Front Porch Fredericksburg March 2017 by Virginia Grogan

contents

closeups 3

history’s stories.: FXBG TITANIC SURVIVOR

our heritage: CAN YOU SAVE 1210 SOPHIA STREET ELLWOOD MANOR CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

Colleen MceLFRESH ...GLASS LADY NEEDS OUR HELP

Senior Care: PROTECT SENIORS ONLINE

mind your mind: REGRETS

bOB sCHAMERHORN ... BACKYARD PHOTOGRAPHER

wellness: CONVERSATION ABOUT SUICIDE PREVENTION CRITTERS & STUFF

art in the burg: CULTIVATE CREATIVITY @PONSHOP

STORIES OF FREDERICKSBURG mYSTERY hOUSE

fxbg music: CATALYST

downtown buzz: MAIN ST DISTRICT LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE

companions: HERE COMES THE ALLERGIES

It’s all energy: CURE A COLD

fredericksburg sketches ON STAGE: HARVEY @ PICKER’S ALLEY

from my porch: LISTEN TO THE RAIN FREDERICKSBURGERS:TERESA BULLOCK & TOM MORGAN

KEN CRAMPTON rhythmic evangelist.

porch talk .

on the porch...life in fredericksburg Messages

On the trails:: STROLL DOWNTOWN

CALL FOR ART ENTRIES

RED CROSS CELEBRATES CENTENNIAL

fundraiser for colleen mcelfresh By elizabeth woodford & megan mcelfresh

Everything Greens: WILDLIFE AS WINTER TURNS TO SPRING poetryman: CHILDREN AS TEACHER

“I HAVE A FRIEND”: TWO LOVELY LADIES

vino: APOLITICALIZATION OF WINE sPIRITS: IRISH WHISKEY

season’s bounty: LEAVENED HEAVEN

8 HOP ON THE FRED BUS & GET YOURSELF FREE

Cooking with Kyle...mUSCLES

9 cAROL COFFMAN.....THIS MONTH’S COVER ARTIST

GROWING COMMUNITY

16-17

Calendar of events

A R T F U L

...And more! 23 FIRST LOOK: JOHN WILLIAMS @ HAISIX DESIGNS

Cover: “Alley Behind Pickers” by Carol Coffman

Colleen has long been a force of nature in the Stafford and Fredericksburg area for over 25 years. Her business, Bluebird Glass Studio, has been a part of Stafford's culture for over 20 years and in 2011 she was a founding member of Artful Dimensions Gallery in Fredericksburg. She has been a huge supporter of the arts in our public schools for years, where she is fondly known as "The Glass Lady". . Many times a year she packs up her portable glass studio and travels to the schools to teach the children to create their own piece of fused glass.

- each ticket holder will go home with one of the donated artworks. This is a unique opportunity to collect works of art made by local and regional artists and simultaneously support of one our area's extraordinary creative individuals. For other questions and local input contact either Christine LushRodriguez (fruitoid@aol.com) President of Artful Dimensions Gallery, 305-815-9847, Or Elizabeth Woodford at 540-760-3234, ee.art@verizon.net, or Megan McElfresh at me.mcelf@gmail.com ; 716-563-2444

Now we're hoping to lift her spirits and support her financial journey ahead with a special fundraiser sponsored by her fellow gallery members at Artful Dimensions.

Elizabeth Woodford is is one of the many 3-D artists you will find at Artful Dimensions Gallery. Megan McElfresh, Colleen's daughter, is an artist and owner of McElf Glass Works in Buffalo, New York.; mcelfglassworks.com

Colleen with daughter Megan

Introducing Benchmark ...The Distinctive Wedding Rings. 200 William Street Downtown Fredericksburg 540.373.4421 Mon-Fri: 9:30-6 Sat: 9:30-5

Deductable donations can be made out to Artful Dimensions , note Colleen Fund and forwarded to us at 911 Charles Street, Fredericksburg VA 22401.

CrownJewelersFredericksburg.com

Colleen T. McElfresh, a founding Board Member at Artful Dimensions, dear friend and wonderful glass artist, suffered a brain bleed right before Christmas 2016.

Bring a little sunshine to a senior’s life! Too many seniors feel lonely and isolated.

The medical term is an AV malformation or AV fistula (AVM) which caused bursting cerebral aneurysm followed by a hemorrhagic stroke. Brain AVMs are rare and affect less than 1% of the population. If a patient does get help quickly enough, an AVM is treatable with surgery and rehabilitation but it is a slow, costly process. Colleen is recovering and soon will be facing major brain surgery to repair the cause of the bleed. In order to regain strength and mobility extensive physical therapy will also be required. Home medical equipment and other peripheral costs will add up quickly in addition to co-pays with her insurance. As you can imagine, Colleen will not be able to work while she is recuperating from her serious brain injury and future surgery and is therefore in need of our support to help cover her medical costs, which are and will continue to be great.

March 2017

Front porch fredericksburg

YOU can make a difference by volunteering to visit a senior in the Fredericksburg area. Colleen together with founders of Artful Dimensions Gallery, scraping, blasting, painting, repairing and energizing a long-n neglected industrial space at 911 Charles Street; breathing new life into another facet of what makes Fredericksburg so special. Artists from around the area will donate 50+ artworks valuing $75+. Tickets can be purchased to raise funds for her medical expenses. The tickets sold will match the number of artworks donated. The pieces will be unveiled at the Gallery's March First Friday Event on March 3, 2017 from 6-9pm. At the end of March, all ticketholders will be invited back to the gallery to draw for their pieces

ARTFUL RX Fundraiser to benefit Colleen McElfresh View Event Artwork & Buy Tickets starting First Friday, March 3 Artful Dimensions Gallery 911 Charles Street, FXBG 22401

Volunteer training is provided & no special skills are required. The Senior Visitors Program is a FREE community service program of Mental Health America of Fredericksburg. Visit mhafred.org or call 540-371-2701

front porch fredericksburg

March 2017

contents

closeups 3

history’s stories.: FXBG TITANIC SURVIVOR

our heritage: CAN YOU SAVE 1210 SOPHIA STREET ELLWOOD MANOR CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

Colleen MceLFRESH ...GLASS LADY NEEDS OUR HELP

Senior Care: PROTECT SENIORS ONLINE

mind your mind: REGRETS

bOB sCHAMERHORN ... BACKYARD PHOTOGRAPHER

wellness: CONVERSATION ABOUT SUICIDE PREVENTION CRITTERS & STUFF

art in the burg: CULTIVATE CREATIVITY @PONSHOP

STORIES OF FREDERICKSBURG mYSTERY hOUSE

fxbg music: CATALYST

downtown buzz: MAIN ST DISTRICT LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE

companions: HERE COMES THE ALLERGIES

It’s all energy: CURE A COLD

fredericksburg sketches ON STAGE: HARVEY @ PICKER’S ALLEY

from my porch: LISTEN TO THE RAIN FREDERICKSBURGERS:TERESA BULLOCK & TOM MORGAN

KEN CRAMPTON rhythmic evangelist.

porch talk .

on the porch...life in fredericksburg Messages

On the trails:: STROLL DOWNTOWN

CALL FOR ART ENTRIES

RED CROSS CELEBRATES CENTENNIAL

fundraiser for colleen mcelfresh By elizabeth woodford & megan mcelfresh

Everything Greens: WILDLIFE AS WINTER TURNS TO SPRING poetryman: CHILDREN AS TEACHER

“I HAVE A FRIEND”: TWO LOVELY LADIES

vino: APOLITICALIZATION OF WINE sPIRITS: IRISH WHISKEY

season’s bounty: LEAVENED HEAVEN

8 HOP ON THE FRED BUS & GET YOURSELF FREE

Cooking with Kyle...mUSCLES

9 cAROL COFFMAN.....THIS MONTH’S COVER ARTIST

GROWING COMMUNITY

16-17

Calendar of events

A R T F U L

...And more! 23 FIRST LOOK: JOHN WILLIAMS @ HAISIX DESIGNS

Cover: “Alley Behind Pickers” by Carol Coffman

Now we're hoping to lift her spirits and support her financial journey ahead with a special fundraiser sponsored by her fellow gallery members at Artful Dimensions.

Colleen with daughter Megan

Introducing Benchmark ...The Distinctive Wedding Rings. 200 William Street Downtown Fredericksburg 540.373.4421 Mon-Fri: 9:30-6 Sat: 9:30-5

Deductable donations can be made out to Artful Dimensions , note Colleen Fund and forwarded to us at 911 Charles Street, Fredericksburg VA 22401.

CrownJewelersFredericksburg.com

Colleen T. McElfresh, a founding Board Member at Artful Dimensions, dear friend and wonderful glass artist, suffered a brain bleed right before Christmas 2016.

Bring a little sunshine to a senior’s life! Too many seniors feel lonely and isolated.

March 2017

Front porch fredericksburg

ARTFUL RX Fundraiser to benefit Colleen McElfresh View Event Artwork & Buy Tickets starting First Friday, March 3 Artful Dimensions Gallery 911 Charles Street, FXBG 22401

front porch fredericksburg

March 2017

Patrick Neustatter Guest Porch Editorial Contributing Writers & Artists A.E.Bayne Laurie Black Kevin Brown Nick Cadwallender Collette Caprara Barbara Deal Christina Ferber Frank Fratoe Joan M. Geisler Ann Glave Alexis Grogan Ralph “Tuffy”Hicks Maddie Huddle Karl Karch David C. Kennedy Elana Lepkowski Bob Lookabill Jo Loving Megan McElfresh Maggie Magliato Vanessa Moncure Patrick Neustatter Penny Parrish Penny Pepper M.L. Powers Carley Rehberg Scott Richards Suzanne Scherr Casey Alan Shaw Meg Sneed Georgia Strentz James Kyle Synder Amy Umble Christine Thompson Dawn Whitmore Norma Woodward David Windrich Elizabeth Woodward Kiernan Ziletti

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

ON THE PORCH

On the Trails

a good thing

Experience FREDERICKSBURG... stroll downtown

BY patrick neustatter

By Kevin Brown

Before coming to the US, where providence, or some genial god, guided me to Fredericksburg, I was living in London. A place of 12 million “friends” – if you buy that quaint idea that “strangers are friends that you haven’t met yet.” In London you can walk down Oxford Street, saunter through Portobello Road market, jog around Hyde Park, drink in The Kings Head - and never meet a friend. You can be in this seething, bustling metropolis - and be totally isolated. Then I came to Fredericksburg. Admittedly to the northern reaches of Caroline County, to 30 acres of jungle (where I always say you could run around naked and no one would know), but just 15 minutes from the downtown of a community that is truly a community.

A Good Thing

The mission of Front Porch Fredericksburg is to connect the diverse citizenry of Fredericksburg with lively features and informative columns of interest to our community’s greatest resource, its people.

Messages from our readers are welcome. All submissions must be received by e-mail by the 19th of the month preceding publication. Writers are welcome to request Writer’s Guidelines and query the Editor by e-mail. Front Porch Fredericksburg PO Box 9203 Fredericksburg, VA 22403 Ad Sales: E-Mail: frntprch@aol.com Web Site: www.frontporchfredericksburg.com The opinions expressed in Front Porch Fredericksburg are those of the contributing writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Front Porch Fredericksburg or its advertisers. Copyright 2017 Olde Towne Publishing Co. All rights reserved.

March 2017

And community is a good thing, as pointed out by Robert Putnam, professor of Public Policy at Harvard in his book Bowling Alone. We are losing social capital he laments. Having friends over has diminished by 45%; attending clubs and meetings by 58%; family dinners by 33%, and more people are bowling but there are less bowling leagues. Civic and social organizations are on the wane. The most highly socially connected members of our society, highly educated women, are getting back into the labor force. Developers are building subdivisions with no side walks, forcing people to resort to that most isolating of devices - the car (I like the facetious message of the movie, Crash, that the only way you actually get to meet people is by colliding with them) This demise of community and loss of social capital is a health hazard. Associated with diabetes, heart disease, asthma, susceptibility to colds. And social evils; higher crime rates, lower educational performance, more teen pregnancy, child suicide, low birth weight babies and infant mortality. Lewis Feldstein, who co-chaired the Saguaro Seminar that looked at ways to reverse this deterioration, says we “need to look at front porches as crime fighting tools, treat picnics as public health efforts and see choral groups as occasions for democracy.”

The Fredericksburg Antidote Despite

population

about

1/50th of that of London, I find an

Front porch fredericksburg

intimate, flourishing community but which is active enough to provide many, embracing features and events. Concerts that range from the back room at Pickers Supply or the barn at Roxbury Mills, to refined chamber music in the Dodd Auditorium of UMW. Lectures as formal as the Great Lives series, to Nerd Night at The Red Dragon Brewery. Cuisine as congenial and exotic as Legume, Foodie, Jimmie Chang’s, the Guru – or any one of an almost infinite number and nationality of eating establishments. All places to gather and socialize. Religious communities that nurture your spirit (which has been shown to have a health benefit all its own) range from the elegant formality of St George’s, the energetic worship of the Baptists; the massive embrace of Life Point church; or my own particular favorite, the Unitarian Fellowship, which the wags claim is catering to “people who want to be religious but don’t know how.” There is spirited representation of philanthropic ventures like Downtown Greens, Mental Health America, The Fredericksburg Food co-o op and the Moss Free Clinic to mention just a very few that show a caring heart of this community. First Friday seems the epitome of a community I have found myself a part of. My wife Paula (above with Patrick) and I can never get beyond Liberty Town there being so many friends and acquaintances we know to talk to. People to catch up with whom you wouldn’t normally run in to, which prompts me to describe it as like a party where you forgot who you invited.

Unspeakable Honor When tasked with the unspeakable honor of writing the guest editorial for Front Porch this month, I looked at past issues/editorials for inspiration. And found community a recurrent topic. Maybe no surprise as the mission of this publication always seems to be nurturing of this community of Fredericksburg and its environs – and finding yet more friends and acquaintances, like Amy Bayne, Nick Cadwallender, Karl Karch, Christine Thomson, Alexis Grogan contributing content, just enhances that notion of being part of one big happy family. All ably coordinated and edited these days by Virginia Grogan, since Rob Grogan’s unfortunate demise. The articles, the calendar, even the advertisements, promote activities and places that are part of making this a community. Things that will enhance your health. Your social wellbeing. Your joie de vivre. So study it assiduously. Or, to use the traditional tagline seat down, relax and “read it cover to cover.”

Patrick Neustatter is the Medical Director of the Moss Free Clinic and an active community member.

You could step into those businesses and meet the owners, maybe buy something for someone special. If you turn your eyes upwards during your stroll, you can take in an undiscovered world of upper-floor apartments and roof designs and exotic sights like that dog on the roof or bear on the balcony. If you closely examine passing building windows, you can read posted flyers with news of fun-filled downtown music, theater and art gallery events, and if you closely examine the window frames, you might put on your historical preservationist hat and try to ascertain if they are made of authentic wood or less preservation-minded materials.

