Front Porch Fredericksburg - January 2015 by Virginia Grogan

YOUR GUIDE TO THE LOCAL GOOD LIFE

front porch T H E R E G I O N ' S free C O M M U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E

L o c a l G o o d N e w s S i n c e 1 9 97 YEAR 18 • ISSUE 210 • JANUARY 2015

Frontporchfredericksburg.com

contents

closeups 8

Peacaloo Boutique’s stefany clare

between abstract & traditional sonja wise

made in fredericksburg .... wm.mason violins

porch talk 4

on the porch...life in fredericksburg Messages

‘Angels in our midst: community dinner

.7 9

Our Heritage: snow history’s stories.: civil war in numbers

companions: laser therapy

my best buddy autoknown: januarius

Senior Care: aging stereotypes

renew: have instant health natural health: frankincense

scene & heard...in the ‘burg!

fxbg goes hollywood hollyburg

fxbg music scene tyler lubore

poetry corner

fredericksburg sketches

from my porch .....paying it forward

downtown buzz

...And more!

VA Wineries... resolve to wine

david & dawn mills: story collaborative

Cooking with Kyle vino: champaigners

season’s bounty: sloooww cookin

sweets on caroline

under the honeysuckle vine: candice ransom

local night life: jays lounge

bravo! a new generation of musical artists

16-17

Calendar of events

legacy of hope ...grace oughton cancer foundation

Jack Frost Nipping at Your Nose?

SALE going on Now

804 Caroline Street Fredericksburg,VA 540-3 373-8 8833

Safe Home Claudia: emerson remembered

Store Hours: Mon-SSat 10am-6 6pm

www.bashboutiqueva.com

Sun 12-5 5pm

Cover By Pichost

Alan Furs

LEATHERS & CASHMERES Vii rgii nii a’’ s Trusted Name for ovv er 600 years

S t o r e H o u r s : M o n -S S a t 1 0 a m -66 p m

Have a Hot Drink where warm hearts wish you Happy New Year

January 2015

Front porch fredericksburg

SALE Going on Now

S u n 1 2 -55 p m

804 Caroline Street Fredericksburg,VA 540-33 73-88 833 www.alanfurs.com

front porch fredericksburg

January 2015 2015

contents

closeups 8

Peacaloo Boutique’s stefany clare

between abstract & traditional sonja wise

made in fredericksburg .... wm.mason violins

porch talk 4

on the porch...life in fredericksburg Messages

‘Angels in our midst: community dinner

.7 9

Our Heritage: snow history’s stories.: civil war in numbers

companions: laser therapy

my best buddy autoknown: januarius

Senior Care: aging stereotypes

renew: have instant health natural health: frankincense

scene & heard...in the ‘burg!

fxbg goes hollywood hollyburg

fxbg music scene tyler lubore

poetry corner

fredericksburg sketches

from my porch .....paying it forward

downtown buzz

...And more!

VA Wineries... resolve to wine

david & dawn mills: story collaborative

Cooking with Kyle vino: champaigners

season’s bounty: sloooww cookin

sweets on caroline

under the honeysuckle vine: candice ransom

local night life: jays lounge

bravo! a new generation of musical artists

16-17

Calendar of events

legacy of hope ...grace oughton cancer foundation

Jack Frost Nipping at Your Nose?

SALE going on Now

804 Caroline Street Fredericksburg,VA 540-3 373-8 8833

Safe Home Claudia: emerson remembered

Store Hours: Mon-SSat 10am-6 6pm

www.bashboutiqueva.com

Sun 12-5 5pm

Cover By Pichost

Alan Furs

LEATHERS & CASHMERES Vii rgii nii a’’ s Trusted Name for ovv er 600 years

S t o r e H o u r s : M o n -S S a t 1 0 a m -66 p m

Have a Hot Drink where warm hearts wish you Happy New Year

January 2015

Front porch fredericksburg

SALE Going on Now

S u n 1 2 -55 p m

804 Caroline Street Fredericksburg,VA 540-33 73-88 833 www.alanfurs.com

front porch fredericksburg

January 2015 2015

Christina Ferber Guest Porch Editorial Contributing Writers & Artists Nancy Bauer

A.E.Bayne Megan Byrnes C.Ruth Cassell Judy Chaimson Ashleigh Chevalier Rick Collier Beth Constantino Ryan Davis Callista Dunn Christina Ferber Frank Fratoe Joan M. Geisler Ann Glave Alexis Grogan Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks Kathy Habel Beth Hunsinger Karl Karch Susan Ujka Larson Jo Loving Jenny McGee Vanessa Moncure Gary Olsen M.L.Powers Scott Richards Casey Alan Shaw James Kyle Synder James Twiford Rim Vining Christine Thompson Suzy Woollam David Yazbek

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

The mission of Front Porch Fredericksburg is to connect the diverse citizenry of Fredericksburg with lively features and informative columns of interest to our community’s greatest resource, its people. Messages from our readers are welcome. All submissions must be received by e-mail by the 19th of the month preceding publication. Writers are welcome to request Writer’s Guidelines and query the Editor by e-mail. Front Porch Fredericksburg PO Box 9203 Fredericksburg, VA 22403 Ad Sales: E-Mail: frntprch@aol.com Web Site: www.frontporchfredericksburg.com The opinions expressed in Front Porch Fredericksburg are those of the contributing writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Front Porch Fredericksburg or its advertisers. Copyright 2015 Olde Towne Publishing Co. All rights reserved.

ON THE PORCH Gratitude

January 2015

beautiful legacy

BY Christina Ferber I love new beginnings, and I love the month of January for that very reason. It represents a new start, but it also brings with it pressure, at least for me. I feel pressure to set a resolution or goal and to become something even better than I was the year before, and this year January brings even more pressure than usual; the pressure to write this column, and fill the very big shoes of Rob Grogan. For inspiration, I looked back to the column that Rob wrote last January, not knowing that he wouldn’t be able to share 2015 with us. He wrote of the plight of the homeless, and that even though he was sick, he was still grateful for warmth and shelter especially when others did not have the same luxury. In the midst of his own discomfort, he still found a way to be grateful for life. As I was reading through those words, I felt more than blessed to have known and worked with Rob at Bistro Bethem. Not only do I feel lucky to have had some enlightening and humorous late night talks with him, I also owe him a debt of gratitude as he gave me confidence to write and share my work with others through the Front Porch. He was an inspiration to us all in how he lived with a giving spirit filled with grace and dignity, and as January begins, I urge you to follow through with his realization that gratitude trumps all, even in the face of unyielding obstacles. The challenges that he faced make me put my own life in perspective, and I plan on continuing his legacy by making gratitude my priority in 2015. I will start by being grateful for our community and those who live in it. I grew up in Spotsylvania, back when there were only two high schools and no Central Park or even a Spotsylvania Town Center. It was a time when your mother felt safe letting you play outside without supervision, and as long as you made it home by dinner, you owned the

world. I am grateful to have grown up in a place that allowed me to be a carefree kid who thought she could conquer all. In my mid-twenties, life happened and required me to move away from my beloved community. While I had the opportunity to live in some nice places, when it came time to raise my son, I knew I had to move back to Fredericksburg. As soon as I returned, I was blown away. Fredericksburg had turned into a little metropolis with new subdivisions, shopping centers, restaurants, and even a bright and shiny place called Central Park. Downtown Fredericksburg had morphed into an eclectic blend of shops, restaurants and art galleries. It had turned into a pretty hip place to live and work (let it be known that I thought it was way before The Washington Post). Today there is not too much of a need to go out of town for anything. I am grateful to have witnessed the growth of this community and am thankful that it still remains a pretty awesome place to live. Transitions are still happening in our community, especially with the addition and preservation of natural resources that we can enjoy. The Rappahannock River is the centerpoint of our area, and as the recent full house showing of Rappahannock proved, Fredericksburg takes pride in the beauty of its surroundings. I grew up exploring the Alum Springs Park trails and picnicking at Old Mill Park, and recently have discovered some of our surrounding state parks, as well as the expanded Canal Path. Nature is at your fingertips here and I am grateful to live in a place that treasures its natural resources. Sure, no community is perfect and there are squabbles and arguments along the way as we continue to manage the growth of this area, but the sense of

messages Front Porch: We visited Fredericksburg last month and picked up a copy of Front Porch....what a breath of fresh air! love, love, love this publication. Daniel Reily, Savannah, Georgia

Front porch fredericksburg

By Jenny McGee

Christina, Jonas & Amos community thrives here. Rob Grogan knew it when he decided to make this the home for his family and the Front Porch. He felt that sense of community that doesn’t just happen automatically, it has to come from the people who live in it. I am grateful for the people and places that make up the Fredericksburg area and make me proud to call it home. So I urge you to take a look at the things that you can be grateful for, not only in our community, but in all aspects of your life. Let’s follow Rob’s legacy as we embark on 2015 with gratitude to live in the Fredericksburg area and thankfulness that the Front Porch continues to be something we can read cover to cover. Christina Ferber is a teacher, writer, and mom who appreciates the opportunity the Front Porch has given her to share the stories of our community and of the people who make it such a special place to live.

Virginia: Virginia:

Good afternoon, ….fabulous publication. Suzy Stone , Fredericksburg

Safe Home, Claudia

Thank you again for all your diligent and hard work in continuing "The Front Porch." Your efforts are appreciated far more than I am sure that you hear about. Sincerely, Gary Olsen, Fredericksburg,

Thanks for all you have taken on this year. You've done a great job with Front Porch. Judy Chaimson, Frederickburg

I like books. I like reading them and I always have. Reading made me want to write. Writing, in turn, made reading more enjoyable and intelligible…even poetry. Naturally, I pursued any class that would stimulate my delight in reading and writing. I had several brilliant creative writing teachers who encouraged me to chase the talent I so admired, and I had the great privilege to study under Claudia Emerson during my last few semesters at Mary Washington College. I graduated in 2003 and her influence has stayed with me, as it has for so many others in Fredericksburg.

When I learned of her recent passing, I fortunately didn’t stumble across it in the news feed on Facebook or get the headline shock while browsing The Free Lance Star while delivering library books to seniors at my Lobby Stops. My good friend and fellow MWC alumna Ruth Cassell let me know quietly, while I was visiting her in Roanoke. She knew the information would sadden me, and shared the gentle words of our friend and writer Jeremy Sutton. He also studied under Claudia, and as always, said just the right thing. “I don’t have a lot of fond, or even detailed, memories of my time in a classroom in college, but Claudia was one

the few who made an impression. She had a down-to-earth, craftsman-like approach to writing that was very de-mystifying and refreshing. Being a better writer was simply a matter of working on and solving a problem, getting it right and improving the piece. I liked her no-nonsense take on what’s often a very personal endeavor.” Beyond being an influential professor, Claudia Emerson was a 2006 Pulitzer Prize winner for her poetry collection “Late Wife”, 2008 Poet Laureate of Virginia, recipient of numerous awards and fellowships, and contributing editor to the literary magazine Shenandoah. She even generously donated her time and expertise to judging the teen poetry contest every year from 2003-2013 at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library here in Fredericksburg. A native of Chatham, she taught at the University of Mary Washington for 15 years, helping to establish and build the reputation for the university’s creative writing program. Having joined the faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2013, it was there she went through her battle with cancer, which ultimately took her life on December 4, 2014. As I remember Claudia, I often see the musician who played around Fredericksburg with her husband of 14 years Kent Ippolito, or the iconic poet who is to me as much of a celebrity as any town needs. Mainly, though, I see her in the classroom, instructing us and transforming our lives. I had five classes with her in the span of one year. She was the kind of professor who taught you to speak her language, and she also studied yours. Her

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writing process was truly a practice, and she made every effort to pass this skill on to us. We were fresh young writers dabbling in poetry like children fingerpainting, and she gently eased us into the habit of using our words and images as paint and brushes. Our development and Claudia’s intertwined, and I feel she benefited from coaching us as much as we benefited from her instruction. I’ll always remember our final exam. We made critiques and observations of portions Claudia’s then work-in-progress, “Late Wife.” She provided us with glimpses into her creative process of a book which would later receive a Pulitzer Prize for poetry. She showed us how therapeutic it was to write poetry; how it turned our experiences into miniature personal masterpieces. Her epistles on the end of her first marriage transformed a difficult period in her life into art. I’d always turned to writing poetry to deal with perplexing emotional conflict or to properly revere the beauties of nature and love, but her instruction polished my tone. It was an honor to learn what she had to impart. Though saddened by her passing, her poetry will always serve as a durable memory of the remarkable instructor, artist, and personality she was. In an interview with the Danville newspaper, she commented on the title of “Secure the Shadow,” her last publication before her passing: “We’re always looking for ways to secure the shadow to keep the memory of those we’ve lost.” Jenny McGee is a UMW graduate who will be forever grateful for having Claudia in her life.

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Publisher’s Note: Wishing the community of Fredericksburg a blessed New Year! Many thanks for all of the support this past year.

front porch fredericksburg

January 2015 2015

Christina Ferber Guest Porch Editorial Contributing Writers & Artists Nancy Bauer

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

ON THE PORCH Gratitude

January 2015

beautiful legacy

messages Front Porch: We visited Fredericksburg last month and picked up a copy of Front Porch....what a breath of fresh air! love, love, love this publication. Daniel Reily, Savannah, Georgia

Front porch fredericksburg

By Jenny McGee

Virginia: Virginia:

Good afternoon, ….fabulous publication. Suzy Stone , Fredericksburg

Safe Home, Claudia

Thank you again for all your diligent and hard work in continuing "The Front Porch." Your efforts are appreciated far more than I am sure that you hear about. Sincerely, Gary Olsen, Fredericksburg,

Thanks for all you have taken on this year. You've done a great job with Front Porch. Judy Chaimson, Frederickburg

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

& GARDEN CENTER

Since 1929

601 LAFAYETTE BLVD

roxburyfarmgarden.com

We have all your gardening needs! Come Shop With Us

Publisher’s Note: Wishing the community of Fredericksburg a blessed New Year! Many thanks for all of the support this past year.

front porch fredericksburg

January 2015 2015

Downtown Buzz

Angels in Our Midst

whew!

community dinners @ st. george’s by M.L.Powers Everyone needs a little help sometimes. Whether emotionally, physically, or just to be there and listen, we all need someone, sometime. There are selfless individuals in our community who volunteer their time and energies to do their part in offering a little of this help to each other. Some of these people can be found every Monday night at St George’s Episcopal Church serving community dinners. The concept of the community dinner originated here with the Micah Ecumenical Mission, who suggested churches partner in this ministry. There is a core group of people from different congregations that organize and set up these meals for whoever has the need for a good, hot dinner. St. George’s parish facilitates the meals on the last two Mondays of the month. Every month, the call goes out for donations of food for a pre-planned menu. The recipes are usually simple things like a pasta dinner or beef stew. Donations of bread, dessert, fruit, and main meals begin to come in. The schedule fills up with workers who donate a couple of hours to serve, cook and clean up. About mid

By ann glave month, an email always goes out saying that there is still a need for food and help, and the organizers are slightly panicking. Somehow, week after week, month after month, these dinners come off without a hitch. I could name a list of the workers that come back every month, but they don’t want the acclaim. They just feel the call to help somewhere. I have done food service work for most of my life, so this was a no brainer for me when I began to offer my time. But something bigger keeps me coming back. It may be a variety of things, but for whatever reason, I don’t like to miss working these few hours every month. I watch the selflessness of some of the volunteers who give so much more than the couple of hours we spend dishing up food. They continually strive to find ways to help where help is needed. In addition to the community dinners, St George’s parish is home to The Table. Every Tuesday morning, before the sun comes up, Linda, Chris and their band of merry workers set up shop. They collect food and handle administrative details necessary to hand out donated

food to people. Farms, stores, and individuals all come forward to donate their surplus. The line of mothers, seniors, the ill, and downtrodden forms before daylight. How can this system work? “By the grace of God” is the answer you get from so many volunteers. Watching these selfless volunteers perform this simple act of feeding each other allows me to believe there are angels among us. In a time when it is easy to be negative about the state of affairs all around us, it is so rewarding to

know that there are many people who want to make things better. If you or your organization would like to help out in any way, go to St. George’s website (www.stgeorgesepiscopal.net) and look at the outreach programs.

