Front Porch Fredericksburg - July 2016 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 20 • ISSUE 228 • JULY 2016

Frontporchfredericksburg.com

contents

closeups Karyn Cerar A passion for healing

ninja pix preserving history ...buddy secor

cynthia armbuster ...mind - body - spirit - connection

porch talk 4

on the porch...life in fredericksburg Messages

On the trails:: ftmug cleans up trails

bikeworks: local fixture for 20 years

downtown buzz: trends

more than just pretty space: downtown greens

vino: wine festival etiquette

season’s bounty: tomatoes, to-mah-toes

Cooking with Kyle...summer drinks

the coffee & pie guys

16-17

Calendar of events

July 2016

Front porch fredericksburg

history’s stories.: vietnam vet in confederate cemetery our heritage: deutschland downtown

renew

companions: ‘summer threats

mind your mind: vicarious traumatization emancipated patients: your doc thinks you're crazy

Senior Care: a better place to be?

paint fxbg purple

art in the ‘burg: elen grigg @brush strokes gallery

stories of fredericksburg: sarah perry

model kit marvels

calling all authors: fxbg indie festival

homeschooling 101 poetryman: the glance

fxbgers: betty menks bastille day celebration

fredericksburg sketches katie king: rising sun tavern

from my porch: moments of your life free lunches @crrl

...And more! 10

Karyn Cerar

Where the Heart Leads: Vicky Jasparro’s hike

cross country uber trip...russell michelson

name this house: a contest Cover “Gulls & Bridge”, By David C.Kennedy

a passion for healing By susy woollam Anyone who knows Karyn Cerar will tell you she has always had a mad “passion for fashion”. It wasn’t a surprise to anyone when she got her degree in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing, and dedicated herself to the Fashion industry. For over 20 years, high heels, manicures and power meetings at New York’s top fashion houses were the norm. And although her passion did not dim, the long hours and time away from friends and family were challenging, and she decided it was time to make a change. She had always used massage for her own health care, and knew the benefits were many and long lasting. So, she traded in her high heels for a good pair of sneakers, enrolled in Medical Massage Therapy School. The fast pace was not to ease, however. After completing her training, Karyn began working for two Chiropractic offices in Pennsylvania, as well as maintaining a private practice. Despite the busy schedule, she found her calling in helping others to find their own level of health and wellbeing. It was a different type of fast paced, but she found her

passion for health and healing.. Two years ago, Karyn got a call that was destined to alter her life path. A fellow Massage Therapist in Virginia was about to go on Maternity leave for two months, and Karyn was asked if she would be interested in coming down to help out. She had family in Fredericksburg, and always found a sense of relief from her fast-paced life while visiting. Sensing an opportunity relax a little from her busy schedule, as well as to help out a friend, she took a 2 month leave of absence from her jobs, and headed South. Well, we all know how that story goes. Two months turned into “this is where I belong”, and she didn’t look back. If she were seeking a calmer, more relaxed life, it’s certainly not what she got. Not only does Karyn maintain her own private Massage Practice with Heart & Sol Massage, she is also an instructor for the Medical Massage Program at Eastern Virginia Career College, as well as a the Medical Massage Therapist for Fredericksburg Family Chiropractic. She is also a very proud member of the Mary Washington Hospital integrative medicine

program. “We are so pleased to have Karyn as one of our active participants in our integrative medicine network at Mary Washington hospital regional cancer center” stated Virginia Schaffer, Coordinator of the integrative medicine program, “She has been active in the program since its inception, and is always a ready participant in our special events like the Integrative Medicine fair. “ Her professional skills are well rounded, as Karyn is a Board Certified Massage Therapist, with extensive training in Anatomy & Physiology, Swedish, Deep Tissue and Therapeutic Massage, as well as Hot Stone Therapy and Aromatherapy Massage. She is also a Level 2 Reiki practitioner and certified Reflexologist. Her personal skills, at least to her clients, are just as important. She is kind, and thoughtful. She treats each client as

an individual, and no two massages will ever be the same. She is also one of the best friends, strongest allies, and best shoulders to cry on. Ever. I should know.

Suzy Woollam can be found at The Scenter of Town on Charles Street, downtown

front porch fredericksburg

July 2016

contents

closeups Karyn Cerar A passion for healing

ninja pix preserving history ...buddy secor

cynthia armbuster ...mind - body - spirit - connection

porch talk 4

on the porch...life in fredericksburg Messages

On the trails:: ftmug cleans up trails

bikeworks: local fixture for 20 years

downtown buzz: trends

more than just pretty space: downtown greens

vino: wine festival etiquette

season’s bounty: tomatoes, to-mah-toes

Cooking with Kyle...summer drinks

the coffee & pie guys

16-17

Calendar of events

July 2016

Front porch fredericksburg

history’s stories.: vietnam vet in confederate cemetery our heritage: deutschland downtown

renew

companions: ‘summer threats

mind your mind: vicarious traumatization emancipated patients: your doc thinks you're crazy

Senior Care: a better place to be?

paint fxbg purple

art in the ‘burg: elen grigg @brush strokes gallery

stories of fredericksburg: sarah perry

model kit marvels

calling all authors: fxbg indie festival

homeschooling 101 poetryman: the glance

fxbgers: betty menks bastille day celebration

fredericksburg sketches katie king: rising sun tavern

from my porch: moments of your life free lunches @crrl

...And more! 10

Karyn Cerar

Where the Heart Leads: Vicky Jasparro’s hike

cross country uber trip...russell michelson

name this house: a contest Cover “Gulls & Bridge”, By David C.Kennedy

an individual, and no two massages will ever be the same. She is also one of the best friends, strongest allies, and best shoulders to cry on. Ever. I should know.

Suzy Woollam can be found at The Scenter of Town on Charles Street, downtown

front porch fredericksburg

July 2016

Kathryn Willis

ON THE PORCH Guest Porch Editorial

Contributing Writers & Artists Barbra Anderson A.E.Bayne Kevin Brown Collette Caprara Anne Darron Barbara Deal Christina Ferber Frank Fratoe Joan M. Geisler Ann Glave Alexis Grogan Ralph “Tuffy”Hicks Emily Hollingsworth Karl Karch David C. Kennedy Jo Loving Lori Meyers Vanessa Moncure Patrick Neustatter Ryan Poe Gabe Pons M.L. Powers Scott Richards Suzanne Scherr Casey Alan Shaw Meg Sneed Georgia Strentz James Kyle Synder Samantha Thomason Christine Thompson Rim Vining Kathry Willis Dawn Whitmore Suzy Woollam Norma Woodward

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

The mission of Front Porch Fredericksburg is to connect the diverse citizenry of Fredericksburg with lively features and informative columns of interest to our community’s greatest resource, its people. Messages from our readers are welcome. All submissions must be received by e-mail by the 19th of the month preceding publication. Writers 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

sense and imagine

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 2016 Olde Towne Publishing Co. All rights reserved.

After World War II, in France, thousands of folks who had lived for centuries in ancient hilltop towns, left, and headed to manufacturing and commercial centers where the jobs were. The ancient hilltop towns went into a slumber. But then, creative folks discovered the cheap properties, recognized their inherent charm, and thus revitalized them. And then those city folks with money longed for what they’d left behind and forgotten. And now, those old stone houses are highly sought after. But it was the creative communities that made them new again. My sweet Fredericksburg is in transition. Vacant, narrow lots in older neighborhoods are now the sites for new homes, squeezed in tight. And downtown, tall, shiny glass and brick dwellings, straight up and practical, are squeezing in beside their older, gracious neighbors. Now, a new generation is what we hope for, right? Without the new, there is no future. But there is that question of soul. What makes us wonderful is that sense of place—that sense of the presence of Victorian crowns on downtown buildings, and the grace of the Gothic Revival tower on the old Courthouse. Their whispered witness to the historical moments that unfolded here are part of what our thousands of tourists come to hear. But even those risk being frozen in time. So, what creates a sense of place, imbued with a knowledge of where we’ve been, and energized for where we are going? Our contemporary life is lived harmoniously, side by side with those lovely old graces. And largely due—no surprise here—to that same creative community.

messages Virginia Just wanted to say how fun it was seeing a photograph I took on the cover of the Front Porch! And the article that Emily wrote was really lovely. My 5 year old thinks I'm famous! ;) Kerry Renee

By Kevin Brown

Front porch fredericksburg

ends of original trail together. And where trails simply couldn’t be recovered because of washouts, lengthy new sections of trail were created, eventually extending westward under I95 after this exciting discovery…..

LibertyTown, FCCA, PonShop, Sophia Street Studios…the list of old-madenew stretches throughout our extended downtown. And yes, we read and hear how wonderful and vibrant is our arts community…but what a struggle it is for our artists. Now, imagine. Imagine ourselves with the arts as a recognized partner at the table, rather than as a side note. Imagine a downtown theater where local playwrights could stage their stories, perhaps some of them based on our own rich local history of struggle, loss and triumph. Imagine a center where the best of our regional artists (present and past) could be honored with a permanent exhibit, and we could treasure our patrimony. Imagine our weavers, quilters, and potters—many of national note—recognized in their own community. Imagine our musicians—from classical to down-home blues—with a stage other than a high school auditorium or an outdoor platform. Imagine a venue where Fredericksburg could mount traveling exhibits from the Virginia Museum, the Historical Society, and other like cultural institutions. And imagine the contribution not only to our own regional audience, but also to those thousands of visitors who come here, after all, to remember a time that they have never known. Of course, visiting the place, and hearing the history, is central. But what makes it real—what makes it memorable—is the experience through the senses. And the arts are the gateway.

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.

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

We are rethinking our Carnegie Free Library, our Renwick Courthouse, our Federal Town Hall, and other whole sections of our town, from the Mill District to the Purina Tower. Let us also rethink our arts. Come sit by me, then, and sense, and imagine, as we read our Front Porch from cover to cover.

In September of 2003, Hurricane Isabelle cut a swath through Virginia, tearing down trees, eroding hillsides, and changing the courses of streams along the way. The Quarry Trails, a multi-use trail network located along the southern shore of the Rappahannock River, were not spared. Anyone who tried to ride the trails after the storm found them frustratingly blocked, so they simply moved on to other local trails. The Quarry Trails were left to atrophy.

“Wading through the waters of Fall Quarry Run, I trudged along, continuously scanning the opposing sides of the gully making a mental map for possible paths to my intended destination. Soon, I found what I had hoped for. I stood in the water just smiling. It was beautiful! A massive 10 x 10 box culvert underneath the highway that spanned the entire width of 6 lanes of traffic, a median and the embankments. This could connect a full loop of our Quarry Trail System. This is going to put the Fredericksburg mountain bike scene on the map.” Andy West After several years of disjointed Bridge installation onQuarryTrailEast, TimJ trail maintenance efforts, Andy and a osey (l)_Rick Livesay (r) dedicated group of individuals formally in new and young riders. Coming soon, organized to form the Fredericksburg more challenging Motts trails are planned Area Trail Maintenance & User Group for bikers who crave fast flowy, curvy (FATMUG), with a mission of “expanding sections in addition to rocky climbs or and protecting mountain bike access to narrow bridges. Like the Quarry Trails, off-road trails in Fredericksburg”. In the Mott’s Run Reservoir mountain bike 2013, FATMUG’s board of directors trails are open to both bike and foot became more representative of the trail traffic. How can I get more involved, you ask? On the second weekend of each month and some days in between, FATMUG sponsors trail maintenance days, consisting of pruning and chain-ssawing, building dirt berms, rock gardens or bridges, picking up trash or clearing out clogged culverts. They sincerely ask that anyone who uses the trails strongly consider volunteering for at least ONE day a year. There is always a welcome atmosphere, great camaraderie and a task for any ability.

Kathryn Willis is a tireless advocate for our region’s arts and culture.

Virginia: We thank you so much for your (and Rob's) support through the past 13 years with articles and help with our advertisements. You make living in Fredericksburg a wonderful experience not only for us but for all who are fortunate enough to get copies of your monthly magazine. If there is anything else I need to do please let me know and we wish you every success in the future. Thanks, Cathie and Walter Animal Rites, USA

July 2016

There is No Such Thing as a "Maintenance-Free" Trail

BY kathyrn willis

Web Site: www.frontporchfredericksburg.com

On the Trails

Andy West_foreground with JayDunn, Bil Catron, David Garrison, Steve Mitchel installing new bridge on Ridgeline trail

Highlighting Local People, Places & Events Since 1997

Undaunted by nature’s adversity, a few dedicated volunteers picked up their tools and began the long, slow process of putting the trails back together. Wherever possible, downed trees were removed to reopen the original trails. Where the sheer number of massive trees made their removal all but impossible, reroutes were created to link the severed

using community with its first of two trail runners to help steer the group’s future. Building on the success of the Quarry Trails, FATMUG recently teamed with the Fredericksburg City to create mountain bike trails around the entirety of the Mott’s Run Reservoir property. The first phase in this initiative was the development of the area’s first true beginner trail designed to build confidence

A final note from Andy, “We love to receive questions, concerns and praise; it’s what we thrive on! Email info@fatmug.org for personal questions/correspondence, or check out www.fatmug.org and our Facebook page for general information and trail closure notifications.”

Kevin Brown shares up-to-date local trail news and photos as administrator of the "On the Fredericksburg Va Trails" Facebook Group

front porch fredericksburg

July 2016

Kathryn Willis

ON THE PORCH Guest Porch Editorial

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

sense and imagine

By Kevin Brown

Front porch fredericksburg

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.

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

Kathryn Willis is a tireless advocate for our region’s arts and culture.

July 2016

There is No Such Thing as a "Maintenance-Free" Trail

BY kathyrn willis

Web Site: www.frontporchfredericksburg.com

On the Trails

Andy West_foreground with JayDunn, Bil Catron, David Garrison, Steve Mitchel installing new bridge on Ridgeline trail

Highlighting Local People, Places & Events Since 1997

Kevin Brown shares up-to-date local trail news and photos as administrator of the "On the Fredericksburg Va Trails" Facebook Group

front porch fredericksburg

July 2016

BikeWorks

Downtown Buzz trends & questions

a local fixture for 20 years

By Ann Glave By emily hollingsworth Eskam, BikeWorks owner, opened the shop on Saturday June 4, 1996. He remembered the inventory was small, and was prepared to order parts from other bicycle sellers. A photo they found and posted on the store’s Facebook page shows Eskam cleaning the floor the night before the store opened. Randolph, BikeWorks manager and Bike Exchange employee, joined BikeWorks within the first two years the shop opened. Eskam, a bicycle enthusiast growing up, saw the need for a bicycle shop in downtown Fredericksburg when he had to order tires over telephone in California. Both Randolph and Eskam used

Cycling has always been a passion for Tom Eskam and Andre Randolph at BikeWorks Bicycle Shop on 104 William Street. Their enthusiasm for cycling has spanned over the 20 years that the shop has operated in the Fredericksburg area, the several years before opening the shop working for Bike Exchange, a company that moved to Northern Virginia and is no longer in business, and was even present in their childhood jobs. The secret to BikeWorks impact and presence in downtown Fredericksburg, particularly for cyclists, may be their support of other area businesses and their belief of fair, necessary service to customers.

bicycles for their childhood jobs, delivering newspapers in a paper route for The Free Lance-Star. Randolph said his passion for cycling began then. “One bike led to another,” Randolph said, “until it became more about cycling than anything else.” Their success in their business is in part due to establishing trust with customers, according to Eskam. Because both Randolph and Eskam are cyclists, they do not try to tack on unnecessary purchases. “We’ve been doing this long enough to know what people are going to need,” Eskam said. “We've maintained our business by trying to anticipate what people will need.” This, in addition to word of mouth, have attracted cyclists touring the area and government workers from Northern Virginia searching for hobbies. The store, according to Eskam, caters to both casual and seasoned cyclists. BikeWorks also sponsors a cycling league in Fredericksburg, which had originally focused on mountain bike riding and now travels on road. The bike-friendly paths nearby, all within city limits, have also drawn people to the shop. Their business has also been a home to long-term employees and short-term employees, from cyclists to college students. Randolph and Eskam believe they have had between 50 to 60 employees over the past 20 years. In addition to providing jobs, Eskam and Randolph have also supported other businesses in downtown Fredericksburg, ranging from hardware to the arts. The mural on the wall outside of their store was

painted by area artist Mirinda Reynolds. “You end up knowing most of the local business owners by their names and faces,” Eskam said. Business owners in the area, according to Eskam, have not only shared products but advice as well. Their encouragements have been invaluable. “I learned from some very good people in the bike business and other businesses,” Eskam said. “I probably wouldn’t have been able to do this business if we hadn’t been exposed to those people. It’s part of the reason why we’re still here.”