As you stroll down our pretty brick sidewalks, you could choose to smile and say “Hi” to friendly passersby and if you are an animal Justin & Amie Lapier taking a stroll Downtown lover, kindly ask permission to pet their dogs. While in crosswalks, you may want to make sure to look both Oh, the sights you can see while strolling downtown and experiencing ways before stepping out, and vigorously Fredericksburg! The term “stroll” is wave your arms when you see the defined by Merriam-Webster as “to walk in occasional out-of-towner going in the a leisurely manner”, to slow down and wrong direction. During the summer and take your time. And guess what? When winter seasons, you can stop at the you decide to walk in a leisurely manner, Visitor’s Center on Caroline St to pick up a you might not worry about finding that contest form, and then embark on a funperfect parking spot close to your loving search for obscure downtown destination. You might choose to walk artifacts and solve riddles in the Itty Bitty several blocks from your residence, if you Challenge and Window Wonderland live near or in downtown, or simply park promotions. in a less busy peripheral area, and then Let’s not forget to mention, of enjoy a healthy stroll to and from wherever you are going, taking in some course, the health benefits you might receive by parking a bit further away from interesting sights along the way. your destination and strolling several While taking a leisurely stroll blocks through downtown. As our Fitbits instead of rushing to and from your and smart watches remind us daily, people destination, you will have a splendid are to take at least 10,000 steps a day to opportunity to notice and experience our maintain good health. A walk along the amazingly vibrant Fredericksburg downtown portions of Caroline, Princess downtown. Your eyes will have the Anne, and Sophia Streets, while adding in opportunity to enjoy fascinating scenery William Street or one of its parallel and details. You can inquisitively note our streets, is about half your daily step historical buildings and accompanying quota. You can stroll this in about an markers, and perhaps choose to “Google” hour, by yourself or perhaps along with the address or marker details to spend a family, friends, and your faithful dog. bit of time learning more. You can gaze at What a healthy way to “experience” inspiring architecture, and attempt to downtown Fredericksburg! figure out various periods and styles. You Kevin Brown shares up-to-date local trail might choose to take a few photos of your news and photos as administrator of the adventure and share with friends and "On the Fredericksburg Va Trails" family on social media. You can peek into Facebook Group welcoming shops and restaurants, and watch people watching you watch people.

Photo by Carley Rehberg front porch fredericksburg

March 2017

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

ON THE PORCH

On the Trails

a good thing

Experience FREDERICKSBURG... stroll downtown

BY patrick neustatter

By Kevin Brown

A Good Thing

March 2017

The Fredericksburg Antidote Despite

population

about

1/50th of that of London, I find an

Front porch fredericksburg

Patrick Neustatter is the Medical Director of the Moss Free Clinic and an active community member.

Photo by Carley Rehberg front porch fredericksburg

March 2017

Bob Schamerhorn

Call for Entries

backyard nature photography

exhibit seeks artwork

By penny parrish

By amy umble

Bob When you look at Schamerhorn’s photographs, you would think that he has his camera attached to his hand every hour of every day and every night. Bob’s photos of birds and nature give us a window into the beauty of the world around us. He will be sharing many of those images, as well as some tips on “Backyard Photography” as a guest of the Fredericksburg Photography Club fbgphoto@aol.com on March 14 at 7pm. Bob has lived in the country and in the city, and he says that each of us can make improvements to our yards and habitat to attract birds and butterflies. The right plants, trees, bushes, feed and water are the recipe for drawing wildlife to your home. As to camera equipment, Bob started out with a “point and shoot” camera before deciding this went past being a hobby and upgrading to more expensive DSLRs. He encourages others to start out the same way. Bob currently lives in Richmond where he is a self-employed graphic artist.

This job allows him the freedom of setting his own hours and watching for “photo ops” in his own yard every day. He also travels, and has captured soaring (literally) images of birds in Hawaii and Florida. He likes the accessibility of the many different species that one finds in Florida, and the ability to get close to most of them. B o b emphasizes that getting good photos of birds and butterflies is not always easy. Don’t expect to capture your feathered friends unless you are willing to spend some time gazing out of your window or taking your camera on walks and

vacations. “Patience is secondary to fun,” he says. Sometimes he captures the birds because he puts his camera on a tripod and waits for the perfect shot. Other times he admits he is in the right place at the right time. Most times it is a combination of both. Some of his favorite photos are taken at the birdbath. Bob is currently putting together a book titled “Bathing Beauties” that features only birdbath images, and one chapter is simply called “Splash.” Hitting the shutter button to “freeze” the bird yet show the movement of water is the ultimate goal. During his presentation in Fredericksburg, Bob will show many examples of his work, and provide ideas and tips for photographers from beginner to experienced. He will cover composition and techniques, including autofocus and taking pictures remotely. Birds are usually

Penny A Parrish is a member of the Fredericksburg Photography Club, and shows her work at Brush Strokes Gallery and 810 Weekend Gallery in Fredericksburg.

“Backyard Photography” Bob Schamerhorn Guest of Fredericksburg Photography Club Tuesday, March 14, 7pm Dorothy Hart Center

on the move, so Bob will have some tips for capturing them in flight.

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.

March 2017

Front porch fredericksburg

SUZY STONE Mobile:540.847.0630 Office: 540-898-2900 suzystone22@gmail.com C21redwood.com

Bob hosts photo tours, birding guide services, workshops and individual instruction. Still, he considers himself an “enthusiast, not an expert.” Bob says he is “not the creator of the beauty, I just take the pictures.” To see some of Bob’s images, visit his website at www.iphotobirds.com. The Fredericksburg Photography Club is inviting all local photographers, birders and nature enthusiasts to the free presentation which will be held at the Dorothy Hart Center from 7-9pm on Tuesday, March 14. For further information contact FbgPhoto@aol.com

Own The Movie

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

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

Supporting Preservation Since 1997

601 LAFAYETTE BLVD

roxburyfarmgarden.com MAIN: (540) 373-9124 NURSERY: (540) 371-8802

Rappahannock Area Community Services Board is currently seeking entries for the 13thAnnual “The Art of Recovery” exhibit. The art show features original artwork by adults with mental health challenges. The show is organized by members of Kenmore Club, RACSB’s psychosocial clubhouse for adults with severe and persistent mental illness. The exhibit will open Friday, May 5 at The PONSHOP Studio and Gallery on Caroline Street in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The opening corresponds with ‘First Fridays.’ The exhibit runs through May 30 and coincides with National Mental Health Month. The Art of Recovery provides a forum for artists living with mental illness to gain confidence in their abilities, address misconceptions surrounding mental illness and experience community support. The RACSB is accepting original drawings, paintings, sculpture, textiles, prints, mixed media, and ceramics. Artwork should be submitted by April 3. Visit rappahannockareacsb.org for an entry form and display instructions. Entries must be accompanied by a completed entry form with the following requested information: name of the artist; year of completion (if known); locale of the artist; dimensions; medium; and sale price. The PONSHOP will apply a reasonable commission on all artwork sold. Selections will be made by April 14. For details or to submit artwork, contact Helen Conley at 540-373-7737 or artofrecovery@rappahannockareacsb.o rg. Submissions may also be mailed to RACSB, Attn: Art of Recovery, 600 Jackson St., Fredericksburg, VA 22401.

To learn more about PONSHOP Studio and Gallery, ponshopstudio.com.

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

The visit

Founded in 1970, the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board (RACSB) provides public mental health, developmental disability, substance abuse and prevention/early intervention services to the residents of the City of Fredericksburg and the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford. To learn more, visit www.rappahannockareacsb.org.

Amy Umble is the Public Information Officer, Rappahannock Area Community Services Board. She can be reached at 540.940.2314

13 th ANNUAL ART OF RECOVERY EXHIBIT SEEKS ARTWORK Deadline for Entries: Monday, April 3, Notification of Artwork Selections: Friday, April 14 Opening Reception: Friday, May 5, 5-9 9 p.m. Exhibition Dates: Friday, May 5–Monday, May 29

THE

FREDERICKSBURG LAMP Only Available At

The Copper Shop 371-4455 1707R Princess Anne

Behind Silk Mill Like Us on facebook front porch fredericksburg

March 2017

Bob Schamerhorn

Call for Entries

backyard nature photography

exhibit seeks artwork

By penny parrish

By amy umble

Penny A Parrish is a member of the Fredericksburg Photography Club, and shows her work at Brush Strokes Gallery and 810 Weekend Gallery in Fredericksburg.

“Backyard Photography” Bob Schamerhorn Guest of Fredericksburg Photography Club Tuesday, March 14, 7pm Dorothy Hart Center

on the move, so Bob will have some tips for capturing them in flight.

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.

March 2017

Front porch fredericksburg

SUZY STONE Mobile:540.847.0630 Office: 540-898-2900 suzystone22@gmail.com C21redwood.com

Own The Movie

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

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

Supporting Preservation Since 1997

601 LAFAYETTE BLVD

roxburyfarmgarden.com MAIN: (540) 373-9124 NURSERY: (540) 371-8802

To learn more about PONSHOP Studio and Gallery, ponshopstudio.com.

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

The visit

Amy Umble is the Public Information Officer, Rappahannock Area Community Services Board. She can be reached at 540.940.2314

THE

FREDERICKSBURG LAMP Only Available At

The Copper Shop 371-4455 1707R Princess Anne

Behind Silk Mill Like Us on facebook front porch fredericksburg

March 2017

American Red Cross Turns 100

Hop on the FRED Bus....

Carol Coffman

... and Get Yourself Free

March Cover artist

by kevin brown

By A.E. Bayne

by Helen Parham, Rappahannock Area The Chapter of the American Red Cross welcomes the people of the Fredericksburg area to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Red Cross service in Virginia. On Saturday, March 18, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., come to the headquarters of the Red Cross' Rappahannock Area Chapter for games and fun, and a look back at our organization's history. The celebration will take place in the Hunter Street parking lot of the General Washington Building, located directly across Princess Anne Street from Carl's in downtown Fredericksburg. "We are thrilled to give thanks to - and celebrate with - the community that has made the Red Cross' work possible," said Helen Parham, executive director of the Rappahannock Area Chapter. "For the past century, the people of the Rappahannock region and all of Virginia have generously donated their time and resources to help the Red Cross help those facing disaster both at home and abroad. We simply could not do our work without your help and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts."

This free celebration will include: a walk -100 Steps for 100 Years-in support of the Red Cross mission exhibits of emergency response vehicles face painting, food trucks, great music Since 1917, the American Red Cross has assisted individuals and families in Virginia who face disasters both large and small. In that time, the Red Cross has also provided Virginians with health and safety instruction, supported the commonwealth's military members and their families, and delivered countless other services to those in need. For more information about volunteering with or donating to the Rappahannock Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, contact Executive Director Helen Parham at helen.parham@redcross.org. or ed amer red cross, 540-498-3761

March 2017

As I consider our city’s parking challenges, I wonder how much improvement could be made by increased promotion of walking, bicycling, buses, taxis, UBER, and LYFT. In exploring these solutions, I’ve made it a point to drive less, park further away, and walk more. Last year, I became an UBER driver to learn more about that alternate transportation mode ($5 for riders to get across town). Last month, I took my daughter on our first FRED Bus ride to learn more about this cheap alternative to driving and parking. If you haven’t done so, I recommend everyone try riding the FRED Bus at least once. While on the bus, imagine what it would be like to replace your wallet-emptying personal vehicle and parking challenges with a $1 ride that can pick you up and get you to almost anywhere in our city and surrounding region. After consulting the bus schedules easily accessible on www.ridefred.com, we hopped on the bus at the Fredericksburg Square Shopping Center up Route 1 to Giant, traveled over to the UMW Campus, through downtown headed south on Princess Anne St over to Hazel Hill apartments, then back through downtown north on Caroline St, all the way out Riverside Dr to Fall Hill Ave, then up to Central Park for several stops, back along Fall Hill Ave with a few stops at apartment buildings, then back to the Fredericksburg Square.

Our cover photo this month is provided by local artist Carol Coffman. Coffman has long been a member at Art First on Caroline Street, one of the area’s oldest art co-ops. While studying for her Master’s of Interdisciplinary Studies in Interdisciplinary Art from Virginia Commonwealth University, Coffman found the gallery to be a place of diverse companionship and camaraderie for local artists.

Lindsey Washington, FredBus Driver greets passengers on his route commuters, and its extensive community outreach with agencies like the Rappahannock Area on Aging, Inc. (RAAA), Germanna Community College, the Mary Washington Hospital, and the University of Mary Washington, FRED is striving hard to attract more “choice riders” (those with other options like me). Social and digital

George Washington Regional Commission (GWRC) to enhance transit service to park and ride lots and train stations. Always focused on safety and quality control, FRED conducts routine spot checks to ensure that drivers are fulfilling their responsibilities (using on-board video or drive behind method).

The ride took about an hour. We met friendly bus driver Francine Lucas, listened to pleasant chatter between all sorts of passengers, and heard some eyeopening observations about what is truly going on behind the scenes in the city (which I can’t share here, you have to ride FRED to get this kind of inside scoop!). In researching FRED a bit more on the www.fredericksburgva.gov website, I was amazed to see how much time and effort goes into managing the FRED transit program, promotion and community outreach, tracking and reporting driver performance and ridership, training and safety, and striving to find ways to make FRED better. Director Wendy Kimball, Assistant Director Rodney White and the FRED team, guided by the Public Transit Advisory Board (PTAB), run a very thorough and well-managed program!

transit

In addition to its high-demand service in support of VRE

Front porch fredericksburg

Coffman has taught art in area public elementary and middle schools, and she currently teaches at North Stafford High School. Her commissions have included several portraits, murals, and a game board design. In addition to solo shows, she has participated in many group shows, juried shows, and has donated work to a variety of benefit auctions. Through her work, Coffman says she celebrates the magic of the everyday and those elusive moments that seem charged or symbolically significant. This has been the focus in her recent work, including the cover image, Alley Behind Picker’s . Coffman describes her process of painting the image: “I was interested in experimenting and playing with the paint. With Picker’s Alley, I went back to

media will be used to increase program visibility and access to FRED transit information. In the near future, Ttechnology enhancements will boost rider convenience by making next bus arrival information available to them on demand. A real-time information system is tracking on-time performance, ridership, route efficiency, and possible schedule adjustments. FRED is increasing the number of stops, and works with the

In conclusion, for those who haven’t done so already, I highly recommend the affordable and entertaining experience of riding FRED!

Kevin Brown is the administrator of the "FXBG City Council Public Forum" Facebook Group

rendering areas more, almost obsessively. I worked with my background first before painting in my subject matter. Then I approached the painting thinking about design. With every color I applied I asked myself if this was the last thing I added what would the painting be? I like the approach of playing, and then creating a sense of order. I started out without rules and then made up my own set of rules for each design element.” Coffman says all of her art, whether it’s obvious or not, has a narrative to it. While certain images, like the alley cat in Picker’s Alley, are symbolic for her, she says, “I don’t ever want it to be concrete. It’s more of a suggestion, and I like to see what other people get out of the narrative. Sometimes it’s what I was thinking, and sometimes it’s not. My alley cat isn’t necessarily your alley cat.”

One First Friday, I was waiting for friends near Picker’s Alley, and the entire back end of the alley was lit up in Market Square. The yellow was popping, and it was as if something exciting was going on there. It interested me because this unexpected dark alley led to something glowing with hot activity. Alleys can be surprising that way.” You can enjoy more of Carol Coffman’s work at her website, carolcoffman.com, or see her work in person at Art First Gallery.

A.E. Bayne is the publisher of Fredericksburg Literary and Art Review, a partner in the Fredericksburg Independent Book Festival, and a veteran educator. She has lived in Fredericksburg for the past two decades.

“Colonial Beach Girls” Acrylic On Vinyl Record

While Coffman says she’d never turn away a donation of paint, she prefers to use high quality products because they offer a level of predictability that allows her creative freedom like that on display in Picker’s Alley. Her mediums of choice are watercolor, colored pencil, and acrylic paint, specifically Golden fluid acrylics. She says, “When you use a lower quality paint, it has more filler and you wonder why it’s not doing what you expect. Golden is really versatile. Once you have used a high quality paint, it’s hard to go back.” Coffman says she was drawn to painting Picker’s Alley because she has a love of alleys in general. She explains, “Alleys are considered pretty utilitarian. We’re not really meant to notice them.

