Front Porch Fredericksburg - August 2014 by Virginia Grogan

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 18 • ISSUE 205 • AUGUST 2014

Frontporchfredericksburg.com

contents

closeups 8

Our Heritage: nellie hearn & her pet pig history’s stories.: general lee & traveller

renew your mind, your training

Service without paws Animal assisted therapy

autoknown better: dog’s rule the roads hollyburg: hollywood’s pet projects poetryman: bedded down

Rodriguez’s Jacks ... Jack Russell Terriers protects vines

Senior Care: paro, therapeutic pet robot

improve your health - get a pet! just paws & breathe

Art in the ‘Burg: Lara Klopp

scene & heard...in the ‘burg!

fxbg music: megan jean & the kfb

ben childers: BSG featured artist Free Bird Studios: new hot art spot in fXBG

SUP Pups ... Balancing Life

porch talk 4

A summer garden: annie’s garden

A dog tale a cat tale

on the porch...life in fredericksburg Messages

..5

Quiet moments: for the love of a puppy

A handsome hound: a dog beauty salon

Hyperion Espresso Celebrates 20th anniversary By ryan davis Princess Anne Street. Hyperion Espresso is a staple of downtown Fredericksburg, so much so that the coffee shop will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this August.

...And more!

VA Wineries... winery dogs enter tasting room

stafford 350: anthony burns fights for freedom My own path:the pet question

vino: blind ambition Cooking with kyle

hyperion espresso celebrates 20th anniversary

season’s bounty: dog biscuits

john wall: general, author & fxbg resident

Summer cocktails

16-17

Calendar of events

dogtopia: a playday for man’s best friend

spotlight on ladyburg & crystal clear clinic

30 world’s best babysitters

Cover art By Lynn Abbott

August 2014

Front porch fredericksburg

In 1994, Dan Peterson and Ana Brugos began their lives as entrepreneurs through a chance friendship, a weekend cross-country trip and a love for coffee. Their dream of providing a relaxing place for the community to enjoy a warm, soothing beverage is still securely anchored at the corner of William and

In the early 1990s when Peterson and Brugos resided in Seattle, Washington, they saw firsthand the impact coffee could have on a community. They had the opportunity to begin their business in Fredericksburg and desired to replicate that experience here. “Back then there weren’t many choices for coffee. I wanted a meeting place that didn’t involve going to a restaurant or bar,” Brugos said. The goal was two-fold: provide a social environment that promoted ambiance and share a love of coffee with the community. Brugos desired that customers could have fun, get out of their beverage comfort zone and maybe try an Espresso or Cappuccino every once in awhile. “We wanted to offer the best quality coffee to anyone that walked in. To this day we only use small roasted and

photo by r. davis regular drip coffee from suppliers in Olympia, Washington and Atlanta, Georgia, because they’re still the best,” Brugos said. Peterson and Brugos know that having a great concept only goes so far. At the end of the day, to ensure sustained longevity, it’s about employees on the ground and in the shop moving the business forward day-in & day-out. The couple recognizes how fortunate they’ve been in having such a dedicated staff. “We truly have the best employees in the world. Their energy and ambition keeps the wheels turning and we simply couldn’t do it without them,” Brugos said. Not satisfied to rest on past successes the Hyperion team always wants to improve and offer more to their customers. “We’ve always had the idea of expanding food options in the way of

lunch fare, so we are partnering with Foode to serve sandwiches, salads and other savory items on the weekends,” said Brugos. If the demand for the new menu items grows, they’ll continue it during weekdays also. The success of Hyperion certainly provided validation for the couple, but it was the connection with the community above all else that has been most satisfying. “We love the fact that we have ‘regulars’ that have been coming in every week for the past 20 years,” Brugos said. “Dan and I love getting to know them, receiving their feedback and having that feeling that this community has intimately rooted us here.” Ryan Davis currently resides in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He is a graduate of the University of Mary Washington and has future aspirations of becoming a published author.

front porch fredericksburg

August 2014

contents

closeups 8

Our Heritage: nellie hearn & her pet pig history’s stories.: general lee & traveller

renew your mind, your training

Service without paws Animal assisted therapy

autoknown better: dog’s rule the roads hollyburg: hollywood’s pet projects poetryman: bedded down

Rodriguez’s Jacks ... Jack Russell Terriers protects vines

Senior Care: paro, therapeutic pet robot

improve your health - get a pet! just paws & breathe

Art in the ‘Burg: Lara Klopp

scene & heard...in the ‘burg!

fxbg music: megan jean & the kfb

ben childers: BSG featured artist Free Bird Studios: new hot art spot in fXBG

SUP Pups ... Balancing Life

porch talk 4

A summer garden: annie’s garden

A dog tale a cat tale

on the porch...life in fredericksburg Messages

..5

Quiet moments: for the love of a puppy

A handsome hound: a dog beauty salon

...And more!

VA Wineries... winery dogs enter tasting room

stafford 350: anthony burns fights for freedom My own path:the pet question

vino: blind ambition Cooking with kyle

hyperion espresso celebrates 20th anniversary

season’s bounty: dog biscuits

john wall: general, author & fxbg resident

Summer cocktails

16-17

Calendar of events

dogtopia: a playday for man’s best friend

spotlight on ladyburg & crystal clear clinic

30 world’s best babysitters

Cover art By Lynn Abbott

August 2014

Front porch fredericksburg

front porch fredericksburg

August 2014

Jeremy Sutton

Guest Porch Page Editor

Contributing Writers & Artists Lynn Abott Nancy Bauer A.E.Bayne Megan Byrnes Collette Caprara C.Ruth Cassell Rick Collier Ryan Davis Arch Di Peppe Frank Fratoe Joan Geisler Basil Georgiadis Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks E.L.Hinkes Lori Izykowski Trish Jackson Jill Jacobs Chris Jones Karl Karch Janele Kennedy David Kerr Wendy LaRue Bob Martin Vanessa Moncure Gary Olsen Ashley Powell M.L.Powers Scott Richards Wendy Schmitz Jeremy Sutton James Kyle Snyder Christine Thompson Anne Tremper Rim Vining Suzy Woollam Wayne Wray

Front Porch Fredericksburg is a free circulation magazine published monthly by Olde Towne Publishing Co. 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 Ad Sales: Stacy.Howell@gmail.com 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 2014 Olde Towne Publishing Co. All rights reserved.

August 2014

ON THE PORCH

2nd Annual

Pat Pollard Poker Run 140 Mile Ride to Support Angiosarcoma Cancer Research

“Best Friend” BY Chris Jones I

remember that Saturday morning years ago when my father’s footsteps creaked on the staircase leading down to our rec room. I was watching cartoons when the door popped open and, to my surprise, a young dog charged in. He ran around the room and I began to play with him. He had a black, brown and white coat and because I was into astronomy at the time—I wanted to be an astronaut—I named him Astro. I’m sure some of that also had to do with my regular viewing of The Jetsons, who had a dog of the same name. I recall all of the adventures I had with my furry friend over the course of seven years. We played in the woods seeking lost treasure, he followed me when I rode my bike on the winding country roads where we lived, and he would accompany me when I fished the pond throughout the summer. Astro really embodied what it meant to be man’s best friend. Astro enjoyed his own missions, too. He roamed our neighborhood and scurried into the woods chasing deer or squirrels for hours at a time. One summer day, I came home from a late evening bike ride and realized that he wasn’t there. One day became two and then three. My dad assured me that he was fine and must have found a girlfriend on one of his excursions. I accepted that because my dad was one of those guys who had a good answer for everything. It wasn’t until my

messages Virginia: It is wonderful to see the FRONT PORCH holding onto its traditional good news... and presence. Sara Irby

Virginia: Again, thank you so very much for your beautiful coverage of our (Fritzi and me) collaborative exhibit, and now for this new extraordinary honor! You truly make an enormous difference for all of us in the Fredericksburg art community! Warmly and With Much Gratitude For All that You Do! Lynn Abbott

Front porch fredericksburg

August 2 Printpack, Inc, 3551 Lee Hill Drive, Fredericksburg, VA 22408

mom came home from picking up pizza that my hopes in ever seeing him again were dashed. As she placed the box on the dinner table, she told my dad that she believed that she had seen Astro near the restaurant. My heart fell flat. I could tell by the look on her face that something was amiss. My dad drove to the location and found my dog. We buried Astro in the back yard. I cried. He wasn’t just a dog he was my friend, too. And despite owning two other dogs since, I have never forgotten how much value Astro added to me. In August, we pay tribute to people and their pets. It’s an amazing give and give relationship between person and pet. Did you know that pet ownership could boost health? People who own pets show reduced signs of stress, have better moods, lower blood pressure, are likely to get more exercise and show fewer signs of depression. I work in an office where we rotate days for our pets to visit and when they’re in we notice a difference in our work environment. We’re happier when the dogs are frolicking around the space. We laugh more. We let our guard down and give ourselves permission to be silly. We get more exercise added into our workday.

