Front Porch Magazine

patients: sentimentality

Porch

Cover: “Winter Soldier” By David C. Kennedy

FAMfaire KrisKringlMarkt

kriskringle market in market square

By Caroline Ford

our holiday market will include vendors selling traditional crafts and foods. It is the perfect environment to invoke the holiday spirit while friends, families and neighbors stroll along tents filled with gifts and treats.

contemporary culture. To draw the community together in this space to promote our area's art, culture, and history, is a return to its colonial beginnings.

This event features over 20 vendors representing the food, arts, and retail industry.

FAMFaire: KrisKringlMarkt

Historic Market Square Saturday, December 10th 11 am - 7pm

The Fredericksburg Area Museum (FAM) is pleased to host FAMFaire: KrisKringlMarkt in historic Market Square on Saturday, December 10th from 11 am - 7 pm. This event will be a spectacular outdoor shopping experience in one of the most beautiful parts of our notable town. Modeled after traditional German-style markets that began in Nuremberg, Germany (dating from the 16th century)

Held in the same location that has been the center of city commerce since the eighteenth century, FAMFaire: KrisKringlMarkt will draw hundreds of visitors to downtown Fredericksburg to shop at the artisan booths and listen to the sounds of local musical groups. From its earliest function as a market, civic and government site, to its present use as a cultural center, this treasured landmark continues to serve its community as a site of the convergence of historic and

Caroline Ford is the Director of Operations & Annual Giving for FAM

ON THE PORCH

Collette Caprara Guest Porch Editorial

Contributing Writers & Artists

Rita Allan Sally Cooney Anderson

Dianne BachmanLaurie Black

Sonja CantuCollette Caprara

Michelle Costello ElizabethDaly

Janet DouberlyJeannie Ellis

Jenna Elizabeth Edwards

Caroline FordFrank Fratoe

Bill FreehlingJon Gerlach

Lou GramannCathy Herndon

Ralph “Tuffy” HicksNancy Kelly

David C. KennedyEd King

Pat KnocksLaura LaBelle

Lyndon LansdowneRay Mikula

Vicky NeelyAnne-Tillery Melson

Vanessa Moncure

Pete MorelewiczPatrick Neustatter

Katy ParkerGerri Reid

Paula RaudenbushHelen Ross

Rob RudickMandy Smith

Tim TalbottEmily aylor

Anne TimpanoRim Vining

Tina WillNorma 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 article submissions must be received by e-mail by the 16th & calendar items the 19th of the month preceding publication.

Writers / Artists / Photographers are welcome to request Guidelines and query the Publisher by e-mail.

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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 2022

Front Porch Fredericksburg Magazine All rights reserved.

fredberry shines

by collette caprara

A friend and I affectionately refer to the Burg as FredBerry, referring to the kinship between our town and the welcoming, generous, and caring spirit of Mayberry of the Andy Griffith television show. At no time does that resemblance come to the fore more than throughout the Christmas season, as we join together for a panoply of holiday celebrations.

I was musing about that in midNovember when, Voila! early evidence that Christmas was on the horizon appeared. Each of the planters at every downtown corner presented a colorful Christmas tree, joyfully decorated with an abundance of ornaments, courtesy of the "elves" of Tree Fredericksburg.

Soon, the jingle of the bells of the Salvation Army's Red-KKettle Ringers could be heard from the Visitors Center and I knew that a spectrum of other examples of charitable outreach reflecting the Burg's hallmark generosity would follow. "FredBerry" would soon be in its fullest manifestation.

The annual lighting of the Christmas Tree at Hurkamp Park would be next. What a classic scene, with music provided by Pete Mealy and Laurie Rose Griffith, as children ring jingle bells and all in attendance earnestly sing a heartfelt "Santa Clause Is Coming to Town, " eliciting the arrival of a fire truck bearing the Man himself. Each year, this scenario strikes me as a reprise of the nostalgic scene from "Elf!" in which the power of the belief of the crowd singing in Central Park brings Santa to life.

These are also the weeks when ballet troupes throughout the area prepare for their annual performances of "The Nutcracker." One of the dance academies is located above my co-op art gallery, and it always amazes me how loudly the leaps of diminutive, svelte, and lithe ballerinas land. A visitor at our gallery once mistook the pounding sounds above for cannon fire and asked if some group was preparing for a Civil War reenactment!

Musings about the holiday season would be remise not to include the clumps of family members and friends wandering from store to store with determined looks on their faces and their entry sheets for Fredericksburg's Window Wonderland riddle contest clutched in their hands as

they collect clues to the answers. The creativity and ingenuity of the business proprietors is evident in the window displays they create and our townsfolk can vote for their favorite. In fact, one much anticipated event each year is the unveiling of the latest of Whittingham's legendary window displays on Caroline Street. One memorable scenario depicted a hidden living quarters under the floor boards where little mouse "borrowers" had repurposed peoples' possessions, including a CD that had been converted into a dining table for the little creatures. Another display presented a scene from Mouse North Pole, where a crew of tiny rodent rascal elves had helped themselves to a bottle of wine that dwarfed them and were splayed across the floor, quite out of commission.

The apex of Fredericksburg's Holiday Celebration is the Christmas Parade, in which, according to our family, half the town marches as the other half watches, and then all switch positions. Yes, it's pretty long and chock-full of marching bands, scout troops, gymnasts, dancers, and community associations. Lawn chairs start to dot the curbside before noon for the 5:30 pm event, some piled with blankets in preparation for the evening's temperature drop.

Cheers and applause rise for each group or float that passes by and the loudest often emerges for the guy with the broom who does clean-up duty behind the horses. The pinnacle of the excitement is the palpable thrill of the crowd as the giant sleigh emerges into view in the distance and all wave wildly to greet the jolly old elf, some calling out a testimony that they had been "good!"

I am grateful to be in the company of those wonderful Burg-Folk!

Collette Caprara is a local writer and member of Brush Strokes Gallery.

Fredericksburg’s Finest

M A N A R C Marine, Army, Navy, Air Force, Reserves, Coast Guard Located at 1008 Sophia Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401, this 501(c)(3) non-profit re-sale store operates on community donations of seasonal items and adult clothing with the express purpose of supporting veterans and established veterans' organizations within the greater Fredericksburg region, such as the Semper Fi Fund, Homes for our Troops, and the local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3103.

For CEO & Founder Deborah Franks, the decision to found MANARC and open its doors to the public in August 2014 represented both a calling and a unique opportunity to honor the legacy of her family members who have served in the Armed Forces.

Our American heroes deserve our utmost respect and appreciation. My grandfather served in the Army, my father served in the Navy, and my brother served in the Air Force. Without our veterans, we would not have the rights and freedoms we have today," Franks says. MANARC always welcomes volunteers to staff the store or to help participate in special projects.

Franks has excelled in establishing MANARC as a vital platform for serving, supporting, and investing in the Fredericksburg community, with the store winning Best Charity, Best Thrift Store, Best Community Outreach, and Best Nonprofit Organization for Best of the Burg 2022. All proceeds from the Corps Solutions Charity Golf Tournament, taking place the first week of every October,

benefit MANARC and its ability to give back to its community partners. Over the years, MANARC has participated in various local community fundraisers and school drives. It has presented checks to VFW Post 3103, Liberty Organization, the Marine Corps League, the Lions Club of Fredericksburg, Loisann's Hope House, Paws for Purple Hearts, Veteran Made

by Jenna ELIZABETH eDWARDS

De Paul, whom MANARC partners with to gift 'Santa Sacks,' or Christmas stockings, and Easter baskets to local children in need, as well as to 'adopt' seniors and veterans in need of company during the holiday season.

This season, now through December 31st, MANARC will join FAVOR Chocolate Boutique, Mimi's Vintage Cottage, Pieces, Possum-bilities, Sprelly, Rocking Horse Gallery, and Sophia Street Studios SaraGray Designs in Jingle and Mingle: A Holiday Shopping Experience Pick up a brochure at any of the participating businesses and "shop hop" to earn special promotions and to discover unique holiday gifts for friends and family. Anyone who collects stamps for visiting all eight shops will earn a small gift of their choosing. Additionally, customers may take and post a picture of

their purchase from any of the participating shops to enter a social media raffle for a chance to win one of eight items valued at $50 each.

"It is through opportunities like [the Corps Solutions Charity Golf Tournament] and other fundraisers and community events benefiting veterans that we can thank those who have served as a heroic example of who we are and what we can dream to be. Please let us never forget that freedom comes with a price."

Especially as the holiday season approaches, let us always remember the veterans who have sacrificed, are currently sacrificing, or will sacrifice time with their families and the most significant milestones that many of us take for granted, in order to defend, protect, and serve the country we love.

Jenna Elizabeth is partner of the Edwards Law Firm PLLC and a local realtor. She highlights local business owners and community members to showcase why the Fredericksburg region is an amazing place to live.

regularly undertakes local service projects, such as building a ramp for a retired Marine who suffered a stroke, or partnering with local businesses to provide an HGTV-like home makeover for a single parent Veteran raising three young children. And when you visit MANARC in person, you will feel gratified by the time and energy that Franks and her associates invest in building and nourishing relationships with visiting customers and other members of the community.

MANARC has also consistently participated in local annual holiday traditions, such as Treats on the Streets and the Scarecrow Fest and Window Wonderland competitions. Franks also serves as Deputy Treasurer for St Vincent

Décor, Leashes of Valor, and Blue Star Mothers of Fredericksburg MANARC

Johnny P. Johnson

Hart Community Center and the Fredericksburg Library

When family obligations required the time Johnny would have spent in the workshop, the members of the group continued to come together and their weekly gatherings were infused with the heart and spirit that Johnny had brought to them, always mutually supportive and encouraging. The artists say they will continue to meet in the future to carry on Johnny's legacy, and they recall memories from their cherished times with him.

In Michele "Micki" Costello's words: "What a wonderful gentleman, teacher, mentor, husband, and father. He was a true Fredericksburg icon who will be missed by many. He always had encouraging remarks and lit up the room when he entered."

presented challenges for participants when he introduced unusual mediums and tools to spark creativity and take the artists beyond their comfort level. These included painting tools of plastic wrap, toothbrushes, and sponges that produced transforming effects and "happy accidents."

In addition, when a session involved a still-life painting, artists were more likely to find some rusty tools in the arrangement, rather than the traditional bowl of fruit of vase with flowers. This

Fredericksburg's beloved icon, Johnny P Johnny, who passed from this life on November 5 at the age of 86, has been hailed as an artist, humanitarian, teacher, mentor and coach. In sum, the life that Johnny lived was broad, deep, and heartfelt. He was truly a servant leader with a depth of heart and generosity that compelled him to respond to anyone who came to him in need. And those needs were, most often, not material but internal-including the need for encouragement, inspiration, confidence, self-worth and, at times, the need to be challenged.

"He changed the course of my life ten years ago when I began taking his watercolor class," said Suzi Bevan "I had never painted in that medium and never thought that I could, but from the first day, he lit a spark in me that exploded into a decade of delight and enduring friendship, not only with him but with the whole class as well."

"Johnny wore many hats, and, as a student at Mary Washington College, I interviewed him about the historic preservation work he accomplished on lower Charles Street," said Pat Knock "He later mentored my daughter Jen Callahan who is now an acclaimed artist. When she first came to his watercolor class, he teased her about being so young to be a member of the group!"

celebrated the essence and history of objects that may have been dismissed or discarded by others. In some cases, the objects that Johnny presented for a painting opened artists' eyes to some of

included a beautiful African mask, a cantaloupe, a butternut squash and a slice of watermelon carved of wood. "But Johnny," Katie said, "as a white woman of a certain age, I really don't feel comfortable with that watermelon!" His response was a sly smile and chuckle. "He had introduced me to my own "white fragility!"

Cathy Herndon, who was an art teacher at Gayle Middle School in the late 70s, participated in an Art Participation Day for students. "All the art teachers were encouraged to join and work with the students who came to create art. I remember Johnny the most because he had such a fun way of engaging with children, and he engaged me!" she said "He became my idol that day!"