La Source... Experience the Restorative Power of the Sea

Photos courtesy of FREDericksburg Regional Transit

723 Caroline St

540.899.8077

Daily 10-5:30, Sunday 12-5 front porch fredericksburg

March 2017

American Red Cross Turns 100

Hop on the FRED Bus....

Carol Coffman

... and Get Yourself Free

March Cover artist

by kevin brown

By A.E. Bayne

March 2017

transit

In addition to its high-demand service in support of VRE

Front porch fredericksburg

In conclusion, for those who haven’t done so already, I highly recommend the affordable and entertaining experience of riding FRED!

Kevin Brown is the administrator of the "FXBG City Council Public Forum" Facebook Group

“Colonial Beach Girls” Acrylic On Vinyl Record

La Source... Experience the Restorative Power of the Sea

Photos courtesy of FREDericksburg Regional Transit

723 Caroline St

540.899.8077

Daily 10-5:30, Sunday 12-5 front porch fredericksburg

March 2017

Everything Greens

THE POETRY MAN - By Frank Fratoe

Child As Teacher

fxbg wildlife as winter turns to spring

(To Angelo)

Becoming resentful is easy if deprivation and remorse have driven the past away because the touch you knew of someone loved so deeply has gone into abstraction where yesteryears are lost and no one can replace them. But I sat on our couch once with my 2-year-old grandson as he snuggled next to me while holding fast my hand to press it over his heart and I could feel the beat a thousand generations made throbbing there in my palm.

Frank Fratoe lives & writes in the city. He has written poems from the heart for Front Porch for the past 7 years.

By Maggie Magliato

By Laurie Black puzzle together in the Senior Spotlight*. An occasional outing for brunch is always fun, too. Elsa says, “Gill is just so nice!” and Gillian reports, “We are never lost for words. We really enjoy each other’s company and try to solve all the problems of the world.”

Birds Nearly half of all birds that breed in North America migrate to some degree. A few factors influence birds’ migratory behavior. Most species prepare to migrate in response to changing day length, but precisely when they leave for their migratory destinations may be fine-tuned by weather conditions. Here in Fredericksburg, we have winter residents, summer residents, transients and permanent residents. Winter residents are birds which remain here during their nonbreeding season and migrate northward once the winter is over. Winter residents of Fredericksburg include White-tthroated Sparrows, Dark-e eyed Juncos, Brown Creepers, Hermit Thrushes and Ring-b billed

Gulls. Transient birds are here temporarily as they migrate through. The Double-ccrested Cormorant can be seen passing through from around March to May, where they spend time on the Rappahannock River. Summer residents live and breed here through the warmer months. There are many birds that are summer residents in Fredericksburg: Throated common examples include Ruby-T Hummingbirds, Ospreys and Indigo Buntings. Permanent residents include the birds that breed in the summer and overwinter in Fredericksburg. Common examples include Northern Cardinals, Carolina Chickadees, Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons, and American Robins.

Amphibians and Reptiles

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

Wills and Trusts Provide for Incapacity Trusts for Minor Children Wealth Preservation Trusts Avoid Probate AhearnEstateLaw.com March 2017

tWO LOVELY LADIES

The days are becoming longer, and the temperatures are beginning to rise, as winter slowly creeps away giving rise to spring. With it, spring brings new life in plants and animals within the forests, rivers, fields and neighborhoods of Fredericksburg. Here are some changes to look out for.

Where Customer Service and Title Insurance Become One

“I Have A Friend”

540/371-9890

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Unlike birds and mammals, amphibians and reptiles are ectotherms. This means that they rely on their environment for their body heat. Throughout the winter, they become dormant, usually underground, under rocks and logs, or at the bottom of a riverbed. On warm sunny days, even in the winter months, eastern painted turtles and other sliders can be seen sunning themselves on logs and rocks in the canal or along the river. As the weather warms, turtles and snakes will be seen more often absorbing the sun’s rays to heat their body. Spring is the breeding time for many frog and salamander species. Amphibians lay eggs that do not have an eggshell or any protective coating that would keep them from drying out, so it necessary that they lay their eggs in water. In the spring when there is lots of snow melt and rainfall, pools of water form in small depressions in the ground. These areas are called vernal pools and are surrounded by breeding amphibians from late winter to mid-summer. Two common

species that can be heard calling loudly for mates in early spring are the wood frog and spring peepers.

Fish Migratory fish begin to swim up the stream around mid-march. These fish are anadromous, which means they live in saltwater and swim upriver to freshwater to spawn. The first fish run to take place is the shad (which includes the common hickory shad and gizzard shad as well as the less common American shad), and the herring. This migration is shortly followed by striped bass and white perch. During these runs many fishers, both human and bird, can be seen along the river, especially at the fall line. Birds such as eagles, osprey and heron take advantage of the mass amounts of fish. These birds will fly around with their fish and even drop them out of the sky and this is the cause of the dead fish found all around the local Fredericksburg area.

Children Now that the weather is getting warmer, it is time to bring the kids outside to play! Starting the first week of April, Downtown Greens will be holding weekly Youth Garden Club meetings on Mondays from 4pm to 5pm for kids 8 and under and their guardians.. The meetings are held in the upper garden of Downtown Greens, on the corner of Dixon and Princess Anne streets.

Maggie is an environmental science and biology student at University of Mary Washington. Maggie is the Program Manager for Downtown Greens’ Youth Garden Club and is an intern for Friends of the Rappahannock. Photo: “Osprey Nest on Rapp.River”, by Maggie Magliato

Can one person make a positive difference that enriches a whole community? Absolutely! Can two strangers who are from worlds apart become friends? Definitely! Senior Visitors Program volunteer, Gillian Willis and her senior friend, Elsa, are evidence of both! Gillian first heard about the Senior Visitors Program in 2004. Gillian was doing other volunteer work in the community including visiting at nursing homes, when she read an article in the newspaper about the Senior Visitors Program. She liked the idea of visiting seniors in their own home, so she signed up to volunteer. She has been volunteering now for over 12 years. Gillian says she has stayed with the program for so long “because I feel better when I do for others. And the seniors I have visited have helped me as much as I have helped them. I feel blessed to be in their company.” Gillian and Elsa have been visiting for a year now. These two lovely ladies find plenty to talk about from politics to family memories to experiences in their native England and Jamaica. However, they both agree that their favorite thing to do is watch “Dancing With the Stars” together. While they wait for another season of “Dancing With the Stars”, they find other things to do like play card games and dominoes or work the word

When asked what advice she would give to someone who is considering volunteering for the Senior Visitors Program, Gillian replied, “Well, you need to like people and have compassion. If you do, this program is really worthwhile.” Gillian explained that she encouraged a friend to try Senior Visitors. Her friend agreed to give it a try. She became a volunteer in 2015 and is getting ready to start visiting her second senior friend.

Helping You Heal Naturally

One reason many people choose to volunteer with the Senior Visitors Program is because it is so flexible. Volunteers typically visit once a week for an hour. Volunteers and their senior work out their schedules to find a time that works for both of them. Visits can be on weekends, over a lunch hour, almost any time. The time volunteers give is truly precious to the seniors they visit. As one senior client commented, “My volunteer is so friendly and funny. She gives me something to look forward to each week. I can talk to her about anything. She’s a gem!” For more information call Mental Health America of Fredericksburg at (540) 371-2704 or visit our website at mhafred.org to download volunteer or senior applications or view a current issue of Senior Spotlight. *Senior Spotlight is the Senior Visitors Program newsletter which is distributed bimonthly to seniors and volunteers. Senior Spotlight contains program news and information, health and safety tips for seniors, local resources and events for seniors, and more! Laurie Black is the Administrative Assistant for the Senior Visitors Program

The Way Your Body Was Meant To Dr. Jason Sneed, D.O. 540-322-5040 www.odomedicine.com front porch fredericksburg

March 2017

Everything Greens

THE POETRY MAN - By Frank Fratoe

Child As Teacher

fxbg wildlife as winter turns to spring

(To Angelo)

Frank Fratoe lives & writes in the city. He has written poems from the heart for Front Porch for the past 7 years.

By Maggie Magliato

Amphibians and Reptiles

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

Wills and Trusts Provide for Incapacity Trusts for Minor Children Wealth Preservation Trusts Avoid Probate AhearnEstateLaw.com March 2017

tWO LOVELY LADIES

Where Customer Service and Title Insurance Become One

“I Have A Friend”

540/371-9890

Front porch fredericksburg

species that can be heard calling loudly for mates in early spring are the wood frog and spring peepers.

Helping You Heal Naturally

The Way Your Body Was Meant To Dr. Jason Sneed, D.O. 540-322-5040 www.odomedicine.com front porch fredericksburg

March 2017

Vino

SpiritS irish whiskey drinks IRISH DERBY An Irish spin on a vintage cocktail recipe that originally called for bourbon.

For those of you who feel there's a limit on how much green beer one can enjoy here are a few Irish drinks you might enjoy.

GAELIC PUNCH Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg, for garnish 3/4 cup Demerara or other raw sugar 40 ounces boiling water One 750-ml bottle Irish whiskey Strips of zest from 6 lemons, plus 6 thin lemon slices, each studded with 4 cloves, for garnish In a heatproof bowl, muddle the lemon zest with the sugar. Let stand for 1 to 2 hours. Muddle again, add 8 ounces boiling water and stir until the sugar dissolves. Strain into a warm heatproof bowl and stir in the whiskey. Add the remaining 32 ounces of boiling water and garnish with the studded lemon slices and nutmeg. ~David Wondrich

1 1/2 ounces Irish whiskey, such as Redbreast 1/2 ounce Carpano Antica sweet vermouth 1/2 ounce Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao (or Cointreau) 1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice from 1/2 lime 2 dashes Angostura bitters 4-inch lime twist for garnish Add whiskey, sweet vermouth, curaçao, lime juice, and bitters to a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake until well chilled, about 20 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with lime twist. ~Elana Lepkowski

IRISH COFFEE The classic! 1.5 oz Irish Whiskey 1 oz Brown sugar syrup Hot brewed coffee Unsweetened cream, lightly whipped Add the whiskey and syrup to an Irish Coffee glass and fill two-thirds of the way with coffee. Top with one inch of whipped cream.

THE PEPPERMINT PATRICK 3/4 oz. Jameson Irish Whiskey 1/2 oz. Midori, 1/4 oz. Green Creme de Menthe, 1 oz. cream.

Weekend Brunch Specials Saturday: 7am ~ 12pm Sunday : 7am ~ 1pm 540-373-8300 www.marriott.com/fkrcy 620 Caroline St. FXBG, VA

March 2017

Shake and strain into chilled cocktail glass. Pour 1/2 oz. Galliano down side of glass so it layers on bottom of glass. Garnish mint leaves and, or shamrocks. You can fill a straw with Galliano, hold your thumb over the top of straw and carefully put straw to bottom of cocktail glass and release Galliano that way, or over the back of the bar spoon.

Front porch fredericksburg

The Apoliticalization of Wine by scott richards

Wine drinkers in Virginia have recently shown their integrity in a large way. In an attempt to infuse politics into the wine industry, there has been a boycott called on wines from the Trump Winery. Reports from some of the local wine shops, however, show that Trump wines have all but sold out. A number of years ago, a friend of mine, who is a very good political satirist, wrote about his dogs drinking out of a stream on his property. Whenever they did, they began to talk and discuss politics. The result was hilarious, but this was fiction. Unfortunately, some have taken this idea quite seriously. Apparently, people think if you drink Trump wine, you will start saying things like "build the wall," and making remarks about other countries. Give me a break. The only time that sort of thing happens is when too much wine is consumed, and that is just a waste of good wine, no matter what your political bend. I do not discuss my politics readily because, although I consider myself a person concerned about the status of this great country, I would rather discuss the attributes of a good wine. It is a very apolitical approach towards life. The real mistake that occurs when politics is infused into wine is that excellent wines are missed. First of all, though the winery bears his name, he does not make the wine. No one has to worry about anything being done to the wine that might make you say weird things (as stated before, unless you drink too much). Quite the contrary, the management of Trump Winery has international consultants who regularly give input on the wine being made. Trump Winery has been well

represented at a number of Virginia wine events. Among the better known of their products is the sparkling wine they produce. With just the right amount of effervescence, enough to excite your palette, but not too much as to annoy, these wines offer a full taste that goes well with seafood. With the resurgence of the oyster industry in Virginia, wine has become even more of an asset to pairing. The sparkling wines of Trump Vineyards fit this bill excellently. Particularly with Rappahannock oysters, whose buttery taste includes some mineralization and slight salinity, sparkling wines enhance the experience. Have no fear of wine engendered by those who are more political. People are political, wine is apolitical and is to be enjoyed. In addition to the good sparkling wine from the Trump Winery, enjoy the wines from your own backyard. Cheers! 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

Season’s Bounty leavened heaven

By vanessa moncure “Waffles aren’t just for breakfast any more.” Not really a *News Flash*, but breakfast is probably the meal most closely associated with that crisp-griddled buttery wedge of leavened-heaven we call waffles. Once-traditional tastes expand into many sweet and/or savory popular variations served ‘round the clock chicken ‘n waffles, galette ice cream sandwiches, pizzelles, waffles on a stick and hot dog waffles (really), a Thailandcreation of a hot dog baked inside a waffle and served with ketchup, just to name a few - and it’s hard to resist their appeal. Walk the food midway at any state fair or carnival and chances are you’ll find Lolly Waffles, chocolate-and sprinkle-dipped on a stick - or French Toast Waffles, dipped in an egg-and-cream mixture before griddling and served with maple syrup or fruit - The basic batter of flour, eggs, milk, butter or oil and leavening takes a twist when sugars (like maple sugar or cane) or herbs (oregano or thyme) or fruits (dried or chopped peel) or flavorings (aniseed or vanilla) are added. Most named waffles specify a traditional recipe with a patterned pair of heated plates. The Belgian waffle, with over a dozen variations, is known for its one and onehalf-inch deep irons, while the Italian pizzelle is as wafer-thin as a crepe, but crisp and golden and confectioner’s sugardusted. I shuffle an assortment of irons through my kitchen - my grandmother’s waffle iron, with its thick brown fabriccovered cord, my mother’s large waffle iron with interchangeable plates, a pizzelle-maker, a German heart-shaped waffle iron, a round one, a double-square one and a round deep electric Belgian waffle iron - I also have a set of cast-iron hinged irons which are meant to be greased, preheated over a fire, then set on a stand and turned until the sides are uniformly brown. (For historical purposes only - not in the kitchen rotation) Although in case of another derechocaused week without electricity, I may reconsider. MY MOM’S EVERYDAY WAFFLES (Straight from Mom’s stained 1953 edition of Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook, with its iconic red- and whitechecked cover.) Sift together one and threequarter cups sifted all-purpose flour, three tsp. baking powder, one-half tsp. salt and set aside. Beat two egg whites until stiffly beaten and set aside. Beat together two egg yolks, one and three-quarter cups milk and one-half cup salad oil and stir into dry ingredients. Fold in whites, leaving a few fluffs. Bake in preheated waffle iron. Makes three ten-inch waffles. (BETTER, THE BUTTERMILK VERSION) Substitute two cups buttermilk (I use whole milk

buttermilk)for sweet milk. Add one-half teaspoon baking soda to the dry ingredients and reduce baking powder to two teaspoons. BELGIAN WAFFLES Mix together two cups all-purpose flour with four tablespoons sugar, one tsp. baking powder, dash of salt. Set aside. Beat together two eggs, one-half cup melted butter, two tablespoons vanilla extract and two cups whole-milk buttermilk. Stir into dry mixture just until mixed, there may be a few lumps, but an overmixed batter will make tough waffles. Bake in preheated Belgian waffle iron. Serve with fresh fruit or fruit compote and sweetened whipped cream.

