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Sarah hagan urban forester bob vranian Beloved Cardiologist Babak Zarini crrl Librarian recognized
Porch talk 4
on the porch...life in fredericksburg Messages
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telling the complete story
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everything greens: preserving garden herbs
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In the Garden: thoughts
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growing & crawling: Hummingbird moths
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i have a friend:.two cool ladies
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tidbits...small bites of local news
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season’s bounty: meal in a bowl
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lazy days of Summer Cocktails
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vino: porch, picnic & backyard sippers
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Calendar of Events
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history’s stories: gov. robert brooke history in our backyard: willis hill
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what’s in a village?....historic normandy village.
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mental health: warning signs in children
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it’s all energy: balance your hormones
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Hanson Ave Crepe myrtle
23 your health matters: avoid onset of migraines 24
art in the ’burg ...galleries in August
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bowling green scene a happening hamlet
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companions: back to basics
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astrology & you poetryman: daybreak
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fredericksburg sketches
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...And More! 5 fxbg’s First Smart Park....riverfront park 11 get to know me better: b101.5 Dj's Q & a
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25 THe Muse was present... even when the music was gone Cover: “Farmer’s Market” By Pete Morelewicz
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Urban Forester Sarah Hagan found her love of nature at UMW by Laura Moyer storm, dry spell and pest. Now in her second year with Lynchburg, Hagan has dealt with the inherited problem of the emerald ash-borer, an imported pest devastating the native ash species of the eastern to midwestern United States. Almost all the city's ash trees have had to be removed.
The 11,000 to 12,000 trees shading the streets and parks of Lynchburg, Virginia, are a lot to keep up with. But Sarah Hagan, a 2011 University Mary Washington graduate, has charge of them all, from roots to crowns. As Lynchburg's urban forester, Hagan oversees trees individually but also as an interdependent whole - the urban canopy that keeps the city healthy, vibrant and beautiful. It's an ever-changing responsibility, varying with each season,
City trees face other stresses as well, from improper planting, poor soil and road salt. Hagan constantly evaluates how long Lynchburg's trees are lasting, how their lives can be extended and how to bolster the overall health and sustainability of the resource. To handle it all she works with Lynchburg's public works department, a contract crew and a corps of citizen volunteers known as tree stewards. The role seems ideal for a biology major with a passion for botany, hiking and all things outdoors. But getting there involved "a lot of zigs and a lot of zags," Hagan said. "My 16-year-old self and my 33-year-old self, I think, would find each other amusing." Growing up in Botetourt County near Roanoke, Hagan was an arts-oriented
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kid whose physician mother and lawyer father encouraged her musical pursuits. Only after studying music at another Virginia college did she conclude that she wouldn't have a career as an opera singer. But if not music, what would be a more practical choice? "I had always hated math and science," she said. "But I decided, 'I'm going to learn science” She researched biology programs and decided to give Mary Washington's highly regarded Department of Biological Sciences a try. Professors including Stephen Fuller, Joella Killian, Andrew Dolby and Deborah O'Dell welcomed, challenged and encouraged her. "Mary Washington taught me science," Hagan said. "My first semester, I walked into Dr. Fuller's botany class with no idea even how to prep a slide. I fell in love with it. I adored it. I just couldn't get over the miraculous organisms that plants are."
As her interest in conservation grew, she applied to graduate school and eventually earned a master's degree in environmental management from Duke University, with a focus on forestry and forest management. While these days Hagan sings mostly in the shower and the car - her mother still urges her to join a choir for fun - she's satisfied with a scientific calling that keeps her outdoors much of the time and contributes to everyone's well-being. "I'm happy where I am," she said, "because I get to do something that's having a positive influence on future generations."
Laura Moyer is the Associate Editor of University Relations & Communications
It felt great to succeed in a notoriously difficult class, and it set her on an academic and career path she finds rewarding. "I was hooked because plants were just so darn cool, and I wanted more." And she loved living in Fredericksburg. As an older transfer student, she lived with roommates off campus, developed a great community of friends and sang in the choir of St. George's Episcopal Church. After graduating cum laude from UMW, she worked another three years in the area, chiefly in an Americorps-funded position as volunteer and stewardship coordinator for Friends of the Rappahannock.
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Where Fredericksburg Gets Engaged front porch fredericksburg
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ON THE PORCH Sue Henderson
Guest Porch Editorial
Contributing Writers & Artists Rita Allan Sally Cooney Anderson Megan Bixler Amy Bayne Laurie Black Dianne Bachman Sean Bonney Sarah Kay Bierle Sonja Cantu Collette Caprara Tom Conway Archer DiPeppe Janet Douberly Christina Ferber Frank Fratoe Bill Freehling Jon Gerlach Lisa Gillen Sue Henderson Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks Nancy B. Kelly David C. Kennedy Valerie Lecea Ray Mikula Amanda McCreary Vanessa Moncure Laura Moyer Pete Morelewicz Patrick Neustatter Brandi Parrish Penny A Parrish Emmie Pombo Gerri Reid Paula Raudenbush Rob Rudick Mandy Smith Christine Thonpson Tina Will Norma Woodward
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 / Artists / Photographers are welcome to request Guidelines and query the Publisher by e-mail. Front Porch Fredericksburg PO Box 9203 Fredericksburg, VA 22403 Ad Sales: E-Mail: frntprch@aol.com Web Site: www.frontporchfredericksburg.com Facebook: @Front Porch Fredericksburg 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 2021 Olde Towne Publishing Co. All rights reserved.
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Is the back porch enough? by Sue Henderson The back porch is a little muggy in these late summer days as we celebrate some major milestones. Turning sixty seems like a good time to slow down and appreciate the past and reimagine the future. I suppose it's a perfect storm of my milestone and the past year that has made me pause and take stock. But I honestly don't know anyone who hasn't embraced a similar thought process to think about what is important. Part of my life struggle upstream against the tide has always been a definition of "enough". What is enough? I never was one to chase stuff or income. Significant international travel has exposed me enough to massively appreciate our American lifestyle. We surely have more than enough when it comes to friends in third world countries struggling to eat or make a living. And don't get me wrong, I definitely have more than enough shoes! But now the burden is to creatively unload it all. Last year gave us plenty of time to sit on the porch - or putter in the yard - to be grateful of the space and nature around us. We couldn't get enough of marveling at the sounds and sights of birds or paddling in our beloved Rappahannock River. Country drives in giant circles with an occasional drive- thru for ice cream helped us survive the lonely months just enough. But we didn't get enough of you, our friends and family. We discovered there isn't enough connection to others unless we're able to either share our porch or just run into each other on the streets. Socially distanced greetings on neighborhood walks helped and waving from the kayak wasn't horrible either but, was it enough? Not really. We missed you. I'm lucky to have created an independent gig-economy business
messages Dear Virginia; I recently read the latest issue. As always it showcased our "local good life," with style and grace. It is such a joy to read Front Porch as you continue to showcase our local good life. Front Porch is a precious gift to our Community. Paulette A Johnson
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working from home so the pandemic didn't exactly halt all operations. We had to learn more technology and struggled with inadequacies of connection and timing. We had "enough" business to satisfy the basics and the biz is starting to come back but we have re-evaluated the importance of some choices focusing on quality instead of quantity in the work we choose to do.
Sixty is not traumatic from my porch. I've survived multiple major health crises and greatly increased my mobility. I'm surrounded by people who accept who I am and offer the same right back. One can't have too much love and laughter, sharing and gratitude so those move forward into the future. The reminder how valuable nature is to our sanity was just enough at the right time of life.
And the same can be said of service-oriented activities. I had long ago determined my interest areas but sometimes the ooo-shiny-aspect of offerings can take me off the chosen path. You know that syndrome, right? Where something pretty and shiny flashes into your peripheral view and you turn your head to check it out? It's a terminal affliction for some of us often taking me off track and down interesting paths for sure. But I discovered I had too many of those distractions and used the year to pull back to just enough.
As we sit here in 2021 watching the summer river slowly meander in and out from the City and the Bay, it seems a great time to imbibe a favorite cocktail and appreciate enough. We hope you took advantage of the time to do exactly the same. We'll be right here reading the Front Porch cover-to-cover.
Hi, Virginia and Lexi, Beverley informed us how hard you both have been working to supply our local area with this monthly publication. I wanted to thank you both for your hard work to spotlight the uniqueness of the Fredericksburg area. The artists of Brush Strokes Gallery and I are very grateful for everything you do! Marianna Smith
Hi Virginia. The cover of the May issue was so delightful. Artist Caroline Murphy's image of tulips in Darbytown perfectly captured our beautiful city abloom in the spring. It set the perfect tone for digging into the paper.
Sue Henderson shares her back porch willingly and offers anyone with an interest a pair of shoes! Size seven. Get in touch on FB at SueHendersonPhotography
Pete Morelewicz What a great article on Adam! (Spotlight: Adam West, Ju;y 2021 Katherine Maniksa Limerick
Riverfront Park City of FXBG first “ Smart Park ” By bill freehling
After more than a decade of planning, land acquisition and design work, the City of Fredericksburg's newest park is nearing completion. A phased opening is expected to begin late this summer. Riverfront Park, located along Sophia Street in Historic Downtown, will be a significant, nearly 4-acre, public space. When complete, it will feature Rappahannock River views with open space, event space, an interactive water feature, a meadow area, and a children's play area. Direct river access will also be a feature, complemented by upgraded dock infrastructure. Solar-powered lights and smart-
technology infrastructure will bring contemporary design and upgraded technology to the downtown area, while the park's design and materials will celebrate Fredericksburg's history as a riverside city. Riverfront Park will be Fredericksburg's first "Smart Park." The Fi and first phase will provide public Wi-F security cameras. The infrastructure is also designed for future additions such as digital information kiosks, an eventual public-p performance stage and restrooms, environmental sensors for air quality and river flooding, and more. Visitors to the park will be able to enjoy shaded seating areas, climb on sustainably forested local logs and play among a river-tthemed rock bed. Children will also find water jets that spring from the ground on demand to cool them during the summer. The park is a collaborative work to live a vision outlined as many as three
decades ago. City Council appointed the Riverfront Task Force, which labored through much of the past decade to bring ideas, concepts and budget estimates to the community. The Mayor and City Council identified the Riverfront Park as Priority #7 in their 2036 Vision work (accomplished in 2016) and directed staff to build the park in 2017. Design and engineering work concluded in 2018, and the project was put to bid for construction in 2019. As stated in City Council's priorities, carefully planned capital projects should include investments to our infrastructure that improve on our public services. As such, Riverfront Park was prepared to not only provide the traditional outdoor benefits of a publicly accessible space for all to enjoy, but also to provide technological advancements for all who use and service the park area. The park will also be a central hub for pedestrian/bicycle activity as Fredericksburg continues to pursue trail development, with efforts that will eventually link Motts Run Reservoir to Dixon Park. The park's signage will also work to interpret and share the City's rich history with new audiences who visit.
meadow area will remain closed to help ensure the grass and meadow mix grows for several more months. Additional information will be released closer to the opening date. For more information on the Riverfront Park project, please visit Fredericksburgva.gov or call 540-372-
1010.
Bill Freehling, Fredericksburg's director of economic development and tourism, lives with his wife, Emily, two children, Abby and Andrew, and cockapoo, Chessie, in downtown Fredericksburg. Bill has been reading The Front Porch cover to cover for his entire stay in Fredericksburg and plans to continue doing so.