Bev Coates, an acclaimed local water-color artist, has been with Johnny's Workshop almost since its first year. "I had become unfamiliar with watercolor and acrylic pigments. Johnny came to my rescue and enlightened my painting efforts!" she said, "I will never forget Johnny's enthusiasm, skill, humor, and patience!"

The recipients of the spectrum of Johnny's blessings ranged from the students in Walker Grant and James Monroe High School at the cusp of integration and the inmates of a correctional facility to a loyal and admiring "family" of older folks who joyfully attended his Thursday morning water-media workshops at the Dorothy

William Wachter , who has been with the workshop since 2015, recalls a portrait he painted of Johnny. When he learned that Johnny's wife Jean really liked that painting, he gave it to her. "I learned that spirit of generosity from Johnny," he said. "He was generous with his knowledge, his tools, and his friendship."

The "coach" in Johnny created a critique session that was held at the end of each workshop, which always included praise for the highlights and impressive elements of each painting, as well as some suggestions. "Coach Johnny" also

their assumptions that they were unaware of. Katie Green recalls a still-life setting connoting African American culture that

"Johnny was a great artist, an even better teacher, and an even greater human being," said Jim Ramsbotham. "He is an example of what humility should look like, with a modest sense of his considerable gifts and a passion for sharing them with others. For the folks in the Workshop who came to know him, he will be with us in perpetuity. We were blessed.

Collette Caprara is a local writer and member of Brush Strokes Gallery.

photos contributed by Cathy Herndon, Vicky Neely, Pat Knock & Michele Costello. painting by Ed King

the gifts he brought to our community keep giving by collette caprara

Everything Greens

the new normal

By Janet Douberly

As the years go by, quicker each time, sometimes we forget to take a moment to stop and look back at what has happened in our lives. Since having such a huge change in our world over the past few years, it is more interesting than ever to see how this year brought us back to a type of normal. Maybe not the normal that was before, but a new, more appreciated normal.

This year we were so pleased to finally be able to bring the kids back into the garden! Our Youth Farm Program, and Garden Sprouts program had been on hiatus for two years so it was thrilling to once again watch the kids learn about where food comes from, how to grow food, and more importantly, how to enjoy the food they grew. With the addition of our new education team came an awesome two weeks of summer camp with all new activities and lessons! We were also happy to continue our Storytime in the Garden which we began with Every Page Counts while the world was still locked down.

Watching the systems put in place during 2020 and 2021 grow and change as people emerged from their homes was gratifying and very special. Our Take What You Need Garden was expanded to meet demands. Our weekly Free Farm Stand morphed into the spring opening of the first Free Fridge and Pantry in Fredericksburg, giving access to fresh and nutritious foods to all, any time of the day, every day of the year.

Oh the growth! We kicked 2022 off right by officially purchasing an amazing 56 acres of land right here in Fredericksburg! We were astounded by the outpouring of support when we started the fundraiser for the down payment and continued to be humbled by those who are donating now to help pay

off the balance of the loan so that we don't waste any money paying unneeded interest. While the community continues to come through with funds, we are working diligently. The first steps we are taking is to make sure this land is put in a trust, protecting it from being developed so that all generations to come will have this beautiful piece of land to enjoy and learn from.

Out with the old, in with the new! Under the watchful eye of our Garden Coordinator, hundreds of invasive plants were removed from our land with the help of volunteers and our Invasive Plant Intern. With the removal of invasive plants came the installation of many Virginia Native plants that will be a boon to our ecosystem! The insects and other wildlife were surely happy to witness the installation of a native plant meadow in the upper garden on our Daffodil Hill. (Don't worry, the daffodils will still be popping up this spring!)

All of this and much more happened in just one short year. It brings us such a sense of pride in our community for supporting all of these projects. Whether it was coming by to volunteer or whipping out the check books to help us grow in our continued mission, you folks, our friends and neighbors and loved ones, all deserve one righteous pat on the back.

Here's to the past and future of DTG.

Darker the days? Brighten the lights! Especially through the holidays and Winter months, we can brighten our surroundings and lift our spirits, with both light and abundant indoor plant choices. Christmas Cactus, though native to rainforests, flowers beautifully. Indoor flowering plants will need bright lights through the Winter months; between now and next Spring many suffer decline due to low light (or inconsistent watering patterns). Just how much light do they need? Information about light intensity is easily found on the web. Bright outdoor sunlight on a clear day is given the measurement of 10,000 lux or foot candles. Indoor window light at a Southfacing window is about 1/10th of that or even lower depending on outdoor overhanging trees or plants in front of windows. No wonder plants struggle indoors. This UMD Extension website has useful information and a helpful graphic: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/lighti ng-indoor-plants.

helped. Pictured here is how it looks now; the flowers are lovely and fragrant, and it's ripening three good size lemons to boot! It will still need to come indoors during our coldest months which are approaching. I am faced with the decision to purchase a high intensity light source to sustain it through the Winter and finish ripening the lemons which can take another month or so. I'd really like to see them ripen to the 'egg yolk' yellow that indicates full maturity. Without a strong light, many leaves will drop off, and by Spring it will look pathetic. I'll probably buy a good light.

What are your plans for late January? National Seed Swap Day is January 28th, and Master Gardeners will be hosting our 7th annual seed swap event (free and open to all) at

I was given a Meyer Lemon seedling-sized tree three years ago, and wondered if I'd be able to succeed with it since it usually grows in a Florida climate. Really, the Meyer Lemon (Citrus x meyeri) is a remarkable plant. Hardy in zones 8 to 11, and cold hardy down to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit, it is a cross between a lemon and a mandarin orange, and selffertile. The fruit is sweeter than lemon, and apparently the skin is edible also. It's been easy to take care of once I learned not to overwater it. It has flowered abundantly and fruited easily, though this is the first year the fruits have grown and ripened. Our recent warm weather has

the Rowser Building 1739 Richmond Hwy, Stafford, VA 22554, from 9:30 to 1:30. Find the lecture schedule and other seed swap information at www.mgacra.org/seed-swap-event.html.

Two lectures and children's activities are planned as are the giving and trading of seeds and garden related items. Come join the fun! Merry Christmas!

Tina Will is a Master Gardener and lives in Stafford County. She can be reached at brianandtina.will@gmail.com

Growing & Crawling frost sweetened

By janet douberly

If kale is such a super food then why do so many people find it bitter and unpalatable? Why do we need to massage it to make it salad worthy? Turns out it isn't kale's fault.

Kale, and other cole crops, are known to prefer growing in colder temperatures. Here in Virginia that means we not only plant these seeds in the fall for a winter harvest, but also try to squeeze in a crop in the early spring.

Unfortunately, our springs soon turn into summer which means that these crops are not developing as they are designed to do.

When temperatures drop, kale and others convert some of their starches into sugars. This keeps the water in their cells from freezing. It works the same as putting salt on the road to prevent ice forming. Essentially it's nature's antifreeze. In the cabbage family, cold weather increases sugars and releases special proteins in the plants that provide freeze tolerance, which subsequently alter

their flavor. This then gives kale, cabbage, broccoli, and other cole crops a beautiful sweet flavor that is nothing like the bitterness you find from most store bought veggies in the same family.

While these crops will grow as a spring planting in our zone (7a) it means

they mature in warmer temps and do not go through this process making them taste much more bitter than a fall planting.

Janet Douberly is an employee sweetened by cold weather at Downtown Greens.

picture perfect

By Laurie Black

where she grew up and neighbors with whom she played. She loved to play in a barn near her home with neighbors. She loved the outdoors. She talks of her church in Fredericksburg that her parents helped organize."

Darlene goes on to say, "Jean is a very talented photographer. She loves nature. In the past she has taken many pictures of areas around Fredericksburg. She has had members of her former church print some of her pictures on cards in the past. She loves to color and has stacks of pages that she colors with pencils and has a great eye for colors. When she colors, she will ask me to pick out a page and she will give it to me the next time we meet."

Life is not always picture perfect. However, having a friend you can rely on can certainly make life's picture brighter and happier.

Meet Darlene Ackerman and her friend, Jean If Jean seems familiar to you, it is because I have written about her before. Jean has been participating in the Senior Visitors Program for about 10 years. She previously had a volunteer, Niki, who visited with her for many, many years. Naturally, Jean and Niki became close friends. So, when Niki moved out of the area, Jean was understandably sad and concerned about having a new volunteer visit.

However, Jean quickly found that instead of losing a friend, she was gaining a new friend. Darlene and Jean have been visiting for a year now. Jean says of Darlene, "She's the greatest. I enjoy our visits so much. I don't get visitors, so Darlene's visits give me something to look forward to in the week and something fun to do."

Darlene read about the Senior Visitors Program and decided to try volunteering. After volunteer training, she began visiting Jean.

Darlene says of Jean, "She always greets me with a smile. She is always glad to see me. We talk about the past, her growing up with her sister, and what a great cook her mother was. She talks of

In addition to simply visiting and sharing stories, Darlene and Jean sometimes enjoy an outing. Jean mentioned that she and Darlene recently went for a drive to look at Halloween decorations and fall colors. Jean's favorite outing, however, is going out for ice cream.

"She's so good to me," says Jean. Darlene explains, "She really loves ice cream, especially flavors that may be sweet like cotton candy." Sometimes when they cannot get out, Darlene brings ice cream in to Jean. "She finds any flavor I bring her "really good"."

I often ask volunteers if there has been anything about volunteering with the Senior Visitors Program that was unexpected or surprising and what they would tell someone who is considering volunteering with the Senior Visitors Program. In response to these questions Darlene responded, "I find myself looking forward to our chats. It can be a very relaxing time to sit and talk with someone that enjoys the company and makes you feel very good about your visit. One finds self-wanting to do more for the person especially when [they] have little contact from [others]."

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) 371-22704 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 at Mental Health America of Fredericksburg.

Authentic Self-Care!

navigating the winter blues

By anne-Tillery Melson

We are officially entering into the winter season here in Virginia: weather is colder, and nights are longer. While most of us can easily engage in normal activities despite the change in season, for some folks this is much harder.

About 5% of the US population experiences seasonal depression , also called seasonal affective disorder (SAD) Seasonal depression, according to Mental Health America's website, is "a subtype of depression or bipolar disorder that occurs and ends around the same time every year," typically fall through winter.

SAD, like many mental health disorders, is often frequently misunderstood. With December being Seasonal Affective Disorder Awareness Month, I wanted to shed light on the experiences of people who experience SAD. Below are the questions I asked and two individual's responses, denoted by initials for anonymity.

What does seasonal depression look like for you?

D: "Usually, as the days start getting darker and shorter, I feel a heaviness come over me. I quickly lose a lot of my energy and start to struggle with focus or motivation. It becomes a lot harder to sort through thoughts and emotions."

L: "The glib answer is that SAD feels like wanting to make soup and sit on the couch and never leave the house or do work. SAD also feels like having a smaller gas tank for work and socializing, especially when the amount of commitments we are expected to keep remains constant year-round - like having to keep a packed schedule with a winter's hibernation energy reserve."

What helps you feel better?

D: "When there are days with nicer weather and I'm able to be around people who I trust, I start feeling better. Holidays help because it gives me something to focus my attend around, and I know I'll have things to look forward to. I also can regulate my emotions with movies, tv, and books that can stir up different tougher and heavier emotions so that I can get a good cry or process my feelings."

L: "It helps to give myself permission to dial it back-- to know that I can't function on 11 all year long and that winter is my body asking me to slow down for a season. As the weather gets colder, I'm scheduling less and seeing people less and I think I just get to decide that that's okay."

How can people support friends or family members with SAD?

D: "Support for me looks like people giving me the space to feel and experience my depression while also not leaving me to deal with it myself or become to isolated."

L: "Honestly, it helps to give folks in your life permission to dial it back, too. Keep reaching out, keep inviting us places, keep showing up, but know that our batteries are on the charging block and will be there for a few months. Nothing feels worse than letting your friends and family down for not showing up, so easier lower-stakes get togethers can be so helpful. We can't really help our energy levels, so punishing us (peer pressure, bullying, guilt-tripping, minimizing) for something we can't control is only going to push us deeper into the hobbit hole."