Olde Towne BUTCHER Corner of William & Charles Streets Downtown Fredericksburg 540.370.4105 www.oldetownebutcher.com Hours Monday - Saturday, 9am to 9pm; Sunday, 11am to 6pm Keith Lebor Proprietor

SAVORY DILL WAFFLES WITH SMOKED SALMON AND CREME FRAICHE Using the Belgian Waffle recipe, reduce buttermilk to one and three-quarters cups and omit the vanilla and sugar. Stir in one teaspoon dried dill leaf or one tablespoon fresh dill with the egg mixture. Bake in regular waffle iron (If making in Belgian waffle iron, go back to the Belgian recipe). Top with either creme fraiche or cream cheese mixed with chives, then layer with smoked salmon and garnish with fresh dill. CHICKEN AND WAFFLES - Using the Belgian Waffle recipe, reduce buttermilk to one and three-quarters cups and omit the vanilla. (I usually like to use maple sugar instead of white sugar, light brown sugar can also be used. Add onequarter cup pecan flour to the flour mixture -optional). For the fried chicken cut a whole chicken into eight pieces cutting out the backbone and breastbone. Cover chicken pieces with one cup buttermilk, two beaten eggs and one-half T. salt and refrigerate one hour or up to one day, covered. Mix together - three cups all-purpose flour, two teaspoons salt, one teaspoon each cayenne pepper, black pepper and paprika, and one-half teaspoon thyme. Drain off the buttermilk mixture from the chicken and dredge pieces in flour mixture. Fry 375F until golden brown and cooked through, turning several times, in several inches of lard (best), mixture of Crisco and lard (better) or Crisco or canola oil (good) with a knob of butter melted in the fat (to help brown chicken). Drain chicken on paper towels. Make Maple Pecan Butter for waffle topping - beat together one-half cup butter, three tablespoons maple syrup and one-half cup chopped pecans. Makes enough for four servings, or two who love to slather butter on thickly! Bake the waffles, arrange two pieces of chicken atop each waffle, drizzle with maple syrup (fresh, please!) and serve with a scoop of Maple Pecan Butter. Enjoy your waffling!!

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

Become a Friend Advocate ~ Donate ~ Volunteer

540~479~4116 1013 Princess Anne Street , FXBG

front porch fredericksburg

March 2017

Vino

SpiritS irish whiskey drinks IRISH DERBY An Irish spin on a vintage cocktail recipe that originally called for bourbon.

For those of you who feel there's a limit on how much green beer one can enjoy here are a few Irish drinks you might enjoy.

THE PEPPERMINT PATRICK 3/4 oz. Jameson Irish Whiskey 1/2 oz. Midori, 1/4 oz. Green Creme de Menthe, 1 oz. cream.

Weekend Brunch Specials Saturday: 7am ~ 12pm Sunday : 7am ~ 1pm 540-373-8300 www.marriott.com/fkrcy 620 Caroline St. FXBG, VA

March 2017

Front porch fredericksburg

The Apoliticalization of Wine by scott richards

Season’s Bounty leavened heaven

Olde Towne BUTCHER Corner of William & Charles Streets Downtown Fredericksburg 540.370.4105 www.oldetownebutcher.com Hours Monday - Saturday, 9am to 9pm; Sunday, 11am to 6pm Keith Lebor Proprietor

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

Become a Friend Advocate ~ Donate ~ Volunteer

540~479~4116 1013 Princess Anne Street , FXBG

front porch fredericksburg

March 2017

Cooking With Kyle

The Soup & Taco, Etc.

lunch with the boys

Fredericksburg, VA

them or you will get sick. The first thing you should do when you get them home is wash and sort them. Dump the bag in the sink and under cold running water – rub each one individually to remove any of the slippery stuff formed from transport. Healthy muscles will be closed and undamaged. If they are cracked, open, or you think they look funny somehow, throw them away. Two pounds of muscles can easily feed six-to-eight people in a sitting. Next, put them a colander. Place the colander in a bowel that can catch the liquid that will drip from the ice you add to the top of the muscle pile and lid the pile. Remember where thee delicious treats come from; the frigid waters off Prince Edwards Island – average temp of 40 F - low of around 20 F and high of 50F. They will live longer, be tastier, and

plumper the cooler they are. You can keep them for a week or more under the ice cave in your refrigerator. Just continue to throw the open ones away and you can add these to any meal in minutes. Now here is the trick. Don’t over cook them. As soon as they open, they are done, regardless of the sauce. If you have ever had the shriveled-up rubbery offerings of an ill-prepared batch, you know how important it is to stop the cooking the moment they open. Beurre Blanc is a super easy sauce made from common ingredients. Maybe you want a cream – saffron sauce (½ cup cream, 2 Tbs minced onion, 20 saffron threads, ½ cup white wine, and a pinch of S&P) or a tomato based brine (2 minced tomatoes, 1 Tbs garlic, 1 small onion minced cooked and reduced, ½ cup white wine, and a pinch of S&P – add cream here to if you want). Muscles are as versatile as you are creative. Get your sauce to a boil, add the muscles, and flip them in the pan until they are open. You can start to pick the open ones out to avoid over cooking them as the others finish. Serving multiple types of muscles at a meal with some crusty bread is not the worst idea ever. Garnish with cilantro, parsley, or chives. This is a dish that can make you look like a professional chef with little to no skills in the kitchen.

Will Be Back in July & August! Call for Info

and Something More!!

11am-9pm Sunday 11am-6pm

374-0443 www.shopwhittingham.com 1021 Caroline Street

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

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

The Sunken Well Tavern

Kyle Snyder appeals to your palate and your other senses when it comes to good, simple, healthy eating...and he is a hell great friend!

540.371.9999 March 2017

Mexican, Tex-Mex Food

Tuesday to Saturday

Mon-Thurs 11am-9pm Fri & Sat 11am-10pm Sun 11am - 9pm Bar open until 2am everyday

Locally Owned Irish Pub and Restaurant 14

Serving Traditional

The best meals are shared with friends – like these fellas – so invite some over to experiment with you. As you make a feast, remember, the best food that is simple, easy, and delicious. Be well!

Treat Yourselves

Front porch fredericksburg

BISTROBETHEM.COM

new partnership... more veggies

813 Caroline St.

by james kyle snyder

There is noting like sharing food with friends! Of course, you recognize King Richard, purveyor of libations and good tidings. The other character is Powell Sales; (left) a neighbor and a small business owner (The Jewel Box at 212 William Street) with an appetite for fun! I only digress because today’s recipe is so easy there is almost nothing to write. A muscle meal is literally one of the easiest things in the world to make. First, buy a bag of muscles. This high protein, high iron crustacean is cheap and easy to prepare. Next, figure out what you want to make them taste like. A classic is the Beurre Blanc: caramelize shallots (or a sweet onion) and a teaspoon of garlic in butter add white wine (cup or so), once it boils, add the muscles and voila! But lets back-up a second … Muscles are alive when you buy them – and need to be alive when you cook

A Growing Communityl

200 Hanover St. ~ 373-0738

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

By meg sneed Partnership between Downtown Greens and FACSAP will grow more than just vegetables!

For over twenty years, both Downtown Greens and the Fredericksburg Area CSA Project (FACSAP), have been dedicated, each in their own way, to bridging the gap between local sustainable growers and the Fredericksburg community. For the upcoming 2017 growing season, however, these two organizations have come together in a partnership that promises to nourish both local, sustainable, and organic growers as well as the Fredericksburg community itself. While the two groups have shared resources previously (Downtown Greens has long been the growing site for one of FACSAP's dedicated growers, Green Thumb Growers), this year Downtown Greens will actually host the Fredericksburg Area CSA Project's weekly pick up of produce and other local, organic products for its CSA members from May through October. This new arrangement should alleviate a parking shortage FACSAP members were experiencing last year at Hurkamp Park and, according to Downtown Greens director Sarah Perry, "having the pickup physically AT Downtown Greens will make it easy for folks to "put an urban farm" to the local produce that they're getting in their share." Connecting the growers and CSA members as one community is a goal which has always been important to the Fredericksburg Area CSA Project. FACSAP's founder and president, Stavroula Conrad, began FACSAP in 1997 in an effort to foster organic, sustainable local farms in the area with the belief that those who know their farmers are more likely to support them. The organization strives to be more than a simple pick up, hosting a Growers-Members meeting at the kick off of each season, and potlucks throughout that bring growers and members together for food and conversation, creating a community that grows far beyond it's produce. FACSAP's emphasis on community is becoming simultaneously more important and also easier with the new partnership with Downtown Greens and their brand new Youth Farm Program (YFP), whose goals are "centered around food access and nutritious food choices." According to Sarah Perry, "Our hopes for the YFP in its first year is to expand the

"vegetable vocabulary" of the young participants. We will expose the children to new vegetables through the process of growing them from seed to table, tasting them for the first time, and being knowledgeable enough to sell them at the farmers market." The Fredericksburg Area CSA Project has committed to supporting the YFP by signing on as a committed buyer for them, and will include a contribution made or grown by the children participating in YFP in their weekly shares. Ultimately, however, it is the Fredericksburg community which will most benefit from this partnership. While Fredericksburg has a plethora of local produce options, the Fredericksburg Area CSA Project will be the only organic CSA in the area this year - an option which Sarah describes as taking the local food movement "one step further on the nutritious/healthful scale and also adds an element of sustainability that isn't negligible." The hope is that this partnership will bring a growing awareness to both FACSAP and Downtown Greens, who is always seeking new volunteers for the garden, while nurturing young and older community members alike. If you would like more information about Downtown Greens, please visit them online at www.downtowngreens.org. You can find out more information about the Fredericksburg Area CSA Project, including membership signup for their 2017 season, at www.fredericksburgcsa.com

Meg Sneed is the practice manager at Old Dominion Osteopathic Medicine, the Community Outreach Coordinator for the Fredericksburg Area CSA Project, a mom of 3 kids, and an ardent lover of all foods local, natural, and un-messed-with.

front porch fredericksburg

March 2017

Cooking With Kyle

The Soup & Taco, Etc.

lunch with the boys

Fredericksburg, VA

Will Be Back in July & August! Call for Info

and Something More!!

11am-9pm Sunday 11am-6pm

374-0443 www.shopwhittingham.com 1021 Caroline Street

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

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

The Sunken Well Tavern

Kyle Snyder appeals to your palate and your other senses when it comes to good, simple, healthy eating...and he is a hell great friend!

540.371.9999 March 2017

Mexican, Tex-Mex Food

Tuesday to Saturday

Mon-Thurs 11am-9pm Fri & Sat 11am-10pm Sun 11am - 9pm Bar open until 2am everyday

Locally Owned Irish Pub and Restaurant 14

Serving Traditional

The best meals are shared with friends – like these fellas – so invite some over to experiment with you. As you make a feast, remember, the best food that is simple, easy, and delicious. Be well!

Treat Yourselves

Front porch fredericksburg

BISTROBETHEM.COM

new partnership... more veggies

813 Caroline St.

by james kyle snyder

A Growing Communityl

200 Hanover St. ~ 373-0738

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

By meg sneed Partnership between Downtown Greens and FACSAP will grow more than just vegetables!

front porch fredericksburg

March 2017

CALENDAR of events

"For & About Women", National march 2017… In like a lamb.Out like a lion? FCCA, Exhibit, March members gallery, Faith Gaillot & Katherine Owens

Wednesday, March 1

Fred.Food Coop presents at the Regal Cinemas, 3301 Plank Rd " Seed the Untold Story" This documentary follows passionate seed keepers who are protecting a 12,000 year-old food legacy. A cadre of 10 agrichemical companies, including Syngenta, Bayer, and Monsanto, controls over twothirds of the global seed market, reaping unprecedented profits. Farmers and others battle to defend the future of our food. 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. Sunken Well Trivia tonight starting at 7:45pm ~ Come and match wits against the finest minds in FXBG! Compete for Honor, Glory, and Prizes!! Live Music @LaPetite Auberge, 311 William St, 8midnight. . No cover. lapetiteaubergefred.com

Thursday, March 2

Fredericksburg Food Co-op Happy Hour @ Legume, 5-7p Please join us for a relaxing and enjoyable time as we savor delicious and healthy treats at reduced prices and enjoy priceless conversation. Great Lives Series: George Lucas, Presented by Brian Jay Jones, author of George Lucas: A Life. This program is open to the public free of charge . 7:30 p.m. in Dodd Auditorium in George Washington Hall. Each lecture concludes with an audience Q&A session with the speaker and a booksigning. www.umw.edu/greatlives for a synopsis and more information on our guest speaker

First Friday, March 3

Kick off First Friday @Commuity Bank of theCheasapeake,Meet artists Ina Moss, Sue Henderson & Karen Julihn, 425 William St, 2-5pm Artful Rx - A fundraiser for Colleen McElfresh @ Artful Dimensions Gallery, see pg 3 this issue for details "Cultivate Creativity" Month @ PONSHOP, 712 Caroline St

Brush Strokes Gallery, presents "Route 66" by Norma Woodward opening reception 6pm "Critters and Stuff" by Ed King @ Art First Gallery, opening reception, 6-9pm Home is an Art Form, An exciting new art exhibit FXBG is an art center with potters, painters, upcyclers, & sculptors living & working Downtown. The town you love is already filled with fresh, breath-taking art. Now your home at 600 Amelia Street can be as well. Join us 6PM to 9PM at 520 A William Street, Celebrating the future of local art and new architecture in Fredericksburg. Hosted by Coldwell Banker Elite, 520 William St, 6-9pm FREE

Saturday, March 4

9th Annual Culture à la Carte join us for a festival celebrating arts, music, and language! . 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Chancellor Middle & High Schools. Enjoy musical performances, art exhibits, and language presentations by Spotsylvania County Students. Family event for all ages. Free admission. Marcus Johnson, Jazz Musician, comes to Agora Downtown Coffee Shop, 4-6pm Join Marcus for a performance, conversation, and to sign copies of his new book, "For the Love Of…" 520 Caroline St

Sunday, March 5

Bridal Show Under the Stars, Old Silk Mill Inn,1707 Princess Anne St, 5-8pmPlan your wedding in style. Runway show, sparkling cider, food, live music, prizes, raffles, and meet some of Fredericksburg's best wedding vendors!

Tuesday, March 7

Legume Tasting Tuesdays, featured Wine &/or Draft Beer 3-6 Music Tuesdays @Bistro Bethem309 William St. 711pm. Join us for Join us for ½ Drinks & pizzas.

Wednesday, March 8

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.

Sunken Well Trivia tonight starting at 7:45pm ~ Come and match wits against the finest minds in Fredericksburg! Compete for Honor, Glory, and Prizes!! Live Music @LaPetite Auberge, 311 William St, 8midnight. . No cover. lapetiteaubergefred.com

Friday, March 10

Relay for Life Bingo at Massaponax High School @ Massaponax High School, 8201 Jefferson Davis Hwy 6p. family friendly event- vendors, prizes, food auction, raffle, 50/50 Drawing Game Packs$10 per person- $5 for extra packs.

Saturday, March 11

Wildlife Festival @ Friends of the Rappahannock,10a-12p, 3219 Fall Hill Ave Free event is for elementary & middle school aged students. There will be 4 stations that the children rotate between which include live animals, s'more, a nature hike and a station about the importance of water. email fieldtrips@riverfriends.org. Tea & Tour: The Ladies of Kenmore, Visit Historic Kenmore light refreshments while experiencing 18th-century tea service first hand. Inside the mansion, you will tour the first floor learning the history of the grand 1775 home through vignettes, meeting some of the extraordinary ladies of Kenmore along the way. 2-4p Community Open Mic @ Unity of Fredericksburg, event that is open to everyone in the community! All types and levels of talent are welcome and encouraged to attend. Doors open at 6:30, the performances start at 7. We hope to see you there! 2217 Princess Anne St #101

Monday, March 13

Nerd Nite @ Red Dragon Brewry, 7pm, contact sandrafedowitz@gmail.com."It's like the Discovery Channel…with beer

Tuesday, March 14.