Registration 9 am - Kickstands Up 10:15 am LIVE MUSIC BY SOUTHERN RAIN, FOOD, CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT AND PRIZES All Bikes, Hot Rods & Cars are Welcome! For updates, donations and more information visit: www.facebook.com/PatPollardPokerRun Questions? Contact Randy, rsisk@printpack.com (804) 925-5188 or Wayne (540) 220-2453 I hope you’ll enjoy the stories in this month’s Front Porch. Perhaps my story, or one of the stories in this issue, will encourage you to explore pet ownership. There are a number of great resources right within the community where you can adopt. The Fredericksburg and Stafford SPCAs host scores of animals. My last dog, Huck, was acquired from the Fredericksburg branch. If going all in seems a tad intimidating, become a dog walker on the weekends or pet sit for a friend. Remember though, that when you’re ready to adopt, it’s easy and who knows, you may bring home your next best friend. Chris Jones, this month’s guest “on the Porch” writer, is the editor in chief of The Health Journal in Williamsburg, Virginia, and a regular contributor at Fredericksburg Parent. He called Fredericksburg home for eight years.

Virginia:

Thank you for carrying on with the Front Porch. The FP is a blessing to me personally and to Downtown greens the non profit. More importantly the Front Porch is a blessing to the whole town. So many times you help people get the word out. Reading about all the good stuff happening in our little Burg uplifts readers Even if I no longer live in Fredericksburg I STILL love the Front Porch and I am not the only expatriate that feel this way.Love to you and yours Laura Shepherd

Thanks so much for covering our current exhibit at the FCCA. Front Porch has such a wide readership, so the publicity is much appreciated. Thanks for your continued promotion of local art. Fritzi Newton

Front Porch’s Companions

All proceeds will go toward Angiosarcoma Cancer Research

Lexi Grogan’s Pet Sitting Service “Your pet becomes my pet while in my care, and I care a lot!” - Lexi (540-903-0437; lexig0892@gmail.com) On facebook as “lexi grogan’s pet sitting service” Prices: Dogs - $15 per canine per visit Cats - $12 per feline per visit

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Better value, more love for your pet than if you kennel board him!

Quiet Moments for the love of a puppy By archer Dipeppe When I was five years old, I saw a small puppy out in the street in front of my house. I went out and picked her up and brought her into the house and told my mother that she followed me home. Part of her was Cocker Spaniel and part wasn’t. She had shiny black, curly fur. I named her Maisey. I don’t remember why. Maisey taught me everything I ever needed to know about unconditional love. Three years later I left the house one summer morning and walked a block to the Chesapeake Bay. Somehow Maisey slipped out of the house and took off after me. As she crossed the last street, she was hit by a car. A friend saw it happen and told me that she would have made it, but the driver sped up and purposely hit her. That driver taught me everything I needed to know about pure evil. There is still a very dark place in my heart for that person. I love animals but especially dogs. Mark Twain said, “If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man.” Dogs are always happy to see you, even when you don’t deserve it. Most love to play. My son’s dog Maverick will chase a ball and bring it back all day long. Of course, this is the same dog that once stole a pizza from the kitchen table and buried the part he didn’t eat in a pile of clean laundry. I didn’t get mad because it wasn’t my laundry. I love that dog. I tried to take him for a walk on a leash only once. Maverick got so excited that before I could get two houses away, I had to bring him back. He kept jumping straight up and down in the air so high and fast like a kangaroo that I was afraid he was going to wrap the leash around my neck and

strangle me. It was a brief walk but an informative one. We live vicariously through our children’s dogs. We had dogs most of the thirty-eight years we have been married, but I get so attached to them that I cry like a baby when we eventually have to put them down. I just can’t take it anymore. For awhile, our son and his wife were dog rescuers and would keep various dogs until permanent homes could be found. We never knew what dog they would bring when they came to visit. We never minded. The best part about being grandparents to a dog is we get to keep them for a week at a time when our children go on vacation. We spoil them like grandchildren. I spend most of the week on the floor playing please don’t bite my ears. It is probably one of the most important things I do all year. Arch DiPeppe is many a man (and woman) “best friend”.

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Virginia & Front Porch: Thanks for your continued support of the arts in Fredericksburg! Casey Shaw front porch fredericksburg

August 2014

Jeremy Sutton

Guest Porch Page Editor

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

August 2014

ON THE PORCH

2nd Annual

Pat Pollard Poker Run 140 Mile Ride to Support Angiosarcoma Cancer Research

“Best Friend” BY Chris Jones I

messages Virginia: It is wonderful to see the FRONT PORCH holding onto its traditional good news... and presence. Sara Irby

Front porch fredericksburg

August 2 Printpack, Inc, 3551 Lee Hill Drive, Fredericksburg, VA 22408

Virginia:

Front Porch’s Companions

All proceeds will go toward Angiosarcoma Cancer Research

ROXBURY F

ARM

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

Better value, more love for your pet than if you kennel board him!

& GARDEN CENTER

Since 1929

601 LAFAYETTE BLVD

roxburyfarmgarden.com

We have all your gardening needs! Come Shop With Us

Virginia & Front Porch: Thanks for your continued support of the arts in Fredericksburg! Casey Shaw front porch fredericksburg

August 2014

A Handsome Hound

John Wall:

a dog beauty salon

Army General, Author, and Fredericksburg Resident

By mary lynn powers

By Basil Georgiadis

Taking care of a dog is a lot like taking care of a child. That’s why when I stopped to see about nail clipping for one of my dogs, I was impressed by the fact that the groomer was washing a dog, and caring for her young two year old. As I spoke with Lisa Tolbert, (above) she explained that she was the owner, along with husband Khris. Her daughter, Emily,

stayed with her occasionally when she wasn’t with Dad or her live-in nanny who happens to be Lisa’s sister. As many of us know, daycare can be tricky, which is one of the reasons that Lisa stays in business for herself. We talked about why she decided to open a dog business. Lisa attributes her knowledge and skills mainly to her mother. She worked at her mother’s kennel from a young age, and later at a shop in Fredericksburg, before taking over the spot on William St. She found that she had a knack for working with dogs. She explained that it was her zen spot where she is very much at ease with the world. Handsome Hound is not just a dog wash, though; a list of beauty treatments for dogs are available. There are hair dyes, feather extensions, paw and nose lotion, and even a blueberry facial. The shop is not just a grooming facility, but a dog beauty salon. According to her website, the mission is to make the animals that visit her more comfortable in

their own skins. Just in the time that I visited, there were three beautiful Aussies, one that Lisa was gently clipping as we spoke. The next time there was a large Labradoodle who sat, docilely listening to us talk, as he dried off. Lisa will also work on cats, and other critters (upon request), giving them any of the above treatments. Running a business is challenging, but Lisa seems to have a handle on things. Going into her third year she has a good clientele base, a great location, and a passion for her craft. The store is small, a literal box in the wall, but Lisa uses the space to the fullest. Eventually, she would like to expand, but for now she is adjusting to motherhood while still maintaining a career. She is not in a rush about anything. She has one employee who comes in twice a week, but otherwise she handles all the business herself. She enjoys knowing her immediate neighbors on William St, but also wishes there was more connection with the other shop

owners in town. Her main extracurricular activity is playing on women’s rugby team with the Rappahannock Football Club. We’ll save Rugby for a different article. Lisa hails from the Big Apple, but says as many ex New Yorkers do that Fredericksburg has a certain feel, small town and homey. For right now, the Tolberts plan to stay in the area. They have a house, a baby and not to forget three dogs, a Labrador, a Golden Retriever, a Pomeranian, and a cat. Living the dream, who could ask for more! Check out Handsome Hound on Facebook or at the website www.handsomehoundfred.com The address is 103 1/2 William St. Fredericksburg Phone: 368-9663 Mary Lynn Powers gets the inside story on businesses in FXBG.