Emily Hollingsworth, a UMW graduate, covers local people,places and possibilities monthly for Front Porch

There are a few trends that keep popping up on the radar. As a business owner, one must be aware of the trends. How can you incorporate these trends into your business?

Introducing Benchmark ...The Distinctive Wedding Rings. 200 William Street Downtown Fredericksburg 540.373.4421 Mon-Sat: 9-5:30 CrownJewelersFredericksburg.com

THE

FREDERICKSBURG LAMP Only Available At

The Copper Shop Supporting Local Artists Since 1997

371-4455 1707R Princess Anne

Behind Silk Mill thefredericksburglamp.com

There is a movement away from shopping malls. The change is towards “shop small” or “shop local.” Last November, downtown Fredericksburg was hopping during the Saturday known as Small Business Saturday. It’s always the Saturday after Thanksgiving. There was a strong shift last year. It wasn’t a one day occurrence. It was an entire weekend. Black Friday, Saturday and Sunday sales were very strong. In fact, it’s becoming a conscious choice to support local businesses instead of the national chains. And it’s not just SHOP local – it’s also DINE local. There is something to be said when the chef or the wait staff knows your name and palate. Are you telling your story to your audience? Share and trade stories with your clients. It will have a positive effect on your business. Customer Service and customer marketing is becoming the differential factor. This is more important than ever. It’s not always about price. Sometimes it’s in the details. How do you engage your customers? Do you know them by name? Do you let them know how valuable they are to you? What do you do differently from others? How well do you know your product? Are you consistent? Recently someone told me that their customer always ages out. While that statement may be true for some, the difference today is that the generations of millennials and generation X have different buying styles. They don’t have the same desires as their parents. If you are not catering to their needs, you will be

#lovefxbg losing sales. What are you doing to capture this new target audience?

Ann Glave loves to shop and dine local when she is not on her iphone or ipad. She is the executive director of Fredrericksburg VA Main Street Inc. www.fredericksburgmainstreet.org 540538-7445

Online sales are on the move and one of the largest percentage growth in sales. Online shopping is increasing. Are you capturing this trend? With technology, the consumer is doing the research online instead of the browsing the brick and mortar locations to make their decisions. As a business, you need to make this transition. Start small. Place your information on line. Showcase a few products or classes– Instagram that outfit, for example. It’s a matter of convenience for your client. With technology, the client has many choices to decide where and when to buy. Help make that choice for them. The common link in all - relationships. It’s the connectionTHE EXPERIENCE! We are not only referring to

Large or Small, I Sell Them All! Dreaming of Fabulous City Living? Let s Make It Happen!

Your Hometown Jeweler Since 1940

On-Premise Jewelry Repair

the social media engagement. Actual face to face communication is a large part of it. People tend to recall how they feel about an event. How are you crossing over from the social media experience to the actual in store experience? Do they match? Instead of just selling the product, can you tell a story, and give them content and perspective. Make the product come alive! It’s not selling the pearls. It’s the tradition of the “add on” pearls passed on for generations. It’s not selling the kayak. It’s the ability to get into the water anytime you want to fish, be with nature or explore and discover new waters on your next adventure.

601 LAFAYETTE BLVD

roxburyfarmgarden.com

Large Selection of ESTATE JEWELRY PUT IT TOGETHER ALL IN YOUR ORBIT

July 2016

Front porch fredericksburg

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

212 William Street,Fredericksburg 540-373-5513 Mon-Fri 9-5:30; Sat 9-5 jewelboxfredericksburgva.webs.com jewelbox14k@yahoo.com

SUZY STONE

We Have All Your Gardening Needs Since 1929 Come Shop With Us!

Mobile:540.847.0630 Office: 540-898-2900 suzystone22@gmail.com C21redwood.com front porch fredericksburg

July 2016

BikeWorks

Downtown Buzz trends & questions

a local fixture for 20 years

Emily Hollingsworth, a UMW graduate, covers local people,places and possibilities monthly for Front Porch

There are a few trends that keep popping up on the radar. As a business owner, one must be aware of the trends. How can you incorporate these trends into your business?

Introducing Benchmark ...The Distinctive Wedding Rings. 200 William Street Downtown Fredericksburg 540.373.4421 Mon-Sat: 9-5:30 CrownJewelersFredericksburg.com

THE

FREDERICKSBURG LAMP Only Available At

The Copper Shop Supporting Local Artists Since 1997

371-4455 1707R Princess Anne

Behind Silk Mill thefredericksburglamp.com

#lovefxbg losing sales. What are you doing to capture this new target audience?

Ann Glave loves to shop and dine local when she is not on her iphone or ipad. She is the executive director of Fredrericksburg VA Main Street Inc. www.fredericksburgmainstreet.org 540538-7445

Large or Small, I Sell Them All! Dreaming of Fabulous City Living? Let s Make It Happen!

Your Hometown Jeweler Since 1940

On-Premise Jewelry Repair

601 LAFAYETTE BLVD

roxburyfarmgarden.com

Large Selection of ESTATE JEWELRY PUT IT TOGETHER ALL IN YOUR ORBIT

July 2016

Front porch fredericksburg

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

212 William Street,Fredericksburg 540-373-5513 Mon-Fri 9-5:30; Sat 9-5 jewelboxfredericksburgva.webs.com jewelbox14k@yahoo.com

SUZY STONE

We Have All Your Gardening Needs Since 1929 Come Shop With Us!

Mobile:540.847.0630 Office: 540-898-2900 suzystone22@gmail.com C21redwood.com front porch fredericksburg

July 2016

Where the Heart Leads

downtown greens

Local Hikes New Zealand’s Te Araroa Trail

more than just a pretty space

By A.E.Bayne

“Your heart is your compass. Your mind is your tool.” ~ Lynda Allen, Rules of Creation In early 2015, Vicky Jasparro was working at Quantico and enjoying a full life in Fredericksburg, Virginia when she felt the first stirrings of a desire to be immersed in nature. During that time, Jasparro was also participating in Lynda Allen’s workshop, The Rules of Creation, which Allen says is designed to help participants live more fully from their inner spark of divinity. It inspired Jasparro to follow her heart to New Zealand’s 3,000 km Te Araroa Trail. In September of 2015 she quit her job and jumped on a plane. Te Araroa is a hiking path that runs from Cape Reinga at the tip of New Zealand’s North Island, to Bluff at the bottom of its South Island. The trail is a journey through remote mountains, dense native forests, farmland and even cities, as well as raging rivers, weird weather and mud. Oh, the mud! Jasparro approached it all with an open heart and mind. A marathon runner and frequent hiker, Jasparro felt confident about her physical ability to hike Te Araroa, and her stamina and training certainly helped her during the more arduous portions of the hike. Te Araroa had some surprises in store for Jasparro, as well, not least of which was Jasparro’s intense joy of being in true communion with the natural world, a joy that remains with her today. “Yesterday I named by backpack Chocolate. Isn’t she beautiful! Since I will be relying on her to carry my life around for at least several thousand miles, she’s going to need a lot of TLC. I thought giving her a name would be a good way to start.” ~ Vicky Jasparro, October 2015 Jasparro began preparing for Te Araroa with two long weekend trips to Dolly Sods Wilderness in West Virginia, one

July 2016

of them on her own. In July 2015, she took a longer Sierra Club trip to Yosemite, where she was amongst people who were more experienced hikers than she and who could give her advice on the best equipment and hiking practices. When she returned to Fredericksburg, she visited River Rock Outfitters and acknowledges their expert advice during her upgrade to ultra light backpacking equipment, especially that of Meegana Henry, one of the top 100 fastest hikers to hike the Appalachian Trail. With moral support from friends and family, and with her new best friend - a trusty pack dubbed Chocolate - Jasparro set out from Cape Reinga on November 13, 2015. “To add to the adventure, today I am sitting, nursing blisters on the ball and toes of my right foot. Apparently ‘everyone’ gets blisters on 90 Mile Beach, so why am I surprised?” Vicky Jasparro, November 2015 The most difficult part of the trip, physically, was the wear and tear on her feet. Jasparro says, “There’s not really anything you can do to prepare for that. Part of it is that you’re carrying a lot of

weight and walking day in and day out, and part of it is this particular trail. Through streams on the beach, through native forests grounded in mud, your feet are constantly wet. They start to rot, basically.” Jasparro says initially she didn’t realize her feet were a problem, but as they began hurting more and more she

Front porch fredericksburg

saw the damage, the worst of which was the blister that developed on the ball of her foot during the first leg of her journey at 90 Mile Beach. Jasparro explains, “Sand got in it, and then it sealed up and healed. I couldn’t understand why my foot felt funny and sore, like I had something in it. Come to find out, I had walked from one side of New Zealand to the other carrying sand in my foot from the beach. I had to operate on my own foot to get the sand out and clean the wound. Then it had to heal. It was horrifying.” Another thing Jasparro realized about her feet is that hiking widened them. She says it’s not unusual, considering the weight a hiker carries on a long trek and the physical challenges one puts on the feet. In fact, she had some new shoes waiting for her halfway through her journey. They didn’t fit. “Today, in trail lingo, is my first zero day. I’m resting. (Sore) feet up. Reading. Drinking coffee. Eating fresh fruit and veggies. What could be better? I’ve made it to Kerikeri on the East Coast. 100K in the last 3 days and my feet are balking. Too much road walking. But better than the alternative – the Northland Forests (or Hell Jungles of Mud).” ~ Vicky Jasparro, December 2015 Jasparro made it to Wellington at the southern tip of North Island on January 28, 2016. She basked in the rush of accomplishment having finished the first half of her journey, but she also knew that South Island was a wilder, more rigorous hike than the one she’d just completed through North Island. Her Sierra Club hiking Peter companion, Elderon, joined her for the second leg of the trip, an addition that Jasparro acknowledges to be a large part of her success in completing the entire Te Araroa Trail. On South Island, it was the rivers that became the challenge. Jasparro says, “I don’t think anything could have quite prepared me for New Zealand rivers. On South Island, there are many braided mountain rivers that force you to cross or walk up in the water. I’ve crossed streams before when hiking, but not raging rivers.

By rim vining

Helping You Heal Naturally The rivers rise and fall very fast. When they’re high, you have to stop and wait 24 hours until they lower. There are no bridges because they’re constantly changing their course. Luckily, on South Island I was with Peter who had more experience crossing rivers.” “There were many, many, many times I didn’t believe we’d make it. And I could never ever have done this alone. Peter made all the difference on South Island. But I am also deeply grateful for the huge support that I had along the way from friends and family.” ~ Vicky Jasparro, April 7, 2016 Jasparro says New Zealand’s two islands offered different experiences. Alone on North Island, she had more time for reflection and contemplation and for memorizing poetry. On South Island, she says it was wonderful to have someone with whom to share extraordinary views and star-filled nights. Jasparro and Elderon supported and encouraged each other throughout this challenging, but visually stunning leg of the journey. Jasparro and Elderon reached Bluff at the end of South Island on April 7, 2015, almost five months to the day that Jasparro started in Cape Reinga. Over the duration of the hike, Jasparro relied on songs, poems and her blog, Hiking Heart, to rally her spirits. There were a number of times when Jasparro believed she wouldn’t be able to go on with her hike, when things couldn’t possibly get worse, but she took the next step and followed her heart through these moments. The reward was immeasurable joy. Jasparro and Elderon are currently spending time on the west coast of the US, and she is working on a book about her adventure. There’s far more to Jasparro’s experiences, including stunning photos of New Zealand’s terrain, on her website hikingheart.wordpress.com . Find out more about the inspiration that led Jasparro to follow jump into a new life at therulesofcreation.com . A.E. Bayne is a writer, visual artist and educator who publishes the Fredericksburg Literary and Art Review.

My wife loves to play in the the care of a land trust to assure it dirt. Composting is even better. When we remains open greenspace. were dating many years ago her favorite The most amazing impact of summer job was as a “flower girl” at JMU these little steps is to envision how on the Ground’s Crew taking care of all important this oasis in your city will be in those plants so I have no problem another 20 years. The increasing need for understanding how a couple of Mary Wash greenspace in urban areas is well ‘girls’ might start digging and planting in documented. It is a needed haven where the dirt behind their little house in a you can go to get a mental break, lose college town. What I do find some stress and connect to amazing is where those simple the earth that we all came The garden, acts have led and the legacy from but is now more your garden, is open they leave for this small city in distant. The garden, your dawn to dusk Virginia. garden, is open dawn to This is about small 365 days a year for dusk 365 days a year for steps with far reaching you to enjoy. you to enjoy implications that no one could Take a break. Take your possibly foresee. June kids. Take your parents. Sit 20th marked the celebration of the 2.7 under the trees in the lower garden acres owned by Downtown Greens at the among native plantings and flowers and corner of Charles and Dixon Streets being imagine a city without such things. Stroll the upper garden and check out the transferred to the Land Trust of Virginia so that it will forever be a community organic vegetable garden where the Youth Look greenspace. In a city where every other Garden Club meets each week. headline is about parking problems and around and imagine another decade has the in-filling of city lots with gone by and the traffic is worse and the McWhatevers, a small group slowly grew a McWhatevers are the canopy over the city garden right under everyone’s streets instead of trees and think how nose. That’s a lot of Saturday morning amazing and important this greenspace garden hours. It is twenty years of will be to this community. Show up for garden hours. Meet outreach to the community, classes for kids of all ages, music with the Marenje Horticulture Director Katya Hvizdos and band, amazing Halloween sculptures and Executive Director Sarah Perry and ask some of the best fundraisers in the city how you can help. Check the website at www.downtowngreens.org Follow them like the Down Home Ball and Fork it Over on Facebook. Take a class. Learn about Festival. Think of it like the old Christmas what makes the garden grow. Give freely Clubs at your local bank. Every week you of your time and talents. It is your garden in your put in just a little bit and if you did it community for all to enjoy, support and every week for the whole year you could make prosper. It takes just a little bit each save enough to enjoy the holidays. Downtown Greens has garden week to make a real difference to future hours every Saturdays 9-Noon and generations. They will thank you for it. Thursdays 3-6PM. The host of volunteers investing a little bit each week saved a piece of land that has now been placed in

Rim Vining can be found often at Downtow Greens

The Way Your Body Was Meant To Dr. Jason Sneed, D.O. 540-322-5040 www.odomedicine.com Where Customer Service and Title Insurance Become One

Jewell Wolterman 1320 Central Park Blvd, Ste 200, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 540-907-0574 www.elitetitleva.com jwolterman@elitetitleva.com front porch fredericksburg

July 2016

Where the Heart Leads

downtown greens

Local Hikes New Zealand’s Te Araroa Trail

more than just a pretty space

By A.E.Bayne

July 2016

Front porch fredericksburg

By rim vining

Rim Vining can be found often at Downtow Greens

The Way Your Body Was Meant To Dr. Jason Sneed, D.O. 540-322-5040 www.odomedicine.com Where Customer Service and Title Insurance Become One

Jewell Wolterman 1320 Central Park Blvd, Ste 200, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 540-907-0574 www.elitetitleva.com jwolterman@elitetitleva.com front porch fredericksburg

July 2016

Cross Country Uber Trip russell michelson’s documentary By emily hollingsworth

The end address, according to Russell Michelson, Fredericksburg resident, is already set. 9245 Venice Blvd. Los Angeles, Calif. All it takes now is getting there, a mission Michelson is beginning to launch on social media. Michelson is planning a crosscountry road trip that stretches from Fredericksburg, Va. to California. However, what makes this particular trip stand out is how he will get around. Michelson intends to only use Uber, a millennial-era answer to taxis and cabs that allows users to locate, alert and pay drivers through smartphones. Michelson will record the journey, compiling it into a documentary. The documentary, which would be called “Take Me There: A film about the 1st Cross-C Country Uber Trip,” and is currently beginning development, would record his progress traveling with Uber drivers, possibly across state lines and potentially driving farther than considered the typical Uber ride. Michelson, who has lived in Fredericksburg since 2010, has launched a Kickstarter campaign for the documentary, found at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rus sellmichelson/take-me-there-a-film-aboutthe-1st-cross-country-u. The funds would pay for an accompanying cameraman, a video editing team and for what could be several Uber drivers throughout the states. “Uber is probably the fastest growing mode of transportation in America,” Michelson said. “And you’ve always seen the road trip films.” Michelson hopes it would be a lighthearted innovation on the typical road trip documentary.