If you think you may be experiencing seasonal depression or another mental health condition, you deserve to get help and should consider seeing a mental health professional. Mental Health America of Fredericksburg maintains an extensive list of local mental health providers that we call the HELPLINE. We keep track of the services offered in the area, insurances accepted, and new client availability. Learn more by calling (540) 371-2704 or visiting mhafred.org.

Mental Health Screening at MHAScreening org

Anne-Tillery Melson is the Suicide Prevention Education Coordinator at Mental Health America of Fredericksburg

Local Mental Health Providers call Mental Health America of Fredericksburg HELPLINE (540) 371 2704 or visit our website at mhafred org

Become a Member

small

bites

TidBits

of local News

By Bill Freehling

www.fredericksburgcsa.com

Newly Opened Dance Studio

Located at 314 Forbes Street, Company 360 Dance Studio is a newly opened dance studio and theatre. The studio supports both professional and student dancers and also hosts a conservatory home school. For more information about Company 360 Dance Studio, see companythreesixty.org.

Cork & Table expanded in downtown FXBG

Cork & Table recently open a new dining and event space ion the old Colonial Theater at 909 Caroline St. adjacent to the existing restaurant at 909 Caroline. The new space not only offers additional seating for dinner, but a place for private events or larger gatherings.

project at the corner of Princess Anne and Hanover streets downtown.

The owner of the property at 800 Princess Anne Street/303 Hanover Street proposes to convert the structure into four condominiums with off-street parking. Currently there are 16 apartments in the building.

Foode, Fahrenheit 132 Named Among Best in NoVA

Two downtown Fredericksburg restaurants have been named among the best in Northern Virginia.

Foode and Fahrenheit 132 both made Northern Virginia magazine's 2022 list of the 50-best restaurants in No.VA.

currently vacant. The City's goal for the project is to provide outstanding visitor experiences and create one of the best Visitor Centers in the Mid-Atlantic.

Nutcracker 2022

The longest running Nutcracker performance in the area. 2022 is the 25th Anniversary!

Harry's Tasting Room Now Open

Enthusiasts of Harry's Alehouse were thrilled when a second location opened on William Street downtown over the summer. Downtown FXBG just got even more exciting for craft beer and cocktail lovers alike. Harry's Tasting Room has officially opened, right next door to Harry's Downtown.

Opening at 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays only, offering a renowned list of revered craft beer, as well as signature cocktails. Whether you are in the mood for a local Pen Druid MARS IPA from Sperryville, or a Masthead Luftschloss Pils from Cleveland, Harry's impeccable line of taps continues into the Tasting Room. Enjoy some classic cocktails such as a Dirty Hendricks Martini or a Whiskey Sour, or venture into Harry's Signature Cocktails with The Paloma or Hemingway Daquiri.

“Monumental Weight”

The Fredericksburg Area Museum (FAM) at 907 Princess Anne Street recently unveiled its newest exhibit. "A Monumental Weight" features and tells the story of Fredericksburg's Auction Block. For FAM hours and more information, see FAMVA.org.

The Fredericksburg Ballet Centre's Nutcracker is a full-length ballet with all of the acts, scenes, props, sets, costumes, and dances everyone loves. What a wonderful show to get you in the holiday spirit. Performance on December 17 at James Monroe High School, Washington Avenue Don’t miss this holidsy tradition!

Elby Brass New Year's Eve Gala

Condominium project planned in Downtown FXBG

The City of Fredericksburg is reviewing plans for a condominium

City advancing on Visitor Center project

The City of Fredericksburg is looking for qualified and experienced architectural firms to provide design and construction drawings for a new Visitor Center downtown.

The Visitor Center will be located on the first floor of the Executive Plaza at 601 Caroline Street. That space is

Send off 2022 with Elby Brass, Virginia's best street brass band. Performing at the reopened Fredericksburg Square, they're doing it up right in the main ballroom. Admission includes champagne toast and food service from Hot ChikN KitchN Full cash bar and beer from Water's End Brewery also available.Doors open 9 PM, music starts at 10 PM, 21+ only please.525 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA, USA Ring in the New Year with us.

Bill Freehling, Fredericksburg's director of economic development and tourism

S e a s o n ’ s B o u n t y snow sweets

Another holiday season! It seems trite to say, but wasn’t last Christmas just a few weeks ago? I still have the window candles stashed in a kitchen drawer, an elementary-school painted sleigh napkin holder has held sway on the sideboard all year and a stash of holiday antique cake and cookie tins stare balefully down on me from the very top shelf of a very tall cabinet - it’s that time of year again! Fill us up! If there’s anyone in the family to blame for extra avoirdupois buildup over the holidays, it has to be me. Those tins aren’t waiting to be filled with celery sticks and fizzy flavored water - no, no. Carbohydrates galore, butter cookies, brittle, fruitcake and tatties - chocolate fudge and macaroons and mincemeat, oh my. Summer baking, sure, a pan of brownies or some offhand chocolate chip cookies. But for the holidays! December just wouldn’t be December without my grandmother’s applesauce raisin black walnut cake, her date and walnut cake with a small glass of sherry in the tin to provide “atmosphere”, cut-out sugar cookie Santas and sleighs, the dipped teaspoons of dark, dark nutty fudge - well, I believe there might have been a cicerone further up in the family tree guiding me through each year of baking traditions - I hope you will celebrate the holidays with some snow sweets of your own!

MORAVIAN COOKIES

My parents retired to North Carolina near a large Moravian community and my mother was given this traditional Christmas spice cookie recipethese are traditionally known as the “World’s Thinnest Cookie” and should be rolled out to 1/8” or less Sift together 4 ½ cups flour, ¼ tsp. baking soda, ½ tsp. salt, ground cloves and ginger, 1 tsp. cinnamon. Stir in one cup light brown sugar. With a pastry blender (or food processor) cut in one cup butter, then add 1 ½ cups molasses. Mix thoroughly, wrap and chill four hours or overnight, or until firm enough to roll out. Use a small amount of dough and roll out 1/8" cut into rounds or any desired cookie cutter shape. Bake on parchment-lined baking sheets in preheated 350F oven for 8-10 minutes, then cool on a wire rack. Must be stored airtight - they keep well, but handle with care as they are fragile. This recipe makes about six dozen rounds.

NUTTY FUDGE

This is an easy fudge recipe that can be made without a candy thermometer. Make sure to use a deep, heavy saucepan. Mix together 4 cups sugar and one 13-oz. can evaporated milk. Bring to a rolling boil over medium heat (which cannot be stirred down) and boil for 8 minutes, stirring often. Pour over mixture in large bowl of : 3 cups chocolate chips (milk chocolate, semisweet or dark), 2 cups chopped nuts, 1 cup butter, 2 tsp. vanilla and 20 large (about one bag) marshmallows. Beat well, making sure all marshmallow is incorporated. Pour into a buttered or lined 11”x15” pan, or let cool slightly and drop by teaspoonfuls onto parchment paper. Cool, then refrigerate overnight.

TRADITIONAL SUGAR COOKIES

Sift together 2 2/3 cups allpurpose flour with one teaspoon baking powder and one-half teaspoon salt. Set aside. Beat ¾ cups butter with one cup sugar until light. Beat in two eggs and two teaspoons of flavoring - vanilla, or a mixture of vanilla and almond flavorings or citrus. Stir in the flour mixture and mix until smooth. Wrap and chill several hours until the dough is firm enough to roll out onto floured surface. Cut into desired shapes, then bake on parchment-lined baking sheets in preheated 375F oven 810 minutes or until they just begin to color. Cool on wire racks. Decorate with a confectioner’s sugar frosting (tinted with

gel food coloring if desired) and decorated with colored sugar and candy shots. Frostings, icings and glazes are of three different consistencies and have differing ingredients - frostings being thicker and richer, having a butter or cream base. Icings and glazes are usually made from confectioner’s sugar with juice or water.

AND A KETO BROWNIE FOR MY BETH Butter an 8” cake round. Stir together and set aside 1 ½ c. almond flour, ½ c. flax meal, two teaspoons baking powder, 2/3 cup cocoa powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt and one teaspoon espresso powder and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Mix together 8 T. melted butter with ½ -2/3 cup xylitol and three beaten eggs, then fold in the dry mixture. Spoon into cake round and bake in preheated 350F oven about 10-16 minutes, or until it is a bit firm. Overbaking it will make it indistinguishable from your kitchen sponge in taste and texture! Let cool. Frost with cocoa cream cheese frosting. Mix together ½ cup butter with 8 ounces cream cheese until smooth - add ½ cup powdered xylitol, 6-8 T. cocoa (or more), one teaspoon espresso powder, two teaspoons vanilla and enough heavy cream (add by the teaspoonful) to make of spreading consistency. I’m adding this to my list, but it’s still a work in progress!

SpiritS

Holiday Bests

Christmas cocktails are 99.9 percent about garnishes. Swear to god. You could put out a punch bowl of lukewarm Ocean Spray, and with some pine tree fronds, dried cranberries, and star anise pods scattered about, people would rave. But, that other tenth of a percent is alcohol, and alcohol is, needless to say, still important. So alcohol is what we'll give you, with a collection of cocktail recipes that are more than appropriate for Christmastime and all its merriment.

COQUITO (PICTURED)

This Puerto Rican rum classic, much like eggnog, is sinfully rich and heavy. Coconut provides the backbone, and you won't find an egg yolk anywhere.

2 c. white rum

3 cans evaporated milk

1 15-oz. can cream of coconut

1 can condensed milk

cinnamon

1 Blend ingredients (except cinnamon) at high speed for 2 minutes.

2 Pour into an empty bottle. Cover and refrigerate the bottle for at least 4 hours, but preferably 2 to 3 days.

3 When properly chilled, serve in a small glass. Garnish with ground cinnamon.

IRISH (OR MEXICAN) COFFEE

A serious contender for Official Cocktail of Christmas Morning Madness. Irish coffee is hot, sweet, and caffeinated. Swap the whiskey for tequila, if that's more your style, and you get a Mexican Coffee.

2 oz. Irish whiskey

5 oz. coffee

2 tsp. sugar heavy cream

1 Pour the whiskey, coffee, and sugar into a stemmed, heated glass mug.

2 Stir, then top off with a thick layer of lightly whipped heavy cream. Don't stir it in.

CHRISTMAS EGGNOG

A creamy eggnog recipe that contains a dozen eggs is enough to knock the entire family out for the count. At least, until dinnertime.

12 eggs

3/4 c. superfine sugar

1 p. cognac

1/2 p. dark rum

1 p. milk

1/2 p. heavy cream nutmeg

Olde Towne Butcher

Traditional Butchery - Fresh Perspective

1 Separate the eggs, putting aside the whites. Beat the yolks while slowly adding the sugar. Beat until sugar is entirely dissolved.

2 Slowly add the cognac while stirring, then the rum.

3 Stir in milk and heavy cream.

4 Beat the whites until they stand on their own. Fold them into the mixture.

5. Stir in grated nutmeg and serve.

HOLIDAY PUNCH BOWL

Another punch to sustain a crowd, this is a tea, rum, and cognac version that's spiced and strong.

4 lemons

1 c. Demerara sugar or Sugar in the Raw 4 tea bags

1 c. fresh-squeezed lemon juice, strained

2 1/2 c. cognac

1 1/2 c. dark rum

fresh nutmeg

1 The day before, place a 2-quart bowl of water in the freezer.

2 Using a vegetable peeler, skin lemons, avoiding the white pith, and put the peels in a large heatproof bowl.

3. Add sugar, and mash the sugar and the peels together with a muddler.

4 Bring a quart of water to a boil, remove it from the heat, and add tea bags. (English breakfast works well.)

5 After 5 minutes, remove the tea bags and pour the tea onto the sugar and peels. Stir until the sugar is dissolved.

6 Add lemon juice.

7. Add cognac, such as Pierre Ferrand Ambre or Martell Noblige, and rum, such as Coruba or Batavia Arrack van Oosten.

8 Stir well and let cool in the refrigerator for an hour or so.

9 To serve, pour the punch into a punch bowl, slip in your block of ice, and grate fresh nutmeg over the top.

Clean, local, sustainable, humane foods prepared fresh. Better for you and your family, better for our planet, better for local economy, better food!