Fredericksburg has a long tradition of involvement with the military stemming from colonial times, the Civil War, and present. One of the city’s current residents is John Wall, a retired US Army Lieutenant General. General Wall followed his father’s path into the military, attending West Point and graduating in 1956. He always wanted a military career and believed that the Army was the best service for him. He trained to become an officer and specialized in engineering. Midway through his career, he recalled his involvement as an engineer working overseas as part of the Camp David Peace Accords of the late 1970’s. “As part of the Israeli compromise to turn over land to the Egyptians, the Israelis requested two new, state of the art airbases. We built them new bases better than the ones they gave up!” Besides working as a combat engineer, he remembers the leadership and camaraderie as a company commander when he was a lieutenant and captain. “Being with troops and taking care of soldiers were the best part of my career.” John Wall must have been very good at what he did because he achieved

the rank of lieutenant general, or threestar. Only about 2% of colonels achieve one-star and a quarter of those get threestars. This position is at the top of an extremely small group of able and hardcharging officers. His rise began when was promoted to major below the zone, ahead of his peers, but insists that he really doesn’t know why. “There were so many other good officers. I was just lucky!” Clearly more than luck was involved. After serving his country for thirty-two years General Wall was ready to transition back to civilian life. He and Suzanne, his wife of 58 years, made 31 moves during his career while raising their family. He maintains that everyone should serve their country in some capacity. However, he emphasized that the pace of operations and deployments today is very hard on military families. They retired in the late 1980’s when he became director of Stratford Hall Plantation, Robert E. Lee’s ancestral home in Westmoreland County on the Potomac. He worked with a wonderful group of people who brought the history and legacy of Robert E. Lee to the public while preserving the beautiful estate. Eventually, the Walls moved to Fredericksburg.

They are happy here in their adopted city which they love, along with their friends. These days, he’s busy writing and working out daily at Bodyworks gym. A native South Carolinian, he has an affinity for a fellow Camden, SC native and one-time Fredericksburg resident, Richard Kirkland. Kirkland gained fame here, briefly halting the Battle of Fredericksburg to bring 23 canteens of water to wounded Union troops who were suffering on the battlefield. Wall points out that Kirkland demonstrated selfless care for the enemy; he was later known as the Angel of Marye’s Heights. John Wall is an Anglican priest and a devoted family man. He has published a book on the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament): “A Christian Stroll through the Hebrew Bible” and is currently

researching another theological work. His presence here continues a long tradition of accomplished military personnel and humanitarians, such as General Hugh Mercer, (Revolutionary War) Clara Barton, (Civil War), Capt Alexander Stone (World War One), and others. The military, along with business, the arts, and academia, all contribute to the diverse Fredericksburg tapestry. Basil Georgiadis is a retired airman who enjoys history and meeting interesting people in our community. Photo taken by Trish Jackson

More than 40 VA wineries now open late! Find your favorite Summer Night at VAWineInMyPocket.com"

She makes you wish you could live forever Because that’s how long you’ll love her.

August 2014

Front porch fredericksburg

606 Caroline Street Old Town Fredericksburg

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Where Fredericksburg Gets Engaged front porch fredericksburg

August 2014

A Handsome Hound

John Wall:

a dog beauty salon

Army General, Author, and Fredericksburg Resident

By mary lynn powers

By Basil Georgiadis

More than 40 VA wineries now open late! Find your favorite Summer Night at VAWineInMyPocket.com"

She makes you wish you could live forever Because that’s how long you’ll love her.

August 2014

Front porch fredericksburg

606 Caroline Street Old Town Fredericksburg

Private Security Investigations Services Employment Verification Background Checks Certified Process Servers

373-7847 www.gemstonecreations.org Tuesday - Saturday 10-5 Wednesday 10-6:30

Justice Cucci 540-324-6265 www.cops-pi.com

Where Fredericksburg Gets Engaged front porch fredericksburg

August 2014

Service Without Paws

VA. WINERIES

animal assisted therapy

Winery Dogs Exit the Farm, Enter the Tasting Room

By A.E.Bayne therapy dogs do have CRRL. Both organizations state a mission to jump through some of providing the benefits of animal hoops to wear the assisted therapy to those in need in our cherished vest of their local area. vocation. Most dogs Seitzinger and Sage currently first complete the work as a team through RACC visiting Stafford Hospital, Mary Washington American Kennel Hospital, and The Crossings, an assisted Association’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) living facility off of Route 17. Seitzinger program; however, describes Sage as a goofball and says she additional hours of offers great levity to tense environments, behavior training are though Sage seems to know when a necessary to earn situation warrants serious behavior. She t h e r a p y says, “I have seen her go up to someone Kelly certification. completely healthy and act wacky and Beasley, partner to excited, but when we go into the rooms of Eleven-y year-o old Danielle Adams (left) pets Jackson. experienced therapy sick people she calms down and stays Jackson's handler, Beth Skewis, is at right dog Amber, explains, still. For instance, there was young lady What qualities come to mind “Once they have that (CGC) under their we visited last Sunday, and out of all of when you think of those who serve belt, they will test to become a therapy our visits, Sage settled down and locked in others? How about altruism? Intuitive dog, which is more of a temperament with her, sensing that she needed interest? Selflessness? Maybe you think of test. There are organizations that will certify something from her. It’s surprising to see enthusiasm, determination, and dogs to be therapy dogs, and a good source the difference between one room and the action. The therapy dogs in our area, for information online is a site called Pet next.” along with their dedicated human Partners.” Beth Skewis (accompanies a partners, embody all of these qualities Bridget Seitzinger, partner to a spritely therapy pup named Jackson to along with a myriad of others. Bonded spunky seven year old chocolate lab Greenfield, a senior living facility in and sharing a common goal, area teams named Sage (upper right), ease the suffering and anxiety of the adds, “Therapy training youngest to the oldest among us. requires obedience. With While they make it look easy, Pet Partners, there’s a lot more than just your basic CGC. They test for loud noises, stumbling or staggering gestures, clumsy petting, things of that nature that are real life scenarios that dogs could run into. Wheel chairs? Walkers? What’s at the bottom of a walker? Tennis balls! That could be a distraction to a dog. Commands like “leave Eight-y year-o old Isiaih Ward (Massaponax) reads to Jackson it” become a useful tool in during a Paws For Reading session a hospital where food or pills can drop from carts.” In addition to Pet Partners, dogs in our area may be tested for therapy status through Therapy Dogs, Inc. and Therapy Dogs International. Once dogs and trainers have passed these specific certifications, there are two organizations in the Fredericksburg area that they may join to become a part of the teams that work at area hospitals, libraries, schools, and Rappahannock Area nursing facilities. Comfort Canines (RACC) sends teams to area hospitals and assisted living facilities to support anxious patients or family members, as well as facilitates the area Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D) program through local branches of the Central Rappahannock Regional Blue Gray Library and area schools. Therapy Dogs operates a similar service to area hospitals and health care sites, in addition to running the area Paws for Reading program, also through