July 2016

“[One of the] best ways to get to know people is a long car drive,” Michelson said. “It just made sense to do a road trip.” After researching the idea, Michelson said he is optimistic that this would be the first documentary to record a cross-country road trip entirely made up of Uber rides. Michelson, whose previous video directing and editing work won prizes at his high school and university film festivals, is confident about recording the documentary and possibly giving a closer insight into the drivers’ experiences. Every journey has a destination. And for Michelson’s journey, the end address stops at a staple in California: At an In-N-Out Burger. “On the one hand, it's kind of an iconic part of the West Coast, but on the other hand, it's just a fast food restaurant," Michelson laughed. "It’s intended to be anticlimactic, but I’m actually really looking forward to going there.” For Michelson, however, the connections he plans to make with drivers, looking more closely at their experiences while traveling the country, easily trumps the stop at the restaurant. “It’s the journey, not destination,” Michelson said.

Kid’s Cooking Camp July 12, 13 & 14 11am to 1pm ages 11 & up $90/child

374-0443 www.shopwhittingham.com 1021 Caroline Street

Buddy Secor Ninja Pix Preserving History By Dawn Whitmore

Buddy Secor is a photographer, who commutes to DC for his ‘regular’ job. However, on the weekends he can be found on the battlefield with his trusty camera. Secor is a National Park Service (NPS) volunteer photographer, who logs 200 hours a year traveling, photographing and post-processing. Secor’s fondness of the battlefield came to fruition, when he learned the site of his home is where a Civil War fort once stood. His journey began in 2006 in our regional battlefields. It began with photographing regional sites: Marye’s Heights, Sunken Road,

Chancellorsville, Chatham, and the Fredericksburg National Cemetery to name a few. A photograph taken during the 2016 Fredericksburg Luminary event would go viral on the Fredericksburg NPS FB account. The photo has been shared 80,000 times with a reach of 8,000,000. (see photo above) In the beginning, Secor’s main objective was to capture images of the history he found fascinating… to share as hangings in his home. Yet, it wouldn’t be long before he was hooked, photographing at every available opportunity and sharing them with the NPS. As time passed, more of his photos were being shared and parks closest to him began asking for specific items. The photos he captures have also been shared in their printed publications and educational materials. Upon capturing and submitting the specific request, Secor would officially become a NPS volunteer in 2011. “A special joy to me would be when the National Park Service asked me to be a part of the 150th Civil War events Social Media Team. It gave me the opportunity to be a part of the

journalistic team covering many of the 150th anniversary events over a period of 3 years,” Secor states. Secor’s 150th Social Media Team special team assignment is completed, but he can still be found in our regional NPS parks on the weekend…submitting all his photographs to be shared. Recently, one of his photographs was used as the backdrop photo in a booth at the CWT convention in Gettysburg. Over the years, Secor has added volunteer for the Civil War Trust and the Center for Civil War Photography to his growing volunteer resume. George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate has recently been added to his volunteer list, which has moved him into photographing sites connected to the American Revolutionary War. For Secor, it is a fun

and rewarding hobby that has grown and grown. He further proposes, his time as a volunteer has made him a better photographer. “I find great joy in helping promote the beauty of the national parks. I want to stretch myself to learn new techniques, which will help best illustrate the beauty of our parks. My photos are archived into the Library of Congress and will be part of history, long after I have died,” explains Secor. Want to learn more about Buddy Secor or purchase his photos? Contact him through email: ninjapix@verizon.net or on FB where he is known as the “Ninja Pix”. Dawn Whitmore is a landscape photographer and writer Learn more by visiting her own FB: facebook.com/dewphotographypage or her website at www.dewphotographyva.com.

Open M-F at 6am Open Sat & Sun at 7 am Serve breakfast, lunch and dinner $5.00 Weekday lunch Specials

photo by Reza Mirzai His inspiration came from using Uber in Northern Virginia, often over summers while attending the University of Mary Washington, where he graduated in 2014. Michelson had asked two drivers whether they would ever want to drive him to California. Both said yes. Reactions of the documentary idea, according to Michelson when he has told friends, have ranged from amusement to confusion. Why pay hundreds for drivers when the trip can be made on your own? Michelson remembers being asked. The documentary’s main goal, according to Michelson, would be to share the journey with Uber drivers, learning who they are and their experiences, what brought them to work for Uber, and explore the growing industry of transportation driven by online networking.

Front porch fredericksburg

620 Caroline Street

front porch fredericksburg

July 2016

Cross Country Uber Trip russell michelson’s documentary By emily hollingsworth

July 2016

Kid’s Cooking Camp July 12, 13 & 14 11am to 1pm ages 11 & up $90/child

374-0443 www.shopwhittingham.com 1021 Caroline Street

Buddy Secor Ninja Pix Preserving History By Dawn Whitmore

Open M-F at 6am Open Sat & Sun at 7 am Serve breakfast, lunch and dinner $5.00 Weekday lunch Specials

Front porch fredericksburg

620 Caroline Street

front porch fredericksburg

July 2016

Vino wine festival etiquette

Open 7 days a week Monday to Saturday 11 am to 10pm International Sunday Brunch 9am to 3pm Dinner from 3pm to 9pm Bar Open All Day Take Out Available 623 Caroline Street Fredericksburg VA 22401 Tel (540) 368-1 1107 Fax (540) 368-1 1108

July 2016

Front porch fredericksburg

tomatoes, to-mah-toes By vanessa moncure

Dine in Casual Elegance Enjoy a wide variety of Northern Italian, French, Cuban, & Creole Specialties in the Historic Chimney’s

Season’s Bounty

Corner of William & Charles Streets Downtown Fredericksburg 540.370.4105

by scott richards I have been selling since I was young, going from door to door hawking everything from candy to raise funds for the Boy Scouts to various fund raisers for the marching band in high school. So when I started pouring for tastings at festivals or retail outlets, it was no big deal, it came quite naturally. In fact, as I told a retail boss once, when the people come up to taste, I feel as if I am on stage and have no problem entertaining with stories and jokes while presenting and educating people about wines. In the retail arena, we had control over how much people consumed and were trained to observe and react to those who would try to keep coming back to the tasting table and getting too much wine. Wine festivals are a different story. Depending on where the winery is located on the festival grounds and the time of day, there are always those who come to sample who have no business trying to consume any more wine. There have been times when I have refused to serve festival goers. Talk about indignant people. Being messed up on too much wine not being very attractive. Also, most people do not realize ABC agents are there as well and can cause all kinds of havoc for the wineries pouring for those who have had enough. That being said, we are entering the time of year when wine festivals are starting up for the season. I enjoy Virginia wines and wine festivals as much as the next guy, but they are not open bars and should not be treated as such. Of course, at any sizable wine festivals, there are many fine wines to try, and even when tasting the smallest sip, if many wines are tasted, may have an effect caused by alcohol (for the novice, wine contains alcohol). Understand, this column is not about abstinence from wine festivals. Quite the contrary, to enjoy sampling wine to the maximum, two words come to mind: plan and spit. At the larger festivals, such as ones located in Bull Run, Richmond or Virginia Beach, there is usually an online listing of the wineries that will be represented. It would add to the experience if people would peruse the list and determine if there were certain wineries that peaked their interest in addition to looking at the wines offered to decide if there may be something that draws their attention. Wine festivals should not be random drinking events, planning really works. As a child, it was a cardinal sin to spit, and with most people, it is socially unacceptable unless at a sporting event or out hunting or at some event where a

Olde Towne BUTCHER

www.oldetownebutcher.com Hours Monday - Saturday, 9am to 9pm; Sunday, 11am to 6pm Keith Lebor Proprietor

ting Wine Tas e Etiquett

chaw is part of the social norm. In public places, however, it would be safe to say that spitting is not encouraged. At wine festivals, even though public drunkenness is frowned upon, spitting is not. Most wineries will have a container of some sort to spit out the sample of wine. The rationale is simple. The wine is tasted and swirled in the taster's mouth and then spit into the container. The question arises, "How can you really taste the wine if it is not swallowed?" Since most tasting is done by smell, once the wine is spit, immediately take a breath in through your mouth and then breath out through your nose and surprisingly, the taste will return. The result is getting an additional taste of the wine without the effect of the alcohol. There will often be a type of cracker at tasting table to cleanse your palette in order to have a clearer taste of the next wine. Wineries love to talk about their product and there is a lot to be learned by listening to them. There are some distinct differences about Virginia wines around the state that can slip by the occasional wine drinker, such as how the vineyards are managed and what processes are used to make the wine. All these bits of information can enhance one's knowledge of Virginia wines. Enjoy the wine festivals this year and in order to remember them, plan, spit and listen. Cheers and ptooi! Scott Richards is owner of Loch Haven Vineyards, and a free lance writer Read his blog at fromthevine.wordpress.com or Contact him at bgmeadowswine@yahoo.com

Our annual Independence Day marks the gardener's unofficial start of fresh tomato season - in my raised-bed backyard garden, I've had my eye on a double-fist size German Johnson variety, just waiting for its first blush. Between this garden and the farm garden are seven varieties, plus many mystery volunteers from past seasons, including a prolific crop growing between stones ringed around the bed. We usually have an early bright-red slicer like Big Beef (hybrid), a sweet pink lower-acid variety like Brandywine, a bi-colored, lemony yellow or black variety as a zesty salad tomato, a Green Zebra that's green even when ripe, and our top canner with meaty thick skins and few seeds like San Marzano. And can't forget our small, sweet and prolific cherry tomatoes - I suspect most of the volunteers are of this variety as they seem to grow like weeds and don't mind popping up in the compost pile along with pumpkins and butternut squash. Look for variety at the Farmer's Market, try a smoky black or purple Russian heirloom with mahogany skins and meat - or a fruity orange Persimmon - or bright red slicer like a NJ Box Car Willie - and yes, save this year's heirloom seeds for next year's crop (can't save hybrids, though).

CHERRY SALAD Since I often have a rainbow of cherry tomatoes (see unplanned volunteers above) this is a colorful and delicious summer salad. Slice tomatoes in half lengthwise (or leave whole if very small) and combine with celiegine (It. small tomato) mozzarella balls and fresh shredded black and green basil. Dress with a light EV olive oil and white balsamic vinegar along with several turns of coarsely-ground green, black, white and pink peppercorns. Serve over spicy arugula greens.

BASIL TOMATO CREAM SAUCE FOR PASTA Slip the skins on about 1 ½ lbs. fresh plum tomatoes (easy to do - dip tomatoes in simmering water for about 30 seconds, then make a small cut on the end

and easily peel skins off). Remove the seeds over a sieve to reserve any juices, then chop the tomatoes. In deep skillet, heat 3T. olive oil over medium heat and cook tomatoes and juice along with ½ tsp. grated garlic about five minutes or so stir in 1 tsp. each salt and coarse-ground pepper and ¼ c. fresh torn basil leaves. Stir in ½ to 1 c. fresh heavy cream (will depend on how much juice your tomatoes yield)and ? c. finely shredded fresh parmesan cheese. Heat through and reduce slightly. Toss together with 6 oz. cooked fettucine pasta plus 2 T. pasta water - never rinse pasta as sauces will not cling. Garnish with more fresh basil. Have you ever tried Vodka Sauce on your pasta? Just add ¼ c. unflavored vodka to chopped tomatoes and proceed with recipe.

BL-D DOUBLE T Cook 8 slices of thick-sliced bacon until crisp - drain and set aside. In medium skillet, saute green tomato slices in scant ? c. canola oil (beat one egg with 2 T. buttermilk in one bowl, dip 4 thick green tomato slices, then dip them again into mixture of ½ c. each yellow corn meal and flour, S&P). When tomatoes are golden brown and crispy, let drain on paper-towel covered plate. To assemble, slice a hearty bread and spread with mayonnaise (not salad dressing). Layer crisp lettuce with cooked green tomatoes, slices of juicy red tomatoes and 4 slices bacon. Makes two sandwiches.

FRESH SALSA (OR PICO DE GALLO) Dice up 2 c. each of tomato and purple onion (a meaty tomato like a Roma is better than one with many seeds). Coarsely chop 1 c. fresh cilantro and add to tomato and onion mixture along with finely minced jalapeno pepper (as spicy as you like! Leave in seeds for an extra kick). Squeeze juice from ½ lime and stir in along with salt to taste. Dip chips and enjoy - or serve as a side with cumingrilled chicken. ` Time to party! Congratulations on celebrating 20 (twenty!!) years of publishing The Front Porch!!

Serving Breakfast Sandwiches 10am ~ 11:30am Lunch 10am ~ 4pm Open Monday ~ Saturday 10am - 4pm 540.371.2233 www.thevirginiadeli.com 826 Caroline corner of Caroline & George Streets

S ammy T’ s DOWNTOWN FREDERICKSBURG’S

Serving Great Food Since 1981

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

(540) 371-2008

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

July 2016

Vino wine festival etiquette

July 2016

Front porch fredericksburg

tomatoes, to-mah-toes By vanessa moncure

Dine in Casual Elegance Enjoy a wide variety of Northern Italian, French, Cuban, & Creole Specialties in the Historic Chimney’s

Season’s Bounty

Corner of William & Charles Streets Downtown Fredericksburg 540.370.4105

Olde Towne BUTCHER

www.oldetownebutcher.com Hours Monday - Saturday, 9am to 9pm; Sunday, 11am to 6pm Keith Lebor Proprietor

ting Wine Tas e Etiquett

BASIL TOMATO CREAM SAUCE FOR PASTA Slip the skins on about 1 ½ lbs. fresh plum tomatoes (easy to do - dip tomatoes in simmering water for about 30 seconds, then make a small cut on the end

Serving Breakfast Sandwiches 10am ~ 11:30am Lunch 10am ~ 4pm Open Monday ~ Saturday 10am - 4pm 540.371.2233 www.thevirginiadeli.com 826 Caroline corner of Caroline & George Streets

S ammy T’ s DOWNTOWN FREDERICKSBURG’S

Serving Great Food Since 1981

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

(540) 371-2008

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

July 2016

Cooking With Kyle

Snead’s Farm

Support Local Green Space & Local Farmers

July Roadside Stand

Summer Drinks

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

E a rl y J u l y :

Soup & Taco, Etc.

THE COFFEE & P IE GUYS @the fxbg farmers market

813 Caroline St.

Raspberries, Blackberries, Tomatoes, Sweet Corn Blueberries, Squash

by james kyle snyder

The

Fredericksburg, VA

By M.L. Powers

L at e J u l y :

Peaches, Okra, Seedless Watermelons, Ambrosia & Super Star Cantaloupes Sugar Babies. Mon-Thurs 11am-9pm Fri & Sat 11am-10pm Sun 11am - 9pm Bar open until 2am everyday

PLUS Snead’s Raspberry & Blackberry Preserves, Snead Maranara Sauce & Free Range Eggs 10 mi. S.E. of downtown on right side of Rt. 17 Our garden is a continuing source of pleasure and tasty treats. Since planting the kale in mid February, we have had many unique and interesting things to enjoy this summer. This year we concentrated on things other than the standard tomatoes and kale like chamomile and oregano. Chamomile is an amazing plant. From fighting cancer to helping reduce diabetes this herb should be in everyone’s diet. The potted mint steeped with the fragrant sweet applefloral flavored herb has been our “house drink” of choice since we first tried the combination. We, however, just upped the “refreshness” game recently. The mint chamomile tea is a great go-to drink to quench even the strongest thirst. How could we make it better? I reminisced about summers with my grandparents. One fond memory was a cucumber spritzer my grandmother would make by simply slicing and mashing a cucumber in a glass then topping it with ice and soda water. The bubbles made the concoction better than the still version. We would sit on her porch and sip our treat like we were in high court awaiting our next visitor. That drink brings back constant memories of happiness and laughter. It was in the bubbles! So how can I apply that to the ingredients at hand? Mashing up dried chamomile in the bottom of a glass didn’t sound like it would produce the product I was after. It would be thin and full of unpleasant stems. We needed to concentrate the chamomile flavor so I tried simply reducing the liquid. These food discovery journeys are always fun for us. We have an idea and no known path to the solution. The reduction trick worked but it made the drink base bitter and not very refreshing. I try not to use sugar. Agave maybe. The best answer was honey.

