contents
closeups
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18 history’s stories: white oak primitive church history in our backyard: rappahannock gold 19
what’s in a photograph?.....old stone warehouse
20 Senior Care: be care protective 9
Beverley Coates Masterful Brushstrokes
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it’s all energy..gratitude
22 emancipated patients: irish health hazards 23
Dee Daniels born with a microphone in hand
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Kate Guy Downtown Greens Volunteer
24 art in the ‘burg 25
nature’s still moments: 4 painter’s fall exhibit
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freehling on fred: tale of two ballparks
28 Companions: don’t be a turkey
Porch talk 4
on the porch...life in fredericksburg Messages
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Kathmandu celebration
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In the garden:indoor classroom
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everything greens: Volunteers
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a movement: fxbg main street
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I have a friend: Rhonda & Janice
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a season to decorate: CandleLight Tour
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season’s bounty: ’how delicious!
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food safe thanksgiving tips About beer: 6B & G Brewery
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vino...thanksgiving wine picks
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Calendar of events
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astrology & you poetryman
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fredericksburg sketches cover artist: nancy williams
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...And more! 3
DP Newton Remembered
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Melissa & Keith Anderson: Rec Center fxbg
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Life changing experience..... retracing freedom riders route
12 Cover: “Fall Leaves” by Nancy Williams
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november 2019
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D.P.Newton founder of white oak museum remembered BY Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks a strong work ethic at an early age that he would use in his life as a carpenter and a fisherman on the Potomac river. We often talked how we became interested in the history of the Civil War as children, hearing relatives talk about the “Yankees in Stafford”, with the Civil
those years (1950’s-1960’s) it was just the beginning of the “RELIC HUNTER”, as the development of the metal detector, before which there was only the WWII mine detector for large objects. D. P. and his father were one of the first in the White Oak area to search the hundreds of Union camps for artifacts. When I wrote an article about The White Oak Civil War
D.P.Newton 1953-2 2019 Danny Patrick Newton (DP) was born in Fredericksburg July 20, 1953, he passed away October 8, 2019, at the age of 66. D. P. and I have been friends for many years having many of the same interests and even relatives in the community of White Oak, where the name Newton is well known. He was like many of us from that post World War II generation with close family relationships, especially with his father and mother. He developed
White Oak Civil War Museum Civil War Display War not yet a hundred years old when we were born. We would walk the fields looking for bullets with our fathers and friends. In
White Oak Civil War Museum & Research Center
Museum for Front Porch in 2016, it was clear about D. P.’s love of family, especially his wife Bonny his mother (Elizabeth Sullivan Newton) and father (Patrick). His mother (Polly) worked the front desk in the Museum for many years until shortly before her death. He grew up attending school in the building that would years later become his dream, The White Oak Civil War Museum and Stafford Research Center. He not only accumulated one of the finest dug Civil War relic collections in the United States, but also the only known research center into the lives of the Army of the Potomac while they were in camp before and after the Battle of Fredericksburg. His wife Bonny was quoted as saying: “He’s an 1860’s man in his heart... “It’s alive for him inside”. I cannot think of any other words to better describe D. P. whose manners were sincere and honest. His knowledge and research into the lives of the soldiers was beyond comprehension, especially the volumes of material that exist in the Research Center. D. P. acquired the building in 1994 and did extensive repairs on the building. He would never take credit for the renovation, saying “I had plenty of help from my friends and family.” The facility has been open since 1998. He was very proud of working with his friend Glen Trimmer in saving areas that were Union camps and fortifications for park land in Stafford. Together they were responsible for most
of the signage designating Civil War sites. Glen and D. P. were honored by Stafford County for their work. D. P. told me that the Museum was not built for profit, “I just want people to know what it was like being a soldier camped in Stafford County in 1862-63”. He continued to work as a carpenter and fish in the Potomac for his livelihood. His carpentry work was excellent, an example is the Cannon that sits in the Museum lobby which he built. His friend Glen Hyatt said “D.P was always so helpful in sharing his research and he was a role model for each of us young and old.” Noel Harrison of the National Park Service said: “D. P. made me feel as if I were family.” It was a beautiful day when Anne and I recently stopped in the Museum parking lot and D. P. was standing there and greeted us. We had a pleasant conservation discussing upcoming events at the museum and relic hunting. He reminded me how grateful he was to everyone especially Donnie Shelton and his wife Gail and Ken Pitts, who volunteered their time in keeping the Museum open since his cancer was diagnosed two years previously. Upon leaving we wished him well, Anne gave him a hug. I will remember forever D.P.’s unique farewell as he waved “bye bye”. His Legacy will live forever.
White Oak Civil War Museum & Research Center 985 White Oak Rd, FXBG, VA 22405
Tuffy Hicks is a Civil War Buff, Relic Hunter, Model Builder, Writer, Friend & so much more!
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Chris Jones
ON THE PORCH Guest Porch Editorial
Contributing Writers & Artists Rita Allan Sally Cooney Anderson Dianne Bachman Sarah Bachman Laurie Black Kevin Brown Collette Caprara Dee Daniels Jeanne Ellis Bob Epps Sandra Erickson Christina Ferber Frank Fratoe Bill Freehling Jon Gerlach Ann Glave Alexis Grogan Ralph “Tuffy”Hicks Chris Jones Susan Kenney Karl Karch David C. Kennedy Jeanette Kurcuz Jill Laiaconia Corey Miller Vanessa Moncure Pete Morelewicz Patrick Neustatter DeLaura Padovan April Peterson M.L. Powers Gerri Reid Rob Rudick Casey Alan Shaw Patricia Smith James Kyle Snyder Mandy Smith Beth Stenstrom Georgia Strentz Jim Toller Tina Will Nancy Williams Dawn Whitmore Sonja Petersen Wise Norma Woodward
Front Porch Fredericksburg is a free circulation magazine published monthly by Olde Towne Publishing Co. Virginia Bigenwald Grogan, Publisher.
The mission of Front Porch Fredericksburg is to connect the diverse citizenry of Fredericksburg with lively features and informative columns of interest to our community’s greatest resource, its people. Messages from our readers are welcome. All submissions must be received by e-mail by the 19th of the month preceding publication. Writers / Artists / Photographers are welcome to request Guidelines and query the Publisher by e-mail.
by chris jones We all crave significance. We want to help shape our word and leave a legacy. Sometimes, though, limitations within our character can make this difficult. Our habits, discipline, and attitude can be roadblocks to us becoming the person we want to present to the world. In order to see external change, we have to start from within—clean the inside of the cup, as one wise man once said. In short, our path to virtue starts from the heart. In his autobiography, Benjamin Franklin documented a desire for such. His goal: moral perfection. He listed a series of virtues he wished to live by that would drive him to constant improvement. He wrote, “I conceiv’d the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection. I wish’d to live without committing any fault at any time; I would conquer all that either natural inclination, custom, or company might lead me into.” In order to accomplish his goal, Franklin practiced these 13 virtues (Note: grammar preserved): Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation. Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation. Order. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time. Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve. Frugality. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
Front Porch Fredericksburg PO Box 9203 Fredericksburg, VA 22403
Industry. Lose no time; be always employ’d in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions. Sincerity. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak,
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messages
Web Site: www.frontporchfredericksburg.com Facebook: @Front Porch Fredericksburg The opinions expressed in Front Porch Fredericksburg are those of the contributing writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Front Porch Fredericksburg or its advertisers. Copyright 2019 Olde Towne Publishing Co. All rights reserved.
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Virtue is Within you
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Dear Front Porch, Thank you for Tina Will's lovely article ("In the Garden" October 2019) about the Watershed Educational Experience Days for all 1200+ Spotsy 4th graders at Oakley Farm! Marta Perry
Your publication does a wonderful job of celebrating and promoting community! Sincerely, Beth Spragins
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speak accordingly. Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty. Moderation. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve. Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation. Tranquility. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable. Chastity. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation. Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
by the endeavour, a better and a happier man than I otherwise should have been if I had not attempted it.”