Riverfront Park's play area and walkways are scheduled to open later this summer. The performance lawn and
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Telling the Complete Story City/FAM partnering on African American initiative
By sonja cantu As part of an initiative to tell a more complete story of Fredericksburg's diverse community and history, the City of Fredericksburg and the Fredericksburg Area Museum (FAM) have partnered to create a new FAM staff position, the Curator of African American History and Special Projects. The new FAM staff member will be responsible for leading interpretive initiatives for African American history and other special projects in the City of Fredericksburg and at FAM. This new professional will work to oversee the development of an exhibition on African American history, to include the interpretation of the Slave Auction Block, inside FAM. The 1,200pound auction block was relocated in June 2020 from the corner of William and Charles streets to FAM after years-long study and community engagement efforts. While the City owns the auction block, a previous 20-year loan agreement was established with FAM.
"Partnering with FAM is a winwin solution. Our missions align in serving our diverse community, and in telling our complete story, for our residents and visitors alike," says Timothy J. Baroody, City Manager. The International Coalition of Sites of Conscience (ICSC) was hired by the City in 2017 to facilitate three phases of work, and hosted more than a dozen community meetings about the slave auction block. The conclusion of that work led Council to direct that the auction block be moved to the Fredericksburg Area Museum, which occurred last summer. The ICSC work, and more recent refinements by the Memorials Commission, offer a good starting point for interpretation of the former auction block site. FAM is currently working similarly on interpretation of the block inside the museum. Approval of this new position will assist in pulling these separate projects seamlessly together.
Additional projects will include curating a downtown walking tour focused on African American history, reviewing the inventory of wayside panels in the City and recommending future panels, and creating K-12 educational programs as they pertain to the City's interpretive displays. There will also be a review of current tourism-oriented promotional materials including brochures and the tourism video at the City's Visitor Center, and both the City and FAM websites and other social media outlets. City Council moved $250,000 to these efforts in 2019, and these already set aside monies will support these efforts. "The City has been a great partner in advancing the Fredericksburg Area Museum's mission and supporting our continued operations in the City's historic Town Hall building. With this partnership we can expand our reach and build on our increasing efforts to tell our region's many national significant American stories," stated Sara Poore, President and CEO of FAM.
200 William St Downtown Fredericksburg 540-373-4421 crownjewelersfredericksburg.com
The job listing is posted and resumes may be submitted to info@famcc.org. For more information on applying for the position, please email or call the Fredericksburg Area Museum at (540) 371-3037.
Sonja Cantu is the Public Information Officer fro the City OF Fredericksburg She can be reached at spcantufredricksburgva.gov
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Everything Greens preserving the herbs from your garden By Amanda McCreary Dean’s Plastering Services Plaster, Stucco, Drywall, Art 540.656.2399 540.419.8878 luckyluckydean@aol.com
Here at Downtown Greens our herbs have been doing well all season. Despite the intense rain and heat waves of the past few weeks our basil, rosemary, summer savory, camomile and oregano and a few others besides, have been blessing us with more herbs than we can give away. Side note, if you'd like some of our organic fresh vegetables and herbs come down to the 100 Block of Princess Anne St by the bus stop. We hold a free farmstand every Thursday at 6pm. Get there early because we run out quickly. Anyways, what to do with the herbs we don't give away? Preserve them! If you've already been preserving your herbs for a while now and you already know all about it, here is a chance for you to hear about fellow gardeners successes and failures and if you haven't tried preserving your own herbs hopefully you learn something new.
my favorite three ways to preserve herbs: air drying, using a food dehydrator and freezing. Also, when picking your herbs it's best to pick them right before they flower and in the morning when the oils are the most concentrated in the leaves. Herbs all have different water contents so air drying is not for every herb. I've had terrible luck myself with air drying Garden sage and basil. They both molded before they were crisp. Rosemary, thyme, oregano and chamomile however seem to do best when air drying and can
There are many methods of using and preserving herbs like oils, balms, tinctures, oven drying and even microwaving. Here, I'm going to talk about
and boy was I wrong. 48 hours later and only half of my basil was dry. When I tried a bit of it it was so bitter and herbaceous it was almost spicy, absolutely awful. Never try to dehydrate herbs that have flowered.
Please join with me and continue to support our Local FXBG small businesses SUZY STONE Mobile:540.847.0630 Office: 540-898-2900 suzystone22@gmail.com C21redwood.com
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be ready in less than a week. Gather between 5-10 branches that are around the same size and tie them together at the base. I like twine but you can use a rubber band as well. Then hang the herbs in a dry, warm and well ventilated place. Avoid putting your herb bundle directly by windows or over your sink or dishwasher. Some suggest covering the bundle with a paper bag with holes poked in it to help stop molding and to collect falling bits but I've had better luck without using the paper bag technique. Herbs are done when they are crunchy in texture and are able to crumble easily, 7-10 days in the right conditions. Using a food dehydrator was a new experience for me this year. I'm not an expert on it yet but I've been getting some good results and one really bad one. Dehydrators do all the work of oven preserving but make it easier. Herbs hold water, mints and chives do much better in the dehydrator. Simply spread out clean and dry individual leaves off the herbs onto the drying racks, set to 95-110 degrees and let sit for 12-24 hours. My first experience was a complete flop. I tried to dehydrate over a pound of basil that was slightly bolted. I figured the taste wasn't going to be perfect but still usable
My favorite ways to preserve basil and mint are actually freezing them. One method is to put the herb in an airtight ziplock back with a piece of paper towel and there you go. It definitely is the spmilest method. Just take out your frozen herbs and snap some off when you need it. Discard if it gets freezer burned. What I like to do with frozen herbs is to make lavender or mint ice cubes and use them in lemonade or iced tea. A little bit goes a long way with herbal ice cubes. Just a small sprig or 1-2 leaves per ice cube works for me. Amanda Mccreary is the Garden Coordinator for Downtown Greens. She is passionate about cultivating native green spaces and sharing what she knows about the natural world with visitors to the garden. When Amanda isn't gardening she can be found at home in her favorite purple armchair reading fantasy novels or playing video games. Founded in 1995, Downtown Greens promotes environmental care by preserving two urban garden areas, using sustainable gardening methods, teaching children through a weekly Garden Club, and raising bees with the Urban Bees program. Located at 206 Charles Street downtowngreens.org. Be sure to visit Fredericksburg's Community Greespace open from sunrise to sunset 365 days per year.
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In the Garden thoughts from the garden By ray mikula At this time our gardens should be producing tomatoes, beans, squash, and peppers. As summer winds down it may seem that our gardening is coming to a close and there's not much left to do at summer's end. But vegetable gardens can continue to produce well into the Fall. A second planting of beans will easily come to fruition and cool season vegetables can be planted at the end of the month, such as peas, lettuce, radishes, cauliflower and cabbage.
rejuvenated. Irises need to be dug out every four years, separated, cleaned, and their soil needs to be nourished with compost. Similarly, daffodils and gladiolus can be dug and separated after several years so they have more room to grow. Different shrubs and trees will need pruning and weeds in the garden are always needing attention.
Lawns that have been scorched by summers heat can be over seeded during the last week of August so the seeds have the warmth they need to germinate and begin to grow as the temperatures begin to cool in September. Fall is also a perfect time to fertilize your lawn. At this time of year the energy will go to the roots making them deeper and fuller allowing your lawn to better withstand drought the following year.
love to help work along side their parents or grandparents and they will learn skills that will last a lifetime. My grandson has planted winter pansies for me and pumpkins the past two years. He is only four and sometimes it's a little more work for me, but he gets a real kick out of it. I got started in gardening when I was 6 years old working outside with my parents. I learned about flower gardens, vegetable gardens and lawn care as a child and I'm still learning. At age 61 I took the Master Gardener Course at the Stafford
Flower
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be
If you need company in the garden don't forget to introduce the young ones in the family to help out. Kids
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County Extension office. As a Master Gardener we learn more each year. You can too. This year the Stafford Extension Office will be offering the Master Gardener course starting in September. Contact them at vcestafford.helpdesk@gmail.com or call at (540) 658-8000. If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener.
pollinators in droves. Roses are blooming along with many other perennials. Shrubs like hydrangeas, crape myrtle, and Rose of Sharon are also in bloom. Cut some of these and bring them in as cut flowers to enjoy. They can brighten the inside of your home as well as the outside. Till the next time, Happy Gardening.
With all the work there is still left to be done, don't forget to enjoy the beauty of all your labor. Those annuals you planted early in the season are at their peak bloom now attracting
RayMikula is a Master Gardener.He has several acres of garden space & has been gardening for 62 years. Before retiring Ray was a Earth Science & Astronomy Teacher Photos by Ray
Growing & Crawling Humingbird Moths By janet douberly It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's a Hummingbird Moth! If you've ever seen a fast-moving, flier in your flower garden that almost looks like a hummingbird, you have probably seen the elusive Hummingbird Moth.
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The Hummingbird Moth got it's name for good reason. Though it is in the Lepidoptera family, it's movements mimic that of a hummingbird and it's heavy body and fast wings increase that similarity. Hummingbird moths are rather plump; the tip of their tail opens into a fan. They are usually of a rich reddish brown color. Like most moths they have a very long tongue which they carry rolled under their chins and that they use to reach the nectar of long-necked flowers. While there are several types of hummingbird moths, there are 4 native to North America. The adults are beneficial as pollinators and if you want a chance to glimpse one of these beauties in your yard, make sure you plant some of their favorite
blooms such as phlox, honeysuckle, and verbena.
bee
balm,
Though the adults start feeding in spring when the bluebells are blooming, you are most likely to see them now, in the heat of mid-summer. The females lure the males in with pheromones to keep the species going. Eggs are laid on host plants
and, once the caterpillars are fully grown, they drop to the ground and spin a loose cocoon where they use the protection of leaf litter to pupate. Janet Douberly is Program Coordinator at Downtown Greens. If you'd like to learn more about things growing and crawling in Fredericksburg, check out our Facebook & Instagram.
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“I Have A Friend” two cool ladies By Laurie Black The summer temperatures are hot but hanging out with Mary Escamilla and her friend Carolyn is a refreshing experience. These two friends, introduced through the Senior Visitors Program, are all smiles, teasing, and laughs. Mary started volunteering with the Senior Visitors Program in 2019. She says, "I was first matched with another senior. She was nice, but we were not a good fit. Then I met Carolyn. We felt like good friends from day one. We are both from Michigan and we both love sauerkraut. We just hit it off and I love her to pieces. Even her cat loves me." Mary and Carolyn began visiting in early 2020. They say they talk almost every day. Mary helps with appointments and errands. Mary explained she has the time and wants to help Carolyn as much as she can. Carolyn says, "She's a good friend. I really appreciate her. She helps me so much. If I didn't have Mary, I'd be lost."
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I asked Mary and Carolyn what their visits are like. Especially now that they are able to visit in person without worrying about COVID restrictions, Carolyn and Mary enjoy eating out, trying new restaurants and new foods. One of their favorite memories is a trip to Virginia Beach. Carolyn says she used to live in Virginia Beach, and it was fun to go there again. As part of their adventure to Virginia Beach, they visited a tarantula store. Mary keeps tarantulas. Though Mary and Carolyn share of love of animals, Carolyn says, "I'm not into tarantulas, but I went in the store and looked around. It was an interesting adventure."
When asked what surprised her the most about the Senior Visitors Program Mary answered frankly, "I was surprised how long it took to get matched to a senior." Volunteers have to go through mandatory training, a background check, and provide three personal references before they are matched with a senior. Sometimes this can take several weeks. Mary continued, "The wonderful thing about the Senior Visitors Program is the companionship. Carolyn is a big part of my life. She is like family."
I asked Mary and Carolyn to tell me about each other. Mary replied, "Carolyn is an out-going, people person. She is fun and stubborn and adventurous." Carolyn says of Mary, "She's crazy!" They looked at each other and both laughed heartily.
I asked Mary what she would tell someone considering becoming a volunteer with the Senior Visitors Program. She replied, "I would say, 'How much time do you have?' You can just visit or call for an hour each week or you can cultivate a relationship. Either is
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okay I guess, but for me, I really wanted to create a friendship." . If you know a senior who could benefit from having a weekly, friendly visit or if you would like to volunteer to visit a senior, call the Senior Visitors Program at (540) 371-2 2704 or visit our website at mhafred.org to download volunteer or senior applications. The Senior Visitors Program is a free community service program of Mental Health America of Fredericksburg. Laurie Black is the Senior Visitors Program Coordinator.