August 2014

Front porch fredericksburg

Stafford. They also work a schedule through RACC with the R.E.A.D. program at branches of CRRL and at several area schools. Jackson gained celebrity status early in life through an appearance on Animal Planet’s annual Puppy Bowl while Skewis and her husband were fostering him for the Pet Assistance League. After experiencing his unique obedience and calm nature, they decided to adopt him and train him for therapy work. He’s been at it for the past three years. Skewis believes that it is Jackson’s quiet intelligence that makes him an exceptional therapy dog, especially when working with children. She describes what the interaction between Jackson and his reading pals looks like at Elite Academy, a therapeutic private day school in the Fredericksburg area, “It’s incredible. Jackson is a perk for the kids at Elite Academy. Sometimes they can’t keep their emotions in check, but if they know we are coming that day they are on their

by nancy bauer

Bridget Seitzinger with Sage best behavior. They make sure to get their work done so they can have reading time with Jackson. I always take off-thewall books with me, not hard to read books, but definitely weird. I like Michael Townsend, who writes hilarious graphic novels based on Greek mythology. One boy started reading it to Jackson. He had some problems with the words at first, but by February he was bringing in thick books to show me he could read them. I’m like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ He said he’d been doing it since Christmas. It was wonderful. So, it’s almost like you’re jump starting their love of reading by giving them the opportunity to read to a dog who won’t say, ‘Oops, you got that wrong.’ They know they will see him each week and see it as treat.” Vicki Bennett, administrator of Elite Academy, agrees with Skewis’ assessment of Jackson’s impact on the students, “Both Beth and Jackson are a calming presence for the kids. We teach children who won’t read orally in front of the class, but they will read to Jackson, because he isn’t going to criticize or make fun of them. It’s opened up learning opportunities to them through oral reading that they would not normally have in the classroom. Also, we service kids who might experience emotional meltdowns during the day. If they are having one when he visits, they will deescalate because they want so badly to go and read to him. Those are two huge advantages for our kids.” Says Beasley, who has worked with her dog Amber for seven years now, “I guess the most important thing is to encourage other people to get involved, because we have always had such an amazing time wherever we go. We see actual differences being made, from a patient’s blood pressure lowering after a visit with Amber, to improvements for students who are learning to read after they’ve had time with her.” Ultimately, the key to success for these therapy teams lies in their deep commitment to helping people and in the close connection shared between each dog and human partner. A.E. Bayne is a teacher, writer, and artist living in Fredericksburg, VA. Photos by Robert A. Martin, a professional photographer from Fredericksburg.

Knock on the door of any house in the U. S. and odds of finding a dog inside are about 50/50. Visit any winery in Virginia, and the chance of running across a wet nose, or the stray bit of kibble, are just as high. Dogs have long been part of wineries: hard working vineyard patrols keeping the wildlife at bay - and the humans company - far away from the city. Lately, though, carpetbagging city dogs have been staking their own claim at Virginia wineries. Some are happy enough to sprawl in the shade beneath a picnic table, while others ricochet among fans at the tasting bar, in search of the next ear scratch or tummy rub. If dogs are royalty – and they are, at more than 125 Virginia wineries - a Yorkie and Pomeranian duo, named Prosecco and Pomeroy, are their king and queen. Along with their low-profile human, Terri Hauser, the Virginia Wine Dogs publish a popular blog (vawinedogs.blogspot.com) and a Facebook page with more than 1,000 followers. “The Virginia Wine Dogs are accidental bloggers,” says Hauser. She tells the story of taking a wine tour at Pearmund Cellars, when owner Chris Pearmund gathered the group around a vat of fermenting grapes, inviting everyone to sample the grape must. Pointing out the strong aroma, he said that if a dog were to taste – with their heightened senses – they would go wild. “As if on cue,” she says, “Munchkin, who had been smuggling in a bag on my shoulder, popped out to claim her sample – and the first wine dog was born.” Pomeroy the Pomeranian was rescued a year later, and a particularly fetching photo of the two dogs posed with Three Fox Vineyards’ mascots – a trio of Yorkie-sized fox statuettes – launched the idea of starting a blog, which chronicles the dogs’ wine country travels. Hauser says the response has been overwhelmingly positive. “The Wine

Dogs are easily recognizable members of the “puparazzi” and we often encounter fans along the trail who tell us how much they enjoy the blog. We love promoting Virginia’s great wine industry.” Dog-friendly can mean money in the bank, according to Hauser, who notes that Barrel Oak Winery in Delaplane (nicknamed BOW) has made dogs central to their “strikingly successful” business model. She mentions the popular “Lucy’s Weekend,” now in its 10th year at Cooper Vineyards in Louisa, and the annual “Dog Day” at Breaux Vineyards in Purcellville as examples of events with significant drawing power, along with the Friday night “Pups on the Patio” events at Winery at La Grange, in Haymarket. “As the industry becomes more competitive, many wineries are courting the canine crowd,” she says. Wineries are also taking advantage of the new pet-love zeitgeist to bring in local rescue groups and shelters for adoption and fundraising events, such as the recent “Wine & Whiskers” gathering at Desert Rose Winery in Hume, where Prosecco – aka Ecco - and Pomeroy were celebrity guests. Another dog-loving winery, Keswick Vineyards, north of Charlottesville, is well known for its monthly “Yappy Hour” adoption events. Not every winery is as welcoming. Hauser says, “Some of the friendliest wineries we know have had to declare their tasting room off-limits because of mishaps. One bad apple truly can spoil things for the whole bunch.” She advises dogs to “be on your best behavior,” and asks owners to keep pets under control or leave them at home. Sidebar: Favorite Virginia Wine Dog hangouts include Barrel Oak Winery, Breaux Vineyards, Willowcroft Farm Winery (Leesburg) and Cobbler Mountain Cellars (Delaplane), all of which allow dogs at the tasting bar. Winter favorites – valued for their indoor fireplaces – include Aspen Dale Winery (Delaplane), Paradise Springs Winery (Clifton), and Zephaniah Vineyard (Leesburg). The Wine Dogs are looking forward to this summer’s opening of the off-leash dog park at 8 Chains North Winery, in Waterford. Nancy Bauer co-founded VAWineInMyPocket.com, the social media website and travel app. Photographs in this article by VA Wine Dogs front porch fredericksburg

August 2014

Service Without Paws

VA. WINERIES

animal assisted therapy

Winery Dogs Exit the Farm, Enter the Tasting Room

August 2014

Front porch fredericksburg

by nancy bauer

August 2014

My Own Path

Stafford 350 anthony burn’s fight for freedom

the pet question

By david s. kerr This article is part of a series of articles, sponsored by Front Porch, in recognition of Stafford County’s 350th Anniversary. Stafford County’s population in 1834 was approximately 9,362. Of this total, some 4,164 people were slaves. It was important to count these individuals, because, after all, under the Constitution, for purposes of representation in Congress, they represented 3/5 of a person. But that’s as far as their recognition went. Slaves could be traded and sold like cattle and they could be punished on a whim. It was into this world, that Anthony Burns of Stafford County, was born. He was a slave, but would die a freeman and in his short life would play an important role in helping shift the North’s opinion of slavery. Burns was a Baptist and attended Union Church in Falmouth. Slaves were allowed to attend church, but along with free blacks, had to access the building through a separate entrance and sit in the balcony away from the whites. Presumably, many of the white parishioners must have thought that Heaven was segregated as well. Burns was moved by his experiences in church and felt the call to preach. “Slave preachers,” such as Burns, were given permission to spread the Gospel amongst other slaves. Burns was especially good at it and in the process of preaching and further trying to understand the Gospel he had developed a questioning mind. Quickly enough he came to see slavery as incompatible with the Christian faith. Though Burns was a slave he was nonetheless given an unusual amount of latitude. He was a gifted leader. He supervised other slaves and was even allowed to hire himself out, on his own, to other masters. Of course, he didn’t get to keep the proceeds. He was still a slave, but he was a trusted one. That led him to Richmond in 1853, where sensing the prospect of freedom, he secured passage on a ship bound for Boston. Massachusetts was a free state and he knew he wouldn’t be a slave there. Or so he believed.

August 2014

Dogtopia a playday for man’s best friend

By c. ruth cassell

In a disgusting piece of legislation called the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, the Congress required that state and federal authorities capture and return fugitive slaves. Burns had already begun to preach in Boston when he was captured in 1854. The case against him was open and shut, but public opinion was another matter. The thought of a man kidnapped on Massachusetts soil and sent back into slavery was revolting to a large part of the population. There were rallies and even an attack on the federal courthouse. However, Burns, nonetheless was sent back to Virginia. But thanks to the Burns case and the debate it generated, Northern opinion on slavery, began to shift dramatically. One commentator noted that no matter what our views before, we were all abolitionists now. Eventually, but not without some difficulty, Burns was ransomed out of slavery and quickly left the south. He furthered his education at Oberlin College and eventually went to Canada to continue his preaching. Sadly, he died of tuberculosis at the age of 32. He never lived to see the abolition of slavery, but following his own philosophy, he had “…found freedom in Christ,” and through his saga, and eventual escape from slavery, he radically changed his world. David Kerr’s knowledge of local history is a welcome addition to Front Porch.