Each week he focused on a virtue and while his ledger started with many marks where he had fallen short, he saw drastic improvement after 13 weeks. Being human like the rest of us, Franklin didn’t achieve moral perfection, but he learned many valuable lessons about himself and he concluded, “Tho’ I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it, yet I was,
Chris Jones is an author, writer and editor. He is the host of the weekly podcast, "The Art & Business of Writing" where he interviews authors, writers, and professionals who influence the writing life.
I love Bill! Talented & kind man. Great article. ("Born to be on Radio: Bill Carroll", August 2019) Lisa Lim
One of my favorite tours in town. (Chatham Manor History, Preservation & Partnership", August, 2019) Joan Diaz-Mendez
Virginia, I was just enjoying the latest edition of Front Porch (October, 2019). Ali Heiber It's always a thrill and an honor to see one of my pictures featured in the magazine. Thanks again for selecting my picture "Waugh Point Bell", for the September cover! Cheers, Dave Kennedy
As you sit on your front porch reading this issue cover-to-cover while enjoying the crisp fall weather, think about how you can make the world around you better by yourself becoming better. Stoic philosopher Epictetus said, “No man is free who is not master of himself.” Consider trying Franklin’s list or create your own. In 90 days, you may be surprised at the person you become and the lives you can change.
Photo by Corey Miller Photography
Thank you wonderful issue of (September 2019) Carol Morgan We love ("Downtowners, Chris Goolricks", October 2019) Kim Eckhardt
for another Front Porch.
Goolrick's! Conder of
Sister City Kathmandu hosts awe-inspiring festival celebration By Collette Caprara
Kathmandu Greeting Party In September, in recognition of the vibrant sister-ccity relationship that his city enjoys with Fredericksburg, the Mayor of Kathmandu, Nepal, Bidya Shakya, invited representatives of our city to join with 45 representatives of sister cities
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throughout the world to join him in the celebration of Indra Jatra. My husband, David, and were honored to represent Fredericksburg in the celebration, which included guest observers from India, China, Bhutan, Japan, and Boulder, Colorado (below Right). The eight-daylong Indra Jatra festival is one of the most exciting and revered festivals of the Newar community of the Kathmandu Valley. It marks the beginning of a monthlong festival of the season of Autumn, in gratitude for its life-giving rains and the nourishing bounty from the land. Fredericksburg’s bond with Kathmandu began in 2015, when a community-wide fundraiser in the Burg garnered enough funds to build 150 transitional homes for the victims of the tragic earthquake that year. Since that time, in all our experiences of Nepal’s culture and people, we are continually impressed with its qualities of resilience, investment in the smallest details, and generosity. These characteristics were evident throughout our recent visit. Our trip included day tours to Kathmandu’s historic city center and to nearby towns. In each, we witnessed the immense collaborative investment that was made to carefully reconstruct the ancient temples that had been destroyed by the earthquake. Through the efforts of dedicated teams of archaeologists, architects, and craftsmen, a number of these spiritual centers of the community had already been restored, including the replication of delicate and detailed woodcarvings. Careful attention was taken to duplicate the damaged images in even sections of beams that were just inches long. The crescendo of the Indra Jatra festival was a massive, energy-filled celebration in Kathmandu’s central square, which was attended or participated in by every virtually every person in or near the city. In joyous anticipation of the re-enactment of the spiritual roots of the culture, an ecstatic crowd filled every inch of the square. Energy mounted as groups of youths from various neighborhoods competed with the pulsating rhythms of percussion instruments and cymbals, circling through the crowd. Men, women and children mounted the surrounding temple domes and even scaffolding in
front of buildings to catch site as a whitemaned puppet elephant and red-masked dancers made their way through the crowded city square. All this was in anticipation of the procession of a golden chariot bearing the Living Goddess, Kumari, which was the climax of the celebration.
Throughout our stay, participants were feted to performances of Newari dances and dramas, and Mayor Shakya, his wife, and deputy mayor personally attended all of their international guests. This trip was a joyful, unforgettable experience that embodied the heartfelt camaraderie and mutual appreciation that are hallmarks of the sister-city relationship Fredericksburg enjoys with Kathmandu.
Collette Caprara is a local writer and artist.
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In the Garden indoor classroom for the outdoor world By Tina Will Gardening which generated questions about organic gardening, integrated pest management, and the use of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Anita Tuttle, a past MG and now with the VA Dept. of Environmental Quality gave the talk on Woody Ornamentals. She was impressed with the class members’ enthusiasm and their pertinent questions. Several wanted a clearer understanding of why and how to successfully plant a tree 2” to 4” above the soil grade level.
Guy Mussey, VCE Extension Agent, teaching a class on UMW Campus “Why do so many plants struggle to survive after being planted? What’s bugging my plants? Why shouldn’t I water my lawn at night? “ Every September a new group of people enroll for Master Gardener (MG) Training. They come with questions, an eagerness to learn the answers, and readiness to volunteer to share this knowledge with the public. Some are retired, some are working, and some are just past the ‘need to be home with small children’ phase of life. They usually have many years of gardening or farming experience and want to do a better job of managing their property and successfully advising others. It seems so easy until the plants die, or an insect or disease does more than a little damage. Many say “I wish I had known this years ago!” Thus, is the Master Gardener class filling each September.
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Glenn Valdez, a new Master Gardener, has an extensive vegetable garden and gave the talk on Vegetable
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Pat Reilly, Master Gardener, gives a very informative talk on soils and fertilizers. Many are surprised to learn that microorganisms and air are as essential to soil health as water and the soil itself. John Howe, retired Spotsylvania Extension Agent, comes in to teach about Lawn care, something that many of us struggle with. Lawns struggle in our area because the soil and climate are not suitable for most grass seed. Guy Mussey loves to teach and has been doing so for years. When possible, he likes to use an outdoor classroom, sometimes at Cossey Botanical Park or UMW campus, to teach plant ID or to demonstrate pruning techniques. He also teaches the classes on Botany, Insects, Diseases, and Plant Diagnosis.
Guy Mussey, our VCE Extension Agent, teaches most of the classes, but he also brings in speakers for several of them. The training is extensive and covers 18 topics; all who take the class are amazed at how much they learn. He and Donna Pienkowski (MG) teach the Composting/Vermicomposting class, and give away worms to class members to help start or supplement their own home composting efforts. Tim Ohlwhiler, VCE Extension Agent for Fauquier and Rappahannock Counties, gave the talk on Annuals and Perennials. At the end of his talk, by way of review, members got to choose a plant to take home. They had to review the information Tim had shared about their chosen plant.
disease. The plant’s problem may have originally been caused by weather, injury, or soil conditions but that stress opens the door for insects or diseases to take hold of the weakened plant.
After talking with some of the instructors and class members, it was clear to me that both were having a marvelous time. Consider being part of the next class: September 2020. Call VCE office in Stafford: 540-658-8000 to ask about other classes offered, and put your name on the list to be notified about 2020 registration. Glenn Valdez in Vegetable Garden Dave Rodriguez, an MG graduate, does the Plant Diagnostic Workshop which helps sort out whether a plant is suffering from environmental stress, or insect, or
Tina Will has volunteered with MGACRA for 13 years and lives near Ferry Farm in Stafford County. Guy Mussey photo by Susan Kenney Glenn Valdez photo by Tina Will
Everything Greens volunteers makes all the difference By Jeanette Kurucz
Fredericksburg’s secret garden… not so secret anymore! It’s surprising how many people still don’t know about Downtown Greens, even though our non-profit has been around since 1994! Thousands of people have seen our Charles Street headquarters building (the big grey house with large pink flowers painted on it at the corner of Dixon Street) but only a small percentage of them have ventured into the hidden gem of nature nestled just behind us. Downtown Greens’ Lower Garden is comprised of 1.3 acres of shaded bliss tucked behind all the houses
on our block of Charles Street. This beautiful, park-like area is open to the public 365 days a year from dawn to dusk. Pockets of flowers and herbs keep the honeybees busy, while colorful seating areas and Bohemian adornments impart a vibe that will make you go “Aahhh!” Discovering the Lower Garden is like finding a hidden treasure! Our Upper Garden, on the other hand, is a 1.5 acre sunny hillside that feeds people’s bodies and souls. There you’ll find the Youth Farm Program working farm, where tomatoes, peppers, watermelons, and many other vegetables and fruits ripen to be harvested for families in the Fredericksburg’s neighborhood and Community Supported Agriculture Project, which meets each Thursday evening for farm-to-consumer deliveries of
fresh, organically grown produce. The Upper Garden is also home to our annual Fork It Over Festival each spring, a lively musical extravaganza for all ages. All of this beauty requires the continual time and attention of numerous individuals year-round! As we take a moment to consider 2019 and all the amazing things that have come to fruition, we wish to thank the many volunteers who give so much to Downtown Greens! Most recently, volunteers R-B Board and Intuit, from Stafford County-R working with Rappahannock United Way, donned work gloves, grabbed wheelbarrows, shovels, and hand saws, and gave a facelift to our Middle Gardenentryway. A new, wattled fence was installed, bedecked with flowering Echinacea plants (our signature mural blossom), benches were added and a hip little “GARDEN” sign was put in place to let visitors know: We are open! Come in and sit a spell!