Get To Know Me Better Bring a little sunshine to a senior’s life! Too many seniors feel lonely and isolated.
popular local dj’s share their thoughts By Mandy Smith
YOU can make a difference by volunteering to visit a senior in the Fredericksburg area. Volunteer training is provided & no special skills are required. The Senior Visitors Program is a FREE community service program of Mental Health America of Fredericksburg. Visit mhafred.org or call 540-371-2704
We asked our B101.5 DJ's some Get To Know Me Better questions. Here's what they had to say! Dee Daniels: Dee in the Morning, 5am to 10am
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Q. What is your favorite song/artist we play and why? A. P!nk! I've always been such a huge fan. I even give a light nod to her in my hair style! She seems like such a strong yet sensitive human who loves to constantly perfect her craft and do good things for people too! I really admire that drive! Q What TV show are you obsessed with and why? A. I got really into The Crown on Netflix. .I never thought of myself as someone very interested in the Royal Family, but this put such an intriguing spin on it! Q. What is your biggest/weirdest fear? A. Running out of the green salsa from Trader Joe's - the struggle is real! Q. What would be your superpower? A I would be something cheesy yet needed like "Peace Projector" (peace for the world, peace for me, peace for you). Q. What pet would you love to have? A.Flamingo! We'd look cool walking around in our shades! Q. Favorite ice cream flavor? A.Chocolate peanut butter ... orrrr whatever we have in the freezer. Q. What would be a good theme song for your life? A.Don't Stop Believing!
Ted Schubel: Pop in Jock during Dee in the Morning, Host of Town Talk on AM 1230 8am to 9am Q. What is your favorite song/artist we play and why? A.Dua Lipa Levitating. You can dance to it! Q. What TV show are you obsessed with and why? A.Sports. Q What is your biggest/weirdest fear? A Having to talk on the phone to customer service. Q What would be your superpower? A To be invisible. Q. What pet would you love to have? A Pandas or squirrels. Q. Favorite ice cream flavor? A Chocolate. Q What would be a good theme song for your life? A Breaking news theme!
A I don't really watch TV. I hate to say that I couldn't turn off Tiger King. I also enjoyed Firefly Lane, but I don't like to commit to a series because as soon as I fall in love, they leave… hmmmm… Ha! Q. What is your biggest/weirdest fear? A I'm Definitely afraid of heights and I regularly forget! We were in Pigeon Forge, and I paid for an expensive ticket for myself to do the ropes course with the kids. I didn't even make it a tenth of the way in… nope!
Kristin Nash: Monday - Friday, 10am to 3pm. Kristin's Canines and Kittens Wednesdays at 11:50am Q. What is your favorite song/artist we play and why? A I Love Ed Sheeran, P!nk, and lately Olivia Rodrigo. I love an artist that tells a story! Q. What TV show are you obsessed with and why?
Q. What would be your superpower? A For sure, Time Travel and my jeep is the perfect time machine! Yeah, I'm always just a bit late. Q. What pet would you love to have? A Please NO MORE pets! Right now we have Joey the dog, Snickers the cat, Casco Bay the kitten, 3 fish and a hermit crab… and this is on the light side. You can usually find a field mouse, lizard or some other backyard creature hanging around. Q Fav ice cream flavor? A. I haven't met one I didn't like… Q. What would be a good theme song for your life? A It Ain't Me - Kygo and Selena Gomez - I feel like I have a much higher power keeping an eye on me and saving me from A TON of wrong decisions!! I always sing this one out loud! Get to know more about the DJ's at B101.5. Just go to B1015.com and click on The B-Crew! Thanks for listening!
Mandy Smith is the Promotions & Marketing Director for B101.5. AKA "AJ" Weekend Air Personality
Sunday 12-4
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TidBits
Become a Member
small bites of local News By Bill Freehling www.fredericksburgcsa.com
WELCOME TO OUR GREAT OUTDOORS It’s Beautiful ~ Night and Day!
Mon-Thurs 11am-9pm Fri & Sat 11am-10pm Sun 11am - 9pm Bar open until 2am everyday
New Bakery & Cafe Opens A new bakery and cafe is opening Canal Quarter Arts inside in Fredericksburg. Ike & Rita's Bakery and Cafe will take over the front of the space at 1517 Princess Anne Street inside the Canal Quarter District art studio.
New Clothing Store Opens Downtown Fredericksburg's newest store, Mair Fior, is opening Saturday at 1101 Caroline St. The owner, Wendell Johnson, has worked for many years in retail management, but Mair Fior is the first business he can call his own. Wendell says the Gaelic phrase Mair Fior translates to "Stay True." The store features clothing and accessories that Wendell designs in his workshop, and made-to-order apparel and swag. In other words, have a design you want to put on shorts, water bottles or hats? Send in your design and they will produce it for you! We wish him luck on his grand opening and can't wait to see his unique designs around Fredericksburg!
Locally Owned Irish Pub and Restaurant 200 Hanover St. ~ 373-0738
Serving Up Local “Good” News For a Quarter Century
Front Porch Fredericksburg 12
August 2021
Attention all Sleuths! Fredericksburg's 17th-annual Itty Bitty City Scavenger Hunt runs through September 8. Players will follow clues of close-up items to locate 39 mystery landmarks around historic Fredericksburg. Prizes will be awarded for first-, second-, and third-place winners: 1st place - $400 Downtown Gift Cards 2nd place - $250 Downtown Gift Cards 3rd place - $50 Downtown Gift Cards (Seven third-place winners will be awarded) Itty Bitty Score Sheets are available at the Fredericksburg Visitor Center (706 Caroline Street).
Front porch fredericksburg
CBD Store Opens in Fredericksburg A shop called Your CBD Store has opened at 2225 Plank Road in Fredericksburg. The store sells hemp-derived products for pets and humans including topical creams, oils, gummies and more.
StoryWalk Has New Tale Fredericksburg has a new tale along its StoryWalk, and this one is extra special. This past semester, education students at the University of Mary Washington developed a children's book specifically for our community and the StoryWalk along the Rappahannock River Heritage Trail. The story, "Alex's Day on the Rappahannock," will be available through September. In it, the main character, Alex, discovers more about our Rappahannock River, how to enjoy it safely, and how take care of it. The Fredericksburg StoryWalk is along the Rappahannock River Heritage Trail and Caroline Street between Old Mill Park and Ford Street
Chuck E. Cheese Re-O Opened Chuck E. Cheese is re-opened in Central Park. THe current space was refurbished. Welcome back, the kids are thrilled! New Ice Cream Option Now open at 607 William st in Liberty Place, Blue Cow Ice Cream has a great way to help you make your choice for favorite flavor with sample taste or by ordering a “flight” of four smaller portions. Owner Jason Kiser is looking froward to your visit.....your taste buds will thank you.
America’s Oldest Agricultural Fair An event billed as "America's oldest agricultural fair" is returning to Fredericksburg The Fredericksburg Agricultural Fair, which was established in 1738, will run through August 8 this year. As always, the event will be at the Fredericksburg Fairgrounds at 2400 Airport Avenue.
Fred Nats A Hit in FXBG If you haven’t been to the FXBG Baseball Stadium, there are plenty of chanced to catch a home game! August Home Game lineup: August 1, 10, 1-15, 24-20.Schedue times & tickets at MILB.com. Be sure to vheck out the Team Store while there.Shop everything from hats, shiets, outerwear, novelities & much more. “Take me out to the ballgame...”
Bill Freehling, Fredericksburg's director of economic development and tourism, lives with his wife, Emily, two children, Abby and Andrew, and cockapoo, Chessie, in downtown Fredericksburg.
The Sunken Well Tavern
Season’s Bounty
meal-in-a-bowl
vanessa moncure
Eat Well Drink Well Live Well 720 Littlepage sunkenwelltavern.com 540-370-0911
The Soup & Taco, Etc. 813 Caroline St. Fredericksburg, VA
Serving Traditional Mexican, Tex-Mex Food and Something More!! Tuesday to Saturday 11am-9pm Sunday 11am-6pm
Phone: 540-899-0969 soupntaco@yahoo.com
August is here - usually hot, humid yet rain-parched days segueing one into another. Temperatures hovering in the ‘90s even at suppertime, and it’s another day where you just don’t feel like cooking. Sound familiar? Well, don’t just grab another bag of salad mix at the store and call it a day - head instead to the farmer’s market (or maybe your backyard or community garden) to pick up a seasonal veggie base for summer cold bowls. Meals in a bowl have been trending for the past few years - well, actually forever - or as long as man has needed to combine or contain his foods. Oriental rice bowls, like Korean bibimbap (rice and vegetables) have done much to popularize the concept of bowls of grains or noodles, vegetables and protein coming together for a healthy and filling meal. Easy cleanup, too! I admit I do find some recipes hilarious - particularly the ones of “deconstructed” meals served bowl-wise. Really? Chopping and carefully layering “chef salad” ingredients still make it a chef salad, albeit chopped - I’ve hardly been able to pick up a food column this summer without reading a breathless account of this “new” way of eating. Well, if you’ve ever grazed over a salad bar, you’re already a summer cold bowl member. Now, just bring it home. And PS - If you have a spiralizer, it's great for summer veggies! CUBAN BLACK BEAN BOWL Prepare one package of yellow rice as directed, then chill. Divide between four deep bowls. Top each with about two ounces chopped dry Spanish chorizo sausage (this is already precooked Mexican or Cuban sausage generally is raw and must be cooked, but can be used as well). Drain and rinse one fifteen-ounce can of black beans and divide between the bowls. Top each with one tablespoon finely chopped red onion (or more to taste), one-half cup chopped fresh tomato, onethird cup each julienne of jicama and carrots, one-half chopped avocado, then top with minced fresh cilantro and green onions, minced hot pepper too if desired. To one cup prepared Italian salad dressing, add two teaspoonfuls cumin, one-half teaspoon turmeric and one teaspoon oregano leaves. Shake, then divide between the bowls and serve with a crusty loaf of bread on the side. CHICKEN SALAD Prepare enough wild rice to yield four cups, using chicken broth instead of water. Chill wild rice and divide between four bowls. Add four ounces of grilled and
chopped chicken breast to each bowl then layer on one-half cup thinly sliced celery, one-quarter cup chopped sweet red pepper, two ounces of chopped gouda or feta cheese, one-half cup chopped fresh tomato, one-quarter cup chopped green onion, a handful of matchstick carrots and minced fresh parsley. To one cup prepared ranch dressing, mix in one-half cup pureed avocado and one tablespoon lemon juice, along with onequarter teaspoon each cracked black pepper, red pepper flakes and granulated garlic. Stir until well-combined. If too thick to pour, thin with a bit of buttermilk and divide between the bowls. SOBA SHRIMP AND VEGETABLES Cook one eight-ounce package soba noodles, chill and set aside, dividing between four deep bowls. Either cook, peel and devein two pounds of fresh 26-30 shrimp or defrost one and one-half pounds prepared and precooked shrimp. Pat completely dry with a paper towel. Whisk together three tablespoons each rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce and teriyaki sauce; two tablespoons light brown sugar, one-half teaspoon granulated garlic and one tablespoon Sriracha chili sauce. Pour over shrimp and stir until they are well-coated. In two tablespoons of canola oil over mediumhigh heat, saute two cups snow peas, one and one-half cup matchstick carrots and one-half cup finely chopped red onion three to four minutes or until the vegetables have begun to soften - remove from heat and divide between the four bowls - divide the shrimp and sauce between the bowls then top with minced cilantro and plenty of chopped fresh Virginia peanuts.
peeled and chopped apple, one half cup thinly sliced celery, one tablespoon chopped red onion, two tablespoons Craisins and one quarter cup chopped English walnuts. Add to one half cup mayonnaise one tablespoon each lemon juice and sugar - dollop half on each salad, then top each with one teaspoon lemon zest. If you own a spiralizer - you can start this bowl with spiralized sweet potatoes saute a pound in a bit of canola oil over medium high heat until the potatoes are browned and crunchy. Start or end your bowl with the sweet potatoes, very lightly salted.