Mary Lynn Powers is one of those angels in our midst

As the holidays draw to a close, I sigh and smile. It’s been a whirl wind of activity this Holiday season unveiling four new initiatives and three at the same time! This Holiday season sparkled because of the many individuals that step forward to support Main Street. From Mrs. Claus, Walker Grant Middle School Chorus, Wack General Construction, the University of Mary Washington’s dance and music groups and the creative and wonderful downtown windows to the donations of candy canes, and let’s not forget the Holiday promotion committee that had

the vision, Main Street is grateful. There were many elves, literally and figuratively this season. The synergy has been positive and strong. It shows us that cooperation among the diverse groups – merchants, property owners, historic sites, City, Economic Development Authority ,and the Economic Development and Tourism Department and the visitors – can be achieved AND with success. It’s staying in touch with the bigger picture – the economic vitality of the historic Downtown. And it doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon! Open Late Fridays was a huge success in the amount of participants and exposure. In the long run, it’s not a seven night commitment. It’s much more than a number. It’s a choice that takes 2 years to change according to National Main Street. Initial results from the 60+ businesses and shoppers indicates that Small Business Saturday was well received. Visitors loved the red carpet and

supporting the local small downtown business. Shop small was a shop LARGE in results for the merchants. The social media campaign brought Shop Small to a new level of awareness. The community loves our downtown businesses! Experience Fredericksburg Downtown gift cards sold $50,000 in 3 weeks and early results indicated that another $20,000 could be possible by time you are reading this Downtown Buzz. Downtown Gift cards are here to stay! Look for the Valentine’s design later this month. It’s always the perfect gift at any time of year! Elfie Selfie did a great job of expanding Main Street’s Fredericksburg Downtown Facebook page from 0 to over 1800 likes in less than 9 weeks. Amazing growth! There are tweaks, improvements, and lessons still to be learned. Share your thoughts and save the date – Thursday, January 15 at 8am at the Courtyard Marriott – for the upcoming community meeting. It’s a great foundation to move forward into the New Year. Upcoming months are busy with branding and imaging, strategic and marketing plans. If

you desire to get involved with Downtown and Main Street, let us know. Main Street is investing in Downtown. We love for you to join us! Happy Anniversary to The Picket Post located at 602 Caroline Street for 22 years and Fredericksburg Parent and Family Magazine celebrates their 15 years of publishing their magazine. Upcoming ribbon cuttings: Latitudes Fair Trade at 806 Caroline Street on Monday, January 12 at 11am. We also welcome La Rosetta Ristorante at 623 Caroline Street and 806 Bistro at 806 William Street. Let’s keep investing in downtown! The possibilities are exciting!

Ann Glave, Executive Director, of the Fredericksburg Main Street, is proud of Downtown this Holiday season. To stay up to date on Main Street, visit Fredericksburg Downtown Facebook and www.fredericksburgmainstreet.org . Sign up for the newsletter!

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

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January 2015

Front porch fredericksburg

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January 2015

Downtown Buzz

Angels in Our Midst

whew!

Mary Lynn Powers is one of those angels in our midst

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

Wills and Trusts Provide for Incapacity Trusts for Minor Children Wealth Preservation Trusts Avoid Probate AhearnEstateLaw.com 6

January 2015

Front porch fredericksburg

540/371-9890 front porch fredericksburg

January 2015

Spotlight On

VA. WINERIES Resolve to Wine

by nancy bauer

Peacaloo Boutique By M.L.Powers

Over the last year, we have seen a transition on Caroline Street. It looks fuller, there are fewer empty spaces. Towards the end of the street, heading towards the train station, there are some shops though, that do not get the traffic that the middle few blocks do. One of these shops is Peacaloo Boutique. On a walk, I noticed some clothes hanging out in front of a storefront. So wandering in, I found a small space that is chock full of unique juniors/misses clothing items. I proceeded to talk with the salesgirl, who turned out to be the owner, Stefany Clare. Stefany and her mom, Wendy, are both involved in the business, but Stefany is the driving force behind the enterprise. Stefany has always known she wanted to be involved with fashion whether designing, styling or buying. She is able to do all of these things since she went into business for herself. Stefany is a hometown Fredericksburg gal, living here most of her life, minus a year she spent at a styling school in New York, NY and working as a stylist for some famous names in Los Angeles, CA. She graduated from Courtland High School in 2009, and decided to aim for a career in wardrobe styling. She moved to Los Angeles, and immediately started interning for the stylist who managed the styling classes at the school. Soon after, she landed a position with two highly renowned

January 2015

professionals who style Jennifer Lopez, Lily Collins, No Doubt, Rihanna, and many more. After that she began working with Madison Guest who styles Victoria Justice, and lastly as an assistant to Taylor Swift’s stylist. It sounds like an act out of The Devil Wears Prada. But for those who have seen that comedic film, the pressure level is more than most of us want in a day. This was one of the main reasons Stefany changed her life goal. She said that she was more stressed than happy in LA. She missed her family and home immensely, so Stefany went with the small business prospect instead. Owning a business in these economic times is also a little taxing, but Stefany is confident she can make it work. In addition, she has Mom to assist which makes it pretty cool. Though only open a short time, Peacaloo has a small cult following not only in the store, but online at peacalooboutique.com. I know this from casually mentioning it to one of my young college friends, and she filled me in on the celebrity data, which Stefany confirmed. She has quickly become part of the downtown dynamic, staying open late on Fridays and working on ways to help Fredericksburg become a thriving small town. One plan involves doing a benefit fashion show. She had done this for the Make-A A-W Wish Foundation in 2011, and auctioned off a significant amount of custom made dresses for the cause. The shop located at 614 Caroline is small, but you can squeeze a lot of clothes into a small space. Look at your closet! Shipments come in weekly from Los Angeles via connections she made while living there. She is looking for a variety of unique, but affordable clothes that satisfy a wide audience. Stefany learned to sew from her grandmother, and also does custom design orders and even alterations. Check out her website and Facebook for hours, specials and spectacular photos of her clothing line.

Mary Lynn Powers reports the latest on interesting people, places and businesses in the FXBG area monthly

Front porch fredericksburg

It’s all in how you frame it. Lose 10 pounds. Get to the gym. Be nice. Yada yada. Here are four New Year’s Resolutions you’ll actually want to keep. GET YOUR REST Snooze at a vineyard. More than 20 Virginia wineries offer lodging close enough to walk to after sharing a bottle on a warm spring day (or a snowy winter one). Choose what suits you, from cottages overlooking a babbling brook at Sharp Rock Vineyards (sharprockvineyards.com, Sperryville) to Mongolian yurts in the shadow of the Blue Ridge at Wicked Oaks Farms & Vineyard (wickedoakfarms.com, Star Tannery). EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS Sip something new. Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are lovely, but consider branching out in 2015. You probably know that Cabernet Franc is king is Virginia, and Petit Verdot is poised for greatness, but how about Nebbiolo, the grape variety behind the top-quality red wines of Piedmont in northwestern Italy? It’s found a home at Breaux Vineyards (breauxvineyards.com, Purcellville), Three Fox Winery (threefoxvineyards.com, Delaplane), Barboursville Vineyards (bbvwine.com, Barboursville) and elsewhere. Looking for the next big thing in whites? Consider a sampling tour of Virginia’s many incarnations of Petit Manseng, from its most popular form as a sweet dessert wine – try it at hidden gem Granite Heights Winery (graniteheightsorchard.com, Warrenton) to the spectacular new dry style recently released by Michael Shaps at Virginia Wineworks (virginiawineworks.com, Charlottesville). LEARN SOMETHING Hit the library. While everyone’s been busy talking about the industry’s expanding breadth – more than 250 wineries now dot the map – the depth of winery libraries has gone mostly unnoticed. Library wines, generally speaking, are a limited number of ageworthy bottles held back by the winery after their original release. In Virginia, holding onto wine is no small feat when tasting room

customers are clamoring for more, more, more, and the cellar – and bank account - is bare in those first years of operation. But with dozens of wineries now open two decades or longer, “library tastings” and “vertical tastings” are popping up with some regularity, offering the chance to taste the impacts of weather, aging and winemaking styles over the years. Barboursville Vineyards recently opened Library 1821, an elegant space for seated tastings away from the crowds (weekends only, starts at $20 including culinary pairings). Tarara Winery (tarara.com, Leesburg) turned 25 in 2014 and boasts one of the most interesting vineyard histories and winemaking approaches; check out their Premier Tastings (Saturdays, 90 minutes, $31.80). Gray Ghost Vineyards (grayghostvineyards, Amissville) has a regular schedule of Library Tastings, as well ($25 includes current releases and tour). TRAVEL MORE Take a wine-cation. More than 70 Virginia wineries are open daily (or nearly), year-round. Off-season is often the best time to visit: there’s a stark beauty in the gray clouds and leafless trees, and you’re more likely to find the winemaker banging around the tasting room, looking for someone to chat with or – if you’re lucky and show a lot of interest - invite into the cellar for an impromptu barrel tasting. For a little summer in the middle of winter, book a room at the B&B at Glass House Winery (glasshousewinery.com, Free Union) for the weekend. The winery is famous for its one-of-a-kind tropical gardens – we’re talking full-sized banana trees, flowering hibiscus and towering palms – and it’s open until 9 on Fridays. Nancy Bauer is the co-founder of Virginia Wine in My Pocket, the iTunes/Google mobile app and website travel guide to Virginia Wine Country. For more tips on Virginia Wine Country travel, see our website at VAWineInMyPocket.com.

RESOURCES For a listing of all winery lodgings, go to VaWineInMyPocket.com/wineries/feature/ lodging For a listing of wines offered by winery, go to VirginiaWine.org For info about VA Wine Pass, which offers discounts and freebies at more than 70 Virginia wineries, go to VirginiaWinePass.com (use code VAWIMP to save 25%)

front porch fredericksburg

January 2015

Spotlight On

VA. WINERIES Resolve to Wine

by nancy bauer

Peacaloo Boutique By M.L.Powers

January 2015

Mary Lynn Powers reports the latest on interesting people, places and businesses in the FXBG area monthly

Front porch fredericksburg

front porch fredericksburg

January 2015

Candice Ransom

David & Dawn Mills

Under the Honeysuckle Vine

Story Collaborative: tell your story to the world

The Renowned Northern Italian Restaurant once in Stafford on Garrisonville Rd moves to downtown Fredericksburg’s “Historic Chimney’s Building” on Caroline Street adding Internationality to their Cuisine

Open 7 days a week Monday to Saturday 11 am to 10pm International Sunday Brunch 9am to 3pm Dinner from 3pm to 9pm Private Dining Rooms for Your Holiday parties or any occasion!!! 623 Caroline Street Fredericksburg VA 22401 Tel (540) 658-1 1107 Fax (540) 658-1 1108

January 2015

Front porch fredericksburg

By Christina Ferber

by c.ruth cassell

While trolling the murky sea of internet for like-minded blogs with literary intent, I sometimes find folks with similar writing life experiences and motivations as mine. There are commonalities among us—we considered ourselves writers before launching our blogs and see the online presence as a way to reach even one reader who can connect with the stories we tell. I adore when I find a fellow writer/blogger who I can relate to in a variety of ways. When reading Candice Ransom’s Under the Honeysuckle Vine (www.candiceransom.com/honeysucklevin e), I felt drawn to her literary voice and well-developed posts. When deciding whether to follow a blog, I usually peruse the About Me section to get a feel for the person behind the posts. I was delighted to learn Candice not only teaches at Hollins University, where I am currently studying (and conveniently compiling a final project on blogging that I promptly interviewed her for), but she also lives in my old hometown of Fredericksburg. As anyone with a soul who has lived and breathed in FXBG, Candice draws inspiration from the history and beauty of the place. Her blog posts and writing often reflect a sincere appreciation for being a ninth generation Virginian, with the blog subtitle of Notes from a Southern Writer and many of her 115 children’s books being set in our beautiful state. “I am not ashamed to be a Southern writer. I would say that most of my posts are about country/rural/nature themes. Sometimes I write about being a writer. Really, I tell stories, which is what all Southern writers do,” Candice said. She tells tales of her kind neighbors and her fortune at being able to pursue the life of her dreams—as a children’s book author, amateur photographer, collector of all things vintage, and lover of a sweet cat Winchester (the star of many of her stories who sadly two days after Thanksgiving left her side for his next adventure). Candice’s approach to blogging closely resembles my ideal for writing, and I instantly realized I could learn a lot from

her. When I interviewed her recently, she spoke about why she first began blogging in 2008. “At first I meant for the blog to be an online journal. But over the past few years it’s become more of a memoir. Even if a post is about something that’s going on at the moment, I often compare or contrast that event to something that happened in my past,” she said. I first got the idea to begin a blog when I started reading self-help books and websites, in an effort to discover a deeper truth in life, to be more mindful and less worried and anxious. I wanted to create a life practice of self-reflection and personal development. Writing is that life practice, if only I were a little less busy and a little more diligent (I’m obviously still working on the mindful piece). Launching Attention Anonymous on May 2, 2012 felt like giving birth to an idea I’d been holding onto for a lifetime. Writing has always allowed me to generate new ideas and give them back to the world with thought and process. I had recently gone through a divorce, and I was sorting out my personal history, my relationship with my son and what I wanted for my future. I had high hopes for my own productivity and ability to maintain the site. Not all of which have been met, but I still trudge on, believing writing to be part of who I am. I find it quaint that my second child is now due on May 2, 2015 and I get to birth yet another piece of my ever-evolving sense of self and hopefully a much more important addition to the world. To this day, I have met with minimal, if any success, at developing a reader following on the blog. Early on I became more disillusioned than I should have. Soon enough, I realized I need to write for myself, and not be concerned with the reaction of others. I now write more for the practice of it, and hope to take notes from other successful bloggers and put it to use on my own site. Again, this is where I find Candice, and her perspective is so fresh and real among the internet bloggers consumed with either promoting their pay-for-advice sites or blathering unintentionally about a life not so well lived. Candice said, “when a post starts ‘stirring’ in my head, it’s usually something unformed that I need to figure out. Or a question I want to explore. The process of writing the post is lengthy— often three days—because I am feeling as I go. The end is almost always a complete surprise.”