Other groups who generously volunteer at Downtown Greens throughout the year include the COAR Volunteers from Mary Washington University, the Ceili Leahy Day of Service volunteers, the Open Hand GRAD Program,Marstel-D Day, LLC., and many others. Downtown Greens could not survive without your efforts! As we continue to beautify this public green-space, we need the help of everyone reading these words to spread the news about Fredericksburg’s “secret” garden: We are not a secret anymore! Come out and enjoy some time in nature right here in downtown. We’ve hosted weddings, birthday parties, “date night” picnics, and a fashion show. The sky and your own imagination are the only limits to enjoying the natural treasure open to everyone at Downtown Greens! Jeanette Kuruczis the Garden Assistant at Downtown Greens
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A Movement FXBG Main Street By Anne Glave & April Peterson “What does Main Street do?” The typical response is: “Main Street builds stronger communities through preservation-based economic development.” This is true, and Fredericksburg Main Street (FVMS) supports countless projects each year that further this mission. However, Main Street is more, it’s a MOVEMENT. You see this movement every day, in little ways, on the streets of Downtown. It can be seen in the proud store owners who arrive early to clean their windows and sweep off their stoop. It’s the businesses who hang “Open Late flags” and those who are continually growing and adapting. It’s the shoppers who circle twice to find a parking space because they are committed to their favorite downtown shop or restaurant. It’s the residents who walk to downtown in the snow and rain to support their favorite coffee shop. And it’s more than a local movement, it’s a national movement. Main Street America has been helping to revitalize older and historic commercial districts for more than 35 years. It’s an initiative originated by the National Trust
for Historic Preservation, focuses on the revitalization of traditional downtowns. While revitalization is challenging work, the Main Street America program offers proven resources and tools for improving a downtown’s vitality. Through the efforts of a group of local volunteers, Fredericksburg was selected in June 2013 to become a National Main Street community. Why is Downtown Important? Downtowns are the historic core of the community and the predominant image of the community. They are usually a significant part of the tax base and represent a huge public and private investment. Outcomes of a Main Street effort include entrepreneurship, pride, stronger public/private partnerships, vibrancy, and a strong “Sense of Place.” “Downtown is important because it’s the heart and soul of any community. If you don’t have a healthy downtown, you simply don’t have a healthy town.” Ed McMahon, Chair, National Main Street Center Board of Directors
FVMS is committed to the revitalization and enhancement of downtown by building partnerships between stakeholders, residents, and leaders in our community to further advance the shared goal of ensuring downtown Fredericksburg’s current and future success. Visible changes in the look of Downtown and in the activities that take place there reinforce the perception of positive change. Maybe you have noticed some of Fredericksburg Main Street’s movements, which include the following: The development of a “brand” image that will serve as the recognizable thread that ties together and helps market the business, cultural, and historical elements of our downtown district
The Private/Public partnership with the City to execute the Face the River project—a riverfront cleanup campaign (in the 800 and 900 blocks of Sophia Street that is being executed with participation from landowners, businesses and volunteers The Open Late flags, downtown gift cards, downtown planters, and the improvement of the Market Square Alley using planters and banners A Zero Interest Loan Program Ongoing promotions, many in the form of collaborations with the City and other nonprofits, include the biennial workshop on historic tax credits, Small Business Saturday, the Love FXBG campaign, Thunder Alley for Historic Half Marathon, Holiday Open House Weekend, Side Walk Sale, Scarecrow Contest, and Treats on the Streets. You can feel that something is different in Downtown. Let us continue to harness this movement and continue to see Downtown grow. If you want to get more involved with Fredericksburg Main Street, please reach out to either Chip Taylor, Volunteer Lead at connectingwithchip@gmail.com, or Ann Glave, Executive Director, at info@fredericksburgmainstreet.org.
Ann Glave is the Executive Director of Main Street & April Peterson iws the President of Fredericksburg VA Main Street and co-owner of River Rock Outfitter
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Beverley Coates Masterful Brushstrokes By Collette Caprara
200 William St Downtown Fredericksburg 540-373-4421
With a pallet of soft watercolors and masterful brushstrokes, Beverley Coates creates paintings that are light and uplifting and have the power to transport their viewers to a realm of joyful surprises. At the same time, she exhibits a down-home attitude and sense of humor that makes visitors feel as if they have known her for years. (In fact, given that Beverley has spent her life in King George and the Fredericksburg area, many have!) Throughout November, as the featured artist at Brush Strokes Gallery, she cordially invites all to experience a new exhibit of her works, “Changing Seasons and Times.” Beverley’s paintings are readily identifiable by her hallmark style that reveals a unique sensitivity to the way that light plays on objects and awareness of the structure and detail of features of nature. In part, Beverley’s perception of her subjects was honed throughout a 30year career as a florist and wedding planner—which followed years of serving as a teacher in both Spotsylvania and
Stafford schools. Her first brush with art (pun intended!) occurred when she was enrolled in an art class at Mary Washington College where she earned her degree as an educator. As she experimented with
“Al Fresco” different mediums that semester, she found that watercolors were meant for her. “Acrylics just sat there and dried! And when I started with oils, I learned that I was allergic to some of their ingredients and had to put them far away for their long drying times as I added different layers. That was just too long for me!” she explained Surprisingly, after that first college experience, Beverley put art on hold until many years later in 1995 when a series of events brought home the fact that life getting was shorter and she told herself “OK, Beverley, if you ever thought you wanted to have fun with watercolors, this is the time!” In pursuit of that joy of creation she looked to the mentor of many local artists, Johnny Johnson, and enrolled in his watercolor workshop 25 years ago, and continues to attend the gatherings every week to this day. “There is wonderful camaraderie, encouragement, and support from that fantastic group of artists that emanates Johnny’s heart and spirit,” she said. November’s display of her works will include a number of classic “Bev Coates,” including a grape vine and goblets of wine, and the branches of a Dogwood tree, which she titled “Diamonds of Spring.” Others reveal her sense of humor, such as one of two parakeets with their beaks at different angles, which she dubbed “Do You See What I See?” In addition, one work will feature a style of experimentation with a new medium—watercolor on canvas—which requires a series of surface preparations and the application of a sealant. Beverley explains that she began experimenting with this art form when she attended various art out-of-town workshops as
weekend getaways from the pace in her career when she was planning and creating floral arrangements for as many as 80 weddings a year. This work on canvas, titled “Approaching Fredericksburg,” features numerous images about town, ranging from the traffic light and mural at the foot of the Chatham Bridge, to a tower on the UMW campus, to a peek at the ice cream cone and a bit of the neon sign at Carl’s. “I hope those who visit my exhibit will come away thinking the world can be good. I want to convey positivity.” A prime example of the accomplishment of this goal is Beverley’s painting titled “Faces” which features a patch of seemingly smiling pansies. Beverley Coates’ “Changing Seasons and Times” exhibit will be displayed from October 28 through December 1, and visitors will have an
“ Selfie” opportunity to meet and chat with Beverley and other gallery artists at the exhibit’s opening reception on “First Friday,” November 1, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Visit Brush Strokes Gallery to view the special exhibit and our artists’ creations in a spectrum of mediums, including hand-crafted jewelry, unique glass art, metal sculpture, images on porcelain, charcoal drawings, pastels, photography, and paintings in oils, watercolors, acrylics, and mixed-media.