Vanessa has yummy recipes for every season.
KALE GOBBLE Chop four cups kale into bite-size pieces - mix together with one half teaspoon salt and set aside for fifteen minutes or so until the kale begins to soften and wilt a bit. Divide between two deep bowls, top each with one half cup chopped cooked turkey, one half cup
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SpiritS Lazy days of summer cocktails Whiskey Smash When people think of summer drinks, they tend to think of clear spirits gin, vodka, tequila but brown spirits can be equally refreshing. Take this bourbon, lemon and mint classic. It's zesty, sweet enough and as full of flavor as a whiskey drink should be. 3 lemon wedges 2 ounces bourbon 3/4 ounce simple syrup 4 mint leaves Garnish: mint sprig Muddle the lemon wedges in a shaker. Add bourbon, simple syrup, mint leaves and ice, and shake until well-chilled. Double-strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a mint sprig. Blackberry Wine Slush When it's too hot for a glass of red wine, this blender drink will cool you down 4 ounces red wine 1 1/2 ounces vodka 5 blackberries 1 ounce orange juice, freshly squeezed 1 tsp agave nectar Garnish: 2 blackberries Add all the ingredients with 1 1/2 cups
of ice into a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a stemless wine glass. Garnish with 2 blackberries. Vodka Watemelon Cocktail The perfect refreshing drink to sip on this summer! Easy, light and made with 4 ingredients you're gonna love this party cocktail! 8 cups chilled watermelon 11.5 oz. coconut water 4 tablespoons fresh lime juice 1 cup vodka citron mint for garnish To a blender add watermelon, coconut water and fresh lime juice. Blend until smooth. Pour mixture into a large pitcher. Add Vodka and stir. Serve over ice. Garnish with lime wedges and fresh mint. Summer in a Cup 16 ounces pineapple juice 9 ounces banana liqueur 9 ounces coconut rum, such as Malibu 8 ounces fruit punch 8 ounces orange juice Orange slices, for garnish Pineapple slices, for garnish
Mix together the pineapple juice, banana liqueur, coconut rum, fruit punch and orange juice in a gallon pitcher filled with ice. Pour into drink glasses and garnish with slices of orange and pineapple. Dirty Banana Cocktail Popular on many Caribbean islands, the classic dirty banana cocktail combines rum, Kahlúa, or another coffeeflavored liqueur along with bananaflavored liqueur in an icy, creamy shake. You can add chocolate syrup for a true happy hour sweet treat, or up the tropical taste with fresh pineapple. 1/4 to 1/2 cup ice cubes (use crushed or smash large cubes into smaller chunks) 1 1/2 ounces white rum (1 standard shot) 3/4 ounce Kahlúa (1/2 shot, or other coffee-flavored liqueur) 3/4 ounce banana-flavored liqueur (1/2 shot, such as Bols or Giffard) 1 ounce/2 tablespoons light cream 1 ounce/2 tablespoons whole milk 1 ripe banana Garnish: unpeeled banana slice, maraschino cherry
Join Us on the Rooftop for Chill VIbes, Tasty Eats, & Cold Drinks Open every Sat 7am-2 2pm Rain/Shine @Hurkamp Park masks & gloves recommended 314 William St..656-2500..fb@vivifyburger..vivifyburger.com
Become a Member
fxbgfoodcoop@gmail.com fredericksburgfoodcoop.com 14
August 2021
Front porch fredericksburg
Put 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of ice in the blender container. Add the white rum, Kahlúa, banana-flavored liqueur, light cream, whole milk, and ripe banana and cover. Blend until smooth, increasing the speed as necessary to thoroughly pulverize the ice. Pour the drink into a (preferably chilled) small hurricane glass, martini glass, or other cocktail glass. Cut a slit halfway through a banana wheel and hang it on the rim of the glass. Top with a maraschino cherry if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy.
Olde Towne Butcher
Vino
Traditional Butchery - Fresh Perspective
porch, picnic & backyard sippers Clean, local, sustainable, humane foods prepared fresh. Better for you and your family, better for our planet, better for local economy, better food! 401 William St - Fredericksburg 540-370-4105 - OldeTowneButcher.com
by City Vino
Join Us for Breakfast $5 Sunrise Breakfast Special 2 Eggs Your Way, Breakfast Potatoes, Choice of Toast
Mon./Fri. 6am-10:30am Carry Out Available
540.373.8300
620 Caroline Street
Old Town’s Greatest Tour 35 Monuments, Markers, & Attractions AND the Fredericksburg Battlefields Weddings Reunions Shuttles Parties Group Outings Fredericksburgtrolley.com
540-898-0737
Shop Local Welcome to Downtown Fredericksburg’s Main Street District fredericksburgdowntown.org
With the summer heat upon us, we are all looking for wines that are perfect for the warmer temperatures because they are refreshing, quench one's thirst, are quaffable, and simply taste good. Porch, picnic, and backyard wines are those wines that fit that bill. One sipper is the non-vintage Montinore Estate Borealis white blend, from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. This mouthwatering, off-dry wine is a blend of Müller-Thurgau (35 percent), Gewürztraminer (29 percent), Riesling (24 percent ) and Pinot Gris (12 percent). With its aromas of orange blossoms, ripe honeydew melon, guava and kiwi, this is bound to be an outdoor favorite. The palate is bursting with peaches, nectarines, Meyer lemon, and pear, along with a hint of caramel. Another featured sipper is the 2020 Domaine du Salvard Cheverny Blanc, from the Loire Valley in France. The fresh, vibrant wine is a blend of 85 percent Sauvignon Blanc, along with 15 percent Chardonnay, which have been fermented and aged in stainless steel. Delicate aromas of fresh citrus fruits, green apples, white peaches, and hazelnuts waft from the glass. The flavors are reminiscent of juicy citrus fruit, like fresh grapefruit and lemon, along with wild herbs. If you were a fan of the 2019 C'est la Vie Vin that we have previously featured, this might be a home run for you. The next sipper is the 2019 Weingut Höllerer "Langer Weg" Alte Reben Reserve Grüner Veltliner, from Kampal Austria. This crisp, bright, and zesty wine is made from 100 percent old-vine Grüner Veltliner. This is a zippy wine, with aromas and flavors of lime, fresh cut herbs, lemongrass, pear and apple, with a lovely long finish in your mouth. You knew we had to throw in a sipper that was red into the mix. Let us
present the 2015 Sparkman Cellars Wilderness Red Blend, from Washington State. This wine exhibits beautiful aromas of blackberries, black plums, tobacco, pencil lead, and olive tapenade. On the palate, this blend is medium-bodied, rich and complex, with sweet red-black fruit with a nuance of savory notes. To enjoy this on a hot summer day, sit the bottle on top of an ice bucket with only its bottom touching the ice. This will keep it at a good temperature for your enjoyment as you pair it with your grilled meats. Bon Appetit! Keeping wine at appropriate temperatures is important for your enjoyment. There are many wine tools on the market to assist you in doing that. At City Vino, we have the Chill Cooling Pour Spout which goes in your freezer and then directly into your chilled bottle of wine after you've removed a little bit into your glass, of course. The top allows you to pour your wine from the top with the cooling stick still in the bottle. There are many products on the market to help you enjoy your wine chilled. For bottles, there are products like Wine Cooler Sleeves and Freezable Wine Bags to keep your wines chilled. To keep the wine in your glass chilled there are items like these Wine Cooling Cups and Triple-IInsulated Stemless Cups on the market. If you are headed to a picnic where glass items are prohibited, you can put your chilled wine into a container like the Wine Canteen. We know you all love to shop local, and we truly appreciate it. We hope you enjoy our porch, picnic, and backyard sippers this summer and beyond. City Vino is located at 810 Caroline St. You can find owner Rita Allan on-site to provide answers to all your wine questions.
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CALEND august 2021...Enjoy the “Dog Days”
Live Music@Colonial Tavern, Shree, Come enjoy a great Friday evening over some acoustic rock ! No cover, 8-11p,406 Layfayette Blvd
Tuesday, August 10
Sunken Well Tavern Sunday Brunch, . 720 Littlepage til 1p
Fridays @Foode, Music by Karen Jonas Award-winning country singer/songwriter Karen Jonas and her trusty guitarist Tim Bray will be bringing their classic Americana sound. , 7pm , 900 Pr. Anne
Sounds of Summer, Karen Jonas, M
Sunday Brunch at the Colonial Tavern 11:30-3p
Saturday, August 7
Sunday August 1
FXBG Agricultural Fair thru Aug 8
Rappahannock Model Railroaders, Inc. at the FXBG Agricultural Fair! Model trains in operation, talk with members about the hobby and club activities. More info. at www.rmrailroaders.com/schedule-of-events SongFest, Déja Grüve Band Celebration Stage at Pratt Memorial Park. 14-piece band plays a variety of music genres, from yesterday's classics to today's hits.Micah's Ice Cream Truck will be onsite 120 River Rd, 5-7p
Monday August 2
Music on the Steps, FXBG Market Square, Puerto Rican Bomba, 7-8p
Wednesday August 4
Wind Down Wednesday Live Concert Series "Scarlett Awakening" 6 - 8pm Memorial Park, 1401 Kenmore Avenue Free event. Bring a chair or blanket and your picnic. Or purchase dinner from one of our food vendors. Parking available at First Christian Church on Washington Avenue. For more information 540-372-1086 or visit Parks.Fxbg.com. Trivia on the Patio, Sunken Well at 6:30pm every wednesday .Match wits with the 'Burgs finest minds. Prize!
Thursday August 5
DTG Free Farm Stand, Upper Garden, 6pm Here are other ways you can find free, fresh food in the garden: Stop by our Take What You Need plot in our Upper Garden by the bus stop to pick your own, any time of day. Visit the 14 fruiting trees/vines/bushes throughout our property, which include mulberry, grape, plum, sour cherry, serviceberry, blackberry, fig, gooseberry and raspberry. NMC Reunion Band @FXBG Food Co-op patio, Rock, Country, Jazz, Folk. 5:30-7:30p, 320 Jeff Davis Hwy
First Friday, August 6
Farmers Market, Hurkamp Park,7a-2p, open air markets home grown, homemade, or hand baked goods sold Visit The Farmer's Market website and Farmer's Market Facebook for more information. Bowling Green Farmers Market 9am-1pm 211 N Main St. Art in the Park at the FXBG Farmers Market in Hurkamp Park 9a - 1pm fxbgfarmersmarket.com or call 540-372-1086. 6th Annual OSF River Cleanup meet at Old Mill Park at 11:30, sending groups to different parts of the river with trash bags and other supplies to collect trash and otherwise clean up our local stretch of the Rappahannock .Food, supplies, & support t. We'll then grill some hot dogs donated from rec center and enjoy some fresh sliced from Benny's. River Clean-Up After Party @The Rec Center, live music, 4pm 213 WilliamSt Live Music @The Rec Center, 7pm. Dead Malls, Day Aches, Widow Rins & Milkdew Seth's Funk Emporium, @Sunken Well Tavern, 7-9p, in the courtyard personal blend of funk, soul, disco, & hip hop. Free 720 Littlepage St FXBG's new hometown country music hero stages his debut headlining performance at Hard Times Cafe (4-Mile Fork) Live Music Mark Vollten & The Scenic Roots @ Casey's Restaurant, 8-11p, 622 Kenmore Ave. Live Music, Shree@ Highmark Brewery, 390 Kings Hwy, 10p Live Music @Adventure Brewing FXBG, Toad Head Trio, bringing a mix of styles from Bluegrass to Rock, Funk, Jazz and lots more! 7-9p,
"Cleansed", Work by Lisa Gillen, Brush Strokes Gallery, 5-9pm 824 Caroline St.Thursday- Sun 11am - 5 pm. & By Appointment
Sunday, August 8
"Cloth & Clay",Works by Anna Branner, Opening , 5-8p, Artful Dimensions, 923 Caroline St
Sunday Brunch at the Colonial Tavern 11:30-3p
Sunken Well Tavern Sunday Brunch, 720 Littlepage til 1p
"Three of a Kind", Works by Ken Searles, Reception,First Friday Opening, 6, 5-9p Art First, 824 Caroline ST
Live Music, Shree@ Highmark Brewery, 390 Kings Hwy, 1p
Live Music @ Coutyard Marriott, Wave on Wave 6-9p
Music on the Steps, FXBG Concert Band, FAM Market Square, 7-8
Monday August 9
Libertytown Arts Workshop,Pottery Adult & children. Classes through S
Wednesday August 11
Wind Down Wednesday Live Conce 8pm Memorial Park, 1401 Kenmor or visit Parks.Fxbg.com.