Every person has a story to tell about what makes them who they are and what talents they have to share with the world. Businesses and non-profits have stories to tell as well, and that is the basis for entrepreneurs David and Dawn Mills’ company, Story Collaborative. Story Collaborative offers a new way to look at the marketing of your organization. “First, we help figure out what a company’s story is and find the best way to tell it,” says David Mills, co-founder. “People are looking for depth and something real, and our goal is to create authenticity

through the story.” With 25 years of extensive experience helping countless small and large organizations see their own story and ultimately build more effective programs, Mills understands what sells a non-profit or business to funders, donors, and clients. The campfire theme embraces Story Collaborative’s philosophy. “Around a campfire, we share stories, open up about who we are, and really get to know each other. We want to do the same with the companies and nonprofits that we work with,” says Dawn Mills, a cofounder who b r i n g s p r o g r a m management and coaching expertise to the company. Another aspect of Story Collaborative’s offerings includes

helping organizations access story telling technologies that make their narrative come alive. These technologies include access to a team that is based around an organization’s needs. With many writers, coders, brand and social media experts, graphic designers, and other skilled professionals at their fingertips, David and Dawn are able to form a team around your own specific need and pricing structure. “Together that team helps work on the story idea helping non-profits and businesses make the transition from traditional marketing methods to becoming a story telling organization,” says David. “Companies have unique needs, and we find the right style that works with the story you want to tell.” Teaming up with organizations over a period of time is also an important aspect of Story Collaborative. “We would much rather participate in the story telling process over time, instead of handing them something and walk away.” David and Dawn value the support and energy that the Fredericksburg start up community has offered them, and along with their team members, have given back to that

community through coaching and helping out during Startup Weekend. “As entrepreneurs, it is exciting to hang out with other creative, energetic risk takers,” says David. “We love being a part of that supportive community.” “I think it is important that people can dream, and do whatever it takes to fulfill that dream by being their own boss and ultimately having control over their own lives and ideas,” says Dawn. That entrepreneurial spirit can be seen in David as well. “I love to create an idea and make it work. The challenge of it is fun. We want to build something that has values and vibrance, and we enjoy offering encouragement and being a cheerleader to other businesses from start-ups to large corporations and nonprofits.” Everyone has a story to tell. To get help telling yours visit storycollaborative.com

Christina Ferber will be bringing us stories of other entrepreneurs in future issues of Fron Porch

Ruth Cassell writes for the Front Porch from her satellite location in Roanoke Va where she lives with her husband, son, and soon to be new baby Find her musings at attentionanonymous.wordpress.com front porch fredericksburg

January 2015

Candice Ransom

David & Dawn Mills

Under the Honeysuckle Vine

Story Collaborative: tell your story to the world

January 2015

Front porch fredericksburg

By Christina Ferber

by c.ruth cassell

Christina Ferber will be bringing us stories of other entrepreneurs in future issues of Fron Porch

January 2015

Cooking With Kyle

Vino Champaigners

Simple, easy, delicious by james kyle snyder

With the holidays behind us, it is time to prepare ourselves for the year ahead. Almost 60% of us will have made a new year’s resolution of which almost 70% of those will be about getting in shape and eating better. Making new habits can be a challenge if we try to change too many things all at once. Selecting one day of the week as a standard can ease the transition and give you something to look forward to. Adjusting our eating from holiday fare to healthier and less caloric foods can be as easy as boiling water. On Ted Schubel’s Town Talk show, Nancy Farrell from Farrell Dietitian pointed out that just 5 Hershey kisses a day between Thanksgiving and Christmas equals one extra pound of fat on our bodies. And who stops at 5 anyway? It is the small choices that pack the pounds on us. She also pointed out how hot beverages tend to fill us up and decrease our appetite. Armed with that knowledge, how can we make some better choices in

this new year? Our good friend Kadeana invited Mitzi and I over one day for lunch. The simple delicious meal she provided was the perfect companion for the conversation. The warm atmosphere created by aromas of the simmering broth lured us in. The beautifully vibrant array of colors the fresh vegetables provided an enticing palette for us to choose from as we took to the task of customizing our own meal. Through thoughtful simplicity, Kadeana turned the necessity of lunch into a fun moment of sharing and experimenting. In the end we were comfortably full with about half of the usual midday calorie count. As we move into the coldest months of the year, broth soups are a great way to warm and nourish ourselves. Nancy further encourages broth soups saying, “Broth soup- best for weight management. Creamy soups add extra calories mainly from fat sources. One of my favorite - can’t go wrong type of meals!” So how do you make a broth soup? Heat up broth (If you can make the broth yourselves; do. Many of the commercially available ones are loaded with sodium) Once the broth is hot, add almost any raw vegetable you want. The hot broth will “cook” the vegetables! Shredded beets have Magnesium for heart health and fiber to guard against colon cancer. Carrots and spinach are loaded with beta carotene a precursor of Vitamin A; important for skin and eye health. We add Quinoa - a complete source of protein essential for vegetarians and vegans. The antioxidants in quinoa rival cranberries for its protection against UTI’s. Broth soups can also take the burden out a busy day. Put the broth in a crock pot and everyone can make their own all day long. Share the soups with friends. Soups are very communal meals. But what if you want something more but you don’t have time to even heat up broth? Head to Facebook and find Kelly Pawlik’s company City Soup. Kelly is a local who has turned soup into an amazing experience. City Soup makes some of the tastiest treats available! Fredericksburg is a really great place. The community is rich with people like Nancy, Kadeana, and Kelly. Mitzi and I feel very luck when we think about our city and the people who make it what it is. Set you goal for the new year and then have a blast reaching it. Life seems less burdensome if you keep the food simple, easy, and delicious. Be well.

Kyle isn’t the only one who loves soup & Kelly’s is the best!

January 2015

Front porch fredericksburg

By scott richards

I have little use for wine snobs, in particular those who suddenly appear around the holiday season and then disappear until the next year. Their presence is particularly irritating after Christmas, when people are getting ready for New Year’s parties. You guessed it, the Champaigners, those who can quote every review that has come out in the last few years and look down their noses at those who make a choice other than Champagne. Pardon my rant, but I am a fan of a wine known as Prosecco, which is often confused with Champagne. Though they are both bubbly, they are quite different and come from different countries. True Champagne comes from the Champagne region of France and is the only place where the bubbly we are so familiar with be called Champagne. Everything else is a sparkling wine. Champagne is made using such wines as pinot noir or pinot meunier and an occasional Chardonnay. After the initial fermentation, the wine is bottled and a second fermentation is initiated in the bottle to produce the sparkling nature. The fact that Champagne ages on the lees (dead yeast) gives it a unique flavor. Recently marketing people have tried to incorporate the name Champagne in their products and many have found themselves sued by the French. To the producers of the true product, it is no laughing matter. Another point greatly misunderstood is the fact that Champagne is good only at New Year’s or at celebrations, when in fact it makes a wonderful accompaniment to a wide variety of foods including Asian dishes and seafood. So that brings us back to Prosecco. Whereas Champagne is from France, Prosecco is from the Veneto region of northeastern Italy and is made in a completely different way than the French sparkling wines. Using the glera variety of grapes for the most part, the secondary fermentation that produces the sparkle occurs in stainless steel tanks instead of the individual bottles, a process known as the Charmat method. Recently, the Italian government has protected Prosecco under a DOC (similar to the AVA’s in Virginia).

Prosecco is often drier than Champagne and usually marked Brut (think brutal), Extra Dry or Dry depending on the amount of residual sugar in the wine. Often used as an aperitif, Prosecco is best served chilled. When being consumed after a meal, chocolate pares exceptionally well. At this reading, the holidays have just ended and everyone may have had their fill of bubbly wines because they sucked it down in mass quantities on December 31. Do not let this unfortunate consumption of good wine deter you from enjoying Prosecco, or Champagne, or any other sparkling wine throughout the coming year. Though it has been said a lot recently, have a happy 2015 and enjoy good wines of your choice responsibly. Cheers! Scott Richards is a member of the VA Vineyards Association, owner of Loch Haven Vineyards, and a writer for FP, Caroline Progress, The Caroine Magazine, Northern Neck News & The River View Magazine.

At the Old Jake and Mike’s Location

Serving New & Traditional American Cuisine with a Twist

Open Lunch and Dinner Tuesday - Saturday 11 am to 9 pm Sunday Brunch 10 am to 3 pm Closed on Mondays

806 William Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401 Tel: 540 899-0941 From the Owners of The Soup and Taco, Etc.

Season’s Bounty january sloooww cookin’ By vanessa moncure

After about the eighth trip up and down the basement stairs, the detrius of holidays 2014 becomes a bit overwhelming. Why won’t Inflatable Santa fit back in his perfectly-sized box? Clever! the planned obsolescence of mini-twinklelights is less than six weeks - can they be recycled? Where is the Nativity bin? Two Wise Men and an ass need to rejoin their group. No, the practically de-needled tree won’t be street-collected with any tinsel, so pull it off and save it; yes, the vacuum cleaner is clogged with said needles, AGAIN. Hmm...a month of comfort and joy segues into several days of clean-up and teeth-knashing. I do love decorating for the holidays but dread the un-decorating much as I love cooking but eye the resulting kitchen mess with major trepidation. Holidays over, back to work, back to school, back to the daily routine after a month of heavy festive celebrating - give yourself a culinary break with that new slow-cooker found under the tree! Probably the idea of a “modern” slow cooker was introduced in the 1940sera Chambers Stove whose motto was “cooks with the gas turned off!” - the stove appeared to be a four-burner, but the back right was a patented “Thermowell” whose 1- or 3-compartment container “boils, steams, stews or roasts” with retained heat. My “Model B” stove brochure features a smiling housewife in a car demonstrating that recipes from the “Idle Hour” cookbook require no need to stand over a stove! Run errands! Go shopping! Meanwhile, your stove is doing all the work! Then along came the slow-cooker….. CHICKEN SALSA Slow cooking requires a minimum of liquid, a maximum of time. Although not necessary, a quick browning of meat before adding to the cooker increases the flavor. Brown (if desired) 4 large boneless chicken breasts in 2T. olive oil. Place in slow cooker, cover with 12 oz. salsa and ¼ c. minced fresh cilantro - cook 4 hours on LOW setting. Serve with a selection of sliced lettuce, tomatoes, onions, shredded cheese, salsa, guacamole, sour cream, heated refried beans - whatever you like -

shred the meat and place in flour tortillas, topping with desired ingredients. PORK BBQ Brown a Boston butt in skillet without added fat - place in slow cooker and season with a rub of salt, pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, cayenne pepper cumin, oregano and paprika. Pour 1 c. cider vinegar in the bottom, and set the cooker for 8 hours on HIGH. Remove meat from cooker and discard liquid. Meat should pull easily off the bone - serve pulled pork on buns with BBQ sauce and creamy cole slaw. BEEF OR CHICKEN POT ROAST Brown a beef chuck roast or whole chicken in 3 T. canola oil in a large skillet, turning so all sides are browned. Pour juices over meat in slow cooker. Separately in large bowl, place 6 medium potatoes cut in half, 6 cut onions, 2 c. baby carrots, 4 cut celery ribs, ¼ c. minced fresh parsley, S&P, garlic powder, ½ tsp. thyme and toss with 3 T. olive oil until well-coated. Arrange vegetables around meat, sprinkle meat with S&P, garlic, paprika and fresh parsley. Cover, cook 2 hours on LOW, then 2-3 hours on HIGH. You may need to add more cook time if meat is over 3 ½ to 4 pounds. CHICKEN CACCIATORE Brown six floured chicken thighs in 2T. olive oil - transfer to slow cooker along with 4 large onions cut into rings. In same skillet, add 1 c. red wine, 1 c. chicken stock, S&P, garlic powder and cook over medium heat until slightly reduced and slightly thickened. Stir in 1 qt. whole Roma tomatoes, ¼ c. minced fresh parsley, 1 bay leaf, ½ tsp. each oregano, basil and thyme, and 1 tsp. sugar, then add to slow cooker. Cook 4 hours on LOW, one on HIGH - add tomato paste to thicken if needed. Serve over pasta with fresh-grated Parmesan cheese. Although I’ve seen such recipes, I’ve never baked/slow-cooked a dessert, but I’ve used the cooker for most all soups and stews. As a bonus, the delicious aromas emanating from your kitchen basically come from a one-step process - you can easily adapt your favorite recipes, just remember to reduce the amount of liquid as there is less evaporation than oven- or stovetop- cooking. Applesauce is a slowcooker favorite - just peel and core Xamount of apples (or pears, or a mixture!), add small amount of unfiltered apple juice and cook on HIGH until apples are soft and ready to turn into applesauce (either by mashing, food mill or processor). Then you can add spices and sugar, cook a bit longer for delicious apple butter….almost no kitchen clean-up! Now if I can just find the giant candy cane box…….

Olde Towne BUTCHER Corner of William & Charles Streets Downtown Fredericksburg 540.370.4105 www.oldetownebutcher.com Winter Hours Monday Tuesday & Wednesday 9 am to 7 pm, Thursday Friday & Saturday 9 to 9; Sunday 11 to 6. Lee Russell Proprietor

S ammy T’ s DOWNTOWN FREDERICKSBURG’S

Serving Great Food Since 1981

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

(540) 371-2008

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

The General Store

Restaurant

Since 1978

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

371-4075 2018 College Ave. Fredericksburg front porch fredericksburg

January 2015

Cooking With Kyle

Vino Champaigners

Simple, easy, delicious by james kyle snyder

Kyle isn’t the only one who loves soup & Kelly’s is the best!

January 2015

Front porch fredericksburg

By scott richards

At the Old Jake and Mike’s Location

Serving New & Traditional American Cuisine with a Twist

Open Lunch and Dinner Tuesday - Saturday 11 am to 9 pm Sunday Brunch 10 am to 3 pm Closed on Mondays

806 William Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401 Tel: 540 899-0941 From the Owners of The Soup and Taco, Etc.

Season’s Bounty january sloooww cookin’ By vanessa moncure

S ammy T’ s DOWNTOWN FREDERICKSBURG’S

Serving Great Food Since 1981

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

(540) 371-2008

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

The General Store

Restaurant

Since 1978

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

371-4075 2018 College Ave. Fredericksburg front porch fredericksburg

January 2015

Sweets on Caroline

My Favorite Places January Pick

Specialty Confections in the ‘Burg

By Callista Kathryn Dunn

By Susan Larson

I went to Vivify on an evening stroll with my family. So I interviewed Alicia.

Fredericksburg’s Hometown Saloon Since 1961

The Soup & Taco, Etc.

Q: What’s your favorite food here? A: The All American. It’s a classic cheeseburger and is delicious.

Jan Davis and George Farrar have opened a second business in downtown Fredericksburg. The owners of Taste Oil, Vinegar, Spice are now offering specialty confections right next door at Sweets on Caroline, 817 Caroline St. Sweets on Caroline features “Hummingbird Macaroons”. The colorful, french-style, cream-filled sandwich cookies come in a multitude of flavors, including the more traditional strawberry, coconut and lemon, and the more exotic rosewater, salted caramel and Earl Grey. Hummingbird Macaroons is a Chesapeake, Va., boutique bakery and dessert caterer. They are so popular, Sweets on Caroline sold out within their first three days of opening. Not to worry; deliveries arrive several times a week. The chocolates of Michel Cluizel are another feature of the shop. The Cluziel family of Normandy, France, has been slow roasting cocoa beans for their chocolates and other confections since 1948, Davis said.Michel Cluizel chocolates

have only been available in the United States since 1999. Sweets on Caroline also carries an assortment of goat’s milk based caramels (for the dairy intolerant), sugar free chocolates and ice treats. Davis calls the ice treats, “popsicles for grownups,” because they’re available in unique flavors. Sweets on Caroline is open 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 12 - 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call the store at 540-3711481.

I helped Alicia make a Brownie Blast milkshake and learned the special recipe. I also like the decoration. I really like to stand on the wavy squares and dance on the rooftop deck.

Jay’s Restaurant & Lounge

813 Caroline St.

By Ryan Davis

Fredericksburg, VA

Q: What makes a milkshake so good? A: Because all of the ingredients are made from scratch. All of our food is from local ingredients. Q: What is your best selling item on the menu? A: The Viv. It’s a burger with smoked bacon, fontina cheese, caramelized onions and mojo sauce.

Local Night Life

Serving Traditional Mexican, Tex-Mex Food and Something More!! Tuesday to Saturday 11am-9pm Sunday 11am-6pm

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

Callie Dunn loves to shop and eat in downtown Fredericksburg. She has not decided on her February pick....so many places to visit! Watch for her.downtown to get a sneak peek on her pick!

The Sunken Well Tavern

Susan Larson is the publisher of Fredericksburg.Today. Photo by Susan Larson

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

Jay’s Restaurant & Lounge, located in Fredericksburg, Virginia, is the antithesis of what most customers would expect from a business that caters towards nightlife. For starters, it’s geographically close by. Situated off of Route 3 in the Greenbrier Shopping Center, it eliminates the need for locals to spend half their night driving 50 miles north or south to enjoy music, dancing and a drink. Instead of feeling suffocated in a darkened, grimy hole-in-the-wall, Jay’s Restaurant & Lounge offers many creature comforts including a wide open dance floor, a spacious lounge with modern high-top glass tables and a V.I.P. area with several enclaves of comfy leather couches. For owner Sanjay (Jay) Sharma, whose name the business bears, creating an aesthetically pleasing venue was important. “ I was integral in making the decisions on how this place would look: everything from the colors that would be used (such as cream, black and copper), the layout of the space, to the modern, classy feel of the furniture,” Sharma said. After feeling hemmed in by both a cubicle and the corporate world, Sharma returned to a vocation that allowed him to express his gregarious nature. “The reason I chose this business, rather than staying in computer programming, was because of all the different people I get to meet. I really enjoy getting to know the clientele we have.” Sharma said. The owner added that he loves music and loves to dance, and even though he doesn’t get to let loose on the dance floor much anymore, he gains much satisfaction from watching the positive impact music can have on his customers. Providing desirable happy hour drinks and the latest music hits for the customers is a priority, but it’s not the ultimate goal. Sharma wants to ensure Jay’s Restaurant & Lounge is a place that people can enjoy while being safe. The

ethos of being beneficial to the community is an important thread in Sharma’s life and it undergirds the vision for his business. “I want this place to continue to grow and stay busy, but the challenging part is keeping the wrong people out and the right people in.” There exists a learning curve for anyone attempting to make it as an entrepreneur. For Sharma, he hopes the changes to the restaurant menu items will continue to bolster the business just as much as the late night crowd does. “When we first opened we provided a unique and classy menu. It was difficult to try to sustain that during lunchtime, especially given that our location is outside of both Central Park and downtown Fredericksburg. We changed to a more customer-friendly menu and now our specialty has become chicken wings.” Having the willingness to adapt to the preferences of the customers can be humbling, but Sharma takes the challenges of an entrepreneur in stride. “It has all been a learning process: from meeting new people to altering our menu, but I love it all.” With his enthusiasm and moxie, Sharma is poised to achieve his ambitious goals. “Jay’s Restaurant & Lounge is not just a name anymore; it has become a trademark. Myself and everyone in here wants to continue to have it grow and become successful.” Sharma recently opened his second “Jay’s”: Jays Downtown Sports Lounge at 409 William Street, featuring 45 flat-screen TVs, two pool tables and two dart boards For more information on restaurant offerings and hours of business visit: www.jaysrestaurantlounge.com or call: (540) 479-6000 Ryan Davis is a graduate of the University of Mary Washington and has future aspirations of becoming a journalist.