“Changing Seasons and Times” by Beverley Coates Brush Strokes Gallery 824 Caroline St. Opening Reception, 1st Frisday, Nov. 1
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“I Have A Friend” Rhonda & Janet By Laurie Black
Fall colors abound and make a picturesque backdrop for two friends out for a drive. Rhonda Thornton and her senior friend, Janet, love to go for drives, and then stop for lunch, dinner, or ice cream. Their conversations are always pleasant and time together is always treasured. Rhonda heard about the Senior Visitors Program through a friend. Rhonda's friend used her as a reference in her own application to volunteer with the Senior Visitors Program. "I was intrigued to know all about it. After understanding the purpose, I decided it was something I'd enjoy being a part of." Janet heard about the Senior Visitors Program through a home health agency in January of 2018. It was not long before she was enjoying regular visits from Rhonda. Janet says, "We have become good friends. Our visits are so enjoyable." Rhonda says, "Officially, Janet is my senior, but her husband has become just as close and we do everything together! They've truly become like family, especially as they are both only children, and have no children of their own. " When asked what has surprised her the most about volunteering, Rhonda says, "Their smiles! Even when doing the little things, they are so loving and appreciative. They volunteer in ministries both local and out of state. They love to go on car rides. They love their dog, Prince! They are always looking for ways to help others in need." Rhonda continues, "You get out of it more than you can imagine! It's so easy to give of yourself, which in turn can mean the world to someone else!" When asked about a favorite
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moment or outing together Janet explains, "Rhonda took us to visit my cousins in Maryland and to visit D.C." Rhonda adds, "We took a trip to Maryland to see a family member they had not been able to see in 30 years. We've gone to the beach and they've come to our home for meals." Though a volunteer in the Senior Visitors Program is only asked to visit for an hour a week in a senior's home, Rhonda is among several volunteers who have expressed that they quickly feel like their senior is family and they find themselves spending more time together. For some Senior Visitors "friends" a visit consists of running an errand, for others a weekly game of cards, watching an old movie, or taking a walk. Any amount of time a volunteer can give is always appreciated by the senior they visit. Having a friend to talk to, to share stories with, to laugh with, or even cry with, as Rhonda expressed, can mean the world to someone.
Laurie Black is the Administrative Assistant for the Senior Visitors Program
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To learn more, call the Senior Visitors Program at (540) 371-2 2704 or visit our website at mhafred.org. Refer a senior or sign up to be a volunteer! The Senior Visitors Program is a free community service program of Mental Health America of Fredericksburg.
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Jewell Wolterman 12225 Amos Lane, Ste 204 Fredericksburg, VA 22407 540-907-0574 www.elitetitleva.com jwolterman@elitetitleva.com
A Season to Decorate 49th annual candlelight tour
Gale Beamon creates a “Hogarth Curve” Decorating a home featured on Historic Fredericksburg Foundation’s (HFFI) Candlelight Tour can be exciting— an adventure, an honor, but often also a challenge. As a key component of the annual event and a focus for many attendees, the decorations in each home take months of planning and an intense marathon of installation leading up to the tour weekend. In the early years of the Candlelight Tour, members of HFFI’s Junior Board took the lead in decorating the homes. Each house was assigned a group of members to design and implement the decorations. Owners were
invited to be involved and often happily joined in the process. Occasionally, local garden clubs donated their time and talents to decorate portions of or an entire house. Over time, coordination of the event was refined to detailed processes that streamlined tasks. A Decoration Chair position was established, and the transition to purchasing decorating supplies in bulk aided in reducing costs. Each visitor touring a Candlelight Tour home takes away something special from the decorations. Some simply enjoy the beauty and visual presentation, while for others, the décor becomes an inspiration for their own homes. Through the years, Fredericksburg’s Free LanceStar newspaper has helped promote the tour as well as inspire readers. For example, instructions on how to replicate a “Hogarth Curve” table centerpiece were Star article, included in a 1980 Free Lance-S accompanied by a photo of Gale Beamon creating one in 1100 Charles Street. For those more interested in a whimsical approach to holiday decorating, gingerbread houses simulating tour homes
By Sandra erickson
and trees covered in gingerbread people continue to make headlines. A 1993 article carried on the tradition of presenting behind-the-scenes details by sharing the secret to good gingerbread decorations. “Any gingerbread cookie recipe may be used…but the baking powder should be omitted.” As the HFFI Junior Board transitioned into the Women’s Council and the members were more likely to work outside the home, outside decorators were added to the event. In 1994, 1015 Prince Edward Street was featured on the tour; homeowners Ralph and Dona Holt also owned the Flower Shop in downtown Fredericksburg. For the tour, the Holts recruited their florist friends to assist, and the result was a stunning, floral, holiday display. Outside decorators soon became the standard. Groups of volunteers or homeowners providing decorations became the exception after HFFI disbanded the Women’s Council in 1995 and operation of the Candlelight Tour transitioned to the Board of Directors and foundation staff. However, no matter whose hands
create them each year, the decorations for the Candlelight Tour provide unique displays that guests, as well as homeowners, enjoy and look forward to viewing. This year, we have some new and seasoned decorators for the tour on December 14 and 15. Homes featured include 1308, 1309, 1310, 1513, and 1517 Caroline Street. For those with an evening tour ticket, the Rising Sun Tavern will be a bonus property. Tickets are available at hffi.org/holiday-candlelighttour. Sandra Erickson is the HFFI Director of Operations Photo: Rob Kinmonth. Courtesy of The Free Lance-Star. December 13, 1980. NOTE: This article is mostly an excerpt from Homes for the Holidays, a book about the history of the Candlelight Tour and some of the featured Fredericksburg homes. The book can be purchased at hffi.org/shop. Candlelight Tour Dec. 14 & 15 Tkts: HFFI, 1200 Caroline St or hffi.org
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The Recreation Center FXBG
The Sunken Well Tavern
newly named, same down home feel By Mary Lynn Powers Wednesday and Sunday nights. The stage was improved a few years back, and the acoustics are great for any genre of music. I’ve heard everything from Bluegrass to Heavy Metal. You never know what you’re going to get! Melissa is originally from NJ. Keith was born in Spotsylvania where they have lived for many years. They play in a band together, and both grew to love the spot that has brought so much to the local music scene. When they heard that Victoria who had owned the Rec Center for years was looking to sell, they decided that now was the time to
I am sure most people have daydreamed about owning a business of some sort. Then you think of all the downsides, all the responsibility, all that could go wrong, and you let that daydream float away. Some people actually go for it, though. Melissa and Keith Anderson took ownership of the well know Rec Center recently, and with all the vibrancy of youth plan to keep this historic landmark running basically as is with a few minor adjustments. The Recreation Center FXBG (newly named) is located at 213 William St. The World’s Best Hot Dog sign still remains, as do the hot dogs and chili that have been a staple in the ‘Burg since 1940. The couple plan to keep the simple down-home theme in place, but expand the music scene to bring in more new bands, as well as run the Open Mic on
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try their hands at a business. Both had full time positions prior, but Melissa has since quit her day job to home school one of their five children, as well as get the new endeavor off the ground. The day I spoke to Melissa she was manning the daytime bar, and we spoke in between the times she was solicitously serving guests. She told me
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that they have some good people working for them, but she is the new face of the business. One could see she was good at the art of serving people. It takes a certain kind of person to man a bar well. Some days it is like being a shrink (without a license). I asked if they intended on adding to the menu. Melissa said they had just received a shipment of breakfast sandwiches, but were not planning on having a full breakfast available. They have added wings, which I look forward to trying. Wings, like BBQ are one of those items that are everywhere, but really good ones are hard to find. The hot dogs and chili will stay the same, as the secret spice recipe has been passed down since the first owner. As far as beverages, they will keep the beer primarily for now, adding wine, ciders and some of the popular canned drinks. Many people will miss Victoria, but Melissa seems capable of filling the void. They want to be a part of the community musically as well as charitably. The bar will be a drop off point for the Annual Toys for Tots campaign. Check out their website and Facebook page for all the happenings! It seems that Fredericksburg just gets better and better!