July 2016

Living in Fredericksburg affords us an opportunity that many communities do not have. We have vast diversity: NASA engineers, diplomats, artists, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, Barbara Simpson, and Dave Honaker. Having them as a friend and they having bees means I have honey. Thanks Barbara and Dave! So the final recipe is discovered! Make a large pot of chamomile tea. Take four cups of the tea and begin reducing in a pot. Add 1 TBS of honey to the mixture and reduce it to 1-1/3 cups of final liquid. Pour about half a glass worth of the mixture over ice, top with club soda and a drink is born. We have named it Summer. One of our more clever friends has happily taken our concoction and added hard spirits to it to produce an entire line of refreshing cocktails for the summer parties. Add vodka to make a Russian Summer. Add Gin make a Summer in London. Add bourbon and you have A Summer to Remember. The best part is that the kids can have their summer drinks from the same pitcher as mom and dad. It isn’t hard to take some mundane ingredients and make them spectacular. With a little creativity even chamomile can become the ingredient that creates memories. Once you discover how easy it is to grow chamomile, and a host of other delicious herbs, you can become the maestro of the seasonal symphony. From our house to yours, read FP cover-to-cover, try to keep life simple, easy, and delicious. Be well! Once again the publisher can not wait to try Kyle’s recipe!

Front porch fredericksburg

Open 9-5 Daily

540/371-9328

www.sneadsfarm.com

Enjoy Snead Farm Produce at Sunken Well Tavern, LaPetite Auberge, Bistro Bethem, J Brian’s, Vivify, Kybecca, Castigllias & Olde Town Butcher

Locally Owned Irish Pub and Restaurant

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

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

200 Hanover St. ~ 373-0738

Serving Up Local “Good” News Since 1997

The Sunken Well Tavern

Front Porch Fredericksburg

The General Store

Restaurant

Since 1978

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

371-4075 2018 College Ave. Fredericksburg

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

I have mentioned this before, but I am a big fan of the local farmer’s market. I spend a lot of time talking to small vendors, and just enjoying the old fashioned pastime of socializing while shopping. One stop I enjoy is the coffee/pie stand. You can get a little taste of the Orange County Roasters blend of the day, take home a delicious, home-made pie or just enjoy a little pleasant banter. These two separate vendors have teamed up to make a great combination. Dennis Browne (aove right) and Jack Johnson (above left) are the front men for this stand. Dennis and I talked for a while about the camaraderie among the vendors. He said the Fredericksburg market is like a family, and though they all have separate businesses, they are always willing to help each other. He explained that this is one of the main reasons many of the vendors continue to come back, week after week. Dennis has been working the market for eight years. For him, it is his people fix. He enjoys talking to people, and doesn’t get that in his day to day job. Dennis sells the coffee for Orange County Roasters, and Jack is the purveyor of his wife, Carol’s pies. Anyone who bakes knows that a crust is not the easiest thing to create, but Mrs. Johnson has it down. Normally, I do not buy sweets, as I like to bake but I was in a time crunch, and having dinner guests. I decided to go out on a limb and buy a couple of the mini pies, so we could have a little variety. I was not disappointed, the chocolate chess pie had just enough cocoa flavor to melt in your mouth, and the cherry pie took me back to my grandmother’s dinner table of many

years ago. Carol uses as much local produce as is available, so berries are in, and you will find an assortment of these pies. I’m looking forward to the peach pie in a couple of weeks. Dennis said Carol uses palm oil as an unusual ingredient, but importantly he said there is love in these pies. Any good cook knows that this ingredient is the most important one when baking. The Johnsons are a retired blue collar family, but still supplementing their retirement with a variety of odd jobs. Dennis sells the Orange County Roasters coffee. Initially, I had the Blue Ridge blend at a local restaurant, and enjoyed it so much, I asked what it was. I was pleasantly surprised to find a local business was roasting these scrumptious beans. Dennis’s favorite blend is the Papua New Guinea, which is a bolder flavor, but also satisfying. The company is owned by John and Rhonda Jenkins, and they can be found at the Fredericksburg Market on Saturdays. They work with an import company that purchases beans from over thirteen different countries. Dennis always has 4 or 5 different blends available, ground or beans. So, head on down to the local Farmer’s Market. It’s almost like Alice’s Restaurant, “You can get anything you want, at Alice’s Restaurant.”

We count on ML Powers to report on all the unusual food finds in FXBG

front porch fredericksburg

July 2016

Cooking With Kyle

Snead’s Farm

Support Local Green Space & Local Farmers

July Roadside Stand

Summer Drinks

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

E a rl y J u l y :

Soup & Taco, Etc.

THE COFFEE & P IE GUYS @the fxbg farmers market

813 Caroline St.

Raspberries, Blackberries, Tomatoes, Sweet Corn Blueberries, Squash

by james kyle snyder

The

Fredericksburg, VA

By M.L. Powers

L at e J u l y :

Peaches, Okra, Seedless Watermelons, Ambrosia & Super Star Cantaloupes Sugar Babies. Mon-Thurs 11am-9pm Fri & Sat 11am-10pm Sun 11am - 9pm Bar open until 2am everyday

July 2016

Front porch fredericksburg

Open 9-5 Daily

540/371-9328

www.sneadsfarm.com

Enjoy Snead Farm Produce at Sunken Well Tavern, LaPetite Auberge, Bistro Bethem, J Brian’s, Vivify, Kybecca, Castigllias & Olde Town Butcher

Locally Owned Irish Pub and Restaurant

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

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

200 Hanover St. ~ 373-0738

Serving Up Local “Good” News Since 1997

The Sunken Well Tavern

Front Porch Fredericksburg

The General Store

Restaurant

Since 1978

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

371-4075 2018 College Ave. Fredericksburg

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

We count on ML Powers to report on all the unusual food finds in FXBG

front porch fredericksburg

July 2016

july 2016… Celebrate Our Freedoms First Friday, July 1

Sounds of Summer Concert Square, 7-9pm, Elby Brass

Series @ Market

Friday Night Good Vibes Happy Hour at Hard Times Cafe-Four Mile Fork in July @ Hard Times Cafe- Four Mile Fork, 6:30-9:30pm Celebrate Virginia After Hours announced Tyler Farr will be performing live in concert , 5:30pm "Big, Hot, Dogs" by Cathy Herndon @ Art First Gallery Cathy Herndon's paintings and neonenhanced works that capture the unique and delightful personalities of man's and woman's best friends.Opening reception 6pm Model Kit Marvels Exhibition @ Ponshop Studio and Gallery, opening reception 6pm 1st Friday @ Kingdom Inspiration Studio, 1008 SOPHIA ST, 6PM

Saturday, July 2

Art in the Park, Hurkamp Park 9-1pm. In conjunction with the Fredericksburg Farmer's Market, Art in the Park is an amazing showcase of local artists and their talents. ART SUPPLY SWAP, The art supplies that you may think are trash could be another crafter's treasure. (540) 479-6865 Kingdom Inspiration Studio1008 Sophia Street , 2-3pm The Spotsylvania Stars and Stripes Spectacular Spotsylvania Courthouse area beginning at 3:00 p.m. Join your family, friends and neighbors for this hometown, all-day family event. Come for the music, come for the food or come for the fireworks! Special shuttle bus service from nearby locations is offered to make your travel around the area simpler. Celebrate Independence Day with your family at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA. Enjoy art exhibits, food trucks, local craft beer and wine, live music, and a spectacular fireworks show! Live music begins at 7pm, fireworks begin at dusk, typically at 9pm and you are welcome to bring blankets and lawn chairs. 5-9:30pm

CALENDAR of events

Rock 'n' roll is alive and thriving Hard Times CafeFour Mile Fork will host a concert event to benefit the Semper Fi Fund 6 p.m. National touring acts, Buckcherry and Nonpoint, with special guest Failure/Anthem have teamed up for a unique musical event. $$

Sunday, July 3

Sunday Funday Bluegrass Jam @ The Sunken Well Tavern, 720 Littlepage, @ 7 pm - 9 pm

Monday, July 4

Happy Birthday America Day! Heritage Festival Celebrate America's Birthday with a variety of family friendly activities! The Festival combines a car show, live music, street festival, and so much more. Truly something for everybody. *7:45 am: Heritage Festival Five-Mile Run (Packet Pickup: July 2, 2016, 10 am to 6pm - VA Runner in Central Park and Race Day Pickup Starting at 6:30 am - Visitor Center at 706 Caroline St) For Heritage Festival 5k Race information go to: http://www.racetimingunlimited.org/R/HF/Info. aspx *10:00 am - 4:00 pm: Festival of the Streets Classic Car Display, Heritage Festival Craft Show, Live Music, and Children's Activities *10:00 am - 5:00 pm: Ferry Farm's Let Freedom Ring *4:30 pm: Pratt Park Opens for the July 4th Spectacular (Bring lawn chairs and picnic dinners. Food vendors will be available.) *9:30 pm: Fireworks (*View fireworks from Pratt Park or Old Mill Park. No alcoholic beverages. No sparklers, No grills. Dogs must be on leashes.) Fourth of July @Ferry Farm, This year's theme, "We The People" focuses on The Declaration of Independence with a variety of activities and entertainment for young and old alike. Learn about archaeology at Ferry Farm, enjoy a patriotic flag retirement ceremony, interact with colonial and Civil War re-enactors as well as members of the Patawomeck tribe, listen to patriotic music, Parking: Eagles Lodge - 21 Cool Spring Road Fredericksburg, VA 22405 Shuttles will run between the Eagles Lodge and Ferry Farm.10-5pm

Tuesday, July 5

Picnic in the Park, Hurkamp Park 11:30- 1:30pm

Music Tuesdays @Bistro Bethem309 William St. 711pm. Join us for Join us for ½ Drinks & pizzas.

The Taters - 1960's pop rock, Bluemont Concert Series, at Maury School Stadium, 7:30pm $

Local Hero's Night at Adventure Brewing, 3:309pm. 20% off if you are a military, police, fire, emergency and teachers.

Sunday, July 10

Grateful Dead Night with The Brokedown Boys @ The Sunken Well Tavern, 720 Littlepage, 7-9pm

Wednesday, July 6

Sunday Funday Bluegrass Jam @ The Sunken Well Tavern, 720 Littlepage, 7pm

Monday, July 11

Music on the Steps.Summer Concert Series at Hdqrtrs Library 7-8pm

Open Mic at the Rec Center 8 pm .Scott Wagner hosts the coziest and best sounding open mic in Fredericksburg. Sign up starts at 7, music at 8. 213 William St.

35th Annual Country Showdown at Hard Times Four Mile Fork in July @ Hard Times Cafe- Four Mile Fork, 7pm, hosted by Thunder 104.5

Trivia Night w/quizmaster Josh Cameli @Sunken Well Tavern. 7:30pm. Get there early to get a seat! 720 Littlepage St.

Picnic in the Park, Hurkamp Park 11:30- 1:30pm

Live Music @LaPetite Auberge, 311 William St, 8midnight. . No cover. lapetiteaubergefred.com

Thursday, July 7

Keith Kenny, rock,Live Music at 7:30 Kenmore Inn. featuring drink specials at the copper top bar. The Life and Films of Woody Allen--Join us as veteran film lecturer Gary Olsen gives a fascinating overview of writer, director and actor Woody Allen and his long career making movies, CRRL, hdqtrs., 6:30-8:30

Friday, July 8

Sounds of Summer Concert Square, 7-9pm

Series @ Market

Celebrate VA AfterHours OFFICIAL AFTER PARTY with JERRY WADE BANDat Hard Times Cafe-Four Mile @ Hard Times Cafe- Four Mile Fork, 11pm

Saturday, July 9

Art in the Park, Hurkamp Park 9-1pm. In conjunction with the Fredericksburg Farmer's Market, Art in the Park is an amazing showcase of local artists and their talents. Pastel Painting Demonstration with Tonya Butcher, Kingdom Inspiration Studio, 1008 Sophia Street, 11a - 2pm Karen Jonas, special Live Music at 7:30 Kenmore Inn. featuring drink specials at the copper top bar.

Tuesday, July 12

Music Tuesdays @Bistro Bethem309 William St. 711pm. Join us for Join us for ½ Drinks & pizzas. Local Hero's Night at Adventure Brewing, 3:309pm. 20% off if you are a military, police, fire, emergency and teachers. 33 Perchwood Dr Unit 101 Fredericksburg, VA22405

Wednesday, July 13

Open Mic at the Rec Center 8 pm .Scott Wagner hosts the coziest and best sounding open mic in Fredericksburg. Sign up starts at 7, music at 8. 213 William St. Trivia Night w/quizmaster Josh Cameli @Sunken Well Tavern. 7:30pm. Get there early to get a seat! 720 Littlepage St. Live Music @LaPetite Auberge, 311 William St, 8midnight. . No cover. lapetiteaubergefred.com

Thursday, July 14

Fxbg Sister City Assoc. celebrates Bastille Day, Market Square, 6-10pm. FREE. Whiskey Django Foxtrot, will offer music with both a French and a decidedly American accent. Farm-to-table dishes by Bennie of Normandy Cuisine will be available for purchase, along with French wines ($5) by the glass. Ice cream and other goodies are also on the menu. Celebrate all-things-French in the 'Burg. Historic Fredericksburg presents "Pints for Preservation" @ Deutschland Downtown. 5-7pm

Davis Bradley, folk/bluegrass Live Music at 7:30 Kenmore Inn. featuring drink specials at the copper top bar. Artist's Opening Reception with Scott DeHaven @ The Sunken Well Tavern, 720 Littlepage, 7-9pm

Friday, July 15

Sounds of Summer Concert Series @ Market Square, 7-9pm, David Chilkders & the Serpents

Saturday, July 16

Art in the Park, Hurkamp Park 9-1pm. In conjunction with the Fredericksburg Farmer's Market Sound of Summer Concert Series Hard Swimming Fish, Bluemont Concert Series, at Maury School Stadium, 7:30pm $

Sunday, July 17

Songfest Sundays: Moonshine @ John Lee Pratt Memorial Park, live bands perform from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Celebration Stage $ Sunday Funday Bluegrass Jam @ The Sunken Well Tavern, 720 Littlepage, 7-9pm

Monday, July 18

Music on the Steps.Summer Concert Series at Hdqrtrs Library 7-8pm Country Showdown at Hard Times Four Mile Fork @ Hard Times Cafe- Four Mile Fork, 7pm,

Tuesday, July 19

Picnic in the Park, Hurkamp Park 11:30- 1:30pm

Trivia Night w/quizmaster Josh Cameli @Sunken Well Tavern. 7:30pm. Get there early to get a seat! 720 Littlepage St.

Local Hero's Night at Adventure Brewing, 3:309pm. 20% off if you are a military, police, fire, emergency and teachers. (

Live Music @LaPetite Auberge, 311 William St, 8midnight. . No cover. lapetiteaubergefred.com

Wednesday, July27

Thursday, July 21

East of Monroe, bluegrass Live Music at 7:30 Kenmore Inn. featuring drink specials at the copper top bar.

Friday, July 22

Sounds of Summer Concert Square, 7-9pm

Series @ Market

FOOTWERK + THE FEATHERED FISH Hard Times Cafe-Four Mile Fork @ Hard Times Cafe- Four Mile Fork 9:30 pm

Saturday, July 23

Art in the Park, Hurkamp Park 9-1pm. In conjunction with the Fredericksburg Farmer's Market, Art in the Park is an amazing showcase of local artists and their talents. Painting Downtown Fredericksburg Purple to help raise awareness for Altzheimers disease. Participating merchants will turn their storefronts purple. Show your support by wearing purple and shopping local on from 10a.m. - 2p.m. King Teddy, jazz & sing, , Bluemont Concert Series, at Maury School Stadium, 7:30pm $

Trivia Night w/quizmaster Josh Cameli @Sunken Well Tavern. 7:30pm. Get there early to get a seat! 720 Littlepage St. Live Music @LaPetite Auberge, 311 William St, 8midnight. . No cover. lapetiteaubergefred.com

Thursday, July 28

Drew Hutchinson Trio, Jazz Live Music at 7:30 Kenmore Inn. featuring drink specials at the copper top bar. George Thorogood & The Destroyers @ Marks & Harrison Amphitheater

Friday, July 29

Sounds of Summer Concert Square, 7-9pm

Series @ Market

The Beach Boys @ Marks & Harrison Amphitheater 7pm

Saturday, July 30

Sunday, July 24

Art in the Park, Hurkamp Park 9-1pm. In conjunction with the Fredericksburg Farmer's Market, Art in the Park is an amazing showcase of local artists and their talents.