~provided by Esquire Select

dreaming of a red (wine) cHRISTMAS

by Rita Allan

While the white fluffy stuff looks pretty as it softly dances in the air and touches to the ground, nothing is better than sitting inside your home in a favorite chair in front of a roaring fire with a glass of red wine.

This holiday season, City Vino suggests you make a "dreamy" gift box of red wines from South America that will allow you to sit inside in the warmth for many a winter day. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus! Your gift box could include bottles of three different red varietal wines - Carménère, Shiraz, and Malbec - so there should be something to satisfy the palate of every red wine drinker.

Two of our "dreamy red" wines are from the Viña Cantaluna Winery located in Chimbarongo City in the Colchagua Valley in Chile. The winery was created by a group of friends who have owned vineyards through the best regions in the country. They formed their own society whereby they could bring together all of their winegrowing, winemaking, and business knowledge into a single winery. Their goal is to produce high quality wines that are both approachable and affordable.

The first "dreamy red" wine is 2012 Viña Cantaluna Carménère Reserva, from the Colchagua Valley, in Chile, is made from 100 percent Carménère. The wine is indeed a 2012 vintage, and will be best served after about 45 minutes in a decanter to allow it to open up (breathe). Carménère's roots are in Bordeaux, but its notoriety comes from Chile. Despite its age, the wine shows aromas and flavors of ripe red fruit, leather, black pepper, earth, smoke, herbs, and some vegetal notes like tomato leaf. The wine truly shows some of the complexities that comes with a wine

that has aged. For pairings, we suggest playing off the vegetal notes by having it with pepper-based BBQ, stuffed green peppers, and grilled meat with a side of dark leafy green-especially if sauteed in smoky bacon.

Our next "dreamy red" wine is the 2014 Viña Cantaluna Shiraz, from the same winery as the Carménère, and is also from the Colchagua Valley. The wine is 100 percent Shiraz (Syrah). This fullbodied wine features aromas and flavors of black and red fruit, black pepper, leather, and smoke. Only 5 percent of the wine was aged in new oak, so the fruit and other flavors are not dominated by oak characteristics like vanilla, coconut, nuttiness, or caramel. This is a wine that will shine with roasted beef, lamb, or poultry.

The final wine of "dreamy red" wines is the 2015 Marco Zunio CasaZur Reserve Malbec , from Mendoza, in Argentina. This is another varietal wine, and is made from 100 percent Malbec. The aroma features that soft characteristic tone of violets that is often detected in wines made from Malbec, along with dark fruit, cocoa powder, and earth. For this wine, we suggest playing off the earthy flavors by pairing it with dishes featuring mushrooms, game meats, blue cheese, or funky, rich cow or goat's milk cheeses.

Right now, we are definitely dreaming of a burger topped with sauteed mushrooms and Swiss cheese, paired with one of these red wines. Oh Santa, we've been very, very good. Honest!

Thursday

December 1

Window Wonderland in downtown. Find Clues & win prizes. Ends Dec 31

Live Music, Acoustic Onion, Coloniall Tavern, 6-9p, 406 Lafayette Blvd

First Friday December 2

Merry Tree Exhibit FAM's gallery spaces filled with miniature trees decorated by second-grade students at Hugh Mercer and Lafayette Elementary Schools. Each tree is inspired by a children's book the students have read display thru Dec 29th

UMW Holiday Concert, Dodd Aud, 7:30p

First Friday Holiday Market at Hurkamp Park , 4-9p Join us for some holiday shopping during FXBG First Friday and Sip N Stroll!

"Deck the Walls" All Member Show, Brush Strokes Gallery opening reception, 5-9p, 824 Caroline St

Holiday Show, "Give the Gift of At", & "Cold of Winter" juried exhibit, FCCA, 813 Sophia St

Holiday Craft Fair Get your Holiday shopping done at the Fxbg Expo Center! Show thru sunday

Rising Sun Tavern Christmas Open House, Tour this historic property, free of charge, beautifully decorated for the season and vibrant with holiday activity. Taste seasonal treats and beverages, see live vignettes of Tavern life, and enjoy the period music! This FREE event is Washington Heritage Museums' gift to a supportive community and we welcome your friends and family! 5:30-8:30p

Stafford County Tree Lighting, Welcome the holiday season food, Music, Shopping, Geo Gordon Govt Center, 1300 Courthouse Rd

A Christmas Carol , Stage Door Productions, 8pm, , 810 Caroline St

Karaoke Night, Amy's Cafe by the Falmouth Bridge, 8p

Live Music, Jake Flemming, Colonial Tavern, 406 Lafayette Blvd

Live Music Karen Jonas 6b&g, 7p

Saturday December 3

Mistletoe Market, 9a-1p, Dorothy Hart Community Center

Spotsy Farmer Market, Spotsy Farmers Market 8am - 1pm 12150 Gordon Rd

Fredericksburg Symphony Orchestra - Holiday Pops Concert performs a mix of classic carols and modern arrangements. special surprises for the little ones. with singalongs and a visit from Santa Claus!,:730pm Lifepoint Auditorium

Live Music Center Pointe at Colonial Tavern, 8-11p 406 Lafayette Blvd

Live Music, Latin Night with DJ Elle Jay at Curitaba Art Cafe, 6p 919 Caroline St

37th Rotary Annual Pancake Feast FXBG Baptist Church, 1018 Caroline Street., 8a-5p

Trail Work & Celebration day for trial work, food and fun! .

Annual Christmas Parade join us on Caroline St, 5:30p

Darbytown Art Studio Christmas Open House 11a--4p

Live Music 3 Exits to Memphis, Adventure Brewing North, 7-9p

Live Music, Center Point, Colonial Tavern, 406 Lafayette Blvd

Winter Wine Festival, FXBG Fairgrounds, 11am-4pm

Sunday December 4

Sunday Brunch at the Colonial Tavern 11:30-3p

Sunday Brunch Sunken Well Tavern, 720 Littlepage, til 1p

Canal Quarter Arts Christmas Open House ~ 11-3

Holiday Open House, Mary Washington House in the spirit of an 18thcentury Christmas. Shop for unique gifts in the museum store while sipping hot cider and sampling Mary Washington's famous gingerbread. 1200 Charles St

Wednesday December 7

Lloyd F. Moss Free Clinic 4th Benefit Art Sale Begins at Sammy T's .more than 35 local artists participating Sale continues thru end of Jan 2023

Holiday Estate Jewelry Event, a large unique inventory for two days only. Vintage jewelry from all time periods, Crown Jewelers, 200 William St

US Airforce Heritage of America Bands, "Holiday Traditions", concert featuring music traditions of the holidays. James Monroe HS, 7-8:30 p

Trivia Night, Sunken Well at 6:30pm Match 720 Littlepage

Jeopardy nights at Adventure Eagle Village 7:30 pm.

Live Music Big Rob@6B&g, 7p

Thursday December 8

Tinsel Town Holiday Craft Market, local artists, complimentary hors d'oerves, drink specials, Sunken well Tavern, 5-9p, 720 Littlepage st

Hand-Made Holidays, Repurpose recycled items to create festive holiday decorations! Bring your creative ideas to life as you use all manner of craft and upcycle materials , Dorothy Hart Community Center, 4:30-6p

Live Music Chromatic Static , FXBG Food CoOP, 6-7:30p, 320 Emancipation Hwy

Friday Decemmber 9

Annual HFFI Candlelight Tour, College Heights Neighboorhood, 1-4p

Polar Express Movie Night, Rocky Ru full of crafts, games and best of all Live Music Highmark Brewery, Shree

Live Music Acoustic Onion @6B&G,

Annual open house featuring James played on the harp and the Monroe with holiday beverages and treats.

Live Music Karen Jonas Trio, Advent

Saturday,

December 10

FAMfaire: KrisKringlMarkt, traditio vendors selling traditional crafts and

Annual HFFI Candlelight Tour, Colle Spotsy Farmer Market, 8am - 1pm

Silver Collection Winter Holiday M businesses selling unique products.

"Once Upon A December" Chamber 2pm and 7pm FXBG Baptist Churc familiar carols, holiday favorites, an

Rappahannock Model Railroaders featuring: Operating Layouts, train Eagles Lodge, 21 Cool Springs Road,

Christmas by Campfire, live Christm a campfire. Bring your friends, kids, cheer! , 6-9p, Highmark Brewery 39

Live Music, KC's Music Alley at Cen getting together with bands both lo BRING A TOY! Featuring: Crania Word(NC punk rock) Terminate , 3p

Live Music The Cold North, Adventu

Live Music Storming Norman , Billik Sunday, December 11 Annual HFFI Candlelight Tour, Colle

Sunday Brunch Sunken Well Tavern,

Rappahannock Model Railroaders An Lodge, 21 Cool Springs Road, More

PhotoWalk: Merry Decor in Old Town FXBG photograph the Christmas a lights and dressed shop windows m you see what I see? It's fun to s photograph when we're out togethe HOPpy Holiday Pop Up Series shop f Brewery , 11-3P

DAR of events

un Elem School, a free family. night watch the movie , 95 Reservoir Rd e & James acostic rock, 7p

& Elizabeth Monroe, seasonal music family's Astor pianoforte, reception 5p, 908 Charles St

ture Brewing North, 7-9p

onal German markets will include d food. 11a-7p,m Market Square

ege Heights Neighboorhood, 10a-5p 12150 Gordon Rd

arket - FREE ENTRY - Local small10a - 2p 1201 Ashford Circle

Chorale of FXBG Holiday Concert h, 1019 Princess Anne St. features nd some amazing choral pieces

s Annual Christmas Train Show n vendors, kids activities 9am-5pm info. at www.rmrailroaders.com

mas music and story readings around camping chairs, & some Christmas 90 Kings Hwy

ntral Park, For the sixth year, we're ocal and outta state for this shindig. al Damage(NJ thrash/death) Safe pm

ure Brewing North, 7-9p7-10p ken's Smokehouse, 623 Caroline St,

ege Heights Neighboorhood, 10a-4p , 720 Littlepage, til 1p

nnual Christmas Train Show Eagles info. at www.rmrailroaders.com

n FXBG, Let's walk around Old Town and other holiday decor. Twinkling make the downtown area cheery. Do see what other people notice and er. Meet at Italian Station, 4-7pm for all of the holiday gifts! Highmark

Tuesday December 13

Stars can tell us stories! Take a journey into the night sky as we gather at Motts Run Reservoir with the Rappahannock Astronomy Club to watch the stars and learn about planets and the moon. 11p

Wednesday December 14

Live Music Courtyard Marriott FXBG, Chromatic Static, 6-9p, 620 Caroline St

Trivia Night, Sunken Well at 6:30pm Match 720 Littlepage Jeopardy nights at Adventure Eagle Village 7:30 pm.

Thursday December 15

Trivia Night Holiday Edition, Strageways Brewery , 6:45p, 350 Landsdowne Rd

Friday December 16

Live Music Hard Times Cafe, 10760 Plank Rd, From Ashes to New, 7:30o

Live Music Bailey Hayes, Adventure Brewing North, 7-9p

Saturday December 17

Stafford Christmas Parade, 1 Geico Blvd, 3pm

Spotsy Farmer Market, Spotsy Farmers Market 8am - 1pm 12150 Gordon Rd

Come and enjoy the magic of "The Nutcracker" from the areas longest running Ballet Company. Tickets may be purchased at Fxbg Ballet Company. James Monroe HS, 2p

Live Music, Wyatt Michaels, sings great Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Nat "King" Cole tunes, Amy's Cafe under the Falmouth Bridge, 7-8:30p

Live Music Mark Vollten & The Scenic Roots, Adventure Brewing North, 7-9p

Suday December 18 Hanukkah Begins

Come and enjoy the magic of "The Nutcracker" from the areas longest running Ballet Company. Tickets may be purchased at Fxbg Ballet Company. James Monroe HS, 2p

Sunday Brunch Sunken Well Tavern, 720 Littlepage, til 1p

Wednesday December 21 First Day of Winter

Winter Solstice Night Hike Motts Run Reservior, Participants will take a night hike on one of the trails (less than a mile) and afterwards enjoy hot cocoa by the campfire

Trivia Night, Sunken Well at 6:30pm Match 720 Littlepage Jeopardy nights at Adventure Eagle Village 7:30 pm.