Open Daily 11am - 4pm 540.371.2233 www.thevirginiadeli.com 826 Caroline at the corner of Caroline & George Streets Master Card ~ Visa ~ Discover 14

January 2015

Front porch fredericksburg

front porch fredericksburg

January 2015

Sweets on Caroline

My Favorite Places January Pick

Specialty Confections in the ‘Burg

By Callista Kathryn Dunn

By Susan Larson

I went to Vivify on an evening stroll with my family. So I interviewed Alicia.

Fredericksburg’s Hometown Saloon Since 1961

The Soup & Taco, Etc.

Q: What’s your favorite food here? A: The All American. It’s a classic cheeseburger and is delicious.

I helped Alicia make a Brownie Blast milkshake and learned the special recipe. I also like the decoration. I really like to stand on the wavy squares and dance on the rooftop deck.

Jay’s Restaurant & Lounge

813 Caroline St.

By Ryan Davis

Fredericksburg, VA

Local Night Life

Serving Traditional Mexican, Tex-Mex Food and Something More!! Tuesday to Saturday 11am-9pm Sunday 11am-6pm

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

Callie Dunn loves to shop and eat in downtown Fredericksburg. She has not decided on her February pick....so many places to visit! Watch for her.downtown to get a sneak peek on her pick!

The Sunken Well Tavern

Susan Larson is the publisher of Fredericksburg.Today. Photo by Susan Larson

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

Open Daily 11am - 4pm 540.371.2233 www.thevirginiadeli.com 826 Caroline at the corner of Caroline & George Streets Master Card ~ Visa ~ Discover 14

January 2015

Front porch fredericksburg

front porch fredericksburg

January 2015

january 2015…Happy New Year! Thursday, January 1

“January All-Members Show” featuring original paintings, handmade jewelry and other artisan gift items at Fredericksburg’s oldest co-op artspace. Art First Gallery, 824 Caroline Street .3717107. www.artfirstgallery.com. Show thru Feb. 2 Jingle Bell Carriage Rides Bring the whole family to participate in Olde Towne Carriages Most Popular Ride of the year 5-9pm Geeks Who Drink. Come join us 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm at Adventure Brewing 33 Perchwood Drive, Fredericksburg. Geeks Who Drink is a hosted trivia game where you can test your knowledge, have fun and win cool prizes. Grab a group of friends and join in on the fun. Karaoke @Jays Great food and atmosphere. DJ Charles has a great selection of music and incredible sound. 8 until closing. Located between Burlington and BigLot.

First Friday, January 2

PONSHOP Studio and Gallery, 712 Caroline St, is excited to announce our January “First Friday” Holiday Hangover party. Why stop the festivities just because the New Year has arrived? We invite our fans to visit us and enjoy all of our offerings from local artists. The gallery will be featuring fine art by Gabriel Pons, Elstabo, Crystal Rodrigue, Kevin Rodrigue, and James Walker with new ceramics by co-owner Scarlett Pons. First Friday opening for “January All-Members Show,” 6 to 9pm. Art First Gallery, 824 Caroline Street in downtown Fredericksburg. 371-7107 Brush Strokes Gallery First Friday reception 6-9 pm “Guest Invitational Show. Participating artists, Karen Barnhart, Laurie Barton, Peg LaRose, and Kandra Orr will be displaying a wide variety of works in such mediums as sculpture, drawing, and more. Subjects will range from every day experience to the highly dramatic. Show runs through Feb 1 Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts January exhibits: National Exhibit, “It’s Small”, Gretchen Schermerhorn. Members’ Gallery, Katy Shepard & Dave Bellard. 813 Sophia St.

CALENDAR of events

Lee’s Retreat Brewpub at the Blue & Gray Brewing Co. becomes an authentic Irish pub with live Irish music and Irish dancers from the local Muggivan School of Irish Dance, fresh pub fare and fresh beer Just like in Ireland the brewpub is kid friendly. 8pm. No Cover

Open Mic @ Grog and Tankard, 1243 Jeff. Davis Hwy, Stafford 9pm-1am. do you enjoy local talent? come on out and hear some the the areas’ best on stage. Do you play an instrument, sing, tell jokes, or other stage performance?Come out and sing up for a great time performing.

Saturday, January 3

Saturday, January 10

Relive history at the Railroad Museum. Located in Spotsylvania Business Park across from the Fairgrounds and near Shannon Airport. See th tools and equipment used to build and maintain the railroads. Sit in the restored cabooses an Weather permitting step aboard the restored maintenance of way train for an open air excursion out of the business park and along Deep Run. Museum is open every Saturday morning from 9AM to noon and train rides conducted when weather and commercial rail operations permit. Local Brewery Tours & Tasting. Blue & Gray Brewing Co. free tastings and tours every Saturday. Join us between 10am and 2 pm for a taste straight from the tanks, no appointment necessary. brewpub overlooks brewery and both are kid friendly. Adventure Brewing presents: Bad Movie Night Saturday Nights 10 PM to Midnight. Every Saturday night we play a bad movie and you enjoy making fun of it. No admission fee and free snacks are provided. Please be loud and rowdy, outrageous costumes are encouraged.

Monday, January 5

Open Mic with Thom Schiff @Colonial Tavern, 406 Lafayette Blvd. Bring your instruments and play, or just come to listen and enjoy some of Fredericksburg’s best musicians. 21+.

Tuesday, January 6

Colonial Seafood @ Bistro Bethem. 7-10pm Join us for drink specials, half-priced pizza and live music . No cover! Thursday, January 8 Herbal Enthusiast Meet Up @ Downtown Greens @ 6:00 pm Join others interested in Herbs, Herbal Medicine and herb growing! We will be discussing 6 plants and their attributes. See you there! Karaoke @Jays Great food and atmosphere. DJ Charles has a great selection of music and incredible sound. From 8 until closing. Located between Burlington and BigLot.

Creativity and Change for Teens (ages 14 to 18): A workshop that guides teens through the process of self-awareness and growth through the power of music, collage and writing. Kana Zink, BC-MT and Dianne Bachman, LCSW. Space is limited to 8 guests and the fee is $45 (includes all materials and snacks). 1-4pm Contact Dianne Bachman at (540) 361-1556, xt. 705 Relive history at the Railroad Museum. Located in Spotsylvania Business Park across from the Fairgrounds and near Shannon Airport. See th tools and equipment used to build and maintain the railroads. Sit in the restored cabooses an Weather permitting step aboard the restored maintenance of way train for an open air excursion out of the business park and along Deep Run. Museum is open every Saturday morning from 9AM to noon and train rides conducted when weather and commercial rail operations permit Local Brewery Tours & Tasting. Blue & Gray Brewing Co. free tastings and tours every Saturday. Join us between 10am and 2 pm for a taste straight from the tanks, no appointment necessary. brewpub overlooks brewery and both are kid friendly.

or just come to listen and enjoy some of Fredericksburg’s best musicians. 21+.

Tuesday, January 13

Culture and Cocktails @ FAMCC Town Hall 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Join us as FAMCC President & CEO, Dr. Susan Glasser, talks about Quilt National ’13. Light fare and open bar are included as part of the evening. The Approach @ Bistro Bethem @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Join us for drink specials, half-priced pizza and live music . No Cover

Thursday, January 15

Ribbon Cutting @ 806 Bistro @ 10:00 am Join Main Street as we welcome 806 Bistro to Downtown. Another restaurant by owners of Soup & Taco. DeLaura’s Homemade Goat Cheese Tasting @ Downtown Greens 6:00 pm Join us for engaging conversation and cheese tasting. Let your culinary sprite run wild, to create your own special cheese blend, starting with plain ecoganic chevre from King George’s own BIOTA farm, with DeLaura Padovan. She will bring a wide variety of spices and ingredients to customize your own jar of take home cheese. Karaoke @Jays Great food and atmosphere. DJ Charles has a great selection of music and incredible sound. From 8 until closing. Located between Burlington and BigLot. You will not be disappointed.

Adventure Brewing presents: Bad Movie Night Saturday Nights 10 PM to Midnight. Every Saturday night we play a bad movie and you enjoy making fun of it. No admission fee and free snacks are provided. Please be loud and rowdy, outrageous costumes are encouraged.

Denim-n-Lace @ the Rec, 8-11pm. Awesome talented duo playing Country, Blues and Rock for your listening and dancing enjoyment. 213 William St.

Friday, January 16

Monday, January 12

Ribbon Cutting @ Latitudes Fair Trade @ 10:00 am Come welcome with Main Street Latitudes to Downtown! Open Mic with Thom Schiff @Colonial Tavern, 406 Lafayette Blvd. Bring your instruments and play,

Fall Line Bluegrass Band @ Home Town Grill, Join us for an evening of live traditional and contemporary bluegrass music This local favorite will keep your toes tapping with some fiery flatpicking, melodic banjo and smooth harmonies.. 1109 Jeff Davis Hwy, Eagle Village

Saturday, January 17

Adventure Brewing presents: Bad Movie Night Saturday Nights 10 PM to Midnight. No admission fee and free snacks are provided.

Relive history at the Railroad Museum. Located in Spotsylvania Business Park across from the Fairgrounds and near Shannon Airport. Sit in the restored cabooses Weather permitting step aboard the restored maintenance of way train for an open air excursion out of the business park and along Deep Run. 9AM to noon Local Brewery Tours & Tasting. Blue & Gray Brewing Co. free tastings and tours every Saturday. Join us between 10am and 2 pm for a taste straight from the tanks, no appointment necessary. brewpub overlooks brewery and both are kid friendly. FFPA’s Young Artist Competition Finals Concert @ Chancellor Baptist Church 7:30 pm Fredericksburg Festival for the Performing Arts will present the finals concert for their Young Artist Competition The concert is held at Chancellor Baptist Church at 11324 Gordon Road in Spotsylvania. Admission is Free. Come out for this exciting and entertaining event.

Monday, January 19

Open Mic with Thom Schiff @Colonial Tavern, 406 Lafayette Blvd. Bring your instruments and play, or just come to listen and enjoy some of Fredericksburg’s best musicians. 21+.

Tuesday January 20

Laurie Rose Griffith & Peter Mealy @ Bistro Bethem 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Join us for drink specials, half-priced pizza and live No cover!

Thursday, January 22

Bumper Jacksons’ Jump Blues comes to Ashland Coffee and Tea 8:00 pm. 100 North Railroad Avenue Ashland, VA 23005. Bumper Jacksons are a big, fat party. Recognized as DC’s “Best Traditional Folk Band” at the 2013 Washington Area Music Awards, they perform an exciting blend of the traditional and non-traditional, western swing, street jazz, bluegrass and country blues $ Karaoke @Jays Great food and atmosphere. DJ Charles has a great selection of music and incredible sound. From 8 until closing. Located between Burlington and BigLot. You will not be disappointed. Open Mic @ Grog and Tankard, 1243 Jeff. Davis Hwy, Stafford 9pm-1am. do you enjoy local talent?

come on out and hear some the the areas’ best on stage. Do you play an instrument, sing, tell jokes, or other stage performance?Come out and sing up for a great time performing.

Gramann Friday, , above 902 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA (enter through the alley round back). Admission is $10 ($5 kids and students).

Fred. Blues Society Open Blues Jam @ Colonial Tavern, 406 Lafayette Blvd. Bring your instruments or come to listen. Members of the Fredericksburg Blues Society will be on-hand for questions, comments and membership sign-ups. Jam session begins at 8.

Creativity and Change (for adults 18 and over): A workshop that speaks to the process of change through the power of music, collage and writing. Tap into your inner wisdom and explore your potential. Kana Zink, BC-MT, and Dianne Bachman, LCSW. Space is limited to 8 guests and the fee is $45 (includes all materials and snacks) 9am-12. Contact Dianne Bachman at (540) 3611556, xt 705

Saturday, January 24

Relive history at the Railroad Museum. Located in Spotsylvania Business Park across from the Fairgrounds and near Shannon Airport. See th tools and equipment used to build and maintain the railroads. Sit in the restored cabooses an Weather permitting step aboard the restored maintenance of way train for an open air excursion out of the business park and along Deep Run. Museum is open every Saturday morning from 9AM to noon and train rides conducted when weather and commercial rail operations permit Local Brewery Tours & Tasting. Blue & Gray Brewing Co. free tastings and tours every Saturday. Join us between 10am and 2 pm for a taste straight from the tanks, no appointment necessary. brewpub overlooks brewery and both are kid friendly. Adventure Brewing presents: Bad Movie Night Saturday Nights 10 PM to Midnight. Every Saturday night we play a bad movie and you enjoy making fun of it. No admission fee and free snacks are provided. Please be loud and rowdy, outrageous costumes are encouraged

Sunday, January 25

1st Annual Clothing Swap @ Downtown Greens 3:00 pm Join us for our 1st Annual Clothing Swap. Get in the recycling spirit and bring your gently used clothes to share and find some treasures to bring home, free! 206 Charles Street

Tuesday, January 27

Smith, Party of 3 @ Bistro Bethem 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Join us for drink specials, half-priced pizza and live music . No cover!

Friday, January 30

Songwriters’ Showcase @ Pickers’ Supply Concert Hall 8:00 pm – 10:30 pm presenting Barbara Martin, Lou Dominguez, Amy Cox, and Bob

Saturday, January 31

Relive history at the Railroad Museum. Located in Spotsylvania Business Park across from the Fairgrounds and near Shannon Airport. See th tools and equipment used to build and maintain the railroads. Sit in the restored cabooses an Weather permitting step aboard the restored maintenance of way train for an open air excursion out of the business park and along Deep Run. Museum is open every Saturday morning from 9AM to noon and train rides conducted when weather and commercial rail operations permit Local Brewery Tours & Tasting. Blue & Gray Brewing Co. free tastings and tours every Saturday. Join us between 10am and 2 pm for a taste straight from the tanks, no appointment necessary. brewpub overlooks brewery and both are kid friendly. Adventure Brewing presents: Bad Movie Night Saturday Nights 10 PM to Midnight. Every Saturday night we play a bad movie and you enjoy making fun of it. No admission fee and free snacks are provided. Please be loud and rowdy, outrageous costumes are encouraged

If you are reading this 210th issue of FP, thank an advertiser as we celebrate our 18th year of continuous publication! If you are an advertiser, list your events. Deadline for February issue is January 20th. To submit events, follow this link: frontporchfredericksburg.com/how-tto-ssubmitonline

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

Light Housekeeping Shopping/Errands Personal Care Flexible Hours

Call for a free, no-obligation appointment

540.899.1422 Each HomeInstead Franchise Office is Independently Owned & Operated

January 2015

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2388 Fans (& Growing) Want You to Join

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

Front Porch on

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January 2015

january 2015…Happy New Year! Thursday, January 1

First Friday, January 2

CALENDAR of events

Saturday, January 3

Saturday, January 10

Monday, January 5

Open Mic with Thom Schiff @Colonial Tavern, 406 Lafayette Blvd. Bring your instruments and play, or just come to listen and enjoy some of Fredericksburg’s best musicians. 21+.

Tuesday, January 6

or just come to listen and enjoy some of Fredericksburg’s best musicians. 21+.

Tuesday, January 13

Thursday, January 15

Denim-n-Lace @ the Rec, 8-11pm. Awesome talented duo playing Country, Blues and Rock for your listening and dancing enjoyment. 213 William St.