Front porch fredericksburg

Fortunate doesn’t cover it when I think about the relationship my son has with my Goddog. No, it’s not a typo and yes, I just promoted myself as Godmother to the sweetest, most playful and most adorable dog I know—Stella McGee. Others may share the title of Stella’s Godmother, but I will rightfully claim it as well. I have known the little white bear since she was a puppy, and Stella is as old in people years as my son. They’ve been part of my best friend Jenny McGee and my life for the last seven years. Stella joined Aunty Jenny on many babysitting dates with Nasir when we all lived in Fredericksburg. The high energy pup was my son’s playmate and he learned to walk her on a leash, give her treats and pet her playfully. Lessons all extremely important to the development of an empathetic young boy. Lessons also difficult to teach an active toddler. Though my and Nasir’s coveted time with Jenny and Stella is now spent after several hours in the car or over text and calls, the relationship between our babies is no less strong. Nasir loves Stella and talks about her even when we are apart. It’s a wonder then why I hesitate to bring a dog into our lives. My son turns seven this month, and he asks at least twice a week if we can get a dog. My new husband and I talk to him about the responsibility it takes to care for a dog every day and how important it is to have a house and yard prepared for a pet, neither of which we have. Add to my hesitation to bring an animal into our already hectic lives the fact that I have a difficult time with mess, and it becomes clearer why a pet is not my ideal birthday gift for the child. No doubt the additional lessons in empathy, responsibility and selflessness we could all learn from adopting a new best friend would outweigh the added stress of cleaning up after an animal. The true reason I won’t bring a pet home is I don’t know if we could care for it properly. And, I’ll say it, I’m not a “dog person.” I work full-time and often struggle to get myself out for a run or a trip to the gym much less ensuring a pet gets adequate exercise. Nasir spends all day in school, after-school care or camp, and the thought of a dog home by itself all day is upsetting. Perhaps the decision to bring a pet into your life should be considered the same as bringing a child into the world. You are never really ready and you won’t ever really be able to afford it. Do it when your heart says yes. Nasir’s heart is obviously set on having a dog.

By ryan davis owners can wash & groom their dogs and overnight boarding services. The new owners of Dogtopia of Fredericksburg, Lynn and Matt Konetschni, drew upon their own positive experience as clients. “Matt and I were living in Alexandria both

I’m going to let his heart speak, but hold off at least until we have a fenced in yard. I would love to see my son with another doggie to love as much as he does Stella. If you have advice for when is the best time to bring a pet into a child’s life, email Ruth Cassell at ruth3of5gmail.com. She lives with her son in Roanoke, VA, visits her best friend and many other life-long pals in Fredericksburg often, is taking on a new husband and new job at the same time, and writes to keep it all in perspective. Check out her blog at www.attentionanonymous.wordpress.com

I get to play! I get to play! Oh, Mom and Dad, I can’t wait to play with my friends! This is what the lovable dog in the back seat will be thinking on their way to Dogtopia of Fredericksburg, the area’s new doggy daycare service. Whether you’re the proud owner of a feisty Chihuahua, a rambunctious Jack Russell Terrier or even a laid-back Bull Mastiff, Dogtopia can provide an enjoyable, safe environment to meet the needs of any breed. Dogtopia is a multi-faceted daycare that provides large playrooms for exercise, individual crates for nap time, a spa area where Dogtopia staff or pet

commuting and working and we needed a better alternative to leaving our dog Rex at home all day. We took him to Dogtopia and found it extremely helpful because he was getting the exercise and stimulation he needed,” said Lynn Konetschni.

The couple decided to go into business for themselves when they moved to Fredericksburg. They wanted to provide a service to the community while pursuing an avenue they were passionate about. “There was some fear and trepidation about going into business for ourselves, which is par for the course, but the support from Dogtopia and the response from the community had been very positive—a natural alignment for our vision,” said Matt Konetschni. The Konetschnis initially looked to create a business of their own, but they found that the support from Dogtopia to new franchisees couldn’t be overlooked. “The great thing about this company is they’ve already done much of the trial & error on how to provide the best care for the dog,” said Matt Konetschni. These included features such as playrooms built with rubberized compressed floors (alleviating stress on the dog’s joints), to operating an indoor facility set at a temperature of 70-72 degrees (which provides a cool environment for the dog to play in).

In order to offer the best care for the animal, Dogtopia also requires completion of training courses as well as in- person training for all Playroom Attendants. A dog is never dropped off at Dogtopia without an evaluation first. The evaluation ensures that dogs coming to daycare will enjoy an open play environment and includes a touch test, crate test (for naps and overnight boarding) and a temperament test where your dog is introduced to other dogs in a controlled environment. To ensure the dog’s comfort and enjoyment, the staff even groups them by their size and temperament. Leaving no stone unturned, the company even offers a playroom webcam via the Dogtopia website so owners can stay connected with their dogs throughout the day. For more information on services and hours of availability visit: www.dogdaycare.com/fredericksburg / Ryan Davis is a graduate of the University of Mary Washington and has future aspirations of becoming a published author.

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

August 2014

My Own Path

Stafford 350 anthony burn’s fight for freedom

the pet question

August 2014

Dogtopia a playday for man’s best friend

By c. ruth cassell

Front porch fredericksburg

August 2014

Cooking With Kyle Simple, easy, delicious by james kyle snyder

371-4075

such, our meals have become more agrarian. Although we still eat red meat (rarely), we now know how bad it is for us when we do. On this particular night, we wanted something lite, simple, fast, and filling. It took us 30 minutes from concept to food on the table. Hang on! Preheat the oven to 400, start a pot of water (1/3 full), on high, to steam the broccoli, and place a frying pan on the stove on low. Wash two wild Cod filets and place them in a buttered glass 13 x 9 pan. Drizzle 1 Tbs olive oil, 1 tsp S&P, the juice of 1 Lemon, and fresh thyme on the fish and rub into the flesh. Set the fish aside for 10 minutes. We always have cooked brown rice, quinoa, and black rice in our refrigerator. (This tip will save you hours on waiting for rice to cook) Using a food processor, mince 1 pint spinach and 1 cup of carrots. In a large bowl combine those with: 1 pint cooked quinoa, zest of 1 lemon, juice of 2 lemons, 1 Tbs minced garlic, ½ cup feta cheese crumbled, ½ cup gluten free (brown rice, sorgum, whatever you have) flour, and 2 tsp S&P. Additional healthy adds could be chia seed, hemp seeds, and turmeric. This all takes about 10 minutes. Put the Cod in the oven and set a 15 minute timer. Form the spinach mixture into 3/8 inch patties and place in the frying pan. You are not really cooking these patties but toasting the quinoa and seeds. Check for a toasty brown in 5 minutes. The water should be boiling now so throw the broccoli in a colander and put it over the water. Cover the colander with a pot lid and cook for 5 minutes. It is all coming together now! Check the fish at the 15 minutes and, if opaque, it is done. Pull it out and begin plating: quinoa cake, fish on that, and broccoli at the edge. Use the pan drippings from the fish to season the broccoli. We took this meal outside and hung out with Jewel who provided us much needed calm after a long day. Simple, easy, delicious, and nutritious! Be well.

2018 College Ave. Fredericksburg

Kyle brings us simple, healthy meals each month in this space.