Thursday December 22

FXBG Blues Society, Colonial Tavern, 7pm, 406b Lafayette Blvd

Friday December 23

Live Music A great night for great bluegrass! The California Ramblers will be playing from 8-12. Open to Eagles members and guests who are with a member , 8p

Saturday December 24 Christmas Eve

Christmas Spotwood Baptist Church , 3p Candlelight Christmas Eve Service, Riverside Forst Church of God, 5:30p, 3461 Fall HillAve

Festive Holy Eucharist and Christmas Pagent, 4-5p, St. George Episcopal Church, Princess Anne St

Festive Holy Eucharist, Music begins at 10:30p, St, George Church, Princess Anne St

Sunday December 25 Ho, Ho, Ho. Hope Santa was good to you!

Monday December 26 Kwanza Begins

Wednesday December 28

Trivia Night, Sunken Well at 6:30pm Match 720 Littlepage Jeopardy nights at Adventure Eagle Village 7:30 pm.

Thursday December 29

UnFamily Feud @ Adventure North, 8- 10pm, 33 Perchwood Dr #101, Join us for the ultimate unfamily friendly fun! (ADULT humor)

Friday December 30

Karaoke Night Amy's Cafe by the Famouth Bridge, 8p

Saturday December 31 New Year’s Eve....ring in 2023!

New Year;s Eve Celebration at FXBG Square, food, music Elby Brass, midnight Champagne toast, 8p to 1:30a

New Year's Eve Roaring 20's Dace 8p-12:30a, Picker's Supply, 902 Caroline St,

If you are reading this 305th issue of FPF, thank an advertiser in our 26th year of continuous publication!

List your events email frntprch@aol com: subject Calendar Deadline for January 2023 issue is December 19th

Helping homeless children and families in City of Fredericksburg, Counties of Caroline, Stafford & Spotsylvania 540 371 0831

history’s stories

Christmas 1950 ' s

By Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks

Imagine a world without I-phones, computers, and some neighbors without a TV or even an automobile. If your home had a telephone you had to share the line with at least three neighbors, who could listen in on your calls (Party Line). This may sound like ancient history; however, this was my life growing up in the 1950's. Christmas was and is still my favorite time of the year as was July 4th and Thanksgiving.

The Christmas season was much different than it is now. You did not see any Christmas decorations in the stores until after the Thanksgiving holiday. Unlike today when all the stores have Christmas decorations up weeks before Thanksgiving. The city even has the decorations up in advance of Thanksgiving. The hours of operation have seen many changes as most stores closed at 6PM daily and were closed on Sunday.

For families, Christmas was a special time for family gatherings, I remember some family members coming into the RF&P train station or Greyhound bus station instead of arriving by automobile. Christmas cards were different in that they would include a handwritten message from the friends and relatives as written communication was a common means of staying connected about family events. Several days before Christmas we would all go to Montgomery Wards to see Santa and request those unique gifts. I remember my dad getting his axe and taking me into the woods looking for running cedar, holly, and that special tree to decorate close to Christmas eve. Those long-ago aromas of the tree and burning fireplace logs still linger in my mind. We would visit relatives in Fredericksburg and enjoy the Piano music with everyone singing Christmas carols. I remember the bubble lights and the large tree with silver tinsel on it with many of the special ornaments that I had made at school. My Grandmother made her special Eggnog for the adults and a special

We did have a new invention called a Television that has a small screen, which had very few shows and not much about Christmas. Oh, I still remember the "FRUIT" cake, the one food for Christmas that was not my favorite.

I can still recall "Christmas Eve," with sighting of Santa peeping in the windows, with Mom saying, "time for bed Santa is close." I had told Santa that I wanted a bicycle, Daisy air rifle, punching bag, erector set and other things. Back in those days you may get just a few gifts, unlike today when Santa's sled turned over in your yard.

Off to bed I went listening for the bells, I often heard a HO! HO! HO! which did sound like it came from the bathroom. I was always up early Christmas morning, Mom and Dad would be there smiling. Mom would always remind me that it was Jesus' birthday, and I could open my presents, I would wonder how Santa could wrap the presents so nice.

My first present was the erector set, then the punching bag and Daisy rifle. Then there was a View-MMaster and then the "Huffy" bicycle with a horn and light. I remember a few days later I added the motor, which was a playing card attached to the fender with a clothes pin.

Christmas Day, we had a big meal similar to Thanksgiving. I remember that the Milkman came on Christmas day and before he left Dad gave him an envelope. The milkman left with a smile and said " MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL"

Anne & I wish you a Merry Christmas & Happy 2023

Dedicated to: Doc Thompson,Tommy Rose, Johnny Johnsonon, Gary Leitch, C M Williams, Pauline Jett, Doris Coble

History in OurBackyard

Civilians in the Crossfire

By tim talbott

During the evening of May 2, 1863, Gen Thomas J "Stonewall" Jackson unleashed a 28,000-soldier strong flanking force on the unprepared Eleventh Corps of the Army of the Potomac just west of Chancellorsville. Among the farms and homes that stood in the path of the assault was that of the Hawkins and Downer family Their house stood about onequarter mile northwest of Wilderness Church.

On the day of the battle, Pvt Jeremiah Tate, 5th Alabama Infantry, along with others in his brigade spilled across fields and woods in their route of march. Tate wrote home to his sister about a week after the battle telling his experience. Spelling in a phonetic manner, Tate explained that Jackson "gave orders to move forward and attact the enemy." Marching east for about a fourth of a mile, "we cum in contact with the enemys Picketts the firing comenst, volla [volley] after volla of musketry was pourd in to them, whitch soon put them to flight," Tate wrote. Tate's brigade maneuvered through a portion of what was locally called "The Wilderness," and which Tate referred to as "the roughfest woods I ever saw."

Part the rough woods that Pvt. Tate maneuvered through likely belonged to the Hawkins and Downers. "Harkness," the family house, probably built in the early 1850s, by James Hawkins housed Thomas Downer, Martha (Hawkins) Downer, Sarah Downer, and Huldah Hawkin s when the 1860 census was recorded. James and Frances Hawkins, the parents of the large Hawkins clan do not appear in the 1860 census. However, by the time of the battle, additional family lived in the home including Alxander Hawkins and several of his sisters. Apparently, a number of refugee neighbors were also at the house. It is not known if the seven enslaved people, who Thomas Downer owned in 1860, were still there at the time of the battle or not.

On May 1, Harkness became the headquarters of Maj Gen Carl Schurz, who commanded the Third Division of the Eleventh Corps. Apparently the Hawkins and Downer clan gave up a couple of rooms to accommodate what were probably unwelcome Union officer guests. Witnessing the attack on May 3, Alexander Hawkins remembered years later that "as I stood in the door of my house, my old

company [G, 47th Virginia Inf.] came rushing across my garden." The 47th Virginia, a regiment in Gen Henry Heth's brigade, were among those making up the third line of the attack. Hawkins, who had received an earlier discharge from Confederate service, grabbed a rifle and rejoined his old comrades.

As civilians, the Hawkins and Downers tried to go about their lives as much as possible with the Union army camping on their land. When the attack occurred, Alex Hawkins explained that Hulda Hawkins, yelled "Here they come!" The civilians hurried to the cellar of the house for protection while the first two lines of Jackson's force flowed over their property and around their house. Capt Wayland Fuller Dunaway, who also served in the 47th Virginia remembered later in his memoir that, "On the way we crossed a little farm, and as I passed the dwelling I saw several ladies who were wildly rejoicing."

Just west of where the Hawkins/Downer house once stood, CVBT acquired over five acres in 1998 to prevent development on this part of the battlefield. The following year CVBT conveyed the property to the National Park Service for inclusion to the Fredericksburg-Spotsylvania National Military Park.

Tim Talbott is the Chief Administrative Officer Central Virginia Battlefields Trust

photo courtesy of the Library of Congress and shows women from the Hawkins family in 1866

mixture for us children. Mom would always have a special Yule log

Tuffy is Front Porch’s Resident Historian

By the 1970s, outlying shopping centers such as Park and Shop and Greenbrier beckoned retailers and shoppers away from downtown. (Sears was the last to leave for the Spotsylvania Mall in 1980.) During the Bicentennial, many of the downtown commercial buildings and residences were shuttered. Shrewd developers razed obsolete and vacant structures, while the city chose to remove large chunks of buildings in the 700 blocks of Caroline and Princess Anne streets. In their steads rose the Public Service Building (1972), the Executive Plaza Building (1974), and the United States

I love to stroll and window-shop along the city's sidewalks among the mix of architectural styles. Lately, however, I've become more curious about the midtwentieth century architecture that is abundant but not as well understood. Last month, Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc., offered a walking tour that featured buildings built between 1953 and 1979

Myriad themes influenced the physical appearance of Fredericksburg's mid-ccentury commercial architecture. Eyecatching architectural elements and signs were designed to attract passing automobile drivers. And Fredericksburg was not immune from the competition for square footage in the prime shopping areas, namely Caroline and William streets. Within a decade of the opening of the U.S. 1 Bypass in July 1946, downtown merchants were losing both tenants and customers as an increasingly mobile population ventured into outlying counties. As part of a last gasp effort, City Council members and the business

community actively sought out the chain stores to keep people downtown as did chain operators eager to keep or expand footholds in not-yet-saturated markets.

National chains such as W. T. Grant, F.W. Woolworth, and Leggett, as well as local owners of downtown buildings, capitalized on consumers' pentup demands. Many of the new buildings were erected in the "colonial manner," exhibiting familiar features such as Flemish brick bond and slate covered roofs, while first-floor facades sported large expanses of plate glass windows secured with steel or aluminum frames to reveal abundant displays of goods and fashions For additional attention, F.W. Woolworth's architects added Neo Georgian style details with stone quoins, a cupola, and urns to their new variety store at the prominent corner of Caroline and William streets. Around the corner, up William Street, owners of the buildings that now house Raven Hi-FFi and the Jewel Box renovated their storefronts to exemplify modern storefront styles

Post Office (1979) The styles of the latter two steadfastly rejected the comfortable Colonial Revival style and jumped headlong into "brutalism," a style that emphasized raw materials that exuded texture.

By helen ross

Mid-ccentury commercial buildings reflect American's unfettered thirst for new technology and materials. It is hoped that community members as well as preservation professionals come to recognize and appreciate these lesserknown buildings as important harbingers of change.

Helen Ross is an architectural historian with the Virginia Department of Transportation and a member of the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation Board of Directors.

Woolworth photo of the Harrisonburg Historical Society

Postoffice photo courtesy of the Virginia Department of Human Resources

US Post Office, AKA Samual E Perry Building

W Woolworth Store, early 1960’s

Mental Health

By katy parker

Last summer, I completed a 10mile sponsored walk to raise money for the hospital that cared for me after my accident. By the end of the day, I realized I'd walked almost 16 miles.

It was a remarkable achievement, given that nine months earlier, I couldn't walk at all. I was crossing the street, a van hit me, and I ended up in the hospital with a fractured back.

A week after the accident, I started experiencing distressing flashbacks. As I looked out of my hospital room window and saw the ambulances and traffic below me, memories of my own trauma resurfaced. After conversations with my care team that reassured me that professional intervention would be the option for me, I was ready to reach out for help. Six weeks later, I was diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental health condition that can develop after a traumatic event.

As I embarked on the long road to recovery, walking became the key to my physical and emotional well-being.