Sounds of Summer, Bruce Middle, F
Trivia on the Patio, Sunken Well at finest minds. Prize! 720 Littlepage
Thursday August 12
DTG Free Farm Stand, Upper Gard the garden: Stop by our Take What by the bus stop to pick your own,
Friday August 13
Sounds of Summer Music Bruce Mi
Saturday, August 14
Bowling Green Flea Market 9am-1p
Farmers Market, Hurkamp Park,7a homemade, or hand baked goods so and Farmer's Market Facebook for
Bowling Green Farmers Market 9am
Live Music@Highmark Brewery, Nic
Sunday August 15
Sunken Well Tavern Sunday Brunch Littlepage til 1p
Sunday Brunch at the Colonial Tav
Monday August 16
Music on the Steps Steven Gellma concert FAM Market Square 7-8 pm
Wednesday August 18
Wind Down Wednesday Live Con Memorial Park, 1401 Kenmore A blanket and your picnic. Or purc vendors. 540-372-1086 or visit Pa
Trivia on the Patio, Sunken Well at
Become a Friend Advocate ~ Donate ~ Volunteer
540~479~4116 1013 Princess Anne St , FXBG 16
August 2021
Front porch fredericksburg
fabtrail.com
DAR of events
y, Fused Glass, Drawing Classes begins, September
Market Square 6-8p
ert Series, "Laura & Pete Mealy", 6re Avenue Free event. 540-372-1086
FAM,Market Square,
t 6:30pm .Match wits with the 'Burgs
den, 6pm Everyday:Free, fresh food in t You Need plot in our Upper Garden any time of day.
iller Guitar Lessons, 6-8p
Thursday August 19
Live music at the Co-op with Karen Jonas Karen, award-winning musician, both in the U.S. and abroad. Since her debut in 2014, Karen has released five albums to international acclaim. She will play her own songs, modern Americana and classic country favorites. She will be accompanied by Tim Bray, her longtime guitarist. 5:30-7:30p 320 Jeff Davis Hwy DTG Free Farm Stand, Upper Garden, 6pm Everyday:Free, fresh food in the garden: Stop by our Take What You Need plot in our Upper Garden by the bus stop to pick your own, any time of day.
Friday August 20
Sunday August 22
Sunken Well Tavern Sunday Brunch. 720 Littlepage til 1p Sunday Brunch at the Colonial Tavern 11:30-3p
Monday August 23
Music on the Steps, Zachary Smith and the Dixie Power Trio -- zydeco and new orleans. 7-8pm Market Square, 7-8p
Wednesday August 25
Wind Down Wednesday Live Concert Series "Sunset Syndicate", 6- 8pm Memorial Park, 1401 Kenmore Avenue Free event.
Bowling Green Small Town Friday Nights 5-9pm Small Businesses in town join forces to create an evening of fun at different business locations.
Trivia on the Patio, Sunken Well at 6:30pm 720 Littlepage
"Music on the Green" on the Courthouse lawn, Bowling Green
DTG Free Farm Stand, Upper Garden, 6pm Everyday:Free, fresh food in the garden: Stop by our Take What You Need plot in our Upper Garden by the bus stop to pick your own, any time of day.
Fridays at Foode features free Thomas & Eddie will be slinging a session of stripped-down soul. 7p, 900 Pr. Anne
Saturday, August 21
Farmers Market, Hurkamp Park,7a-2p, open air markets home grown, homemade, or hand baked goods sold
Thursday August 26
Friday August 27
Live Music Kreek Water Band @ Billiken's Smokehouse at The Chimneys, 623 Caroline st, 7p
Saturday August 28
pm Chase Street & N Main St
Bowling Green Farmers Market 9am-1pm 211 N Main St.
a-2p, open air markets home grown, old Visit The Farmer's Market website more information.
Art in the Park at the Fredericksburg Farmers Market in Hurkamp Park 9am- 1pm info fxbgfarmersmarket.com or call 540-372-1086.
Bowling Green Farmers Market 9am-1pm 211 N Main St.
Live Music @The Rec Center, Dead Format-the Stinkoidz-40 Reps-Earth Dog Mothership 7-11:45p, 213 William St.
5th Annual Pig Roast & Luau @Adventure Brewing Live Music from Colonial Seafood 6-9pm, 33 Perchwood Dr., 6-9p
Sunday August 29
h, Dine-In, Take-Out, & Delivery. 720
Join the Dolls @Billikens Smokehouse for Lolo Luau benefit Fairy Godmother Project Drink Specials, Raffle, Photo Booth, Carnival Games, Limbo Contest, Huli Huli Hunk Contest, Live Mermaid, Polynesian Dancers, Fire Spinners, Live music Scenic Roots! 623 Caroline st, 2-11p
vern 11:30-3p
Live Music, Mark Vollten & The Scenic Roots @ Billikens Smokehouse, 7pm, 623 Caroline St
Monday August 30
m-1pm 211 N Main St.
ck McAlister, 9p
Live Music,Freddy Hall @Highmark Brewery, 6p, 390 Kings Hwy
an Trio live for an evening outdoor m. www.librarypoint.org
ncert Series, "Wayne Edges", 6-8pm Avenue Free event. Bring a chair or chase dinner from one of our food arks.Fxbg.com.
t 6:30pm 720 Littlepage
FB @ FABeerTrail
Farmers Market, Hurkamp Park,7a-2p, home grown, homemade, or hand baked goods sold
Sunken Well Tavern Sunday Brunch. 720 Littlepage til 1p Sunday Brunch at the Colonial Tavern 11:30-3p
Woodland Hike at Gerri Melchers Home & Studio, Conducted by Virginia Master Naturalists, informative walks cover a mile of trails in woodlands and fields and also touch onthe historic ruins of Belmont's past. 2-3pm. meet outside the Visitor Center.
VA Bourbon & Beer Festival, craft beers FXBG Breweries & regional breweries .also select VA Wineries & Cideries sampling Live Music on Main Stage! 4-9p, FXBG Fairgrounds
Music on the Steps, Gloria's Imagination Band -- Rock, soft rock, soul, country of the 50s-80s @FAM Market Square, 7-8p
Live Music Mark Vollten & The Scenic Roots @ Billikens Smokehouse, 69p, 623 Caroline st
If you are reading this 289th issue of FPF, thank an advertiser as we celebrate our 25th year of continuous publication!
Live Music Rock N Roll, Country, Blues Mark Dunn. fantastic voice awesome musician. @Brock's Riverside Grill, 7p,503 Sophia ST
List your events email frntprch@aol.com: subject Calendar Deadline for September 2021 issue is August 20th.
Saturdays 7am-2 2pm Rain/Shine @Hurkamp Park front porch fredericksburg
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history’s stories
Gov. Robert Brooke History in Our Backyard By Sarah Kay Bierle Willis Hill:Preservation Story One of the legendary quotes from the Battle of Fredericksburg which was fought on December 11-13, 1862, is related to the description of Confederate's artillery crossfire from Marye's Heights. Reportedly, Colonel Edward Porter Alexander remarked to other Confederate officers, "A chicken could not live on that field." Later, after the war, Alexander doubted if he had said the attributed quote, but his artillery position became one of the hallmarks of the battle.
Robert Brooke from Fredericksburg was elected as the 10th Governor of Virginia in 1794. The Brooke family was incredibly involved in the forming of the new nation especially the state of Virginia and the local areas especially Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania. Robert was the second son born to Richard and Anna Taliaferro Brooke in 1751 at Smithfield, which is the location of the Fredericksburg Country Club. Robert along with his twin brothers Lawrence and Francis were in the Revolutionary war. After the War, Lawrence was a physician and his brother a judge. Robert along with Bushrod Washington would begin their careers in Fredericksburg and the local counties practicing law. Bushrod Washington later would go on to become a Supreme Court Justice In 1791 the voters in Spotsylvania County elected Robert as a Delegate to the Virginia House of Delegates. In 1794 Robert Brooke replaced Governor Light Horse Harry Lee
who resigned to command troops in the Whiskey Rebellion. Governor Brooke while in office built a home in Fredericksburg called "Federal Hill", 504 Hanover Street in 1795. One interesting fact about Brooke is that the County of Brooke was named after him in 1796. When West Virginia was created as a state in 1863, Brooke County became a part of West Virginia.
Brooke a member of Fredericksburg Masonic Lodge #4 became Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Virginia in November 1795, an honor that he considered one of his greatest accomplishments. He was succeeded by another Fredericksburg Masonic Lodge #4 member Benjamin Day in 1797. Robert Brooke died in Fredericksburg while still Virginia Attorney General on February 27, 1800, at the age of 49. His home "Federal Hill" is a private residence today that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Robert Brooke the tenth Governor of Virginia, Virginia Attorney General and Former Grand Master of Virginia Masons is buried in the Fredericksburg Masonic Cemetery. Fredericksburg has been the home of many important people in the history of the United States.
Tuffy is Front Porch’s Resident Historian August 2021
Poised on a series of hills often referred to generally as Marye's Heights, Alexander created a series of protective earthworks and rolled batteries of Confederate cannon into position in the weeks leading up to the battle. General Robert E. Lee chided him for placing the guns too close to the brow of the hills, but time eventually proved that Alexander had observed the ground correctly. Though he later admitted he did not expect serious attacks toward Marye's Heights, Alexander watched the skirmishing and
In 1796, Robert was elected to replace attorney-general James Innes. Bushrod Washington who was also a Fredericksburg resident had also sought the position, he and Brooke continued to remain friends for many years.