This month’s overall theme is “People & their Companion(s) Animals.” It finds us deep in the middle of “The Dog Days of summer.” What does that mean? During mid-summer, in ancient Greece, Sirius (Greek for searing) would rise and fall with the sun, getting obscured only by the daytime light. Known as “The Dog Star,” it is the brightest light in the sky besides the sun. The beginning of the heliacal rising cycle of Sirius made it easy for the ancient Greeks to associate this time of year with “The Dog Star,” making mid-summer “The Dog Days.” We, however, don’t have a dog. We have a cat (Jewel) so “The Dog Days” information is just an interesting factoid. During “The Dog Days” we enjoy sitting outside in the evening with Jewel, watching her lounge and loaf as only cats can do. Often, we will take our dinner to the deck and sup in the quiet companionship she offers. A soft passing rub or a comfortable roll over onto her back solidifies that we are all there together to enjoy the evening with each other. Mitzi and I are reading a book, Eating Right for your Blood Type, by Dr. Pete D’Amado. Our personal experiences are that there is something to his methodologies. Check it out. We both have type A blood. As

The General Store

Restaurant

Since 1978

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

August 2014

Front porch fredericksburg

blind ambition

Season’s Bounty

By jeremy sutton

By vanessa moncure

Vino Blind tasting begs a little clarification to start. I think a lot of folks outside of the industry see the practice as kind of “showing off,” a staid parlor routine of the snobby days before wine was liberated as a drink for the masses, and consumed right along with beer at the family barbeque. But it’s got a lot of great functions that can be very enlightening and fun for the novice and the well-versed, the professional and casual wine enthusiast alike. Going into a wine with basically no information is liberating. Additionally, it will help you learn to trust your senses, and hone your palate. You will have to actually pay attention to the aromas, the texture, the small physical clues of a wine to get to the bottom of what it is you’re drinking. So with that in mind I had my wife Jessica purchase a bottle, and pour me a glass blind. Below is a good map for the process as most professionals would go about it. A few basic things we would all look for when tasting an unknown wine, and clues we would look for in making a guess as to its provenance. It was red, of this I could be certain. Nice to already have one checked off in the “right” column immediately. It was still (no carbonation), it was dry (no or very little residual sugar). These are easy ones, but hey, you also just cut your list of possibilities in half, so remember to look at the little stuff, too. A couple of swirls and the “legs” are fairly average, maybe a half an inch apart. What are “legs” (or “tears”) anyway? It’s the good stuff: alcohol, which has a lower surface tension than water, and sort of “shoves” the water back towards the glass while still clinging to the side. Typically, wines with a higher alcohol content have a bigger gap between legs. These look pretty average, so we can guess the wine is likely between 12.5% - 15% abv. I hold the glass up against a white background. The edge is just a touch watery, the color doesn’t run all the way out the edge of the glass. That combined with a little “bottle bouquet” (“bottle bouquet” comes across kind of like dried flowers, or sometimes almost a little like soy sauce, it occurs when a wine has maybe sat in bottle just a shade too long). Okay, it’s time to finally taste. Pure red fruit, good strong acid. This immediately says cool climate growing region (along with the moderate alcohol content). Warm wine growing regions tend to produce higher alcohol wines that come across as big and fleshy in the mouth. This wine is ripe but not rich, little earthy, little funky, a slightly herbal edge to the red fruit…combine this with the cool climate deduction and we can be

reasonably sure this is an Old World (i.e. European) wine. In the back of my mind I feel like there’s a bit of hint of Virginia wine to this red. I can’t put my finger on it, but something is reminiscent of the local wines, a kind of ripe up front but a little thin on the back that typifies Virginia. So, what European grapes fit the bill for ripe fruit, high acid and herbal? Cabernet Franc springs immediately to mind. The wine is a little too light to be Grenache, and certainly isn’t any of the heavy weights Cab Sauv, Syrah or Merlot. So, it’s go time. I call Cab Franc from the Loire Valley, France. It fits all the clues of which I can be certain (red, cool climate, high-acid grape, and it would explain the Virginia-esque nose). I am wrong, but not horribly so. It’s Austrian, first of all. So correct on Old World and cool climate, but pegged the wrong ones. It’s a blend, 70% Pinot Noir and 30% St. Laurent (a local Austrian grape). I’m a little annoyed with myself for not even thinking of Pinot Noir, but it at least makes my guess of Cab Franc fairly in the ballpark. The wine is a 2010, so spot on about its age. The producer is Marc Aurel and it’s quite good, I would drink this wine again. So what does this MEAN? Nothing. It’s just fun to extrapolate and learn a few things about the wine we’re drinking. It’s good dinner conversation, taboot. But this hopefully illustrates you can be a wrong and right all at the same time and fun both ways. It’s an inexact science that can shed a lot of real light on both the wine and your own personal taste.

Jeremy Sutton, a wine enthusiast, works for Kysela Pere et Fils, a wine, beer & spirits distributor in Virginia. He is the father of two boys and lives in Fredericksburg

dog biscuits to roll over for

It took a while for me to find a bulb for the 1950s-era slide projector. After my parents passed away, I found cases of slides in leather-covered cases, each with drawers containing at least 500 slides. Dad was in the Occupation Forces, Germany, after WWII and obviously kept his camera close by his side -plastic drawers full of unidentified soldiers waving from the top of tanks; literally hundreds of unknown monuments, sculptures, churches, cathedrals; snowdraped landscapes, heart-wrenching burned-out boxcars on railroad sidings. As I reached the last few drawers, there appeared a dog in the photos - tongue lolling in a dog-smile as the soldiers tossed snowballs, the dog eating from tin mess containers, a jerry-built doghouse against a Quonset hut, a water bowl labelled DOG, soldiers smiling and petting him, one of him with paws on the front seat of the captain’s jeep. The last drawer, the first sense of joy and humanity in the photos that’s what our pets can do for us. As an only child, I guess my parents decided a pet would always be a companion for me, a chance to learn responsibility. I had a Manx cat named Monroe, another cat named Goody, and a parakeet I called Pretty Baby., but what I found next was the beginning of a lifetime of loving dogs. Ginger, my precious Cocker Spaniel - then Sergeant Pepper (what decade do you suppose he was in?) who was the Houdini escape artist of the household. My next dog began a 35-year love affair - with dachshunds. Stubborn, brave, loyal, impossible to house train, constant barkers and wildly food-driven (not the best dog with small children) they were clowns, companions and burglar alarms. Poppy, a Lab Smokey, Poppy II (she lived 16 years - I never knew about

doggie Alzheimer’s until her dotage), then Bailey. She was the Einstein of Dachshunds completely housetrained, she would continue to repeat her 16-or-so repertoire of tricks as long as you had a bit of ham, bacon or chicken. Cheese and peanut butter roused her suspicions as she had uncovered bitter pills hidden inside elephants may never forget, but dachshunds REALLY never forget. Her sire, dam and littermates were AKC champions, but she decided it was just TOO much trouble to remain at a supermodel weight - the trash can called to her - in a one-week period we were at the vet for a swallowed fishing line, then for eating the entire bony carcass of our Thanksgiving turkey - it was larger than she was. I was sure the vet (not our usual) would be calling the equivalent of Dog Protective Services, but he just shook his head as he handed us our bill. Ears flying out of the window, Bailey was happy to be heading back home. We miss her - we’ve been thinking about another, but now have four grandsons and brand-new twin granddaughters - puppies need as much attention as babies and we’re not quite ready yet. I’m glad my younger son videotaped her tricks - all I had to do was make a circle in the air with my finger, and she’d roll to King George to get her treat. Try these dog biscuits- nothing can be easier, and I guarantee your pup will roll over for them!

Cool Your Heels In Our Kitchen With A Cooking Class At Whittingham Please call for information, 540-374-0443 info@shopwhittingham.com

Olde Towne BUTCHER Corner of William & Charles Streets Downtown Fredericksburg 540.370.4105 www.oldetownebutcher.com

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

DOG BISCUITS Mix together 2 c. whole wheat flour with 8 oz. of pureed cooked beef, chicken, lamb, pork, ham, bacon and grease, etc. (or a mixture of) along with 2 T. minced fresh parsley (for that fresh breath). Roll out ?” thick on parchment sheet, then cut with dogbone cookie cutters. Bake on parchment 350F 20-25 minutes. Let cool, then store airtight. Use no onions, raisins, chocolate, grapes, or other foods known to be dangerous to dogs. Vanessa Moncure treats us to wonderful recipes and delightful stories in this space each month.

front porch fredericksburg

August 2014

Cooking With Kyle Simple, easy, delicious by james kyle snyder

371-4075

2018 College Ave. Fredericksburg

Kyle brings us simple, healthy meals each month in this space.