Monday, July 25

Furnance Mountain Band, alternative fold, , Bluemont Concert Series, at Maury School Stadium, 7:30pm $

Sunday Funday Bluegrass Jam @ The Sunken Well Tavern

Music Tuesdays @Bistro Bethem309 William St. 711pm. Join us for Join us for ½ Drinks & pizzas.

Music on the Steps.Summer Concert Series at Hdqrtrs Library 7-8pm

Local Hero's Night at Adventure Brewing, 3:309pm. 20% off if you are a military, police, fire, emergency and teachers.

Country Showdown at Hard Times Four Mile Fork @ Hard Times Cafe- Four Mile Fork, 7pm, hosted by Thunder 104.5

Wednesday, July 20

Tuesday, July 26

Open Mic at the Rec Center 8 pm .Scott Wagner hosts the coziest and best sounding open mic in Fredericksburg. Sign up starts at 7, music at 8. 213 William St.

Open Mic at the Rec Center 8 pm .Scott Wagner hosts the coziest and best sounding open mic in Fredericksburg. 213 William St.

Picnic in the Park, Hurkamp Park 11:30- 1:30pm Music Tuesdays @Bistro Bethem309 William St. 711pm. Join us for Join us for ½ Drinks & pizzas.

HOMEGROWN BAND Hard Times Cafe-Four Mile Fork, 9:30 If you are reading this 228th issue of FPF, thank an advertiser as we celebrate our 20th year of continuous publication! If you are an advertiser, list your events. Deadline for August 2016 issue is July 20th. To submit events go to frontporchfredericksburg.com/submit

2924 Fans (& Growing) Want You to Join

Front Porch on www.riverfriends.org 16

July 2016

Front porch fredericksburg

540-373-3448 front porch fredericksburg

July 2016

july 2016… Celebrate Our Freedoms First Friday, July 1

Sounds of Summer Concert Square, 7-9pm, Elby Brass

Series @ Market

Saturday, July 2

CALENDAR of events

Sunday, July 3

Sunday Funday Bluegrass Jam @ The Sunken Well Tavern, 720 Littlepage, @ 7 pm - 9 pm

Monday, July 4

Tuesday, July 5

Picnic in the Park, Hurkamp Park 11:30- 1:30pm

Music Tuesdays @Bistro Bethem309 William St. 711pm. Join us for Join us for ½ Drinks & pizzas.

The Taters - 1960's pop rock, Bluemont Concert Series, at Maury School Stadium, 7:30pm $

Local Hero's Night at Adventure Brewing, 3:309pm. 20% off if you are a military, police, fire, emergency and teachers.

Sunday, July 10

Grateful Dead Night with The Brokedown Boys @ The Sunken Well Tavern, 720 Littlepage, 7-9pm

Wednesday, July 6

Sunday Funday Bluegrass Jam @ The Sunken Well Tavern, 720 Littlepage, 7pm

Monday, July 11

Music on the Steps.Summer Concert Series at Hdqrtrs Library 7-8pm

Open Mic at the Rec Center 8 pm .Scott Wagner hosts the coziest and best sounding open mic in Fredericksburg. Sign up starts at 7, music at 8. 213 William St.

35th Annual Country Showdown at Hard Times Four Mile Fork in July @ Hard Times Cafe- Four Mile Fork, 7pm, hosted by Thunder 104.5

Trivia Night w/quizmaster Josh Cameli @Sunken Well Tavern. 7:30pm. Get there early to get a seat! 720 Littlepage St.

Picnic in the Park, Hurkamp Park 11:30- 1:30pm

Live Music @LaPetite Auberge, 311 William St, 8midnight. . No cover. lapetiteaubergefred.com

Thursday, July 7

Friday, July 8

Sounds of Summer Concert Square, 7-9pm

Series @ Market

Celebrate VA AfterHours OFFICIAL AFTER PARTY with JERRY WADE BANDat Hard Times Cafe-Four Mile @ Hard Times Cafe- Four Mile Fork, 11pm

Saturday, July 9

Tuesday, July 12

Wednesday, July 13

Thursday, July 14

Friday, July 15

Sounds of Summer Concert Series @ Market Square, 7-9pm, David Chilkders & the Serpents

Saturday, July 16

Sunday, July 17

Monday, July 18

Music on the Steps.Summer Concert Series at Hdqrtrs Library 7-8pm Country Showdown at Hard Times Four Mile Fork @ Hard Times Cafe- Four Mile Fork, 7pm,

Tuesday, July 19

Picnic in the Park, Hurkamp Park 11:30- 1:30pm

Trivia Night w/quizmaster Josh Cameli @Sunken Well Tavern. 7:30pm. Get there early to get a seat! 720 Littlepage St.

Local Hero's Night at Adventure Brewing, 3:309pm. 20% off if you are a military, police, fire, emergency and teachers. (

Live Music @LaPetite Auberge, 311 William St, 8midnight. . No cover. lapetiteaubergefred.com

Wednesday, July27

Thursday, July 21

East of Monroe, bluegrass Live Music at 7:30 Kenmore Inn. featuring drink specials at the copper top bar.

Friday, July 22

Sounds of Summer Concert Square, 7-9pm

Series @ Market

FOOTWERK + THE FEATHERED FISH Hard Times Cafe-Four Mile Fork @ Hard Times Cafe- Four Mile Fork 9:30 pm

Saturday, July 23

Thursday, July 28

Drew Hutchinson Trio, Jazz Live Music at 7:30 Kenmore Inn. featuring drink specials at the copper top bar. George Thorogood & The Destroyers @ Marks & Harrison Amphitheater

Friday, July 29

Sounds of Summer Concert Square, 7-9pm

Series @ Market

The Beach Boys @ Marks & Harrison Amphitheater 7pm

Saturday, July 30

Sunday, July 24

Art in the Park, Hurkamp Park 9-1pm. In conjunction with the Fredericksburg Farmer's Market, Art in the Park is an amazing showcase of local artists and their talents.

Monday, July 25

Furnance Mountain Band, alternative fold, , Bluemont Concert Series, at Maury School Stadium, 7:30pm $

Sunday Funday Bluegrass Jam @ The Sunken Well Tavern

Music Tuesdays @Bistro Bethem309 William St. 711pm. Join us for Join us for ½ Drinks & pizzas.

Music on the Steps.Summer Concert Series at Hdqrtrs Library 7-8pm

Local Hero's Night at Adventure Brewing, 3:309pm. 20% off if you are a military, police, fire, emergency and teachers.

Country Showdown at Hard Times Four Mile Fork @ Hard Times Cafe- Four Mile Fork, 7pm, hosted by Thunder 104.5

Wednesday, July 20

Tuesday, July 26

Open Mic at the Rec Center 8 pm .Scott Wagner hosts the coziest and best sounding open mic in Fredericksburg. Sign up starts at 7, music at 8. 213 William St.

Open Mic at the Rec Center 8 pm .Scott Wagner hosts the coziest and best sounding open mic in Fredericksburg. 213 William St.

Picnic in the Park, Hurkamp Park 11:30- 1:30pm Music Tuesdays @Bistro Bethem309 William St. 711pm. Join us for Join us for ½ Drinks & pizzas.

2924 Fans (& Growing) Want You to Join

Front Porch on www.riverfriends.org 16

July 2016

Front porch fredericksburg

540-373-3448 front porch fredericksburg

July 2016

history’s stories

VIETNAM SOLDIER IN CONFEDERATE CEMETERY By Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks

preservation done right

By barbra anderson

The lone white marble stone stands tall with all the southern soldiers stones in front of the confederate statue high above it. The inscription is quite simple: “He Lived & Died A Soldier”.

Forty-eight Forth of July’s have come and gone since LTC Vorin E. Whan, Jr. was killed in action in Vietnam. The story of his final burying place ending here in Fredericksburg is Anne very interesting. Rowe and Barbara Crookshanks both of whom also now rest in the cemetery spoke with me many years ago about how Vorin an Irishman born in Illinois would eventually end up in a Confederate Cemetery a thousand miles from his family and friends. I had the pleasure of giving a talk on a previous holiday about Vorin and his journey to his final resting place in Fredericksburg. Vorin, who was a career officer in the United States Army according to his wife Lyn was a history buff. For his thesis for the University of Pennsylvania Master’s program, he wrote the book Fiasco AT Fredericksburg. She went on to tell me of their many visits from Pennsylvania to Fredericksburg and how they both began to enjoy the area and its history. Vorin was assigned duty in Vietnam in 1966 as a Captain and advanced in rank to Colonel. On the Morning of February 7, 1968 Vorin and a group of soldiers were in a helicopter at Phu Bon near Cheo Reo going to assist a village in evacuation away from the enemy. Unknown to them the village had been taken over by the Viet-Cong. Upon their arrival they were immediately ambushed and all were killed or executed by the VC. Anne Rowe received a call from Lyn and they decided that there was a burial plot in the Confederate Cemetery near the main monument. Lyn said that Vorin loved Fredericksburg and that is why she decided that this would be his final resting place. Lyn who passed away several years ago also rest there in the grave with Vorin. Next time you are there pay tribute to Vorin and Lyn. Vorin Whan is on Panel 38 E Row 18 of the Vietnam Wall in Washington. I think it is proper that we remember all those who have given their all for their country. Have a safe and happy 4th of July.

DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF JIM BOWEN, ALICE BRAUN, AND LEWIS FICKETT

Central Rappahannock Heritage Center

Virginia’s only Regional Archive The Heritage Center

OUR HERITAGE

July 2016

Maury Commons 900 Barton St 540-373-3704; crhc@verizon.net

Front porch fredericksburg

Fredericksburg

The first time I saw the interior of 411/413 William Street was at an estate sale in 2012. Although I snagged a nice set of Vermeer prints, I was dismayed by the building’s decay. The place was in pretty rough shape. The hot pink and lime green paint was peeling, cracked linoleum covered the floors, the walls were sagging, and layers of dirt covered everything. I wondered who would be brave enough to buy this building. We are lucky that Denise Antinori answered the call. She has painstakingly restored this venerable building from years of neglect into a prosperous business (Deutschland Downtown) and residence—much as it was in most of its near-200 years of existence. The foundation of the building dates to 1828. At that time, it was a grocery store. The owner later added a second story for a residence. Then it became a confectionery, designed “in the modern fashion and filled with everything select to the daintiest in taste” (The Free Lance, August 5, 1887). The candy business was sweet indeed, because even after the building suffered a fire in the attic in 1890, the owner hired a well-known contractor to rebuild. He added a third story in 1902 in the finest style: a prominent cornice under a mansard roof and dormer windows showcasing the tin shingles. In 1913, the Park Hotel opened at 413 William Street, in the upstairs portion. The Park Hotel was a boarding house operated by Mrs. Ernest Cropp. In 1970, her daughter, Elizabeth Cropp,

bought the entire building. During the twentieth century, the downstairs store at 411 William Street sold groceries, flooring, hardware, wigs, and realty. In 1994, Weymouth Upholstery refurbished the shop and operated there for 18 years. However, the upstairs and back part of the building were empty for quite some time, resulting in considerable deterioration. Long-time Fredericksburg resident Denise Antinori had always wanted to own a business downtown, and she was thrilled to purchase such a historic building, She successfully juggled the requirements of government regulations concerning historic preservation, building codes, disability access, and health codes for the restaurant. Despite her dedication, Antinori has faced some obstacles. The large wooden addition in the back had to be demolished because it was too far gone. The restoration took twice as much time and money as expected. The results are magnificent. Upstairs are two gorgeous apartments with modern conveniences and historic charm. On the ground floor, the Deutschland Downtown restaurant has a cozy dining room and a comfortable bar, and serves great German food from bratwurst to strudel. Out back, there is a large beer garden. Learn more about this building and its restoration at Deutschland Downtown on Thursday, July 14, at 5:00 p.m. Historic Fredericksburg Foundation has brought back the popular “Pints for Preservation” program. For $20 ($15 for members), you can join us for a short presentation on restoration by owner Denise Antinori, hors d'oeuvres, and drinks, followed by convivial conversation among history lovers. Call 540-371-4504 or visit our website at HFFI.org. Information source: HFFI Marker Report, Researcher: Ben Raterman The HFFI Marker Committee has researched hundreds of buildings. Visit HFFI.org to learn more or have your building researched.

Renew fitness not just for the body.... by Joan M. Geisler

Nutrition and fitness is more than just diet and exercise. It encompasses your WHOLE lifestyle. So while you are working on getting your body fit, here are a few tips to get your mouth fit too. 10 Phrases you should drop from your vocabulary These verbal mistakes can cost you credibility and influence, so fix them, stat—if you want people to take you seriously. Whether you are leading a team meeting, presenting to a prospective client or delivering a keynote speech to a global audience, verbal mistakes will undermine your credibility and distract from your message. If you want to have integrity and influence, consider dropping these phrases: 1. “I’m confused,” or “I don’t get it.” Instead of putting all the responsibility on the other person, take co-ownership. Say, “Help me understand your position,” and remain open. 2. “You know what I mean?” and “Does that make sense? Asking for constant validation chips away at your command. 3. “I was like...” or “She was like...” The word “like” is an unsophisticated setup that gets in the way of your clarity and credibility. 4. “Um, ah, uh, you know.” Watch out for overuse of filler words and practice pausing to counteract the clutter. 5. “I’ve been too busy” or “I started writing an email and forgot to send it.” Excuses are unattractive. Say, “I apologize for the inconvenience. You will have it by tomorrow.” 6. “Out-o of-tthe-b box thinking” … should be retired. We can’t escape all the buzzword phrases, but ones like this have become boring.

7. “You always...” Sweeping generalizations lack insight and get in the way of healthy dialogue. Be specific and avoid using vague blame tactics. 8. “I think we should kind of do it this way.” Tentative language waters down your presence as a confident communicator. Make a solid recommendation and own it. 9. “I hate to say this, but…” and “John is a good person, but...” Don’t try to disguise criticism with a layer of caring or say things that offer zero value. 10. “Really?” It’s an all-purpose complaint that sounds like whining. Try making an interesting observation instead. If you want to have more credibility and influence, be uh, like, you know, more intentional in your communication. Replace negative tone and lackluster words with positive tone and authentic appreciative words. Each new day is an opportunity to inspire greatness, so say something real. Fitness is the whole lifestyle, not just your waistline. We want a fit communication life, a fit social life, a fit family life and it encompasses our mouth and how we use it. For great coaching tips sign up for a free coaching consultation at 8020lifefitacademy.com Thank you Success Magazine

Joan Geisler is a personal trainer and certified nutrition counselor contact her at joangeisler@gmail.com

front porch fredericksburg

July 2016

history’s stories

VIETNAM SOLDIER IN CONFEDERATE CEMETERY By Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks

preservation done right

By barbra anderson

The lone white marble stone stands tall with all the southern soldiers stones in front of the confederate statue high above it. The inscription is quite simple: “He Lived & Died A Soldier”.

DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF JIM BOWEN, ALICE BRAUN, AND LEWIS FICKETT

Central Rappahannock Heritage Center

Virginia’s only Regional Archive The Heritage Center

OUR HERITAGE

July 2016

Maury Commons 900 Barton St 540-373-3704; crhc@verizon.net

Front porch fredericksburg

Fredericksburg

Renew fitness not just for the body.... by Joan M. Geisler

Joan Geisler is a personal trainer and certified nutrition counselor contact her at joangeisler@gmail.com

front porch fredericksburg

July 2016

Companions

ANIMAL RITES, USA A Personal Service

when your doctor thinks you’re crazy

summertime threats By Alexis grogan

It's summer time, we all know some places. Heat is a big health risk for what that means. Outdoor fun with our pets, it can lead to heat stroke and/or family, although with the fun there are death and please whatever you do, do not also health risks for our four legged leave your pet in the car. It may be 75 friends. degrees outside but it's about 110-115 Fleas, ticks, heat stroke just to inside your car. If you keep your pet name a few, there are ways to keep your outside please make sure they have pet safe from the plenty of cool summer time water and a cool Protect Your Pet This Summer harm. Fleas and place to lay ticks are two very down, if you have Use Sunscreen common things to install an AC Keep Your Pet Cool to come across, unit in their dog Keep Your Pet Hydrated they also carry house. Do it. The Be Water-Wise: pools, lakes, ponds very harmful symptoms of a Keep Bug Free diseases such as heat stroke are, Guard for Garden & Garage Hazards bubonic plague, staggering, this can transfer fainting spells, to another pet through a bite, it can also vomiting, diarrhea and other frightening lead to anemia in small, younger or symptoms. Your dog can also get a health-challenged pets. Ticks are also sunburn, specially the short haired or known for snacking on our furry friends, close shaved dogs, rub some doggie we know is tick is present due to it sunscreen 15 minutes before sun swelling as it feeds on your pet. They exposure. Did you know your pets paws carry Lyme disease, anytime your pet is can burn? Yes! Your pets paw pads are outside check their skin before brining just like humans skin, it can burn, so if it them in, specially if you live in a wooded is too hot for you to be walking barefoot area. outside its way to hot for your pets too! It is recommended that you keep Here is a way to keep your pets your pet inside during the summer due cool in creative ways. If you see that your to the extreme rise in temperature in pet is having a hard time walking due to

Emancipated Patients

the hot ground, fill a kiddy pool with cold water and let your pet sit or stand in it for a little while, this will cool down their entire body, plus they may have a little fun too! Give ice cubes as treats, it will keep your pets hydrated and cool at the same time, if they have a hard time chewing the ice put it in their water dish to cool down the water for them. Do not use alcohol to cool off your pet, I know this sounds crazy but people have done it and it has caused toxicity through the absorption of the hot skin. If your pet collapses due to over heating get the, to the vet immediately. If you feel it is too hot for you to walk your pet, call me I will do it for you! Don’t forget that many plants are toxic to your pet. Guard the garden play area and your garage from toxic plant food and pesticides. And remember: Love your pets as much as they love you. Alexis Grogan is the owner of Lexi’s Pet Sitting Services. She can be reached at 540-903-0437, lexi0892@gmail.com and on facebook

by patrick neustatter, MD

“When it’s time to say “Good-bye” Cremation & Bereavement Service Serving the Area since 2003 info@animalritesusa.com animalritesusa.com 540-361-7487

Mrs. D.L. was complaining of chest pain. But I was afraid I was going to have to convince her it was "all in her head." She was one of a string of stressed out patients who were on the schedule at the Moss Clinic the other day. An otherwise educated, normal member of society, she just got unlucky in life's game of shoots and ladders with her husband dying, and so she lost the family business, her income and her health insurance. She'd had several admissions (when you turn up at any ER and whisper "chest pain" - you're in) and had been through the mill of ECG's, nuclear stress tests, echocardiograms. They'd also checked out her GI tract with scopes - all drawing a blank. And incidentally, as so often happens, was sent packing with a large bill, and the somewhat petulant comment "there's nothing wrong with your heart" but no explanation as to what is causing the chest pain. This all raises the likelihood that Mrs. D.L. is suffering from *Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD), or some variation of same - like conversion disorders, hysteria, hypochondriasis or "functional" disorders. That is there are (sometimes very profound and debilitating) symptoms, but no anatomical or physiological cause can be found for them. Suggesting this to any patient can be the kiss of death however, and has lead to many a dust up between doctor and patient. Such a diagnosis is instantly interpreted by the patient as being told, "your crazy." Or that the doctor is too lame, or can't be bothered, to find out what's wrong. But the American Academy of Family Physicians website tells us "up to 50 percent of primary care patients

Old Town’s Greatest Tour

** Her embittered comment was "I can't prove it, and this is just my opinion, but I have no doubt in my own mind that my misdiagnosis was in large part due to the fact that I was a middle aged female and that my male doctors were preconceived towards a psychological rather than a physiological diagnosis."

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July 2016

540-898-0737

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present with symptoms that cannot be explained by a general medical condition." The kind of things people have from SSD are pain, some kind of neurological symptom (tingling, numbness, weakness), GI symptoms (abdominal pain, bloating) or sexual dysfunction. It is more likely to occur in women; tends to run in families; and is associated with alcohol dependence. There is no universally accepted explanation for why people get it, but it is thought they have a tendency to be an over sensitivity to any strange sensations or pains in their body, and a tendency to "catastrophic thinking" - thinking the worst. More common than pure somatic type disorder is that someone has something wrong (bad back, irritable bowel, headaches) but the symptoms and disability are out of proportion due to an element of somatization. The fear is always, "well there is something awful there - it just hasn't been found." And this does happen. In the annuls of medicine, Polly Murray, the first person to be diagnosed with Lyme Disease, was considered to just have somatic type symptoms at first. Or more recently the British Daily Telegraph reported Lisa Smirl, age 37, a teacher at University of Sussex had shortness of breath, wheezing and pain in her arm that was "dismissed as anxiety and depression." Shortly after, she died of lung cancer.** In the case of Mrs D.L. I suggested - ever so delicately - there could be some somatization, but that I would send her to a cardiologist and consider a further GI workup. When all the tests continue to come back negative but the patient still has symptoms, it can make for a very ticklish situation. NOTES: *This is the preferred term adopted by the newest version of the bible of psychological diagnosis, the DSM V - I think it's just so they can adopt the snappy acronym "SSD."

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Patrick Neustatter is the Medical Director of the Moss Free Clinic. He is interested in stories of emancipated patients/people and would like to hear any stories of this kind from any readers. Contact him at pneustatter@aol.com

Mind Your Mind vicarious traumatization By Barbara Deal As I write this, we are in midJune. The inconsistent temperatures continue annoying, leaving us unprepared, guessing if rain will come. Eventually, we become resigned, even numb, letting go expectations, with an attitude of “whatever”, a sort of angry resignation. Let’s expand that to another situation, closer to our thoughts and imaginations. What follows is not a polemic. I will not speak to question of guilt, access to weaponry nor constitutional entitlements or no. Only to ask that one consider the impact of having seen and read details and blood strewn sidewalks and roads, bodies covered over in a street, parts missing or nearby. Witnessing videos of violence, human to human, group towards group, incited or not, reactive or not. This, in no way, is presented to minimize or demean the victims of crime. My friend Jenna Kole so succinctly posted that in no fashion, can outsiders, even with broken hearts, ever approach feeling what the victims feel. trauma We endured news coverage, the verdict and sentencing of the rapist who violated a young woman in unspeakable ways. Now, the public faces news of a different, although familiar violence against and murder of multiple strangers in a public gathering. Columnists, reporters, religious leaders, politicians interpret, review, explain, blame. We absorb that, too. I think, for myself, and maybe others, we look to them to make it comprehensible, give meaning to the senseless, .Make it more bearable in the analysis. In my field of mental health, the term “vicarious traumatization” is applied to one hearing reports of anguish and wounding in the therapy room. It is the outcome of knowing, hearing of, watching and being with the overwhelmingly painful truth of humankind’s cruelty to other human beings, all of us. This happens to firemen, policemen, doctors, lawyers, parole officers, helpers, and the lovers in all of us.

B e c o m i n g immune is the enemy. Paralysis is not resisting evil. Often others have said to me “how can you do that work? It would break my heart”. Ok, yeah, it breaks it and repairs it with every sorrow and hope that walks in and then out. What I am not hearing is this. What about that vicarious traumatization you experience seeing those bloodstains on a victim’s shirt, imagining that poor woman on the ground, unconscious. What impact do those films of attacks on city streets, guns drawn, shrieking sounds have on us? How many scenes of the Arab Spring and shootings of children in a school remain in the collective memory? Those discretely veiled beheadings.. Did anyone NOT imagine what occurred? With books, the imagination is more vivid than the depiction. Pools of blood evoke more. I ask how those events displayed in the news are impacting our awareness, our sense of safety, our openness to feelings as we learn of disturbing events in our surrounds, at a distance, among those like or not so much like us. Is there dread? Do we continue to engage or distance from one another out of that pain? So, thank goodness, we do have the free press to document and present the world to us. So as we regret and feel with moments and victims, I hope we ease in and out, maintain that sensitivity and not harden ourselves. To harden to this is to surrender the hope of repair. Barbara Deal MA, LCSW is a psychotherapist at Mental Health Resources, ( 540 ) 899-9826

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July 2016

Companions

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when your doctor thinks you’re crazy

summertime threats By Alexis grogan

Emancipated Patients

by patrick neustatter, MD

“When it’s time to say “Good-bye” Cremation & Bereavement Service Serving the Area since 2003 info@animalritesusa.com animalritesusa.com 540-361-7487

Old Town’s Greatest Tour

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July 2016

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ble at Availa n.com Amazo

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

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July 2016

Senior Care a better place to be? By Karl Karch

The Natural Path Holistic Health Center

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Paint FXBG Purple

Cynthia Armbrister

increasing alzheimer’s awareness

the mind-body-spirit connection

BY Lori Meyers

Barbara Bergquist, CTN Board Certified Traditional Naturopath

www.thenaturalpath.us

higher among women, African-Americans and Hispanics. AfricanAmericans are about twice as likely as whites to have Alzheimer's or another dementia. Early

July 2016

and 70 hours per week if a loved one requires a memory care secured facility. If more paid caregiving is needed, then the decision becomes cost versus quality of life. Loneliness is not solved by moving into a facility as many people think. Research studies have found that loneliness and depression do exist in independent, assisted, and skilled nursing facilities. Friends and family often reduce frequency of visits, or stop entirely, which increase the risk of loneliness and depression. It is important for residents to maintain established relationships with old friends and family in order to improve their well-being and protect against loneliness. Many elder adults have difficulty making new emotional attachments and social connections which can cause them to be socially isolated and remain alone in their room or apartment. Facilities, like many other social networks, form cliques around things like age, health status, religion, cultural differences, common activities, and even on which floor they live. When researching facilities, ask how the facility staff assimilates new residents. For example, do they have a “buddy/mentor” assigned and support groups for those with socialization difficulties? Do they hold special social programs and send out invitations to encourage visits from family and friends? So, if or when the time comes to ask if anywhere (other than home) is a better place to be, these are a few things to consider.

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.

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the

Alzheimer's risks are

4413 Lafayette Blvd. Fredericksburg

While listening to the radio recently, a Harry Chapin song came on. Many may remember Harry Chapin for his 1974 No. 1 hit song “Cat’s in the Cradle”. The Chapin song I overheard “A Better Place to Be” was about a lonely man telling his sad story to a bar waitress who also had her share of loneliness. Two phrases stuck with me: (1) “‘cause I’ve been oh so lonely”; (2) “I know I’m goin’ nowhere and anywhere’s a better place to be”. I began thinking of elder adults, their families, and struggles they face as loved ones age. A well-known statistic is that roughly 90% of older adults want to remain in their homes as long as possible, preferably through death. But, as they age and become frailer, and have chronic illnesses (especially Alzheimer’s disease), some families begin to question whether they can continue to keep their loved ones at home. Loneliness, sometimes dubbed the “silent killer” of older adults, is another factor impacting family decisions. These families struggle with the question: “Is there really a better place to be than home?” Unfortunately, each situation is unique so there are no easy answers. However, at the risk of oversimplifying this stressful dilemma, the key things to consider are: care needs, finances, quality of life, family caregiving abilities, and the elder adult’s social skills and needs. If a person needs skilled care 24/7, then an assisted living or skilled nursing facility may be the best option. If non-skilled assistance with normal activities of daily living and perhaps periodic skilled care visits are needed, this can be managed effectively in the home with family and/or professional paid caregivers. The decision then focuses on financial abilities as care needs increase. As a guideline, roughly 50 hours per week of in-h home paid caregiving from an agency costs the same as an assisted living facility,

believe

disease only manifests itself through memory loss, when it may appear through a variety of signs and symptoms.

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By christina ferber Many

It is common knowledge that Alzheimer's disease robs people of their ability to remember, but other truths about the disease remain unknown. For instance, many people are unaware that Alzheimer's is a fatal disease, its symptoms extend further than memory loss and that early diagnosis matters. Greater understanding is urgently needed given the dramatic impact of the disease. Alzheimer's disease is the sixth-lleading cause of death in the United States and the only cause of death among the top 10 that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed. The Alzheimer's Association is highlighting essential truths aimed at curbing common misconceptions about Alzheimer's.:

detection

matters. More than 5 million people are living with Alzheimer's disease, but only about half have been diagnosed. Additionally, less than half (45 percent) of seniors diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or their caregivers are aware of the diagnosis. Diagnosis is often delayed due to low public awareness of the early signs of Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's cannot be prevented, but adopting healthy habits can reduce your risk of cognitive decline and contribute to brain health. Staying mentally active, engaging in regular physical activity and eating a healthy diet benefits your body and your brain. There is also some evidence people may benefit from staying socially engaged with friends, family and the community.

Alzheimer's disease is fatal - there are no

Alzheimer's is the most expensive disease

survivors. From 2000-2013, the number of Alzheimer's deaths increased 71 percent, while deaths from other major diseases decreased. More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease, including 140,000 in Virginia.

in the country. and remains one of the most critical public health issues in America, costing taxpayers $18.3 million each hour.

Alzheimer's

not

normal

aging.

Alzheimer's is a fatal and progressive disease that attacks the brain, killing nerve cells and tissue, affecting an individual's ability to remember, think and plan. Brain changes associated with Alzheimer's may begin 20 or more years before symptoms appear

It’s always more fun in the Scenter of Town!

Essential Oils Liquid Herbs Reiki Reflexology Aromatherapy Custom Blending Aroma-Therapeutic Massage Harmonic Resonance Therapy Products ~ Services ~ Classes 907 Charles Street, Downtown thescenteroftown.com

Caregiving can become anyone's reality. The enormity of the Alzheimer's crisis is felt not only by the more than five million people in the United States living with the disease today, but also by their more than 15 million caregivers, friends and family. Ahead of the annual Walk to End Alzheimer's the Fredericksburg Alzheimer's Development Committee will be Painting Downtown Fredericksburg Purple on July 23 to help raise awareness for this progressive, fatal disease. Participating merchants will turn their storefronts purple and will have literature about the disease available for the public. Show your support by wearing purple and shopping local on July 23rd from 10a.m. 2p.m. Visit the FADC's Facebook page for the link to get your "Paint Downtown FXBRG Purple" t-shirt Want to get involved or learn more? Contact Lori Myers, (540) 3700835 Lori Meyers is the Regional Director for the Alzheimer's Association's Greater Richmond Chapter, Fredericksburg Office

Alternative techniques are becoming a sought after path to wellness, and most have to do with addressing the whole person, not just the symptom. Holistic Health Practitioner Cynthia Armbrister works with the whole person through the mind-body-spirit connection, and for 30 years has been using integrative modalities that help bring balance and wellness to the clients that come to her. “As a Holistic Health Practitioner, I integrate a variety of natural healing practices that are customized to the individual’s needs. I emphasize holistic health counseling skills, as well as provide touch therapies in order to work with all aspects of those who see me,” says Armbrister. She provides a variety of options to those who are experiencing issues that range from nutritional and emotional problems, to stroke and month, and is in the process of forming a chronic issues that traditional medicine beginner meditation group that will be has not been able to help. $45.00 for a six week session. She holds a She utilizes techniques from free monthly drumming group and coboth Eastern and Western cultures. Some facilitates a hospice grief writing group, as of those modalities include Shiatsu (a well. Mary Washington Hospital’s Regional Japanese form of acupressure that Cancer Center also lists her as a preferred balances the flow of energy throughout provider for their Integrative Healing the body), Reflexology (the program. “You will never find practice of stimulating “I want to be points on the feet that true healing without able to take my clients on correspond with parts of addressing the mind-b body- their own journey of the body), and discovering the fullest spirit connection.” Aromatherapy (using expression of themselves. essential oils to stimulate healing and It’s important to me that people live rich wellness). She also uses other integrative lives,” she says. “You will never find true health practices such as nutrition healing without addressing the mindcounseling, homeopathy, neuromuscular body-spirit connection.” techniques and herbal medicine, along Armbrister can be contacted at with spiritual counseling. the Center for Family Counseling on “My passion is to help my clients Lafayette Boulevard at 540-361-1556, assume responsibility for their health by emailed at herbalchi@yahoo.com, or offering them tools and techniques that contacted through her website: they can weave into their daily lives,” says https://cynthiaarmbrister.com/. Armbrister. “True healing comes about when we are able to integrate mind, body, Christina Ferber covers the alternative health scene for FP and spirit, and bring them into balance so that no one aspect of our lives overwhelms everything else.” She also mentions that her job is to try to find out the underlying issue, as opposed to treating the symptoms of a specific problem, in order to create lasting healing. Armbrister is also an Integrative Chaplain, a sub-specialty that combines the skills of traditional spiritual care with complementary health and wellness practices. “I believe addressing spiritual issues is an integral part of opening a deeper journey toward wholeness and wellness, “she says. Armbrister also hosts a 50 minute advanced meditation group on the 2nd and 4th Monday evening of each

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July 2016

Senior Care a better place to be? By Karl Karch

The Natural Path Holistic Health Center

~Nature’s Sunshine Products ~Quantitative Fluid Analysis ~VoiceBio Analysis ~ionSpa Foot Detox ~Zyto Bioscan Compass

Paint FXBG Purple

Cynthia Armbrister

increasing alzheimer’s awareness

the mind-body-spirit connection

BY Lori Meyers

Barbara Bergquist, CTN Board Certified Traditional Naturopath

www.thenaturalpath.us

higher among women, African-Americans and Hispanics. AfricanAmericans are about twice as likely as whites to have Alzheimer's or another dementia. Early

July 2016

Front porch fredericksburg

the

Alzheimer's risks are

4413 Lafayette Blvd. Fredericksburg

believe

disease only manifests itself through memory loss, when it may appear through a variety of signs and symptoms.