Mary Lynn Powers enjoys meeting and writing about interesting people in the 'burg.
The Recreation Center FXBG 213 William St. fb@The Recreation Center FXBG
Eat Well Drink Well Live Well 720 Littlepage sunkenwelltavern.com 540-370-0911
Season’s Bounty
Fredericksburg’s Hometown Irish Pub & Restaurant Since 1961
Goodness, How Delicious! vanessa moncure
Mon-Thurs, 11am-9pm Fri & Sat, 11am-10pm Sun, 11am - 9pm Bar open until 2am everyday
200 Hanover St. ~ 373-0738
The Soup & Taco, Etc. 813 Caroline St. Fredericksburg, VA
Serving Traditional Mexican, Tex-Mex Food and Something More!! Tuesday to Saturday 11am-9pm Sunday 11am-6pm
Phone: 540-899-0969 soupntaco@yahoo.com
Maybe your relationship with peanuts has never been closer than opening a jar of the butter, spreading swathes over your sliced bread, then topping with sweet Concord jelly. Or perhaps you’ve further reduced time and motion and have purchased a jar of PB and J, pre-swirled for your enjoyment. Might it surprise you to hear that your face cream, the paint on your wall, and plant-based workroom solvents might all be derived from the humble goober pea? Peanuts are well-known cultivars in Virginia, and we are enjoying this year’s harvest now of our particularly delicious, large-seeded variety. Believed to have originated in Peru, peanuts were introduced throughout the world by early discoverers and traders - significantly to China in the 1600s. China is now the world’s largest peanut producer and exporter with the US a distant third (although how many countries can boast of two peanut-farmin’ presidents, Jimmy Carter and Thomas Jefferson). A significant source of protein, the peanut is in the legume (pea) family and is processed for food use whole, in spreads, oil, and gluten-free flour - and in non-nutritive applications such as cosmetics, medicines and textiles. Sooo... Peanut Fibre Dress, anyone? Americans consume about 3 pounds of PB per person each year, except known arachibutyrophobians (those who fear PB getting stuck to the roof of their mouths). Goodness, how delicious, eating goober peas! ROASTED PEANUTS While living in Georgia, I became a fan of fresh boiled peanuts. Somehow, the canned variety just isn’t the same (think fresh tomato vs. canned). If you can find some raw peanuts, try them roasted and/or boiled. Peanuts roasting on an open fire just isn’t quite as catchy as chestnuts, but more palatable to many! Thoroughly wash (in running water) 2 lbs. of raw Virginia peanuts in the shell. Drain and pat dry, then toss with ¼ c. peanut oil
and 2 T. kosher s a l t . Spread on flat baking sheets w i t h s i d e s (jelly roll pan) in one layer o n l y . Roast at 350F for 30 minutes, then let cool before eating. Virginia peanuts have one of the largest pea in shell and are usually favored for roasting. Check the Farmer’s Market. PEANUT PIE CRUST One of America’s greatest agriculturists, George Washington Carver, is known as the “Father of Peanut Butter”, his accomplishments celebrated every year during Black History Month. Recipe #47 of his famous 105 peanut recipes is for Peanut Pie Crust (great added flavor, you can substitute any nut variety) - Add 1T.ground peanuts to pie crust recipe. “ You will be pleased with the agreeable change in piecrusts”. VIRGINIA PEANUT SOUP Adaptation from the King’s Arms Tavern in Williamsburg, VA, a Colonial hub original cream of peanut soup. Saute slowly until softened in ¼ c. butter, 1c. diced onion and 1 c. chopped celery, with leaves. When beginning to brown, stir in 3T. flour and cook slowly 5 minutes. Stir in 8 cups hot chicken stock, whisking constantly. Let simmer over medium-low heat 15-20 minutes or until
thickened. Pour this soup into a sieve, pressing down on solids to release all the flavors. Return soup to a simmer, then whisk in 2c. smooth peanut butter and 2c. half and half - Do not let this mixture boil, but return to a simmer and serve with finely chopped salted peanuts as a garnish. VIETNAMESE GOI CUON DIPPING SAUCE Combine the following ingredients in blender, then blend completely. If the consistency is too thick, add warm water 1 T. at a time. 1c. hoisin sauce, ¼ c. smooth PB, 1T. each rice vinegar and fresh lime juice, 2 crushed garlic cloves and 1T. thai chili sauce or to taste. Serve with authentic fresh ricepaper spring rolls, OR leave thick and glaze a grilled chicken breast or pork tenderloin OR use as an all-purpose dipping sauce, great with seafood, too, or stirred into chicken broth with rice noodles, chopped peanut garnish. TOO-E EASY CHEWY PB COOKIES You didn’t think I’d leave you without a sweet? Makes about 36 large cookies. Mix together 2c. your choice creamy or chunky PB, 2 c. sugar, 3 large eggs, 2tsp. baking powder and 1 T. vanilla extract. Scoop out 2T. portions onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake preheated 350F oven 12-14 minutes or until just browned and slightly firm. Did you know “Goober Peas” is an old Civil War era tune? “I wish this war was over, free from rags and fleas, we’d kiss our wives and sweethearts, and gobble goober peas!” Be prepared - November is National Peanut Month. Vanessa brings us some of her favorite recipes each month in this space
Shop Local Welcome to Downtown Fredericksburg’s Main Street District fredericksburgdowntown.org front porch fredericksburg
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Tips For a Food Safe Thanksgiving Millions of Americans will gather family and friends around the dinner table to give thanks this month. But for those preparing the meal, it can be a stressful time. Not to mention, for many it is the largest meal they have cooked all year, leaving plenty of room for mistakes that could cause foodborne illness. Unsafe handling and undercooking of food can lead to serious foodborne illness Turkeys may contain Salmonella and Campylobacter, harmful pathogens that are only destroyed by properly preparing and cooking the turkey. Similarly, leaving leftovers out for too long, or not taking care to properly clean cooking and serving surfaces, can lead to other types of illness. Don't Wash That Turkey. USDA does not recommend washing raw meat and poultry before cooking. Washing raw meat and poultry can cause bacteria to spread up to three feet away. Cooking (baking, broiling, boiling, frying or grilling) meat and poultry to the right temperature kills any bacteria that may be present, so washing meat and poultry is not necessary. Use the refrigerator, the cold-w water method or the microwave to defrost a frozen turkey. There are three safe ways to defrost a turkey: in the refrigerator, in cold water and in the microwave oven. Thawing food in the refrigerator is the safest method because the turkey will defrost at a consistent, safe temperature. It will take 24 hours for every 5 pounds of weight for a turkey to thaw in the refrigerator. To thaw in cold water, submerge the bird in its original wrapper in cold tap water, changing the water every 30 minutes. For instructions on microwave defrosting, refer to your microwave's owner's manual. Cold water and microwave thawing can also be used if your bird did not entirely defrost in the refrigerator. Use a meat thermometer. The only way to determine if a turkey (or
any meat, poultry or seafood) is cooked is to check its internal temperature with a food thermometer. A whole turkey should be checked in three locations: the innermost part of the thigh, the innermost part of the wing and the thickest part of the breast. Your thermometer should register 165°F in all three of these places. The juices rarely run clear at this temperature, and when they do the bird is often overcooked. Using the food thermometer is the best way to ensure your turkey is cooked, but not overdone. Don't store food outside, even if it's cold. Storing food outside is not food safe for two reasons. The first is that animals, both wild and domesticated, can get into food stored outside, consuming it or contaminating it. The second is temperature variation. Just like your car gets warm in the summer, a plastic food storage container in the sun can heat up and climb into the danger zone (above 40°F). The best way to keep that extra Thanksgiving food at a safe temperature (below 40°F) is in a cooler with ice. Leftovers are good in the refrigerator for up to four days. Cut the turkey off the bone and refrigerate it as soon as you can, within 2 hours of the turkey coming out of the oven. Leftovers will last for four days in the refrigerator, so if you know you won't use them right away, pack them into freezer bags or airtight containers and freeze. For best quality, use your leftover turkey within four months. After that, the leftovers will still be safe, but can dry out or lose flavor. If you have questions about your Thanksgiving dinner, you can call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) to talk to a food safety expert. Also, Twitter, @USDAFoodSafety, or Facebook, atFacebook.com/FoodSafety.gov ~ Courtesy of USDA Food Safety Education Staff
About beer 6 Bears & A Goat Wins Medal at Great American Beer Festival By Jim Toler
6 Bears & a Goat Brewing Co. (6B&G) of Fredericksburg was awarded a bronze medal at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF), the world's largest commercial beer competition. 6B&G's O'Dark Thirty Irish Extra Stout earned the bronze in the Classic Irish-Style Dry Stout category. GABF announced the results Saturday, Oct. 5, during the three-day festival in Denver, Colorado. 6B&G opened in January 2017 and was one of only 13 Virginia breweries to medal this year. The commonwealth is home to more than 200 licensed breweries. O'Dark Thirty Irish Extra Stout is a flagship beer that is available yearround in the 6B&G brew house and in many area restaurants. It's midnight black in color and full-bodied without being thick or sweet. It features a complex roasted flavor with notes of coffee and dark chocolate and a smooth dry finish. Competition for a GABF medal remains fierce for America's craft breweries. Judges examined and tasted 9,497 beers from 2,295 American breweries. Winning a medal from the Brewers Associationsponsored event can catapult a small brewery to greater notoriety and commercial success.