Friday, January 16

Monday, January 12

Ribbon Cutting @ Latitudes Fair Trade @ 10:00 am Come welcome with Main Street Latitudes to Downtown! Open Mic with Thom Schiff @Colonial Tavern, 406 Lafayette Blvd. Bring your instruments and play,

Saturday, January 17

Adventure Brewing presents: Bad Movie Night Saturday Nights 10 PM to Midnight. No admission fee and free snacks are provided.

Monday, January 19

Open Mic with Thom Schiff @Colonial Tavern, 406 Lafayette Blvd. Bring your instruments and play, or just come to listen and enjoy some of Fredericksburg’s best musicians. 21+.

Tuesday January 20

Laurie Rose Griffith & Peter Mealy @ Bistro Bethem 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Join us for drink specials, half-priced pizza and live No cover!

Thursday, January 22

come on out and hear some the the areas’ best on stage. Do you play an instrument, sing, tell jokes, or other stage performance?Come out and sing up for a great time performing.

Gramann Friday, , above 902 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA (enter through the alley round back). Admission is $10 ($5 kids and students).

Saturday, January 24

Relive history at the Railroad Museum. Located in Spotsylvania Business Park across from the Fairgrounds and near Shannon Airport. See th tools and equipment used to build and maintain the railroads. Sit in the restored cabooses an Weather permitting step aboard the restored maintenance of way train for an open air excursion out of the business park and along Deep Run. Museum is open every Saturday morning from 9AM to noon and train rides conducted when weather and commercial rail operations permit Local Brewery Tours & Tasting. Blue & Gray Brewing Co. free tastings and tours every Saturday. Join us between 10am and 2 pm for a taste straight from the tanks, no appointment necessary. brewpub overlooks brewery and both are kid friendly. Adventure Brewing presents: Bad Movie Night Saturday Nights 10 PM to Midnight. Every Saturday night we play a bad movie and you enjoy making fun of it. No admission fee and free snacks are provided. Please be loud and rowdy, outrageous costumes are encouraged

Sunday, January 25

Tuesday, January 27

Smith, Party of 3 @ Bistro Bethem 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Join us for drink specials, half-priced pizza and live music . No cover!

Friday, January 30

Songwriters’ Showcase @ Pickers’ Supply Concert Hall 8:00 pm – 10:30 pm presenting Barbara Martin, Lou Dominguez, Amy Cox, and Bob

Saturday, January 31

Relive history at the Railroad Museum. Located in Spotsylvania Business Park across from the Fairgrounds and near Shannon Airport. See th tools and equipment used to build and maintain the railroads. Sit in the restored cabooses an Weather permitting step aboard the restored maintenance of way train for an open air excursion out of the business park and along Deep Run. Museum is open every Saturday morning from 9AM to noon and train rides conducted when weather and commercial rail operations permit Local Brewery Tours & Tasting. Blue & Gray Brewing Co. free tastings and tours every Saturday. Join us between 10am and 2 pm for a taste straight from the tanks, no appointment necessary. brewpub overlooks brewery and both are kid friendly. Adventure Brewing presents: Bad Movie Night Saturday Nights 10 PM to Midnight. Every Saturday night we play a bad movie and you enjoy making fun of it. No admission fee and free snacks are provided. Please be loud and rowdy, outrageous costumes are encouraged

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

Light Housekeeping Shopping/Errands Personal Care Flexible Hours

Call for a free, no-obligation appointment

540.899.1422 Each HomeInstead Franchise Office is Independently Owned & Operated

January 2015

Front porch fredericksburg

2388 Fans (& Growing) Want You to Join

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

Front Porch on

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January 2015

history’s stories

CIVIL WAR IN NUMBERS By Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks

Regardless of your affiliation North or South, a good perspective can only be made by examining statistics. It is a known fact that the Northern States contained the entire industrial base. The fact remain that the South paid its share of the cost of the Government before 1860. In 1859 the Southern states exported $161 million while the North total exported goods were less than half that amount with $78 million totals. General Grant had said that his belief was the Civil War was more of an economic issue. Statistics vary drastically from different sources, however, we can come up with good estimates from using several sources. The Southern states had a population of 5,300,000 and the North had almost five times with 24,400,000 of those totals only 985,000 in the South (1845) and 2,200,00 in the North were eligible for the military. We do know however that approximately 200,000 on both sides under age 18 joined the military. The peak strength of the North was 1,045,000 and the South was less than half that amount with 485,000 of these men 30,000 on each side would die after being captured and sent North or South. Just think about what would happen today if the media we have today was on the scene back in 1862 at the battle of Fredericksburg or several months later at Gettysburg. The North had 110,000 killed in battles or dying from wounds along with 275,000 wounded that survived. The South lost 94,000 in battles or dying from wounds and 226,000 who survived their wounds. Amore eye opening figure is that 258,000 Union soldiers died from disease along with 60,000 Confederate soldiers. Many of the deaths were from diarrhea and dysentery. The largest numerical loss in a single battle was Gettysburg where 40,300 Americans (North and South) were wounded or killed. From 1861-1865 the cost of war for the United States Government was $2 million per day compared to WWII which cost $113 million per day. In 1958 the government was paying pensions to 3,042 widows of Union veterans and 526 widows of Southern soldiers and two Confederate veterans John Salling and Walter Williams. The last Union Veteran Albert Woodson died in 1956. Walter Williams was the last Civil War veteran to die in 1959 at the age of 117.

Dedicated in memory of Robert Crookshanks & Rev. Sam Gouldthrope

If you have a Fredericksburg History question, contact Tuffy at frntprch@aol.com

Old Town’s Greatest Tour 35 Monuments, Markers, & Attractions AND the Fredericksburg Battlefields Weddings Reunions Shuttles Parties Group Outings Fredericksburgtrolley.com 18

January 2015

540-898-0737

Front porch fredericksburg

OUR HERITAGE

A monthly look at the Central Rappahannock Heritage Center collection

Snow

By Kathy Habel & Judy Chaimson Snow - it will come this winter, to some extent or another, whether we hope for it or wish it away. Winter snowstorms have brought enjoyment, beauty and difficulties to the Fredericksburg region. Transplants from Northern climes have been known to scoff at our response to the first flake – bread, milk and, for some reason, toilet paper fly off grocery store shelves, schools close, generators are tuned up. But, in fact, there have been some notable storms in our history. Many Fredericksburgers still feel the way Elizabeth Stearns’s correspondent did in December, 1933, when she wrote to Elizabeth “I saw the first snow in eight years and it goes without saying twas not a welcome sight. I could do nothing but shiver and pull the covering over my head to shut out the sight of it.” A storm in January of 1863 made travel difficult for Confederate troops stationed near Fredericksburg. Robert Knox wrote to his sister, Virginia: “On the 27th [January] Our Division …was marched twelve miles through the rain to a point six miles above Fredericksburg …We encamped in the woods on the wet ground & during the night it commenced snowing & did not cease until the snow was 8 to 10 inches deep.” Apparently, that storm also provided a means for some recreation for the young men in Robert’s regiment as he describes: “Our Brigade…that is some of each Regiment, charged Genl Armsteads Brigade this morning & drove them from their Camp with snowballs, then both joining together proceeded onward to Genl Toombs Brigade, whipped them [and] then pushed on [to] Genl Kempers Brigade & are now still fighting with snowballs three miles from here…It is quite exciting to see them & to hear their yells as they charge. It sounds very much like the real strife with the exception of the cannon &c.” (Robert T. Knox to sister Virginia – 1 Feb 1863) In 1935, a December storm dumped eight inches in a 35-hour period,

but the City was prepared with two snowplows continuously on the streets. Due to very low temperatures and the depth of the snow, however, few sledders were out on the Cornell Street hill. The popularity of Cornell Street hill in the winters of the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s is readily seen in oral histories and in newspaper articles of the period. The street was roped off, and sledders would be able to slide from Washington Avenue to Kenmore Avenue in relative safety. During that winter of 1934-35, Dr. Edward Alvey, Jr. hired a horse-drawn sleigh from the livery and taxi service of R. G. Hilldrup and spent the afternoon with his six-year-old daughter riding through Fredericksburg. According to Dr. Alvey, “We became part of the Currier and Ives setting as we glided along that winter afternoon. Adults looked on with nostalgia; some children shouted to us, while others stared incredulously to see a real horse-drawn sleigh.” Whether we see snow as a blessing or a curse, most of us will try to make the best of it, as Fredericksburg residents have done throughout history. The documents at the Heritage Center reveal human-interest stories for all seasons. Visit us on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in the Maury Commons Building, Fredericksburg.

Bravo! Bravo! a new generation of musical artists By beth constantino

Fredericksburg Festival for the Performing Arts (FFPA) has been bringing musical and theatre performances to the Fredericksburg area since 1988. Its annual Chamber Music Festival will be held for the 28th year this spring. FFPA has a quieter mission to bring educational and youth focused events to this community and to inspire a new generation to love and appreciate the arts. Among them, FFPA brings Virginia Opera children’s performances free of charge each year to elementary schools in the city and surrounding counties.

Another of its youthfocused events, the Young Artist Competition (YAC), is hosted each January for middle and high school students. Students of both voice and classical instruments perform before a panel of judges. Following auditions, the finalists present high caliber performances in a public concert. The winners receive scholarships from FFPA and are invited to perform at the Annual Chamber Music Festival as well as solo with the Rappahannock Pops Orchestra. Luke Payne, cellist and first place instrumental winner in 2014, shared that as a young musician YAC gave him something to work toward. He feels that the constructive criticism and suggestions by the judges during the auditions were very helpful to him as a performer. “It is one of the few opportunities that I have had for solo performing.” Performing at FFPA’s Chamber Music Festival was a rare opportunity to play before a large audience. Luke plans to continue with cello along with other

pursuits in college. Several of his siblings from his musical family have participated in the YAC competition as well. Soprano and first place vocal winner Zoe Woodaman entered into the world of opera after being inspired by music that her mom loved and by her grandfather’s vast collection of opera recordings. Her voice teacher directed her to the YAC competition. Zoe says that competing in YAC has given her musical confidence. Competitions for youth in music on the level of YAC are hard to find in this area. “I found my first taste of excitement as a singer”, shared Zoe regarding YAC. From that spark of inspiration, Zoe will pursue singing as she moves on to college in the near future. Andrew Liang’s experience with YAC is unique. He entered and won first place playing piano several years ago. He returned as an entrant in violin in 2014 and won third place. Andrew said, “It was definitely inspiring knowing that FFPA could gather so many talented high school students to one competition.” A highlight for Andrew was meeting professional classical musicians and soloing at the

Chamber Festival. This January 17th, the YAC finalists will once again be in place to perform for the public and compete before the judges. After long hours of practice, auditions, and training, these young performers will create some magic. Come one and all and be inspired. Warm your hearts on a Saturday evening in January and see how bright and melodious our future can be. FFPA believes in passing a love of the performing arts on to a new generation. Beth Constantino is a retired educator, lover of the arts, and office administrator for FFPA.

Judy Chaimson and Kathy Habel are both with CRHC. photo Princess Anne St, Feb. 1936

Central Rappahannock

HERITAGE CENTER Volunteers needed to process historical documents and aid researchers. Training provided. Phone 540-373-3704 or email crhc@verizon.net Open to the public for scholarly research

The Heritage Center

Maury Commons

900 Barton St

Fredericksburg front porch fredericksburg

January 2015

history’s stories

CIVIL WAR IN NUMBERS By Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks

Dedicated in memory of Robert Crookshanks & Rev. Sam Gouldthrope

If you have a Fredericksburg History question, contact Tuffy at frntprch@aol.com

Old Town’s Greatest Tour 35 Monuments, Markers, & Attractions AND the Fredericksburg Battlefields Weddings Reunions Shuttles Parties Group Outings Fredericksburgtrolley.com 18

January 2015

540-898-0737

Front porch fredericksburg

OUR HERITAGE

A monthly look at the Central Rappahannock Heritage Center collection

Snow

Bravo! Bravo! a new generation of musical artists By beth constantino

Judy Chaimson and Kathy Habel are both with CRHC. photo Princess Anne St, Feb. 1936

Central Rappahannock

HERITAGE CENTER Volunteers needed to process historical documents and aid researchers. Training provided. Phone 540-373-3704 or email crhc@verizon.net Open to the public for scholarly research

The Heritage Center

Maury Commons

900 Barton St

Fredericksburg front porch fredericksburg

January 2015

Companions

AutoKnown Better

lasers - not just for captain kirk

januarius

By sandi pepper, DVm

When I first heard about laser therapy, I dismissed the idea as hocuspocus quackery. I guess I must be getting soft, because after a dozen years in traditional medicine I am now giving alternative therapies a second glance. I think this all started about 5 years ago. I was at the typical veterinary continuing education conference doodling in the back row waiting for someone to say something that would help me improve how I cared for my patients. Typically, I find I have ended up in the wrong lecture. The one where the doctor just tries to repeat everything you learned at vet school. The one where you learn zero about real life medicine. It is the same luck I have at the grocery store. I always choose the slow line that has the unexpected price check. Anyway, I am at this national convention. I think it was in Baltimore and the lecturer starts explaining how certain laser light wavelengths are absorbed by photophores on cell membranes and this turns on cell metabolism. The guy is breaking out slides from electron microscopy and by the end of the lecture, I was intrigued. So what really knocked my socks off is that vets in the audience

start to raise their hands and give personal stories about how laser is improving their patient’s care. I heard some even admitting they have been treated themselves for things like torn shoulders to migraines with success. So over the last 5 years I have been reading whatever I can about laser therapy, and I have found the amount of research and documentation of its benefits has really taken off. I think we now have a better understanding of how and why it works. In the simplest terms, therapy lasers produce a wavelength of light that stimulate cells to make energy. This process is similar to plant cells using sunlight to create energy in photosynthesis. There are now studies that help us understand how lasers work on a cellular level and on a patient level. The known effects of laser therapy are: pain relief, decreased inflammation, and enhanced healing. Laser therapy has been changing my expectations. After using it on my pets, on staffs pets, and client’s pets, I see improvement in healing. I can think of several “Wow” cases. A few near and dear to me are Jade, a senior

Full Service Hospital featuring: Grooming Salon Canine & Feline Boarding Dog Training with Play Time Alternative Therapies: Therapy Laser: Helps with Pain Relief, Decreases Inflammation & Enhances Healing Chiropractic Adjustments: Provides Comfort & Restores Motion & Function to many patients

White Oak Animal Hospital would like to welcome Dr. Sheree Corbin to our team Stacy L. Horner, DVM; Gary B. Dunn, DVM; Melanie M. Bell, DVM; Sandi L. Pepper, DVM; Melissa A. DeLauter, DVM ; Arlene M. Evans, DVM; Jennifer V. Skarbek, DVM; Sheree M. Corbin, DVM

540/374-0462 www.woahvets.com 20

January 2015

10 Walsh Lane Front porch fredericksburg

Weimeriner (owned by one of my staff) whose arthritis is so bad, she takes 3 drugs for pain. Despite this she usually limps and shuffles along, dragging her toes when she moves. After adding laser therapy treatments, I actually saw her “trot” out the door. My own case is a sugar glider given to my daughter because he chronically self-mutilated his tail and actually had a tail vertebrae exposed. (Yes, this is the type of pet I adopt.) After adding laser to his regular treatment, his lick sore is healed and hair is regrowing. FYI, I think that is one great thing about laser. It works well for pain when a pet can’t tolerate pain medications or if none are safe for their species! Of course, not all treatments are impressive, but I have yet to get a negative comment from an owner. So I encourage people to give it a try. Acute conditions often see improvement in 1 to 3 treatments while chronic conditions often need 3 to 5 sessions. A few random laser facts 1. Therapy lasers are the norm in human sports medicine. More sport franchises own them than don’t. Even our Washington Redskins use them to get their athletes back on the field after injury. 2. Laser treatments feel good. They feel like a warm bath and only take about 35 minutes on average. 3. Therapy laser is FDA approved and has a huge safety margin. 4. Laser treatment is affordable. Most treatments cost 25 to 30 dollars. 5. Laser can positively affect most health issues that involve pain, inflammation, and/or tissue healing.

My Best Buddy a love Letter

By Rim Vining

"Our family wants to take care of your family." 10839 Tidewater Trail Fredericksburg, VA 22408 540-361-7050 www.tidewatertrail.com We are on Facebook & Twitter.