The General Store

Restaurant

Since 1978

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

August 2014

Front porch fredericksburg

blind ambition

Season’s Bounty

By jeremy sutton

By vanessa moncure

Jeremy Sutton, a wine enthusiast, works for Kysela Pere et Fils, a wine, beer & spirits distributor in Virginia. He is the father of two boys and lives in Fredericksburg

dog biscuits to roll over for

Cool Your Heels In Our Kitchen With A Cooking Class At Whittingham Please call for information, 540-374-0443 info@shopwhittingham.com

Olde Towne BUTCHER Corner of William & Charles Streets Downtown Fredericksburg 540.370.4105 www.oldetownebutcher.com

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

front porch fredericksburg

August 2014

Rodriguez’s Jacks Jack Russell Terriers protect vines By scott richards

For all those who are involved in the wine industry, at least from a viticultural perspective, the idea that animals and insects find various parts of the vine much to their culinary delight is nothing new. There are as many precautions and devices that can be used as their are different predators. In Newtown, Virginia, Robert Rodriguez has found a unique approach to this dilemma, Jack Russell terriers. The Jack Russell Terrier, a working dog, remains much the same as it was two hundred years ago, with an average height of ten to fifteen inches and weighing in at fourteen to eighteen pounds. Known for their aggressive nature, they were originally used for hunting small game such as foxes. Because they are fearless, they go down holes into the ground after animals. Occasionally, the Jack (as they are often called) is bred with fox terriers to keep them from over breeding. Rodriguez has a vineyard of approximately ninety five vines and, because he lives off the beaten path with frontage on the Mattaponi River, he is open to all kinds of predators ranging from voles to ground hogs and raccoons who finds his varieties of grapes quite a delicacy. “These dogs are very well mannered and like people,” remarked Rodriguez,”but they hate animals and are not afraid of them.” He related how Firestorm Puff, one of his alpha dogs will actually attack

and kill raccoons. The other alpha, Julia, goes after rabbits, but does it in a unique fashion. When she sees the rabbit, she will not attack it at first, but follows it, finding out where the warren is and then digs into the ground cleaning it out completely.Rodriguez commented that Puff and Julia, because of their alpha nature, cannot be let out of the kennel together, because each thinks that they are the main dog and will fight with the other. The two remaining dogs, Siri and Trump work together or with the Puff or Julia. Released from the kennel in the morning after all the neighbors have left for work, they have been known to kill predators who venture into their territory, even snakes. It is not uncommon to see them with their entire face buried in the ground, going after something. After killing the animals, they are deposited on the front porch, for the master’s approval. Rodriguez mentioned that they are often taken to the vet for animal bites, particularly from raccoons. He said they learn how to handle snakes after the first confrontation, letting out a high pitched cry and relentlessly attacking. Recently, Rodriguez heard Trump and Julia (above) getting very excited and went to investigate. To his surprise, they were going after a snapping turtle that measured twenty four to thirty inches in diameter. The snapper, with a head as large as the dog’s head, paid little attention to their noise as it was in the process of laying eggs. To calm the dogs down, a small baby pool was put over the turtle so it could not be seen. Loyal to master and family, Jacks are a fearless warrior, who in this case, are doing their best to enhance the Virginia Wine Industry. Scott Richards owns a vineyard in Sparta, Virginia and does freelance writing for the Caroline Progress and Front Porch.

WELCOME TO OUR GREAT OUTDOORS It’s Beautiful ~ Night and Day!

The Soup & Taco,

Summer Cocktails

Etc.

Super Refreshing

813 Caroline St. Fredericksburg, VA

Cool off this summer with one of these refreshing, easy recipes.

PEACHARINO

Serving Traditional Mexican, Tex-Mex Food and Something More!! Tuesday to Saturday 11am-9pm

8 oz or larger Wine Goblet chilled 1½ oz vodka ½ peeled peach (fresh or canned) ½ oz lemon juice 1 tablespoon peach or apricot preserve 4 oz crushed ice Combine all ingredients in blender and blend at medium speed until almost smooth. Pour, unstrained, into chilled glass.

Sunday 11am-6pm

CAPE CODDER Phone: 540-899-0969 E-mail: soupntaco@yahoo.com

The Sunken Well Tavern

Note: I found these recipes in an old cocktail file of Rob’s.... Dated 1982!

Old Fashion glass, chilled 3-4 ice cubes 1½ oz vodka 2½ to 3 oz cranberry juice 1 dash of lime juice Garnish with lime slice

-VBG

Combine all ingredients in chilled glass and stir slowly.

LEMON DROPS Martini glass chilled 1 oz vodka 1oz lemon liqueur ½ teaspoon honey 3 oz crushed ice 1 thin lemon slice 1 thin lime slice

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

Combine all ingredients except lemon and lime slices in shaker. Shake vigorously. Strain into chilled glass. Garnish.

CHABLIS COOLER 1 oz vodka 3-4 oz chablis, chilled 2 teaspoons grenadine 2 teaspoons lemon juice A few drops of vanilla extract 6 ice cubes Sugar frost large glass. Combine all ingredients except ice and chablis in prepared glass and stir well. Add ice cubes and fill with chablis.

August 2014

Front porch fredericksburg

front porch fredericksburg

August 2014

Rodriguez’s Jacks Jack Russell Terriers protect vines By scott richards

WELCOME TO OUR GREAT OUTDOORS It’s Beautiful ~ Night and Day!

The Soup & Taco,

Summer Cocktails

Etc.

Super Refreshing

813 Caroline St. Fredericksburg, VA

Cool off this summer with one of these refreshing, easy recipes.

PEACHARINO

Serving Traditional Mexican, Tex-Mex Food and Something More!! Tuesday to Saturday 11am-9pm

Sunday 11am-6pm

CAPE CODDER Phone: 540-899-0969 E-mail: soupntaco@yahoo.com

The Sunken Well Tavern

Note: I found these recipes in an old cocktail file of Rob’s.... Dated 1982!

Old Fashion glass, chilled 3-4 ice cubes 1½ oz vodka 2½ to 3 oz cranberry juice 1 dash of lime juice Garnish with lime slice

-VBG

Combine all ingredients in chilled glass and stir slowly.

LEMON DROPS Martini glass chilled 1 oz vodka 1oz lemon liqueur ½ teaspoon honey 3 oz crushed ice 1 thin lemon slice 1 thin lime slice

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

Combine all ingredients except lemon and lime slices in shaker. Shake vigorously. Strain into chilled glass. Garnish.

August 2014

Front porch fredericksburg

front porch fredericksburg

August 2014

Both” ) Lecture on the Legend of Stonewall’s Arm. Q&A & Book Signing following.2-4pm @ Ellwood Manor. Free. Bring lawn chair. Directions www.fowb.org/index.php/ellwoodmanor/directions-to-ellwood/.

Fredericksburg. 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Academy Awards Best Pictures and the Nominations: The Clinton/Monica Lewinsky Era —1995-1999. Film clip highlights and commentary. Free. 540-372-1144.

Sunday Aug 10

Friday August 8

Meet Elizabeth Seaver featured artist @ Bistro Bethem. Reception

august 2014…Dog days of summer Friday August 1 Restaurant Week Begins. There are 17 participating, independent restaurants in this year’s Restaurant Week program all with 2 for $20.00 specials. Continues through August 10. For sample menus go to www. Visitfred.com Water Street Studio presents featured artists Rita Brown, tapestries, and Margaret Waters, basketry. Through Aug 31 Popular Fredericksburg-area artist Ed King is the Art First Gallery featured artist. Opening Reception 6-9pm. Exhibit through August 31. “Remixed 2” Vinyl Album Art Exhibit @6pm Ponshop Studio and Gallery 712 Caroline Street is pleased to announce their fifth community art exhibition features original artwork using vinyl record albums. The exhibit includes thirty-five participants and ten featured artists. The opening reception @ 6-10pm. Sounds of Summer Concert Series @ Market Square, 7 pm , Steve Jarrell and the Sons of the Beach . All concerts are free and open to the public in Market Square at 907 Princess Anne Street. In case of inclement weather, the concert will be moved indoors to 1001 Princess Anne Street. For more information on the concert series, please call 540-371-3037, ext. 135 or visit www.famcc.org.. First Friday After Party featuring Acoustic Onion@ Bistro Bethem @ 10:00 pm – 1:00 am (aug. 2). Join us for live music featuring Acoustic Onion on our “stage . No cover!