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6B&G is a veteran-owned independent craft brewery named after the mascots of the founders' service branches. The six Bears are 20-year retirees from the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Goat is a U.S. Navy retiree. 6B&G's head brewer (Chuck Arnold), a retired Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant, has both commercial and home brewing experience and is a certified beer judge.
Jim Toler is the Director of Wholesale Distribution, 6 B & G Brewing Co., LLC
6Bears & A Goat Brewing Co 1140 International Parkway off U.S. 17 in Stafford County. www.6bgbrewingco.com; facebook
Vino
Join us for Comedy at the Courtyard! Saturday, November 30th Show Times – 7pm & 9pm
thanksgiving picks
by City Vino
Tickets available at: Rahmein.com
540.373.8300 620 Caroline Street
Olde Towne BUTCHER Corner of William & Charles Streets Downtown Fredericksburg 540.370.4105 www.oldetownebutcher.com Monday to Thursday, 10am to 7pm; Friday 10am to 8 pm Saturday 9am to 8pm, Sunday, 11am to 6pm Keith Lebor Proprietor
Become a Member
fxbgfoodcoop@gmail.com fredericksburgfoodcoop.com
Old Town’s Greatest Tour 35 Monuments, Markers, & Attractions AND the Fredericksburg Battlefields Weddings Reunions Shuttles Parties Group Outings Fredericksburgtrolley.com
Looking to shake up this year’s Thanksgiving Red wine selection? Pick up a bottle of Frappato. Frappato is a light, fruity red and will work with the wide variety to flavors common to a typical Thanksgiving meal. Native to the Italian island of Sicily Frappato is mostly grown in the southeastern part of the island, around the city of Vittoria. The two most common styles of red wine from this region are Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita, where Frappato is a secondary grape blended with Nero d'Avola, and Vittoria DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata), where Frappato is the primary red grape, but may have a small amount of other red grapes blended in. The term "Cerasuolo" means cherry, which refers to the bright red cherry and red berry aromas associated with Frappato. These wines may also have notes of spice and herbs. In order to keep the wines light and fruity, they are generally fermented and aged in steel or concrete. Concrete allows a small amount of air to come in contact with the wine to give it more body, but like steel, it does not impart any additional flavors the way oak barrels might. Because Frappato is a light-tomedium body wine with low tannins, it can be served with a slight chill, making it a great wine for the few remaining warm afternoons we have left before fall really sets in. This light, fruity, low-tannin style is the perfect accompaniment for a wideranging assortment of food, including fresh or aged cheeses, salamis, tuna, swordfish, pizza, and pasta with tomato sauce.
Another Great Red Château Coudray Montpensier Chinon 2016 Robust scents of black fruit and vanilla. On The palate, fresh, elegant and refined, with soft, fruity, pleasing notes of blackcurrant and spice.
Thanksgiving Aperitif Destilerias Acha Atxa Vino Vermouth Blanco A fresh, floral aromas followed on the palate by a hint of sweetness and bitter flavor framework. Aromas of apple and herbs evoke memories of Thanksgiving. Perfect as an aperitif or mixed in a cocktail.
City Vino is located at 810 Caroline St. You can find owner Rita Allan on-site to provide answers to all your wine questions photo courtesy of City Vino
540-898-0737 front porch fredericksburg
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CALEND November 2019‌Say Thanks To A Vet First November 1:
Join the Fredericksburg Area Museum (FAM) 5 - 8 PM. Highlighting the FAM's exhibitPeople & Their Pets, local artist Sonja Petersen Cantu will lead a hands-on painting class entitled Paint a Pet. Beginning at 5:30. FREE and open to the public. "Changing Seasons & Times", Beverley Coates @Brush Strokes Gallery. Opening Reception 6-9 Rapp Area YMCA & MWHealthcare Community Health and Wellness Fair, 9:20a-1:30p, Butler Rd YMCA, Screenings, Demos, Info Darbytown, Charles St"City Limits" photo exhibit, openoing reception 6-9p "Save the Barnacles", Christine Lush-Rodriquez, Artful Dimensions, opening reception, 6-9p Ed King, "Critters" Art First Gallery, 824 Caroline St, openng reception 6-9p Rebecca Carpenter, "Whispers", FCCA Members Gallery Karaoke Night @6 Bears & Goat Brewery, 8-10pm,
Saturday, November 2
Fredericksburg United Methodist Church's Biennial Craft Bazaar. 8:30 am to 1: pm. Unique handmade crafts and gifts, Christmas Ornaments, needle work, household decorations and much more. Bake sale and lunch available. Early bird shoppers may shop Friday night from 6 to 8 for a $5.00 admission fee which is refundable with purchase. Spotsylvania Farmers Market located at the Commuter Lot at Route 3 West and Gordon Road, open 8a -1pm rain or shine. Shop local and pick up some of the healthiest, freshest, most delicious ingredients the area has to offer. Info facebook: spotsyFarmersMarket Farmers Market, Hurkamp Park, 8am-1pm features 29 vendors selling a wide variety of fresh items Caledon State Park Art & Wine Festival, T tastes from local wineries & restaurants, beautiful art from local artists and the sounds of great music
Jazz4 Justice™ Fredericksburg- Where Jazz and Justice For All Meet!, UMW Dodd Auditorium,
Sunday, November 3 Day Light Savings Ends
Caledon State Park Art & Wine Festival, Tantilze your senses with the tastes from local wineries and restaurants, the vision of beautiful art from local artists and the sounds of great music King's Cadence, a male "Gospel-rooted" quartet, will perform a FREE concert at FXBG United Methodist Church 3pm in their Sanctuary. All are invited to attend and enjoy the music. (540)373-9021
Monday, November 4
Open Mic, Red Dragon Brewery, 6-8p Equipment provided 1419 Princess Anne St
Tuesday, November 5 Election Day
Red Dragon Brewery Beer & Trivia night . A 1419 Pr.Anne St. 6:30-8:30p
Wednesday, November 6
Open Mic at the Rec Center 8 pm rock out, sing, play guitar enjoy ice cold drinks and hang out! Join us between 8 and 11 213 William St. Sunken Well Trivia tonight starting at 7:45pm, 720 Littlepage, ~ Come and match wits against the finest minds in Fredericksburg! Compete for Honor, Glory, and Prizes!!