Recovery Was Challenging, Both Physically And Mentally

After two days in the hospital, the doctors tried to get me moving. I was thrilled when I took my first few steps. Before my accident, I had been an "outdoorsy" and physically active person, so my limited mobility was an adjustment. During physiotherapy, I practiced walking with a frame and later with crutches.

While the physical recovery was difficult, it served as a reminder about the importance of movement. Walking during my physical therapy sessions helped ease my lower back pain and gave me an activity to focus on during a time of uncertainty.

While I slowly regained movement, I struggled with my mental and emotional recovery. While I was once an avid traveller, I suddenly found myself scared to leave the safety of the hospital ward. But I wanted my life back.

After almost two weeks in the hospital, I returned home, light-headed from my medication. I managed to walk upstairs to my bedroom, but I spent a week there before I was able to walk back down. That's when I knew I needed to get up and start moving to help my recovery.

Walking Became A Source Of Healing And Joy

After my first short walk around our house, my walks became a regular activity. With my husband as my companion, I walked around slowly, still with crutches - and I started to be more observant. I began noticing my surroundings in a way I never had before. I admired the vibrant flowers and trees as we walked in parks and gardens. Once I no longer needed my crutches, we went for longer walks through the forest or on the beach. These outings gave me chance to truly stop and admire the beauty around me. It helped me to find joy in every day, in the simplest things around me.

A few months into my recovery, I went for a short walk by myself. On my own, I noticed how dependent I had become on my husband since the accident; he had always been there when I needed emotional or physical support during my recovery. While I appreciated his care, I yearned for the independence I lost after my accident. I wanted to be able to trust myself again.

So, I began taking solo walks in which I was fully responsible for my own well-being. This step assisted me in slowly restoring my independence, trust and sense of self.

Walking Has Proven Mental Health Benefits

The mental progress I made during my walks shouldn't come as a surprise; walking releases endorphins, chemicals in our brain that stimulate relaxation and improve our mood. Additionally, research shows that physical activities can help to reduce the severity of PTSD symptoms. And walking certainly achieves this for me.

While high-intensity physical activities can cause shortness of breath and increased heart rate, which can be difficult for those of us living with PTSD symptoms, walking is an ideal form of movement. It's exercise that you can tailor to your desired intensity level, whether you want a leisurely stroll or a power walk up a hill. It also promotes mindfulness, particularly if you are walking in nature.

Walking Has Become My Self-CCare Practice Walking helps me be present, to enjoy that moment of my life. As my thoughts start to wander, a sudden tooting of a car horn or the sound of the ambulance siren still triggers me to relive the trauma - but then I look for the beauty around me. I take deep breaths of fresh air and focus on my surroundings. I zero in on things I can see, hear or smell. Walking on the beach, I like to take my shoes off and walk barefoot and feel the

sand on my feet. It helps me to intensify my senses and see again how beautiful this world can be. For a few minutes, I can forget about my fear or pain.

Walking has also allowed me to slow my mind and ground myself. It helps me to keep my body, mind and spirit in a healthy balance. During my recovery, in the time of the pandemic, they were often the highlight of my day. Of course, on some days, it can be harder to bring myself to go for a walk, but I know that I'm doing it for my general well-being.

Naturally, I can experience anxiety and remain super vigilant while crossing a road, but now I know how to handle the stress. I still have some way to go to get to where I was before the accident. However, I know that I'm walking in the right direction. After all, difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. And I'm already thinking about my next walking challenge.

Katy Parker is a mental health advocate and writer She has worked hard to overcome her trauma, and she writes about her experiences to help others in similar situations. She continues to share her journey on her personal blog

To learn more about NAMI programs, visit Website namirapp com

sentimentality

By Patrick Neustatter, MD

My apologies for bringing you a Grinchean message at this time of joy and goodwill, but it's the season when the shops will be pervaded by the cloying smell of cinnamon and potpourri. Someone will be crooning about being home for Christmas, their chestnuts roasting on an open fire and red nosed reindeers. We will be pervaded with images of angels, baby Jesus, fat men in red suits, reindeer, sleighs, and snow scenes (these even in Australia where I once spent a sweltering Christmas).

My wife Paula will make me, yet again, watch It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street and Home Alone - while she nods off at the other end of the couch.

It is a time for unbridled kitsch and maudlin sentimentality.

Though I'm not sure why I say "will" as this whole heartstring plucking circus is under way already - usually well before Halloween.

Toxic Sentimentality

Attribute my curmudgeonly and this facetious take on a British "bahhumbug" view of "The Season of Goodwill. " To that "stiff-upper-lip" discomfort for showing emotion.

It's not just me that has a problem with sentimentality mind. Insight for Living blog talks scathingly about "exaggerated and self-indulgent feelings of tenderness, sadness, and nostalgia."

Healthline notes sentimentality and these exaggerated emotions can be a symptom of depression, anxiety, bipolar and personality disorder Or The Vancouver Sun says excessive sweetness is a defense reaction and a bulwark against acknowledging more painful emotions, particularly anger, shame, or grief.

Sentimentality doesn't seem to make for nicer people either - Hitler and Mussolini, who of course visited so much suffering on so many, were noted to be moved to tears by anything the slightest bit sentimental,

Fervent patriotism is often an accompanying emotion to sentimentality also. British psychiatrist Anthony Malcolm Daniels - who writes under the pen name Theodore Dalrymple - and who chastises modern society for the epidemic of criminality, domestic violence, drug addiction, hooliganism, and broken families, claims in his book Spoilt Rotten: The Toxic Cult of Sentimentality that we

use "spasms of self-righteousness" to cover up a lack of a moral compass.

The Reality and The Redemption

I'm tempted to point out a homeless couple delivering a baby in a barn wouldn't normally warrant the warm fuzzies and feelings of rapture. And wouldn't be helped much by gifts of frankincense and myrrh (the gold might be a different matter).

Or how that sparkling magical shroud of snow that is so enticing in the imagery will quickly turn to vile slush (I spent a winter in New York city once, navigating piles of filthy slush blocking every sidewalk). Or maybe, like last January, it will close I-95?

But, OK. Enough of my curmudgeonly view of the sentimentality of Christmas - though it is notable that the other holidays that share this time of year - Hanukkah, Kwanza, New Year/Hogmanay, or the winter solstice are associated with less sentimentalized.

What I remember and what gives the warm fuzzies was not the smells, cheesy songs, the movies or imagery, but memories of going with my sister and our psychiatrist father to do rounds and spread good cheer amongst the patients at the local mental hospital where he was on staff. Coming home to my mother and "old faggot" friend Anne, tipsy from tippling on the sherry while cooking turkey and Christmas pudding for a congenial family feast.

That's what makes me sentimental.

Patrick Neustatter, MD is the Medical Director of the Moss Free Clinic

Art & Community

Artists Draw Support For Healthcare

By Lou Gramann

at her Canal Quarter studio three years ago. As she paints she recalls her art training in Ukraine. She is "recovering" those lessons and techniques, she says, while "discovering " new ways of expression.

In this season of sharing, more than 35 local artists want to share good health with the patients at Lloyd F Moss Free Clinic via the 4th Benefit Art Sale at Sammy T's Restaurant

The show runs from December 7th through the end of January. Buyers can choose holiday gifts and immediately take home paintings, prints, photographs or textiles, with 100% of the price going directly to the Clinic. Each $1 raised translates to $15 of care.

The show strives for variety. Artist Karen Bane specializes in delicate watercolors of birds. Unless, she smiles, whimsey takes over her thoughts to produce a cat that dreams of eating those very birds. Bane is a new artist at Canal Quarter Arts but not a newcomer to Fredericksburg. She owned the Silver Spidergift shop on Caroline Street before retiring to South Carolina five years ago. Now back in town, Bane notes that "artists often just have to paint," so donations give her efforts an outlet.

Marina Eastman enjoys painting local scenes like Curtis Park. She donates because she hopes that "everybody will have access to healthcare, and to have health - equally." Eastman began painting

Eastman adds that she is grateful for the community support evident at the October fxbg4Ukraine fundraiser at the library. (Front Porch, September 2022) The turnout overwhelmed her, and she met so many people who care about her home country. Those funds are already helping relief groups currently active in Ukraine.

Chuck Fromer at LibertyTown Arts Workshop is a four-time contributor and talks about his painting of the Ferry Farm replica home. He finds that reading history gives him more context when painting Fredericksburg landmarks, and refers to George Washington's early years with his mother on the farm. Mary Washington managed Ferry Farm after her husband's death, and life was not as idyllic as modern paintings suggest. They lived in the midst of "all the hubbub at the ferry landing," Fromer says sympathetically, "sometimes with strangers walking around in their house."

Also at LibertyTown, Bill Harris encourages participation in the benefit shows, hangs the show, and provides invaluable advice. He is a crucial part of the team producing the events. Mary Szymanski, Joann Berniau and Beatrice Ozols are among his participating students. Ozols' paper mache mask is one of the surprising delights of the event.

Artists from Brush Strokes Gallery, Darbytown Arts Studio, Fredericksburg Photography Club, and the Fredericksburg Spinners and Weavers all contribute to these benefit shows. Some of the artists mention friends or family who found help at the Clinic, so they feel a personal connection to its mission.

people, and more volunteers are needed. Andrea SpringerCollins is the Volunteer Coordinator for anyone with medical or non-medical skills.

" The decision to volunteer requires a heart for service," she declares by email. "The Lloyd F. Moss Free Clinic needs licensed volunteer providers (specifically PA, MD, NP, DDS, RDH, Pharm D/RPH's) to help increase patient access to our medical services."

Springer Collins is grateful that local artists can draw support for the work of the Clinic.

Like many contributors, Wayne Russell of Art First is happy to help again. He knows the importance of healthcare and tells of a recent Alzheimer's Walk with his daughter and grandchildren. A deep purple t-shirt echoes his use of intense color and deliberately bold lines.

Moss Free Clinic provides healthcare for uninsured adults (1,171 individuals in 2021), some of whom lost jobs and medical benefits during the COVID pandemic. A quick check at mossfreeclinic.org shows a patient-oriented homepage that begins with "Am I Eligible?"

Professional staff and volunteers together serve an increasing number of

Lou Gramann co-coordinates this project with artist Eileen Carson, and admires all the artists involved.

Lloyd F Moss Free Clinic 4th Benefit Art Sale at Sammy T's Restaurant December 7 thru end of January

"Curtis Memorial Park" by Marina Eastman

"Blue Vase” by Mary Szymanski

"Priscilla's Birds" by Joann Bernieu

"All Eyes" by Karen Bane

Around Town

Window Wonderland

Auto Known Better silent night

By Rim Vining

How hard can this be?

If we all put one foot out and drag it on the ground we should be able to slow things down enough to think clearly. It works on playground equipment even if it does leave you a little dizzy.

We're entering the Christmas season when things are supposed to slow down and we're supposed to become more reflective yet this year I feel like it is all moving so fast we will miss it entirely and end up wondering how it got to be summer again. What ever happened to Silent Night? It seems it has been replaced with the din of air blowers keeping cheap 15 foot plastic Christmas characters and Nativity scenes fully inflated. Where is the Joy to the World in that?

So now my mind is playing tricks on me. I find phrases like "back in my day" or "when I was your age" popping into my brain. Why? If I didn't know better I would think age had something to do with it but how could it since whenever I look in the mirror I see the younger me. Yet here I am waxing nostalgic, irritated that you couldn't buy Halloween candy on Halloween because the retail elves were already half-way through setting up for Christmas and handing out candy canes for trick-or-treat is just wrong.

But I've written a lot of Christmas articles...

Once upon a time I wrote about the slow, silent night of Christmas and the quiet shhhhhh… season. Forget the food, presents or visits with family; it is the quiet that gets me. There is no traffic. There is no noise. Everyone is where they are supposed to be or as close as they will get for the holiday. For a few hours it all stops. There is no reason to make a sound… just listen to the silence.