Saturday August 2 Throwing Big with Kevin Crowe. Get hands-on instruction from Kevin on how to throw @ LibertyTown Arts Workshop Pottery Workshop. 96pm. Continues on Sunday August 3. details: www.libertytownarts.com. Friends of the Wilderness Battlefield presents Chris Mackowski, PhD., (author of “The Dark Close Wood the Wilderness, Ellwood ad the Battle that Defined

CALENDAR of events

The Bluemont Concert Series is proud to present the Flaming Shillelaghs evening concert. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m @ Maury School Stadium, intersection of Hanover Street and Kenmore Avenue. Bring blankets and lawn chairs, and a picnic. Proceeds go to support Bluemont’s year-round Artist-in-Education program in area schools. No pets, alcohol or smoking are allowed. In case of bad weather, the concerts will be held at James Monroe High School. All are welcome to these family oriented events. $

Tuesday August 5 The Approach @ Bistro Bethem August 5, 2014 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm. Join us for drink specials and live music . No cover! PFLAG Fredericksburg Monthly Meeting @ Unity of Fredericksburg, 2217 Princess Anne St. @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. 1hr education/speaker with Gaye Adegbalola. 1hr support.

Wednesday August 6 Farmers Market at Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center. Local farmers Fresh seasonal vegetables and fruit. 2-6pm in the parking lot. www.thefarmersmarket.co

Thursday August 7 Live Music @Kenmore Inn 7:30p, Sinners & Saints. Film Lecture: Rappahannock Regional Library Headquarters, Theater Room. 1201 Caroline St.,

Sounds of Summer Concert Series @ Market Square, 7 pm , Eric Brace & Peter Cooper. All concerts are free and open to the public in Market Square at 907 Princess Anne Street. In case of inclement weather, the concert will be moved indoors to 1001 Princess Anne Street. For more information on the concert series, please call 540371-3037, ext. 135 or visit www.famcc.org.. Fuel for School Ten Thousand Villages is collecting donations throughout the month for school supply kits on behalf of Mennonite Central Committee. School kits are often requested after disasters and help bring normalcy to children whose families have been forced to flee their homes. Over 125,000 kits were distributed in the U.S. and around the world last year. Pick up a supply list in our store this weekend, and sample a great treat kids can make themselves to pack in their school lunch or as an afterschool treat. Ten Thousand Villages 1 Towne Centre Boulevard #5750 Spotsylvania Towne Centre 10 am. Continues through Aug 9 @6 pm

The Laura Shepherd Show A family friendly evening of original music @ EYECLOPS 620 Charlotte St door opens @5:00 start 5:30. 540 371-9040. Donations

and fast skates.

Thursday August 14 Live Music @Kenmore Inn 7:30p,Wild Ponies.

Friday August 15 Sounds of Summer Concert Series @ Market Square, 7 pm , Tony Craddock, Jr. & Cold Front on August 15, All concerts are free and open to the public in Market Square at 907 Princess Anne Street. In case of inclement weather, the concert will be moved indoors For more information on the concert series, please call 540371-3037, ext. 135 or visit www.famcc.org.

Saturday August 16 The Fredericksburg Area Museum & Cultural Center (FAMCC) is pleased to announce two new exhibitions opening @ 10 am as part of its Community Artist Series. The exhibitions will feature the work of influential local artist Jack Darling and the North Windsor Exhibits will run concurrently in two galleries of the Museum, allowing visitors to see first-hand the lasting influence drawn from the work and mentorship of John S. Darling.

Popular Fredericksburg-a area artist Ed King is Arts First Featured Artist for August. Opening Reception Friday, August 1 from 6-9 9 pm. Show Runs through Sunday August 31.

Saturday August 9 Join us from 1-3 PM for Second Saturdays at the Fred. Area Museum. This month, children and their care givers can learn about victory gardens during World War II. During this program children can create plant pal starter pots for a herb garden of their own. Recommended age for this program is 8 years old and below. This event is FREE.

Tuesday August 12 Alex Culbreth & The Dead Country Stars @ Bistro Bethem @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm Join us for drink specials and live music featuring Alex Culbreth & The Dead Country Stars from 8PM until 11PM. No cover!

Wednesday August 13 Farmers Market at Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center. Local farmers Fresh seasonal vegetables and fruit. 2-6pm in the parking lot. www.thefarmersmarket.co

Virginia Historical Society Explore American history with arts and crafts and discover connections to the story of Virginia. Stories at the Museum features a group reading of a children’s history book and a make-it-and-take-it craft. 11 a.m.—noon. It is free and open to all ages. Richmond. contact Caroline Legros 804.342.9652 clegros@vahistorical.org Roller Derby: Five 40 Roller Girls vs. Black Rose Rollers @6pm Golden Skate World 12220 5 Mile Road Fredericksburg, VA 22407.Enjoy watching Fredericksburg’s Five 40 Roller Girls skate it out against Beckley Area Derby Dames. This is a family friendly fast action sporting event full of hard hits

Megan Jean & The KFB with Opening Act Amythyst Kiah Inventive percussion, electrified banjo, and a dark, sultry and powerful voice have earned Megan Jean and the KFB a dedicated following. This band lives to perform. A washboard and a banjo have never sounded so fresh, new, and musical. 7:30 –10pm@ A.Smith Bowman Distillery.

Tuesday August 19 Colonial Seafood @ Bistro Bethem @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm Join us for drink specials and live music featuring Colonial Seafood . No cover!

Wednesday August 20 Farmers Market at Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center. Local farmers Fresh seasonal vegetables and fruit. 2-6pm in the parking lot. www.thefarmersmarket.co

Thursday August 21 Live Music @Kenmore Inn 7:30p, Justin Jones.

Friday August 22 Sounds of Summer Concert Series @ Market Square, 7 pm , Don Brown’s Soul Experience All concerts are free and open to the public in Market Square at 907 Princess Anne Street. In case of inclement weather, the concert will be moved indoors to 1001 Princess Anne Street. For more information on the concert series, please call 540371-3037, ext. 135 or visit www.famcc.org.

Saturday August 23 CRAB FEAST @ Nativity of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church @ 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm All-YouCan-Eat for $35. Includes unlimited crabs, hot dogs, soft drinks, water, limited beer and 1 dessert. Tickets on sale at 2400 Diner, Todd’s Tavern and on our website www.nativity.va.goarch.org FAMCC Women Adorned Workshop “Boogie Shoes” @ 12:30- 4pm Hip hop fashion and style is derived from the hip hop music genre, urban culture and individual expression. By making personalized shoes, there student can express their own style using hip hop and urban influences. The workshop

will allow students to develop their own design and apply it to their own pair of canvas shoes with fabric paint.

Tuesday August 26 Swamp Trash, acoustic sets @ Bistro Bethem @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm Join us for drink specials and live music featuring acoustic sets from Swamp Trash from 8PM until 11PM. No cove

Wednesday August 27 Farmers Market at Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center. Local farmers Fresh seasonal vegetables and fruit. 2-6pm in the parking lot. www.thefarmersmarket.co

Thursday August 28 Live Music @Kenmore Inn 7:30, Ashleigh Chevalier.

Friday August 29 Sounds of Summer Concert Series @ Market Square, 7 pm The Green Boys on August 29.All concerts are free and open to the public in Market Square at 907 Princess Anne Street. In case of inclement weather, the concert will be moved indoors to 1001 Princess Anne Street. For more information on the concert series, please call 540371-3037, ext. 135 or visit www.famcc.org.

Saturday August 30 The Fredericksburg Area Museum & Cultural Center and Hallowed Ground Tours present walking tours of historic downtown Fredericksburg. The tour departs at 11:30 am from the George Rogers Clark Memorial in the median in front of Kenmore and lasts approximately 75 minutes. Live Music @Kenmore Inn 7:30Shane Alexander.

If you are reading this 205th issue of FP, thank an advertiser as we celebrate our 18th year of continuous publication! If you are an advertiser, list your event. Deadline for September issue is August 20. To submit events, follow this link: http://frontporchfredericksburg.com/how-ttosubmit-o online/

Lexi Grogan’s Pet Sitting Service Companionship Meal Preparation Medication Reminders Laundry

Light Housekeeping Shopping/Errands Personal Care Flexible Hours

Call for a free, no-obligation appointment

540.899.1422 Each HomeInstead Franchise Office is Independently Owned & Operated

August 2014

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2264 Fans (& Growing) Want You to Join

“Your pet becomes my pet while in my care, and I care a lot!” (540-903-0437; lexig0892@gmail.com) On facebook as “lexi grogan’s pet sitting service”

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