Thursday, November 7
Thriving Art Exchange at Belmont Mansion 12pm5:30pm the goal of the afternoon is to answer the question: "How do we capitalize on existing artistic assets to create a cultural identity for the Rappahannock region that creates an economic and tourism draw?" Virginia Art-Business Conference,a career acceleration event for Visual Artists, UMW, 1301 College Ave. 12p "Throwback Thursday" To Benefit the Central Rappahannock Heritage Center, 6-9pm Kybecca, music, food, raffle
Become a Friend Advocate ~ Donate ~ Volunteer
540~479~4116 1013 Princess Anne St , FXBG 16
November 2019
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Live Music at 7:30 Kenmore Inn. featuring amazing live performances with an eclectic range of musical styles - from soft jazz, blue grass and country, to pounding rock and roll.. Open Mic with Larry Hinkle Highmark Brewery!, 390 Kings HWY, Happy hour -4-6p
Friday, November 8
Art Business Conference to be held at UMW Stafford Campus Entrepreneurial training for artists and arts organizations will provide business skills, focus on co-joining artistic and business goals for success and capitalize on the Thriving Art Exchange local goals and connections. St Mary Festival Choir will perform the Mozart Requiem 8 pm at St Mary Catholic Church, William Street, Fredericksburg, Va. Orchestra and soloists will perform with the choir. Concerts at St Mary church are free. All are welcome to greet the musicians at the reception following in the Parish center following the concert.
Saturday, November 9
Find Fred Contest: Find the city's Holiday Gnomes with the Fred instagram contest @FxbgFRED) weekly prizes Thru Dec. 31 Memorial Urban Trail Ride, Through Historic Downtown Fredericksburg , 9:am - 12 noon, Old Mill Park, rain or shine, Bring your own horse. Art Business Conference to be held at UMW Stafford Campus Entrepreneurial training for artists and arts organizations will provide business skills, focus on co-joining artistic and business goals for success and capitalize on the Thriving Art Exchange local goals and connections. Spotsylvania Farmers Market located at the Commuter Lot at Route 3 West and Gordon Road, open 8a -1pm rain or shine. Shop local and pick up some of the healthiest, freshest, most delicious ingredients the area has to offer. Info facebook: spotsyFarmersMarket Farmers Market, Hurkamp Park, 8am-1pm features 29 vendors selling a wide variety of fresh items Virginia Art-Business Conference,a career acceleration event for Visual Artists, UMW, 1301 College Ave. 12p
Food Truck Rodeo in Downtown Greens 11am Holiday Open House. storefront, Shopping festive music & Santa
Rappahannock Model Spotsylvania Towne Cen 10am-8pm More info. at
Sunday, Novembe Holiday Open House. storefront, Shopping festive music & Santa
Virginia Art-Business acceleration event for V College Ave. 12p
Rappahannock Model Spotsylvania Towne Cen the food court 11a www.rmrailroaders.com
Monday, November 11 Veterans Day process starts at Memorial Park Ceremony Veterans Re Hurkamp Park
Open Mic, Red Dragon B provided 1419 Princess
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Sunken Well Trivia ton 720 Littlepage, ~ Com the finest minds in Fre Honor, Glory, and Prizes
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Native American Cultura UMW Chandler Ballroom
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Come enjoy decorated specials, holiday lights,
Wednesday, November 20
Open Mic with Larry Hinkle Highmark Brewery!, 390 Kings HWY, Happy hour -4-6p
Friday, November 15
Acoustic Onion Music @LaPetite Auberge, 8-11pm
l Railroaders at the ntre Mall in the food court t www.rmrailroaders.com
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sion. Walking procession 10a to War Memorial Park esource Fair at noon at
Brewery, 6-8p Equipment Anne St
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enter 8 pm rock out, sing, d drinks and hang out! Join 13 William St.
night starting at 7:45pm, me and match wits against edericksburg! Compete for s!!
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al Celebration, Mark Tayec, m, Univ Center, 7-8p
Kenmore Inn. featuring nces with an eclectic range m soft jazz, blue grass and ock and roll..
Saturday, Nov 16
Wee Christmas Workshop, Historic Kenmore, 2p, create a holiday themed "room box" using easily accessible materials. Materials provided including take home instruction, ideas, and resources. Room boxes may be displayed at the Wee Christmas Exhibit at Kenmore Dec. 2 - Jan. 13, $
Join the Civil War Round Table of Fredericksburg to hear William Freehling's presentation "Becoming Lincoln." The presentation's emphasis is on the prewar years, revealing how Lincoln came to be the extraordinary leader who would guide the nation through its most bitter chapter. University of Mary Washington Jepson Alumni Center, 6-9pm. Please contact info@cwrtf.org to make reservations. Open Mic at the Rec Center 8 pm rock out, sing, play guitar enjoy ice cold drinks and hang out! Join us between 8 and 11 213 William St.
Children's Christmas Tree Lighting 4-6pm Hurkamp Park Meet Santa and other holiday characters, make fun holiday crafts, experience live music and story-time and much more! The Fredericksburg Annual Children's Tree Lighting program is FREE FXBG Economic Development & Tourism and FXBG Parks, Recreation and Events.
Sunken Well Trivia 7:45pm, 720 Littlepage, ~
Farmers Market, Hurkamp Park, 8am-1pm features 29 vendors selling a wide variety of fresh items
Live Music at 7:30 Kenmore Inn. featuring amazing live performances with an eclectic range of musical styles - from soft jazz, blue grass and country, to pounding rock and roll..
Spotsy Farmers Market Commuter Lot at Route 3 West and Gordon Road, 8a -1pm rain or shine. healthiest, freshest, most delicious ingredients Info facebook: spotsyFarmersMarket Rapp Area YMCA & MWHealthcare Community Health and Wellness Fair, 9:20a-1:30p, King George YMCA, Screenings, Demos, Info Elizabeth Spencer Spragins will sign copies of her poetry collection The Language of Bones: American Journeys Through Bardic Verse, 10 AM - 12 Noon, Cooper Library, 20 Washington Ave., Colonial Beach. Billy Kemp Live@Rec Center, 8pm
Monday, November 18
Open Mic, Red Dragon Brewery, 6-8p Equipment provided 1419 Princess Anne St
Tuesday, November 19
Red Dragon Brewery Beer & Trivia night . 1419 Pr.Anne St. 6:30-8:30p
Thursday, November 21
Evening with an Expert, Hen Asem. Leah Penniman, co-owner & authr of "Farming While Black", Renwick Courthouse Building, 815 Princess Anne, 7pm. FREE
Open Mic with Larry Hinkle Highmark Brewery!, 390 Kings HWY, Happy hour -4-6p
Saturday, November 23
Spotsylvania Farmers Market located at the Commuter Lot at Route 3 West and Gordon Road, open 8a -1pm rain or shine. Shop local and pick up some of the healthiest, freshest, most delicious ingredients the area has to offer. Info facebook: spotsyFarmersMarket
Monday, November 25
Open Mic, Red Dragon Brewery, 6-8p Equipment provided 1419 Princess Anne St
Tuesday, November 26
Red Dragon Brewery Beer & Trivia night . As always you can battle the bartenders or sit at the bar & join their team!. 1419 Pr.Anne St. 6:308:30p
Wednesday, November 27
Open Mic at the Rec Center 8 pm rock out, sing, play guitar enjoy ice cold drinks and hang out! Join us between 8 and 11 213 William St. Sunken Well Trivia tonight starting at 7:45pm, 720 Littlepage, ~ Come and match wits against the finest minds in Fredericksburg! Compete for Honor, Glory, and Prizes!!
Thursday, November 28 Happy Turkey Day
Saturday, November 30
Small Business Saturday, Shop, dine & discover Downtown for your holiday needs Spotsylvania Farmers Market located at the Commuter Lot at Route 3 West and Gordon Road, open 8a -1pm rain or shine. Shop local and pick up some of the healthiest, freshest, most delicious ingredients the area has to offer. Info facebook: spotsyFarmersMarket Farmers Market, Hurkamp Park, 8am-1pm features 29 vendors selling a wide variety of fresh items Comedy at the Courtyard! 620 Caroline St. Show times 7p &9p. Tkts @Rahmein.com
Farmers Market, Hurkamp Park, 8am-1pm features 29 vendors selling a wide variety of fresh items Thankful for FXBG, Art Show & Food Drive, Canal Quarters Arts, 1517Pr.Ann St. Bring canned food donation for St. George’s Table Elizabeth Spencer Spragins will sign copies of her poetry collection The Language of Bones: American Journeys Through Bardic Verse, 1-3 PM, Porter Library, 2001 Pkwy. Blvd., Stafford.