If you drive old cars or can remember them, you might know this one: the sounds they make when you turn off a hot motor in the winter and it cools down. From under the hood it popped, it snapped, it hissed a little and then made faint little ticks until it finally cooled off. New cars have nothing to say.

And once upon a time I wrote about how Santa is the bravest driver on the planet. He kisses his wife good-bye, says I'll see you when this is over, climbs

aboard a bare-bones stick built sleigh without On-Star or a cell phone and travels the world alone in a single 24 hour night flight. No heated seat. No ear-buds and blue-tooth. No stopping at Starbucks for a latte 'cause there ain't no cup-holder and the line is too long.

Santa is one bad-ass dude. This guy brings joy to all the children in the world in a single night using eight tinyreindeer hopped up on magic dust. I wonder what sounds they make when they get back to the Pole and are cooling down? Pop, snap, hiss, tick… and then silence.

Yet it is the season to be joyful and make a joyful noise to the world. We are supposed to get vocal and be of good cheer! We are supposed to reach out to our fellow man and share good tidings! We've got Scrooge and Tiny Tim, visions of sugar plums and the Island of Misfit Toys! And what is a sugar plum anyway?

So on Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Peugeots and Porches! on, Comets! on, Falcons! parked by your Front Porches!.... "Merry Christmas to all....... autoknown says... goodnight!"

Rim Vining, humorist, friend and a devoted community volunteer

Window Wonderland is an annual tradition in FXBG! Explore downtown and try to solve the over 40 clues located in shop windows.

Pick up entry forms at the FXBG Visitor Center, 706 Caroline St

Contest ends Friday, December 30, Chance to win $1,000 in gift cards

Art in Burg

in December

Caprara's "Rappahannock Peace."

Works that will delight as they convey emotions and attitudes in fauna that we will also recognize in our human counterparts include Lois Baird's "Sweet Kisses" portrait of a young girl and her horse, Nancy Williams' "River's Wise One" that conveys a Blue Heron's knowledge of its environs, and the unbridled romp of Michele Milano's "Running Lions" bronze and amethyst bracelet.

“Treasured Gifts”

Opening Reception First Friday, Dec 2

Brush Strokes Gallery, 824 Caroline St

As folks search for the perfect gifts for friends and family, Brush Strokes Gallery offers a treasure chest of original art that can have special, personal meaning and be cherished by those who receive it. The subject of a work may evoke the emotive quality of a natural scene such as Carol Waite's "Birds & Berries"

Other works convey a familiar scene or site that may have special meaning for both the gift-giver and recipient, such as Mariana Smith's and Penny A Parrish's unique portrayals of our historic Goolrick's Pharmacy, while Norma Woodward's depiction of an abandoned homestead in "Forgotten, Colorado" may elicit an imagined story about the family that once inhabited the land. Other artwork such as Shawn Pilj's "Blue Star Flower" and Stacy Gerise's "Silent Night" convey the spirit of the holidays with their serene blue glow while Taylor Cullar instills a sense of awe in his inspiring composite photograph of the towering Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona.

Collette Caprara

Holiday All Member Show

Opening Reception First Friday, Dec 2, 6-99pm

Artful Dimensions, 922 Caroline The season is upon us, Festivities and gifts.

Something for everyone, To help our spirits lift.

Lots of treasures and ornaments, That sparkle and that shine.

Something for those on my list, And one that will be mine!

~ Sally Cooney Anderson

"All is Calm” All Member Show

Opening Reception, Dec 2 , 6-99pm

range of subjects and seasonal interpretations. Subject matter will include portrait, still-life, landscape, abstraction, and more. Artwork will feature a wide range of media, including acrylic, assemblage, collage, drawing, oil, photography, printmaking, threedimensional objects such as jewelry and sculpture crafted from diverse materials, and watercolor. In addition, there will be a generous range of small works appropriate for holiday gift-giving.

This exhibition will include art displayed by 24 local artists who are active Art First Gallery members and enthusiastic participants in the local art scene of Fredericksburg.

. ~Anne Timpano

Works by Lindy Lynn Canal Quarters

1517 Princess Anne Street

Lindy M. Lynn is a Stafford based artist who works in acrylic and mixed media. She currently pursues art as a hobby, enjoying the relaxation and community it offers. Lindy's work pulls inspiration from automotive and nostalgia themes and her paintings vary in subject matter from junk yard relics to 80's movie icons. Her inspiration began with her first car, a 1974 Plymouth Valiant, and has been fostered by years of attending car shows, cruise-ins, races, track days, and other car culture experiences. Lindy is always willing to lend a hand in the garage, but her preferred tools are paintbrush, canvas, and easel

~Jeannie Ellis

Feature painter Nancy Brittle

The Artists' Alliance

Opening Second Friday, December 9, 5-9 9 pm

100 Taylor St, Suite 101 Colonial Beach Gallery open Sat-SSun, 11a -55p

Sumi-e painting, the joyful glow of Kimberly Zook 's "Wildflowers," the mesmerizing glow of the sun that Seija Martin captures in "Touch of Gold on Tree Tops," and the tranquil mood of Collette

Art First, 824 Caroline ST

The theme for the All-Member "All is Calm" will feature works in all media, celebrating the holiday season with a wide

Nancy relates that the work for this show is a mixture of familiar images that surfaced in memory or caught her eye in passing. Some pieces have been formulating in her mind for a long time. Others, such as the oils of sunflowers, nasturtiums, thistles, Carl's, boats, cats and dogs were spontaneous works of the moment when she saw something that interested her. Show runs thru January 8 .~ Rob Rudick

Gary Close “Fullness of Joy@ Art First

Eight Points , Robyn Ryan

Autum Hues ,Beverley Coates

Sunrise Princess Anne St , Lynn Abbott

Penny A Parrish, “Goolricks” @Brushstrokes

@Artful Dimensions

Nancy Brittle “Sunflowers” @Artists’ Alliance

Lindy Lynn@ Canal Quarters

Surprise! Right in the heart of downtown Fredericksburg, at 810 Caroline Street, hidden away on the fourth floor is a new Community Theater which features live plays, musicals, and educational workshops among many other events for folks looking to be entertained.

The Allstate Community Theater of Fredericksburg was a GIFT to the community from the Manfredi Insurance Family Agencies Ray Manfredi, once a child actor and now a theater supporter, and his wife Catherine have devoted a sizable portion of their community funding efforts to building a shared facility that would support the arts in downtown Fredericksburg.

The Manfredi's who operate insurance agencies for Allstate Insurance headquartered out of Springfield along with their son Thomas who represents

140 different Insurance Carriers out if an Independent Agency in Stafford, partnered with the oldest non-profit community theater group, Stage Door Productions Inc , to manage the facility, and to create content that was both family friendly and at times a little edgy.

The theatre incorporates a 6,000 square foot facility which features multilevel audience seating for up to 200, a 45foot wide black box stage along with concessions, bar, lounge, a smaller children's theater, dance studio, and three rehearsal areas as well as separate dressing rooms and a green room for performers.

The project, which started one week before the pandemic closed down the theater industry, is still undergoing its final stages, was created to provide shared facilities for multiple arts and entertainment groups, like Stage Door Productions, The Fredericksburg Improv Team, Fredericksburg Theatre Ensemble,

Allstate Community Theater bY

Lyndon Lansdowne

The Fredericksburg Institute for Performing Arts, and Keep Your Heart Ministries, all of whom share the space along with other groups.

Over $70,000 was invested in professional sound and lighting equipment to provide audiences with a taste of Broadway, while in Downtown Fredericksburg. Also included is an 18foot screen, where cult classics like Rocky Horror Picture Show, Little Shop of Horrors, The Goonies, Casablanca, Beetle Juice, and other films are presented to audiences, often with a live shadow cast performing the scenes in unison.

Part of the community effort this facility is fostering, involves the partnership with The Fredericksburg Institute for Performing Arts , which provides educational workshops for both young and old, in all aspects of the performing arts. In 2023 students will be presenting live productions of Cats-The Musical, A Wrinkle in Time, and Annie Jr.

On any given weekend, patrons can see a live performance of an awardwinning play musical, or maybe a youth production of a family favorite in addition to some late night entertainment like Improvisational Comedy, performed by Fredericksburg's Only Improv Team, or enjoy a late night of Karaoke or a fun Voices and Vines Cabaret Event.

December Audiences can come out through the 18th and see a live presentation of Charles Dicken's classic

tale, A Christmas Carol, starring Richard Hamilton of ABC's All My Children. Families will enjoy this large-scale production, with 30 cast members, special effects, and a story true to Dicken's original novella.

The 2023 Season is already looking exciting, with Merry Wives of Windsor, Steel Magnolias, SpongeBob SquarePants - Musical, Clue, and Singing in the Rain, already slated for the stage, with about seven other more edgy

productions awaiting the securing of rights. Tickets to all these shows will come available online in January.

If you have a non-profit entertainment group looking for a venue to use, you could reach out to the primary benefactor, Ray Manfredi at 703-9718830 or email RayManfredi@Allstate.com. For show times and tickets to events, visit AllstateCommunityTheater.org

Allstate Community Theater of Fredericksburg 810 Caroline St

AllstateCommunityTheater org

Peace on Earth & at Home

empowerhouse makes a positive difference

By nancy kelly

As 2022 winds down, we look forward to 2023, a New Year full of hope, promise and wishes for a peaceful new start.

For many survivors of domestic violence and their children, a peaceful existence feels unattainable. At Empowerhouse, we empower survivors of domestic violence and their children to believe in themselves and build new lives filled with dignity, respect, safety, and hope. We give victims the time, space, and tools to heal their hearts, restore their connections, rebuild their lives, and renew their spirits.

Every year, Empowerhouse's team works with thousands of courageous women, men and children who are longing for safety, support, and peace in their lives. In fiscal year 2022, we helped over 3,700 people in Fredericksburg City and Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania, and Stafford Counties.

We are grateful to you, our incredible community, who enable us to continue our compassionate, life-changing mission to offer much-needed shelter and vital resources to survivors and children

healing from abuse. You help us fulfill our vision to create a diverse network of community members working together to promote safe relationships, homes, and communities.

This summer, when Empowerhouse's Shelter was struck by lightning, which caused a fire, our community stepped up to support us as we cared for survivors and their children in alternate shelter and rebuilt our damaged Shelter. The Shelter provides a safe place to move forward to a better, more peaceful life.

As we look to 2023, we reflect upon Empowerhouse's achievements during the past year:

We responded to 2,012 confidential Hotline calls, an ongoing 32% increase over pre-pandemic times.

We enabled 39 adults and 69 children in our housing program to transition to a more stable environment.

We shared our prevention education materials and information at 183 community events.

We served over 260 people in our

Shelter, over half of whom were children.

We delivered our free, age-appropriate Healthy Relationships Classroom Presentations to over 3,400 area elementary, middle, and high school students, which covered topics like bullying, boundaries, equality and respect, and effective communication.

In short, we made a positive difference to survivors and their children, and shared important prevention resources with our community to help break the cycle of violence.

As we enter 2023 with a sense of excitement and promise, one way you can help end domestic violence is to join Empowerhouse for our fun, annual Empty Bowl event on Saturday, January 28th at Liberty Town Arts Workshop. Every attendee receives a fabulous handmade bowl from a local artist and a treat bag. All

proceeds support survivors of domestic violence. Please go to empowerhouseva.org for more details.

Thank you! May you and your family have the happiest of holidays and a joyful and peaceful New Year!

If you, or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call Empowerhouse's free, confidential 24hour Hotline at (540) 373-9373.

Nancy Kelly is the Development Director of Empowerhouse.

Life Cycles

Lafayette Elementary Mural

by emily taylor

We are excited to announce the recent community mural completed at Lafayette Elementary School in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The mural is a collaboration between Gabriel Pons of PONSHOP and James Monroe High School senior Sophia Pineda (Gabe and Sophia right) . This is the third public mural that Ms. Pineda and Pons have accomplished together since 2021.