"Backyard Photography" photos of birds and nature give us a window into the beauty of the world around us. Boib Schamerhorn will be sharing many of those images, as well as some tips on Photography as a guest of the Fredericksburg Photography Club fbgphoto@aol.com 7pm, Dorothy Hart Community Center

Great Lives Series: Pauli Murray & Eleanor Roosevelt, Dodd Aud, UMW, 7:30p Patricia BellScott, author of The Firebrand and the First Lady. open to the public free of charge 7:30 p.m. in . audience Q&A session speaker and a book-signing.

Legume Tasting Tuesdays, featured Wine &/or Draft Beer 3-6 Music Tuesdays @Bistro Bethem309 William St. 711pm. Join us for Join us for ½ Drinks & pizzas.

Wednesday, March 15

Open Mic at the Rec Center 8 pm .Scott Wagner hosts the coziest and best sounding open mic in Fxbg. Sign up at 7, music at 8. 213 William St. Sunken Well Trivia tonight starting at 7:45pm ~ Come and match wits against the finest minds in Fvbg! Compete for Honor, Glory, and Prizes!! Live Music @LaPetite Auberge, 311 William St, 8midnight. . No cover. lapetiteaubergefred.com

Thursday, March 16

Great Lives Series: Queen Liliuokalani, Presented by James L. Haley, author of Captive Paradise: A History of Hawaii. open to the public free of charge 7:30 p.m. in Dodd Aud. George Washington Hall.

Friday, March 17

St. Pat’s Day...everyone is Irish today!! Live Theatre! FTE presents Harvey by Mary Chase @ Picker's Alley Shows @ 8pm

Saturday, March 18

Rappahannock Area Chapter of the American Red Cross 100th anniversary of service in VA, celebration in the Hunter Street parking lot of the General Washington Building, directly across Princess Anne Street from Carl's in downtown Fredericksburg, 11-2p. Games, face-painting, emergency response vehicles and more WINGS Annual Daffodil Luncheopn @ Fred. Country Club Ballroom, 11:30a-1:30p, featuring speaker FBI veteran and chief hostage negotiator Clint R. Van Zandt, a recognized expert on violence, hostage negotiations survival techniques, international,domestic terrorism, and behavioral profiling. He will do a signing for his new book, FACING DOWN EVIL.

Belmont Portrayed Through a Lens juried exhibition featuring photographs of the buildings, grounds and gardens of Belmont. (540) 654-1840 Washington Street Gari Melchers Home and Studio Live Theatre! FTE presents Harvey by Mary Chase @ Picker's Alley Shows @ 4pm Planting for Pollinators @ Salem Church Branch, CRRL, 1:30p, Speaker Karen Rexrode explains the importance of pollinators to the environment & what you to plant to attract them to your garden. 2017 Spring Concert Series/Calliya String Quartet @ Haydn Hall in Wm Mason II Violin Shop, 509 Jackson St, 6p. An evening of string quartet music Reception beforehand and Music starts at 7: p.m. Limited seating so don't wait to get your tickets. UMW Philharmonic Celebrity Series An Evening with Kristin Chenoweth @ Dodd Auditorium, UMW, 7:30p Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress & singer Kristin Chenoweth has a career that spans film, television, & stage. a "Wickedly" good time!

Sunday, March19

Live Theatre! FTE presents Harvey by Mary Chase @ Picker's Alley Shows @ 4pm

Monday, March 20

Women's History Month Keynote Speaker: Marianne Schnall widely published writer and interviewer appeared in a variety of media outlets including O, The Oprah Magazine, TIME.com, In Style, CNN.com, EW.com, the Women's Media Center, & many others. She is a featured blogger at The Huffington Post and a contributor to the nationally syndicated NPR radio show, 51 Percent. 7pm James Farmer Multicultural Center, UMW

Tuesday, March 21

Legume Tasting Tuesdays, featured Wine &/or Draft Beer 3-6 Music Tuesdays @Bistro Bethem309 William St. 711pm. Join us for Join us for ½ Drinks & pizzas.

Wednesday, March 22

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

Doctrine & Race, Mary Beth Swetnam Mathews, an assoc. prof.of religion UMW, author of Rethinking Zion: . 4pm, Trinkle Hall, Room 242, UMW

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

Open Mic at the Rec Center 8 pm

Open Mic at the Rec Center 8 pm .Scott Wagner hosts 8pm. 213 William St.

213 William St.

Wednesday, March 29

Sunken Well Trivia tonight starting at 7:45pm Sunken Well Trivia tonight starting at 7:45pm ~

Thursday, March 23

"Another Day: A Conversation about Suicide Prevention" Germanna Community College, 78:30pm. See pg 22 of this issue for more info

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

Children's Art Show and Expo @ Dorothy Hart Comunnity Center, 10a-8p

Jail and Bail- @ Legend's Grille 9969 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Community leaders will jailed until they meet their bail to raise money for the American Cancer Society, silent auction, 50/50 drawing.

7th Annual Arab Culture Night @ University of Mary Washington, 5:45p -8p

Friday, March 24

55+ Come Move With Us, Come join us for a morning of hands-on activities, demonstrations, educational sessions, vendors, food and fun! The event is free for all individuals 55+ 9am.-12p.m., . Stafford Parks, Rowser Bldg, 1739 Jeff Davis HWY Live Theatre! FTE presents Harvey by Mary Chase @ Picker's Alley Shows March 19 & 26 @ 8pm

Thursday, March 30

Friday, March 31

Fredericksburg Fine Arts Show @ Dorothy Hart Comunnity Center, 10a-8p. Explore the amazing talents of 80+ local artists and their artistic visions through nearly 300 paintings, drawings, photography, mixed media and more. The exhibit will not only enrich your imagination but funds raised will go to help the youth in our community do the same. Find that special piece of that speaks to you and purchase it for your home or business.

Saturday, March 25

Children's Art Show and Expo @ Dorothy Hart Comunnity Center, 10a-1p

FXBG Art Show & Sale, Dorothy Hart Community Center Champagne Reception, 6-8pm. Public Invited Show continues thru April 2

True Treats Historic Candy presents WWII era candy lecture & tasting. Susan Benjamin owner of True Treats, 9101 Courthouse Rd, Spotsy, presented by Spotsy Dept of Tourism

Fredericksburg Songwriters' Showcase series presents an evening of original acoustic music at LibertyTown Arts Workshop, More info at www.burgsongs.org or 540-429-0999.

Virginia Mutiny Semi Pro Football Home Opener, Shannon Park 6pm, info hometeamsonline.com/teams/ Live Theatre! FTE presents Harvey by Mary Chase @ Picker's Alley Shows @

Sunday, March 26

Live Theatre! FTE presents Harvey by Mary Chase @ Picker's Alley Shows @ 4pm

Tuesday, March 28

Legume Tasting Tuesdays, featured Wine &/or Draft Beer 3-6

If you are reading this 236th 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 April 2017 issue is March 20th. To submit events go to frontporchfredericksburg.com/submit

3075 Fans (& Growing) Want You to Join

Front Porch on 16

March 2017

Front porch fredericksburg

front porch fredericksburg

March 2017

CALENDAR of events

"For & About Women", National march 2017… In like a lamb.Out like a lion? FCCA, Exhibit, March members gallery, Faith Gaillot & Katherine Owens

Wednesday, March 1

Thursday, March 2

First Friday, March 3

Saturday, March 4

Sunday, March 5

Tuesday, March 7

Legume Tasting Tuesdays, featured Wine &/or Draft Beer 3-6 Music Tuesdays @Bistro Bethem309 William St. 711pm. Join us for Join us for ½ Drinks & pizzas.

Wednesday, March 8

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.

Friday, March 10

Saturday, March 11

Monday, March 13

Nerd Nite @ Red Dragon Brewry, 7pm, contact sandrafedowitz@gmail.com."It's like the Discovery Channel…with beer

Tuesday, March 14.

Legume Tasting Tuesdays, featured Wine &/or Draft Beer 3-6 Music Tuesdays @Bistro Bethem309 William St. 711pm. Join us for Join us for ½ Drinks & pizzas.

Wednesday, March 15

Thursday, March 16

Great Lives Series: Queen Liliuokalani, Presented by James L. Haley, author of Captive Paradise: A History of Hawaii. open to the public free of charge 7:30 p.m. in Dodd Aud. George Washington Hall.

Friday, March 17

St. Pat’s Day...everyone is Irish today!! Live Theatre! FTE presents Harvey by Mary Chase @ Picker's Alley Shows @ 8pm

Saturday, March 18

Sunday, March19

Live Theatre! FTE presents Harvey by Mary Chase @ Picker's Alley Shows @ 4pm

Monday, March 20

Tuesday, March 21

Legume Tasting Tuesdays, featured Wine &/or Draft Beer 3-6 Music Tuesdays @Bistro Bethem309 William St. 711pm. Join us for Join us for ½ Drinks & pizzas.

Wednesday, March 22

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

Doctrine & Race, Mary Beth Swetnam Mathews, an assoc. prof.of religion UMW, author of Rethinking Zion: . 4pm, Trinkle Hall, Room 242, UMW

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

Open Mic at the Rec Center 8 pm

Open Mic at the Rec Center 8 pm .Scott Wagner hosts 8pm. 213 William St.

213 William St.

Wednesday, March 29

Sunken Well Trivia tonight starting at 7:45pm Sunken Well Trivia tonight starting at 7:45pm ~

Thursday, March 23

"Another Day: A Conversation about Suicide Prevention" Germanna Community College, 78:30pm. See pg 22 of this issue for more info

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

Children's Art Show and Expo @ Dorothy Hart Comunnity Center, 10a-8p

Jail and Bail- @ Legend's Grille 9969 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Community leaders will jailed until they meet their bail to raise money for the American Cancer Society, silent auction, 50/50 drawing.

7th Annual Arab Culture Night @ University of Mary Washington, 5:45p -8p

Friday, March 24

Thursday, March 30

Friday, March 31

Saturday, March 25

Children's Art Show and Expo @ Dorothy Hart Comunnity Center, 10a-1p

FXBG Art Show & Sale, Dorothy Hart Community Center Champagne Reception, 6-8pm. Public Invited Show continues thru April 2

True Treats Historic Candy presents WWII era candy lecture & tasting. Susan Benjamin owner of True Treats, 9101 Courthouse Rd, Spotsy, presented by Spotsy Dept of Tourism

Fredericksburg Songwriters' Showcase series presents an evening of original acoustic music at LibertyTown Arts Workshop, More info at www.burgsongs.org or 540-429-0999.

Virginia Mutiny Semi Pro Football Home Opener, Shannon Park 6pm, info hometeamsonline.com/teams/ Live Theatre! FTE presents Harvey by Mary Chase @ Picker's Alley Shows @

Sunday, March 26

Live Theatre! FTE presents Harvey by Mary Chase @ Picker's Alley Shows @ 4pm

Tuesday, March 28

Legume Tasting Tuesdays, featured Wine &/or Draft Beer 3-6

3075 Fans (& Growing) Want You to Join

Front Porch on 16

March 2017

Front porch fredericksburg

front porch fredericksburg

March 2017

history’s stories

FXBG RESIDENT TITANIC SURVIVOR

Ellwood Manor

By Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks

Call for Volunteers

I recently was at the counter in a local restaurant when a picture on the counter caught my eye in a frame with TITANIC printed on it. I asked the owner “tell me about that picture”? His answer, “that man was my grandfather, he was one of the survivors of the Titanic.”. I asked if I could write a story for FP about his relative and he agreed. After several days of research with many different accounts of the journey, with help from his three grandsons, Walid Fayad, Danny Fayad and Abiomona Belman I have the timeline of their relative *Nassef Belmenly Albimona traveling on the Fredericksburg, Titanic, destination Virginia.

The Americanization of his name Nassef Cassan was by his signature Balman. Nassef first immigrated to America in 1903 and by 1910 was a naturalized citizen living in Fredericksburg. He and his brother Richard had a dry goods and restaurant business. He returned to Lebanon in 1910 on a family visit. During the trip, he married. His wife, Hisn, was expecting their first child in 1912, when Nassef decided to return to America, she stayed behind because she could not travel. The Titanic had just been built for transatlantic passenger and mail service between Southampton and New York and this was the maiden voyage. Nassef purchased ticket**#2699 third class for himself and his eleven-year-old nephew Husayn Mahmud Husayn, destination Fredericksburg. Another family member, 19-year-old Farid Qasim Husayn ticket** #2700 was with Nassef and his nephew. I have reviewed several accounts of the voyage. There are many stories written about the passengers on the Titanic Nassef said that the ship was very colorful with lights and people celebrating and dancing as he arrived aboard with his nephew and friend. The Titanic set sail on April 10 with 2,223 passengers. He said that the Titanic moved at a very fast speed of around 22 knots with a beautiful wake behind it. He stated that the cabin had a suit of cork (life jacket) on each berth in case of emergency. Nassef went on to speak of all the famous people on the ship,

March 2017

When in late evening after merrymaking he said, they went to sleep only to be awakened by a terrific jolt and the ship stopped. Many passengers were leaving their staterooms and going up on deck it was 11:40 PM. Within minutes they were Grandsons Walid, and Abiomona in front of Titanic advised the ship had and Portrait of Nassef collided with an iceberg and the mechanics were repairing the damage and the ship would soon be underway. However, the command was Dedicated to: Kathleen Howard, Ralph given to put on life jackets, Nassef said it Gallahan, Harold George and Wayne was a truly awful feeling as he moved Eastridge around the crowd with his nephew on his shoulders and his traveling friend had become separated from him with all the confusion, screaming and crying passengers.

Can you save 1210 sophia street?

By Bob Lookabill

and how crowded the dining area was. A passing ship sent a signal with signal flags that one of the passengers a former seaman said was warnings to look out of icebergs. Nassef Cassan Balman, later in life

HISTORY UPDATE: SAINT JAMES HOUSE In the November issue of FP the story on Saint James House I stated that I did not know the story why James Mercer referred to his home as the Saint James House. I have researched and found that Mercer came from Dublin In Ireland and his ancestral home was located on a street That was named Saint James. I am of the opinion along with Historic Fredericksburg Foundation that this is the reason That James Mercer named his home in America St. James.~ Tuffy

Friends of Wilderness Battlefield (FoWB) is seeking new volunteers to staff positions at Ellwood Manor for the 2017 Season. FoWB volunteers form a dynamic team of dedicated individuals who share multiple common interests. We still have several openings available and would love to have you join us this year. At Ellwood Manor, the only Civil War-era structure remaining on the Wilderness Battlefield, volunteers may choose to become an interpreter, providing guided tours in the house, or to become a member of the Ground Force, maintaining the beautiful grounds surrounding the manor. We are also seeking volunteers interested in assisting with various projects on the battlefield, community outreach events and historical research. FoWB, in conjunction with the National Park Service, will provide a training session for new volunteers who are interested in becoming interpreters. Both new and returning guides need to attend either of the two training sessions offered on Thursday, March 9, or

By kiernan ziletti Saturday, March 18. Lunch and snacks will be provided for all sessions. Please contact Bob Lookabill at ellwood@fowb.org or (540) 972-5668 to indicate interest or with any questions regarding the training. For volunteers interested in joining the Ground Force, contact Mark Wakeman at Battlefield@fowb.org for information. Friends of Wilderness Battlefield is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization devoted to helping preserve and interpret the Wilderness battlefield in Orange and Spotsylvania counties. Ellwood Manor is owned by the National Park Service. Friends of Wilderness Battlefield is pleased to steward the property in partnership with the?Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park.?For more information or directions, please visit us at www.fowb.org.