DEDICATED TO: Barbara Snyder, Earnest Taylor, and Brad Bowie
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Willis Hill
By Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks
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Edward Porter Alexander placed cannons on Marye's Heights during the Battle of Fredericksburg. bombardment of the town of Fredericksburg, followed by Union infantry charges toward the high ground and his cannons. Alexander later remembered the scene by eleven in the morning of December 13: "Evidently more than half of Burnside's whole army was preparing to assault us, & the assault too was not going to be where I had imagined it would be-up along the river bank-but it was going to come right out from the town, & strike where we were strongest…. From that moment I felt the elation of a certain & easy victory." With cannon on the high ground and infantry firing from the protection of
Cannons on Willis Hill (Marye's Heights) the sunken road and stone wall, the Confederates repulsed 15 separate attacks toward Marye's Heights. For Union soldiers, that high ground still loomed uncaptured at the end of the day while fallen in blue carpeted the open fields. About four and half months later, Union troops would set foot on Marye's Heights-briefly capturing it during the Second Battle of Fredericksburg in May 1863. But in December 1862, Alexander's artillery and the defending infantry held the high ground position. In 1996, recognizing the importance of Willis Hill which is part of the high ground of Marye's Heights overlooking the Sunken Road, a group of local Fredericksburg citizens formed Central Virginia Battlefields Trust and assisted with the purchase of that site for preservation. The 9.5 acres were just the first of nearly 1,400 that Central Virginia Battlefields Trust has preserved in the last 25 years, creating historic greenspace and saving places where history happened. Today, Willis Hill is part of Fredericksburg National Park and a walking trail leads to historic interpretation signs at the top of the high ground. This October Central Virginia Battlefields Trust will host a conference and anniversary celebration, including a special tour at Willis Hill and Marye's Heights to explore the more in-depth history and share the story of battlefield preservation. For more information about this event, please visit: www.cvbt.org/cvbtannual-conference Sarah Kay Bierle serves on staff at Central Virginia Battlefields Trust. When not at work preserving historical sites, she is often exploring archives or hiking. www.cvbt.org CVBT seeks to preserve battlefield land to protect the memory, meaning, sacrifices, and stories of the Civil War soldiers who fought and fell here. visit: www.cvbt.org
What’s in a Village? Historic Normandy Village By jon gerlach responded to, and accelerated, the surge in demand for single-family housing through low-interest government-backed mortgages.
When one talks about historic buildings in Fredericksburg, we naturally think of the downtown Historic District. However, as time marches on, houses that were brand new in our parents' and grandparents' lifetimes have inched their way into becoming part of the historic fabric of our fair City. One such place is Normandy Village, whose story is captured beautifully by the University of Mary Washington Department of Historic Preservation in its 2013 publication entitled "Normandy
Village, A Cultural Resource Survey of a Post-World War II Development". It's a story of America on the move, a post-w war boom, and the tumbling of racial barriers and other inequities. Once the war and its rationing ended, factories that aided the war effort changed their focus to meeting a booming consumer demand. Millions of veterans returned home, to resume their lives and start new jobs and families, creating huge demands for new housing, appliances and cars. The Federal Housing Administration
The Central Rappahannock Heritage Center is a non-profit, all-volunteer archives whose mission is to preserve historically valuable material of the region and make it available to the public for research 900 Barton St #111, Fredericksburg, VA www.crhcarchives.org contact@crhcarchives.org 540-373-3704 Volunteers Wecome! Contact us about donating collections of documents and photographs
Mass-p production techniques so vital to the war effort were retooled into home building by companies such as Levitt & Son. Levitt's template of affordable housing appeared in Levittown NY and was replicated across the country, including here in Fredericksburg. Such changes, along with the country's new heights of prosperity and more car ownership, created the perfect playing field for a residential construction boom of unparalleled proportions. It was now possible for the so-called "average" American family, supported by a single wage-earner, to own a car and have a nice affordable home built quickly. In a few short years, vacant lands on the outskirts of nearly every city in America sprouted subdivisions filled with new single family homes. And this brings us to the story of Normandy Village. The first phase, built on the site of the old fairgrounds, started in the 1940s as the Fairgrounds subdivision, filling the area east of Fall Hill Avenue and north of US Route 1. This area was annexed by the City of Fredericksburg in 1951 along with its sister area west of Fall Hill Avenue. In the second half of the 1950s, the west side of Fall Hill Avenue saw the second phase of development, called Normandy Village, consisting of about 100 new homes. Buyers could choose from five home styles, any one of which could be built in about three weeks. Let's not fool ourselves into thinking that everything was rosy during
this building boom: home ownership was for Whites only. Race-based covenants in deeds, together with redlining and racial zoning, blocked African Americans from buying or renting. These discriminatory practices were made illegal by the Fair Housing Act of 1968. Today, Normandy Village is a richly diverse community, reflecting people of every color, persuasion, family composition and political stripe. All told, over 200 residential and commercial structures were built between 1949 and 1959 in Normandy Village and the Fairgrounds subdivision. Nearly all are still standing and fully occupied today. The lovely summer-flowering crepe myrtle trees still adorn Hansen Avenue, and the City Trail system makes this special area accessible without a car. Over the years, Normandy Village has evolved beautifully. Normandy Village is now part of an active and forward-thinking community group, the Canal Quarter Homeowners Association, whose residents and businesses are committed to preserving the small neighborhood feel while incorporating the Creative Maker District vision of future growth and development (see www.canalquarterfxbg.com). So … what's in a Village? Here, a vibrant community that is proud to be a forward-thinking, historic part of Fredericksburg. An attorney and retired archaeologist, Jon Gerlach chairs the Architectural Review Board in Fredericksburg. Jon is a candidate for City Council, Ward 2 in the Nov. 2021 election. Photo of 309 Woodford St., courtesy www.brightmls.com, MLS #VAFB2000032
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Mental Health warning signs in children By emmie pombo
I have been dealing with mental illness since I was nine years old - well over half my life. With an initial diagnosis of OCD, the diagnoses of depression, anxiety, ADHD and bipolar disorder came soon after. It was hard at first to understand why I was acting out. To some, it looked like a rocky childhood coming-of-age. However, looking back, the warning signs of mental illness were glaringly obvious. Here are the signs I exhibited as a child with mental illness. Decreased Interest in Activities Normal childhood activities may include things like creating art, playing with friends, building sandcastles, and spending time with trucks and dolls. However, with a child with mental illness, these activities and aspects of growing up may decrease. Things like conflict and distance between peers, spending more time isolated, and a general disinterest in things they loved are signs that there could be a deeper struggle going on. Fights with Loved Ones For children with mental illness, picking fights can be common. Because of what they're struggling with, they have no one to take their newfound anger and emotions out on except those people closest to them. Because of that, some might see those children as defensive, troublemaking and beginning to go down a very negative path. However, due to the mental illness that has begun to surface, it's usually the case that they don't mean the hurtful words or actions happening. Mood Swings If your child is beginning to have extreme mood swings, pay close attention to them. Are the mood swings triggered by something in particular? Such as interpersonal conflict? Or is your child experiencing cyclical changes in mood for months at a time? Understanding the nature of the mood swings can help a clinician determine whether it is a mood disorder, trauma-related or just normal childhood growing pains. Lack of Communication Children have a hard enough time communicating as it is, considering that they're still learning what
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communication is. This may be a harder thing to pick up on, but if you see a very noticeable lack of or issue with communication, that could be a sign of mental illness. An example of this is if your child seems to be sharing less and less with you about school, their friends, their feelings, etc. New Fear of Things If your child's mannerisms and personality are usually fearless and open to new things, and they suddenly are too scared to try anything new, there may be a deeper issue of anxiety. This is especially true if they develop fears of everyday activities they were previously used to doing, such as riding the bus. Isolation Children are meant to be social and make friends as best they can. In fact, it can be who their first friends are that contribute to how they grow up and who they grow up to be. If you find your child isolating more than usual, that could be a warning sign - especially if your child is usually outgoing and makes friends easily. Mental illness, especially in children, can be a frightening and discouraging thing. it is exhausting and frustrating for a child. Especially because kids don't understand what's going on. With that said, there are always resources to turn to and help you can get. Counseling is an option for children, and there are even specialists who focus specifically on child psychology. Although it can be scary, uncertain and heartbreaking to think that your child is struggling, getting them help sooner rather than later could be the difference between a healthy and unhealthy childhood, and even possibly into adulthood. Another option is medication. I have been medicated since the beginning of my mental health journey and I can confidently say that without it, I would not be where or who I am today. Whatever is the best option for you and your child, it is important to get help as soon as possible. Talk to your child and try to understand where they're coming from. Carefully bring up the topic and ask how they are most comfortable getting help. Make it seem non-negotiable - as it should be. The first step to getting help is having them want it themselves as much as you want it for them, too. Emmie Pombo is an editor, writer, marketing straegist and mental health advocate She hopes to bring awareness and understanding to mental health and addiction struggles as well as shatter the stigma around mental illness To learn more NAMI programs, visit Website namirapp.com
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Donate to a Cancer Organization Let’s Find a Cure!
Have You Tried Acupuncture?
It’s All Energy balance your hormones by christina ferber
Call Now to Schedule 540.847.6985 AcupunctureFredericksburg.com
Astrology for You A language of planetary patterns that connect us with universal energies. We are born with unique configurations that can advise us, guide us, help us grow to our highest potential Consultations by Dianne Bachman 540.845.7622 dbachmanlcsw@gmail.com diannebachman.com
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Keeping our hormones healthy is an essential part of having overall good health. We have over 250 different hormones that are responsible for regulating growth and metabolism along with governing many other processes within our bodies. Our health can be affected when they are out of balance, but we can thrive when our hormones are in balance. The following are a few ways to keep our hormones on top of their game using Eden Energy Medicine (EEM) techniques. The Hormone Hookup can help to balance some of the glands that play an important role in hormone production and regulation: the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. Place the palm of one hand on your forehead while bringing the middle finger of that hand to the top of your head. Create what is called a 'three-finger-notch' by placing the tips of your thumb, first and second fingers together and place that notch on the back of your head behind your eyebrows. Take some slow, deep breaths, and hopefully you will feel a little calmer and a little more balanced. Adrenaline and cortisol play an important role in how we handle stress. An imbalance in our adrenal glands can lead to depression, exhaustion, and a harder time coping with our daily lives. Buzzing or pressing on the adrenal points, located one inch above and one inch out from the naval, for about fifteen seconds can help these glands. Do this on the front of the body, and on the corresponding areas on the back of the body regularly. You can also work with a meridian (energy pathways in the body) called Triple Warmer to help calm your adrenals. One way to do this is to place your thumbs on your temples with your fingers on your forehead. Hold these points lightly and take some deep breaths. An imbalance in cortisol can affect the pituitary and adrenal glands, and lead to blood pressure and immune system imbalances among other things. The Metabolic Breath is an exercise that can balance this hormone. Breathe in and suck in your tummy until you cannot take in anymore air. At that point take in three very quick, tiny breaths. Then exhale while still sucking in your tummy. When it feels like you cannot release any more air, breathe out three quick, tiny breaths. Another way to balance your cortisol is to press and rub points located one inch out
and one inch below your belly button for about fifteen seconds. The Belt Flow is an EEM technique that not only helps with hormone balancing, but also can help with back pain, and digestion. Reach both hands behind you as far as they can go on your back behind your belly button area. Pull your hands around to the front with a deep pressure and pull the energy off down the opposite leg. Repeat this a few times starting a little higher and a little lower on your back. Do this exercise on both sides. Completing the Daily Energy Routine (DER) regularly can not only help with your hormones but can also keep all of your energies in balance. View the DER, along with the other exercises mentioned above at www.itsallenergywellness.com.
Christina Ferber is a Certified Eden Energy Medicine Practitioner
donatelifevirginia.org
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Emancipated Patients popular cardiologist Retiring By Patrick Neustatter, MD Another long-standing, popular, practitioner who has been one of the medical institutions of Fredericksburg, is retiring. An event that I think should not go without some recognition. Robert (always known as Bob) Vranian has been one of the most popular, best known cardiologists in Fredericksburg. I have known him for a long time - since the old days when we both worked at the Pratt Medical Center together, and dinosaurs roamed the earth. I have always been impressed by his ability to connect with patients and his apparent love of his work - such that I thought he would never retire. Most of all, I like his holistic approach. I got to talk to him at his office, at the Virginia Heart and Vascular Institute on the Mary Washington Hospital campus recently. Despite being withing two weeks of hanging it up, he was still on call. Still "full steam ahead" with his phone going ballistic - though appropriately the sound of a locomotive whistles rather than ringing. An Environmental View I asked him how he came to practice this style, of what the blurb at Virginal Cardiovascular Consultants - the group he moved on to after Pratt describes as "effective, innovative and personalized cardiovascular care."