Natural Products for Health & Wellness 891-6200

By christina ferber Many

detection

Alzheimer's disease is fatal - there are no

Alzheimer's is the most expensive disease

in the country. and remains one of the most critical public health issues in America, costing taxpayers $18.3 million each hour.

Alzheimer's

not

normal

aging.

It’s always more fun in the Scenter of Town!

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July 2016

Art in the Burg

Stories

Name This House

of fredericksburg

elen grigg’s “trees & things”

Be the first to identify this mystery house and win a gift certificate from a downtown merchant.

by ryan poe

by norma woodward

“Hand of God”, Elen

Her love for art began early in life, and she received her formal training at the La Jolla Art Institute and Orange Coast College in California. Married to a Marine, raising a family and working for the Department of Justice, she Grigg. managed to continue exploring her art over the years. Most recently, she began using watercolor, and now she says, "Watercolor is my favorite media."

S HOP

FOR

Brush Strokes Gallery features “Trees and Things” created by artist Elen Grigg. Inspired by her father’s apricot and plum farm, Elen pays homage to the “Hand of God” in her tribute to nature’s gift; trees. Providing us with shade in summer, fuel in winter, air quality, life giving fruits, and refuge for small creatures, Elen wants us to also notice their beauty. In abstract and realistic detail, Elen brings us the message that trees, our friends and helpers, have a regal stature over us. From her youth, Elen aspired to “Another New Beginning”, Peggy Wickham be an artist. Nevertheless, along the way from See this show and other new California to Washington, DC, Elen worked works by member artists including artful for the government. Her dreams, though, photography, one-of-a-kind hand painted remained the same. scarves, delicately beaded jewelry, fused She moved to Fredericksburg to glass bowls and wall art, and original become a farm girl, raising quarter horses paintings in all media. Join us July 1 for for a time. But now she is back to her first the Artists’ reception from 6-9 p.m. at love--working as an artist. Brush Strokes Gallery, located at 824 Caroline Street in downtown Hours: Daily 11:00 am to 5:00 pm 540-368-0560

I met up with Sarah Perry at Vivify for a drink on the rooftop. It was a hot and humid evening but still pleasant. Sarah is the Director of Downtown Greens a community greenspace in Fredericksburg. She told me about a recent misadventure. “I was in town walking around with the baby stroller doing bank business. I walk out of the bank, middle of downtown, and my flip-flop breaks, one of them. I’m like, ‘Well, what does one do in the middle of town with one shoe?’ I don’t have shoes in my bag or anything. I’ve got a million things for the baby. I could completely clothe, bathe, feed the baby but I have nothing for myself.”

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

“Ground Zero Blues Club”, Norma Woodward

July 2016

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just part-way. But I talked to Corky [Coble] for a really long time. It’s the first time I talked to him in about ten years. We were talking about the flip-flop blow-out and the store and how it had evolved in the past ten years since I’ve been gone. He asked me about my life and living in France and we caught up for a while. And then, he’s like, ‘It’s really funny that you came in here looking for flip-flops, because I’ve been thinking of buying a bucket of flip-flops to keep here, just in case somebody has an emergency, like yours. As soon as you leave, I’m going to do that.’ So just for future reference, if you ever have an in-town blow-out, go to Corky’s.”

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“So I’m pondering whether I take them both off and then walk around like a hippie, which probably people would find normal, or do I go one-footed, which was actually my mom’s suggestion, because I called her. I didn’t know what to do. Nobody was around to save me or to bring me any shoes. So Mom was like, ‘you should wear one flip-flop and walk home with that.’ This happened to be one of the hottest days that we’ve had yet, so the pavement was really hot. I decided to do barefoot.” “I was in town so I thought, “Well, there’s gotta be somewhere downtown that has a stupid pair of flipflops or some shoes that I can just buy real cheap.’ The first place I went was Corky’s which I remember them having that kind of thing. They didn’t. They’re now a military surplus store fully and not

win downtown gift certificate

“I left his place and I Latitudes went to downtown, thought they might have some Fair Trade sandals. They didn’t. The last pair was a size six. I’m an eight and a half. So that wouldn’t have worked. Then I went across the street to Riverby Books because they’re my friends and I was like, ‘Hey Paul [Cymrot], do you happen to have any shoes down in the basement?’ He was like, ‘No. I have books. I don’t have any shoes.’”

Here’s how: Email frntprch@aol.com, Subject: mystery house Identify house address Your name, address, email. The poem below is a hint of the location of the mystery house. Good Luck!

Love Connection As I gaze out on the street as an elegant door, from my view on a comfortable front porch, I think of my past in the nearby farm, where my timbers were but saplings young and small, when this white haired woman trod where I now sit, she walked a path from behind me I hear, to her daughters house on the nearby hill, elegant still. Though now the houses of both are preserved, the path still echoes the love of small footsteps dutifully wrought, connections eternally sought

“I was overheating at this point, so I went to Hyperion. First, I apologized for not having any shoes and asked if they would kick me out. They said, ‘No, we haven’t broken anything today. That would be the only reason that we would tell you to wear shoes.’ So I said, ‘Ok, great. Can I get a frozen drink?’ And so I got one. They were like, ‘Why don’t you have shoes on?’ And so I said, “Well, flipflop blow-out. Went to this place, that place.’ And they were like, ‘I have a pair of shoes upstairs if you want ‘em. They’re not great shoes. Just some pair of junky tennis shoes that we wear behind the bar but they’ll keep your feet cool when you walk home.’ And I said, ‘Well, okay!’ So I took these shoes and I walked home with these tennis shoes that completely didn’t match my skirt but I had cool feet!” If you have a Story of F r e d e r i c k s b u r g , email storyfburg@gmail.com. Ryan Poe is a father, husband, son, and brother living in Fredericksburg. He brings us "snippets" of real 'Burg folks each month in FP. Photo by Ryan Poe

front porch fredericksburg

July 2016

Art in the Burg

Stories

Name This House

of fredericksburg

elen grigg’s “trees & things”

Be the first to identify this mystery house and win a gift certificate from a downtown merchant.

by ryan poe

by norma woodward

“Hand of God”, Elen

S HOP

FOR

“Ground Zero Blues Club”, Norma Woodward

July 2016

Front porch fredericksburg

G OOD ~ 806 C AR OLINE S T. F REDERICKSB UR G

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

win downtown gift certificate

Here’s how: Email frntprch@aol.com, Subject: mystery house Identify house address Your name, address, email. The poem below is a hint of the location of the mystery house. Good Luck!

front porch fredericksburg

July 2016

Model Kit Marvels

Calling All Authors...

exhibit solely features 3-d artwork

fxbg independent book festival

By gabe pons

PONSHOP Studio and Gallery is pleased to announce their seventh community art exhibition in July of 2016, “Model Kit Marvels.” The gallery will feature custom painted model kits supplied by the New York-based company, Boundless Brooklyn, and adorned by over forty innovative artists from across the United States. The opening reception is Friday, July 1 from 610pm. “Model Kit Marvels” is PONSHOP’s first partnership with Boundless Brooklyn, as well as PONSHOP’s first exhibit solely featuring three-dimensional artwork. Artists selected from three model kits: The New York City Water Tower, the Skateboard Half Pipe Ramp, or the Billboard Structure. The main event is the art exhibition, but PONSHOP will also be hosting a Do-It-Yourself Model Kit workshop from 6-8pm in the classroom during the opening reception and, weather permitting,

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July 2016

their garden space will open for guests and artists. Gallery co-owner Gabriel Pons comments, “The Boundless Brooklyn kits have been a great educational tool since we’ve been carrying them in our gallery

“Creamed Sardines”, Jenna Andersen

last year. I’ve used them as a means to educate our students in terms of architectural typology and historic precedent. Painting them is a great design challenge for beginners and professionals alike.” Featured Artists include: Crystal Rodrigue, Dolly Whitley, ELSTABO (NY), Gregg Deal (CO), HKS181 (DC), James Walker, Jeff Gulick, Jenna Andersen, Jenna Leigh Anderson, Jeremy Gann, Kevin Rodrigue, Leslie Brier, Maddie Huddle, Matt Corrado (MD), Rachel Hicks, Samantha Brodek, and Tim Rodgers Jr. Participating Artists include: Andrew Sutherland, Bengi Baker, Dale Brown, Elaine B., Falynn Koch, George Meadows, Jamie Bronson, Jerome Golden, John Curtis, Joshua Colon, Kay Portmess, Kristine Oleson, Mark Mason, Mr. Mars, Morgan Buenos, Nico Cathcart, Nikolas Brown, Stephanie Woolsey, Yanina Angelini, Zach Barbieto, and Zane Brown. Boundless Brooklyn is an innovative company established in New York by friends David and Terence. They provide easy-to-assemble model architecture kits that allow you to add your own personal flair. Made out of 100% recycled material, their easy-to-assemble kits pay homage to iconic structures in our urban environment including NYC’s classic water towers, billboards, and skateboard ramps to name a few. Learn more at www.boundlessbrooklyn.com Opening Reception at the Ponshop, 712 Caroline St, Friday, July 1, 6-10pm.Exhibit runs through July 31.

Lem

ona

Mon-Sat: 10a-6p; Sun: 1-5p 810 Caroline Sr. #104 ~ 540.899.3714 www.juspopn.com

Serving Up Local “Good” News Since 1997

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.

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rs avo g l F 30 untin o &C

Gabe and Scarlett Pons vision is to provide a gallery/shop that embodies art, design, and creative education.

Own The Movie

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

by a.e.bayne

empowerhouseva.org

Front Porch Fredericksburg

... and Those Who Love Books Local author and educator James Noll had been mulling the idea of starting an independent book festival in Fredericksburg for some time. He’d been attending regional festivals for years, and after returning home from one in Gaithersburg, Maryland he felt sure that Fredericksburg, with its vibrant creative community, would welcome an event that celebrates books, authors and literature. Noll connected with Chris Jones and myself, and as of May 2016, the Fredericksburg Independent Book Festival is an official LLC, with our first event taking place on Saturday, September 24, 2016, at Riverside Park along Sophia ST As organizers, we are calling all authors, publishers, graphic novelists, illustrators, art book creators, book designers, print on demand shops, marketing and PR companies, graphic designers, letter press printers, stationery makers, and anyone selling goods and services related to the publishing industry. We will offer opportunities for authors of all ages, information about which is on our website. Most importantly, we want book lovers of all ages to come out in droves to support our independent markets and make the event a success. Noll, Jones and I understand the challenges of being independent publishers and the diligence it takes to successfully promote one’s work, and we are offering a space for people to accomplish their goals. In addition to a thriving sound engineering business, Noll teaches creative writing and has been writing and independently publishing pulp fiction and novels for years. Jones has been graphic designer, writer, and editor

of a number of regional publications, is a busy motivational speaker and writing coach, hosts a weekly podcast for writers and is a co-host at Convocation Radio, also of the motivational ilk. Jones recently independently published a coaching book aligned with his podcast called The Art and Business of Writing. I have been a freelance writer for the past seven years and have published, designed, edited and promoted the Fredericksburg Literary and Art Review since spring of 2015. Noll says, “The Indie Publishing Revolution is in full swing, and there are thousands of people foregoing the old gatekeepers and going for it on their own. They need more opportunities to market their work, build their email lists, and find their tribes. Something like the Fredericksburg Independent Book Festival is the perfect opportunity to let them do so.” Jones hopes that the festival will become a venue by which authors can connect with other vendors and earn new audiences for their work, and he notes Fredericksburg’s location as a way to make that happen, “We are centrally located between Richmond and Washington, D.C., and our multiple library branches attest to the love of reading by our residents.” For more information and details about purchasing a table for the September 24th event, please visit our website at www.fredbookfest.com. Follow us on Facebook at Fredericksburg Independent Book Festival for up-to-theminute information about vendors, opportunities and more. A.E. Bayne is a writer, visual artists, and educator, and is the editor and publisher of Fredericksburg Literary and Art Review.

front porch fredericksburg

July 2016

Model Kit Marvels

Calling All Authors...

exhibit solely features 3-d artwork

fxbg independent book festival

By gabe pons

THE

FREDERICKSBURG LAMP Only Available At

The Copper Shop 371-4455 1707R Princess Anne

Behind Silk Mill thefredericksburglamp.com 26

July 2016

“Creamed Sardines”, Jenna Andersen

Lem

ona

Mon-Sat: 10a-6p; Sun: 1-5p 810 Caroline Sr. #104 ~ 540.899.3714 www.juspopn.com

Serving Up Local “Good” News Since 1997

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.

Front porch fredericksburg

rs avo g l F 30 untin o &C

Gabe and Scarlett Pons vision is to provide a gallery/shop that embodies art, design, and creative education.

Own The Movie

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

by a.e.bayne

empowerhouseva.org

Front Porch Fredericksburg

front porch fredericksburg

July 2016

Homeschooling 101

THE POETRY MAN - By Frank Fratoe

Or How to homeschool without a truancy officer knocking at your door

The Glance (For Jane)

By meg sneed

When my husband and I first considered the idea of homeschooling a few years ago, it was an almost alien concept to me; so, true to my latent TypeA tendencies, I spent an entire year researching the ins and outs of homeschool. I attended HEAV's (Home Educators Association of Virginia) free homeschooling for beginner's sessions at their annual convention. I interrogated every single homeschooler I knew in the area (there are quite a few!). I joined Facebook groups for both local, state, and national homeschooling groups. I read websites, blogs, books, and research studies. I read the laws governing homeschooling in Virginia. And then I read Organization of Virginia the Homeschoolers and HEAV's interpretations of the law. At which point I realized that not only is homeschooling in Virginia is a whole lot less complicated than it seems, at least from a legal stand point, but that there are a myriad of resources to help you through everything from curriculum to socialization and even the paperwork. We'll start at the very beginning, with the paperwork. There are three ways you can homeschool your child within the state of Virginia and not have the truancy officers knocking on your door: 1. Meet the requirements of the Virginia Home Instruction Statute (§22.1-254.1) 2. Utilize the Tutor Provision 3. File for Religious Exemption The first two are explained very well on both HEAV and the VA Homeschoolers' sites, but Option 1 is the most widely utilized option in the state, so we'll focus on it for today. To instruct your child at home as a parent or legal guardian, you must first file a Notice of Intent (NOI) and documents proving your eligibility to do so, along with a general description of the curriculum you intend to teach (ie: Math, Science, Language Arts) to the supervisor of your school district. HEAV provides a blank NOI for use in filing, sample curriculum descriptions, as well as a complete list of all Virginia superintendents and their contact information on their website at h t t p : / / h e a v . o r g / b e g i n homeschooling/notice-of-intent/. It is important to note two things; Virgnia is a notification state when it comes to

July 2016

homeschooling, meaning you do not need permission from the school system to begin homeschooling - only that you have notified them of your intent to do so; however, there are certain guidelines you must meet in order to qualify to homeschool or to continue doing so: Provide proof that you have earned at least a high school diploma, OR are a certified teacher, OR are utilizing a "correspondence course or distance learning program" to homeschool (an online school), OR write a letter providing evidence that you can adequately provide an education for your child (proof of a GED would be one example). File an NOI no later than August 15th for the next school year. Fulfill the immunization requirements, which are the same for the publicly schooled children. You should have a shot record (or medical exemption) on hand should proof of this be requested, however it is not required as part of the regular filing paperwork and is not usually requested of the majority of parents. If you have homeschooled in Virginia for the previous academic year, you must submit "evidence of academic achievement" by August 1st of that year. According to HEAV, this can be the results of any nationally normed standardized test given to students anywhere within the US, an evaluation by a licensed teacher or with a master's degree in an academic discipline, a report card from a community college, college, or distance-learning program, or submit a portfolio of your child's work for the year for evaluation by the superintendent of your school district. For the proof of academic achievement requirement, most parents go with either a standardized test, or an independent evaluator. The third option, providing a portfolio to your superintendent can be the most subjective way of meeting this requirement, and it is fully at their discretion as to what criteria they use to evaluate it. Standardized testing is considered to be the most objective option, and parents have a wide range of options for tests that can be administered at home or by others, the CAT from California being one of the most

Front porch fredericksburg

popular options. VA Homeschoolers keeps a list of test providers in Virginia on their website at http://vahomeschoolers.org/guide/homeinstruction/progress/testing/testproviders/. An independent evaluator is nice middle ground for some families to meet this requirement as well. The evaluator must be a certified teacher or have a Master's degree in an academic discipline, and usually meets with the student as well as evaluates a portfolio of their school work. They can eliminate the stress of a standardized test, as well as take into consideration situations which may require a student-specific definition of achievement, such as a family or personal crisis, learning disability, or simply a different way of homeschooling than is supported by most annual tests. Sarah Blunkosky is a homeschooling mother of three, a featured speaker at this year's VA Homeschooler's convention, and owner of Learning Heroine LLC, an independent evaluation service and homeschool resource here in Fredericksburg. If, as you are parsing through the various methods of completing these requirements, you have any questions both HEAV and VA Homeschoolers are excellent resources regardless of if you just need a question answered or have run into an actual problem. In addition to their email and phone contacts, they also have their own groups on Facebook, where you can get answers not only from their organizers but also from the hundreds of other parents who have been through the process already and are happy to share their own insider tips. Meg is the practice manager at Old Dominion Osteopathic Medicine, community outreach coordinator for the Fredericksburg Area CSA Project, a homeschooling mom of 3kids, and an ardent lover of all foods local, natural, and un-messed-with

If lucky we may have a presence so perfect it overrides all else and makes everything nonessential at once/

FXBG’ERS betty menks

where a glance beheld becomes our lifetime rendered into passion when nothing can excel the light of her eyes.