The captain ordered all women and children into the lifeboats, Nassef gave his nephew to a crew member who placed him in the lifeboat, he never saw him again. The nephew and friend Farid were never to be identified among the dead. Nassef said he remembers plunging into the cold water and being picked up by a passing *** life boat. Nassef was one of the 706 passengers saved out of the 2,223 passengers. He traveled to Fredericksburg after his arrival in New York aboard the Carpathia. He stayed with George Hassan his uncle for several weeks after he arrived in Fredericksburg. Nassef told his story many times before his death in 1962. My longtime friend Ferris Belman a distant relative and well known for his community service in Fredericksburg on City Council and the Stafford Board of Supervisors said that he was acquainted with Nassef Cassem. Ferris said he was a friendly man always neatly dressed in a suit.

Central Rappahannock Heritage Center

The grandsons honor Nassef daily while working with his picture on the counter in Danny’s Pizza 105 years later.

*Nasif Qasim Abi-Al-Muna—Nassef Cassem Albimona---Nassef Belmenly Cassem---Nassef Cassan Balman **Titanic records of tickets ***Life Boat #15 Carpathia rescue ship records

Front porch fredericksburg

Virginia’s only Regional Archive The Heritage Center

OUR HERITAGE

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

Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg has always been very concerned with the preservation of its historic buildings. Despite the advancement of technologies and changing building aesthetics, Fredericksburg has continued to protect its historic buildings. It is important we continue to cultivate the abundance of history present in the area. You now have an opportunity to help with this. On Sophia Street, in downtown Fredericksburg, there rests a house built in the 1890s. This building is a classic example of a working-class family home. It was built in 1894 by Gilbert C. Walker, an ironworker with a midsize family. The house is described by Kate Schwartz, Historic Resources Planner for the City of Fredericksburg, as follows: This two-story, wood-framed dwelling is clad in weatherboard siding and displays elements of the Colonial Revival and Craftsman styles in its simple form, open eaves, and full-width front porch. Topped by a hipped roof clad in asphalt shingles, the structure rests on a stretcher-bond brick foundation. A hipped roof also covers the projecting front porch and is supported by brick piers topped with battered wood posts. A simple picket balustrade surrounds the front porch. A 1984 photograph shows that the rafter tails were previously exposed under the porch and roof eaves, but have since been boxed in with simple framing. The front porch was added between 1927 and 1947, and a building permit indicates that an addition of “four frame rooms” was added to the rear of the house in 1953. 1210 Sophia Street is the last standing building from its time period on this block. The historic value that this home adds to Fredericksburg is being threatened. Currently, plans are to demolish the working-class structure to expand the library’s parking lot and in the future, provide space for an addition to the library building itself. It would be unfortunate to lose another contributing structure in our historic district. To help save the building, the City of Fredericksburg is offering $20,000 from the City’s Blight Abatement Fund (created in a partnership between the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. and the City in 2012). These funds are offered to encourage and offset the costs of an investor relocating the building within the City of Fredericksburg.

This relocation would preferably be in the historic district but could be elsewhere in the city with the inclusion of overlay zoning to protect its historic fabric. It is important to keep the history of Fredericksburg alive—historic architecture such as the house on Sophia Street keeps the social fabric together through the built environment. By saving this structure, we would be protecting as well as teaching our city’s history. The success of this project would set a precedent for future buildings that could face destruction as the city continues to expand. Interested in obtaining 1210 Sophia Street and helping with the relocation? Contact Kate Schwartz in City Hall at 540-372-1179. Learn more about this building and the possible relocation at hffi.org/1210-sophia-street Kiernan Ziletti is a senior at the University of Mary Washington in the Historic Preservation Department and is currently completing an internship with the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. After graduation Kiernan hopes to do hands-on work restoring historic buildings.

Advocating Historic Preservation Since 1997

front porch fredericksburg

March 2017

history’s stories

FXBG RESIDENT TITANIC SURVIVOR

Ellwood Manor

By Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks

Call for Volunteers

March 2017

Can you save 1210 sophia street?

By Bob Lookabill

Central Rappahannock Heritage Center

The grandsons honor Nassef daily while working with his picture on the counter in Danny’s Pizza 105 years later.

*Nasif Qasim Abi-Al-Muna—Nassef Cassem Albimona---Nassef Belmenly Cassem---Nassef Cassan Balman **Titanic records of tickets ***Life Boat #15 Carpathia rescue ship records

Front porch fredericksburg

Virginia’s only Regional Archive The Heritage Center

OUR HERITAGE

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

Fredericksburg

Advocating Historic Preservation Since 1997

front porch fredericksburg

March 2017

Senior Care protect seniors online By Karl Karch

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

Emancipated Patients Therapeutic drumming

Michael Kaiser, executive director of the National Cyber Security Alliance stated: “Cybersecurity is about risk reduction. It’s difficult to achieve perfect security. But you can help older adults work to make themselves a more difficult target.” To help seniors understand their risks online and take steps to protect themselves, the Home Instead Senior Care network collaborated with the National Cyber Security Alliance to launch a new public education program, Protect Seniors Online, available at ProtectSeniorsOnline.com/. The new program offers free resources and tips to help seniors understand how scammers operate, familiarize themselves with the most common senior scams, and provides proactive steps seniors and caregivers can take to protect sensitive information. The resources include an online quiz “Can You Spot an Online Scam?” to test seniors’ cybersecurity knowledge. I must admit I only scored 80%, but I’m a lot more informed now. Half of North American seniors do not use a password on at least one of their devices. When a password is used, don’t be like John Podesta and use the

March 2017

word “password”. How foolish was that! Many seniors are more concerned about email scams than phone or mail scams. If someone gets into your email they can gain access to bank accounts, financial accounts and other personal information. Ignore email from strangers. Be wary of emails with an immediate sense of urgency such as tax or bank problems. Don’t download suspicious attachments even from people you know. Our region is fortunate to have a wonderful organization called the Spotsylvania/Stafford/Fredericksburg Regional TRIAD. It is a non-profit organization comprised of the Spotsylvania and Stafford County Sheriff's Offices, the Chief of Police for Fredericksburg, the Fredericksburg area AARP, Virginia State Police and the Virginia Attorney General's Office. Their function is to reduce criminal acts on older adults through training and educational presentations. For seniors, this is a time in their lives when they should be able to trust that their life’s earnings are protected. Unfortunately, we know there are people who violate this trust. That’s why we are committed to helping seniors understand the ways they are at risk online and how to protect their information to reduce their chances of being scammed. So, take the simple ten question quiz, and view other program resources and tips. My hope is that by highlighting the ways scammers can gather sensitive information, and providing seniors with cybersecurity strategies they can implement themselves, we can help ensure their personal information, financial security, and independence stay protected. 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.

Front porch fredericksburg

regrets

By Patrick Neustatter, MD Better value, more love for your pet than if you kennel board him!

Can You Spot An Online Scam? Take the Quiz Stories abound about seniors who have been scammed. According to the National Council on Aging, financial and online fraud against aging adults are now considered “crimes of the century”. Scammers often target seniors because of perceived accumulated wealth, and feel that seniors are less likely to report crimes due to fear of embarrassment. More older adults than ever are using the internet mostly for email, but also to manage finances, banking, and social media. As a result, seniors are at an ever-increasing threat that their financial and other personal information will be compromised. What’s more, family caregivers can lack the knowledge needed to protect their loved ones from these growing risks.

Mind Your Mind

It was not quite your standard Sunday service, even for the Unitarian Fellowship. The minister leading the service was a large man with shaved head, colorful African style pill-box hat, curled and waxed Salvador Dali style moustache and pinstriped frock coat. The congregation were frenetically banging away on drums, rhythm sticks, bells and about anything they could - but with rapt enthusiasm. This was a service by Ken Crampton, minister of the Universal Life Church, owner of 'Everybodydrum' at 620 Charlotte Street, who teaches drumming, sells drums and holds multiple community drumming circles for education, spiritual/community growth, team building and various kinds of therapy. He describes himself as a "rhythmic evangelist." He caught my attention during the congregational response at the end of the "service", talking about "HealthRhythms" a research based program used in hospitals, schools, support groups to aid communication and reduce stress effects.

He told me how he had just done a drum circle at a school for autistic kids. Kids that are normally totally withdrawn and non-verbal, or talking to themselves. They "started having drum conversations. Calling and responding" he told me. "Started smiling and laughing" and were able to stay focused for far longer than usual. Or a group he did with nursing home dementia patients. "They went from drooling to beating and chanting" he told me enthusiastically. He told me how he got seduced by drumming in the days when he was a "deadhead." "The first thing I would hear was the drums." And how it prompted him to hold drum circles. "It made my friends happy - and me," he said. He told me how he started accumulating lots of drums, "but my wife told me I couldn't buy any more." So he started his own shop. It's not such a novel idea, drumming being therapeutic he explained. Shamans have used drums for therapeutic effect in almost every culture usually for inducing trance states. Nuclear physicists - and some of the more far out holy-men - tell us that the whole universe is made up of vibrational energy. We just have to tap into it. And "our bodies are a synthesis of rhythms" explains Crampton. Which may explain how drumming can actually change your genome. A study by one of the big-wigs of rhythm science, Barry Bittman, MD and his team showed Recreational MusicMaking can effect DNA and gene expression and its modulation of neuroendocrine immune function. It also has the ability to "entrain" the body's circadian rhythms like brain waves, heart beat and breathing to its own tempo. It can also coordinate the right and left hemisphere of our brains - which is something psychotherapists try to achieve in treating PTSD and other anxiety disorders with a wacko style treatment called Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing - EMDR. On a more down to earth level drumming reduces anxiety/stress and improves mood; helps control chronic pain; boosts the immune system. And is generally a fun and bonding experience. Crampton holds numerous drumming circle and other team building events in a wide variety of venues. And notes "it's very neutralizing." You can have the CEO of a company and the janitor side by side. "Other attributes don't count." So get the beat. Go get a drum and bang your way to health and happiness.

By Barbara Deal What are the seasons of our lives. Are we baby boomers in the twilight of our years? Is there, yet unnamed a post twilight stage? Are there really culturally accurate descriptions of age cohorts? ? How many lifetimes and chapters in time do we live? Freud, Piaget, Eric Ericson and Robert Gould among others, have outlined stages of "development" with which we are familiar. Our lives are shaped by those who love us, those who refuse to love us and the opportunities presented to us. Of course, there are interactions between cultural events, the context of our lives, families, exposures, gifts, character flaws, and genetics. Are millennia a cohesive group about which one can predict for future functioning, accomplishments, contributions, apathy, detachment, etc.? Is any of us the same person, a even little bit, that we were at 4, 11, 15, 19, 35, 62, 91? Would anyone have predicted that Prince would have joined a religion with a very strict morally inhibiting code about sexuality, pleasure and understandings of the holy? A First Lady whose great grandfather was reportedly a slave? Clint Eastwood mayor of Carmel? Reality TV celebrity, selfproclaimed political iconoclast and real estate mogul president? Contradictions abound. One of the laments I often hear regret. in my practice involves Opportunities missed or choices not selected. Poetry and art address this in some ways "The Road Not Taken".. The haunting questions precipitated by "the backward perspective, …"Monday morning quarterbacking"… "Why didn't I listen to that nagging inner voice". Yes, why weren't you true to yourself? A few drinks less, a few seconds later at that intersection, no accident, no ticket, no paralysis, no dead friend, no court appearances. Most of us, of course, have been relatively conforming to societal standards. And still that Monday morning quarterbacking.

Thing is, there is only one step beyond the changed direction, isn't there? What if you had taken that job, asked that guy out, stayed in your home town, gone to New York City at 20, majored in biology instead of I T, had a baby, not had one, not smoked dope when you were pregnant, joined the Marines, hadn't missed your plane on 911. used better judgement, been more self-aware etc. Of course, this line of thinking can go both ways. Sometimes a person thinks the other path would have been more fruitful, more satisfying. . And just maybe, if you are prone to despair, shame, guilt, your regret would be there, too. Another viewpoint, and arguably as likely, would be that actually, you could have done worse. That imagined, dreamy outcome could have turned into a death defying nightmare existence. And you will never know. How much was fate? Was there a universal purpose? Was it random? How much control did you really have? My thought is this. "Did you at that time, given what you knew then, do the best that you could in those circumstances, places and understandings in your life?" I bet you did. Is there really anything else?

Barbara Deal MA, LCSW is a psychotherapist at Mental Health Resources, ( 540 ) 899-9826

The Natural Path

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

Holistic Health Center

~Nature’s Sunshine Products ~Quantitative Fluid Analysis ~VoiceBio Analysis ~ionSpa Foot Detox ~Zyto Bioscan Compass Natural Products for Health & Wellness Barbara Bergquist, CTN Board Certified Traditional Naturopath

891-6200

www.thenaturalpath.us

4413 Lafayette Blvd. Fredericksburg

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

front porch fredericksburg

March 2017

Senior Care protect seniors online By Karl Karch

Emancipated Patients Therapeutic drumming

March 2017

Front porch fredericksburg

regrets

By Patrick Neustatter, MD Better value, more love for your pet than if you kennel board him!

Mind Your Mind

Barbara Deal MA, LCSW is a psychotherapist at Mental Health Resources, ( 540 ) 899-9826

The Natural Path

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

Holistic Health Center

891-6200

www.thenaturalpath.us

4413 Lafayette Blvd. Fredericksburg

front porch fredericksburg

March 2017

Ed King Critters & Stuff By Suzanne Scherr Opening Reception: Art First Gallery, 824 Caroline St. First Friday, March 3rd, 6 pm to 9 pm

“Old House” Ed King

Think About

Books, Games, Amusing Novelties

March 2017

John Williams with HaiSix Inc. Designs

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for those between the ages of 10 and 34, and there are many of us who have been personally impacted by it. Fortunately, three agencies in our area are bringing this problem to the forefront, and offering a place where the community can find resources to lessen those statistics. Mental Health America of Fredericksburg (MHAF), Germanna Community College (GCC), and the Rappahannock Area Community Services

By A.E. Bayne

810 Caroline Street (540) 371-5684

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Board (RACSB) have joined forces to sponsor a unique community event. Another Day: A Conversation about Suicide Prevention will be held at Germanna Community College on March 23rd and brings these organizations together as a way to help erase the stigma of mental health and suicide, while offering an opportunity to share ideas and answers to some hard questions about those topics. "Mental health issues impact our students, faculty, and staff as members of our larger community," says Barbara Kirkwood-T Taylor, GCC's Director of Events Management and Lyceum. "Collaboration with other agencies, helps us reach a diverse audience and bring greater awareness of mental illness." The March event coincides with Germanna's Student Symposium and Lyceum. Its theme this year is mental illness, and students will research and write papers on the topic before presenting their findings. The Another Day event will offer a key note speaker, Alison Malmon, who founded the organization, Active Minds, after her brother's suicide. Active Minds works toward changing the perception of mental illness on college campuses. She will share her journey and her work to destigmatize mental illness and suicide, and serve as a panel member. A panel question and answer session will follow that will address community concerns. The panel includes a wide range of people that can address how suicide affects our community, and offer advice and ideas of how we, as individuals,

Williams says, “I started thinking about my family and how close we were before my dad passed. My goal was to get my family involved in helping me choose this design as a way to come together.”

can make a difference in the suicide prevention effort. Panel members include Ben Shaw, Regional Director of the Virginia Veteran and Family Support Program, and Sharon Killian, Clinical Services Director at RACSB. Melanie Cardone, who is with MHAF and implements the Signs of Suicide Program in our area schools, and Craig Branch, Chief of Police for Germanna Community College's Police Department will also be part of the panel discussion. "Our community is impacted by

Suzanne Scherr is the media contact for Art First. She can be reached at suzanne.scherr@att.net

Something to

A conversation about suicide prevention

For additional details about this show, visit www.artfirstgallery.com or call 540-371-7107. For more about the artist, please see www.edkingartist.com.