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

ANIMAL RITES, USA Pet Cremation Service

Dr. Sandi Pepper is a veterinarian at White Oak Animal Hospital. She has two kids, a husband, and 12 pets (at this moment).

Januarius is upon us. The month lorded over by the Roman god Janus often depicted with two faces representing both the future and the past. Personally I favor the description that Janus presides over doors, beginnings, transitions, gates and passages… now that would include garage doors right? Obviously I would be in favor of a month devoted to the worship of garage doors and the safe keeping and passage of the treasures locked inside. Saint Christopher may be the patron saint of travelers and a “Magnetic Mary on the dashboard of your car” may be more than a hip line in a song but most old cars spend 95% of their lives in the garage. They should have some protection as they slumber like Smaug with only the glow of a fully charged battery tender giving any indication that they are actually alive. As the days begin to get longer and these Dragons awaken they need safe passage through the garage door into the world of mortals. Most men are unaware of the link older steel behemoths provide to their past. As they transport themselves in blue-tooth bliss they ride on wheel bearings hardened and perfected by the steel wraiths in the mines of Rouge River. Their silly little low profile tires stay on the rim with a bead molded from the sweat and inspiration of the craftsmen from Dayton. Blue hair and blue tooth share a common ancestry. Now as cliché as it might be, I am of the opinion that 2015 will be a kick-ass year on many levels and Janus is free to protect us all along the way. In my world we started a new business in March that has done pretty well making house calls for classic cars in need. (www.classiccarsolutions.net) Our shop looks like a 1st grade crayon box with cars in primary colors: real yellow, bright red, true blue and even emerald green. Cars weren’t always taupe, silver or

By Matthew Vance white. Their coats of many colors spoke loudly as either beautiful or incredibly ugly, but they spoke out. We’re looking forward to the new year. In my world we started the year with a house so full of “stuff” you could barely move. Our stuff, my mom’s stuff and boxes piled high with “important family papers” that had not seen the light of day since the 1930’s and some went back centuries… really. They needed to be sorted through and sent to historic societies and interested family members around the country. Many items were fascinating and many were “important” like car insurance bills and canceled checks from 1936 and notification that my father’s driving privileges in the District of Columbia were being revoked in 1939 due to traffic violations and excessive parking tickets. (Funny, he never shared that with his teenage sons) In my world most of that “stuff” is now gone. The trim around the fireplace that I took down six years ago while remodeling is back in place. The upstairs project that started at the same time is about finished. Kathy and I spent a year practicing music again, her guitar finally got repaired, our oldest son is getting married in June and is playing guitar with us for the Honeymoon Tour (you’ll hear more about that soon) and the youngest moved to Atlanta: so far - so good. The house is quiet and cleared out and it’s liberating. This is a new year and I plan to enjoy it though it does start with a question: Why is it a Genie garage door opener not a Janus? Rim Vining wishes all a New Year filled with safe passages

Steam clouded from my mouth as I walked through the woods. It was cold—unbearably cold. Perhaps camping with friends wasn’t the greatest idea in November. As I exited the forest, Buddy was sitting there waiting for me. His silver exterior shined in the moonlight. I opened the door and crawled into the back seat, and as sleep quickly came over me, all I could think of was how much I loved my car. Everyone dreams about their first car, the excitement, the thrill of freedom. My first car, a 2005 Buick Century, has been no different. I remember the day that my older sister was leaving for college and she finally handed down the keys to me. The metal felt cold in my hand as I began to imagine all of the possibilities created by finally having my own transportation. During this magical moment I was too excited to realize that my sister had handed me more than just a car. She also gave me monthly car payments, weekly gas money, and other expenditures that quickly emptied my already hollow bank account. I began to realize that having a car is expensive, but that only made me appreciate it more. My friends seem to understand that. “It’s not the coolest car, but all of the bros appreciate it, and it has become part of the family,” FA senior Jake Adams said. Buddy is not the most beautiful or eye-catching vehicle in the parking lot. To a stranger, it is nothing more than an old Buick with some lumpy seats and crackly speakers, but over the years and through my adventures the car has become special, a part of me, and a part of

my experiences with friends and family. It makes it even better now that there is now another Buick Century, this one belonging to senior Michael Murphy, in the FA parking lot. “It’s dependable, safe, pretty inexpensive, so I decided to buy one as well,” he said. It’s been humorous to watch from the sidelines as my close friend has dealt with many of the same problems I’ve had with my car, whether it was the small gas tank, the slow engine, the terrible speakers, or other abnormalities. “It’s not the most agile car. A solid car stands flat during turns, but the Buick Century feels like it is about to flip over,” Murphy said. Nonetheless, it’s all part of the experience, and Murphy will someday understand that. Buddy is special, almost magical. It protected our house from a reckless drunk driver, and despite the damage to the car, my sister was able to wake up the next morning and drive to work. It is 10 years old but still has not required any repairs. This car has been all I needed and more. Matthew Vance, the son of Robert Vance and Mary Skinner-Vance, is a Fredericksburg Academy senior. Along with playing basketball, he loves to write and film.

When it’s time to say “Good-bye”

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When it’s time to say “Good-bye”

January 2015

Senior Care aging stereotypes By Karl Karch

How many of you have either heard or said the words “senior moment”, “greedy geezer”, “old man”, “little old lady”, or “he’s just set in his ways”? These are commonly used negative stereotypes about older adults. You may have also heard someone patronizing an older adult using “baby talk”, a form of “elderspeak”, which is a particularly condescending negative stereotype. Greeting cards sell when they make people laugh at jokes about getting old, or looking decrepit. Older workers face stereotypes on the job like: less productive, more expensive, less adaptable, more rigid, or too overqualified. You may remember the awful political attack ad that depicted Paul Ryan “throwing granny off the cliff” because of his Medicare reform proposal. Some sayings seem cute or funny, others seem harmless, but negative stereotyping can have a detrimental effect on some seniors, especially if used often like “I’m having a senior moment” implying that our memory deteriorates as we age, a false myth about aging. Aging has traditionally been viewed negatively as being a time of decline in physical, cognitive, and psychosocial functioning which results in a growing burden to society with the population aging and Medicare and Social Security running out of money. The word “ageism” was coined to describe agerelated stereotyping and discriminating against people because they are old. Considerable scholarly research has been conducted on ageist positive and negative stereotypes. One researcher, Brad Meisner in 2012 reviewed many of the relevant studies on the effects of stereotypes on older adults. As expected, he found that positive stereotyping had a beneficial effect on older adults’ health and mental well-being, and negative stereotyping had a damaging effect. But,

one surprising and significant finding was that the detrimental negative effects were almost three times larger than the positive effects, which suggests that positive effects cannot offset the negative effects. Not only are negative stereotypes hurtful to older people, but they may even shorten their lives. As mentioned last month, Becca Levy, PhD, assistant professor of public health at Yale University found that older adults with more positive self-perceptions of aging lived 7.5 years longer than those with negative self-perceptions of aging. She also found that older adults exposed to positive stereotypes have significantly better memory and balance, whereas negative self-perceptions contributed to worse memory and feelings of worthlessness. Surprisingly, some studies actually found that older adults can inoculate themselves from internalizing negative stereotypes by not identifying with the category “elderly”. Because they feel younger than their age or more mentally active, these ageist stereotypes don’t apply to them. Ronald Reagan was our nation’s oldest President. At the age of 74, during an October 21, 1984 televised debate with Walter Mondale, he was questioned about his age, implying he was too old to be President. Reagan responded: “I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.” So, as we enter a New Year, resolve not to make aging stereotypes a part of your conversations. You may be helping seniors live longer, more fulfilling lives. Happy New Year! Karl Karch is a local franchise owner of Home Instead Senior Care, a licensed home care organization providing personal care, companionship and home helper services in the Fredericksburg and Culpeper region. .

Renew

Natural Health warm winter wishes of frankincense

by Joan M. Geisler

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

The Winter Season is upon us once again, bringing us full circle in the cycle of the year. Winters chill brings with it tingly toes and frosty window panes, and no boost warmth from mother nature. It’s a time to create our own warmth, to dispel the damp and find comfort in our homes, and in ourselves. A time of reflection, of necessary retreat, that allows us to prepare for our spring and to review which of our fields shall be

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planted, and which shall remain fallow. It’s a season to give thanks, to be grateful, to find peace and harmony in ourselves and our lives. Frankincense is a wonderful “go to” essential oil during the winter season. Distilled from the “tears” of a desert tree, its spicy warm glow is the perfect oil for the chill and damp of winter, as it helps to dispel the cold in our heart, our mind and our body. Just a few drops in a diffuser or mixed into a massage cream helps soothe dry, cracked skin and frazzled nerves, and remind us of the warmer days to come. When used in carrier oils like Tamanu and Coconut, it creates a wonderful warming treatment for muscle aches and pains. Frankincense is also an excellent choice for meditation, as it allows for a grounding, comforting and nurturing environment, providing us with the opportunity to recognize life’s trials and rewards, and find gratitude in each. During the cold winter season, while hustling and bustling in our busy schedules, we sometimes lose sight of the things in life we are most grateful for. Quiet moments with friends and loved ones, parties and celebrations, reunions, the kindness of a stranger. Frankincense allows us the opportunity to celebrate the victories in life, both big and small, and to open our mind to the opportunities that lay ahead. May 2015 find you all warm, happy, healthy and opening to your own unique opportunities for change and growth.

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Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink.” Samuel Taylor Coleridge This may not be the most exciting topic but it will be the closest you will get to an ‘instant health fix.’ We in America have many blessings; among them are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I am sure that the blessing of clean drinking water at our disposal is a blessing that we take for granted. Next to oxygen, water is the second most essential life -giving element. Our bodies are made up of 60% water. More importantly, blood is 92 % water, the brain and muscles are 75 % water, and bones are about 22% water. We all want a quick fix to our health. Keeping our body hydrated is the easiest, simplest and cheapest way. It is nearly FREE. Thirst is the Houdini of health problems. When we think we have a health issue, it could be disguised as dehydration. By the time you feel thirsty, you have already lost 1% of your body’s water. By 3% loss, your body begins to show dramatic signs of impairment. Symptoms of Dehydration If your body is dehydrated, it cannot cool itself properly, leading to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. You will begin to feel lethargic and your muscles may cramp up. Your brain won’t work properly, and you will feel groggy and slow. Your kidneys won’t be able to carry away waste products, so toxins will build up in your system, making you feel ill. You will have constipation and your skin will get dry and itchy. You will have difficulty regulating your body temperature and may feel chronically cold or hot. Other severe symptoms are: Dry Mouth Difficulty Going To The Bathroom Slightly Red Skin Headaches Rapid Breathing Dizziness And Difficulty Concentrating Nausea Aggravation And Depression Poor Skin Elasticity Dark Urine Color Imagine having a healthier brain and body by drinking lots of water. Here are 5 simple ways to hydrate your body. Drink half your body weight in ounces. Using a large glass or bottle will help remind you to drink more. Limit caffeine. Coffee, sodas and teas are a diuretic that actually pulls water from our bodies.

Hunger can be disguised as thirst. When you think you are hungry, you could just be thirsty. Guzzle a large glass of water first thing in the morning. Drink a large glass of water before each meal to fill up your stomach so you will not eat too much. We all want to be healthy and keep our brains sharp. Drinking plain water or with real fruit in it, is the magic ‘pill’ for which we have all been wishing. (Don’t add chemical enhancers, it defeats the purpose). As always, if I can be of help, you can find me at Gold’s Gym Fredericksburg. Joan M. Geisler is a writer & a trainer at Gold’s Gym. She lives in Fredericksburg

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Dr. Christine Thompson January 2015

Senior Care aging stereotypes By Karl Karch

Renew

Natural Health warm winter wishes of frankincense

by Joan M. Geisler

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

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As Suzy says, “It all Starts in The Scenter of Town” Come by and visit

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The Natural Path Holistic Health Center

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January 2015

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Dr. Christine Thompson January 2015

Sonja Wise Tension between traditional & abstract By Susan Larson

Sonja Wise’s artistic inspiration comes from the natural energy of life, as seen in animals, plants, sky and especially oceans and mountains. The Spotsylvania resident primarily works in drawing, painting and digital art. If she had to choose, she’d name drawing her favorite. “Drawing was my first love, and it’s where I start, even when I paint and when I’m creating in the computer,” Wise said. “It all starts in drawing. When I’m staring off in space, I’m identifying my surroundings and deciding how I will draw them. So I’m pretty much always drawing, no matter what I am doing.” Wise studied painting and printmaking at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va. After graduation, she obtained a job with the City of Fredericksburg Department of Parks and Recreation, where she worked for 15 years. “I spent my final years with Parks and Rec as the Special Events and Marketing Coordinator,” Wise said. “I organized events including First Night, the Fredericksburg Art Festival, the Soap Box Derby and the Children’s Art Expo.” In 2008 she founded So Wise Co. Her business specializes in branding, graphic design, website development and Internet marketing. She also began spending more time drawing and painting. Wise begins her creative process by writing. “I write the subject, how I think I’m going to approach it and what I’m trying to achieve,” she said. “If something scares me, like “maybe I can’t get those leaves right,” I write that down, too. It helps me commit.”

January 2015

by megan byrnes

Bill Harris celebrated yet another local solo art show at Bistro Bethem last month (what does this make, numberswise? 546?) with a whole slew of new paintings. Bill lead a small discussion of his work for the guests at the show opening which is one of my favorite things to do – listen to an artist talk about their work. Kara Gerenser, Paul Belinsky, Anna Casana, Kellen Gerenser, Ruthanne Baxter, Bob Martin, Matt Kelly, Jack Morrison, Todd Woollam, Dick Camp, Dolores Bevan Lecky, Kenneth Lecky, Gregg Holmes, and Joanne Beury Goodin were only some of Bill’s friends, family and fans that made it out to the opening. If you weren’t able to get there that Sunday evening, never fear! The show is up until the beginning of February.

The artist experiences an internal struggle in her creative process, which she calls, “the split artists.” “I’m constantly struggling with a tension between traditional and abstract,” she said. “I used to be really hard on myself about my artwork. I didn’t believe I was a real artist, because one day I would be in the mood to create a really detailed pencil drawing and the next day I would do a messy, vibrant abstract in pastels. I had decided that because I didn’t stick to one medium or one theme, that I didn’t fit the definition of “real” artist. Once I came to terms with the fact that I am my own type of artist, then both my art and my career really opened up for me.” Her art business also includes custom pet portraits and home drawings in graphite pencil or colored pencil. She works from photographs. Wise was raised in Culpeper, and that’s where she has her business and her studio. So Wise Co. is located at 404 S. Main St., Second Floor, #B. She also has a home studio. Both studios are open by appointment. Call or email her at admin@sowise.co, 540-623-4220 (main), 540-273-6667 (cell).

Susan Larson is publisher and editor of Fredericksburg[dot]Today, the online news site dedicated to local news and information. You may contact her at fredericksburgtoday@gmail.com.

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two were part of a group who were given a chance to get back in the game and guess what? George got himself back in! He’s done well so far and even Joy still has a shot at a late-game retry during the Last Chance Kitchen games. I’ve always been a huge Top Chef fan but I must say it’s even more exciting when locals are part of the game.

Scene: Brian Norton and Drew Fristoe (above) (separately) in DC to see Wolf Blitzer interview Bravo TV personality Andy Cohen at the Sixth and I synagogue. Full disclosure: I also went up to see my favorite late night talk show host at the Palm restaurant for a happy hour meet and greet. Andy is just as fun, friendly and funny as you’d expect him to be.

Heard:

Dave

Guzman

Seen:

Hugh Cosner with his

wife getting dinner at Bonefish Grill; Richard Friesner shopping at Wegmans; Caroline Carver at a VCU basketball game in some killer gold jeans; Claire Ellinger with her two boys perusing the aisles at Giant in Eagle Village; Bistro Bethem’s Matt Mastaliski grabbing a beer at Hometeam Grill; Mike Craig at a Ravens game. Big congratulations go out to Kelly Pawlik for winning the epic battle between city and soup and finally getting City Soup all licensed up and legit. If you’ve not had the privilege of seeing a big old mason jar full of homemade soup sitting on your front porch when you get home from work, I suggest you go follow City Soup on Facebook and remedy that situation immediately! Kelly makes the most flavorful, healthiest and most delicious soup I’ve had and delivers it right to your door. Soup-er cool (get it?).