If you are reading this 268th issue of FPF, thank an advertiser as we celebrate our 23rd year of continuous publication! If you are an advertiser, list your events. Deadline for December2019 issue is November 20th. To submit events email frntprch@aol.com: subject Calendar
3548 Fans (& Growing) Want You to Join
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history’s stories
White Oak Primitive Baptist Church
gold in the wilderness
By Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks
I was saddened by the recent death of my longtime friend D.P. Newton whose death was a shock to those of us who knew and loved him. A remarkable man that was loved by his community. One of his favorite buildings was very close to his Museum, the White Oak Primitive Baptist Church. He and I talked about the old church many times, and we walked over to the site he pointed out to me the graves of Union soldiers and relatives who are buried there. The simple weatherboard structure was built sometime around 1800 and has been in continuous use. During the winter of 1862 it was the center of activity for the soldiers of the VI Corps with 20,000 troops camped in the area, staying there for over seven months. At that time, it was used as a hospital. One Union soldier described it as a "miserable, insignificant structure, dilapidated and steepleless. He may have said that because so many soldiers were dying in the hospital from pneumonia and disease. Hundreds succumbed to illness and disease and makeshift cemeteries were created, and the dead were buried in existing church cemetery. Many unknown soldiers would be reburied in the National Cemetery in Fredericksburg after the war. Following their defeat at Fredericksburg on December 13, 1862, the Union army returned over the river into Stafford and mainly the White Oak area turning the area into a landscape with miles of muddy roads and crude huts. Almost every tree was cut for fuel or to make the huts and even roadbeds. An officer from the 1st New Jersey Cavalry said the church was the center of our operations for some time and it was a historical structure. D. P. told me that the 15th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry was camped in two locations near the church. The troops ran out of firewood and they had to build a second camp where trees were located in order to have firewood. After the Civil War many of the Union veterans returned to the White Oak Church for their G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) reunion. State Senator John Vreeland from New Jersey donated money for the restoration of the church at the reunion. In the early part of 1863, the United States Christian Commission occupied the White Oak Baptist Church. The Christian Commission conducted worship services and prayer meetings on a daily basis. The Christian Commission also visited the soldiers in camp and distributed Bibles. The church is mentioned in many of the soldier's letters home, as it is apparent the Church was a well know landmark when they were describing the location of their camps in letters home. Today White Oak Church sits across from the White Oak Museum and Research Center. The cemetery is an interesting place to visit with over three hundred of the graves identified. A site online has many of them identified and listed. The White Oak Primitive Baptist Church has been registered as a Virginia Historic Landmark. A nice place to visit that is a short drive from Fredericksburg. Dedicated to the Memory of: Daniel Patrick Newton, Lloyd Sullivan, John Seller, & Ben Lester Tuffy is the Front Porch resident FXBG historian
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History in Our Backyard
November 2019
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By bob epp The 1825 discovery of gold along the Germanna Plank Road caused quite a stir in the Wilderness. Soon thereafter a flood of individual miners and land speculators descended on the area. The region was previously known as an iron ore district, developed by Alexander Spotswood in the early 1700s, a man who was intent on expanding the industry in the English colony. Gold, if found, and indeed known, was largely ignored. So how was it that gold was even present in this part of the world? Without getting too technical there are two forces that created the geologic condition that placed gold in the soils of the Wilderness: they are volcanic and tectonic. The volcanic activity took place 400 million years ago when the region was underwater. Lava flow from submerged volcanoes created the sub-soils that consisted of the pyrite aggregates containing gold. The tectonic forces then raised those sub-merged soils to the surface where they became accessible for discovery and mining. Specifically, the low lands along the eastern side of the Allegheny Mountain range (roughly from Frederick County, Virginia, on the Maryland/Virginia border SSW to the area of Atlanta, Georgia) are the historic traces of those volcanic deposits. Most of Virginia's gold mining was in the "gold-pyrite belt", a nine-mile to sixteen-mile-wide, nearly 140 mile-long northeast trending volcanicplutonic belt that extends from Fairfax County to southwestern Buckingham County. More locally, that zone lies along a line from Goldvein on the north side of the Rappahannock River to the city of Orange, Virginia. The Germanna Plank Road discovery was directly in the middle of that zone.
Three styles of mining occurred in the Wilderness: 1) pan mining (also known as placer mining) took place in the small streams such as the Flat and Wilderness Runs; 2) Surface or strip mines along the surface where veins of the gold3) and laden soils could be detected; lastly, deep shaft mining, where shafts were dug as deep as 300 feet in one local mine. The actual profitability of these mining operations varied. Local Historian Frank Walker contends that there was more profit realized by the speculators than there was ever pocketed by the mining actual miners. When the companies are researched, one discovers that they were financed through massive sales of bonds, and when fully capitalized, they were often marketed to the next speculator who came along. Virginia Corporate records show that ownership and company names changed frequently in the first 25 years of mining operations. Innovation in mining technology did have its era in the Wilderness. Stephen Ambler, a New Yorker, came to the area and while working at the Woodville Mine and later his own mine, developed a new separator machine. At the Vaucluse Mine, a large (and unique) steam engine driven mechanism was placed in operation. The engine was later purchased by Henry Ford and removed to his museum in Michigan. Bob Epp is a Friends of Wilderness Battlefield volunteer
What’s in a Photograph? The Old Stone Warehouse By jon gerlach Carnegie Corporation in the 1930s allowed her to expand and continue her work. Johnston's photographs and extensive papers, now owned by the Library of Congress, helped preserve historic landmarks across the South, and inspired a generation of architectural historians. The Old Stone Warehouse still stands, but the workers are long gone. The front of the building appears a full story shorter, thanks to the raising of Sophia Street just before WWII to match the grade of Chatham Bridge, but the entire building is still visible when viewed from the river side. The three story masonry building (four counting the attic) was constructed of locally-sourced Rappahannock Freestone, with massive chestnut timbers and a slate roof. City records - and research by Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. (HFFI) indicate that the structure was built around 1813 by Thomas Goodwin, atop a predecessor stone foundation dating from the 1750s which probably supported a tobacco warehouse in the Colonial era.
On a cloudy day in Fredericksburg, in the late 1920s, workers were seen loading heavy sacks of agricultural products from the Old Stone Warehouse onto a horse-drawn wagon along Water Street (now Sophia Street). This was a commonplace task that never drew much attention. Today, however, was different. The moment would be preserved for posterity by noted architectural photographer and photojournalist Frances
Benjamin Johnston (1864-1952). During her extensive travels, Johnston amassed an impressive collection of over 7,100 images from nearly 2,000 places in depression-era rural and urban America, comprising the Carnegie Survey of the Architecture of the South. She began this journey simply enough right here in Fredericksburg and neighboring Chatham, in 1927-29. Funding from the
Bridge, and Jack moved to Florida. The extensive collection of local artifacts has been removed for safekeeping by the City, and officials will soon be planning the future of the Old Stone Warehouse. We hope it will reopen to the public in some fashion after bridge work is complete. Until then, we gaze at the workers on a summer's day long ago, and wonder about the next chapter in this building's storied life. So ‌ what's in a photograph? Here, the remarkable journey of an iconic building. An attorney and retired archaeologist, Jon Gerlach chairs the Architectural Review Board in Fredericksburg Photos by Frances Benjamin Johnston (1864-1952), courtesy Library of Congress
When Fredericksburg was pummeled by the Union bombardment in December, 1862, artillery rounds crashed through the roof and lodged in the rafters. The building was acquired by the City in 1942, and two decades later HFFI began stabilizing and restoring the structure. More recently, local painter, amateur archaeologist and story-teller extraordinaire Jack Edlund leased the site from the City. Countless tourists and local residents visited over the years, enjoying Jack's personal tours of the building and his colorful stories. Sadly, the warehouse closed last month in preparation for the upcoming rehabilitation of Chatham
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Senior Care Be Care protective Dog Walking Pet Sitting Companion Play Time & Mini Furies, Too!
By Karl Karch
(540-903-0437; lexig0892@gmail.com) On facebook as “City PetSitting”
November is National Family Caregivers Month dedicated to honor caregivers for what they do, raising awareness of their work, and increasing the support they receive. