts the biggest FRONT PORCH in town.

$1,180.000.

$1,250,000. owner/broker 709 Caroline Street One of John Tayloe's "Seven Sisters" buildings in the heart of the Downtown Historic business district. Circa 1782.

Revolutionary Idea - Stop commuting.

Live upstairs and work downstairs in this stylish building located across from the Visitors Center.

$650,000.

with Trollbeads the original bead bracelet

The girl, who in second grade was fearful of her art classroom, now wants to be in the positively bustling atmosphere of Liberty Town Arts. She loves being amongst the creative sect. Bill Harris has taught her to mix paints and shade in on a canvas. Most recently, Kellen ran into him while he painted in downtown Fredericksburg for “Art Attack.” After explaining what he was doing with his paints, he had Kellen sit down and shade in a portion of his painting of a young woman. “Seeing Kellen paint reminds me of why I paint,” Harris says. “Artists create because it makes them happy. They have to do it. It doesn’t matter if anybody else likes it; it only matters that it makes us happy.”

Ever on the quest for improvement, Kellen finds her relief and her happiness in her newfound talent. In fact, the little girl who wanted to become a surgeon, then a waitress, now sees herself happily situated as an artist postgraduation.

606 Caroline Street Old Town Fredericksburg 373-7847

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE AND OTHER PROPERTIES, PLEASE CONTACT

www.gemstonecreations.org Tuesday - Saturday 10-5 Wednesday 10-6:30

Where Fredericksburg Gets Engaged 8

October 2013

Front porch fredericksburg

THE MOTHER-DAUGHTER TEAM, SUSAN AND ANNE MORGAN PATES SUSAN, 540.809.9443, susanpates@aol.com ANNE MORGAN, 540.836.5700; ampates88@aol.com

front porch fredericksburg

October 2013

9

Anything is Possible

GOT HISTORY ?

Follow in the Steps of the Founding Fathers in the Age of Enlightenment and beyond.

atypical teen kellen gerenser by katie hornung

Late last spring, a seventeen yearold-girl who has had trouble connecting to the world around her found Liberty Town Arts Workshop. The young woman felt a kindred spirit amongst the artists who welcomed her. Potter Beth Perlazza first took her in, and then painter Bill Harris opened her eyes to the power of painting.

Now, Kellen Gerenser wants to be an artist.

Kellen isn’t your typical teenage girl. She’s special. The James Monroe High School junior has a voracious appetite for the undiscovered, the spirituality, and the artistry of life. She’s a spiritual empath, someone who is so connected to the feelings of those around her that she can innately appreciate emotion that is not her own. Kellen is also a Williams Syndrome child.

Early on in her infancy, Kellen distinguished herself as atypical. “Kellen was always irritable, always crying, and wouldn’t eat when she was an infant,” her mother, Lisa, remembers in a sitting room at Liberty Town. Through a series of tests, it was discovered that Kellen was missing the elastin gene on one side of chromosome 7. Williams Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that displays a range of ability levels in the individual, but

Kellen is one of the fortunate ones who has her health.

Supported by her father, Bob, her mother, and her older sister, Kara, Kellen exemplifies the notion that anything is possible. She was recently considered by the Special Olympic community to be a Global Messenger for the program. When they asked during her interview what she liked best about her experiences within the Special Olympics, she said, “I feel everything I do is the best thing I’ve ever done.” That spirit won the committee over, and last week, Kellen was chosen to represent the Special Olympics.

Not to be over-shadowed, some of her long-running passions also include piano, high school band, soccer, golf, tennis, basketball, skiing, and now, painting.

“If you ask Kellen, her world is ‘wonderful’,” says her mother.

It’s important to note because Kellen, like every teenager, has experienced the trials and tribulations of being special, misunderstood, and misrepresented. Many of her peers at school aren’t sure how to speak to Kellen or how to interact with her. There are a few, however, who bring joy to Kellen’s heart. Whether it is an afternoon spent in downtown Fredericksburg or a “C’mon, Kellen, let’s go do an interview,” in her yearbook class, Kellen’s world is enhanced by those who appreciate the beauty she brings to theirs.

“She is so worldly, spirited, and joyful, and she is just the best to be around,” says long-time friend, and J.M. junior Jory Owen.

Junior Emily Frank agrees.

“Her quiet but observant personality allows her to come up with hilarious questions and comments that brighten anyone’s day.”

Welcome Fall

"White Plains Farm".

Circa 1720. Gentleman's Farm of 38 acres in King George County. A stately Colonial house that speaks to Preservationists and transports you to the era when George was King.

$495,000..

211 Caroline Street "The Goolrick-Caldwell House". Circa 1787. always a fashionable address over the centuries. Freedom rings out from this three-story Federal house that is spacious yet comfortable and intimate. Two of our city mayors, Peter Goolrick and John Caldwell, have resided here and enjoyed the river view.

$895,000.

1107 Princess Anne Street "The Charles Dick House".

Circa 1750. A Patriotic Salute to this residence steeped in the early history of Fredericksburg. Spacious 5bedroom house with carriage house apartment and garage. Dine where President George Washington "supped" in 1771.

Katie Hornung teaches at the James Monroe High School.

2010 Fall Hill Avenue "Elmhurst". Circa 1871. Reconstruction of the Good Life by Washington Elms of Saratoga Springs, New York. This lovely Italianate house with its own tower was completely rehabbed in 2006 and placed on the National Register.

It boasts the biggest FRONT PORCH in town.

$1,180.000.

$1,250,000. owner/broker 709 Caroline Street One of John Tayloe's "Seven Sisters" buildings in the heart of the Downtown Historic business district. Circa 1782.

Revolutionary Idea - Stop commuting.

Live upstairs and work downstairs in this stylish building located across from the Visitors Center.

$650,000.

with Trollbeads the original bead bracelet

The girl, who in second grade was fearful of her art classroom, now wants to be in the positively bustling atmosphere of Liberty Town Arts. She loves being amongst the creative sect. Bill Harris has taught her to mix paints and shade in on a canvas. Most recently, Kellen ran into him while he painted in downtown Fredericksburg for “Art Attack.” After explaining what he was doing with his paints, he had Kellen sit down and shade in a portion of his painting of a young woman. “Seeing Kellen paint reminds me of why I paint,” Harris says. “Artists create because it makes them happy. They have to do it. It doesn’t matter if anybody else likes it; it only matters that it makes us happy.”

Ever on the quest for improvement, Kellen finds her relief and her happiness in her newfound talent. In fact, the little girl who wanted to become a surgeon, then a waitress, now sees herself happily situated as an artist postgraduation.

606 Caroline Street Old Town Fredericksburg 373-7847

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE AND OTHER PROPERTIES, PLEASE CONTACT

www.gemstonecreations.org Tuesday - Saturday 10-5 Wednesday 10-6:30

Where Fredericksburg Gets Engaged 8

October 2013

Front porch fredericksburg

THE MOTHER-DAUGHTER TEAM, SUSAN AND ANNE MORGAN PATES SUSAN, 540.809.9443, susanpates@aol.com ANNE MORGAN, 540.836.5700; ampates88@aol.com

front porch fredericksburg

October 2013

9

810 Caroline old building revisited

Retired & Buck Naked

On The Back Porch

Bymary lynn powers T h e middle block of Caroline may appear to have remained stable over the last few years, but those of us who shop and p l a y downtown know better.

Stores and owners have come and gone, some have been around for decades, others are open a year or less. One stable spot champions the art community; another is a children’s bookstore. Two new business fronts — one with a new owner at an existing space, the other at a new location — reside inside 810.

THE MOCK TURTLE I stopped in at The Mock Turtle and ran into Kathleen Fortune who recently took over the quality children’s clothing shop. Kathleen fits into the small town atmosphere like a hand-in-glove. She has never owned a retail store before but is not without experience. She had a café in upstate NY, worked as a library director, and followed her husband through military service/government work, doing jobs available along the way.

She has what we call a myriad of life experience. Only recently, she dealt with a life threatening medical situation. She said the Mock Turtle helped her get back to life.

Why a clothes shop? That answer came with the usual mother stories of raising three children and having two grandchildren. When she heard the shop was closing, she was dismayed. This was where she had shopped for gifts for all occasions and just couldn’t see it closing.

She went home and told her husband, I think I want to buy the shop! So, in April of 2012, she became proud owner of a space laden with unique goodies for children, from fancy dresses to the area’s largest selection of Kidorable rain gear.

10

October 2013

Mock Turtle carries all the top children’s lines, such as Petunia Pickle Bottom, a popular line of diaper bags. The newest additions include Christening, special occasion and First Communion dresses, boys’ suits and tuxes. Prices are moderate to high but quality is what stands out. Can you think of an instance where you picked up something inexpensive after its first wear and something was wrong with it? I can!

Apparel at Mock Turtle is well made for passing down for years to come to the next lucky kiddo.

ASPETTO The new shop at 810 is a custom tailor company. The name is Italian for looks or appearance. Located in a corner spot, its presence exudes a much larger scale with the feel of a back shop in London or Rome, where James Bond or better yet, Daniel Craig, would stop by for a quick fitting. Abbas Haider, President, and Robert Davis, Executive VP, sat down with me, and explained in detail everything that is Aspetto.

They started the business while Abbas was a freshman at UMW, right out of his dorm; Robert joined his senior year.

Their business plan for a small business class was the original design for these two gents who have quite an understanding of the textbook side of owning a business, but, as Abbas stressed, are newcomers who know there is nothing like the hands-on experience of owning to make them aware of the real-life aspect of entrepreneurship.

That being said, it is always a great thing to see some of the graduates stay in their college town and make a go of their specialties.

They are known for 30 measurements per ensemble, designed to ensure a perfect, guaranteed fit. Their main enterprise is custom-designed suits fitted and altered on premise. A recent customer brought a copy of GQ into the shop and asked if they could replicate a suit in the magazine.

They gladly accommodated.

(View Aspetto on facebook and at shopaspetto.com Mary Lynn Powers frequently writes about small businesses in the Burg.

Front porch fredericksburg

size matters by jo middleton

Henry James had his definition of “gracious twaddle.” His term applies well to what I find in a women’s clothing store. A size 2 is, in fact, a size 10. What?

The women’s clothes sizers, and they vary from brand to brand, call that “vanity sizing.” Well, let’s be real. It is moronic.

Even Katherine Graham had negative comments on the lowly subject of sizings.

My personal favorite, however, is that a garment “sits at the natural waist, just below the navel,” and is, of course, a size 2 or thereabouts. When did a woman’s waist demarcation begin at her pelvis?

Scarlett O’Hara and Mammy wasted a precious lot of time cinching Scarlett’s waist back in the day. Obviously they were not aware the waist is not the indentation at the torso, which Miss Scarlett, Magna Idiot, wished to be 18 inches or less, but rather at the belly button or lower. Many young girls, and unfortunately not so young whom I’ve seen, subscribe to the natural waist at the pelvis theory and have shirts riding upon a roll of fish-belly-white fat spilling between too short top and “sits at natural waist” jeans. Beauty is their business.

I’m not through with this whine, so go get a piece of really elegant cheese to nibble whilst I continue to pour it on. Hemlines. Is this truly the era of let’s make women about as ugly as possible? First the pelvic belly button waist and now, show the knees. A knee, complex and essential though it may be, has something in common with the elbow. They are both as pretty as an armadillo. The Weather Channel’s fashion de rigueur for weather women is full Monty knee. One has to wonder why. To modify the full bare knees, or mollify as the case may be, the hems of dresses have become “uneven.” This requires a trainlike cloth in back of the front of the frock.

Yes, you read that correctly, and the look matches the description. Awful. Skirts have the same weird asymmetrical cut. Now combine that with “natural waist at the navel.” A blouse comes with that all pointy hem up and down all around. Not to be left out are the leather lace up booties. Close to combat style.

Judy Garland in a semi-odd outfit got on an elevator with Liza her daughter. As Liza tells it some Hollywood

crone asked Judy who designed her outfit.

Without missing a beat, Judy replied, “Walt Disney.”

Who designed these fashions? Had to be the Misogynists Limited, and that rumbling sound beneath the earth you feel is not an earthquake, it is doyenne Coco Chanel rolling around in her grave.

But, be of good cheer. Beautiful clothes for young women and old can be had at J. Peterman Company. Yep, the same firm with which Elaine of Seinfeld worked. On that note I shall take my Peterman catalogue and go out here to peruse its glory, retired and buck naked on the back porch.

Jo Middleton’s beloved R&BNOTBP is super-sized with humor.

Vimala Ren Fields: Medicine for the mind and Soul by sara zolnick 38 years ago, Vimala Ren Fields (iat left) moved to Fredericksburg with a passion for yoga and meditation. At the time, Fredericksburg was very different.

“There was no yoga. There was no Central Park. The river and the people kept me here,” Fields said.

She never imagined, after almost four decades, that she would be the face of meditation and yoga in Fredericksburg, still teaching dozens of student every week.

Living in Charlottesville at 16, Fields was a devotional child who went to church frequently. When she discovered yoga, she found “it seemed to be a beautiful way to go deeper into prayer,” said Fields.

She contacted the SelfRealization Fellowship in California and was sent meditation lessons for a full year.

She moved to Norfolk to study dance Old Dominion University. Soon, yoga and meditation became the centerpiece of her life. One afternoon, while walking to rehearsal, she passed a room with people sitting in a circle meditating. “I skipped my rehearsal and I went in, sat down and meditated,” Fields said. “Most people start yoga by going to

a posture class where you’re moving around. I came in for meditation.”

In Fredericksburg, Fields began teaching dance and yoga at the Marsha Sue Dance School in Stafford before opening her own studio. There were only four people in her first class. “People would call me and ask ‘What’s Yogurt?’” she laughs. “They didn’t even know what it was. I had to do a lot of footwork in Fredericksburg because I was the first one.”

Fields began teaching the Fredericksburg community that yoga was safe and was not a religion. “I’m not trying to teach religion. It’s a time to be quiet and reflective. It’s a time to go inward to seek answers, to praise the universe and beauty and be filled with gratitude. Through posture and breath work, meditation clears the mind and brings kindness to your heart.”

Yoga is becoming increasingly prevalent in Fredericksburg. Studios are popping up throughout town, teachers are finishing their training and getting handson with the practice. “The main thing is the teacher. People need to find what clicks for them and what suits them,” she said.

Toni Church began practicing with Fields three years ago. “You don’t follow the studio, you follow the teacher. I took one class with Ren and fell in love with it,” she said. “She knows when you’re slacking. She knows your abilities and how much you can do.

And she will correct you. She’ll give you a look like ‘I know you can do better.’’

To Fields, posture, meditation, and deep relaxation are invaluable during a stressful time.

“They help you move through suffering more gracefully and into a healed place,” she said. “It’s a journey of the heart.”

By asking what her students are grateful for, Fields feels it helps them come to a place where their breathing softens and their heart becomes calm. She asks to think of a few words to describe their faith to use while practicing. “If you have them, you will get 100 times what you would during an average exercise.”

Fields has accomplished many levels of expertise. She is certified in AcuYoga with Michael Gach and Integral Yoga.

She perfected Structural Yoga with

Mukunda Stiles, and became a certified teacher for heart and cancer patients with Nichala Davis. She teaches workshops at Yogaville outside Charlottesville, and her studio is a nationally-registered yoga teacher school.

With her vast accomplishments and deep adoration for her practice, Fields continues to teach at her studio in the old hospital off Fall Hill Road.

Sara Zolnick is a freelance writer and a yoga student.

Jewel Box Since 1940 Your Hometown Jeweler On-Premise Jewelry Repair Watch Batteries Gold Buying Engraving 212 William Street,Fredericksburg 540-373-5513 Mon-Fri 9-5:30; Sat 9-5 front porch fredericksburg

October 2013

11

810 Caroline old building revisited

Retired & Buck Naked

On The Back Porch

Bymary lynn powers T h e middle block of Caroline may appear to have remained stable over the last few years, but those of us who shop and p l a y downtown know better.

Stores and owners have come and gone, some have been around for decades, others are open a year or less. One stable spot champions the art community; another is a children’s bookstore. Two new business fronts — one with a new owner at an existing space, the other at a new location — reside inside 810.

THE MOCK TURTLE I stopped in at The Mock Turtle and ran into Kathleen Fortune who recently took over the quality children’s clothing shop. Kathleen fits into the small town atmosphere like a hand-in-glove. She has never owned a retail store before but is not without experience. She had a café in upstate NY, worked as a library director, and followed her husband through military service/government work, doing jobs available along the way.

She has what we call a myriad of life experience. Only recently, she dealt with a life threatening medical situation. She said the Mock Turtle helped her get back to life.

Why a clothes shop? That answer came with the usual mother stories of raising three children and having two grandchildren. When she heard the shop was closing, she was dismayed. This was where she had shopped for gifts for all occasions and just couldn’t see it closing.

She went home and told her husband, I think I want to buy the shop! So, in April of 2012, she became proud owner of a space laden with unique goodies for children, from fancy dresses to the area’s largest selection of Kidorable rain gear.

10

October 2013

Mock Turtle carries all the top children’s lines, such as Petunia Pickle Bottom, a popular line of diaper bags. The newest additions include Christening, special occasion and First Communion dresses, boys’ suits and tuxes. Prices are moderate to high but quality is what stands out. Can you think of an instance where you picked up something inexpensive after its first wear and something was wrong with it? I can!

Apparel at Mock Turtle is well made for passing down for years to come to the next lucky kiddo.

ASPETTO The new shop at 810 is a custom tailor company. The name is Italian for looks or appearance. Located in a corner spot, its presence exudes a much larger scale with the feel of a back shop in London or Rome, where James Bond or better yet, Daniel Craig, would stop by for a quick fitting. Abbas Haider, President, and Robert Davis, Executive VP, sat down with me, and explained in detail everything that is Aspetto.

They started the business while Abbas was a freshman at UMW, right out of his dorm; Robert joined his senior year.

Their business plan for a small business class was the original design for these two gents who have quite an understanding of the textbook side of owning a business, but, as Abbas stressed, are newcomers who know there is nothing like the hands-on experience of owning to make them aware of the real-life aspect of entrepreneurship.

That being said, it is always a great thing to see some of the graduates stay in their college town and make a go of their specialties.

They are known for 30 measurements per ensemble, designed to ensure a perfect, guaranteed fit. Their main enterprise is custom-designed suits fitted and altered on premise. A recent customer brought a copy of GQ into the shop and asked if they could replicate a suit in the magazine.

They gladly accommodated.

(View Aspetto on facebook and at shopaspetto.com Mary Lynn Powers frequently writes about small businesses in the Burg.

Front porch fredericksburg

size matters by jo middleton

Henry James had his definition of “gracious twaddle.” His term applies well to what I find in a women’s clothing store. A size 2 is, in fact, a size 10. What?

The women’s clothes sizers, and they vary from brand to brand, call that “vanity sizing.” Well, let’s be real. It is moronic.

Even Katherine Graham had negative comments on the lowly subject of sizings.

My personal favorite, however, is that a garment “sits at the natural waist, just below the navel,” and is, of course, a size 2 or thereabouts. When did a woman’s waist demarcation begin at her pelvis?

Scarlett O’Hara and Mammy wasted a precious lot of time cinching Scarlett’s waist back in the day. Obviously they were not aware the waist is not the indentation at the torso, which Miss Scarlett, Magna Idiot, wished to be 18 inches or less, but rather at the belly button or lower. Many young girls, and unfortunately not so young whom I’ve seen, subscribe to the natural waist at the pelvis theory and have shirts riding upon a roll of fish-belly-white fat spilling between too short top and “sits at natural waist” jeans. Beauty is their business.

I’m not through with this whine, so go get a piece of really elegant cheese to nibble whilst I continue to pour it on. Hemlines. Is this truly the era of let’s make women about as ugly as possible? First the pelvic belly button waist and now, show the knees. A knee, complex and essential though it may be, has something in common with the elbow. They are both as pretty as an armadillo. The Weather Channel’s fashion de rigueur for weather women is full Monty knee. One has to wonder why. To modify the full bare knees, or mollify as the case may be, the hems of dresses have become “uneven.” This requires a trainlike cloth in back of the front of the frock.

Yes, you read that correctly, and the look matches the description. Awful. Skirts have the same weird asymmetrical cut. Now combine that with “natural waist at the navel.” A blouse comes with that all pointy hem up and down all around. Not to be left out are the leather lace up booties. Close to combat style.

Judy Garland in a semi-odd outfit got on an elevator with Liza her daughter. As Liza tells it some Hollywood

crone asked Judy who designed her outfit.

Without missing a beat, Judy replied, “Walt Disney.”

Who designed these fashions? Had to be the Misogynists Limited, and that rumbling sound beneath the earth you feel is not an earthquake, it is doyenne Coco Chanel rolling around in her grave.

But, be of good cheer. Beautiful clothes for young women and old can be had at J. Peterman Company. Yep, the same firm with which Elaine of Seinfeld worked. On that note I shall take my Peterman catalogue and go out here to peruse its glory, retired and buck naked on the back porch.

Jo Middleton’s beloved R&BNOTBP is super-sized with humor.

Vimala Ren Fields: Medicine for the mind and Soul by sara zolnick 38 years ago, Vimala Ren Fields (iat left) moved to Fredericksburg with a passion for yoga and meditation. At the time, Fredericksburg was very different.

“There was no yoga. There was no Central Park. The river and the people kept me here,” Fields said.

She never imagined, after almost four decades, that she would be the face of meditation and yoga in Fredericksburg, still teaching dozens of student every week.

Living in Charlottesville at 16, Fields was a devotional child who went to church frequently. When she discovered yoga, she found “it seemed to be a beautiful way to go deeper into prayer,” said Fields.

She contacted the SelfRealization Fellowship in California and was sent meditation lessons for a full year.

She moved to Norfolk to study dance Old Dominion University. Soon, yoga and meditation became the centerpiece of her life. One afternoon, while walking to rehearsal, she passed a room with people sitting in a circle meditating. “I skipped my rehearsal and I went in, sat down and meditated,” Fields said. “Most people start yoga by going to

a posture class where you’re moving around. I came in for meditation.”

In Fredericksburg, Fields began teaching dance and yoga at the Marsha Sue Dance School in Stafford before opening her own studio. There were only four people in her first class. “People would call me and ask ‘What’s Yogurt?’” she laughs. “They didn’t even know what it was. I had to do a lot of footwork in Fredericksburg because I was the first one.”

Fields began teaching the Fredericksburg community that yoga was safe and was not a religion. “I’m not trying to teach religion. It’s a time to be quiet and reflective. It’s a time to go inward to seek answers, to praise the universe and beauty and be filled with gratitude. Through posture and breath work, meditation clears the mind and brings kindness to your heart.”

Yoga is becoming increasingly prevalent in Fredericksburg. Studios are popping up throughout town, teachers are finishing their training and getting handson with the practice. “The main thing is the teacher. People need to find what clicks for them and what suits them,” she said.

Toni Church began practicing with Fields three years ago. “You don’t follow the studio, you follow the teacher. I took one class with Ren and fell in love with it,” she said. “She knows when you’re slacking. She knows your abilities and how much you can do.

And she will correct you. She’ll give you a look like ‘I know you can do better.’’

To Fields, posture, meditation, and deep relaxation are invaluable during a stressful time.