Frank Fratoe lives & writes in the city. He wrote this poem as a tribute to the artists of Fredericksburg

Give a Child

Compassion, according to Websters dictionary is sympathetic consciousness of others distress, with a desire to alleviate it. If we knew how to make people more compassionate, what a vast improvement we would make in our world. One word, but many people around us live every day with this attitude , this word as an unconscious but guiding light. This month again I am fortunate to meet another Fredericksburger volunteer, who lives by this word. Her tall elegance,her beautiful,friendly smile welcomes me to another coffee shop in our wonderful downtown,this time our Hyperion. Raised in Springfield, Va., Betty Menks graduated from Robert E. Lee High School. She married, raising her children here in Stafford. After 34 years commuting to D.C.to the Dept. of Justice, she retired. The traffic got worse and

Something to Think About Helping homeless children and Books, Games, Amusing Novelties M-Sat. 10am-6pm; Sun. 1pm-4pm

810 Caroline Street (540) 371-5684

FSCA is throwing a party! by kathryn willis

by georgia Lee Strentz

because we experience a flash of conviction which leaps toward us dazzling within itself as one radiant image/

fredericksburgwriters.com

Bastille Day Celebration

families in City of Fredericksburg, Counties of Caroline, Stafford & Spotsylvania 540 371 0831

worse commuting got worse and worse.and her hobby of crochet work on afghans called louder and louder. She gardens mostly herbs and enjoys reading along with her retired, song writing husband, her grown up daughters and her grandchildren. She now has time for her passions, including her garden, cooking shows, a rescue dog named Jake, the Redskins, and her grandchildren, with a yearly trip to Mississippi. Rain or shine, sleet or snow, Betty generously leaves her house one day a week to volunteer at "Loisann's Hope House" to work in Fredericksburg with Lisa Crittendon, the director of Hope House. Betty represents the group of generous and kind,compassionate people, who give of themselves so that the quality of life for others , especially children, can be improved. All this time for the last four years,she has helped, doing so many of the chores like answering the phone,answering questions,helping with anything that will make the lives of the families who live in Hope House more meaningful, leaving more time for the counselors to help the families toward a better quality of life. Homelessness is a devastating experience that significantly impacts the health and well-being of adults and children. Each year hundreds of thousands of American families become homeless, including 1.6 million children. Fortunately in Fredericksburg, we have " loisanns Hope House," with director Lisa Crittendon ,counselors and volunteers like Betty Menks. "Loisann's Hope house" interviews and accepts families who are homeless and who are willing to work with the counselors and learn to make life changes, learn new ways to make decisions which will improve their lives,especially impacting their children's futures. Volunteering, giving a helping hand to those in need is a selfless, individual calling and we cannot force people to give of themselves. But modeling behavior for our children, showing them that we must volunteer, work together, give of ourselves for the betterment of life on our planet is a powerful message. Thank you Betty Menks, from all of us Fredericsksburgers for your wonderful attitude,and loving spirit.

Bleu, blanc, rouge…Red, white, and blue—the flag colors of both France and America—will be flying together on July 14 in Market Square, behind Fredericksburg’s old Town Hall. It is France’s National Day, and Fredericksburg Sister City Association (FSCA) is throwing a party. The occasion celebrates the start of the French Revolution in 1789, when angry Parisians stormed the Bastille prison, a hated symbol of royal tyranny. The Bastille Day Celebration runs from 6 PM to 10 PM, and is free and open to all. The evening is a gift of FSCA to the people of Fredericksburg—an appropriate gesture to celebrate the beginning of democratic rule by America’s oldest ally, France. Fredericksburg’s own gypsy jazz and tango band, Whiskey Django Foxtrot, will offer music with both a French and a decidedly American accent. Farm-to-table dishes by Bennie of Normandy Cuisine will be available for purchase, along with

French wines ($5) by the glass. Ice cream and other goodies are also on the menu. So, Fredericksburg, put on your red white and blue, or come in costume, or just come. Bring a folding chair and your dancing shoes, and celebrate all-thingsFrench in the ‘Burg. FSCA is a non-profit, memberbased sister city organization, and has been partnered with Fréjus, France since 1980. Our website is fredericksburgfrejus.com, and our Facebook page is Frederickburg Sister City Association (FSCA). We welcome new members.

Bastille Day Celebration Thursday, July 14 Market Square 6-1 10pm FREE

Georgia Strentz lives downtown in her old cottage, near her family, surrounded by blooming flowers and lovely neighbors

front porch fredericksburg

July 2016

Homeschooling 101

THE POETRY MAN - By Frank Fratoe

Or How to homeschool without a truancy officer knocking at your door

The Glance (For Jane)

By meg sneed

July 2016

Front porch fredericksburg

If lucky we may have a presence so perfect it overrides all else and makes everything nonessential at once/

FXBG’ERS betty menks

where a glance beheld becomes our lifetime rendered into passion when nothing can excel the light of her eyes.

Frank Fratoe lives & writes in the city. He wrote this poem as a tribute to the artists of Fredericksburg

Give a Child

Something to Think About Helping homeless children and Books, Games, Amusing Novelties M-Sat. 10am-6pm; Sun. 1pm-4pm

810 Caroline Street (540) 371-5684

FSCA is throwing a party! by kathryn willis

by georgia Lee Strentz

because we experience a flash of conviction which leaps toward us dazzling within itself as one radiant image/

fredericksburgwriters.com

Bastille Day Celebration

families in City of Fredericksburg, Counties of Caroline, Stafford & Spotsylvania 540 371 0831

Bastille Day Celebration Thursday, July 14 Market Square 6-1 10pm FREE

Georgia Strentz lives downtown in her old cottage, near her family, surrounded by blooming flowers and lovely neighbors

front porch fredericksburg

July 2016

Fredericksburg Sketches

Katie L. King new rising sun tavern manager

A visual Celebration of our community

By Casey Alan Shaw

By anne darron Executive Director of Washington Heritage Museums, “She has already begun filling the role of hosting events. We look forward to years of continued growth at the Tavern both as a museum and as an event venue.” Katie and her husband, Sergeant Gregory King USMC, live in Prince William County with their golden lab, Annabelle. The Rising Sun Tavern was built by George Washington’s youngest brother Charles around 1760 as his home.This frame building became a tavern in 1792 when it was purchased by the Wallace family. It operated for 35 years as a stopover for travelers in the bustling port town of Fredericksburg. Preservation Virginia acquired the Rising Sun Tavern in 1907 and complete a series of restorations including the front porch. Much of the Katie L.King has been promoted to manager of the Rising Sun Tavern at 1304 Caroline Street, downtown. Her promotion follows the retirement of Jo Atkins,who served as manager of the Tavern for ten years and was with the organization for 22 years. Originally from East Tennessee, she was involved with the historic Bleak House in Knoxville. Recently she has become involved with 18th and 19th century living history reenactments. Katie has a passion for history and is eagerly looking forward to participation in local events.. She intends to expand the Rising Sun Tavern’s role as an event venue. “We are thrilled to have Katie join our team”, remarked Anne Darron,

Remodeling & Re-Imagining Sale All in-stock items up to 50% OFF. Don’t Miss Our Biggest Event Ever!

Anne Darron is the Executive Director of the Washington Heritage Museums

July 2016

Central Rappahannock At Regional Library, we know it is important to feed both minds and bellies during the summer months away from school. For the many local kids who depend on meals provided by public schools during the school year, summer vacation can be a hardship. CRRL has partnered with Fredericksburg City Public Schools, Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank, and Heartwood Center Summer Ministries to make sure kids continue to get the nutrition they need.

606 Caroline Street Old Town Fredericksburg 373-7847 www.gemstonecreations.org Tuesday - Saturday 10-5 Wednesdays until 6:30 and by appointment

Front porch fredericksburg

Frontporchfredericksburg.com FB@FrontPorch Magazine

In June, July, and August, free lunches are available at the following CRRL locations: Headquarters Library Every weekday from June 27-August 19, 2:00 PM-2:30 PM For Fredericksburg city residents ages 18 and under. In partnership with Fredericksburg City Public Schools. 1201 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA, 22401 - 540-372-1144 Salem Church Branch Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, June 22-August 25, 12:00 PM-1:00 PM For anyone ages 18 and under. In partnership with Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank, an equal opportunity provider.

By Jo Loving

2607 Salem Church Road, Fredericksburg, VA 22407 - 540-7859267 England Run Branch Saturdays, June 18-August 27, 2:30 PM-5:00 PM For England Run North Apartments residents ages 18 and under. In partnership with Heartwood Center Summer Ministries. 806 Lyons Blvd., Fredericksburg, VA, 22406 - 540-899-1703

This particular sketch was commissioned by a young couple who wanted to commemorate their first date. That first date was a simple stroll down William Street where they had the time to look in the shops, enjoy a meal and share long conversations. It sounds like a quite enjoyable way to spend an afternoon to me.

Casey Alan Shaw is a local artist and Realtor. He exhibits his original artwork and limited-edition prints at Art First Gallery in downtown Fredericksburg and at www.caseyshaw.com.

the moments of your life

by samantha Thomason

A lot of my sketches focus on our beloved soaring spires, but the great thing about downtown Fredericksburg is that every street offers its own charm.

beautiful woodwork in the tavern is original. The Tavern is open to the public daily. For info call 540-371-1494, r view the on facebook.

From My Porch

@ the library this summer!

SKETCH #20: Along William Street.

Where Fredericksburg Gets Engaged 30

Free Lunches

See you at the library for lunch!

Life isn’t a matter of milestones, but of moments. ~Rose Kennedy

whispering to me “It’s not too late, baby, it’s not too late,” in the loving, halfjoking, half-serious voice of a man who felt he was placing his daughter’s future in another man’s hands.

I remember a commercial when I was a younger. The tagline was “Celebrate the moments of your life.” But do we really? Do we celebrate the moments of our lives, or do we celebrate milestones? According to Rose Kennedy, “Life isn’t a matter of milestones, but of moments.” When you think of your own life, do you think more in terms of significant events – the milestones, or of moments – those occurrences that are frozen in your memory?

One morning in Florida in Autumn, 1981, the weather was uncharacteristically cool. My baby girl and I were at home, bundled up together. I watched her little face while she nursed, and she reached up with her tiny hand, gently brushed my face, and smiled. It was a moment so simple, yet sublime, and is forever etched in my memory. Many years later, when I was giving her baby girl a bottle, she did exactly the same thing, and the circle was complete, the love infinite.

For much of my life, although I am a person who appreciates moments, I was goal oriented, so milestones were important. In my career, things were measured in terms of milestone achievements and mission accomplishments. When my children came along, again, milestones were important – rolling over, first tooth, first steps, first day of school, kindergarten graduation, high school graduation, college, marriage, first child…and on it goes.

There was a day, in December 1984, when I watched my second baby girl in her crib, tapping her foot in perfect time to Chicago’s ’25 or 6 to 4.’ Her twin brother was in NICU, and was almost ready to come home. I remember the look on her face when they were reunited, she reached with a tiny month-old hand to touch his tinier month-old hand, and they slept that way in a bassinet my tiny babies shared, gently cooing. And now, I see these babies – my babies, with their children, and a look passes between them that reminds me of them as children.

But what are the things I remember most? The taste of my grandmother’s Pineapple Upside Down Cake, still warm, and the look on her face when she served it – an expectant smile, then a satisfied grin when she saw how much I loved it. I remember looking down at my father’s face, when he tossed me, a giggling toddler, in the air, his smile was broad, and he smelled of old spice and pipe tobacco (I love that smell). Fast forward, and I remember my father walking me down the aisle on my wedding day,

How wonderful, how fragile and beautiful life is – moment by moment. You see, Rose Kennedy was right – it isn’t the milestones that matter, it is the moments.

Jo Loving is at home on her porch, thinking of the many perfect moments of her life, and not giving one whit about the milestones achieved.

For more information about free summer lunches at the library, contact Darcie Caswell, Youth Services Coordinator, Central Rappahannock Regional Library, dcaswell@crrl.org, 540372-1144, Headquarters Library, 1201 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA, 22401. -

Samantha Thomason is the Community Relations Manager at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library. She can be reached at 540-372-1144 (phone) ext. 268, www.librarypoint.org

donatelifevirginia.org dmv.virginia.gov/drivers/#organs.asp front porch fredericksburg

July 2016

Fredericksburg Sketches

Katie L. King new rising sun tavern manager

A visual Celebration of our community

By Casey Alan Shaw

Remodeling & Re-Imagining Sale All in-stock items up to 50% OFF. Don’t Miss Our Biggest Event Ever!

Anne Darron is the Executive Director of the Washington Heritage Museums

July 2016

606 Caroline Street Old Town Fredericksburg 373-7847 www.gemstonecreations.org Tuesday - Saturday 10-5 Wednesdays until 6:30 and by appointment

Front porch fredericksburg

Frontporchfredericksburg.com FB@FrontPorch Magazine

By Jo Loving

Casey Alan Shaw is a local artist and Realtor. He exhibits his original artwork and limited-edition prints at Art First Gallery in downtown Fredericksburg and at www.caseyshaw.com.

the moments of your life

by samantha Thomason

A lot of my sketches focus on our beloved soaring spires, but the great thing about downtown Fredericksburg is that every street offers its own charm.

beautiful woodwork in the tavern is original. The Tavern is open to the public daily. For info call 540-371-1494, r view the on facebook.

From My Porch

@ the library this summer!

SKETCH #20: Along William Street.

Where Fredericksburg Gets Engaged 30

Free Lunches

See you at the library for lunch!

Life isn’t a matter of milestones, but of moments. ~Rose Kennedy

whispering to me “It’s not too late, baby, it’s not too late,” in the loving, halfjoking, half-serious voice of a man who felt he was placing his daughter’s future in another man’s hands.

How wonderful, how fragile and beautiful life is – moment by moment. You see, Rose Kennedy was right – it isn’t the milestones that matter, it is the moments.

Jo Loving is at home on her porch, thinking of the many perfect moments of her life, and not giving one whit about the milestones achieved.

Samantha Thomason is the Community Relations Manager at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library. She can be reached at 540-372-1144 (phone) ext. 268, www.librarypoint.org

donatelifevirginia.org dmv.virginia.gov/drivers/#organs.asp front porch fredericksburg

July 2016