Give a Child

M-Sat. 10am-6pm; Sun. 1pm-4pm

First Look:

By christina ferber

Exhibit on View: Daily during the month of March from 11 am to 5 pm With strong and sure brushstrokes, Ed King paints in a recognizable style, honed over decades spent painting and sculpting. His work and accessible teaching style are well known throughout Fredericksburg and surrounding counties. This is his nineteenth year as a member of Art First Gallery. Ed is personally acquainted with many of the "critters" he paints, as he worked on a farm and paints from life in nature. He earned his Masters of Fine Art from Pratt Institute in New York City and also studied at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. Currently, he teaches at Germanna Community College, LibertyTown Arts Work Shop and The Arts Center in Orange.

Another Day

every suicide. It takes a collective effort to raise awareness of local resources and to build a community of support," says Michelle Wagaman, Prevention Services Coordinator for RACSB. "As a provider of mental health and substance abuse services, it's important that we work collaboratively with organizations to help individuals and families receive the help they need." Part of RACSB's suicide prevention effort includes therapists who are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week that respond to mental health emergencies (540-373-6876). The Another Day Conversation takes place on March 23rd from 7 to 8:30 pm at Germanna Community College's Fredericksburg Campus. All members of the community are welcome. For more information visit www.germanna.edu/lyceum/. "We are excited to offer this event and collaborate with other area agencies. It is a subject that needs addressing to erase the stigma associated with it. There are things that people can do to help this problem," says Rita Girard, MHAF's Director. "When we work together, we can accomplish so much more for our community!"

design before perfecting it for the first run of HaiSix merchandise.

Currently, Williams is working on new styles and designs using the HaiSix logo, and he is excited to launch a new line for spring and summer. He invites you to join the HaiSix tribe under a banner born of local heart and soul that serves as a constant reminder of the strength and resilience of family. Follow him on Facebook @HaiSixInc.

Williams explains that HaiSix represents his family, Haigler, and the five stars his siblings and parents. Williams says the lion is his grandmother, “because she’s the head of everything. That’s where the crown comes from, her leadership.”

John Williams, a fresh face on the area’s art and design scene, is a local entrepreneur who grew up in Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County. He has set his eye for detail on clothing design and music production with HaiSix Inc. Designs, which he describes as an inclusive brand inspired by loyalty to his family.

While the design is personal to him, Williams says the spirit of it reaches beyond his own family. “It can represent unity for anybody, because in my family we have friends who are no relation to us whom we end up calling family, you know what I mean? It can be about making strong connections with people too.” Williams developed his first concept for HaiSix with assistance from local tattoo artist Ricky Butler, who says that he enjoyed helping draw an image that held special meaning for Williams. The two worked on a few variations of the

message, reflection of personal aesthetic, and creative appeal.

This article was originally published in the fall edition of Fredericksburg Literary and Art Review. See https://issuu.com/amybayne/docs /flar_fall_2016/87 Since last September, Williams has been using HaiSix as a recognizable logo for his clothing line, production company and music. He has moved toward designing all elements of the brand himself, and he says HaiSix's reach has rippled throughout the community and beyond Virginia as a result of its unifying

Christina Ferber has been personally impacted by suicide. She encourages the community to attend this important Day of Conversation

front porch fredericksburg

March 2017

Ed King Critters & Stuff By Suzanne Scherr Opening Reception: Art First Gallery, 824 Caroline St. First Friday, March 3rd, 6 pm to 9 pm

“Old House” Ed King

Think About

Books, Games, Amusing Novelties

March 2017

John Williams with HaiSix Inc. Designs

By A.E. Bayne

810 Caroline Street (540) 371-5684

Front porch fredericksburg

Williams says, “I started thinking about my family and how close we were before my dad passed. My goal was to get my family involved in helping me choose this design as a way to come together.”

Suzanne Scherr is the media contact for Art First. She can be reached at suzanne.scherr@att.net

Something to

A conversation about suicide prevention

For additional details about this show, visit www.artfirstgallery.com or call 540-371-7107. For more about the artist, please see www.edkingartist.com.

Give a Child

M-Sat. 10am-6pm; Sun. 1pm-4pm

First Look:

By christina ferber

Another Day

design before perfecting it for the first run of HaiSix merchandise.

message, reflection of personal aesthetic, and creative appeal.

Christina Ferber has been personally impacted by suicide. She encourages the community to attend this important Day of Conversation

front porch fredericksburg

March 2017

Art in the Burg Cultivate Creativity Month

Art is a Gift from the Heart

Stories

Name This House

of fredericksburg

Identify this mystery house and you could win a gift certificate from a downtown merchant.

carth

@ ponshop

win downtown gift certificate

Here’s how: Email frntprch@aol.com, Subject: mystery house Identify house address Your name, address, email.

By maddie huddle

The poem below is a hint of the location of the mystery house. Good Luck!

Artists: Beverly Coates Lynn Abbott Penny Parrish Daily hours 10 to 6. Artist on site Saturdays 810 Caroline Street, Downtown Fredericksburg PONSHOP Studio and Gallery is excited to host our March "First Friday" reception with the theme "Cultivate Creativity". Join us in celebrating all things that grow as we usher in the beginning of spring with a Terrarium Workshop and a complimentary fine art exhibition featuring garden-themed ceramics and paintings. Revive your green thumb during First Friday's terrarium party using D.I.Y. kits supplied by PONSHOP. Show up any time between 6 and 8pm, and walk out with a completed and one-of-a-kind mini mossy world. $40 registration fee includes a glass container and all other materials as well as guided instruction from PONSHOP owner Scarlett Pons. Green thumb not required, but Registration is Required prior to event. PONSHOP ceramic artists Matt James and Rachel Ruddle join Scarlett

Pons in exhibiting garden-themed ceramics, planters, garden tags, and more. Local oil painter Jenna Anderson will be exhibiting select nature-inspired drawings and paintings, joining Maddie Huddle and Gabriel Pons on the gallery walls. Cultivate your own creativity this month in one of our many classes for children and adults. March's classes include, Model Kit Makers, Skate to Create, Adult Oil Painting, Adult Clay, Paper PopUp Workshop, and Bohemian Dream Catchers Workshop. Our Complete Class Schedule can be found at www.ponshopstudio.com PONSHOP, located at 712 Caroline St, is a multifaceted storefront: an artist studio, gallery, retail store, and classroom. The vision of the owners, Scarlett and Gabriel Pons, is to provide a place that embodies what they love: art, design, and creative education. The gallery/shop features a variety of work from artists both near and far. Their studio also doubles as a classroom, providing workshops for students interested in everything from painting, ceramics, and architecture to street art and skateboarding.

Cultivate Creativity Celebration Friday, March 3, 6-9 9pm

Terrarium Workshop Friday, March 3, 6-8 8pm

Supporting Local Artists Since 1997 24

March 2017

Maddie Huddle, is a fine artist, illustrator, designer and the PONSHOP Gallery Assistant

Front porch fredericksburg

Carth became homeless in 2010 and was housed by Micah in January last year. He currently works at a local church. "I've been in prison most my life. Since I was 13. Childhood was pretty rough. Until I was 10 years old I thought my name was 'stupid.' I had two other brothers and two sisters from my biological father who died when I was 5-years old and then my stepfather came along and we had five more. Because I was the second to the oldest and the oldest male, I was the 'chosen' one to take care of my brothers and sisters when my parents were working. And you know I'm not an octopus, I can't control all of them….but I'd get the hell beat out of me if they acted up. I did pretty well in school. They'd give me school work, I'd take it home, read it through, and by the time I went to class I was ready for the next lesson. But the school wasn't built like that and I got bored. So I started skipping school and doing little dumb things. I got married in '84 and of course I was in and out of jail with driving charges. I don't know what that girl ever saw in me…you couldn't tell her anything bad about me. She'd say 'if he wants me to know something, he'll tell me.' Anyway, I didn't deserve that girl. I was in jail serving three years for driving charges and she was trying to go to Germanna and holding down a job at the same time. It just got too much for her. She fell asleep at the wheel and died 1988. I haven't been

with a woman since. I loved her a lot, but you couldn't tell it by the way I acted.

Last Month’s House: 214 Caroline St Mac Quann is the Winner of a Gift Certificate from Soup and Taco,Etc

I sit so proudly on this corner in all my yellow glory, the Conway House they called me then before the Civil War. We were bombarded in our town, it shook my very floor. I felt my countenance was beautiful enough, but others thought not so, as they lifted me on logs up high, into the sky, until I thought I would breathe no more. One day long ago,my street was filled with carriages and horses, They shouted and sang and clapped, up to my stairs he came, President McKinley was his name. My life is serene in my 150th year and more, I love my street,my neighbors old as me, we sit here unto eternity.

It's been said once, I forget who said it…'the Character of a man is not what he does when you're looking at him, it's what he does when you're not looking at him.' And that's the man I am now. My character has completely changed…of course with the help of some medications, Micah, and my greater support system I'm doin' okay. The medications allow me to see the person that I really am. Of course there are people who look back and see my record and they say 'that's not you'…well, guess what…that wasn't me and I don't know who that was compared to the guy I am now. It's not the guy I really was deep down and it's not the guy I am now. It's just that I had to release it and let it go. Faith is what's got me to this point now. I believe, like everybody knows, that God gives me what I need, not what I say I want. But I believe that if you pray every day you may not get the life you want, but it's a tolerable life and you just have to keep believing no matter what. My friend said 'Keep the faith because the devil can't cross the blood of Jesus.' Without belief, without that faith-we're stuck in a rut. We're dooming ourselves. Without the Lord, without just believing….I don't know….it's got to work, because I'm proof of it! " Submitted by Micah Ecumenical Ministries, a Christ-Centered Community supporting people experiencing chronic homelessness and identifying pathways to sustainable housing. Contact 540479-4116; www.dolovewalk.net; facebook front porch fredericksburg

March 2017

Art in the Burg Cultivate Creativity Month

Art is a Gift from the Heart

Stories

Name This House

of fredericksburg

Identify this mystery house and you could win a gift certificate from a downtown merchant.

carth

@ ponshop

win downtown gift certificate

Here’s how: Email frntprch@aol.com, Subject: mystery house Identify house address Your name, address, email.

By maddie huddle

The poem below is a hint of the location of the mystery house. Good Luck!

Cultivate Creativity Celebration Friday, March 3, 6-9 9pm

Terrarium Workshop Friday, March 3, 6-8 8pm

Supporting Local Artists Since 1997 24

March 2017

Maddie Huddle, is a fine artist, illustrator, designer and the PONSHOP Gallery Assistant

Front porch fredericksburg

with a woman since. I loved her a lot, but you couldn't tell it by the way I acted.

Last Month’s House: 214 Caroline St Mac Quann is the Winner of a Gift Certificate from Soup and Taco,Etc

March 2017

FXBG Music Scene Catalyst: A media center

Downtown Buzz Main Street District’s LAUNCHES nEW wEB sITE

By Ann Glave

By dawn whitmore In a non-descript strip mall along Route 1 in Fredericksburg is a full-fledged media and production center. Step inside the doors and you will meet Bryce Kinsey. He is the energetic and enthusiastic force that states his motto is “Success equals preparation plus opportunity.” Upon first meeting Bryce, it is apparent that Catalyst is not just another recording studio in Fredericksburg. Yes, you can record here but Catalyst is a place where you can have events, live concerts and broadcast those live concerts. Their website describes the company as “a multimedia and production facility.” Kinsey’s vision is for Catalyst Media Center to be the facilitator in helping their customer produce each event. He discusses, “it is all about relationships and helping our clients through using our talent and resources to make your event a success.” He shares, a favorite quote, “When going cross country it doesn’t matter what car you drive but who is in the car with you,” which he says steers him while working with his clients. “We want our clients to be successful and we will use our resources and contacts to accomplish their success,” Kinsey further declares, “even if this means supplying them with chairs and equipment.” One of Catalyst’s advantages, a group can have a live concert and walk away with a live-recorded CD along with broadcasting of the event for social media. However, the greatest difference from other companies is stated in their belief statement, “It is known that profitability and monetary assets are essential to any business for sustainment and growth. While we at Catalyst understand this across-the-board standard, we refuse to do business with you as a client if there is no profitability for you and your company in the process as well.” How many companies do you know which will refuse to do business because it will hurt your bottom line?

Supporting The Arts Since 1997 26

March 2017

Catalyst is entering its third year but Kinsey is not new to the music industry. He is a graduate of Full Sail University, a classically trained musician,

Front porch fredericksburg

Welcome to Downtown Fredericksburg’s Main Street District

served in the Army and has a record label along with production on his resume. Kinsey wants event planners, booking agents and musicians to know they are here and ready to help you make your event a success. Catalyst has the following options for in-house events: 120 people w/stadium style seating, 150 people standing room, 12 banquet table seating 96 people, or banquet tables for 80 people with a dance floor. Have an upcoming event and want to have someone in your corner? Give Catalyst a call today.

Catalyst Media Center “We are facilitators; The catalyst to your success”. 3451 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Fredericksburg, VA 22408 (540) 300-2 2786 http://catalyst-ccenter.com/

Dawn Whitmore is a landscape photographer and writer who lives in Spotsylvania. Visit: facebook.com/dewphotographypage or her website at www.dewphotographyva.com

Coming on March 30, Fredericksburg VA Main Street's new website, www.fredericksburgdowntown.org! This new website will highlight the six assets of the traditional commercial historic district of Downtown and be a resource for Downtown's visitors, residents, businesses (old and new) and property owners. All Downtown businesses are encouraged to reach out to Main Street either by email info@fredericksburgmainstreet.org or phone 540-479-1595 for mapping information.

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

March 2017

FXBG Music Scene Catalyst: A media center

Downtown Buzz Main Street District’s LAUNCHES nEW wEB sITE

By Ann Glave

Supporting The Arts Since 1997 26

March 2017

Catalyst is entering its third year but Kinsey is not new to the music industry. He is a graduate of Full Sail University, a classically trained musician,

Front porch fredericksburg

Welcome to Downtown Fredericksburg’s Main Street District

Catalyst Media Center “We are facilitators; The catalyst to your success”. 3451 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Fredericksburg, VA 22408 (540) 300-2 2786 http://catalyst-ccenter.com/

Dawn Whitmore is a landscape photographer and writer who lives in Spotsylvania. Visit: facebook.com/dewphotographypage or her website at www.dewphotographyva.com

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

March 2017

Companions here comes the allergies! By sandi pepper, dvm

cure a cold & contain a cough by christina ferber Better value, more love for your pet than if you kennel board him!