“They help you move through suffering more gracefully and into a healed place,” she said. “It’s a journey of the heart.”

By asking what her students are grateful for, Fields feels it helps them come to a place where their breathing softens and their heart becomes calm. She asks to think of a few words to describe their faith to use while practicing. “If you have them, you will get 100 times what you would during an average exercise.”

Fields has accomplished many levels of expertise. She is certified in AcuYoga with Michael Gach and Integral Yoga.

She perfected Structural Yoga with

Mukunda Stiles, and became a certified teacher for heart and cancer patients with Nichala Davis. She teaches workshops at Yogaville outside Charlottesville, and her studio is a nationally-registered yoga teacher school.

With her vast accomplishments and deep adoration for her practice, Fields continues to teach at her studio in the old hospital off Fall Hill Road.

Sara Zolnick is a freelance writer and a yoga student.

Jewel Box Since 1940 Your Hometown Jeweler On-Premise Jewelry Repair Watch Batteries Gold Buying Engraving 212 William Street,Fredericksburg 540-373-5513 Mon-Fri 9-5:30; Sat 9-5 front porch fredericksburg

October 2013

11

Cooking With Kyle Simple cooking done well

On Restaurant Row a sensitive makeover, a soft opening By rob grogan

by james kyle snyder

from the Lounge, I got your back!

Meanwhile, across the street, Aby & Blake Bethem launched their new concept eatery/night lounge with a kickass rooftop bar just a crossing from their Bistro at 309 Restaurant Row. Tony Molinaro was the first customer to Vivify.

I swapped thumbs-up comments with Chip Remy; Bob & Sally Shope; Jessica, Elias and Lewis Sutton; and George Snead and Andy Withers, among others that sunny Thursday, Sept.

26.

In a “transition” of my own (living my new normal), I get to write thrice this month for the magazine.

– Rob Grogan

How to dry-age beef and keep the grill master cooking The weather has turned and the leaves are beginning to change. The hot summer days are gone, and with that comes the next season of food. Wafting aromas of steaks, stews, and braised lamb shanks (upcoming articles) fill my house with a cozy warmth that only comes from these heavier types of foods. But it is still warm enough to get outside and grill!

Right?

Of course it is! However, for this dish, you must have forethought and planning a month or more in advance.

Most meats are wet-aged. We are all familiar with meats that have been packaged in plastic and sometimes have an absorbent lining at the bottom of the package. Because the meat is in constant contact with its own juices, wet-aging tends to spoil the meat relatively quickly.

Another type of aging is called dry-aging.

Lots of people have heard about dry-aging and some have enjoyed the deliciously tender rich meats. At over $26.00 per pound at the grocery store, this delicacy might look like it is out of the budget for a family. If you learn how to dry-age, and are patient, you might be able to create this treat yourself. There are different ways to dry-age. Hanging the meat in a cooler, hanging it in the presence of salt blocks, and wrapping it in a permeable membrane, like cheese cloth, are a few. We will go over the wrapping method because it is the easiest do do at home unless you have a walk-in refrigerator. Why dry-age though?

When you dry-age beef, two things are happening. First, the meat is being dehydrated.

With this loss of moisture the beef flavors are more intense

12

October 2013

and pronounced. A piece of meat that has been dry-aging for a month can lose up to 30% of its weight.

The second thing happening is the natural enzymes in the beef are breaking down the all the connective tissues in the muscle resulting in an even more tender cut of meat. This part of the process means that you can get a much cheaper quality of meat that will produce the most tender and succulent beef available.

Here is the secret. First, pick up a select or choice boneless beef rib or loin roast. I used a ribeye for this picture.

Next, wash the meat with cool water and pat dry. Take a cheese cloth and loosely wrap the meat about three times. Place a rack on a cookie sheet and place the meat on the rack so that it is elevated above the cookie sheet. The key is that there is airflow all the way around the meat. The temperature needed to dry-age is between 33 and 37 degrees. Our own refrigerator is the perfect place to let the magic happen. Every day or so unwrap and rewrap the meat in the same cheese cloth until it becomes too soiled and then replace it.

Dry-aging should be done for a minimum of seven days and can go as long as 60. I like around 30. Realize that the longer you let it age the more happens, to include the outside looking gross and maybe even smelling a little foul. That is OK. Simply cut through the crust that has been created to a dry portion of the meat and discard the cuttings. What you are left with is the richest beef on the planet!

Fire up the grill and enjoy!

Kyle Snyder appeals to your palate and your other senses when it comes to good, simple, healthy eating.

Front porch fredericksburg

While 31-year-old La Petite Auberge –the standard bearer of Fredericksburg restaurants – was gently undergoing a makeover designed by artist Jim Eagan and La Petite marketing manager, Jessica Renault, across the street at 314 William, Vivify Burger Lounge was having its soft opening the day We took our camera to both establishments.

PHOTOS: Bob Shope and his wife Sally (Chef Blake’s Mom) proudly Vivify on opening day; Chip Remy found the rooftop bar a big attraction on a beautiful afternoon.

PHOTOS: The new view through the bar at La Petite; New art in the newly made-over dining room.

Season’s Bounty Pass the pecan pie

By vanessa moncure Happy, happy, happy - Brunswick, MO is advertising its 33rd Annual Pecan Festival the first weekend of October in Duck Dynasty style.

Didn’t you know Brunswick is the Pecan Capital of Missouri?

And home of The World’s Largest Pecan?

Groves, Texas; Colfax, Louisiana; closer to home Hickman, Kentucky and Whiteville, North Carolina also share festivals from September to November, harvest time for the pecan, fruit of the pecan tree, member of the hickory genus.

Wild pecan trees are native to the mid-eastern and southern US. The nuts have been considered a delicacy since Colonial times. Thomas Jefferson planted them at Monticello, then passed seeds to George Washington, who planted them at Mount Vernon. Today, the US produces up to 95% of the world’s supply, although the pecan did not become a cultivated crop until late 19th century. Nutritionally rich, full of antioxidents, a daily 3-oz. serving may reduce cholesterol as much as medication. Studies ongoing note pecans protect neurological function as one ages, and preserve nerve function. Pass the pecan pie!

Pecans are great tossed in salads, candied in pralines, used as nut flour, in multitudes of sweet and savory dishes.

Florence, SC has an annual Pecan Cook-Off - Sweet and Sour Cocktail Nuts, PecanCrusted Tilapia, Whole Wheat Pecan Bread and many variations of the ubiquitous Pecan Pie. Kentucky’s famed Derby Pie is a chocolate-added variation - every Junior League cookbook in the South has several pages of “the best Pecan Pie.” And I bet they didn’t know they were lowering their cholesterol with every bite.

before Oktoberfest/UMW Parents Weekend. Both, we are happy to report, caught smooth sailing for the most part, as Restaurant Row stood ahead of the curve.

Notice the words “sensitive” and “gently” in this narrative regarding La Petite’s transition. You knew that when Raymond and Jessica took over the reigns from Chef Christian, there would be nostalgia, and some resistance to change. Jim Eagan was the right choice to work off his own vision and Jessica’s designs. All Chef wants is a little sign-off — or veto power. We checked out the main dining room in progress, where the changes look terrific! Clean, white lines, colorful works of local artwork beneath perfect lighting, and a new chandelier, all look spankingly handsome to me (for what it’s worth, Chef). But, if they dare try to take the rock n roll memorabilia down

JUNIOR LEAGUE BEST PECAN PIE Prepare 9” unbaked pie shell and fill with 1 ½ c. whole pecans or coarsely chopped.. Preheat oven to 350F. Combine 4 well-beaten large eggs with 1 c. dark brown sugar, 1 ½ c. dark corn syrup or King syrup, 2 T. melted butter, 2 t. vanilla and a pinch of salt then pour over the nuts in the pie shell. Bake until browned and center is firm, about 55 minutes. Let cool before cutting.

By press time, both restaurants were in high gear, much to the City Treasurer’s delight. - RG

WITH A LITTLE BIT OF DERBY GOING ON Add 1 C semisweet chocolate chips to pecans, using recipe above. Serve with freshly whipped sweet cream.

AND A LITTLE BIT OF GERMAN AFTER THAT Prepare pecan pie mix, using light brown sugar, white syrup instead of dark.

Place pecans in pie shell w/ 1 C. shredded coconut, one chopped German sweet chocolate bar (8 oz.). Bake as directed; cut when cooled.

Olde Towne BUTCHER Tailgate Headquarters Corner of William & Charles Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401 540.370.4105

CHEESE WAFERS Grate 16 oz. sharp or very sharp cheddar cheese. (Do not use pre-shredded, will be too dry). Combine with 1 c. softened butter, 4 c. flour, 1 tsp each salt and cayenne pepper. Mix together until smooth. Form into 2-inch round rolls and seal in waxed paper. Refrigerate at least four hours or overnight. Slice into ¼” slices, place on parchment-covered baking sheets and top each with a pecan half.

Bake in preheated 425F oven until lightly browned. (5-7 min). Let cool and store airtight - makes approximately 12 dozen.

SPICED PECANS In medium bowl, place 2 T. canola oil, 1 ½ tsp. each curry powder, worchestershire sauce, cayenne pepper and a dash of salt. Toss well with 1 pound pecan halves, then turn onto parchment covered baking sheet in a single layer.

Bake in preheated 300F oven for approx.

20 minutes or until lightly browned. Turn onto paper-towel covered plate and let cool. Store airtight.

www.oldetownebutcher.com

Open: 9am - 9pm Monday through Saturday 11am - 6pm Sunday Lee Russell Proprietor

S ammy T’ s DOWNTOWN FREDERICKSBURG’S

Serving Great Food Since 1981

Home of the “Camper Special” & the Best Burger in Town 801 Caroline Street

(540) 371-2008

Try Our Self-Serve Yogurt open 11:30 am Daily Still Owned by the Emory Family

PECAN-C CRUSTED TILAPIA If you can find it, use pecan flour; if not, grind ½ c. pecan pieces in blender/spice mill. Mix w/ ½ c. panko crumbs and ¼ c. fine breadcrumbs, dash of salt, ½ tsp. each cayenne pepper, granulated garlic, curry powder, dash of salt. Preheat 4 T. canola oil in large frying pan. Beat 2 egg whites until foamy. Dip each of 8 tilapia filets in egg whites, then pecan mixture. Place in preheated pan, brown on both sides, turning once. If fish not done, finish off on baking sheet in 325F oven. Serve w/ wild rice, haricots vert.

Sprinkle fish w/toasted pecans, minced parsley; add wedge of lemon to the side.

Vanessa Moncure is pecan dandy in the kitchen.

The Sunken Well Tavern

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

October 2013

13

Cooking With Kyle Simple cooking done well

On Restaurant Row a sensitive makeover, a soft opening By rob grogan

by james kyle snyder

from the Lounge, I got your back!

Meanwhile, across the street, Aby & Blake Bethem launched their new concept eatery/night lounge with a kickass rooftop bar just a crossing from their Bistro at 309 Restaurant Row. Tony Molinaro was the first customer to Vivify.

I swapped thumbs-up comments with Chip Remy; Bob & Sally Shope; Jessica, Elias and Lewis Sutton; and George Snead and Andy Withers, among others that sunny Thursday, Sept.

26.

In a “transition” of my own (living my new normal), I get to write thrice this month for the magazine.

– Rob Grogan

How to dry-age beef and keep the grill master cooking The weather has turned and the leaves are beginning to change. The hot summer days are gone, and with that comes the next season of food. Wafting aromas of steaks, stews, and braised lamb shanks (upcoming articles) fill my house with a cozy warmth that only comes from these heavier types of foods. But it is still warm enough to get outside and grill!

Right?

Of course it is! However, for this dish, you must have forethought and planning a month or more in advance.

Most meats are wet-aged. We are all familiar with meats that have been packaged in plastic and sometimes have an absorbent lining at the bottom of the package. Because the meat is in constant contact with its own juices, wet-aging tends to spoil the meat relatively quickly.

Another type of aging is called dry-aging.

Lots of people have heard about dry-aging and some have enjoyed the deliciously tender rich meats. At over $26.00 per pound at the grocery store, this delicacy might look like it is out of the budget for a family. If you learn how to dry-age, and are patient, you might be able to create this treat yourself. There are different ways to dry-age. Hanging the meat in a cooler, hanging it in the presence of salt blocks, and wrapping it in a permeable membrane, like cheese cloth, are a few. We will go over the wrapping method because it is the easiest do do at home unless you have a walk-in refrigerator. Why dry-age though?

When you dry-age beef, two things are happening. First, the meat is being dehydrated.

With this loss of moisture the beef flavors are more intense

12

October 2013

and pronounced. A piece of meat that has been dry-aging for a month can lose up to 30% of its weight.

The second thing happening is the natural enzymes in the beef are breaking down the all the connective tissues in the muscle resulting in an even more tender cut of meat. This part of the process means that you can get a much cheaper quality of meat that will produce the most tender and succulent beef available.

Here is the secret. First, pick up a select or choice boneless beef rib or loin roast. I used a ribeye for this picture.

Next, wash the meat with cool water and pat dry. Take a cheese cloth and loosely wrap the meat about three times. Place a rack on a cookie sheet and place the meat on the rack so that it is elevated above the cookie sheet. The key is that there is airflow all the way around the meat. The temperature needed to dry-age is between 33 and 37 degrees. Our own refrigerator is the perfect place to let the magic happen. Every day or so unwrap and rewrap the meat in the same cheese cloth until it becomes too soiled and then replace it.

Dry-aging should be done for a minimum of seven days and can go as long as 60. I like around 30. Realize that the longer you let it age the more happens, to include the outside looking gross and maybe even smelling a little foul. That is OK. Simply cut through the crust that has been created to a dry portion of the meat and discard the cuttings. What you are left with is the richest beef on the planet!

Fire up the grill and enjoy!

Kyle Snyder appeals to your palate and your other senses when it comes to good, simple, healthy eating.

Front porch fredericksburg

While 31-year-old La Petite Auberge –the standard bearer of Fredericksburg restaurants – was gently undergoing a makeover designed by artist Jim Eagan and La Petite marketing manager, Jessica Renault, across the street at 314 William, Vivify Burger Lounge was having its soft opening the day We took our camera to both establishments.

PHOTOS: Bob Shope and his wife Sally (Chef Blake’s Mom) proudly Vivify on opening day; Chip Remy found the rooftop bar a big attraction on a beautiful afternoon.

PHOTOS: The new view through the bar at La Petite; New art in the newly made-over dining room.

Season’s Bounty Pass the pecan pie

By vanessa moncure Happy, happy, happy - Brunswick, MO is advertising its 33rd Annual Pecan Festival the first weekend of October in Duck Dynasty style.

Didn’t you know Brunswick is the Pecan Capital of Missouri?

And home of The World’s Largest Pecan?

Groves, Texas; Colfax, Louisiana; closer to home Hickman, Kentucky and Whiteville, North Carolina also share festivals from September to November, harvest time for the pecan, fruit of the pecan tree, member of the hickory genus.

Wild pecan trees are native to the mid-eastern and southern US. The nuts have been considered a delicacy since Colonial times. Thomas Jefferson planted them at Monticello, then passed seeds to George Washington, who planted them at Mount Vernon. Today, the US produces up to 95% of the world’s supply, although the pecan did not become a cultivated crop until late 19th century. Nutritionally rich, full of antioxidents, a daily 3-oz. serving may reduce cholesterol as much as medication. Studies ongoing note pecans protect neurological function as one ages, and preserve nerve function. Pass the pecan pie!

Pecans are great tossed in salads, candied in pralines, used as nut flour, in multitudes of sweet and savory dishes.

Florence, SC has an annual Pecan Cook-Off - Sweet and Sour Cocktail Nuts, PecanCrusted Tilapia, Whole Wheat Pecan Bread and many variations of the ubiquitous Pecan Pie. Kentucky’s famed Derby Pie is a chocolate-added variation - every Junior League cookbook in the South has several pages of “the best Pecan Pie.” And I bet they didn’t know they were lowering their cholesterol with every bite.

before Oktoberfest/UMW Parents Weekend. Both, we are happy to report, caught smooth sailing for the most part, as Restaurant Row stood ahead of the curve.

Notice the words “sensitive” and “gently” in this narrative regarding La Petite’s transition. You knew that when Raymond and Jessica took over the reigns from Chef Christian, there would be nostalgia, and some resistance to change. Jim Eagan was the right choice to work off his own vision and Jessica’s designs. All Chef wants is a little sign-off — or veto power. We checked out the main dining room in progress, where the changes look terrific! Clean, white lines, colorful works of local artwork beneath perfect lighting, and a new chandelier, all look spankingly handsome to me (for what it’s worth, Chef). But, if they dare try to take the rock n roll memorabilia down

JUNIOR LEAGUE BEST PECAN PIE Prepare 9” unbaked pie shell and fill with 1 ½ c. whole pecans or coarsely chopped.. Preheat oven to 350F. Combine 4 well-beaten large eggs with 1 c. dark brown sugar, 1 ½ c. dark corn syrup or King syrup, 2 T. melted butter, 2 t. vanilla and a pinch of salt then pour over the nuts in the pie shell. Bake until browned and center is firm, about 55 minutes. Let cool before cutting.

By press time, both restaurants were in high gear, much to the City Treasurer’s delight. - RG

WITH A LITTLE BIT OF DERBY GOING ON Add 1 C semisweet chocolate chips to pecans, using recipe above. Serve with freshly whipped sweet cream.

AND A LITTLE BIT OF GERMAN AFTER THAT Prepare pecan pie mix, using light brown sugar, white syrup instead of dark.

Place pecans in pie shell w/ 1 C. shredded coconut, one chopped German sweet chocolate bar (8 oz.). Bake as directed; cut when cooled.

Olde Towne BUTCHER Tailgate Headquarters Corner of William & Charles Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401 540.370.4105

CHEESE WAFERS Grate 16 oz. sharp or very sharp cheddar cheese. (Do not use pre-shredded, will be too dry). Combine with 1 c. softened butter, 4 c. flour, 1 tsp each salt and cayenne pepper. Mix together until smooth. Form into 2-inch round rolls and seal in waxed paper. Refrigerate at least four hours or overnight. Slice into ¼” slices, place on parchment-covered baking sheets and top each with a pecan half.

Bake in preheated 425F oven until lightly browned. (5-7 min). Let cool and store airtight - makes approximately 12 dozen.

SPICED PECANS In medium bowl, place 2 T. canola oil, 1 ½ tsp. each curry powder, worchestershire sauce, cayenne pepper and a dash of salt. Toss well with 1 pound pecan halves, then turn onto parchment covered baking sheet in a single layer.

Bake in preheated 300F oven for approx.

20 minutes or until lightly browned. Turn onto paper-towel covered plate and let cool. Store airtight.

www.oldetownebutcher.com

Open: 9am - 9pm Monday through Saturday 11am - 6pm Sunday Lee Russell Proprietor

S ammy T’ s DOWNTOWN FREDERICKSBURG’S

Serving Great Food Since 1981

Home of the “Camper Special” & the Best Burger in Town 801 Caroline Street

(540) 371-2008

Try Our Self-Serve Yogurt open 11:30 am Daily Still Owned by the Emory Family

PECAN-C CRUSTED TILAPIA If you can find it, use pecan flour; if not, grind ½ c. pecan pieces in blender/spice mill. Mix w/ ½ c. panko crumbs and ¼ c. fine breadcrumbs, dash of salt, ½ tsp. each cayenne pepper, granulated garlic, curry powder, dash of salt. Preheat 4 T. canola oil in large frying pan. Beat 2 egg whites until foamy. Dip each of 8 tilapia filets in egg whites, then pecan mixture. Place in preheated pan, brown on both sides, turning once. If fish not done, finish off on baking sheet in 325F oven. Serve w/ wild rice, haricots vert.

Sprinkle fish w/toasted pecans, minced parsley; add wedge of lemon to the side.

Vanessa Moncure is pecan dandy in the kitchen.

The Sunken Well Tavern

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

October 2013

13

Changing Careers:

WELCOME TO OUR GREAT OUTDOORS

Germanna Helps Lisa Marsh get it right

By Susan Carroll Morgan

Lisa Marsh spent seven years styling hair, a job she loved. But after hurting her back, she knew she needed to find another career.

After graduating from Germanna Community College with a degree in business management, she turned to Germanna’s Adult Career Coach Program for help. Michelle Beverage, a career coach, and Marie Hawley, career counselor, helped her with resumes and interviewing and supported her each step of the way.

“The program was an amazing experience for me,” Lisa said.

The Adult Career Coach Program is a grant-funded program that guides adult displaced workers through determining what career switch may be appropriate and how to navigate that path. The program is free to adults 18 and older.

Lisa believed her journey was

eased by having people at Germanna she could call on: “Michelle gathered all my information and put it in a database. She helped me with interviewing skills, and she gave me advice on the “dress” for interviewing. Anytime I had an interview, I emailed her, and there was a pep talk coming right back to me.”

Changing careers can be overwhelming.

Michelle helps with decisions about credit and noncredit courses, certification, and even financial aid. She helps folks access the Virginia Wizard, which can guide someone toward his interests and strengths. She can also connect people to Cheri Ober, the experiential learning coordinator at Germanna. Cheri helps people on the credit side who want to do an internship.

Most important is making sure students can afford and pay for the classes.

“The paperwork for FAFSA (federal financial student aid) and the Workforce Investment Act can be daunting,” Michelle said. “People need someone to help them through the process.” Michelle also helps people find out if they qualify for Workforce Investment Act funds to help pay for courses.

Her office is located at the Virginia Workforce Center in Spotsylvania County, also called the One-Stop.

As people walk through the door, they can visit the Virginia Employment Commission and see Michelle at the same time for help with free services.

Lisa was one of those who benefited.

“Lisa was very motivated. She followed up on everything she was supposed to do. From the beginning, she was on top of her game,” Michelle said.

The Adult Career Coach Program can help remove barriers, help people figure out what direction to take, and nudge them along in the process of finding a new job. Germanna offers courses and

certificates in health care, industry and construction, and technology among others. As a career coach, Michelle helps people get back on their feet.

Lisa is now working at Germanna in the financial aid office. “I can’t say enough about Michelle. She never led me down the wrong path. She worked very hard to help me.

She’s an amazing woman, very good at what she does.”

For more information about the program and how to register, call Michelle Beverage at 540-736-8041 or email mbeverage@germanna.edu All services funded by a U.S. Department of Labor ETA grant award.

This is the creation of the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the USDOL.

Susan Carroll Morgan is a tri-owner of the new Writers’ and Artists’ studio called “Water Street” (see story this issue).

Sunday Brunch Buffet

It’s Beautiful ~ Night and Day!

813 Caroline St.

A Beer Column Brewed with Gusto

Fresh Ingredients = Fresh Beer

by Will loring

Serving Traditional Mexican, Tex-Mex Food and Something More!!

Made to order Waffles & Omelets Complimentary Brunch Valet Parking

Tuesday to Saturday 11am-9pm Sunday 11am-6pm

Visit us at: CourtyardFredericksburg.com

Phone: 540-899-0969

620 CAROLINE STREET FREDERICKSBURG VA 22401 540.373.8300

E-mail: soupntaco@yahoo.com

Home of great Food & great Art! 720 Littlepage Sunkenwelltavern.com

EAT WELL DRINK WELL LIVE WELL

Since 1978

Italian/American Food Monday-Saturday 11 am-10 pm

371-4075 2018 College Ave. Fredericksburg Front porch fredericksburg

Etc.

Will Power

9 am to 2 pm

Restaurant

October 2013

Soup & Taco,

Fredericksburg, VA

The General Store

14

The

The Natural Path Holistic Health Center

~Nature’s Sunshine Products ~ Biological Terrain Assessment ~VoiceBio Analysis ~Aura Photography ~Body Cleanse Foot Detox We Carry Home Brewing Supplies !

Barbara Bergquist, CTN Board Certified Traditional Naturopath

891-6200

www.thenaturalpath.us

4413 Lafayette Blvd. Fredericksburg

Fall is a wonderful season for anxious craft beer drinkers.

No, not anxiously awaiting pumpkin beers, those came out months ago!

And no, not Oktoberfest lagers either; those are found on every shelf around town and any Oktoberfest from here to Germany. What I’m talking about is a much more elusive creature, one that is delicious for a few weeks, and even harder to find when it’s here. I’m talking about wet hop ales!

Now, what exactly is a wet hop?

First, some background information on the hop harvest. Typically, around the end of August and into September (for the northern hemisphere), the hop flowers are picked off the bine (vines are for grapes). They are then dried immediately to retain the maximum potency for the longest period of time. This is one of the reasons breweries can brew year round. If you don’t dry the hop flower very quickly after picking, they begin composting almost immediately.

For Sierra Nevada, which has been brewing their Harvest Ale since 1996, they have their hops driven overnight from the hop farms in the Yakima Valley to the main brewhouse in Chico, California. It is so time sensitive, that the drivers alert the brewers to their specific arrival time to the brewery so that they know when to begin the boil for the beer.

The other extreme aspect of wet hop ales, is the delicacy of the flavor profiles they can impart. Wet hop ales are not very strong (sorry, no double wet hop IPAs here). The potency of the alpha and beta acids becomes much different and sometimes more concentrated after the drying of the flower. Because of this, most wet hop ales fall between 5-7% abv. This makes for the perfect brew to enjoy as the seasons turn and we begin staying inside a little longer.

So, what wet hop ales should you seek out this fall? The original and easiest to find is Sierra Nevada’s Harvest Ale. Using Centennial and Cascade as the bittering and finishing hops, this is a true gem from one of America’s largest brewers.

A newcomer in the wet hop scene is Autumnation, from Sixpoint brewery in Brooklyn, NY. They have an interesting way of choosing which wet hops they use each year. They hold a vote on their website with a few varietals for people to decide on. And this year, we (yes, I voted) chose Mosaic hops. One of the newer hops to come out in the past few years, this hop was bred from Simcoe and is noteworthy for its notes of blueberry, lime peel, bubblegum and citrus.

One of my personal favorites, and increasingly harder to find, is Founders Harvest Ale. Also using a lot of Centennial hops, this beer is one of the most balanced and citrus forward wet hop beers on the market. Unfortunately, the recent uptick in Founders popularity, and newly opened markets (namely Florida and the UK) have put demand for this beer through the roof.

Lastly, we have an old stand by and supporter of using new hop varietals in their yearly changing recipe: Terrapin’s So Fresh and So Green, Green. While last year used all Citra hops, this year’s is to be determined. But don’t fret; Terrapin will come through, meant to be drank as soon as it hits the shelves!

With the American craft beer market quickly establishing itself from the old country’s traditional styles, the wet hop ale is here to stay. So grab one while you can, and enjoy the hoppy freshness until it’s gone!

Will Loring is the resident beer-o-phile at the Olde Towne Butcher on William Street.

front porch fredericksburg

October 2013

15

Changing Careers:

WELCOME TO OUR GREAT OUTDOORS

Germanna Helps Lisa Marsh get it right

By Susan Carroll Morgan

Lisa Marsh spent seven years styling hair, a job she loved. But after hurting her back, she knew she needed to find another career.

After graduating from Germanna Community College with a degree in business management, she turned to Germanna’s Adult Career Coach Program for help. Michelle Beverage, a career coach, and Marie Hawley, career counselor, helped her with resumes and interviewing and supported her each step of the way.

“The program was an amazing experience for me,” Lisa said.

The Adult Career Coach Program is a grant-funded program that guides adult displaced workers through determining what career switch may be appropriate and how to navigate that path. The program is free to adults 18 and older.

Lisa believed her journey was

eased by having people at Germanna she could call on: “Michelle gathered all my information and put it in a database. She helped me with interviewing skills, and she gave me advice on the “dress” for interviewing. Anytime I had an interview, I emailed her, and there was a pep talk coming right back to me.”

Changing careers can be overwhelming.

Michelle helps with decisions about credit and noncredit courses, certification, and even financial aid. She helps folks access the Virginia Wizard, which can guide someone toward his interests and strengths. She can also connect people to Cheri Ober, the experiential learning coordinator at Germanna. Cheri helps people on the credit side who want to do an internship.

Most important is making sure students can afford and pay for the classes.

“The paperwork for FAFSA (federal financial student aid) and the Workforce Investment Act can be daunting,” Michelle said. “People need someone to help them through the process.” Michelle also helps people find out if they qualify for Workforce Investment Act funds to help pay for courses.

Her office is located at the Virginia Workforce Center in Spotsylvania County, also called the One-Stop.

As people walk through the door, they can visit the Virginia Employment Commission and see Michelle at the same time for help with free services.

Lisa was one of those who benefited.

“Lisa was very motivated. She followed up on everything she was supposed to do. From the beginning, she was on top of her game,” Michelle said.

The Adult Career Coach Program can help remove barriers, help people figure out what direction to take, and nudge them along in the process of finding a new job. Germanna offers courses and

certificates in health care, industry and construction, and technology among others. As a career coach, Michelle helps people get back on their feet.

Lisa is now working at Germanna in the financial aid office. “I can’t say enough about Michelle. She never led me down the wrong path. She worked very hard to help me.

She’s an amazing woman, very good at what she does.”

For more information about the program and how to register, call Michelle Beverage at 540-736-8041 or email mbeverage@germanna.edu All services funded by a U.S. Department of Labor ETA grant award.

This is the creation of the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the USDOL.

Susan Carroll Morgan is a tri-owner of the new Writers’ and Artists’ studio called “Water Street” (see story this issue).

Sunday Brunch Buffet

It’s Beautiful ~ Night and Day!

813 Caroline St.

A Beer Column Brewed with Gusto

Fresh Ingredients = Fresh Beer

by Will loring

Serving Traditional Mexican, Tex-Mex Food and Something More!!

Made to order Waffles & Omelets Complimentary Brunch Valet Parking

Tuesday to Saturday 11am-9pm Sunday 11am-6pm

Visit us at: CourtyardFredericksburg.com

Phone: 540-899-0969

620 CAROLINE STREET FREDERICKSBURG VA 22401 540.373.8300

E-mail: soupntaco@yahoo.com

Home of great Food & great Art! 720 Littlepage Sunkenwelltavern.com

EAT WELL DRINK WELL LIVE WELL

Since 1978

Italian/American Food Monday-Saturday 11 am-10 pm

371-4075 2018 College Ave. Fredericksburg Front porch fredericksburg

Etc.

Will Power

9 am to 2 pm

Restaurant

October 2013

Soup & Taco,

Fredericksburg, VA

The General Store

14

The

The Natural Path Holistic Health Center

~Nature’s Sunshine Products ~ Biological Terrain Assessment ~VoiceBio Analysis ~Aura Photography ~Body Cleanse Foot Detox We Carry Home Brewing Supplies !

Barbara Bergquist, CTN Board Certified Traditional Naturopath

891-6200

www.thenaturalpath.us

4413 Lafayette Blvd. Fredericksburg

Fall is a wonderful season for anxious craft beer drinkers.

No, not anxiously awaiting pumpkin beers, those came out months ago!

And no, not Oktoberfest lagers either; those are found on every shelf around town and any Oktoberfest from here to Germany. What I’m talking about is a much more elusive creature, one that is delicious for a few weeks, and even harder to find when it’s here. I’m talking about wet hop ales!

Now, what exactly is a wet hop?

First, some background information on the hop harvest. Typically, around the end of August and into September (for the northern hemisphere), the hop flowers are picked off the bine (vines are for grapes). They are then dried immediately to retain the maximum potency for the longest period of time. This is one of the reasons breweries can brew year round. If you don’t dry the hop flower very quickly after picking, they begin composting almost immediately.

For Sierra Nevada, which has been brewing their Harvest Ale since 1996, they have their hops driven overnight from the hop farms in the Yakima Valley to the main brewhouse in Chico, California. It is so time sensitive, that the drivers alert the brewers to their specific arrival time to the brewery so that they know when to begin the boil for the beer.

The other extreme aspect of wet hop ales, is the delicacy of the flavor profiles they can impart. Wet hop ales are not very strong (sorry, no double wet hop IPAs here). The potency of the alpha and beta acids becomes much different and sometimes more concentrated after the drying of the flower. Because of this, most wet hop ales fall between 5-7% abv. This makes for the perfect brew to enjoy as the seasons turn and we begin staying inside a little longer.

So, what wet hop ales should you seek out this fall? The original and easiest to find is Sierra Nevada’s Harvest Ale. Using Centennial and Cascade as the bittering and finishing hops, this is a true gem from one of America’s largest brewers.

A newcomer in the wet hop scene is Autumnation, from Sixpoint brewery in Brooklyn, NY. They have an interesting way of choosing which wet hops they use each year. They hold a vote on their website with a few varietals for people to decide on. And this year, we (yes, I voted) chose Mosaic hops. One of the newer hops to come out in the past few years, this hop was bred from Simcoe and is noteworthy for its notes of blueberry, lime peel, bubblegum and citrus.

One of my personal favorites, and increasingly harder to find, is Founders Harvest Ale. Also using a lot of Centennial hops, this beer is one of the most balanced and citrus forward wet hop beers on the market. Unfortunately, the recent uptick in Founders popularity, and newly opened markets (namely Florida and the UK) have put demand for this beer through the roof.

Lastly, we have an old stand by and supporter of using new hop varietals in their yearly changing recipe: Terrapin’s So Fresh and So Green, Green. While last year used all Citra hops, this year’s is to be determined. But don’t fret; Terrapin will come through, meant to be drank as soon as it hits the shelves!

With the American craft beer market quickly establishing itself from the old country’s traditional styles, the wet hop ale is here to stay. So grab one while you can, and enjoy the hoppy freshness until it’s gone!

Will Loring is the resident beer-o-phile at the Olde Towne Butcher on William Street.

front porch fredericksburg

October 2013

15

october 2013… Hail the harvest month! *Some events run same day weekly or more than one day.

tuesday, october 1

*Picnic in the Park Every Tuesday @ Hurkamp Park, 1130A-130P The Art of Jane Snead: featured show at Art First Gallery through Oct. 28. Opening celebration First Friday Oct 4, 6-9P. Theme: “October,” inspired by the joys of harvest and celebration, and hints of winter to come. 824 Caroline, daily 11A-5P Mosaic Art Show in CRRL Atrium: Cathy Ambrose Smith, a local mosaic artist and teacher will be showing a collection of her mosaic artwork in the atrium. Open during regular library hours. 1201 Caroline PFLAG meets: Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays - 1st Tue Monthly, 1-hr Support Group, 1-hr Education.

630P-830P. Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church WINGS (Women in the Giving Spirit) hosts annual Girls Night Out, 630P. F’burg Country Club.

Special showing of fall fashions from CIS Sportswear. All proceeds benefit Micah Ecumenical Ministries “Step Forward” program. The evening will feature autumn “appletini” cocktails at cash bar and dinner w/ an autumn flavor. Tickets: $50 per person; tables for 8 may be reserved.

Information: 371-6920 *Eddie Dickerson: Live Music at Bistro Bethem every Tue; $3 drink specials; No cover; 8P-11P

wednesday, october 2

*Spotsylvania Farmers Market: Spotsy Regional Medical Ctr. 3-7P, 4600 Spotsy Pkwy. Every Wed *Miss Lady & Mr. Man’s Open Mic Jam 8-11P every Wed. The Rec Center, 213 William Stammtisch Schwetzburg Octoberfest: Social gathering of Fredericksburg’s German sister city group.

Join the group and meet new f r i e n d s .

Capital Ale House. 7P

CALENDAR of events

thursday, october 3

*Music every Thurs live at Kenmore Inn 730-11P. Tonight: Souls Shaded Gray

first friday, october 4

LibertyTown Arts Workshop: First Friday Opening features Jack Brown’s Tattoo Revival Group Show.

Unique work by 10 artists in Jack Brown’s Tattoo Revival. Come check it out 5P-9P. Through Oct. 27 The Art of Jane Snead: featured show at Art First Gallery through Oct. 28. Opening celebration 69P. Theme: “October,” inspired by the joys of harvest and celebration, and hints of winter to come. 824 Caroline, daily 11A-5P. 824 Caroline PONSHOP Studio & Gallery October “First Friday” opening reception for Maryland-based Ashleigh Dueker, a painter inspired by life experiences.

Additional fine artists: Crystal and Kevin Rodrigue, Nicholas Candela, Jeremy Gann, Adam DeSio and Gabriel Pons, photos by Stephen Graham, ceramics

by Scarlett Pons, plush creations from Ashleigh Burbidge and mixed media assemblages by Leslie Brier Swamp Trash plays First Friday at Bistro Bethem.

10P-1A. $5 cover. 309 William

saturday, october 5

Art in the Park and FXBG Farmer’s Market at Hurkamp Park, William @ Prince Edward. 9A-1P. First Sat FAM & CC: Do What You Love, Charge What You Are Worth: Tired of feeling like a starving artist?

Struggle with knowing what to charge? Ready to make more money doing what you love? Setting prices and having money conversations w/ potential buyers creates stress and anxiety. You can do the work you love and make good money sharing your art with the world.

Half-day workshop led by Melanie Yost, LCSW

sunday, october 6

*AM1230 WFVA Community link 8-830A. *AM1230 WFVA Community link 8-830A. Topics: Bullying -Darlene Keener, Cedar Grove Elementary; Trivia at Sunken Well Tavern - Josh Cameli w/ Rob Grogan.

Host Ted Schubel.

Listen at newstalk1230.net Ten Thousand Villages: Your purchases make wishes come true! 15% of net sales donated to Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic. Board games, full or

travel-size, Handheld electronic games, Coloring books with markers, Craft kits for kids. Donations of these items accepted until today in our store at Spotsy Towne Centre. Thank you for making our artisans’ wishes come true through fair trade!

Aquia Evening Lions and local restaurants generous food samplings. Celebrate local culinary while raising money to support community. Live music, cash bar, door prizes. Public welcome. Tix: $20/advance; $25/ Door. Danett; 956-251-4734, Taste_of_Stafford@yahoo.com Foods: Greek, Italian, German, Mexican. Proceeds benefit sight, hearing, community. 2-4P

tuesday, october 8

*Picnic in the Park Every Tuesday @ Hurkamp Park, 1130A-130P FXBG Area Museum & Cultural Center announces fall Evening with an Expert Lecture Series . Series explores topics from our newest exhibition, Woman Adorned: Transcending Time, Transforming Culture. 7-9P. Discussion on social class and dress during FXBG’s Colonial era led by Brenda Rosseau, Director of Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s Costume and Design Center *Alex Culbreth and the Dead Country Stars: Live at Bistro Bethem. $3 beer, wine, cocktail specials. All ages. No cover. 8-11P. 309 William

wednesday, october 9

Ten Thousand Villages, 11A-12N: Our artisans craft cards out of handmade paper, then decorate with soda can figures, pressed flowers or recycled newspapers. Now you can create your own card using our recycled vinyl signs! Please RSVP for this free event to 540-479-3090

thursday, october 10

*North Stafford MOPS Moms CLub - 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month (Sept-May). Open to all moms of children birth - Kindergarten. Please join us for fellowship, food, friendship, and encouragement from other moms, mentors, and local speakers. We offer childcare during the meetings *The McTell Brothers at The Kenmore Inn, 730P1030P. 1200 Princess Anne Myers Drive Respite Group Home Open House: New, local respite program for adults with an intellectual disability. Come tour the beautiful home, meet the staff, and learn more about this new community resource. Home was renovated in

partnership with Doris Buffett and The Sunshine Lady Foundation

friday, october 18

FJC Open Jazz Jam at The Colonial Tavern: Join us on the 2nd Thursday of every month for live bebop, swing, and Latin standards. Musicians, bring your axes! Event is free and open to the public

flowers or recycled newspapers. Now you can create your own card using our recycled vinyl signs! Please RSVP for this free event to 540-4793090

friday, october 11

tuesday, october 15

Thrive the Healing Center’s Crab, Shrimp & BBQ Feast in the Burg: The 3rd Annual Thrive Friday Night Feast. Inn at the Old Silk Mill. This not-tobe- missed event features Wil Gravatt Band, all you can eat crabs, shrimp, barbeque, exciting raffles.

Visit website to buy tickets. Tickets also available at Thrive office, and through Thrive Board Members. To donate or be one of our sponsors, call the Thrive office

saturday, october 12

Let’s Stitch - A Fredericksburg Area Charitable Event! Calling all knitters & crocheters! Bring your yarn & needles (and friends and family) and spend some time with others stitching for those in need. Demos and refreshments. Knitted items will benefit many regional groups & individuals 7th Annual Free Community Health Fair. 9A-1P. Resurrection Lutheran Church, 6170 Plank Road 22407. 30+ exhibitors w/ free health screenings, demos, activities for kids. Pharmacist, dentist free consultations. Free adult flu shots while supplies last. Info: Resurrection Lutheran Church at (540) 786-7778 or visit resurrectionpeople.org Resurrection Lutheran Church and its Health Ministry team are sponsoring Second Saturdays at the Museum! 1-3P. As the cool weather moves in and the leaves start to change color, our thoughts turn to harvest time.

Virginia Indian farming and harvest techniques.

You/your children decorate clay pot in Portal, Passage, Power exhibit. Once decorated, kids plant own seed to take home.

Free. jkennedy@famcc.org, 540-371-3037, ext. 142.

Sponsors: PNC Bank w/ Kinder Morgan

sunday, october 13

*AM1230 WFVA Community link 8-830A. *AM1230 WFVA Community link 8-830A. Topics: Rappahannock Area Agency on Aging. Host Ted Schubel. Listen at newstalk1230.net Ten Thousand Villages, Spotsylvania Towne Centre: Our artisans craft cards out of handmade paper, then decorate with soda can figures, pressed

*Picnic in the Park Every Tuesday @ Hurkamp Park, 1130A-130P. Donny Holcombe Solo Acoustic, Classic Rock, Pop, and Folk songs from the 1960’s to today Spotsylvania County Neighborhood Watch Meeting, 7-8P. 3rd Tue monthly. All County Residents welcome. Stay informed of trends/law enforcement activity. Sheriff’s Sub-Station, Spotsy Towne Centre Join FXBG Area Museum & Cultural Center (FAMCC) for coffee and a light breakfast during Breakfast with the Curator series. Part of the 25th Anniversary celebrations.

Eric Mink, Cultural Resource Manager, FXBG & Spotsylvania Military Park, leads journey through history of FXBG Town Hall/Market House *Jon Wiley & Friends play live @ Bistro Bethem. $3 beer, wine, cocktail specials. All ages. No cover. 811P

wednesday, october 16

Master gardener, Dave Rodriquez will deliver a presentation entitled “How Plants Got Their Names.” Snow Library 7P. Free RACSB FXBG Clinic Open House: Annual clinic open house hosted by RACSB. Tour the clinic, meet the staff, and learn more about community-based mental health, substance abuse, intellectual disability, prevention, and early intervention services. Speaker will provide an overview of the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program

thursday, october 17

*FXBG Jazz Collective’s open jazz jam twice monthly: 1st & 3rd Thurs. Live bebop, Latin jazz, fine cocktails. Musicians, bring instruments (no large amps). fredericksburgjazzcollective.org *M Law and the Modern Prophets of Jazz play the Kenmore Inn. Featuring Andre Eglevsky on upright bass. The Kenmore Inn. 730P

3rd Fri, 830A business ladies’ free networking “TIPS.” Ellen Baptist, 548-0652

saturday, october 19

*Free Vegetarian Cooking class every 3rd Sat. 2330P. Meditation 4-5P. Porter Library FAM & Cultural Center hosts Educators Primary Sources Workshop 930A-230P. Area educators earn professional development points. SOL topics including slavery, CW, Civil Rights Movement, Industrial Revolution. Assessing primary source instruction. $40 includes lunch. Focus group during lunch. Register through Oct 17, Museum Store, 215 William, famcc.org or mjohnson@famcc.org or 540-371-3037 x400 Out of the Darkness: Spotsylvania Out of the Darkness Community Walk (see article) benefits American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Walk w/ thousands nationwide to raise money for AFSP’s vital research and education programs to prevent suicide and save lives, increase national awareness, assist survivors of suicide loss. Walk to save lives, honor a loved one, raise awareness, make a difference

sunday, october 20

*AM1230 WFVA Community link 8-830A. Topics: Flu shots-Brooke Rossheim - Rappahannock Area Health District. Host Ted Schubel. Listen at newstalk1230.net

monday, october 21

Happy Seventh Anniversary, Jessica & Jeremy

tuesday, october 22

Brokedown Boys play Bistro Bethem 8-11P, 309 William. No cover. All ages.

thursday, october 24

*North Stafford MOPS Moms Club - 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month (Sept-May) *Live Music at The Kenmore Inn —

730P-1030P

Karen Jonas plays Bistro Bethem 8-11P, 309 William. No cover. All ages

saturday, october 26

Historic Cemetery Tours: Join colonial interpreters as we tour Fredericksburg’s three old cemeteries and “meet” some of the citizens. Meet Cemetery Trolley at Visitor’s Center. Times Sat: 1100, 1245,

230; Sun 1P, 245. $5 adults/$1 kids. Not a ghost tour but a historic educational tour. Sponsored by Rappahannock Colonial Heritage Society. More info: Trip Wiggins 371-3906 Treasures for the whole family at Trinity Episcopal Church’s huge fall yard and bake sale Saturday, Oct. 26, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., rain or shine!! Collectibles, books, housewares, antiques, linens, toys, games, tools, furniture, jewelry, bikes, electronics, fall/winter clothes, accessories, freshly baked goodies! 540-273-0653 Annual Fredericksburg Witches Masquerade Ball Charity event. Net Proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society. Enjoy fun and festivities of Venetian Masquerade Ball (ball attire and masks required). A mask unveiling at 1045P. Music, food, vendors, performers, silent auction. 7P— 11P. Riverside Dinner Theater, 95 Riverside Parkway, 22406. Tickets limited! Ages: 18+, 14-17 w/ adult

sunday, october 27

*AM1230 WFVA Community link 8-830A. Spotsylvania Greenways Initiative (see page 27).

Host Ted Schubel. Listen at newstalk1230.net Art: Learn to a paint your dog, or cat, or fish! Ed King has a way w/ painting animals and a great way w/ students, too! Try a new class! Reserve a spot: LibertyTown: 540-371-7255, libertytownarts@verizon.net Academy Awards Best Pictures Lecture: 19451949: Film highlights and commentary of Academy Awards Nominees of the Post-War Years, 19451949. CRRL Theatre, 1201 Caroline

tuesday, october 29

Becky, Slam Y Limon play Bistro Bethem 8-11P. No cover. $3 drink specials. All ages. 309 William

thursday, october 31 Halloween

*Live music at the Kenmore Inn If you are reading this 196th issue of FP, thank an advertiser as we celebrate autumn!

If you are an advertiser, list your event.

Deadline for November’s issue is Oct. 20 .

To submit events, follow link: http://frontporchfredericksburg.com/howto-submit-online/

~ Peggy Wickham Art ~ Companionship Meal Preparation Medication Reminders Laundry

Light Housekeeping Shopping/Errands Personal Care Flexible Hours

540.899.1422 Each HomeInstead Franchise Office is Independently Owned & Operated

16

October 2013

Front porch fredericksburg

Peggy Wickham Art at Brush Strokes Contact Peggy at 2191 Sebastian Road Fredericksburg, VA 22405 540-446-5639

Call for a free, no-obligation appointment

1918 Fans (& Growing) Want You to Join

Front Porch on

homeinstead.com front porch fredericksburg

October 2013

17

october 2013… Hail the harvest month! *Some events run same day weekly or more than one day.

tuesday, october 1

*Picnic in the Park Every Tuesday @ Hurkamp Park, 1130A-130P The Art of Jane Snead: featured show at Art First Gallery through Oct. 28. Opening celebration First Friday Oct 4, 6-9P. Theme: “October,” inspired by the joys of harvest and celebration, and hints of winter to come. 824 Caroline, daily 11A-5P Mosaic Art Show in CRRL Atrium: Cathy Ambrose Smith, a local mosaic artist and teacher will be showing a collection of her mosaic artwork in the atrium. Open during regular library hours. 1201 Caroline PFLAG meets: Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays - 1st Tue Monthly, 1-hr Support Group, 1-hr Education.

630P-830P. Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church WINGS (Women in the Giving Spirit) hosts annual Girls Night Out, 630P. F’burg Country Club.

Special showing of fall fashions from CIS Sportswear. All proceeds benefit Micah Ecumenical Ministries “Step Forward” program. The evening will feature autumn “appletini” cocktails at cash bar and dinner w/ an autumn flavor. Tickets: $50 per person; tables for 8 may be reserved.

Information: 371-6920 *Eddie Dickerson: Live Music at Bistro Bethem every Tue; $3 drink specials; No cover; 8P-11P

wednesday, october 2

*Spotsylvania Farmers Market: Spotsy Regional Medical Ctr. 3-7P, 4600 Spotsy Pkwy. Every Wed *Miss Lady & Mr. Man’s Open Mic Jam 8-11P every Wed. The Rec Center, 213 William Stammtisch Schwetzburg Octoberfest: Social gathering of Fredericksburg’s German sister city group.

Join the group and meet new f r i e n d s .

Capital Ale House. 7P

CALENDAR of events

thursday, october 3

*Music every Thurs live at Kenmore Inn 730-11P. Tonight: Souls Shaded Gray

first friday, october 4

LibertyTown Arts Workshop: First Friday Opening features Jack Brown’s Tattoo Revival Group Show.

Unique work by 10 artists in Jack Brown’s Tattoo Revival. Come check it out 5P-9P. Through Oct. 27 The Art of Jane Snead: featured show at Art First Gallery through Oct. 28. Opening celebration 69P. Theme: “October,” inspired by the joys of harvest and celebration, and hints of winter to come. 824 Caroline, daily 11A-5P. 824 Caroline PONSHOP Studio & Gallery October “First Friday” opening reception for Maryland-based Ashleigh Dueker, a painter inspired by life experiences.

Additional fine artists: Crystal and Kevin Rodrigue, Nicholas Candela, Jeremy Gann, Adam DeSio and Gabriel Pons, photos by Stephen Graham, ceramics

by Scarlett Pons, plush creations from Ashleigh Burbidge and mixed media assemblages by Leslie Brier Swamp Trash plays First Friday at Bistro Bethem.

10P-1A. $5 cover. 309 William

saturday, october 5

Art in the Park and FXBG Farmer’s Market at Hurkamp Park, William @ Prince Edward. 9A-1P. First Sat FAM & CC: Do What You Love, Charge What You Are Worth: Tired of feeling like a starving artist?

Struggle with knowing what to charge? Ready to make more money doing what you love? Setting prices and having money conversations w/ potential buyers creates stress and anxiety. You can do the work you love and make good money sharing your art with the world.

Half-day workshop led by Melanie Yost, LCSW

sunday, october 6

*AM1230 WFVA Community link 8-830A. *AM1230 WFVA Community link 8-830A. Topics: Bullying -Darlene Keener, Cedar Grove Elementary; Trivia at Sunken Well Tavern - Josh Cameli w/ Rob Grogan.

Host Ted Schubel.

Listen at newstalk1230.net Ten Thousand Villages: Your purchases make wishes come true! 15% of net sales donated to Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic. Board games, full or

travel-size, Handheld electronic games, Coloring books with markers, Craft kits for kids. Donations of these items accepted until today in our store at Spotsy Towne Centre. Thank you for making our artisans’ wishes come true through fair trade!

Aquia Evening Lions and local restaurants generous food samplings. Celebrate local culinary while raising money to support community. Live music, cash bar, door prizes. Public welcome. Tix: $20/advance; $25/ Door. Danett; 956-251-4734, Taste_of_Stafford@yahoo.com Foods: Greek, Italian, German, Mexican. Proceeds benefit sight, hearing, community. 2-4P

tuesday, october 8

*Picnic in the Park Every Tuesday @ Hurkamp Park, 1130A-130P FXBG Area Museum & Cultural Center announces fall Evening with an Expert Lecture Series . Series explores topics from our newest exhibition, Woman Adorned: Transcending Time, Transforming Culture. 7-9P. Discussion on social class and dress during FXBG’s Colonial era led by Brenda Rosseau, Director of Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s Costume and Design Center *Alex Culbreth and the Dead Country Stars: Live at Bistro Bethem. $3 beer, wine, cocktail specials. All ages. No cover. 8-11P. 309 William

wednesday, october 9

Ten Thousand Villages, 11A-12N: Our artisans craft cards out of handmade paper, then decorate with soda can figures, pressed flowers or recycled newspapers. Now you can create your own card using our recycled vinyl signs! Please RSVP for this free event to 540-479-3090

thursday, october 10

*North Stafford MOPS Moms CLub - 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month (Sept-May). Open to all moms of children birth - Kindergarten. Please join us for fellowship, food, friendship, and encouragement from other moms, mentors, and local speakers. We offer childcare during the meetings *The McTell Brothers at The Kenmore Inn, 730P1030P. 1200 Princess Anne Myers Drive Respite Group Home Open House: New, local respite program for adults with an intellectual disability. Come tour the beautiful home, meet the staff, and learn more about this new community resource. Home was renovated in

partnership with Doris Buffett and The Sunshine Lady Foundation

friday, october 18

FJC Open Jazz Jam at The Colonial Tavern: Join us on the 2nd Thursday of every month for live bebop, swing, and Latin standards. Musicians, bring your axes! Event is free and open to the public

flowers or recycled newspapers. Now you can create your own card using our recycled vinyl signs! Please RSVP for this free event to 540-4793090

friday, october 11

tuesday, october 15

Thrive the Healing Center’s Crab, Shrimp & BBQ Feast in the Burg: The 3rd Annual Thrive Friday Night Feast. Inn at the Old Silk Mill. This not-tobe- missed event features Wil Gravatt Band, all you can eat crabs, shrimp, barbeque, exciting raffles.

Visit website to buy tickets. Tickets also available at Thrive office, and through Thrive Board Members. To donate or be one of our sponsors, call the Thrive office

saturday, october 12

Let’s Stitch - A Fredericksburg Area Charitable Event! Calling all knitters & crocheters! Bring your yarn & needles (and friends and family) and spend some time with others stitching for those in need. Demos and refreshments. Knitted items will benefit many regional groups & individuals 7th Annual Free Community Health Fair. 9A-1P. Resurrection Lutheran Church, 6170 Plank Road 22407. 30+ exhibitors w/ free health screenings, demos, activities for kids. Pharmacist, dentist free consultations. Free adult flu shots while supplies last. Info: Resurrection Lutheran Church at (540) 786-7778 or visit resurrectionpeople.org Resurrection Lutheran Church and its Health Ministry team are sponsoring Second Saturdays at the Museum! 1-3P. As the cool weather moves in and the leaves start to change color, our thoughts turn to harvest time.

Virginia Indian farming and harvest techniques.

You/your children decorate clay pot in Portal, Passage, Power exhibit. Once decorated, kids plant own seed to take home.

Free. jkennedy@famcc.org, 540-371-3037, ext. 142.

Sponsors: PNC Bank w/ Kinder Morgan

sunday, october 13

*AM1230 WFVA Community link 8-830A. *AM1230 WFVA Community link 8-830A. Topics: Rappahannock Area Agency on Aging. Host Ted Schubel. Listen at newstalk1230.net Ten Thousand Villages, Spotsylvania Towne Centre: Our artisans craft cards out of handmade paper, then decorate with soda can figures, pressed

*Picnic in the Park Every Tuesday @ Hurkamp Park, 1130A-130P. Donny Holcombe Solo Acoustic, Classic Rock, Pop, and Folk songs from the 1960’s to today Spotsylvania County Neighborhood Watch Meeting, 7-8P. 3rd Tue monthly. All County Residents welcome. Stay informed of trends/law enforcement activity. Sheriff’s Sub-Station, Spotsy Towne Centre Join FXBG Area Museum & Cultural Center (FAMCC) for coffee and a light breakfast during Breakfast with the Curator series. Part of the 25th Anniversary celebrations.

Eric Mink, Cultural Resource Manager, FXBG & Spotsylvania Military Park, leads journey through history of FXBG Town Hall/Market House *Jon Wiley & Friends play live @ Bistro Bethem. $3 beer, wine, cocktail specials. All ages. No cover. 811P

wednesday, october 16

Master gardener, Dave Rodriquez will deliver a presentation entitled “How Plants Got Their Names.” Snow Library 7P. Free RACSB FXBG Clinic Open House: Annual clinic open house hosted by RACSB. Tour the clinic, meet the staff, and learn more about community-based mental health, substance abuse, intellectual disability, prevention, and early intervention services. Speaker will provide an overview of the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program

thursday, october 17

*FXBG Jazz Collective’s open jazz jam twice monthly: 1st & 3rd Thurs. Live bebop, Latin jazz, fine cocktails. Musicians, bring instruments (no large amps). fredericksburgjazzcollective.org *M Law and the Modern Prophets of Jazz play the Kenmore Inn. Featuring Andre Eglevsky on upright bass. The Kenmore Inn. 730P

3rd Fri, 830A business ladies’ free networking “TIPS.” Ellen Baptist, 548-0652

saturday, october 19

*Free Vegetarian Cooking class every 3rd Sat. 2330P. Meditation 4-5P. Porter Library FAM & Cultural Center hosts Educators Primary Sources Workshop 930A-230P. Area educators earn professional development points. SOL topics including slavery, CW, Civil Rights Movement, Industrial Revolution. Assessing primary source instruction. $40 includes lunch. Focus group during lunch. Register through Oct 17, Museum Store, 215 William, famcc.org or mjohnson@famcc.org or 540-371-3037 x400 Out of the Darkness: Spotsylvania Out of the Darkness Community Walk (see article) benefits American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Walk w/ thousands nationwide to raise money for AFSP’s vital research and education programs to prevent suicide and save lives, increase national awareness, assist survivors of suicide loss. Walk to save lives, honor a loved one, raise awareness, make a difference

sunday, october 20

*AM1230 WFVA Community link 8-830A. Topics: Flu shots-Brooke Rossheim - Rappahannock Area Health District. Host Ted Schubel. Listen at newstalk1230.net

monday, october 21

Happy Seventh Anniversary, Jessica & Jeremy

tuesday, october 22

Brokedown Boys play Bistro Bethem 8-11P, 309 William. No cover. All ages.

thursday, october 24

*North Stafford MOPS Moms Club - 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month (Sept-May) *Live Music at The Kenmore Inn —

730P-1030P

Karen Jonas plays Bistro Bethem 8-11P, 309 William. No cover. All ages

saturday, october 26

Historic Cemetery Tours: Join colonial interpreters as we tour Fredericksburg’s three old cemeteries and “meet” some of the citizens. Meet Cemetery Trolley at Visitor’s Center. Times Sat: 1100, 1245,

230; Sun 1P, 245. $5 adults/$1 kids. Not a ghost tour but a historic educational tour. Sponsored by Rappahannock Colonial Heritage Society. More info: Trip Wiggins 371-3906 Treasures for the whole family at Trinity Episcopal Church’s huge fall yard and bake sale Saturday, Oct. 26, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., rain or shine!! Collectibles, books, housewares, antiques, linens, toys, games, tools, furniture, jewelry, bikes, electronics, fall/winter clothes, accessories, freshly baked goodies! 540-273-0653 Annual Fredericksburg Witches Masquerade Ball Charity event. Net Proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society. Enjoy fun and festivities of Venetian Masquerade Ball (ball attire and masks required). A mask unveiling at 1045P. Music, food, vendors, performers, silent auction. 7P— 11P. Riverside Dinner Theater, 95 Riverside Parkway, 22406. Tickets limited! Ages: 18+, 14-17 w/ adult

sunday, october 27

*AM1230 WFVA Community link 8-830A. Spotsylvania Greenways Initiative (see page 27).

Host Ted Schubel. Listen at newstalk1230.net Art: Learn to a paint your dog, or cat, or fish! Ed King has a way w/ painting animals and a great way w/ students, too! Try a new class! Reserve a spot: LibertyTown: 540-371-7255, libertytownarts@verizon.net Academy Awards Best Pictures Lecture: 19451949: Film highlights and commentary of Academy Awards Nominees of the Post-War Years, 19451949. CRRL Theatre, 1201 Caroline

tuesday, october 29

Becky, Slam Y Limon play Bistro Bethem 8-11P. No cover. $3 drink specials. All ages. 309 William

thursday, october 31 Halloween

*Live music at the Kenmore Inn If you are reading this 196th issue of FP, thank an advertiser as we celebrate autumn!

If you are an advertiser, list your event.

Deadline for November’s issue is Oct. 20 .

To submit events, follow link: http://frontporchfredericksburg.com/howto-submit-online/

~ Peggy Wickham Art ~ Companionship Meal Preparation Medication Reminders Laundry

Light Housekeeping Shopping/Errands Personal Care Flexible Hours

540.899.1422 Each HomeInstead Franchise Office is Independently Owned & Operated

16

October 2013

Front porch fredericksburg

Peggy Wickham Art at Brush Strokes Contact Peggy at 2191 Sebastian Road Fredericksburg, VA 22405 540-446-5639

Call for a free, no-obligation appointment

1918 Fans (& Growing) Want You to Join

Front Porch on

homeinstead.com front porch fredericksburg

October 2013

17

history’s stories

Masonic Lodge 17

By Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks

OUR HERITAGE

A monthly look at the Central Rappahannock Heritage Center collection

historic route 1

From 1760 to 1775 there was a revival of Masonry in all of the Colonies with additions in new membership that have never been surpassed.

Many of the leaders in the Colonies who became members of the order would go on to sign and adopt the Declaration of Independence and formulate the Constitution.

Fredericksburg was the site of this movement with the date of Lodge #4 being September 1, 1752.

Six years later on July 21, 1758, a Charter was issued by the Grand Lodge of Scotland under the designation of the Lodge of FREDERICKSBURGH. The Grand Lodge of Virginia issued to the Fredericksburg Lodge a Virginia charter on January 30, 1787, under which it currently operates with a membership of men who were and are still involved throughout the community, state, and nation. The lodge still owns the original Scottish Charter issued in 1758.

The Fredericksburg Lodge has the oldest known record in the world of the Royal Arch Degree being conferred. According to Lodge #4 minutes of meetings, on November 4, 1752, George Washington was initiated with thirteen Fredericksburg Masons in attendance. General Lafayette became a member of the Lodge on Sunday, November 28, 1824. Lafayette was in attendance on his last visit to America and was addressed by the Master William Gray who told him how proud the Lodge was to have members such as Washington, Mercer, Weedon, Woodford and Lafayette. He went on to tell Lafayette that the anniversary of his visit would always be remembered, which the Lodge still celebrates annually. It is recorded that Lafayette responded with great emotion.

In May 1833, the Lodge laid the cornerstone for the monument to George Washington’s Mother with President Andrew Jackson who had been the Past Grand Master of Masons in Tennessee before becoming President. The Lodge has survived many events with the Civil War being the most destructive. Many of the Masonic Lodge items that were looted during the battle and have been returned over the past hundred plus years.

The Lodge still has the Bible upon which George Washington took his Masonic oath. It is recognized that few Masonic Lodges if any could show such membership as the Fredericksburg Lodge. George Washington, Hugh Mercer, Lafayette, Wallace, Jacob Von Braam, William Woodford, Montgomery Slaughter, and John Paul Jones - to name a few. Many local government officials were Lodge members or are current members of the Lodge, which is still active after more than 250 years.

If you follow the signs of US Business Route 1, winding your way through Downtown, you may be traveling on a road that holds more history than you realize.

Today we call the road Princess Anne Street; in 1926 it was named US Route No. 1; during its construction, the newspapers referred to it as the Washington-Richmond Highway or the Richmond-Washington Highway (depending on the location of the writer), and when it opened in 1927 it was billed as the Jefferson Davis Highway. Today, these names call to mind a variety of roads, yet when the automobile was still a novelty and road maintenance was still a new idea, these were all the same location, the one main highway from Maine to Florida by way of Princess Anne Street, Fredericksburg, VA –- US Route No. 1.

What started out as a muddy road that hindered as well as helped automobiles, had been transformed into a smoothly paved concrete surface after 24 years of legislation, meetings and construction. On May 28, 1927 the splendid celebration of its completion would be fitting of all the work that went into it.

For the opening of the Washington-Richmond Highway, Fredericksburg prepared to host 30,000 visitors. The Virginia highway, part of the larger Jefferson Davis Highway, was now completely concrete and inspired an illustrious day of ribbon cuttings, luncheons, pageants, and formal dances.

The festivities began at 10 the morning of May 28th, when one blue ribbon was cut a

Tuffy Hicks, our house historian, dedicates this month’s column to “everyone who attended the benefit for Rob.”

mile and a half north of Occoquan by the Mayor of Alexandria, William Albert Smoot, and one gray ribbon was cut 19

Central Rappahannock

HERITAGE CENTER Volunteers needed to process historical documents and aid researchers.

Training provided.

Phone 540-373-3704 or email crhc@verizon.net Open to the public for scholarly research

The Heritage Center 18

October 2013

Maury Commons

900 Barton St

Front porch fredericksburg

Fredericksburg

by emily taggert schricker miles north of Fredericksburg, by Virginia Governor Harry Flood Byrd. The parties then progressed to Fredericksburg and their places in the reviewing stands to watch a grand two-hour pageant unfold.

The pageant was a collection of American History and English History.

Three generations of transportation history, an array of bands, costumes, and armed forces rounded out the show. That evening, two large dances were hosted to bring the grand celebration to a close, one at the Maury Hotel, the other at the Elks Home. Perhaps the best news of the day was reported by The Washington Post: “Every highway leading into the city was filled with automobiles and, while traffic was dense, there was no accidents or disorder reported.”

Make your First Friday plans now!

HFFI will have an Open House on October 4th from 6-8 8pm.

Be sure to stop by! This will be your chance to see the first in a series of exhibits from the Vintage Route 1 Event.

And, do visit the Central Rappahannock Heritage Center (CRHC), 900 Barton St. #111 (540-373-3704), which will be launching, with HFFI, its recently published book, The Circle Unbroken: Civil War Letters of the Knox Family of Fredericksburg, on Sunday, October 27th, from 3 to 5p.m. at the Kenmore Inn, 1200 Princess Anne, the home of the Knox Family from the 1850’s into the early 20th Century.

Refreshments provided; books available for purchase.

Emily Taggart Schricker works at Dovetail Cultural Resource Group and lives in town.

Bubbling and Flowing Water Street Writers’/Artists’ Studio Opens By collette caprara

They are “three amigos” with much in common: they are all masters of their art; they all appreciate the mutual support and encouragement that is the hallmark of the Fredericksburg arts community; and they each had a desire to “pay it forward” to nurture and promote the arts in the area. This month, Susan Carter Morgan (R), Lynette Reed (L), and Elizabeth Seaver (C) will accomplish that goal with the unveiling of their unique Water Street Writers’ and Artists’ Studio at 915 Sophia Street.

The title of the studio is rooted in the name that was given to Sophia Street back in history, but “water” also seems to be a perfect image to connote the bubbling and flowing nature of artistic creation as well. And, while the visual arts, drama, and music all present themselves to the physical senses, the art of writing has been like a silent river running through and beneath the arts community: The Water Street Studio will bring that stream to the surface.

“Our idea was to have a studio where the visual and written arts could combine, and it’s not a far reach to connect writing with art,” said Reed, “They go hand and hand and both trace back to an era of cave paintings and hieroglyphics when writing and art were one and the same!”

Morgan, a former journalist and long-time teacher, reflects on the role that the visual arts played in inspiring her personal muse when her studio was located at the Liberty Town Arts Workshop. “When I would come into the building and see all these fabulous painters, and sculptors, and craftspeople working, I was inspired in my own writing.

Morgan went on to try her hand at painting and recalls, “I took courses and

realized how much doing the art could help my writing and inspire me to come up with stronger pieces and to use all parts of my brain as I create.

It puts my writing in a different place and I use different images and language based on the visual art.

It even helps with organization.”

While Seaver is best known in the area for her whimsical paintings of stylized birds in curious pursuits and Reed for her weaving creations and fiber sculptures, their creations have also included writing. Both have written and illustrated children’s books, and Seaver has even ventured into authoring books for adults.

“Both writing and painting have been ways for me to discover more about who I am and to move to a new place,” said Seaver, “Even if you never publish a thing, writing helps you to understand yourself and your relationships. You can create every day of your life and that makes your life a richer experience as well as enriching the people around you.”

The Water Street Studio, which opens its doors on October 4, was conceived as a hub of artistic collaboration and will host workshops, classes, and guest speakers and will feature the work of local artists in its gift shop. Plans are also underway to launch an online literary magazine with ongoing submissions from writers in the area.

“We want to be a gathering place where writers and artists can come together over a cup of coffee or offer classes for children and adults in our studios,” said Morgan, “It’s one more way that we can share in this vibrant community of creative people and perhaps offer some workshops that haven’t been done before in exactly the same way.”

The Water Street scoop: website: writingandarts@gmail.com Hours: http://waterstreetstudio.org/ Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat: 12-6P; Sun: 124P; Closed Tuesday and Wednesday, except for classes Collette Caprara is a writer and visual artist.

front porch fredericksburg

October 2013

19

history’s stories

Masonic Lodge 17

By Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks

OUR HERITAGE

A monthly look at the Central Rappahannock Heritage Center collection

historic route 1

From 1760 to 1775 there was a revival of Masonry in all of the Colonies with additions in new membership that have never been surpassed.

Many of the leaders in the Colonies who became members of the order would go on to sign and adopt the Declaration of Independence and formulate the Constitution.

Fredericksburg was the site of this movement with the date of Lodge #4 being September 1, 1752.

Six years later on July 21, 1758, a Charter was issued by the Grand Lodge of Scotland under the designation of the Lodge of FREDERICKSBURGH. The Grand Lodge of Virginia issued to the Fredericksburg Lodge a Virginia charter on January 30, 1787, under which it currently operates with a membership of men who were and are still involved throughout the community, state, and nation. The lodge still owns the original Scottish Charter issued in 1758.

The Fredericksburg Lodge has the oldest known record in the world of the Royal Arch Degree being conferred. According to Lodge #4 minutes of meetings, on November 4, 1752, George Washington was initiated with thirteen Fredericksburg Masons in attendance. General Lafayette became a member of the Lodge on Sunday, November 28, 1824. Lafayette was in attendance on his last visit to America and was addressed by the Master William Gray who told him how proud the Lodge was to have members such as Washington, Mercer, Weedon, Woodford and Lafayette. He went on to tell Lafayette that the anniversary of his visit would always be remembered, which the Lodge still celebrates annually. It is recorded that Lafayette responded with great emotion.

In May 1833, the Lodge laid the cornerstone for the monument to George Washington’s Mother with President Andrew Jackson who had been the Past Grand Master of Masons in Tennessee before becoming President. The Lodge has survived many events with the Civil War being the most destructive. Many of the Masonic Lodge items that were looted during the battle and have been returned over the past hundred plus years.

The Lodge still has the Bible upon which George Washington took his Masonic oath. It is recognized that few Masonic Lodges if any could show such membership as the Fredericksburg Lodge. George Washington, Hugh Mercer, Lafayette, Wallace, Jacob Von Braam, William Woodford, Montgomery Slaughter, and John Paul Jones - to name a few. Many local government officials were Lodge members or are current members of the Lodge, which is still active after more than 250 years.

If you follow the signs of US Business Route 1, winding your way through Downtown, you may be traveling on a road that holds more history than you realize.

Today we call the road Princess Anne Street; in 1926 it was named US Route No. 1; during its construction, the newspapers referred to it as the Washington-Richmond Highway or the Richmond-Washington Highway (depending on the location of the writer), and when it opened in 1927 it was billed as the Jefferson Davis Highway. Today, these names call to mind a variety of roads, yet when the automobile was still a novelty and road maintenance was still a new idea, these were all the same location, the one main highway from Maine to Florida by way of Princess Anne Street, Fredericksburg, VA –- US Route No. 1.

What started out as a muddy road that hindered as well as helped automobiles, had been transformed into a smoothly paved concrete surface after 24 years of legislation, meetings and construction. On May 28, 1927 the splendid celebration of its completion would be fitting of all the work that went into it.

For the opening of the Washington-Richmond Highway, Fredericksburg prepared to host 30,000 visitors. The Virginia highway, part of the larger Jefferson Davis Highway, was now completely concrete and inspired an illustrious day of ribbon cuttings, luncheons, pageants, and formal dances.

The festivities began at 10 the morning of May 28th, when one blue ribbon was cut a

Tuffy Hicks, our house historian, dedicates this month’s column to “everyone who attended the benefit for Rob.”

mile and a half north of Occoquan by the Mayor of Alexandria, William Albert Smoot, and one gray ribbon was cut 19

Central Rappahannock

HERITAGE CENTER Volunteers needed to process historical documents and aid researchers.

Training provided.

Phone 540-373-3704 or email crhc@verizon.net Open to the public for scholarly research

The Heritage Center 18

October 2013

Maury Commons

900 Barton St

Front porch fredericksburg

Fredericksburg

by emily taggert schricker miles north of Fredericksburg, by Virginia Governor Harry Flood Byrd. The parties then progressed to Fredericksburg and their places in the reviewing stands to watch a grand two-hour pageant unfold.

The pageant was a collection of American History and English History.

Three generations of transportation history, an array of bands, costumes, and armed forces rounded out the show. That evening, two large dances were hosted to bring the grand celebration to a close, one at the Maury Hotel, the other at the Elks Home. Perhaps the best news of the day was reported by The Washington Post: “Every highway leading into the city was filled with automobiles and, while traffic was dense, there was no accidents or disorder reported.”

Make your First Friday plans now!

HFFI will have an Open House on October 4th from 6-8 8pm.

Be sure to stop by! This will be your chance to see the first in a series of exhibits from the Vintage Route 1 Event.

And, do visit the Central Rappahannock Heritage Center (CRHC), 900 Barton St. #111 (540-373-3704), which will be launching, with HFFI, its recently published book, The Circle Unbroken: Civil War Letters of the Knox Family of Fredericksburg, on Sunday, October 27th, from 3 to 5p.m. at the Kenmore Inn, 1200 Princess Anne, the home of the Knox Family from the 1850’s into the early 20th Century.

Refreshments provided; books available for purchase.

Emily Taggart Schricker works at Dovetail Cultural Resource Group and lives in town.

Bubbling and Flowing Water Street Writers’/Artists’ Studio Opens By collette caprara

They are “three amigos” with much in common: they are all masters of their art; they all appreciate the mutual support and encouragement that is the hallmark of the Fredericksburg arts community; and they each had a desire to “pay it forward” to nurture and promote the arts in the area. This month, Susan Carter Morgan (R), Lynette Reed (L), and Elizabeth Seaver (C) will accomplish that goal with the unveiling of their unique Water Street Writers’ and Artists’ Studio at 915 Sophia Street.

The title of the studio is rooted in the name that was given to Sophia Street back in history, but “water” also seems to be a perfect image to connote the bubbling and flowing nature of artistic creation as well. And, while the visual arts, drama, and music all present themselves to the physical senses, the art of writing has been like a silent river running through and beneath the arts community: The Water Street Studio will bring that stream to the surface.

“Our idea was to have a studio where the visual and written arts could combine, and it’s not a far reach to connect writing with art,” said Reed, “They go hand and hand and both trace back to an era of cave paintings and hieroglyphics when writing and art were one and the same!”

Morgan, a former journalist and long-time teacher, reflects on the role that the visual arts played in inspiring her personal muse when her studio was located at the Liberty Town Arts Workshop. “When I would come into the building and see all these fabulous painters, and sculptors, and craftspeople working, I was inspired in my own writing.

Morgan went on to try her hand at painting and recalls, “I took courses and

realized how much doing the art could help my writing and inspire me to come up with stronger pieces and to use all parts of my brain as I create.

It puts my writing in a different place and I use different images and language based on the visual art.

It even helps with organization.”

While Seaver is best known in the area for her whimsical paintings of stylized birds in curious pursuits and Reed for her weaving creations and fiber sculptures, their creations have also included writing. Both have written and illustrated children’s books, and Seaver has even ventured into authoring books for adults.

“Both writing and painting have been ways for me to discover more about who I am and to move to a new place,” said Seaver, “Even if you never publish a thing, writing helps you to understand yourself and your relationships. You can create every day of your life and that makes your life a richer experience as well as enriching the people around you.”

The Water Street Studio, which opens its doors on October 4, was conceived as a hub of artistic collaboration and will host workshops, classes, and guest speakers and will feature the work of local artists in its gift shop. Plans are also underway to launch an online literary magazine with ongoing submissions from writers in the area.

“We want to be a gathering place where writers and artists can come together over a cup of coffee or offer classes for children and adults in our studios,” said Morgan, “It’s one more way that we can share in this vibrant community of creative people and perhaps offer some workshops that haven’t been done before in exactly the same way.”

The Water Street scoop: website: writingandarts@gmail.com Hours: http://waterstreetstudio.org/ Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat: 12-6P; Sun: 124P; Closed Tuesday and Wednesday, except for classes Collette Caprara is a writer and visual artist.

front porch fredericksburg

October 2013

19

Companion Care

Full Service Hospital featuring:

when you move

Grooming Salon Canine Boarding in Our Indoor/Outdoor Runs Dog Training & Behavioral Consults with certified dog trainer Feline Boarding in Our Spacious Multi-room Condos

by jennifer skarbek, DVM

AutoKnown Better how i spent my summer vacation

By Rim Vining

Serving you & your companion animals for 16 years

My husband and I just purchased our first home. While I’m excited for this huge step, I’m a bit concerned that my pets may not share my enthusiasm for the change. Their lives revolve around three things: me, food, and their territory. I worry they may get upset by the unfamiliar environment and odors.

Luckily for me, I work alongside some pretty great trainers (insert plug for Positive Touch Training here – honestly, they are very good at what they do) who have armed me with several options on how to help my beasties transition to a new home. The first recommendation is to put appeasing pheromones into the home before the animals even arrive.

These pheromones are airborne synthetic hormones that induce a calming mood over pets. They are easy to use, just plug into an outlet and change the cartridge about once a month, and they don’t have an odor humans can detect. There are species-specific pheromones for both cats and dogs. Another consideration before dogs arrive at their new pad is to exercise them. It may be helpful to take dogs for a walk around the new neighborhood to take in all the new sites, smells, and people while burning off some energy that may otherwise be transformed into overstimulation and anxiety at the new home.

Once you’re ready to bring your pets onto the premise, start by placing familiar items into the unfamiliar environment. Some of the first items you should unload at a new home are kennels, pet toys, bowls, and bedding. Another way to help your pet cope is to keep a normal schedule during the chaos of unpacking.

If you feed or walk your pet at the same time every day then be sure to continue that routine.

Another tool that is gaining popularity is the ThunderShirt. They look ridiculous on television commercials and

20

October 2013

there are some entertaining Internet videos of pets wearing them, but the absurd looking pet attire can really work!

Plus they have a 45-day guarantee so you can at least give it a try.

Trainers recommend to get your furry friend acclimated to wearing it during happy, non-stressful times before you use it in a stressful situation.

If you move into a home like mine that has urine stained carpet from the previous animal inhabitant, unfortunately the carpet and pad has to be torn up and trashed. It’s important to also treat the sub-flooring with an enzymatic cleaner made for pet stains and a sealant. If the odor is not completely resolved, your pets will smell the previous urine and likely start marking the flooring themselves.

If none of the above adaptations are adequate at keeping your pet happy and healthy, you should consult a certified trainer and your veterinarian. A trainer will have ideas more specific to your pet’s responses, and a veterinarian may prescribe behavior-modifying medications.

Be aware that medications can have side effects or change the personality of your four-legged friend. It is almost always best to try training before medication, and then continue training in addition to medication.

These coping devises can also be used to reduce anxiety in many other stressful situations.

For example, separation anxiety, guests in the home (the holidays are coming), and bad weather. I’ve even had a patient get upset when the owners purchased a new couch!

Dr. Jennifer Skarbek, DVM, who practices at White Oak Animal Hospital, reminds you to update pet tags and/or microchip information when you move to a new address.

Front porch fredericksburg

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

540/374-0462 www.woahvets.com

10 Walsh Lane

Keyboard Classes Ages 3 - Adult Free Introductory Lesson Schedule at: ymsfred.com 371-4526 Classes now in Session

YAMAHA MUSIC SCHOOL OF FREDERICKBURG

207 William Street

I have done this before… stared at the October deadline and said what? Headless Horseman Motors has been done.

Sleepy Hollow Sales falls flat. Then I thought of my automotive adventures this summer and an article I wrote ten years ago and a marriage was made.

My father rarely succumbed to family vacations of any length while I was growing up. However, in 1958 we did go see his parents in Tryon, North Carolina. We took a ‘57 Ford Country Squire wagon with simulated woodgrained sides for which he built a wooden box (3/8 birch plywood assembled with countersunk brass screws and sporting a clear shellac finish) which he then mounted on the roof to hold everything we would need for both casual and formal events on our “tour” of the south. Into this un-air-conditioned environment he placed a family of six along with the family baby-sitter to take care of the children. Now dare I say it? Gertrude Steptoe was a woman of color. There, the reality of the ‘50’s is out! The only thing he didn’t plan for was that while this might be a fine arrangement living near Washington D.C. it made traveling in the South of the 1950’s somewhat difficult.

Finding overnight accommodations for our integrated family was a bit unique.

As part of our fun vacation activities we were often dressed in white duck shorts, knee-socks and seersucker blazers (my sister of course wore gloves and a hat) and whisked away to cocktail parties at peoples’ homes who had names like Whippy and Sneezy. Then, having downed our Shirley Temples and eaten our fill of limp triskets, (that’s a band

right?) we found ourselves dismissed from the adult company and were left standing face to face and eye to eye with the children of the tenant farmers and instructed to enjoy ourselves.

These children had no shoes and lived in a world so different from mine that since the age of five that image has never left me. They did, however, have a water rocket. If you want to bring kids together introduce water, ice-cream or watermelon. I think they all work equally well and should be used more often.

This summer when visiting relations in Asheville I related that tale only to get an emphatic, “You got off easy!” from cousin Rick. It seems his summer vacations started with a 10-12 hour whistle stop train ride from Washington DC to Abingdon, Virginia with his mother and sister. His father stayed home. They packed a lunch and were not allowed to go to the dining car, explore the train or get out of their seats. They were met at the station by a relative of some kind and then proceeded west by car for another 2-3 hours until they arrived at Grandma’s house up on a ridge somewhere west of known civilization.

There he enjoyed two full weeks of solitude.

No activities, no TV, no cousins his age and each day the same. Start breakfast and clean up and go in the garden. Then prepare dinner and clean up and go in the garden. And yes, then you fixed supper, cleaned up and went to bed at dark and stayed quiet so you wouldn’t wake up the grandparents who had to be up early to start breakfast….

When at 12 or 13 he said he wasn’t going his dad just said, “Okay.” He never went. His poor sister continued the tradition for many more years.

“Where the sun comes up about ten in the morning….” Thanks, Darrell Scott

ROXBURY F

ARM

MAIN: (540) 373-9124 NURSERY: (540) 371-8802

& GARDEN CENTER

Since 1929

601 LAFAYETTE BLVD

roxburyfarmgarden.com

Grass Seed, Mums, Pumpkins, and Fall Planting Wine & Beer Making Supplies And This Just In!...

Sod By The Roll pre-orders recommended

Front Porch Fredericksburg

online: www.save7lives.org in person: Dept. of Motor Vehicles

Supporting Local Artists Since 1997

autoknown@aol.com

Rim Vining wrote this while listening to Sinatra’s “The Summer Wind.”

front porch fredericksburg

October 2013

21

Companion Care

Full Service Hospital featuring:

when you move

Grooming Salon Canine Boarding in Our Indoor/Outdoor Runs Dog Training & Behavioral Consults with certified dog trainer Feline Boarding in Our Spacious Multi-room Condos

by jennifer skarbek, DVM

AutoKnown Better how i spent my summer vacation

By Rim Vining

Serving you & your companion animals for 16 years

My husband and I just purchased our first home. While I’m excited for this huge step, I’m a bit concerned that my pets may not share my enthusiasm for the change. Their lives revolve around three things: me, food, and their territory. I worry they may get upset by the unfamiliar environment and odors.

Luckily for me, I work alongside some pretty great trainers (insert plug for Positive Touch Training here – honestly, they are very good at what they do) who have armed me with several options on how to help my beasties transition to a new home. The first recommendation is to put appeasing pheromones into the home before the animals even arrive.

These pheromones are airborne synthetic hormones that induce a calming mood over pets. They are easy to use, just plug into an outlet and change the cartridge about once a month, and they don’t have an odor humans can detect. There are species-specific pheromones for both cats and dogs. Another consideration before dogs arrive at their new pad is to exercise them. It may be helpful to take dogs for a walk around the new neighborhood to take in all the new sites, smells, and people while burning off some energy that may otherwise be transformed into overstimulation and anxiety at the new home.

Once you’re ready to bring your pets onto the premise, start by placing familiar items into the unfamiliar environment. Some of the first items you should unload at a new home are kennels, pet toys, bowls, and bedding. Another way to help your pet cope is to keep a normal schedule during the chaos of unpacking.

If you feed or walk your pet at the same time every day then be sure to continue that routine.

Another tool that is gaining popularity is the ThunderShirt. They look ridiculous on television commercials and

20

October 2013

there are some entertaining Internet videos of pets wearing them, but the absurd looking pet attire can really work!

Plus they have a 45-day guarantee so you can at least give it a try.

Trainers recommend to get your furry friend acclimated to wearing it during happy, non-stressful times before you use it in a stressful situation.

If you move into a home like mine that has urine stained carpet from the previous animal inhabitant, unfortunately the carpet and pad has to be torn up and trashed. It’s important to also treat the sub-flooring with an enzymatic cleaner made for pet stains and a sealant. If the odor is not completely resolved, your pets will smell the previous urine and likely start marking the flooring themselves.

If none of the above adaptations are adequate at keeping your pet happy and healthy, you should consult a certified trainer and your veterinarian. A trainer will have ideas more specific to your pet’s responses, and a veterinarian may prescribe behavior-modifying medications.

Be aware that medications can have side effects or change the personality of your four-legged friend. It is almost always best to try training before medication, and then continue training in addition to medication.

These coping devises can also be used to reduce anxiety in many other stressful situations.

For example, separation anxiety, guests in the home (the holidays are coming), and bad weather. I’ve even had a patient get upset when the owners purchased a new couch!

Dr. Jennifer Skarbek, DVM, who practices at White Oak Animal Hospital, reminds you to update pet tags and/or microchip information when you move to a new address.

Front porch fredericksburg

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

540/374-0462 www.woahvets.com

10 Walsh Lane

Keyboard Classes Ages 3 - Adult Free Introductory Lesson Schedule at: ymsfred.com 371-4526 Classes now in Session

YAMAHA MUSIC SCHOOL OF FREDERICKBURG

207 William Street

I have done this before… stared at the October deadline and said what? Headless Horseman Motors has been done.

Sleepy Hollow Sales falls flat. Then I thought of my automotive adventures this summer and an article I wrote ten years ago and a marriage was made.

My father rarely succumbed to family vacations of any length while I was growing up. However, in 1958 we did go see his parents in Tryon, North Carolina. We took a ‘57 Ford Country Squire wagon with simulated woodgrained sides for which he built a wooden box (3/8 birch plywood assembled with countersunk brass screws and sporting a clear shellac finish) which he then mounted on the roof to hold everything we would need for both casual and formal events on our “tour” of the south. Into this un-air-conditioned environment he placed a family of six along with the family baby-sitter to take care of the children. Now dare I say it? Gertrude Steptoe was a woman of color. There, the reality of the ‘50’s is out! The only thing he didn’t plan for was that while this might be a fine arrangement living near Washington D.C. it made traveling in the South of the 1950’s somewhat difficult.

Finding overnight accommodations for our integrated family was a bit unique.

As part of our fun vacation activities we were often dressed in white duck shorts, knee-socks and seersucker blazers (my sister of course wore gloves and a hat) and whisked away to cocktail parties at peoples’ homes who had names like Whippy and Sneezy. Then, having downed our Shirley Temples and eaten our fill of limp triskets, (that’s a band

right?) we found ourselves dismissed from the adult company and were left standing face to face and eye to eye with the children of the tenant farmers and instructed to enjoy ourselves.

These children had no shoes and lived in a world so different from mine that since the age of five that image has never left me. They did, however, have a water rocket. If you want to bring kids together introduce water, ice-cream or watermelon. I think they all work equally well and should be used more often.

This summer when visiting relations in Asheville I related that tale only to get an emphatic, “You got off easy!” from cousin Rick. It seems his summer vacations started with a 10-12 hour whistle stop train ride from Washington DC to Abingdon, Virginia with his mother and sister. His father stayed home. They packed a lunch and were not allowed to go to the dining car, explore the train or get out of their seats. They were met at the station by a relative of some kind and then proceeded west by car for another 2-3 hours until they arrived at Grandma’s house up on a ridge somewhere west of known civilization.

There he enjoyed two full weeks of solitude.

No activities, no TV, no cousins his age and each day the same. Start breakfast and clean up and go in the garden. Then prepare dinner and clean up and go in the garden. And yes, then you fixed supper, cleaned up and went to bed at dark and stayed quiet so you wouldn’t wake up the grandparents who had to be up early to start breakfast….

When at 12 or 13 he said he wasn’t going his dad just said, “Okay.” He never went. His poor sister continued the tradition for many more years.

“Where the sun comes up about ten in the morning….” Thanks, Darrell Scott

ROXBURY F

ARM

MAIN: (540) 373-9124 NURSERY: (540) 371-8802

& GARDEN CENTER

Since 1929

601 LAFAYETTE BLVD

roxburyfarmgarden.com

Grass Seed, Mums, Pumpkins, and Fall Planting Wine & Beer Making Supplies And This Just In!...

Sod By The Roll pre-orders recommended

Front Porch Fredericksburg

online: www.save7lives.org in person: Dept. of Motor Vehicles

Supporting Local Artists Since 1997

autoknown@aol.com

Rim Vining wrote this while listening to Sinatra’s “The Summer Wind.”

front porch fredericksburg

October 2013

21

Senior Care capturing life stories

By Karl Karch

I was inspired to write this article by an incredible client that recently passed away. His funeral service lasted two and one half hours. People who knew him spoke of his accomplishments, philanthropy, and how he impacted their lives. He even wrote an autobiography of his life, not in a self-serving bragging way, but a humble tribute to the things he did and the lives he impacted along the way.

For example, in his early 30’s while blinded in one eye and poor eyesight in the other (the result of a teenage homemade pipe rocket experiment), his patent revolutionized the manufacturing of fiberglass. Not all of us have such a storied life as he did. However, having lived for many decades, we all have stories to tell that our families will cherish.

One of many rewards of owning an eldercare company is stated in our mission statement: “To enhance the lives of our clients and their families”. One way we do this is to encourage families to capture the life stories of their elder loved ones, something regrettably not done in my family. Having grown up in the Great Depression, my parents wanted to leave my sister and me what little money they had rather than spend it to improve their quality of life. While thankful, a more priceless gift would have been passing on our family history and their life stories.

We encourage our caregivers to document their clients’ histories in a Life Journal we provide. This is a vehicle for the caregiver and client to spend quality time together and also give the family something to always remember.

They often learn something new about their loved ones.

Scrapbooking is another way we capture family history.

Research has found that telling stories about one’s life through a more formal practice, known as life reviews, has

22

October 2013

many additional benefits for seniors.

Going through the process of reviewing one’s life can: improve self-esteem, decrease or prevent depression, improve cognitive function, socially engage people who have dementia, and even reduce chronic pain.

Hospitals, hospices, and other settings for those close to death or very ill are using life reviews as dignity or reminiscence therapy to help bring closure to lives. There are many formal and informal ways to write life reviews.

For those who want some assistance in writing their own life story, the website www.lifebio.com may be of interest and help by providing a template and online thought provoking questions.

With today’s online technologies, written life stories can be easily turned into a printed book. My wife, Roberta, had a book made for each of our adult children with childhood pictures and creative captions and designs. This was one of the best gifts we ever gave them.

The website is www.smilebooks.com.

So, as we approach the holiday season and spend time with loved ones, set aside some time away from football games and other distractions to discuss your family history.

Capture some stories, happy or sad, funny or serious. Take time later to write them down, or better yet, video or voice record them as they are told.

They will be cherished for generations to come and you will always say, as Bob Hope captured in his famous signature theme song, “Thanks for the Memory.”

Karl Karch is a local franchise owner of Home Instead Senior Care, a licensed home care organization providing personal care, companionship and home helper services. Please go to www.homeinstead.com/614.

Front porch fredericksburg

Fire in the Hole!

Prevention in the Kitchen Top Chef, Master Chef and Iron Chef, among others—center around culinary expertise in the kitchen.

Chefs like Emeril Lagasse and Rocco DiSpirito have rockstar status.

Couples schedule cooking vacations in exotic locales, and kids develop gourmet tastes from creating dishes with Mom and Dad. There’s no question that meal prep is today’s fun family. But, beware — cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and injuries; such is the theme 12. for Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 6-1 Capt.

Mike Passera of Chancellor Volunteer Fire & Rescue says a large number of calls are from emergency signals from smoke alarms in the kitchen. “Our firefirghters and rescue workers have responded to calls late at night due to something burning on the stove that the homeowner completely forgot about.”

Passera believes the push to multi-task at work carries over to the home. “Everyone feels they have to do many things at once, which can lead to lack of attention and focus when it’s important to stay alert.” Carelessness leads to scalds and burns if cooking is neglected on the stove or in the oven.

What seemed to be simmering safely can ignite on an unattended stovetop.

The National Fire Protection Association adds: It’s best not to use the stove or stovetop if you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol.

Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove. Use a timer to remind you that cooking is taking place.

Keep anything that can catch fire away from the stovetop.

Identify two exits in an emergency and keep these exits clear of furniture and clutter.

Be sure to have a working smoke alarm and a fire extinguisher.

For more tips visit www.firepreventionweek.org — Sara Hunt, Sr. PR Mgr. at Touch Points

Let’s Get Metaphysical Fxbg’s first meta conference By kandra orr The world is in a period of rapid change and the Metaphysical Society is looking forward to providing alternative health services, spiritual support, guidance, and knowledge to nourish the greater Burg community.

The Metaphysical Conference by the Metaphysical Society of Fredericksburg is Saturday, October 12, 2013 at The Holiday Inn Express Ballroom, 560 Warrenton Road from 10am - 5pm.

Cheryl Shotwell, certified in Paranormal Psychology and Shamanism, has practiced Feng Shui and Energy Clearing since 1995, and is an integral part of Meta. She offers home and business consultations and energy clearing services to attain optimal health, opportunity, and balance. According to Cheryl, “We felt it was time this area had a centralized platform offering fresh ways to navigate our metaphysical journeys.

There are many people with similar goals, but this particular group combines unique holistic, metaphysical, and spiritual experience. We are looking forward to folding additional local practitioners into our annual lectures and workshops.”

Marie Johnson, a Certified BodyTalk Practitioner, uses a dynamic energy therapy that addresses the overall grid of the body by listening to the body’s signs and expressions.

She utilizes a method that “unravels” imbalances in the order in which the body wants to mend so that healing takes place faster and more gently. The BodyTalk method can be used as a standalone modality or in conjunction with modern medical treatments. At the Metaphysical Conference, Marie will not only explain this great modality, but also demonstrate a few techniques that anyone can learn to use daily.

I (Kandra Orr) will present another energy healing modality—Eden

Energy Medicine (EEM), which utilizes nine energy systems in the body and the electro-magnetic field to balance disturbed or weak energies before they manifest as illness. EEM activates the body’s natural ability to heal itself and maintain health and well-being.

I’m a Certified Eden Energy Practitioner, clairvoyant and aromatherapy practitioner. What I find exciting about EEM is its ability not only to heal but also to develop intuition and sensitize people to energy.” I also host the Metaphysical Meetup of Fredericksburg.

Beth Craig, Life Coach, will present Emotional Freedom Technique and the Passion Test. According to Beth, “EFT can help break down the barriers that hold people back.”

EFT has had tremendous results in helping veterans with PTSD. “The Passion Test can help people figure out what they are passionate about so they can begin to manifest their

future. I have met so many people who underestimate their potential. It brings me great joy to hold up a mirror so they can see what I see.”

Certified Health Coach Jen Miller will teach the amazing powers of Transformational Nutrition; “My mission is to teach the world to use food as a means of connection and health. Eating mindfully, supporting our local community, and listening to your body is where health and happiness begins.”

For more information about the conference and the presenters, please see fredmeta.com. Tickets are available only on line.

Kandra Orr specializes in Eden Energy Medicine.

PHOTO CREDIT: “Loving Memories”

Healthcare For the Whole Person SPECIALIZING IN: ` Gentle, Individualized Chiropractic Care ` Cranio-Sacral Balancing (Sacro Occipital Technique - SOT) ` Addressing Your Total Health Needs with Natural, Holistic Treatment Methods ` Detoxification/Weight Loss Nutritional Programs

Your Hot Yoga Studio 540-659-0777 staffordhouseofyoga.com

Dr. Christine Thompson

971 Garrisonville Rd Stafford

front porch fredericksburg

October 2013

23

Senior Care capturing life stories

By Karl Karch

I was inspired to write this article by an incredible client that recently passed away. His funeral service lasted two and one half hours. People who knew him spoke of his accomplishments, philanthropy, and how he impacted their lives. He even wrote an autobiography of his life, not in a self-serving bragging way, but a humble tribute to the things he did and the lives he impacted along the way.

For example, in his early 30’s while blinded in one eye and poor eyesight in the other (the result of a teenage homemade pipe rocket experiment), his patent revolutionized the manufacturing of fiberglass. Not all of us have such a storied life as he did. However, having lived for many decades, we all have stories to tell that our families will cherish.

One of many rewards of owning an eldercare company is stated in our mission statement: “To enhance the lives of our clients and their families”. One way we do this is to encourage families to capture the life stories of their elder loved ones, something regrettably not done in my family. Having grown up in the Great Depression, my parents wanted to leave my sister and me what little money they had rather than spend it to improve their quality of life. While thankful, a more priceless gift would have been passing on our family history and their life stories.

We encourage our caregivers to document their clients’ histories in a Life Journal we provide. This is a vehicle for the caregiver and client to spend quality time together and also give the family something to always remember.

They often learn something new about their loved ones.

Scrapbooking is another way we capture family history.

Research has found that telling stories about one’s life through a more formal practice, known as life reviews, has

22

October 2013

many additional benefits for seniors.

Going through the process of reviewing one’s life can: improve self-esteem, decrease or prevent depression, improve cognitive function, socially engage people who have dementia, and even reduce chronic pain.

Hospitals, hospices, and other settings for those close to death or very ill are using life reviews as dignity or reminiscence therapy to help bring closure to lives. There are many formal and informal ways to write life reviews.

For those who want some assistance in writing their own life story, the website www.lifebio.com may be of interest and help by providing a template and online thought provoking questions.

With today’s online technologies, written life stories can be easily turned into a printed book. My wife, Roberta, had a book made for each of our adult children with childhood pictures and creative captions and designs. This was one of the best gifts we ever gave them.

The website is www.smilebooks.com.

So, as we approach the holiday season and spend time with loved ones, set aside some time away from football games and other distractions to discuss your family history.

Capture some stories, happy or sad, funny or serious. Take time later to write them down, or better yet, video or voice record them as they are told.

They will be cherished for generations to come and you will always say, as Bob Hope captured in his famous signature theme song, “Thanks for the Memory.”

Karl Karch is a local franchise owner of Home Instead Senior Care, a licensed home care organization providing personal care, companionship and home helper services. Please go to www.homeinstead.com/614.

Front porch fredericksburg

Fire in the Hole!

Prevention in the Kitchen Top Chef, Master Chef and Iron Chef, among others—center around culinary expertise in the kitchen.

Chefs like Emeril Lagasse and Rocco DiSpirito have rockstar status.

Couples schedule cooking vacations in exotic locales, and kids develop gourmet tastes from creating dishes with Mom and Dad. There’s no question that meal prep is today’s fun family. But, beware — cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and injuries; such is the theme 12. for Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 6-1 Capt.

Mike Passera of Chancellor Volunteer Fire & Rescue says a large number of calls are from emergency signals from smoke alarms in the kitchen. “Our firefirghters and rescue workers have responded to calls late at night due to something burning on the stove that the homeowner completely forgot about.”

Passera believes the push to multi-task at work carries over to the home. “Everyone feels they have to do many things at once, which can lead to lack of attention and focus when it’s important to stay alert.” Carelessness leads to scalds and burns if cooking is neglected on the stove or in the oven.

What seemed to be simmering safely can ignite on an unattended stovetop.

The National Fire Protection Association adds: It’s best not to use the stove or stovetop if you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol.

Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove. Use a timer to remind you that cooking is taking place.

Keep anything that can catch fire away from the stovetop.

Identify two exits in an emergency and keep these exits clear of furniture and clutter.

Be sure to have a working smoke alarm and a fire extinguisher.

For more tips visit www.firepreventionweek.org — Sara Hunt, Sr. PR Mgr. at Touch Points

Let’s Get Metaphysical Fxbg’s first meta conference By kandra orr The world is in a period of rapid change and the Metaphysical Society is looking forward to providing alternative health services, spiritual support, guidance, and knowledge to nourish the greater Burg community.

The Metaphysical Conference by the Metaphysical Society of Fredericksburg is Saturday, October 12, 2013 at The Holiday Inn Express Ballroom, 560 Warrenton Road from 10am - 5pm.

Cheryl Shotwell, certified in Paranormal Psychology and Shamanism, has practiced Feng Shui and Energy Clearing since 1995, and is an integral part of Meta. She offers home and business consultations and energy clearing services to attain optimal health, opportunity, and balance. According to Cheryl, “We felt it was time this area had a centralized platform offering fresh ways to navigate our metaphysical journeys.

There are many people with similar goals, but this particular group combines unique holistic, metaphysical, and spiritual experience. We are looking forward to folding additional local practitioners into our annual lectures and workshops.”

Marie Johnson, a Certified BodyTalk Practitioner, uses a dynamic energy therapy that addresses the overall grid of the body by listening to the body’s signs and expressions.

She utilizes a method that “unravels” imbalances in the order in which the body wants to mend so that healing takes place faster and more gently. The BodyTalk method can be used as a standalone modality or in conjunction with modern medical treatments. At the Metaphysical Conference, Marie will not only explain this great modality, but also demonstrate a few techniques that anyone can learn to use daily.

I (Kandra Orr) will present another energy healing modality—Eden

Energy Medicine (EEM), which utilizes nine energy systems in the body and the electro-magnetic field to balance disturbed or weak energies before they manifest as illness. EEM activates the body’s natural ability to heal itself and maintain health and well-being.

I’m a Certified Eden Energy Practitioner, clairvoyant and aromatherapy practitioner. What I find exciting about EEM is its ability not only to heal but also to develop intuition and sensitize people to energy.” I also host the Metaphysical Meetup of Fredericksburg.

Beth Craig, Life Coach, will present Emotional Freedom Technique and the Passion Test. According to Beth, “EFT can help break down the barriers that hold people back.”

EFT has had tremendous results in helping veterans with PTSD. “The Passion Test can help people figure out what they are passionate about so they can begin to manifest their

future. I have met so many people who underestimate their potential. It brings me great joy to hold up a mirror so they can see what I see.”

Certified Health Coach Jen Miller will teach the amazing powers of Transformational Nutrition; “My mission is to teach the world to use food as a means of connection and health. Eating mindfully, supporting our local community, and listening to your body is where health and happiness begins.”

For more information about the conference and the presenters, please see fredmeta.com. Tickets are available only on line.

Kandra Orr specializes in Eden Energy Medicine.

PHOTO CREDIT: “Loving Memories”

Healthcare For the Whole Person SPECIALIZING IN: ` Gentle, Individualized Chiropractic Care ` Cranio-Sacral Balancing (Sacro Occipital Technique - SOT) ` Addressing Your Total Health Needs with Natural, Holistic Treatment Methods ` Detoxification/Weight Loss Nutritional Programs

Your Hot Yoga Studio 540-659-0777 staffordhouseofyoga.com

Dr. Christine Thompson

971 Garrisonville Rd Stafford

front porch fredericksburg

October 2013

23

Deb Munro

Beverly Coates

“Artfully Arranged” Brush Strokes Gallery 824 Caroline St. Downtown Fredericksburg 368-0560

Her creative kids rule!

By lezlie cheryl

BY RAY NELSON (child) Nurturing a child’s creativity and self-expression is the inspired mission of The Creative Side art studio and gallery, 513 Jackson.

Their Sixth Annual Children’s Art Show & Costume Party opens First Friday, Oct. 4 with Artists’ Reception 5-8PM, with every participant ribboning.

Owner Deborah Munro: “It’s important that every child who has the courage to enter their art should receive a ribbon, even if it’s not a place ribbon.”

Featuring artists 2 years old through 12th grade, the exhibition is open Oct. 5-17, Thurs 4:30-7pm, Sat 10:30-1pm.

The reception also offerS face painting to complement children’s costumes, art demos in a Fall/Halloween theme, and plenty of snacks.

Munro says, “We display the children’s latest artworks every month, and as far as I know we are the only gallery downtown that hosts First Friday celebrations specifically for children.”

Today’s Creative Side offers

24

October 2013

children’s art classes after starting on a much smaller scale 9 years ago in Munro’s basement. It began with neighborhood kids, then moved on to Parks & Recreation departments in Fxbg and Spotsy. She later established the current Jackson Street studio, also teaching at Stafford Parks & Rec, LibertyTown, the Marshall Center and after-school programs in King George.

Most classes are offered year round in 4-week sessions with modest prices varying per class. Students display works in a gallery setting at monthly First Fridays.

Drawing & painting classes feature age appropriate assignments geared to help individual expression. Art Exploration-Mom and Me classes for preschoolers loving art teach basic drawing, painting and crafting skills in different media.

Comic Art provides fundamental cartooning skills for the comic book or graphic novel medium. Student Marianna Smith recently published her own comic book and attended a comic book convention where she sold several copies.

The Creative Side has had several students accepted into Focus Art in Stafford County Public Schools, and helped many students prepare portfolios for college.

“My focus right now is starting our newest program for children with autism, Art for Awareness.” says Munro. A certified paraprofessional counselor with a BA in Psychology from UVA, Munro is passionate about working with people of all ages who have special needs. Over the years, they’ve had many children with special needs and parents requesting private lessons for more one on one time with the instructor.

“Private lessons can be costly and sometimes difficult to schedule. That’s

Front porch fredericksburg

Rebecca Thomas, Mayor Greenlaw, Lisa Olson, Betsy Park, Lindsey Quinn and all others who came out to check out the duds.

why we’re offering classes specifically for children with autism. Art for Awareness will have a higher teacher to student ratio, plus it’s much cheaper than a private lesson.” Munro will add more classes for children with special needs.

“We’ve seen time and again how art can be a life changer, the act of creating can be very therapeutic.

Students are so proud of their accomplishments, you watch their confidence build as they grow as artists.”

One such talented young student is Ray Nelson, currently taking private lessons and creating a truly amazing portfolio. For more information about The Creative Side, contact Deb Munro at 540.846.8920 or deborahmunro@comcast.net. www.thecreativesideinc.com

Lezlie Cheryl writes about Fxbg arts each month. Contact her at lezliecheryl@gmail.com

and additional works by

Beverly Coates at

810 Weekend Gallery

810 Caroline St. Downtown 371-4099

by megan byrnes

Lotsa cool things happened last month and we’ll get to the rest of them, I promise – but first we’ve got to talk about the Toast of the Town – which was, naturally, the coolest of them all. Katie Dunn, Lexi Grogan, Jessica Sutton, Cissy Nelson, Kyle Snyder, Kathy Harrington, Betsy Glassie, Gabe Pons and a whole host of other local talents and Papa G supporters put together a most fabulous event full of cheers and toasts! Mitzi Osterhout, Dawn Darby, Blake and Aby Bethem, 25 30 Espresso, the team at Miso, Christi Carver, Jannan Holmes, Bill Beck, Jeremy Harrison, Nick Cadwallender (at right in photo below with Blake Bethem and Rob Grogan), Wayne Gootee, Tommy Mitchell, Kadeana Langford, Chris Limbrick, Jenny and Dudley Dupuy, Matt and Stephanie Caspersen, Kellie Walsh, Lori Izykowski, Hugh Cosner, were on hand to support Rob and even engage in some little healthy bidding wars in the process!

It was a beautiful evening, it was full of beautiful people. We all love ya, Rob!

In my next lives, I want to be a surfer, ballerina, and a house cat (I may have already mentioned this once before).

To get started on at least one of those in this life, I’m all about the barre class and Valya Karcher is helping to make it all possible on Tuesday evenings in her studio above Jabberwocky on Caroline Street where she’s teaching barre pilates.

Well, Fredericksburg, it looks like our collective dreams are coming true.

Kathy Craddock and Brandi Fishback are our grocery guardian angels and are bringing Kickshaws Organic Market downtown.

Details are few and far between at the moment – even the location is hush-hush, but I’m confident these ladies will lead us to our promised land.

Speaking of collective dreams coming true, VIVIFY OPENED. As Miranda Priestley would say: that’s all.

Seen:

Matthew

Stoakes

celebrating his birthday at Kybecca with wife Bobbi, Instagraming his way through cocktail hour; Rene Rodriguez at Hyperion Espresso on one of those line-to-the-door mornings; Jenny Hellier picking up some essentials (and non-essentials, as one does) at Target; Jacqueline Dickson shopping with a friend on a Sunday afternoon at Marshall’s; Carrie Schaefer and Tom Eskam having a happy hour at Bistro Bethem; Sarah Appleby living back in Fredericksburg and (I hope) gearing up to start back up at book club.

Scene:

Ben Eldridge (Second

from Right above) celebrated his 75th (!) birthday with his nearest and dearest at a surprise party.

Heard:

local attorney Lelia

Kilgore is planning to build a sweet suite of a home/office combo downtown in the coming months. Cutting a commute down to zero minutes sounds pretty choice, no?

Bruce Day Fine Art 12 years in Market Square alley Original Oils Giclee Print City Scenes brucedaystudio.com

Seen: Long-time library staffers Jenny McGee (at Left in photo above with Lexi Grogan) and Emma Harrison earned their 10-year pin and 20-year pin, respectively, for their service at the CRRL.

Heard:

local

performer

Bethany Cleveland is opening up for Foreigner in San Francisco.

Y’all, I hope you’ll indulge me for a second while I send some shout-outs to those that made last month’s FORAGE fashion show such a success. Dave Weadon is the coolest for opening up his gallery to our shop, Brian Lam is the coolest for producing the show, using his rad NYC show-producing skills, Morgan Forrest is

Booze news:

Brian Prewitt

was named master distiller at A Smith Bowman distillery. I think you’d be hard pressed to find a cooler title than master distiller, for sure. Congrats, Brian!

Happiest of happy birthdays to Kadeana Langford, Kelly Pawlik, Kenny Ellinger, Calvin Roberts, Jay D Anderson, Mari Kelly, Gabe Pons, Aby Bethem, Guerin Wolf, Michael Payne, Edwin Wyant, and Blaize Rai.

Scene: Art Attacked the streets of Fredericksburg for the second time last month on a beautiful fall-ish Saturday afternoon. Artists lined downtown streets armed with canvas, paint, clay, pencils and chalk to create one-of-a-kind pieces of art en plein air. Laura Craig, Seth Casana, Bill Harris (photo below), Dan Finnegan, Gabe Pons, Scarlett Suhy-P Pons, Jenna Anderson and Carter Corbin were just a few of the participating creatives.

the coolest for helping with hair, make-up and photography, Fran Carter is the most generous for helping with hair, Michael “Moog” Cowger is the most awesome for DJ’ing the show putting together a custom mix for the girls to walk to, and Meg Dumlao, Jacquie Damm, Jaymie Pitman, Kylie Westerbeck, Marrea Raza, Resse Silva, Emilie Pryor were (just a few!) of the, sweet talented girls who volunteered their time and beauty to model. Thanks also to

Betsy Glassie STUDIO: LIBERTYTOWN 916 LIBERTY ST. FREDERICKSBURG, VA

BETSYGLASSIE.COM BGLASSIE@AOL.COM

540-899-6556

540 376-1676 front porch fredericksburg

October 2013

25

Deb Munro

Beverly Coates

“Artfully Arranged” Brush Strokes Gallery 824 Caroline St. Downtown Fredericksburg 368-0560

Her creative kids rule!

By lezlie cheryl

BY RAY NELSON (child) Nurturing a child’s creativity and self-expression is the inspired mission of The Creative Side art studio and gallery, 513 Jackson.

Their Sixth Annual Children’s Art Show & Costume Party opens First Friday, Oct. 4 with Artists’ Reception 5-8PM, with every participant ribboning.

Owner Deborah Munro: “It’s important that every child who has the courage to enter their art should receive a ribbon, even if it’s not a place ribbon.”

Featuring artists 2 years old through 12th grade, the exhibition is open Oct. 5-17, Thurs 4:30-7pm, Sat 10:30-1pm.

The reception also offerS face painting to complement children’s costumes, art demos in a Fall/Halloween theme, and plenty of snacks.

Munro says, “We display the children’s latest artworks every month, and as far as I know we are the only gallery downtown that hosts First Friday celebrations specifically for children.”

Today’s Creative Side offers

24

October 2013

children’s art classes after starting on a much smaller scale 9 years ago in Munro’s basement. It began with neighborhood kids, then moved on to Parks & Recreation departments in Fxbg and Spotsy. She later established the current Jackson Street studio, also teaching at Stafford Parks & Rec, LibertyTown, the Marshall Center and after-school programs in King George.

Most classes are offered year round in 4-week sessions with modest prices varying per class. Students display works in a gallery setting at monthly First Fridays.

Drawing & painting classes feature age appropriate assignments geared to help individual expression. Art Exploration-Mom and Me classes for preschoolers loving art teach basic drawing, painting and crafting skills in different media.

Comic Art provides fundamental cartooning skills for the comic book or graphic novel medium. Student Marianna Smith recently published her own comic book and attended a comic book convention where she sold several copies.

The Creative Side has had several students accepted into Focus Art in Stafford County Public Schools, and helped many students prepare portfolios for college.

“My focus right now is starting our newest program for children with autism, Art for Awareness.” says Munro. A certified paraprofessional counselor with a BA in Psychology from UVA, Munro is passionate about working with people of all ages who have special needs. Over the years, they’ve had many children with special needs and parents requesting private lessons for more one on one time with the instructor.

“Private lessons can be costly and sometimes difficult to schedule. That’s

Front porch fredericksburg

Rebecca Thomas, Mayor Greenlaw, Lisa Olson, Betsy Park, Lindsey Quinn and all others who came out to check out the duds.

why we’re offering classes specifically for children with autism. Art for Awareness will have a higher teacher to student ratio, plus it’s much cheaper than a private lesson.” Munro will add more classes for children with special needs.

“We’ve seen time and again how art can be a life changer, the act of creating can be very therapeutic.

Students are so proud of their accomplishments, you watch their confidence build as they grow as artists.”

One such talented young student is Ray Nelson, currently taking private lessons and creating a truly amazing portfolio. For more information about The Creative Side, contact Deb Munro at 540.846.8920 or deborahmunro@comcast.net. www.thecreativesideinc.com

Lezlie Cheryl writes about Fxbg arts each month. Contact her at lezliecheryl@gmail.com

and additional works by

Beverly Coates at

810 Weekend Gallery

810 Caroline St. Downtown 371-4099

by megan byrnes

Lotsa cool things happened last month and we’ll get to the rest of them, I promise – but first we’ve got to talk about the Toast of the Town – which was, naturally, the coolest of them all. Katie Dunn, Lexi Grogan, Jessica Sutton, Cissy Nelson, Kyle Snyder, Kathy Harrington, Betsy Glassie, Gabe Pons and a whole host of other local talents and Papa G supporters put together a most fabulous event full of cheers and toasts! Mitzi Osterhout, Dawn Darby, Blake and Aby Bethem, 25 30 Espresso, the team at Miso, Christi Carver, Jannan Holmes, Bill Beck, Jeremy Harrison, Nick Cadwallender (at right in photo below with Blake Bethem and Rob Grogan), Wayne Gootee, Tommy Mitchell, Kadeana Langford, Chris Limbrick, Jenny and Dudley Dupuy, Matt and Stephanie Caspersen, Kellie Walsh, Lori Izykowski, Hugh Cosner, were on hand to support Rob and even engage in some little healthy bidding wars in the process!

It was a beautiful evening, it was full of beautiful people. We all love ya, Rob!

In my next lives, I want to be a surfer, ballerina, and a house cat (I may have already mentioned this once before).

To get started on at least one of those in this life, I’m all about the barre class and Valya Karcher is helping to make it all possible on Tuesday evenings in her studio above Jabberwocky on Caroline Street where she’s teaching barre pilates.

Well, Fredericksburg, it looks like our collective dreams are coming true.

Kathy Craddock and Brandi Fishback are our grocery guardian angels and are bringing Kickshaws Organic Market downtown.

Details are few and far between at the moment – even the location is hush-hush, but I’m confident these ladies will lead us to our promised land.

Speaking of collective dreams coming true, VIVIFY OPENED. As Miranda Priestley would say: that’s all.

Seen:

Matthew

Stoakes

celebrating his birthday at Kybecca with wife Bobbi, Instagraming his way through cocktail hour; Rene Rodriguez at Hyperion Espresso on one of those line-to-the-door mornings; Jenny Hellier picking up some essentials (and non-essentials, as one does) at Target; Jacqueline Dickson shopping with a friend on a Sunday afternoon at Marshall’s; Carrie Schaefer and Tom Eskam having a happy hour at Bistro Bethem; Sarah Appleby living back in Fredericksburg and (I hope) gearing up to start back up at book club.

Scene:

Ben Eldridge (Second

from Right above) celebrated his 75th (!) birthday with his nearest and dearest at a surprise party.

Heard:

local attorney Lelia

Kilgore is planning to build a sweet suite of a home/office combo downtown in the coming months. Cutting a commute down to zero minutes sounds pretty choice, no?

Bruce Day Fine Art 12 years in Market Square alley Original Oils Giclee Print City Scenes brucedaystudio.com

Seen: Long-time library staffers Jenny McGee (at Left in photo above with Lexi Grogan) and Emma Harrison earned their 10-year pin and 20-year pin, respectively, for their service at the CRRL.

Heard:

local

performer

Bethany Cleveland is opening up for Foreigner in San Francisco.

Y’all, I hope you’ll indulge me for a second while I send some shout-outs to those that made last month’s FORAGE fashion show such a success. Dave Weadon is the coolest for opening up his gallery to our shop, Brian Lam is the coolest for producing the show, using his rad NYC show-producing skills, Morgan Forrest is

Booze news:

Brian Prewitt

was named master distiller at A Smith Bowman distillery. I think you’d be hard pressed to find a cooler title than master distiller, for sure. Congrats, Brian!

Happiest of happy birthdays to Kadeana Langford, Kelly Pawlik, Kenny Ellinger, Calvin Roberts, Jay D Anderson, Mari Kelly, Gabe Pons, Aby Bethem, Guerin Wolf, Michael Payne, Edwin Wyant, and Blaize Rai.

Scene: Art Attacked the streets of Fredericksburg for the second time last month on a beautiful fall-ish Saturday afternoon. Artists lined downtown streets armed with canvas, paint, clay, pencils and chalk to create one-of-a-kind pieces of art en plein air. Laura Craig, Seth Casana, Bill Harris (photo below), Dan Finnegan, Gabe Pons, Scarlett Suhy-P Pons, Jenna Anderson and Carter Corbin were just a few of the participating creatives.

the coolest for helping with hair, make-up and photography, Fran Carter is the most generous for helping with hair, Michael “Moog” Cowger is the most awesome for DJ’ing the show putting together a custom mix for the girls to walk to, and Meg Dumlao, Jacquie Damm, Jaymie Pitman, Kylie Westerbeck, Marrea Raza, Resse Silva, Emilie Pryor were (just a few!) of the, sweet talented girls who volunteered their time and beauty to model. Thanks also to

Betsy Glassie STUDIO: LIBERTYTOWN 916 LIBERTY ST. FREDERICKSBURG, VA

BETSYGLASSIE.COM BGLASSIE@AOL.COM

540-899-6556

540 376-1676 front porch fredericksburg

October 2013

25

CELEBRATE!

COMMUNITY LINK Courtesy of WFVA and Front Porch

fcca: 50 years and beyond

Spotsylvania Co. greenways initiative

By Sara Mattingly

by paula rose

In October, 1963 the “Gallery of Modern Art” opened at the Silversmith House on Sophia Street. The gallery was

THE POETRY MAN - BY FRANK FRATOE

What Never Becomes Old Here where I trek along groves and begin observing my 73rd year, there’s a way to enjoy our world that will keep the soul of youth.

modeled on the “20th Century Gallery” in Williamsburg.

Both galleries were purposed to bring art awareness and museum quality art to their respective communities.

Now known as the Fredericksburg Center of the Creative Arts (a partner of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts), or FCCA, the gallery has progressed and developed through the direction of its many volunteers.

Many things have changed but the spirit of volunteerism has prevailed for 50 years.

This ever changing group of volunteers has brought art, music, poetry, classes for children and adults and speakers to the little 18th century building by the river at 813 Sophia Street.

Concurrently, the same volunteers have raised funds to maintain and restore what is one of the most charming buildings in the city.

These volunteers, past and present, know the importance of nurturing the sensitivity of what is creative in all of us. Art makes us aware of the world around us, aware of each other and helps us to behave humanely. Their stimulus and input have affected the artists, students and townspeople and, as a result, Fredericksburg is a more interesting place to live in and to visit.

The growth of art venues and activities in the last 20 years has added to the economic health and vibrancy of our downtown and the surrounding area. The steady presence of the FCCA for 50 years has been a beacon of encouragement.

On November 2, 2013, the FCCA will celebrate “A 50th Anniversary Salon” at the Fredericksburg Country Club. This ticketed event will include entertainment, good food and drink and art from member artists. We will raise our glasses and toast

two ducks glide across a pond one appearing to lead the other, both tread wakes v-angled behind until the forerunner swims back, to join the second at her side as twin waves interlink head on.

Neither is adrift upon the water like Yeat’s swans at Coole Park, nor do they fly away above me wheeling their wings in the sky, because a heart draws them near making it impossible to grow old.

Frank Fratoe lives and writes in the city

26

October 2013

Front porch fredericksburg

all the volunteers - past, present and future - who continue to dedicate their time and energy to make ART an integral part of our community.

For ticket information for “50 Anniversary Salon” on Saturday, November 2, 2013 and for other special events please visit our website www.fccava.org or call (540) 373-5646.

P. Rose Gallery

Advanced Dental Care of Fredericksburg 540-891-9911

Paula Rose, a painter, has been a vibrant part of downtown’s culture and arts community for decades.

Hours

By Appointment 371-8 8499 709 Caroline Street

www.prosegallery.com

$79

The SGI Story rides a happy trail.

The Spotsylvania County Greenways Initiative became a 501(c )3 non-profit in 2009 to the anticipation of quality-of-life, nature-loving Spotsylvanians and their Fredericksburg area neighbors.

Its mission and vision: Mission: The Spotsylvania Greenways Initiative preserves and creates greenways in Spotsylvania County to connect natural and culturally significant areas to provide recreation opportunities that inspire respect and responsibility for green space everywhere.

Vision: The SGI envisions a future when everyone is within walking distance of a path or park to connect county residents to nature, to recreation, to each other, and, through non-motorized trails, to other communities throughout the region.

SGI’s storyline, “Building Trails – Building Connections,” explains SGI Chair, Chris Folger, “takes both aspects of this theme very seriously, having put together a rich, extensive program to both build a network of 100-miles of walking/ biking trails in Spotsylvania County and reach out to the community to engage people in our incredible and beautiful natural, historic resources.

A Programmatic Agreement with the Corps of Engineers establishes those valuable resources to be protected on the Central Rail corridor.

“We identified the best locations to connect to the National Parks—which facilitates the implementation of the County Trailways Plan and our mission to connect to Spotsy’s historic and natural resources.”

The Top Five priority trailways projects were identified as the Ni River’s

first segment “Salamander Loop,” which opened in June 2010 at the Stafford location of the YMCA; the second segment opened that same month in 2012; and, the current step in the Ni River corridor is to establish easements with property owners between the trail and the YMCA; third in the top five, Massaponax Creek, is making necessary additions of bridges and easements to establish a beautiful walking/biking trail between Breckinridge and Piedmont; number four, the Virginia Central Rail (VCR) Trail, is “an incredible opportunity to connect Jackson Trails East & West through a natural trail connecting to the historic battlefields,” Folger says; and, #5 Deep Run is better than incredible: Folger calls it “an amazing opportunity to connect historic Civil War sites on the Rappahannock River with the Fredericksburg Battlefield via a walking and biking trail.”

The Lake Anna Connector will provide the equestrian community a connection between the equestrian facilities of Lake Anna State Park and the northern parts of the County and into Orange County.

Mr. Folger will fill your cup with more on this much-to-be-proud-of amenity when he guests on Ted Schubel’s Community Link on October 27 at 8 a.m. on NewsTalk 1230 WFVA and NewsTalk1230.net

Community Link, hosted by Ted Schubel, broadcasts on WFVA and at newstalk1230.net every Sunday at 8 a.m. in partnership with this magazine, for which Sara Mattingly intrepidly reports.

$650

New Patient Special Includes Exam, X-Rays and Cleaning

Per Arch Full AcrylicDenture or Partial

With this Coupon only for non-insured patients. Not valid with other offers or prior services. Offer Expires 11/1/13 A $239.00 Value

With this Coupon only for non-insured patients. Not valid with other offers or prior services. Offer Expires 11/1/13 A $1100.00 Value

Because we care for you!

10524 Spotsylvania Ave. Ste #104 Fredericksburg, VA front porch fredericksburg

October 2013

27

CELEBRATE!

COMMUNITY LINK Courtesy of WFVA and Front Porch

fcca: 50 years and beyond

Spotsylvania Co. greenways initiative

By Sara Mattingly

by paula rose

In October, 1963 the “Gallery of Modern Art” opened at the Silversmith House on Sophia Street. The gallery was

THE POETRY MAN - BY FRANK FRATOE

What Never Becomes Old Here where I trek along groves and begin observing my 73rd year, there’s a way to enjoy our world that will keep the soul of youth.

modeled on the “20th Century Gallery” in Williamsburg.

Both galleries were purposed to bring art awareness and museum quality art to their respective communities.

Now known as the Fredericksburg Center of the Creative Arts (a partner of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts), or FCCA, the gallery has progressed and developed through the direction of its many volunteers.

Many things have changed but the spirit of volunteerism has prevailed for 50 years.

This ever changing group of volunteers has brought art, music, poetry, classes for children and adults and speakers to the little 18th century building by the river at 813 Sophia Street.

Concurrently, the same volunteers have raised funds to maintain and restore what is one of the most charming buildings in the city.

These volunteers, past and present, know the importance of nurturing the sensitivity of what is creative in all of us. Art makes us aware of the world around us, aware of each other and helps us to behave humanely. Their stimulus and input have affected the artists, students and townspeople and, as a result, Fredericksburg is a more interesting place to live in and to visit.

The growth of art venues and activities in the last 20 years has added to the economic health and vibrancy of our downtown and the surrounding area. The steady presence of the FCCA for 50 years has been a beacon of encouragement.

On November 2, 2013, the FCCA will celebrate “A 50th Anniversary Salon” at the Fredericksburg Country Club. This ticketed event will include entertainment, good food and drink and art from member artists. We will raise our glasses and toast

two ducks glide across a pond one appearing to lead the other, both tread wakes v-angled behind until the forerunner swims back, to join the second at her side as twin waves interlink head on.

Neither is adrift upon the water like Yeat’s swans at Coole Park, nor do they fly away above me wheeling their wings in the sky, because a heart draws them near making it impossible to grow old.

Frank Fratoe lives and writes in the city

26

October 2013

Front porch fredericksburg

all the volunteers - past, present and future - who continue to dedicate their time and energy to make ART an integral part of our community.

For ticket information for “50 Anniversary Salon” on Saturday, November 2, 2013 and for other special events please visit our website www.fccava.org or call (540) 373-5646.

P. Rose Gallery

Advanced Dental Care of Fredericksburg 540-891-9911

Paula Rose, a painter, has been a vibrant part of downtown’s culture and arts community for decades.

Hours

By Appointment 371-8 8499 709 Caroline Street

www.prosegallery.com

$79

The SGI Story rides a happy trail.

The Spotsylvania County Greenways Initiative became a 501(c )3 non-profit in 2009 to the anticipation of quality-of-life, nature-loving Spotsylvanians and their Fredericksburg area neighbors.

Its mission and vision: Mission: The Spotsylvania Greenways Initiative preserves and creates greenways in Spotsylvania County to connect natural and culturally significant areas to provide recreation opportunities that inspire respect and responsibility for green space everywhere.

Vision: The SGI envisions a future when everyone is within walking distance of a path or park to connect county residents to nature, to recreation, to each other, and, through non-motorized trails, to other communities throughout the region.

SGI’s storyline, “Building Trails – Building Connections,” explains SGI Chair, Chris Folger, “takes both aspects of this theme very seriously, having put together a rich, extensive program to both build a network of 100-miles of walking/ biking trails in Spotsylvania County and reach out to the community to engage people in our incredible and beautiful natural, historic resources.

A Programmatic Agreement with the Corps of Engineers establishes those valuable resources to be protected on the Central Rail corridor.

“We identified the best locations to connect to the National Parks—which facilitates the implementation of the County Trailways Plan and our mission to connect to Spotsy’s historic and natural resources.”

The Top Five priority trailways projects were identified as the Ni River’s

first segment “Salamander Loop,” which opened in June 2010 at the Stafford location of the YMCA; the second segment opened that same month in 2012; and, the current step in the Ni River corridor is to establish easements with property owners between the trail and the YMCA; third in the top five, Massaponax Creek, is making necessary additions of bridges and easements to establish a beautiful walking/biking trail between Breckinridge and Piedmont; number four, the Virginia Central Rail (VCR) Trail, is “an incredible opportunity to connect Jackson Trails East & West through a natural trail connecting to the historic battlefields,” Folger says; and, #5 Deep Run is better than incredible: Folger calls it “an amazing opportunity to connect historic Civil War sites on the Rappahannock River with the Fredericksburg Battlefield via a walking and biking trail.”

The Lake Anna Connector will provide the equestrian community a connection between the equestrian facilities of Lake Anna State Park and the northern parts of the County and into Orange County.

Mr. Folger will fill your cup with more on this much-to-be-proud-of amenity when he guests on Ted Schubel’s Community Link on October 27 at 8 a.m. on NewsTalk 1230 WFVA and NewsTalk1230.net

Community Link, hosted by Ted Schubel, broadcasts on WFVA and at newstalk1230.net every Sunday at 8 a.m. in partnership with this magazine, for which Sara Mattingly intrepidly reports.

$650

New Patient Special Includes Exam, X-Rays and Cleaning

Per Arch Full AcrylicDenture or Partial

With this Coupon only for non-insured patients. Not valid with other offers or prior services. Offer Expires 11/1/13 A $239.00 Value

With this Coupon only for non-insured patients. Not valid with other offers or prior services. Offer Expires 11/1/13 A $1100.00 Value

Because we care for you!

10524 Spotsylvania Ave. Ste #104 Fredericksburg, VA front porch fredericksburg

October 2013

27

My Own Path

20 Years Strong: Fxbg’s disAbility Resource Center

By A.E. Bayne

September traditionally kicks off the fall gala season, many of which are designed to benefit worthwhile organizations within our community. One such gala will celebrate and fund Fredericksburg’s disAbility Resource Center, a local outreach in its 20th year of operation.

Funded primarily through personal donations, grants, and some city and county government contributions, dRC offers four primary services and a variety of outreach programs to citizens in Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, and Caroline. They also provide deaf and hard of hearing services to people in Orange, Culpepper, Madison, and throughout the Northern Neck. As program manager /deputy director Kim Lett (above) puts it, “It’s hard to describe exactly what we do, because we do such a wide variety of things for people with disabilities in our community.”

Lett says dRC is a center for independent living, one of only 16 in the state of Virginia. It provides services in information and referral, advocacy, peer counseling, and independent living skills.

Lett explains, “People ask us for help with a wide range of things, and we assist them in finding the resources that they need.

We recently advocated for a timed crossing signal at the intersection of Fall Hill Avenue and Route 1, and we worked toward making the bridge a lot safer to

cross because it was uneven for people in wheelchairs. We travel between D.C. and Richmond to talk to legislators about bills.

Our peer counselors are people with disabilities that talk with others facing similar challenges and help them write independent living goals; and the independent living skills that we teach allow people to live more autonomously.

Most importantly, these four services allow people with disabilities remain a vital part of our community.”

In addition, Fredericksburg dRC offers services that are specific to our local community. Lett describes, “We have a deaf and hard of hearing department that helps people with assistive technology and provides sign language classes. We have a youth services department that teaches parents how to analyze and negotiate Individual Education Plans (IEPs), and that also works with kids with disabilities who are ready to transition into college or the workforce after high school. The Equipment Connection is an outreach that we run where people donate assistive equipment that is cleaned and refurbished, and then we gift it back out to people in the community. We looked at the needs of our citizens with autism and now provide a meeting place for the Fredericksburg Region Autism Action Group (FRAAG), in association with Commonwealth Autism Services. We also assist people in applying for Medicaid waivers, allowing them to remain an active part of the community.”

The disAbility Resource Center’s 20th Anniversary Masquerade Gala will be held at the Fredericksburg Country Club between 7 pm and 9 pm on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

Masks will be provided, or you may wear your own.

There will be food, music, dancing, and an auction that includes the UMW Rugby Team.

Tickets are $50.00 and are available by calling dRC at 540-373-2559.

A.E. Bayne is a teacher and writer who has lived and worked in Fredericksburg for fifteen years.

the power of truth Within each day, I come to countless crossroads when I must choose whether to respond authentically: Some critical. “Mommy, why did you pick me up late?” Others mundane. “What time did you wake up this morning, honey?”

I sometimes struggle to say what represents my actual thoughts or experience. “Ruth, we talked about what to include in the proposal.

Are you getting mixed messages from me?”

In two out of these three instances, I kept my response in the context of what I knew to be true. Telling my son I got caught up in work, not leaving until I knew I’d be late, wasn’t easy. It would be simpler to say I didn’t mean to or I couldn’t help it. Sharing with him how my day went allowed me to show him a part of me he otherwise wouldn’t see.

My VP wondered if she sent mixed messages.

I briefly considered taking the blame and telling her I must’ve misunderstood. Instead, I let her know there was disconnect between what she said in our first meeting and the committee presentation we were preparing to give. She later apologized for flustering me before a big meeting, and I asked if we could revisit the message we were trying to convey.

The temptation exists to mask what I think, or my personal experience, in favor of responding auspiciously or creating a false impression. Each choice to disguise myself for another’s benefit decreases my credibility and confidence and degrades what could otherwise be a meaningful exchange.

Wanting to make myself seem hyper productive, I told my boyfriend I woke up at my usual time. I didn’t let him know I slept in until I absolutely had to wake up for work, neglecting to finish my reading. I missed the opportunity to do what I request of him—to be honest about the small things so we can build trust about the big things. I opted to reinforce

postscript By rob huffman

an image of myself as an early riser and an overachiever, rather than reveal a softer and more vulnerable side.

To avoid morphing myself to suit the likes and demands of others, I must sync what I think, what I say and what I do.

In this instance, I have options— decide being hyper productive isn’t important (what I think), willingly admit my capability to procrastinate (what I say) or wake up early (what I do).

These examples may be minor, but the underlying tendency is significant. I must approach these crossroads with integrity, willing to unveil my true thoughts and experiences, unconcerned about reinforcing images or creating ideals.

Through first-hand experience, I realize some people act out entire lives incongruent with what they think and say.

Without succumbing to fear of being fooled by the mask someone wears, I choose to pay particular attention to my own responses. Sensitive to the power of truth, I trust my intention will act to unveil the authenticity of others.

Ruth Cassell, in the spirit of sharing authentically, must tell you she fell off the sugar wagon terribly since her August column. Living in Roanoke, she’s getting ready to celebrate Halloween with her now six-year old son, who always keeps her honest, with no candy (but perhaps donning a mask just for the occasion.) Check out her blog at www.attentionanonymous.wordpress.com

Old Town’s Greatest Tour 35 Monuments, Markers, & Attractions AND the Fredericksburg Battlefields Weddings Reunions Shuttles Parties Group Outings

28

October 2013

Front porch fredericksburg

Stories that shine a light on life

By c. ruth cassell

Serving Up Local “Good” News Since 1997

Front Porch Fredericksburg

Porch Light

For Sale Now at Amazon.com

Fredericksburgtrolley.com

540-898-0737

Author: J Robert Du Bois Edited by Rob Grogan

You know that early morning – really early, 4:00 or 5:00 am – sound? A car screeches to a semi-stop in front of your house and then you hear the satisfying thump of the morning paper hitting your driveway?

A good solid percussive “Whump.”. Well, let’s hope you savored this morning’s driveway thump because that’s the last one (only a slight exaggeration) you’re going to hear. Ever.

The sound of your morning paper hitting the pavement is another sound destined for the scrapheap of Sounds Never To Be Heard Again. Another old-fashioned service – and what else is a newspaper but a humble, prosaic attempt to keep the locals informed - gone bellyup, prey to the digital Juggernaut.

The delivery of your news has moved from the cozy and familiar three dimensions of physical space (the loci of cars, and driveways, and newspapers) to

Give a Child Something to Think About Books, Games, Amusing Novelties M-Sat. 10am-6pm; Sun. 1pm-4pm

810 Caroline Street (540) 371-5684

the everywhere and nowhere of the cyber-verse.

The stories might still be local, but they will be sent to you through the otherworldly ether. If you’ve been on this planet for a while, recollect some of the other sounds you knew but will no longer hear (outside of memory).

For example, that safe-cracking, prize-wheel tick of those ancient rotary phones being dialed (weighty contraptions of funereal black Bakelite making every call a somber and formal event). How long it took to call someone, especially a phone number with lots of 8’s and 9’s – your pointer finger suspended in agitated readiness, waiting for the dial to stop its appallingly-slow counterclockwise spin.

Now we silently thumbpunch phone numbers on candy bar-sized metallic rectangles that can be transported and used anywhere.

The whole world’s become one giant phone booth. Or how about this sound, now consigned to history: the clack-clack-clackping of the typewriter? Or the whooshing sibilance of the phonograph needle on those turntables of yesteryear that continued its piezoelectric whisper even after the LP had finished playing and the listener was just too indolent – egads, no remote controls - to lift the trapped and flailing arm from the record. So many sounds, relegated to auditory nostalgia.

Somehow, though, the disappearance of that morning newspaper thump is tougher to deal with. Who could have predicted the replacement of something so stolidly low tech as this?

Sure, phones, typewriters, and phonographs – all techno-gadgets enjoying relatively short tenures as things “state of the art” – were destined to be overtaken by newer, shiner, faster, enhanced technologies. But the daily paper? C’mon!

We expected to continue receiving it until the day the Final Trump was sounded.

(Headline: WORLD SAYS GOODBYE!! See A6 for Last Day details.) And yet, it’s gone now.

The choreography of Sunday morning, in particular, is forever altered. Gone, that frigid, barefoot dash to the end of the driveway. Gone, the wet dog shake of your plastic-encased, rainy day paper. Gone, the slick viscera spill of

all those colorful Sunday inserts covering the breakfast table, pleading to consumers with primary color passion. Gone, the solemn divvying up of the different sections, almost always a patriarchal duty: comics for the kids, sports for Dad, viscera for Mom. Speaking of Dad, he’d gather up the entire paper at some point in the afternoon and disappear into the bowels of the house for a long, solitary read, working his way even through the Classifieds.

Sunday morning loses its whole timeless architecture, its carefully scripted dynamic.

And now? One more reason not to go outside. One less opportunity to suck in some good fresh air, wave to the dark figure – presumably your neighbor in the next driveway, shoosh the other neighbor’s cat off your lawn as he skulks about conducting his pre-dawn inspections. And what replaces all this early-morning drama? Just a stiff-legged stagger to the computer and the impatient wait for it to come on: we fidget and fume when we’re forced to endure a 0.3 second wait for our system to boot up; we’ve all become NASA engineers in our time sensitivities, with impatience thresholds calibrated to the nanosecond.

Is this really how we want to get our news? USA Today, sure, but not Tomorrow. We’re gone Post-Post. All those various Dispatches? Dispatched. Adieu, old friend.

The Times, they are anendin’… This just in: Martians have landed in Grover’s Mill, New Jersey.

Rob Huffman frequently contributes to Porch Light.

front porch fredericksburg

October 2013

29

My Own Path

20 Years Strong: Fxbg’s disAbility Resource Center

By A.E. Bayne

September traditionally kicks off the fall gala season, many of which are designed to benefit worthwhile organizations within our community. One such gala will celebrate and fund Fredericksburg’s disAbility Resource Center, a local outreach in its 20th year of operation.

Funded primarily through personal donations, grants, and some city and county government contributions, dRC offers four primary services and a variety of outreach programs to citizens in Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, and Caroline. They also provide deaf and hard of hearing services to people in Orange, Culpepper, Madison, and throughout the Northern Neck. As program manager /deputy director Kim Lett (above) puts it, “It’s hard to describe exactly what we do, because we do such a wide variety of things for people with disabilities in our community.”

Lett says dRC is a center for independent living, one of only 16 in the state of Virginia. It provides services in information and referral, advocacy, peer counseling, and independent living skills.

Lett explains, “People ask us for help with a wide range of things, and we assist them in finding the resources that they need.

We recently advocated for a timed crossing signal at the intersection of Fall Hill Avenue and Route 1, and we worked toward making the bridge a lot safer to

cross because it was uneven for people in wheelchairs. We travel between D.C. and Richmond to talk to legislators about bills.

Our peer counselors are people with disabilities that talk with others facing similar challenges and help them write independent living goals; and the independent living skills that we teach allow people to live more autonomously.

Most importantly, these four services allow people with disabilities remain a vital part of our community.”

In addition, Fredericksburg dRC offers services that are specific to our local community. Lett describes, “We have a deaf and hard of hearing department that helps people with assistive technology and provides sign language classes. We have a youth services department that teaches parents how to analyze and negotiate Individual Education Plans (IEPs), and that also works with kids with disabilities who are ready to transition into college or the workforce after high school. The Equipment Connection is an outreach that we run where people donate assistive equipment that is cleaned and refurbished, and then we gift it back out to people in the community. We looked at the needs of our citizens with autism and now provide a meeting place for the Fredericksburg Region Autism Action Group (FRAAG), in association with Commonwealth Autism Services. We also assist people in applying for Medicaid waivers, allowing them to remain an active part of the community.”

The disAbility Resource Center’s 20th Anniversary Masquerade Gala will be held at the Fredericksburg Country Club between 7 pm and 9 pm on Saturday, September 14, 2013.

Masks will be provided, or you may wear your own.

There will be food, music, dancing, and an auction that includes the UMW Rugby Team.

Tickets are $50.00 and are available by calling dRC at 540-373-2559.

A.E. Bayne is a teacher and writer who has lived and worked in Fredericksburg for fifteen years.

the power of truth Within each day, I come to countless crossroads when I must choose whether to respond authentically: Some critical. “Mommy, why did you pick me up late?” Others mundane. “What time did you wake up this morning, honey?”

I sometimes struggle to say what represents my actual thoughts or experience. “Ruth, we talked about what to include in the proposal.

Are you getting mixed messages from me?”

In two out of these three instances, I kept my response in the context of what I knew to be true. Telling my son I got caught up in work, not leaving until I knew I’d be late, wasn’t easy. It would be simpler to say I didn’t mean to or I couldn’t help it. Sharing with him how my day went allowed me to show him a part of me he otherwise wouldn’t see.

My VP wondered if she sent mixed messages.

I briefly considered taking the blame and telling her I must’ve misunderstood. Instead, I let her know there was disconnect between what she said in our first meeting and the committee presentation we were preparing to give. She later apologized for flustering me before a big meeting, and I asked if we could revisit the message we were trying to convey.

The temptation exists to mask what I think, or my personal experience, in favor of responding auspiciously or creating a false impression. Each choice to disguise myself for another’s benefit decreases my credibility and confidence and degrades what could otherwise be a meaningful exchange.

Wanting to make myself seem hyper productive, I told my boyfriend I woke up at my usual time. I didn’t let him know I slept in until I absolutely had to wake up for work, neglecting to finish my reading. I missed the opportunity to do what I request of him—to be honest about the small things so we can build trust about the big things. I opted to reinforce

postscript By rob huffman

an image of myself as an early riser and an overachiever, rather than reveal a softer and more vulnerable side.

To avoid morphing myself to suit the likes and demands of others, I must sync what I think, what I say and what I do.

In this instance, I have options— decide being hyper productive isn’t important (what I think), willingly admit my capability to procrastinate (what I say) or wake up early (what I do).

These examples may be minor, but the underlying tendency is significant. I must approach these crossroads with integrity, willing to unveil my true thoughts and experiences, unconcerned about reinforcing images or creating ideals.

Through first-hand experience, I realize some people act out entire lives incongruent with what they think and say.

Without succumbing to fear of being fooled by the mask someone wears, I choose to pay particular attention to my own responses. Sensitive to the power of truth, I trust my intention will act to unveil the authenticity of others.

Ruth Cassell, in the spirit of sharing authentically, must tell you she fell off the sugar wagon terribly since her August column. Living in Roanoke, she’s getting ready to celebrate Halloween with her now six-year old son, who always keeps her honest, with no candy (but perhaps donning a mask just for the occasion.) Check out her blog at www.attentionanonymous.wordpress.com

Old Town’s Greatest Tour 35 Monuments, Markers, & Attractions AND the Fredericksburg Battlefields Weddings Reunions Shuttles Parties Group Outings

28

October 2013

Front porch fredericksburg

Stories that shine a light on life

By c. ruth cassell

Serving Up Local “Good” News Since 1997

Front Porch Fredericksburg

Porch Light

For Sale Now at Amazon.com

Fredericksburgtrolley.com

540-898-0737

Author: J Robert Du Bois Edited by Rob Grogan

You know that early morning – really early, 4:00 or 5:00 am – sound? A car screeches to a semi-stop in front of your house and then you hear the satisfying thump of the morning paper hitting your driveway?

A good solid percussive “Whump.”. Well, let’s hope you savored this morning’s driveway thump because that’s the last one (only a slight exaggeration) you’re going to hear. Ever.

The sound of your morning paper hitting the pavement is another sound destined for the scrapheap of Sounds Never To Be Heard Again. Another old-fashioned service – and what else is a newspaper but a humble, prosaic attempt to keep the locals informed - gone bellyup, prey to the digital Juggernaut.

The delivery of your news has moved from the cozy and familiar three dimensions of physical space (the loci of cars, and driveways, and newspapers) to

Give a Child Something to Think About Books, Games, Amusing Novelties M-Sat. 10am-6pm; Sun. 1pm-4pm

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the everywhere and nowhere of the cyber-verse.

The stories might still be local, but they will be sent to you through the otherworldly ether. If you’ve been on this planet for a while, recollect some of the other sounds you knew but will no longer hear (outside of memory).

For example, that safe-cracking, prize-wheel tick of those ancient rotary phones being dialed (weighty contraptions of funereal black Bakelite making every call a somber and formal event). How long it took to call someone, especially a phone number with lots of 8’s and 9’s – your pointer finger suspended in agitated readiness, waiting for the dial to stop its appallingly-slow counterclockwise spin.

Now we silently thumbpunch phone numbers on candy bar-sized metallic rectangles that can be transported and used anywhere.

The whole world’s become one giant phone booth. Or how about this sound, now consigned to history: the clack-clack-clackping of the typewriter? Or the whooshing sibilance of the phonograph needle on those turntables of yesteryear that continued its piezoelectric whisper even after the LP had finished playing and the listener was just too indolent – egads, no remote controls - to lift the trapped and flailing arm from the record. So many sounds, relegated to auditory nostalgia.

Somehow, though, the disappearance of that morning newspaper thump is tougher to deal with. Who could have predicted the replacement of something so stolidly low tech as this?

Sure, phones, typewriters, and phonographs – all techno-gadgets enjoying relatively short tenures as things “state of the art” – were destined to be overtaken by newer, shiner, faster, enhanced technologies. But the daily paper? C’mon!

We expected to continue receiving it until the day the Final Trump was sounded.

(Headline: WORLD SAYS GOODBYE!! See A6 for Last Day details.) And yet, it’s gone now.

The choreography of Sunday morning, in particular, is forever altered. Gone, that frigid, barefoot dash to the end of the driveway. Gone, the wet dog shake of your plastic-encased, rainy day paper. Gone, the slick viscera spill of

all those colorful Sunday inserts covering the breakfast table, pleading to consumers with primary color passion. Gone, the solemn divvying up of the different sections, almost always a patriarchal duty: comics for the kids, sports for Dad, viscera for Mom. Speaking of Dad, he’d gather up the entire paper at some point in the afternoon and disappear into the bowels of the house for a long, solitary read, working his way even through the Classifieds.

Sunday morning loses its whole timeless architecture, its carefully scripted dynamic.

And now? One more reason not to go outside. One less opportunity to suck in some good fresh air, wave to the dark figure – presumably your neighbor in the next driveway, shoosh the other neighbor’s cat off your lawn as he skulks about conducting his pre-dawn inspections. And what replaces all this early-morning drama? Just a stiff-legged stagger to the computer and the impatient wait for it to come on: we fidget and fume when we’re forced to endure a 0.3 second wait for our system to boot up; we’ve all become NASA engineers in our time sensitivities, with impatience thresholds calibrated to the nanosecond.

Is this really how we want to get our news? USA Today, sure, but not Tomorrow. We’re gone Post-Post. All those various Dispatches? Dispatched. Adieu, old friend.

The Times, they are anendin’… This just in: Martians have landed in Grover’s Mill, New Jersey.

Rob Huffman frequently contributes to Porch Light.

front porch fredericksburg

October 2013

29

From Out of the Darkness Into the Light

An Easier and Better Way Threading My Way through Divorce

By Rob Fergusson A dozen years ago I faced the scary, dark pit of divorce. What got me through that difficult time arrived in a very odd way. A stranger I called on a business matter inexplicably launched into talking about a divorce outreach program at a church that was helping him tremendously. I found the program and joined. It was impressive. Here was a house of worship that did not encourage or like divorce, but cared deeply about helping people get through the grief of losing a major relationship – regardless of their denomination or even their religion.

Talking with those fellow sufferers got me through that tough time and I’ve spent the years since then volunteering in that program, giving back what I was given.

Ironically, my separation and divorce came at the same time I had signed up for a course of study that would end with my certification as a divorce financial expert.

Those studies, very unwisely, got put on hold as I tried to deal with the emotions and practicalities of getting through my divorce. In hindsight, I paid quite a price for delaying those studies – we could have handled every part of our divorce so much better for our kids, and us, had I just known how.

It’s been a decade now since I completed those studies and began working as a divorce financial expert – the only financial expert in the Commonwealth dedicated solely to divorce work, which is still a fairly new field. The surprising part is that this doesn’t feel like a job, it feels like a mission of giving people what I missed out on - knowing how to divorce well.

child specialist advising on where each child is emotionally and what that individual child needs; and there is that divorce financial expert for the money issues.

Most of my cases are in the greater Fredericksburg area, where I work with a team of experienced, local collaborative professionals, doing the kind of caring job with divorce that I’ve always

Aiding my mission is the rise of a new approach to divorce – the collaborative approach, which began in this area just as I was completing my studies. It’s characterized by two great strengths. It avoids the destructiveness so often found in the traditional adversarial approach to divorce. It also recognizes the need for advice from experts in each area of a divorce. Yes, there are still attorneys for advising on legal rights; there is also a coach that helps the couple avoid wasting time and money pushing each other’s emotional buttons; there is a

pictured doing.

They’re found at fredericksburgcollaborative.com It’s exciting to see that mediation, an older, more established approach to divorce, is showing signs of learning from the success of the collaborative approach by beginning to bring divorce financial experts into those cases so divorcing couples will have truly expert help in settling their financial issues.

While this mission of helping people through a kinder, gentler divorce remains important to me, I’ve had a

a walk for a worthy cause

By christina ferber

Wills and Trusts Provide for Incapacity Trusts for Minor Children Wealth Preservation Trusts Avoid Probate AhearnEstateLaw.com

growing interest for several years in delving deeply into the research on the psychology of money in relationships, and how couples could be helped to avoid having money issues sabotage their relationships. Frankly, I’d like nothing better than the ideal of one day seeing all marriages strong and healthy, and all of us divorce professionals out of business.

Meanwhile, for me all the pain of my divorce seems to have gone full circle, turning into a sense of joyful purpose, of helping others.

Rob Fergusson is a certified divorce financial expert working in all types of divorce cases - litigated, adversarial, mediated and collaborative; and working with individuals and couples from his office in Richmond, with a large percentage of cases in the Fxbg area. fromdivorcetoprosperity.com/

As I answered the door, I dreaded what information lay on the other side.

What I feared the most was uttered by my parents as I swung it open.

“Your brother,” they quietly said, “is gone. He took his own life.” From that day forward our lives were shaped by questions, guilt, anger, and a mix of emotions that time has dulled, but not removed. Since that night twelve years ago, we have learned to celebrate and memorialize his life, not his manner of death. However it is impossible to forget, and the way he died is a reality for the families of over 38,000 suicide victims a year (2010 statistic).

Sadly, every minute of every day, someone attempts to take their own life, and every 16 minutes someone dies of suicide. It is a problem that affects all ages, genders, and ethnicities, yet is a preventable cause of death. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is one organization aimed at education, advocacy, and helping families cope with this type of loss, as a way to prevent more suicides.

I found this organization a few years after my brother’s death, and began walking for him in the annual Spotsylvania

Every Child Deserves A Family

Learn about our adoption opportunities in Russia, China and Guatemala

Out of the Darkness Walk. I was lost at the time, and wanted to honor him in some way, while hopefully preventing others from going through the same agony that my family had endured. It helped me find my way through my emotions, and at the same time I was helping a great cause. I realized that I was not alone in what my family had gone through, far from it, and every year I look forward to a healing day of walking on his behalf.

Funds from the event have been used in our area to help educate people about suicide, and most recently a program in Spotsylvania County Schools, named “So Sad,” has been implemented in order to educate high-schoolers about depression and other types of mental illness.

This year’s walk will be held at Spotsylvania Courthouse Commons on October 19 th at 10 am, with registration starting at 9 am. A memory wall will be a new addition this year, and will help to celebrate the lives of those lost, rather than the way that they died. Walkers are asked to bring photos, notes, and other items to help remember their loved ones.

If you would like to join this worthy cause, go to asfg.outofthedarkness.org to find out more. You can even gather a team together to walk in honor of someone or just to support the cause.

I promise that it will be a morning well spent. I hope to see you there!

540/371-9890

FREDERICKSBURGCOLLABORATIVE

ARCHER DI PEPPE CAGA

CERTIFIED APPRAISER

Insurance Riders Estate Settlements Divorce Cases Damage Claims Oral or Written Appraisals SPECIALIZING IN ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES

Certified Appraiser Certified Appraiser’s Guild of America

adipeppe@aol.com

(540) 373-9636

While Christina Ferber lives with the personal loss of her brother’s suicide, she helps shed the light needed to deal with this mental health issue.

Please support this worthy walk.

Front Porch is.

301-587-4400

Cradle of Hope Adoption Center 30

October 2013

Front porch fredericksburg

front porch fredericksburg

October 2013

31

From Out of the Darkness Into the Light

An Easier and Better Way Threading My Way through Divorce

By Rob Fergusson A dozen years ago I faced the scary, dark pit of divorce. What got me through that difficult time arrived in a very odd way. A stranger I called on a business matter inexplicably launched into talking about a divorce outreach program at a church that was helping him tremendously. I found the program and joined. It was impressive. Here was a house of worship that did not encourage or like divorce, but cared deeply about helping people get through the grief of losing a major relationship – regardless of their denomination or even their religion.

Talking with those fellow sufferers got me through that tough time and I’ve spent the years since then volunteering in that program, giving back what I was given.

Ironically, my separation and divorce came at the same time I had signed up for a course of study that would end with my certification as a divorce financial expert.

Those studies, very unwisely, got put on hold as I tried to deal with the emotions and practicalities of getting through my divorce. In hindsight, I paid quite a price for delaying those studies – we could have handled every part of our divorce so much better for our kids, and us, had I just known how.

It’s been a decade now since I completed those studies and began working as a divorce financial expert – the only financial expert in the Commonwealth dedicated solely to divorce work, which is still a fairly new field. The surprising part is that this doesn’t feel like a job, it feels like a mission of giving people what I missed out on - knowing how to divorce well.

child specialist advising on where each child is emotionally and what that individual child needs; and there is that divorce financial expert for the money issues.

Most of my cases are in the greater Fredericksburg area, where I work with a team of experienced, local collaborative professionals, doing the kind of caring job with divorce that I’ve always

Aiding my mission is the rise of a new approach to divorce – the collaborative approach, which began in this area just as I was completing my studies. It’s characterized by two great strengths. It avoids the destructiveness so often found in the traditional adversarial approach to divorce. It also recognizes the need for advice from experts in each area of a divorce. Yes, there are still attorneys for advising on legal rights; there is also a coach that helps the couple avoid wasting time and money pushing each other’s emotional buttons; there is a

pictured doing.

They’re found at fredericksburgcollaborative.com It’s exciting to see that mediation, an older, more established approach to divorce, is showing signs of learning from the success of the collaborative approach by beginning to bring divorce financial experts into those cases so divorcing couples will have truly expert help in settling their financial issues.

While this mission of helping people through a kinder, gentler divorce remains important to me, I’ve had a

a walk for a worthy cause

By christina ferber

Wills and Trusts Provide for Incapacity Trusts for Minor Children Wealth Preservation Trusts Avoid Probate AhearnEstateLaw.com

growing interest for several years in delving deeply into the research on the psychology of money in relationships, and how couples could be helped to avoid having money issues sabotage their relationships. Frankly, I’d like nothing better than the ideal of one day seeing all marriages strong and healthy, and all of us divorce professionals out of business.

Meanwhile, for me all the pain of my divorce seems to have gone full circle, turning into a sense of joyful purpose, of helping others.

Rob Fergusson is a certified divorce financial expert working in all types of divorce cases - litigated, adversarial, mediated and collaborative; and working with individuals and couples from his office in Richmond, with a large percentage of cases in the Fxbg area. fromdivorcetoprosperity.com/

As I answered the door, I dreaded what information lay on the other side.

What I feared the most was uttered by my parents as I swung it open.

“Your brother,” they quietly said, “is gone. He took his own life.” From that day forward our lives were shaped by questions, guilt, anger, and a mix of emotions that time has dulled, but not removed. Since that night twelve years ago, we have learned to celebrate and memorialize his life, not his manner of death. However it is impossible to forget, and the way he died is a reality for the families of over 38,000 suicide victims a year (2010 statistic).

Sadly, every minute of every day, someone attempts to take their own life, and every 16 minutes someone dies of suicide. It is a problem that affects all ages, genders, and ethnicities, yet is a preventable cause of death. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is one organization aimed at education, advocacy, and helping families cope with this type of loss, as a way to prevent more suicides.

I found this organization a few years after my brother’s death, and began walking for him in the annual Spotsylvania

Every Child Deserves A Family

Learn about our adoption opportunities in Russia, China and Guatemala

Out of the Darkness Walk. I was lost at the time, and wanted to honor him in some way, while hopefully preventing others from going through the same agony that my family had endured. It helped me find my way through my emotions, and at the same time I was helping a great cause. I realized that I was not alone in what my family had gone through, far from it, and every year I look forward to a healing day of walking on his behalf.

Funds from the event have been used in our area to help educate people about suicide, and most recently a program in Spotsylvania County Schools, named “So Sad,” has been implemented in order to educate high-schoolers about depression and other types of mental illness.

This year’s walk will be held at Spotsylvania Courthouse Commons on October 19 th at 10 am, with registration starting at 9 am. A memory wall will be a new addition this year, and will help to celebrate the lives of those lost, rather than the way that they died. Walkers are asked to bring photos, notes, and other items to help remember their loved ones.

If you would like to join this worthy cause, go to asfg.outofthedarkness.org to find out more. You can even gather a team together to walk in honor of someone or just to support the cause.

I promise that it will be a morning well spent. I hope to see you there!

540/371-9890

FREDERICKSBURGCOLLABORATIVE

ARCHER DI PEPPE CAGA

CERTIFIED APPRAISER

Insurance Riders Estate Settlements Divorce Cases Damage Claims Oral or Written Appraisals SPECIALIZING IN ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES

Certified Appraiser Certified Appraiser’s Guild of America

adipeppe@aol.com

(540) 373-9636

While Christina Ferber lives with the personal loss of her brother’s suicide, she helps shed the light needed to deal with this mental health issue.

Please support this worthy walk.

Front Porch is.

301-587-4400

Cradle of Hope Adoption Center 30

October 2013

Front porch fredericksburg

front porch fredericksburg

October 2013

31