Happy Jan. birthdays

Ken Crampton, Mike Skinner, Alyssa Brown, John Eskam, Mary Lynn Powers, Kylie Westerbeck, Jacquie Damm, Carole Garmon, and Scarlett Suhy-P Pons.

Scene:

Jess and Jeremy Sutton

celebrating Shanks Downey and Matt Barnum wedding at the Sunken Well. Congrats to the newlyweds.

Blind

item:

What

local

Fredericksburger who has only quite recently picked up the paintbrush after a years-long hiatus has already scored himself an art show at Sunken Well Tavern for the spring?

and

Maggie McGraw hosted a Mad Men themed holiday party last month. Friends Lynn Ackermann, Tom Arbisi, and Anne Jones were a few of the friends who celebrated .

Heard:

Recent

UMW

grad

Blaize Rai and former Vivify chef Joey Nelson are packing up their bags and Fredericksburg memories to head down south to Charlotte, North Carolina to begin a new chapter in their lives. I’m sure gonna miss them both (they’ve both been a fixture in the downtown community for so long, it’s hard to imagine them gone) but I’m excited about their new adventure together. Tommy Manuel and Laura Eubanks hosted a holiday party last month and let me tell you, it was fun. I know because I was there. Alicia and Jake Morgan, Danielle and Mike Payne, Hap Connors, Mary Kingsley, Rik and Helen Rice, Chrissy and Jon Conway, Terri and Don Mullen came over to Franklin St to deck the halls, wish good tidings to each other and drink sangria.

Scene:

Fredericksburg chef Joy

Crump and UMW alum George Pagonis back on Top Chef after both were eliminated earlier in the competition. The

Scene:

Sarah

Appleby

observing the Northern Lights, Aurora Borealis, Viking ships and quaint, cold villages that resemble the inside of a snow globe on a vacation to Iceland.

Heard:

Tim and Tracy Bray

hosted an open house featuring Joelle Gilbert’s artwork. Joelle painted a number of small, gift-sized paintings for the party and sold lots! Will Webb, Karen Jonas, Missy Colombo, Mike and Erin Silver, Bill Carney, Tina Skinner, Brian Whetzel, Barb Pickel, Felix Fraraccio and Sean Walker all showed up to support Joelle and hang with the Brays!

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January 2015

Sonja Wise Tension between traditional & abstract By Susan Larson

January 2015

by megan byrnes

Susan Larson is publisher and editor of Fredericksburg[dot]Today, the online news site dedicated to local news and information. You may contact her at fredericksburgtoday@gmail.com.

Front porch fredericksburg

Heard:

Dave

Guzman

Seen:

Hugh Cosner with his

Happy Jan. birthdays

Ken Crampton, Mike Skinner, Alyssa Brown, John Eskam, Mary Lynn Powers, Kylie Westerbeck, Jacquie Damm, Carole Garmon, and Scarlett Suhy-P Pons.

Scene:

Jess and Jeremy Sutton

celebrating Shanks Downey and Matt Barnum wedding at the Sunken Well. Congrats to the newlyweds.

Blind

item:

What

local

Fredericksburger who has only quite recently picked up the paintbrush after a years-long hiatus has already scored himself an art show at Sunken Well Tavern for the spring?

and

Maggie McGraw hosted a Mad Men themed holiday party last month. Friends Lynn Ackermann, Tom Arbisi, and Anne Jones were a few of the friends who celebrated .

Heard:

Recent

UMW

grad

Scene:

Fredericksburg chef Joy

Crump and UMW alum George Pagonis back on Top Chef after both were eliminated earlier in the competition. The

Scene:

Sarah

Appleby

observing the Northern Lights, Aurora Borealis, Viking ships and quaint, cold villages that resemble the inside of a snow globe on a vacation to Iceland.

Heard:

Tim and Tracy Bray

front porch fredericksburg

January 2015

FXBG Goes Hollywood

HollyBurg

FXBG Music Scene

Area’s past recognized by oscars

Tyler Lubore

FXBG Antique Dealer supplies props By Susan Larson

Barbara Watkins’ passion is antiques. Never did she imagine she’d contribute to a major motion picture. An ordinary Saturday working at the Fredericksburg Antique Mall became a day Barbara Watkins and Charlene Trueman will never forget. “We were very busy and weren’t paying much attention to these two men until they began piling vast amounts of antiques up on the counter,” Watkins said. “We were running out of room on the counter and we were thinking — what in the world is going on? This isn’t our usual, typical customer!” Watkins (Barbara Watkins Antiques) and Trueman (Charlene Trueman Antiques) each have a space in the Fredericksburg Antique Mall. “Finally we said to them, ‘You look like you have a game plan here; there’s something you’re working on,’” Watkins said. “And for some reason it popped into my head — a movie, a stage production, they’re looking for props. And one of the men said, ‘Yes, we are. As a matter of fact, Steven Spielberg is working on a movie.” That man was set decorator Jim Erickson and the movie was “Lincoln”. “‘We’re finding lots of things in your shop, but we’re really just getting started here in Virginia,’ he told us,” Watkins said. “When they were finished and checked out to the tune of — I don’t know what, but most of the dealers in the shop were pleased, especially me, I asked the gentlemen what else they were specifically looking for,” Watkins said. Watkins, who specializes in 18th and 19th century antiques, had items at her home that interested the set decorator, and he made an appointment to visit a week later. “He came to my home with his assistant and started purchasing things off the walls, off the floor, or asking me if they were for sale,” Watkins said. “And since I’m of a certain age where I need to be downsizing, most things were for sale,” she laughed. Erickson kept in touch with Watkins for a while, and she recommend

January 2015

other places for him to find props. “He was very well informed,” Watkins said. “He had in his head what he needed and wanted. I never saw him pull out a list and cross things off,” she said. “He was entirely doing this from his own knowledge. He’d been a collector of antiques for many years, so he knew what was right and what wasn’t. And he had instructions from DreamWorks concerning each scene,” she said. When the movie was released, Watkins was surprised how difficult it was to identify “her” items in the film. “They bought all this from me and from our shop and it’s going to just pop out at me I thought,” Watkins said. “It was a harder search to find things that I remembered because they had so much in the film.” “I saw a set of chairs I sold him and I believe he used one print of George Washington I sold him,” Watkins said. She said attorneys for the film called to confirm the print was an authentic antique. “The chairs were in many scenes where the men were sitting around the tables having their meetings,” she said. Watkins plans to watch the movie again on DVD so that she can stop and start and look more closely at the scene decor. “There are lots of things [in the movie] that you just wouldn’t notice or could tell were yours — quilts, baskets, jugs — primitive things that were in the scenes of the more modest properties.” Watkins, who works as an assistant reference librarian at Central Rappahannock Regional Library, wondered if she might have a chance to repurchase anything when the filming was completed. Erickson told her no; everything would be shipped to massive warehouses in Hollywood. “Little shops and little towns don’t frequently touch fame,” said Watkins, who also sells from a showcase in in New Oxford Antiques Center Pennsylvania. “It was very exciting and we all had a lot of fun.”

Watch the Video (4 mins): Steven Spielberg Talks about Lincoln in Virginia. www.virginia.org/Lincoln/

Susan Larson is the publisher of Fredericksburg.Today. This story was first published on Fredericksburg[dot]Today. Photo by Susan Larson

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by Ashleigh Chevalier

By gary olsen The Fredericksburg area’s direct connection to my 17 lectures on The Academy Awards and The Nominations is indisputable. Throughout the year my research has revealed that the area is more responsible for the talent, craftsmanship and topics that are the basis of celluloid’s top annual prize than, with the exception of Southern California, any other region in the country. Three films that I had discussed in my last presentation showed that Fredericksburg was directly linked to what had been the most influential films in the past three years. 2013’s Best Picture, 12 Years A Slave, was based on New York black freeman Solomon Northup, who was offered a short gig in Washington, D.C. Trouble was slavery was still legal in Washington and hosted one of the largest slave markets in the country. Drugged and sold by the two who lured him to D.C., Northup was sold to a slave trader, who, in the shadows of the U.S. Capitol, sold the freeman for, in today’s dollars, $27,000. Shipped to Louisiana, his 12-year ordeal eventually became an autobiography which film director Steve McQueen read and became obsessed about. His efforts resulted in the most talked about film of that year. Fredericksburg movie goers recognized several area locations when viewing Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln, nominated for Best Picture in 2012. The movie, concentrating on the last months of Lincoln’s life and his efforts to have Congress pass the 13th Amendment banning slavery, was filmed in nearby Richmond and Petersburg. Spielberg insisted upon historical accuracy for the film and he couldn’t be any happier with his scouting team. Filming for 55 days in Virginia, Spielberg used the Virginia State Capitol for the U.S. Capitol and the White House. What has to be the biggest irony of any location ever used in film history, the scenes of Congress’s debates on the Amendment were shot in the state capitol’s House of Delegates, the same building that housed the Confederate States’ Congress during the Civil War. And props for the movie were supplied by FXBG antique dealers! Spielberg’s film crews bounced around Richmond’s Executive Mansion, the Virginia Repertory Center, Maymont as well as several locals in Petersburg, Mechanicsville, Goochland and State Farm in Powhatan for the battlefield scenes. Fast forward 115 years to the Iran Hostage Crises, the period 2012’s Best Picture, Argo, focuses in on. Ben Affleck

plays a CIA agent who poses as a Canadian film producer to extract six American hostages from Iran in 1980. The real CIA agent, Tony Mendez, has local ties to the area in that he worked in Virginia for the Company. In addition, he is a founding board member for D.C.’s International Spy Museum, where you can see items he used on the so-called “Canadian Caper.” For Argo’s preparation, Mendez met with Affleck in Washington, taking him to sites where espionage events occurred and relating to him the inner life of a CIA operative. After a recent film lecture, I was approached by a member of the audience who noted that Sandra Bullock, nominated for Best Actress for 2013’s Gravity and who spent her high school years in Arlington, has direct ties to Fredericksburg. Sandra’s mother, Helga Mathilde Meyer, a popular opera singer, was a voice teacher who drove down to, at the time, Mary Washington College for many years to teach enthusiastic students the fine art of singing. Now that these 17 lectures are over, I am preparing a monumental series on the top 14 film auteurs, or directors in motion picture history. The first will be on Charlie Chaplin on April 2 at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library on 1201 Caroline Street. John Ford, Orson Wells and Alfred Hitchcock will follow.

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There is a lot of discussion in the world about talent, aptitude, “luck”, attitude, and due diligence. Combine that with the intangible wills of fate, the pop culture connotation of karma, and the general obstacles our jungles might create, and it truly is a wonder anyone in the darned world would pursue a career in art or music. Then there are the hearts, quietly, yet steadily, beating true to the rhythm of their own souls. The hearts are listening for the next beat with which to pulse, the pulse of the dream and the destiny. Tyler Lubore is one of these hearts. He is a focused, dedicated, talented, and capable young man – a Renaissance man in the making, evenworking tirelessly in his art to carve his place. He earned a Bachelor’s in music, with a minor in English, at the University of Virginia (in three years), and is currently in finishing his second semester of the University of Mary Washington’s MBA program. Lubore began playing the saxophone and taking lessons with Forte Music Studio owner, Young Devereaux, and continued to study with Jeff Decker privately at UVA and perform under D’earth in the UVA Jazz Ensemble. Lubore is currently performing with the UMW jazz ensemble under Doug Gately. He is in purposeful pursuit of being a career musician, experimenting with popular genres and various instrumentalists to develop a unique, accessible sound with his current group, The Lubore Band. This includes collegiate pals Jeremy Hook on guitar, Devin Sullivan on keys, and Alex Rodriguez on bass. The quartet performs everything from the current Sam Smith’s Stay to their original instrumental jazz rock compositions. It is fresh fusion in the makin’, if they aren’t careful.

“I want to develop my own musical voice and take all of these disparate influences that I have to tell a story that people can connect with and dig in a real way, and to help them dance in the process.” Yep. Not to mention the guy is incredibly well read and knowledgeable, and has one of the most positive attitudes around. The Lubore Band is one to watch and witness. The Lubore Band, Catch Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at The Fredericksburg Art Collective Showcase. Visit Tyler Lubore Music on Facebook for more dates! (When you see him perform, give him a high five. He deserves it. ) Ashleigh Chevalier is a Blues/Jazz/Rock Musican-Vocalist, Songwriter, Music & Media Journalist and, a mother living in Fredericksburg

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Per Arch Full Denture/Partial With this Coupon only for non-insured patients. Not valid with other offers or prior services. Offer Expires 2/1/15 A $1100.00 Value

Because we care for you! www.virginiadental4u.com 10524 Spotsylvania Ave. Ste #104 Fredericksburg, VA front porch fredericksburg

January 2015

FXBG Goes Hollywood

HollyBurg

FXBG Music Scene

Area’s past recognized by oscars

Tyler Lubore

FXBG Antique Dealer supplies props By Susan Larson

January 2015

Watch the Video (4 mins): Steven Spielberg Talks about Lincoln in Virginia. www.virginia.org/Lincoln/

Susan Larson is the publisher of Fredericksburg.Today. This story was first published on Fredericksburg[dot]Today. Photo by Susan Larson

Front porch fredericksburg

by Ashleigh Chevalier

Advanced Dental Care of Fredericksburg Call Us at 540-891-9911

Gary Olsen offers a plethora of film insights with the purpose that Fredericksburg movie goers will be the most knowledgeable cinematic experts in the world.

Front Porch Fredericksburg

Supporting Local Artists Since 1997

$599 Crown

With this Coupon only for non-insured patients. Not valid with other offers or prior services. Offer Expires 2/1/15 A $239 .00 Value

$699

Per Arch Full Denture/Partial With this Coupon only for non-insured patients. Not valid with other offers or prior services. Offer Expires 2/1/15 A $1100.00 Value

Because we care for you! www.virginiadental4u.com 10524 Spotsylvania Ave. Ste #104 Fredericksburg, VA front porch fredericksburg

January 2015

Made in Fredericksburg

Poetry Corner

Violin shop to be a premiere stop for Virginia’s virtuosos

You Walk With Me - By David Yazbek

By A. E. Bayne

Amati, Guarneri, Stradivarius, oh my! Bill and Elaine Mason run Wm Mason II, a full service violin shop specializing in lessons, bow rehairing, repair work, and now, violin design and craftsmanship. Together with six interns, the Masons hope to put Fredericksburg on the map as a premier location for affordable, handcrafted violins, violas, and cellos. No novice luthier, Bill Mason spent four years in Pennsylvania under the tutelage of master makers Ed Campbell and Nelson Steffy, followed by another year with master maker Oded Kishony. Mason is on the board of the Southern Violin Association and is on the new professional program committee with the Violin Society of America. While area music teachers and musicians may know of the Masons’ shop, many locals are unaware of the evolution it has undergone since opening seven years ago. Elaine Mason describes the shop’s progress, “We started off with repair work, and then we added the rental program. Two of our interns approached us about making instruments, and that’s what led us to developing our own line of violins that we make here in the shop.” Bill Mason continues, “We have started The Violin Making Studio of Virginia where we’ve put together a program that allows interns to spend three years making five instruments.” Bill stresses the educational environment of the shop, and it is evident that everything done here is focused on learning. Climbing the stairs to the lesson and work spaces, one is surrounded by Bill’s Violin Hall of Fame adorned with informative posters and artwork highlighting famous violins. He says the emphasis of the internship program is the study of the history of violin making through the families of master luthiers and archetiers from Italy, Germany, and England. He ruminates, “The first steps to

January 2015

making a violin involve drawing a template, so geometry, fine art, science, acoustics, physics, and even chemistry are involved.” At the top of the stairs is a long room papered with the family trees of Old Italian masters and lined with work spaces. Working this afternoon are interns Indy Raccanello, Christina Wan, and Bob McKelvey. Raccancello is working on a 16 5/8 viola. He says, “I started by working on a violin and some odds and ends, and I worked on my own bass for a while. Recently, I started this viola, so this is a new project and I’m really excited and am learning a lot.” Mason motions to the rib set and mold that Raccancello will use for his viola and explains, “These violins are really personal to the maker, as compared to buying a copy.” Christina Wan (below) is working on scrolls for the necks of her violins. She starts with a long block of wood and whittles it down with gouges, chisels, and

knives. She points to three scrolls and shows a finished one, explaining, “These are the three I’m working on right now. I use templates to draw the lines, and from there I make the cuts. I play the violin in a couple of orchestras in D.C., and I wanted to try something new. I didn’t know much about violin shop; it’s very different from the performance. I started doing bow rehairing back in 2012, and being in this environment, Bill asked if I would like to try making a violin. I’ve learned a lot, and it’s been a great experience.” Bob McKelvey(right) has been working on three models from a Stradivari design for a little over a year. He holds up the third violin that has not been varnished and then walks over to a cabinet to show two varnished violins hanging in UV light to dry. He explains, “So these are in the process of getting their varnish. They’ve been strung up and played for a little bit, and we’ve got good

Front porch fredericksburg

results on these. I was experimenting with a couple of different arch heights. Next, I’ll be starting a viola. I’ve got the pieces gathered. I’ve been working on this model, which is a 1649 Nicola Amati, and I’m just now getting my corner blocks in place and working my lumber down to where I’m ready to start.” Bill (right) leads the way into the next room, a narrow workspace with walls lined top to bottom with shelves holding all manner of resins and bottles for making varnish. He holds up a bottle, saying, “We make our own varnish here, and I melt and dissolve my own resins. Not very many painters make their own paint.” Elaine chimes in, “They used to.” Bill responds, “My wife is an artist and jewelry maker, by the way.” Elaine, who studied art and sculpture in college and had a long career in graphic design, picks up her latest design from the table beside her, “It’s been exciting, because this year I’ve been selling more jewelry. People will come in with their kids and see the jewelry and think, ‘Ah, presents!’ We’re doing so well that I actually have a young woman working with me part time. We’re currently trying to create a line of jewelry using violin bridges. We’ve made bun sticks, too. All of this line of jewelry will be related to the violin.” Bill Mason says that he would like to see their line of Made in Fredericksburg violins rolling out of the shop early this year, “Not only do we have hand crafted models, but we’re also going to have another line that will be made in more of

an assembly environment here in the shop.” He opens the door to a small room across from the work space and shows a

Hope is a Season - By James H. Twiford As cold wind north brings seasons change so God’s pallet does trees flame, falling leaves must be moved, rake and muscle and people few

Is it the wind there, over my shoulder? Is it your voice calling quietly? Over the hilltop, down in the valley Never alone for you walk with me

Wood smoke from chimneys rise portends winter’s crisp bite. Squirrels abound to gather food to make it through the long cold night.