Old Town’s Greatest Tour 35 Monuments, Markers, & Attractions

Spring is finally around the corner. Soon I will be waking up to scrape yellow pollen film instead of ice off my windshield. I will accept carrying around tissues and Claritin in exchange for sunshine and flowers. I will hustle off to work, leaving a cloud of that yellow pixie dust, like a puff of smoke, trailing behind my never-washed Toyota. As always, I will be at least ten minutes late. I will find every parking spot full at White Oak Animal Hospital, my second home, so I'll just make a spot in the grass. I'll bustle in the door, propelled by my extra energetic (i.e. crazy) bird dog, while trying to balance my lunch and coffee in the hand not holding the leash. Trout races out to meet his "pack," the playtime dog group. I head off to get suited up in my lab coat and stethoscope. My furry patients will be waiting but won't be sneezing like me. They will be red, itchy, pulling out their fur, licking their paws, and scratching their ears. Their concerned pet parents will be exhausted from being awoken at all hours by scratching and the jingling of their dog's tags on his collar. Cat mothers won't fare much better, having spent their morning cleaning up Fluffy's vomited fur balls, the result being a new hairless coat design. So now I know the groundhog was right! All my sick appointments say: "check skin" and/or "check ears." I am ready to deliver my allergy speech, the one I say so often this time of year I worry I sound like a prerecorded message. I aim to arm my pet moms and dads with many options in helping their pets fight a chronic, recurrent battle. So lovers of furry friends, if your pet is scratching and licking, here are some things to do: First, be proactive about flea control. As many as 50 percent of my itchy pets are diagnosed with FAD (flea

March 2017

allergy dermatitis), by which an allergic reaction to flea saliva causes redness, itching, and hair loss. Just one or two fleas often trigger it, so even conscientious pet parents can easily miss it. Next, an omega 3 fatty acid supplement given by mouth can decrease the skin's sensitivity to allergens. These take 1-2 months to be effective, so allergic pets should stay on these regularly. Bathing once weekly in a mild, soap-free shampoo is also recommended to cleanse the skin of pollen. One patient I had resolves his yearly pollen season skin reaction with a regular dip in the family pool; that was all Grover needed! These safe and simple steps may be enough to control your pet's itch; otherwise, other options exist. Antihistamines or topical steroids are often the next step up the ladder of care. For my more severely affected pets, Atopica (an immune modulator) or prednisone (a steroid) may be needed. Many times, the allergic skin has become easy prey for bacteria and yeast; if so, these secondary invaders will need to be treated Repeat offenders with allergy symptoms can be referred to a veterinary dermatologist so allergy injections can be created, just as in people. Ironically, being allergic to cats drove me towards my career as a vet. Between my allergist telling me it was a bad idea and my school guidance counselor telling me it was too hard to get into vet school, I decided to prove them all wrong. I love a good challenge! So after many years of allergy injections, I have 3 cats of my own and see plenty as patients. The lesson: don't be discouraged; fight on and arm yourself with facts.

AND the Fredericksburg Battlefields Weddings Reunions Shuttles Parties Group Outings Fredericksburgtrolley.com

It’s All Energy Feel a scratchy throat cramping your style, or is that sneeze a signal of bad times to come? Before you reach for that medicine bottle, why not try a few simple Eden Energy Medicine (EEM) techniques to nip that cold in the bud before it takes over? EEM combines aspects of Chinese Medicine with other modalities to balance the energies of the body so that you can achieve wellness and health. These techniques can reduce the length and severity of cold and even flu symptoms, and sometimes they can even stop an illness in its tracks.

The Lung Source Point is an acupoint that can also bring fresh energy to the lung. It is located at the crease between your hand and wrist just below the puffy part of your thumb. You can use a couple of fingers in that area to be sure you are on the point, and then just massage or press it for a few minutes. Repeat on the other side. Neurolymphatic points hold in toxins that can only be released by massage or exercise. To release the toxins in the Lung Neurolymphatics, deeply press or massage the space in the middle of your sternum starting at the base of your

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

ble at Availa n.com Amazo

Highlighting Local People, Places & Events Since 1997

540-898-0737 The Four Thumps, Connecting Heaven and Earth, the Cross Crawl, and the Hook-U Up are parts of a Daily Energy Routine (DER) that should be your go-tto exercises at the first signs of an illness. They help move toxins out of the body, and bring in fresh, healing energy. See previous issues of the Front Porch (January and February 2017) for an explanation of these techniques. Aside from the DER, there are other exercises that can help strengthen your body to move out any sickness that might be taking hold. Meridians are a system in the body that are vital to the flow of healthy energy. Working with the Lung Meridian can help to alleviate any associated symptoms of a cough or cold. One technique is to flush the Lung Meridian. It runs on each side of the body from the lung, up and over the shoulder, down the inside of the arm in line with the thumb, and off the thumb. Flushing it brings new energy to it. You simply trace it backwards (from the thumb to the lung) once and forward (from the lung to the thumb) three times. Do this on each side.

collarbone. Oftentimes when a cold comes on, we just want to relieve our sinuses so that we can breathe better and feel more comfortable. EEM has a few techniques to help with this as well. At the side and base of your nose, where it flares at the bottom, are Large Intestine points that can help with relieving sinus pressure. With the pads of your fingers, press or massage the points on either side of your nose for about one to two minutes until you can breathe more clearly. You can also do what is called the Cheekbone Press. Place the pads of your fingers underneath your cheekbones next to your nose. Push in and up and hold for about fifteen seconds. Breath in through your nose and out through your mouth. As you continue to press in, drag your fingers to the opening of your ears and pull down the sides of your neck. Many of these points may be sore at first. If they are, it means that they needed a little bit of help to get that energy moving. Once you work with them more and more, your system will feel more balanced and healthy and you will be on the road to recovery in no time.

Dr. Sandi L. Pepper can be found at White Oak Animal Hospital

Front porch fredericksburg

front porch fredericksburg

March 2017

Companions here comes the allergies! By sandi pepper, dvm

cure a cold & contain a cough by christina ferber Better value, more love for your pet than if you kennel board him!

Old Town’s Greatest Tour 35 Monuments, Markers, & Attractions

March 2017

AND the Fredericksburg Battlefields Weddings Reunions Shuttles Parties Group Outings Fredericksburgtrolley.com

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

ble at Availa n.com Amazo

Highlighting Local People, Places & Events Since 1997

Dr. Sandi L. Pepper can be found at White Oak Animal Hospital

Front porch fredericksburg

front porch fredericksburg

March 2017

On Stage!

Fredericksburg Sketches A visual Celebration of our community

harvey

By Casey Alan Shaw

FXBG’ERS Teresa Bullock & Tom Morgan

March 17, 18, 19 and 24, 25, 26th "If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your path." ~ Buddhist Saying

Veta realize that maybe Harvey isn't so bad afte all. Live Theatre! FTE presents Harvey by Mary Chase @ Picker's Alley Shows March 17, 18, 24, & 25 @ 8pm March 19 & 26 @ 4pm Fredericksburg Theatre Ensemble is a 501c3 non-profit that took to the stage in the spring of 2011 reveling in guilty laughs and celebrating the art of the uncomfortable through quality community theatre productions. Each year we bring four productions to the stage featuring local actors, directors, and crew.

SKETCH #29: Two Spires on Princess Anne

It’s hard to believe this is the 29th sketch of Fredericksburg that I’ve included in this column. What do I mean by that? It means I’ve been doing this column for more than two years and …. finally … I’m including a sketch of probably the most iconic view in town. It’s a good example of how sometimes things in life that seem like they’d be difficult are actually kind of easy once you quit procrastinating (in my case, sketches of multiple buildings that appear really complex) and how some of the seemingly most simple things can be completely confounding. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve set out with the wonderful idea of sitting somewhere and sketching a view of all the Princess Anne Streets spires (meaning the two above and also the First Baptist spire and the new courthouse spire). It seems like a no-brainer … just set up an easel where I can see all four and start sketching. Each time I seem to learn anew that you can’t really see all of them in the way my mind pictured. I’ve even climbed up on the train station commuter platforms for a view of downtown … but when you actually do this, the spires in the distance have never been like the picture I had in my head. Of course, I could just make it up and draw them closer together and not worry about scale (and I likely will some day), but for the moment I’ve decided to keep the view closer to real life … and that’s why this particular sketch celebrates “two spires,” instead of four. 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.

Your Hometown Jeweler Since 1940

On-Premise Jewelry Repair Large Selection of ESTATE JEWELRY 212 William Street,Fredericksburg 540-373-5513 Mon-Fri 9:30-6; Sat 9:30-5 jewelboxfredericksburgva.webs.com jewelbox14k@yahoo.com

March 2017

listen to the rain

by georgia Lee Strentz

by kimberly leone

Elwood P. Dowd insists on including his friend Harvey in all of his sister Veta's social gatherings. Trouble is, Harvey is an imaginary sixand-a-half-foot-tall rabbit. To avoid future embarassment for her familyand especially for her daughter, Myrtle Mae-Veta decides to have Elwood committed to a sanitarium. At the sanitarium, a frantic Veta explains to the staff that her years of living with Elwood's hallucination have caused her to see Harvey also, and so the doctors mistakenly commit her instead of her mildmannered brother. The truth comes out, however; Veta is freed, and the search is on for Elwood, who eventually arrives at the sanitarium of his own volition, looking for Harvey. But it seems that Elwood and his invisible companion have had a strange influence on more than one of the doctors. Only at the end does

From My Porch

Front porch fredericksburg

606 Caroline Street Old Town Fredericksburg

Give your pearls a facelift. We offer expert restringing & reknotting to make your pearls look like new!

373-7847 www.gemstonecreations.org Tuesday - Saturday 10-5 Wednesdays until 6:30 and by appointment

Where Fredericksburg Gets Engaged

Amazingly, this month I met two more bright, enthusiastic "Fredericksburgers," whose lamps have truly lightened the path for so many of the children in our area. Highlighting, Teresa Bullock, fulltime teacher, wife, mother, and grandmother, hometown girl. Teresa, according to CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates, For Children) director Janet Watkins, has served more children as a volunteer since 2008, than any other actively serving volunteer. I was fortunate to capture some of Teresa's busy life in front of a blazing fire at my home downtown. I wanted Teresa to tell me what motivates her to give so much of her free time to CASA, and the children CASA serves. Firstly she said, "most people don't really know how hard life is for some children in our community. So many children are living in motels, hotels, so many with grandparents or worse. Usually teachers are the first ones who get the hint that things are going very wrong for the children at home. As a CASA volunteer, the gratification that I get in helping to improve the life of a child, even if just little bit, is what keeps me going. I make home visits, sometimes court appearances are involved.” CASA volunteers are complete advocates for the children. Teresa tries to give a hug, sometimes a toy, ask them about school or give them a compliment to make their day better, every time she sees them. Teresa says, "keeping my composure when I see children in dire situations, is very difficult." She says that her busy semi-retired husband is so very supportive if she come home after a visit feeling sad. They also celebrate the good news when great things happen to her CASA kids! Introducing Tom Morgan, who was so generus with his time, and was so

patient when our interview took place in the not-very-quiet entry hall of the elementary school where we were meeting. Tom and his wife are both welcomed newbies, transplants retired to our area, now living in Stafford, after moving from Maryland. Tom was raised in Brooklyn, then Staunton,Va., He was a career systems engineer, and a graduate of the Naval Academy. He and his also supportive wife, have 3 children, fourteen grand-children and one great-grandchild, all of whom they visit often, along with their frequent travel to interesting destinations.

Tom is a very warm and compassionate volunteer, superdedicated. Tom said he has gotten great satisfaction from his many years working with our young people in CASA, first in Maryland for many years, now for the last six years here in our ‘Burg. Tom likes working with the parents and children, showing them resources to help the family turn into a functioning unit. He hopes the families can be reunited, as he feels the family bond is so basic to us all.Tom says, that “as a volunteer, sometimes the outcome in a case is not what you anticipated, but as a volunteer, it is all you can hope for, which is hopefully some improvement for the child.” He says it is important that the child feels heard, and that is another important goal for the volunteers, so each child has an advocate, just for the child. Thanks Teresa and Tom for your years of dedication for "our children." CASA began in Seattle,Wash in 1977,when a judge,wishing children had someone promoting their interests in court and decided to train volunteers to promote the best interests solely of children in court . Forty years later there are nearly 1,000 nonprofit CASA programs in the U.S. CASA are currently in need of volunteers, and donations are always vital. For info on how to volunteer or donate, please go to rappahannockcasa.com

By Jo Loving Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat down upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby. ~Langston Hughes Nature has a way of awakening our senses, if we can only make ourselves stop for long enough to enjoy its gifts. I was reminded of those gifts recently, when I was at our family’s fish camp. I was solo at the cabin, working on memorizing my lines for my part in a local community play. It was early morning, and I had intended to take a break, grab a kayak off the rack, and explore the lake. Just as I took the Kayak down, I felt a few cold drops of water hit my hand. “Hmm,” I thought, “I didn’t see any water in this thing.” And then, the bottom dropped out. It was raining, hard. I quickly turned the kayak over and ran for the porch. As I made my way up the steps to the deck, then to the porch, I heard thunder, and then saw lightning nearby. “Wow! That came outta nowhere,” I said, to absolutely no one, since the only things around were mockingbirds, who, interestingly enough were still singing. Once I reached the porch, I just stood there, taking it in. This had been the first time I’d been unprepared for the weather in a long time. My husband is known in our family as ‘The Weather Man,’ because he provides us with daily, sometimes hourly, updates on the weather. He is a Navigator, so it is his job to know such things. But here at the camp, I was alone, and didn’t bother to check the weather. This is a sign that my husband is being taken for granted. I need to let him know that his daily weather reports are appreciated, important, and missed when he isn’t around. But I digress… So there I was, standing on the porch, watching the storm. The rain was coming down in sheets, being blown

towards me by the winds whipping up. You could see it coming in from the lake, like sheer curtains – you can see through them, but nothing is in sharp focus. Thunder boomed, at first in the distance, followed by flashes, the lightning like silver branches on a tree in the sky. It was magnificent. As I stood there, admiring this majesty, I was aware of every one of my senses. I could hear the sound of the rain as it fell on the leaves and pine straw on the ground, as it fell through the trees, and as it hit the water. A cacophony of sound was all around me, a natural symphony, with thunderclaps and cracks of lightning serving up percussion, while the rain hitting a variety of tin signs, as well as the boats, kayaks, and canoes in and off the racks, provided the central melody. The petrichor, the smell of the rain, permeated the area, as did the scent of the earth as the rain stirred up the layers of leaf litter and loam. As I felt the coolness of the wind and rain, I realized that I had been standing there, perfectly mesmerized, for over an hour. The rain was still coming down, the storm itself was lessening in intensity, and I was in a state of wonder, relaxation, and contentedness. When was the last time you let yourself experience a perfect moment in nature? How did it feel, taste, and smell? When will you do it again?

Jo Loving is out on the porch at the camp, still enjoying the rain, taking a little more time to relax before returning to tackle her lines, and making a mental note to thank her husband for his daily reports, while being grateful that today, at least, she made the best of not having known about the rain beforehand. Sometimes, it’s good to be taken by surprise.

Georgia enjoys riding her 3-wheeled bike on the many bike & walking trails by the river. front porch fredericksburg

March 2017

On Stage!

Fredericksburg Sketches A visual Celebration of our community

harvey

By Casey Alan Shaw

FXBG’ERS Teresa Bullock & Tom Morgan

March 17, 18, 19 and 24, 25, 26th "If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your path." ~ Buddhist Saying

SKETCH #29: Two Spires on Princess Anne

Your Hometown Jeweler Since 1940

On-Premise Jewelry Repair Large Selection of ESTATE JEWELRY 212 William Street,Fredericksburg 540-373-5513 Mon-Fri 9:30-6; Sat 9:30-5 jewelboxfredericksburgva.webs.com jewelbox14k@yahoo.com

March 2017

listen to the rain

by georgia Lee Strentz

by kimberly leone

From My Porch

Front porch fredericksburg

606 Caroline Street Old Town Fredericksburg

Give your pearls a facelift. We offer expert restringing & reknotting to make your pearls look like new!

373-7847 www.gemstonecreations.org Tuesday - Saturday 10-5 Wednesdays until 6:30 and by appointment

Where Fredericksburg Gets Engaged

Georgia enjoys riding her 3-wheeled bike on the many bike & walking trails by the river. front porch fredericksburg

March 2017