This prompted a rather allegorical explanation about how he grew up the son of "an inquisitive Armenian" father and "a holistic thinking" mother, close to a river with tributaries and wetlands, that would go through cycles of drought or flood. This gave him a feel for how the health of one part is interdependent on the whole environment. A lesson he has extrapolated to the care of his patient's cardiovascular systems. The health of our hearts and blood vessels is very dependent on our environment - our diet, our activity, our chemical exposure, our stress levels and so on. He was a proponent of a slightly "alternative" approach already, touting the importance of Omega-3 oils and the antioxidant benefits of CoQ10 for example. But then he did a course in holistic medicine. Heart specialist were in the minority here he notes. "Out of six hundred or so people attending, there were only two cardiologists." Then he sat and passed the exam to become a Diplomate of the American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine. His explanation for why there is not a broader Integrative/Holistic approach harks back to 1910 and the Flexner Report. Something that was meant to improve medical education, but which had its dark side with its strict adherence "to the protocols of mainstream science," its creation of a shortage of doctors by cutting the number of medical school programs from 155 to 31, and its claiming
The Crepe Myrtles bloom for 100 days and our local trees on Hanson Avenue in Historic Normandy Village put on quite a show. photos by Penny A Parrish
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black doctors should only treat black patients, and "serve roles subservient to white doctors" notes Wikipedia. Too Smart for Fredericksburg? He was obviously a good scholar. He has stella credentials, doing undergraduate at UVA, Medical school at Yale (graduating in the top 10 percent), residency at University of Texas Southwestern and fellowship at Duke. I wondered if Fredericksburg had seemed too "small town" for someone with such potential. But he voiced no regrets. "I felt like I was meant to be here" he told me. He has been able to satiate his academic needs by being involved with various research projects coordinated by Duke. Although no one can fill Bob's shoes, Virginia Cardiovascular Consultants has recruited VCU trained Aaron Schatz
who did both medical school, Internal medicine residency and Cardiology fellowship there. I just hope he, and the other cardiologists of Fredericksburg, can continue that same personalized, holistic care. But I worry that no one will be able to "feel what's going on" with their patients, that Vranian thinks so important, and that has made Bob Vranian beloved to so many.
Patrick Neustatter, MD is the Medical Director of the Moss Free Clinic. & Author of Managing Your Doctor The Smart Patient’s Guide to Getting Effective Affordable Healthcare. managingyourdoctor.com
Your Health Matters avoid the onset of Migraines Christine Thompson, DC whenever the onset of a migraine looms.
Whether you suffer from occasional headaches or disabling migraines, these aches and pains can really impede your quality of life. Studies suggest that up to 13% of US adults suffer from regular migraines (37 million people) and 2-3 million of these suffer from them chronically. Women are more prone to experience migraines than men, but overall this discomfort does not discriminate. (Statistics: https://migraine.com) Migraines generally manifest physically as uncomfortable, frequent, and prolonged headaches of varying intensity. They are often accompanied by nausea, fatigue, and light sensitivity. Depending on
the intensity of the symptoms, a medical doctor might prescribe medication to alleviate pain and assist with sleep - simply numbing the symptoms of a migraine and not getting to the root cause of it all. What makes Functional Health different for your headaches and/or migraines? Instead of simply removing the SYMPTOMS of your migraine, functional medicine practitioners aim to combat the underlying causes and root imbalances leading to the pain in your body. This means that you will learn to implement strategies to avoid the onset of migraines once and for all, instead of merely solving the symptoms when they arise.
Certain foods, drinks, hormonal imbalances, environmental shifts and/or reactions to medications are common causes of migraines, and so by studying each of these potential causes, functional medicine successfully identifies which element is causing YOUR specific discomfort. Functional healthcare involves helping those who suffer - and their loved ones - become more aware of the possibilities for treatment that lie outside of pharmaceutical drugs. This is called becoming functionally 'literate'. For instance, did you know that those with gluten intolerance are more susceptible to suffering migraines? Have you heard of treating migraines by boosting magnesium and B-v vitamin intake? How peppermint and chamomile about essential oils? Aromatherapy has been known to relieve the symptoms of migraines, and so it's useful to have essential oils on hand
Essential oils can be applied to the skin or inhaled by means of diffusing. Although it's called aromatherapy, it's not just the aroma that's therapeutic. Essential oils also directly interact with body chemistry, affecting nearly all of the organ systems. Peppermint, lavender and eucalyptus oils, in particular, are known to be very effective in combating migraines. Here is a quick and easy way to add them to your treatment routine. Lavender and Eucalyptus Massage: Combine 2 teaspoons of fractionated coconut oil with 1 - 2 drops each of Lavender and Eucalyptus essential oils in a small bowl. Gently stir the ingredients with a spoon until well-mixed. Massage the mixture onto the skin, focusing on areas where your headache is. Don't forget to massage other tense areas that may be contributing to your headaches, including the neck, shoulders, upper back, and pectoral muscles. Relax and Enjoy!
Christine Thompson is a doctor of Chiropractic. She is the CEO & Founder of Whole Health Solutions Inc
Whole Health Solutions Co. 434 Bridgewater Street 540 809 4223(?) www.whole-h health.net
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Art in Burg Art Galleries in August “Cleansed” Work by Lisa Gillen Brush Strokes Gallery Opening August 6, 5-9 9pm 824 Caroline St. Thursday- Sun 11am - 5 pm. & By Appointment Many people who are familiar with Lisa's work will recognize her love for nature that is embodied in this show. Based on floral and water themes, the works in this show incorporate her hallmark style. The emphasis is on the texture and depth of the glass piece itself as well as the imagery. Lisa's works include fastidious detail and much prep work was invested to achieve that.. ~Collette Caprara
The Artists' Alliance 100 Taylor St, Suite 101 Colonial Beach website artgallerycolonialbeach.com, Facebook :cbartistsalliance Our artists show a terrific array of paintings, photography, pottery, sculpture, furniture, jewelry, and basketry. ~ Rob Rudick "Community ", Denise Denecke @B rush Strokes Gallery
“Three of a Kind”, Works by Ken Searles Opening Reception,First Friday Opening, August 6, 5-9 9p Art First, 824 Caroline ST Ken's show, "Three of a Kind" features oil on canvas and will feature three related works such as Lighthouses, Landscapes, Local Sites and more . “I paint purely for enjoyment of creating a good painting that everyone can enjoy. I paint and draw for the enjoyment of creating a piece of art. My
Canal Quarter Arts 1517 Princess Anne Street Darbytown Darbytown Art Studio 241 Charles Street ~Jeannie Ellis
“Spoons”, Norma Woodward @Brush Strokes Gallery
“Geranium”, Lisa Gillen @Brush Strokes Gallery
“Cloth & Clay” Works by Anna Branner Opening Reception August 6, 5-8 8p, Artful Dimensions, 923 Caroline St Join us on First Friday and throughout the month to see the diversity of Anna’s work, her mastery of color, and her whimsical creatures ~Sally Cooney Anderson
"Alley Mattress ", Marianna Smith Shafer work is based on what I see around me. My goal is to be creative... create a piece of art every day... find new ways of looking at things... capture the things I see and experience around me in a unique way." ~Lisa Gillen
LibertyTown Arts Workshop Workshops, Sales, Exhibits 916 Liberty St Mon-S Sat, 10-8 8, Sun 10-6 6 ~ D.D.Lecky Anna Branner @Artful Dimensions
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“Sailboat”, Ken Searles@Art First
Artist Choice Regional Exhibit in Frederick Gallery Ashe Laughlin & Becka Wueste Members Gallery FCCA 813 Sophia ST Th-F Fri, 12-4 4p; Sat 11-4 4, Sun, 1-4 4p ~Valerie Lecea
The Muse Was Present... even when the music was gone By Collette Caprara
After a year's hiatus, the eagerlyawaited Summer Concerts of the CRRL's Music on the Steps and FAM's Sounds of Summer are back in full swing at Market Square-to the delight of both the
audiences and musicians. Yet, even during the months when the concerts were missing, the Market Place Muse was very much present at the site. On one afternoon during the "down time," when I was passing through Market Square, I saw a number of girls sitting on the steps and benches in groups of twos and threes, talking and laughing. I was thinking that they may have just come out of a meeting or an event, when one of them emerged and stepped on to the site's "stage" behind the museum where she performed a few ballet steps and a pirouette. At that, all the others mounted the stage in formation behind her and joined in the synchronized ballet routine that they knew well. It was only later that I discovered this had been a rehearsal for a
Come See What We Have On the Walls for You!
subsequent free performance by dancers of the Avery Ballet. The muse of creativity was alive and well. On that same day, I heard a voice repeatedly calling out instructions of "run, stop, turn, point! Cut!" My curiosity got
One artist who has consistently responded to the call of the muse is a guitarist who appears weekly at the site to generously provide a personal concert for any and all who are present. This gifted and gregarious musician is Bruce
Urban Sketchers the best of me and I couldn't help but ask what that was all about. It turned out that the crew was filming a music video for the new release of a musician in California. Place-M Muse provided the The Market-P inspiration to get the job done. On another weekend, Paula Raudenbush and the Fredericksburg Urban Sketchers had selected Market Place as the subject for their monthly drawing sessions, and the muse "called" each artist to highlight a different feature of the site in their sketches-from architectural features to an alley and its cast-away items. In addition, periodically, I have seen that the call of the Muse had attracted a visit from a dancer who came with boombox in tow to perform a series of "Robot" dances.
Callander, a retired technician for the US Army Corps of Engineers, who had diligently commuted to Fort Belvoir in Northern Virginia for 40 years. Callander's repertoire ranges John Denver's "Marvelous Toy" to Dan Fogelberg's "Leader of the Band." It also includes a ballad for commuters that he wrote one winter day when, trapped in a traffic jam on I 95 and succumbing to multiple airings of "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas, he composed his own classic, "I'm Dreaming of a Fast Highway." Thanks to those who responded to the call of the Muse and shared their creativity, talent, and humor during those many long months of down-time! Collette Caprara is a local writer and artist.
Give a Child Something to Think About
Books, Games, Amusing Novelties “Summer Favorite” Beverley Coates
“Shelter From The Storm” Lynn Abbott
“A Widewater Shore”, Penny A Parrish
M-Sat. 10am-6pm; Sun. 1pm-4pm
810 Caroline Street (540) 371-5684
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The Bowling Green Scene Happening Hamlet in the Heart of Caroline County
By amy bayne
A weekend day trip to Bowling Green is the perfect way to break up the long Dog Days of August. Just 25 minutes from downtown Fredericksburg, the straight shot down Route 2 takes you through pastural farmland and past shady forest edges. On any given Saturday, you can take a spin around the farmer's market, grab lunch from several tasty restaurants, and visit galleries and shops. Most importantly, you can beat the heat by booking an appointment for a facial at Julianne Esthetics, and follow it up with a visit to Gibson's Soft Serve down the street. Enjoy the slower pace of our scene. Julianne Esthetics Summer heat and sun damage can do a real job on one's skin. Fortunately, a visit to a certified esthetician like Julianne Dutton can peel back years on your complexion, not to mention help you beat the heat on a hot August day. Book an appointment at Julianne Esthetics before heading down for your day trip and you'll leave Bowling Green with a new appreciation for your skin. Julianne became interested in skin care after struggling with her own
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complexion, but she notes that acne is completely normal. She opened her salon last year after gaining inspiration from a y o u n g podcaster/esthetician from Texas. She had first-hand experience with working in a salon, she had the license, and she had the grit to strike out on her own. She's had rave reviews. Julianne says there are benefits of getting a professional facial once a month. "Cell turn-over is about every 28 days, so facials exfoliate and revitalize the surface of one's skin. Damage and problems can also be caught quickly with monthly attention to one's face." She says, "I want for people to feel confident and pretty in their own skin and to understand that all skin concerns are normal. I want to help people see a difference in their skin." Julianne Esthetics has a full line of services for the face, lashes, brows, and waxing. Book an appointment through a link on her Facebook page @mejulianneethetics. Gibson's Soft Serve After you've pampered your sunkissed face at Julianne's, walk down to the corner of North Main and Milford Street for a sweet, cool Gibson's soft serve. In May of 2020 when the pandemic was in full swing, Katie Gibson was going a bit stir-crazy. She decided it would be the perfect time for a soft opening of a dream she'd been cultivating since her days working with The Mix House before they went brick and mortar. Katie
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wanted to open a soft serve ice cream truck in downtown Bowling Green. She and her husband Tyler had their truck up and running by August and it was an immediate hit in town. They closed at the end of October 2020 and opened back up for the current season in April of 2021. They plan to stay open through Halloween again this year. Gibson's Soft Serve is made from a locally sourced soft serve mix from Richland's Dairy Farms in Dinwiddie, Virginia. Katie says that it was difficult to find a source for the mix because their establishment was off the beaten path. Richland's told the Gibsons that they would learn how to make the soft serve mix especially for them. The two businesses took a chance on one another, and Katie says they couldn't be happier. Gibson's offers a traditional soft serve menu of vanilla, chocolate, and swirl flavors in a variety of sizes and styles. They keep it simple with delicious cones, sundaes, shakes, and floats. For added flair, try a banana split or a chocolate dipped frozen banana.