Titled "Life Cycles," the 1,240 square foot mural adorns the school's courtyard garden. The inspiration for the artwork came from the mural's location: a garden plot that acts as both a visceral classroom for students to literally get their hands dirty as well as a living diorama showing the lifecycles of the garden throughout the school year. The mural functions as both a landmark art piece as well as an instrument for instruction, prompting students to investigate the elements of the painting and ask questions.

The mural painting began in June of this year and was completed in October. Pons initiated the process by holding workshops with Sophia at his downtown studio. Like any creative endeavor, they brainstormed ideas focusing on the garden theme and created sketches showing the growth of plants from seed to flower. "Life Cycles" is now the largest public mural in the city of Fredericksburg and the mural team's most ambitious to date.

As Gabriel Pons commented "Murals are a great way of community building. We've structured the mural sessions to accommodate a wide range of skill levels and experience working simultaneously. Volunteers ranged from high school students through parents and teachers. The benefit of a large scale project like this is that it prompts participants to work together to create something much bigger than what one can achieve on their own. Sophia has a knack for rallying the people around her

for a project. It's been reassuring to see many of her former teachers join in on this project."

"I love the colors! Gabe is the best mural teacher ever!" says Sophia Pineda:

This project was made possible through the initiatives of Lafayette Elementary teacher, Emily Taylor, the Pineda Family (Sophiola) and Team Bayne/Pineda-CCary Street Partners Special thanks to the all student volunteers that contributed to painting the mural from the hottest days of summer to the coolest days of autumn

Team

PONSHOP

Fredericksburg Schools : Principal Courtney Wheeler, Emily Taylor, Tammy Hancock, Marylise Cobey, Heather Wright, Barbara Brown, and Casey Willging,

Emily Taylor is a Lafayette Elementary Teacher

Come See the “Life Cycles” Mural Lafayette Elementary School

3 Learning Lane, Fredericksburg

Sophiola: Carol and Andre Pineda, Sophia Pineda, Vicky Barrera

Assistants: Jeff Gulick, Dante Jenkins, Kath Loose, Gillian Hoback, Diego and Cairo Pons, Jessica Cox

C o m p a n i o n s

All I want for christmas is.....

by gerri reid, dvm

This Holiday Season children will be making their Christmas list while Mom and Dad will be checking it twice. Christmas is the time of the year that many children don't just want toys. All they want for Christmas is a Puppy or a Kitten! Here are a few tips to help you decide if adding 4 paws to your home is for you and your family

I always tell my clients that when it come to getting a pet, don't just buy the pet for one child or for the children. Because in the end, the parents are going to be taking care of pet. I recommend when considering a new puppy, kitten or any other pet that the adults decide if having a new pet is something they are willing to do. To think a young child is going to wake up and feed the pet or tend to the cage or the litterbox may not be attainable. I suggest to think about the age of the children but decide as a family that we will all contribute to caring for the pet. Young children can come along while walking the pet or your Teenager may be responsible for feeding the pet in the evening. Designating certain duties to each family member will make having a new pet more enjoyable.

How do you surprise the family with the new addition? Maybe the pet is not ready for its new home before Christmas? Maybe you have to pick the pet up after Christmas? Maybe a new pet Christmas Day is too much added excitment. What do you do? No worries! Presenting a new pet to the family can be fun and at times you have to get creative. You can consider giving each child a gift that contains a leash, collar or a dog toy Buy an ornament for the tree that says "Puppy's/Kitten's First Christmas" and tell

everyone that Santa left an ornament on the tree and have them hunt for it. You can always give them a pet photo book and put pictures of the new pet in it. Then you can sit down and try to think of a new name! The ideas are endless. Just be creative and think outside the Christmas box!

Once you have " let the cat out of the bag" about the new arrival, make sure to setup your pet's first Vet visit. You can Facetime your family so they can be a part of the visit and even have the chance to ask the Veterinarian questions. Involving the family in the veterinary care of the pet is important as it teaches them about keeping the pet happy and of course healthy.

Your new pet needs some Christmas gifts under the tree. Head to our Downtown Fredericksburg Pet store, Dog Krazy and grab some yummy treats and toys or order online. The staff there will help you pick out the proper treats or toys appropriate for your pet.

All I want for Christmas is everyone to be safe and to stay healthy. See you next year!

Dr. Gerri S. Reid is the Owner/Veterinarian of Reid Mobile Veterinary Services. 540-623-3029; reidmobilevetservices.com ; facebook eVetServices

Astrology & You

T H E T H E

P O E T R Y M A N P O E T R Y M A N

By Frank Fratoe

Lifeforce Lifeforce

Each one of us is the conflux where rain, air, and fire meet to produce an awareness that we never pale to nothingness because oceans riding within through a floodtide of years bring us the Earth’s renewal when heat and water intermix.

Yes, we are infinitely humble with wonder beyond ourselves offering grandeur everywhere to make us seem bits of dust but then look inward for sea and wind and our eternal sun who tell us and our eternal sun who tell us we are lifeforce which cannot ever pass away.

Frank Fratoe lives & writes in the city.he loves.

“We are born at a given moment in a given place and like vintage years of wine we have the qualities of the year and of the season in which we are born. Astrology does not lay claim to anything else”. -C. G. Jung

As a college student in the 1980s, I was drawn to exploring different ways to understand my life, my purpose here on Earth. I changed my field of study several times and often felt overwhelmed at the need to choose a career path. It was during this time that I had the fortune to meet a professional astrologer. I booked a

match made in the heavens

By Dianne Bachman

reading with her, and she drew up my chart. I left the reading deeply moved at the way she seemed to understand my past and my present. She did not predict my future but helped validate what I already knew and gave me a sense of what I might work toward. I graduated with a Master of Social Work Degree and feel blessed each day with the work I am able to do as a therapist.

After the reading, I told myself that someday I would study astrology in depth, so 25 years later when I was preparing for empty nest, I jumped in with both feet! That was six years ago, and I continue to be blown away with how helpful a birth chart can be within the context of therapy. From depth psychology insights to basic symptom reduction, astrology can be a wonderful resource.

Modern astrology tends to be strength based. Traditional therapy models tend toward a focus on pathology. We diagnose, and the definition of diagnosis is: "the process of identifying and determining the nature of a disease or disorder by its signs and symptoms." In psychology we speak to the personality, the ego. In Astrology we look at the ego as it interacts with the ongoing evolutionary journey of the Soul.

Here are three reasons why I choose to include astrology as part of my professional life:

1) Psychological Astrology is strength-based, dynamic, and hopeful

2) Astrology can be incredibly accurate if incorporated as a conversation in the therapeutic milieu

3) Astrology has been around for about 4900 more years than the field of psychology and incorporates ancient wisdoms, the germ of which have not changed through the eons

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that people should avoid engaging in more traditional approaches. Each person is unique and resonates with various counseling modalities. I am saying that, for me as a therapist, astrology adds depth, profound perspective, and a dynamic vehicle for change.

Now, here is the weekly weather for December:

December 1 thru 7: We start out with strong relationship energies. There can be the opportunity to reflect on family responsibilities and how they fit. How are we different and where would we benefit from being more independent? There is also a heavy Pisces/Neptune vibe this month, so it would be important to do a reality check before making any changes. The pathway forward can be confusing or vague. Toward mid-week, Chiron's conjunction with the Moon can activate the urge to break free from that which binds us a little too tightly!

December 7 brings a full Moon in Gemini. The Sun illuminates the Moon as well as Mars, so there is quite an intensity to our need for knowledge, clarity, and dynamic communication, especially the ability to communicate our unique, personal needs.

December 8 thru 15: The energy to think of or express our needs continues to be present. This is a good week to plan travel (for now or the coming year) if that is something that inspires or excites you. Toward midweek, we may find ourselves daydreaming more or wanting to escape into fantasy. Meditation could take us to new depths BUT staying grounded is also important this week. The planetary energies are a bit watery for a few days.

December 16 thru 23: Jupiter moves into the sign of Aries on December 20, squaring the Sun in Sagittarius, bringing enthusiasm, travel, and a sense of expansiveness to the week. The new Moon in Capricorn on the 23rd invites us to plant the seeds of practicality and structure in our lives. Sun in Capricorn allows us to reflect on our wisdom, building solid foundations.

December 24 to 31: Mercury stations retrograde in the sign of Capricorn on December 29th. What a wonderful opportunity to review your year! Remember, the holidays are meant to be enjoyable. With Mercury in Capricorn, we could feel a bit down or burdened with all the expense and tasks the season brings. So, get a little sunshine each day, reach out to others, and take loving care.

Dianne Bachman is a psychotherapist & astrologer practicing in FXBG. She can be reached at FourwindsastrologyLLC@gmail.com Artwork Mandala by Carl Jung

Fredericksburg

A visual Celebration of our community

By Paula Raudenbush

Hyperion Espresso

I thought the new red awning on Hyperion fit the season even though I sketched this when the weather was still warm. I've sketched in the cold but it's not easy. My fingers don't work well and once I even had my watercolors freeze!

I've sketched the area around Hyperion often because it's a great place to sit and draw but I on this particular day I took my 3-shot Americano across the intersection and sketched the coffee shop itself. The new red awning really spoke to me so I made it the focal point of the sketch.

I've often had folks ask to buy my sketches but I'm reluctant to tear them out of my sketchbooks so, for those of you who are interested, I now have prints of many of my sketches in my studio at Libertytown Arts Workshop (Studio 24).

Meanwhile, cheers and happy holidays however you celebrate!

Paula Raudenbush is an admin for the Fredericksburg Chapter of the Urban Sketchers and maintains a studio in Libertytown Arts Workshop.

GettoKnow Me

b101.5 promotions manager

by Laura LaBelle

I was born in Miami but grew up a little all over. My dad was in the Navy, so we moved a lot. After setting in Fredericksburg in 2003, I started volunteering for the Fredericksburg Rescue Squad and decided to start going to school for Paramedics, working at Mary Washington Hospital in the ER.

I met my husband, Avery, in 2008. Being a Helicopter Mechanic in the Marine Corps, Avery traveled a great deal and once we got married in 2010, I started looking for a job with more flexible hours. Not only because of his intense travel schedule, but because we wanted to start a family.

In 2011 I started working at B101.5 as a PA (Promotions Assistant). In 2012 we welcomed our first child, Lucy. I loved working for the station because I was able to make my own schedule, even working from home and bringing Lucy to work with me.

In 2014 Avery changed his career

path and we moved to Ohio. We lived in Ohio for about 2 years where we welcomed our second child, William in 2016. Avery ended up getting an offer to be a contractor in Virginia doing the same thing he had been doing while he was in the Marine Corps, so we decided to move back home. Before we moved, I reached out to B101.5 to see if they would hire me back and they did! Once I returned, I resumed my old duties and took on a few more responsibilities in the office.

B101.5 was talking about starting a podcast channel and I was asked if I'd be interested in hosting my own show. At the time I was swimming in all things kid related. I was so happy being a mom but found it difficult being a parent. There were so many things to research, plan and adjust to that it seemed impossible. Thus began "The Impossible Job" podcast in 2018. I wanted to create a podcast about parenting that showed how all parents, regardless of who they are or where they are from, all had the same basic goal of not raising jerks. I wanted to reach all different kinds of parents and let them know that even if we were raising our kids differently from each other, it didn't mean it was wrong. Once both of my kids were in school full-time, I was able to take on more responsibilities at B101.5 as the Promotions Manager.

Beside the love I have for working at B101.5, I have a passion to help the homeless in our community, so I volunteer at Micah Ministries . Micah is a wonderful place where people who are living on the street can come take showers, get clean clothing, grab a bagged lunch, get their mail, and learn about other community services. I volunteer as a Journey Member where I help clients get necessary documentation, make appointments, fill out paperwork, or whatever else they might need help with. I really enjoy meeting new people and getting to know all members of our community and I consider it a privilege that these clients trust me to help

them along on their journeys.

I love that working at B101.5 has allowed me the flexibility to be present in all aspects of my life, being a mom, hosting a podcast, and serving my community.

~ Contributed by Mandy Smith

Window Wonderland

“Classic Christmas Monkey”

Photo By Collette Caprara