When evening falls and the air gets colder When shadows cover the road I am following Will I be alone there in the darkness? No, not alone, not alone and I'll never be

A pile of leaves, a child’s sweet laugh. as geese fly south from natures grasp. DupliCarver machine that will help them enhance the new line. He says, “This is a template of an Amati, and with this machine we will rough out the tops and the backs. From here, they will go back into the larger workroom to get their ribs and necks attached and varnished. We are going to sell outfits – Amati and Guarneri, Made in Fredericksburg. We would like to target anywhere from $600-$800 because we want them to be affordable - a beautiful, locally handmade instrument for a nice price.” Bill says that at this stage, his goal is to create personal relationships with the players in our area. He sees a gap between players and makers, and he invites players of all stages to visit and watch what they are doing. He envisions these visits, “We need a lot of input and feedback from the musicians to enhance what we are doing here, so I would love to create a relationship with our local Philharmonic, Rappahannock Pops, the Rappahannock Youth Symphony, and local quartets. I believe that once we get them in the door and they see the passion and seriousness of what we’re doing, we could establish an enduring relationship.” Elaine Mason nods, “You know, it’s easy to order a violin from somewhere and sell it to someone, like buying a coat, but if Bob or Christina or Indy makes a violin, and the person buying it comes in and says, ‘I’d like to have this kind of wood or a one-piece back, or this much flame, or these kinds of pegs, and they get into the personalization of it, it’s going to be a whole different ballgame.” Visit Bill and Elaine Mason at 509-1 Jackson Street in downtown Fredericksburg, or contact them at (540) 645-7498 or online at www.wmmasonviolinshop.com .

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

A year has gone, a new one comes, a hope, a wish, a feeling strong that love and peace to us belong.

Fallen Star

Is it the wind, over my shoulder? Is it the wind that I hear gently whispering? Are you alone, there in the valley? No not alone for you walk, you walk with me

- By Frank Fratoe

A bloom turned to orange dives from the topbranch of a sycamore, but vines surrounding the trunk still ruffle green in autumn air. Another life has descended now falling and joining the subsoil, then to wait under winter cover until March brings an elevation.

Never alone you are walking You're walking with me

It will become an aura of light outdistancing the deepest hour, where horizon can appear to make the earth and sky blend as one.

Is it the wind there, over my shoulder? Is it your voice calling quietly? Over the hilltop, down in the valley Never alone for you walk with me Over the hilltop, down in the valley Never alone for you walk with me Never alone for you walk with me

Give a Child Something to Think About Books, Games, Amusing Novelties M-Sat. 10am-6pm; Sun. 1pm-4pm

810 Caroline Street (540) 371-5684

Own The Movie A 40-minute film with aerial and underwater photography that tells the story of the Rappahannock River from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay.

RAPPAHANNOCK MAJESTIC & HISTORIC

DVD $14.95; Members $11.96 www.riverfriends.org 540-373-3448 3219 Fall Hill Ave. front porch fredericksburg

January 2015

Made in Fredericksburg

Poetry Corner

Violin shop to be a premiere stop for Virginia’s virtuosos

You Walk With Me - By David Yazbek

By A. E. Bayne

January 2015

Front porch fredericksburg

an assembly environment here in the shop.” He opens the door to a small room across from the work space and shows a

Hope is a Season - By James H. Twiford As cold wind north brings seasons change so God’s pallet does trees flame, falling leaves must be moved, rake and muscle and people few

Is it the wind there, over my shoulder? Is it your voice calling quietly? Over the hilltop, down in the valley Never alone for you walk with me

Wood smoke from chimneys rise portends winter’s crisp bite. Squirrels abound to gather food to make it through the long cold night.

When evening falls and the air gets colder When shadows cover the road I am following Will I be alone there in the darkness? No, not alone, not alone and I'll never be

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

A year has gone, a new one comes, a hope, a wish, a feeling strong that love and peace to us belong.

Fallen Star

Is it the wind, over my shoulder? Is it the wind that I hear gently whispering? Are you alone, there in the valley? No not alone for you walk, you walk with me

- By Frank Fratoe

Never alone you are walking You're walking with me

It will become an aura of light outdistancing the deepest hour, where horizon can appear to make the earth and sky blend as one.

Give a Child Something to Think About Books, Games, Amusing Novelties M-Sat. 10am-6pm; Sun. 1pm-4pm

810 Caroline Street (540) 371-5684

Own The Movie A 40-minute film with aerial and underwater photography that tells the story of the Rappahannock River from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay.

RAPPAHANNOCK MAJESTIC & HISTORIC

DVD $14.95; Members $11.96 www.riverfriends.org 540-373-3448 3219 Fall Hill Ave. front porch fredericksburg

January 2015

Meet Reverend Joseph H. Hensley, Jr

Fredericksburg Sketches

St. George Episcopal Church new rector

Joseph Hensley, Jr. grew up in Greensboro, NC attended the NC School of Science and Mathematics, At UNC Chapel Hill, he earned a BA in philosophy. He is a

graduate of Virginia Theological Seminary. Joe worked with the Dispute Settlement Center of Orange County as a conflict mediator and trainer, working especially with youth, educators, and parents. And, an Assistant Rector at St. Luke’s, Durham, NC. While at VTS, he completed a two-year internship with Church of the Epiphany in Washington, D.C., which included learning a great deal from Epiphany’s homeless parishioners. He has been active in leadership roles beyond the parish including as a member of the Episcopal Diocese of NC Council, the Boards of Directors of Durham Congregations In Action, Glory Ridge Ministries and the Human Kindness Foundation. Over the years, Joe has worked independently as a conference musician, spiritual retreat leader, meeting facilitator, juggler, and clown. As a family, Joe and Sarah and children Lucy, Stella, and Owen enjoy exercise and being outside, making art and music, and nightly meals around the dinner table. Rev. Joe and his his family will be arriving January 12, 2015. WE welcome the Hensley family to our community. Contributed by St. George Search Committee

Fredericksburg Time Co.

A visual Celebration of our community

By Casey Alan Shaw

SKETCH #3: View from Chatham Heights. With a new year beginning comes the opportunity for a fresh perspective and a fresh start. That’s what this sketch symbolizes for me and that’s why I chose it for January. I first created this drawing last summer. In the Fall, it was chosen as a design to grace the Downtown Gift Cards. I also used it as the basis for a larger 3-D piece I premiered at Art First in November. At that show, someone casually mentioned to me, “You know, all those trees are gone now.” It was hard to believe. I had studied this image and lived with it for so long it had become ingrained in my mind. But, sure enough, when I visited Chatham Manor later that week, the trees were gone . . . and the sweeping view overlooking the City of Fredericksburg had been transformed. If you haven’t made a recent trip to Chatham to take in the new view, you should. 2015 has already proven to be like that for me. Parts of my life I had carefully tended, that had flourished and grown, are now gone. They were important and beautiful, but they did obscure a larger, more sweeping view. I’m excited to see what the new perspective will bring in the new year.

606 Caroline Street Old Town Fredericksburg

Your Hometown Jeweler Since 1940

373-7847 www.gemstonecreations.org

jewelboxfredericksburgva.webs.com jewelbox14k@yahoo.com

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

212 William Street,Fredericksburg

January 2015

Front porch fredericksburg

By A.E.Bayne

paying it forward... one stitch at a time

One can never pay in gratitude: one can only pay “in kind” somewhere else in life. ~Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Exclusively at

grace oughton cancer foundation

From My Porch By Jo Loving

Casey Alan Shaw is a local artist. He exhibits his original artwork at Art First Gallery.

540-373-5513 Mon-Fri 9:30-6; Sat 9:30-5

Legacy of Hope

Where Fredericksburg Gets Engaged

Call for Holiday Hours

It is often in our darkest hour that we experience true selflessness from those around us. So it was for the Oughton family between 2005 and 2007, when their youngest, Grace, was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a rare cancer that most often strikes children under five years of age. It was during these two years, amidst leaving jobs and moving closer to specialty centers in Boston and New York, that the Oughtons experienced an outpouring of kindness from Alec’s coworkers in Henrico County, the likes of which they had never expected. This culminated in the establishment of The Grace Oughton Cancer Foundation. After Grace’s passing in October of 2007, Alec Oughton and his wife Krystal found themselves in a unique set of circumstances, “Krystal and I had to decide whether we were we going to put our blinders back on and end our relationship with cancer, or would we take this thing on and pay forward the assistance that people gave to us? We chose option B, acquiring the foundation in January of 2008. We’ve spent the past seven years working to fill the gaps in service that exist in the Fredericksburg area.” The foundation has grown through partnerships and fundraising events, but their main goal has always been one of free service to families of children who are experiencing hematological or oncological disorders. Oughton says, “We’re grass roots. We have a primary office in Fredericksburg, and the lion’s share of money stays right here in the community because it’s where we offer services. We have a lot of exciting fundraising events, like The Race for Grace, sponsorship in Via Colori, Sissy’s Dance, and the Bartender’s Ball, but each event’s purpose is to bring in revenue so we can have a clinical coordinator and an education program manager, and we can have the project managers that run the different programs. Every service we provide is a free to those in need, and all of it comes through fundraising. We don’t get any

money from co-pays or insurance or the families.” The foundation offers a variety of programs for all areas of need. They provide financial grants, run emotional support groups for siblings, and offer tutoring for children undergoing treatment. The foundation teamed up with Ron Rosner YMCA to create a wellness program that trains personal trainers to work with children to address musculoskeletal or cardiovascular health and maintenance during and after treatment. Recently, they established a partnership with a commercial airline pilot to take children to remote appointments, knocking out painful daylong car trips. One program that is near to Oughton’s heart, though, is the foundation’s mobile lab project. It has a dual purpose: to offer quick access to CBCs and other blood tests, a process that can take an entire day if a child has to travel north to NOVA or south to Richmond to have it done, and as a registration point for bone marrow donors. Oughton describes the lab’s importance to families facing these challenges, “When blood work is required, which can be often, families are separated, parents miss work, and school-aged children miss classes. Really, it’s the simplest of procedures - a finger stick and a five minute calculation to determine whether the child will need a transfusion. If they need the procedure, we contact their physician; if not, they’re out of there in ten minutes.” Additionally, Oughton says that the lab has registered 150 bone marrow donors, people who will help to save lives when they are matched with sick patients. To families who need assistance, Oughton emphasizes, “We want to make people aware we are here and we’re in it for the long-haul.” If you would like to get involved or make a donation, check out The Grace Oughton Cancer Foundation’s website: thegocf.org . A.E. Bayne is a teacher, writer, and artist living in Fredericksburg.

It happens every year. As the New Year approaches, we are inundated with calls for a new year’s resolution. Will we focus on self-improvement, career, education, health? As 2015 approached I was looking for something to do that would be different, fulfilling, caring, and loving. Many years ago, as a single mother of three children, life was very difficult. It was a struggle to work full time, commute each day, and still be a good mother. One of my children had chronic illnesses, and at times the medical costs taxed my resources to the point that I had no idea how I would be able to pay the bills. I took in typing and editing jobs, but even with these odd jobs, there were times when I was going to be short on paying bills. I didn’t talk about my problems with friends or family – in my mind, this was my struggle, and I had to deal with it on my own. Each time, when things were approaching the breaking point, something unexpected happened. Sometimes, a bonus from my job would come just in time. At other times, a gift for my birthday or Christmas would be enough to get us out of the red. One particular year, it was nowhere

near my birthday; I couldn’t take in any extra work because the kids were sick. It seemed that there was no way we were going to make it. And then, something wonderful happened. A couple of my friends, unbeknownst to me, paid all of our utilities, as a gift of love. They would not let me pay them back, and told me that someday, when things were better, to help someone else – that I would know when that opportunity came. So as the New Year approached, and I was trying to come up with a meaningful resolution, it hit me. I am a member of an online “pay it forward” group in my community. We give things to others that we no longer use. What if, I reasoned, I gave a skill or talent to someone? What if, I gave it to a whole lot of someones? A few years ago, I was laid up at the house with pneumonia and had to do something or go crazy. So, I ordered a sewing machine and taught myself to sew. And that, my friends, is what I will be doing this year. Sewing blankets, and burp cloths for mothers in need who are members of the local pay it forward group. I already have a list of 15 expectant mothers who will be giving birth after the beginning of the year, one to twins. In addition, I also will be sewing for a cancer patient who needs chemo hats and a lap blanket. As others are added to the list, I’ll be a busy little seamstress! What will you be doing this year to help others? Jo Loving is busily gathering fabric and notions for her 2015 Pay it Forward Projects. She looks forward to helping others in a new way.

Every Child Deserves A Family

Learn about our adoption opportunities Domestic & International

301-587-4400 Cradle of Hope Adoption Center front porch fredericksburg

January 2015

Meet Reverend Joseph H. Hensley, Jr

Fredericksburg Sketches

St. George Episcopal Church new rector

Joseph Hensley, Jr. grew up in Greensboro, NC attended the NC School of Science and Mathematics, At UNC Chapel Hill, he earned a BA in philosophy. He is a

Fredericksburg Time Co.

A visual Celebration of our community

By Casey Alan Shaw

606 Caroline Street Old Town Fredericksburg

Your Hometown Jeweler Since 1940

373-7847 www.gemstonecreations.org

jewelboxfredericksburgva.webs.com jewelbox14k@yahoo.com

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

212 William Street,Fredericksburg

January 2015

Front porch fredericksburg

By A.E.Bayne

paying it forward... one stitch at a time

One can never pay in gratitude: one can only pay “in kind” somewhere else in life. ~Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Exclusively at

grace oughton cancer foundation

From My Porch By Jo Loving

Casey Alan Shaw is a local artist. He exhibits his original artwork at Art First Gallery.

540-373-5513 Mon-Fri 9:30-6; Sat 9:30-5

Legacy of Hope

Where Fredericksburg Gets Engaged

Call for Holiday Hours

Every Child Deserves A Family

Learn about our adoption opportunities Domestic & International

301-587-4400 Cradle of Hope Adoption Center front porch fredericksburg

January 2015