Katie says, "Our main goal was to open a place where families and the community could gather and enjoy one another." Working with The Mix House made her fall in love with the town of Bowling Green and that affection has only grown. Judging from the packed picnic tables on any given day, it's obvious the Gibsons accomplished their goal.
Amy Bayne is an educator, writer, and artist who lives in Bowling Green, VA.
Other Events in Bowling Green in August Every Saturday- Bowling Green Farmers Market 9am-1pm 211 N Main St. August 14th - Flea Market 9am1pm located on Chase Street & N Main St August 20th - Small Town Friday Nights 5-9pm Small Businesses in town join forces to create an evening of fun at different business locations. August 20th - "Music on the Green" on the Courthouse lawn
SpotLight Babak Zarin by sean bonney Prior to Zarin's arrival, Access Services’ main focus had been the Subregional Library for the Blind and Print Disabled (also known as Talking Books). While keeping Talking Books a top priority, Zarin has expanded the scope of Access Services to encompass accessibility in all its forms, developing and conducting an accessibility audit for CRRL's branches and website, presenting at several conferences, and embarking on a partnership with the Library of Virginia to establish the Virginia Deaf Culture Library (coming soon).
CRRL Librarian Recognized by Virginia Library Association Central Rappahannock Regional Library Access Services Librarian Babak Zarin has been awarded the Virginia Library Association's Up and Comer Award. This award recognizes a librarian who shows leadership early in their career. Zarin received his Master of Science in Library and Information Science from the Catholic University of America in 2019 and became CRRL's Access Services Librarian in July 2019.
For more information on Access Services and the ways in which CRRL remains accessible to all regardless of specialized or adaptive needs, contact Babak Zarin at talking-b books@crrl.org. To subscribe to Sightlines, CRRL's quarterly email/audio newsletter of reading recommendations and news of interest to Access Services customers, visit librarypoint.org/sightlines.
Sean Bonney is the Community Engagement Manager for CRRL He can be reached at community.manager@crrl.org
All branches of CRRL are now open! Check updated hours at librarypoint.org
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Companions back to basics: pet care 101 by Gerri Reid dvm
Summertime was a bit different this year for many of us. The world has started to open back up and we began to see more things return back to normal. Many people have started back to work and are even back to taking vacations. As we get back to our way of living, we now have to think about getting our pets back on schedule and back to their normal. This means getting your pet an annual checkup, updating vaccines and keeping them on heartworm/flea/tick prevention. So, here's a breakdown of recommended pet care/vaccines for your dog or cat. When it comes to caring for your pet, a yearly checkup at your veterinarian is important. Even if your pet is not due for any vaccines, it is good practice to have a physical done on your pet. This checkup is a time for your Vet to check your pet's heart/lungs, dental health and even perform lab tests to check your pet's internal health. When caught early, many issues such as dental disease, kidney disease, thyroid disease, diabetes and heart disease can be treated or managed. Just as we go to the Doctor yearly for our checkups, we should get in the habit of doing the same for our pets. Next, we will talk about vaccines. Your Veterinarian may suggest vaccines for your dog such as Distemper/Parvo, Rabies, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, Lyme, and Canine Influenza. But does my pet
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need all of these? I tend to base the need for certain vaccines on the lifestyle of the pet. If your pet is one that goes to the groomer or needs to go to boarding from time to time, then having the Bordetella vaccine is needed. If you take your pet hiking or camping and your pet's exposure to wildlife is likely, then suggesting to do Leptospirosis and Lyme vaccine is warranted. I recommend to discuss your pet's lifestyle with your Veterinarian and determine what vaccine protocol is right for your pet.
Cats tend to be a bit simpler than dogs when it comes to vaccines. Feline Distemper, Rabies and Feline Leukemia vaccine are the main vaccines needed for your cat. All dogs and cats are required to receive a Rabies vaccine by the state of Virginia regardless if the pet stays indoors or outdoors. Yes, that means your house cat that never goes outside should receive an exam and a Rabies vaccine. The hardest part of caring for cats is taking them to the Vet which can be a hassle. I suggest to consider a Mobile Veterinary Service that comes to your home to eliminate the stress not only for your cat(s) but for you. Lab tests such as Heartworm test, FeLV/FIV test or Internal Organ Function are done at your pet's annual exam. Heartworm test will ensure that your pet does not have heartworm disease therefore you can continue to give monthly heartworm prevention. Internal Organ Function are performed at the discretion of your Vet but may be recommended yearly or for pets over 5 years of age. This test will help your Vet develop a better understanding of your pet's health so the proper care can be given. It's Back to School time and back to work for many of us. So, remember, don't forget about your dogs and cats. Schedule your pet's exam Today! Dr. Gerri S. Reid is the Owner/Veterinarian of Reid Mobile Veterinary Services. 540-623-3029 or reidmobilevetservices.com or facebook @ReidMobileVetServices
Front porch fredericksburg
THE POETRY MAN
Astrology & You minding your moon
By Frank Fratoe
By Dianne Bachman
Daybreak: Form and Essence . It is not easy to describe literally the form of things and at the very same time capture their inner-essence.
But we should never give up no matter how futile it is when haze obscures the light just before morning ascends. And we look to the dimness hoping sunrise could reveal in one more impatient-hour all objects hidden from us. Yet birches near my window that are part of the Oneness soon will emerge separately shining inward on their own. Frank Fratoe lives & writes in the city.he loves.
On these summer nights it is truly a balm for the soul to sit out under the night sky, soaking up the star light. The temps are usually cooler after the Sun sets and on these sweltering days the Moon seems a kinder, gentler luminary. And if you are feeling introspective it is a way to deepen focus on the symbolic energies of the various astrological signs. Do you know what sign your birth moon is in? (you can calculate your moon sign at Moon www.lunarium.co.uk) The represents our unconscious nature, where we need to feel nurturing, to be comforted, where we feel and experience emotions. The Moon rules the sign of
Cancer and is watery and receptive. In psychological astrology, we see the Moon as typically representing our mother (but could also be father) or the archetypal mothering energies we embody based upon our family of origin experience. According to evolutionary astrologer Steven Forrest, below is a broad overview of each Moon sign and their respective needs for selfcare and healing: Aries: Regular adventures involving conquest of fear; courage; capacity to claim one's rights Taurus: Attunement to the Inner Animal Wisdom; grounding, calming, centering, stability, and comfort Gemini: Fresh conversation and experience; stimulation, novelty, surprise, and finding one's own voice Cancer: Silent, soulful hours, alone and with dear ones; safety; quiet; home Leo: Free-flowing creativity before the right audience; appreciation and attention; self-expression Virgo: Finding work that matters; balancing self-love with endless effort; selfimprovement Libra: Relationship skills; choosing the right partners; valuing aesthetics; serenity; release of tension Scorpio: Facing inner and interpersonal fears; honest connection with strong emotion; digging deep Sagittarius: To treat boredom and predictability as Cardinal Sins; broad experience turned into meaning Capricorn: Worthy work; the discipline of spontaneity; integrity and great works; achievement; respect Aquarius: Individuation; gathering experience outside consensual reality; free thought and action Pisces: Meditative, trance-time; anything that supports the visionary imagination; surrender to spirit All of us experience a lunar return every month, as the Moon completes her cycle every 27.33 days. What is a lunar return? It is a period of several days where the Moon is passing through the sign that it occupied at the time of our birth. So, meditating under dearest Luna during our monthly return can help us make sure we are on track regarding our most personal needs, honoring our feelings, nurturing ourselves. Rituals lend themselves to cyclic things, so get creative. Light the candles, build the bonfire, cue up the music and
utilize the sign of the Moon to dive into the healing pool of moonlight. Now, here is a look at the astrological influences for August: August 1: Mercury Cazimi at 10:20 AM (see March 2020 issue of Front Porch for a detailed explanation of cazimi). Mercury and the Sun are exactly conjunct at 9 degrees of Leo. Wow! Lots of energy for passionate self-expression, creativity, amusement parks, or performances. At the same time, Merc's opposition to Saturn in Aquarius could put a slow-down to projects, giving time to re-think or to be a bit more cautious. August 8: New Moon in Leo at 9:51 AM. Ask: Can I build on my ability to express my creativity? What aspect of selfexpression would I like to grow? What is my true audience, the one that 'gets' me and appreciates me unconditionally ? August 11: Mercury enters the sign of Virgo, bringing us down to earth, giving us the nudge to be practical, efficient. If you are a writer, this is an excellent time to hone your skills and put pen to paper. August 16: Venus enters Libra. Listen…What is your heart calling out for? Heed the call! Harmony, grace, and aesthetics are some of the attributes of this combination. August 19: Uranus stations retrograde at 14 degrees of Taurus. Retrograde can slow us down, review, rethink. Uranus in Taurus might be interpreted as material values-could be money, possessions, the earth and nature, or our own self-worth. Where is our attention being called? August 23: The Sun enters Virgo AND we have the second full Moon in Aquarius. I am thinking this could be a great time for us all to focus on humanitarian issues. The collective is calling for some TLC. Where can you make a difference in your neighborhood, your community, your town, your world? Be a rebel and refuse to accept the status quo. There are so many causes that could use a champion these days. Maybe you just might go out there and make a difference. August 30: Mercury enters Libra. Let's have a talk! This energy favors either written or verbal communication, thinking about the aesthetics in your environment, and artistic/creative activities. Let the waters settle and you will see the moon and the stars mirrored in your own being. Rumi Diane Bachman is a psychotherapist & astroger practicing in FXBG. She can be reached at dbachmanlcsw@gmail ..com “Starry Night”, Vincent van Gogh
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Fredericksburg Sketches A visual Celebration of our community
By Paula Raudenbush
Fish Truck This month I have invited local artist and urban sketcher Carol Phifer to share one of her sketches. The area around the intersection of Charles and William Streets downtown is a favorite spot for her and she captures life as it happens in this busy area. As urban sketchers, we are very interested in showing our surroundings as we see them rather than as we want them to look. It's a type of reportage but with images instead of words and sometimes that means our sketches are not always "pretty". But as a record of our day, it's important to include reality. Carol's fish truck may not seem attractive to many but to the restaurant getting the fresh fish and to the patrons who enjoy them, it's a necessary step. Happy sketching everyone! Paula Raudenbush is a local artist and organizer of the Fredericksburg Chapter of Urban Sketchers International (on Facebook at Urban Sketchers Fredericksburg.
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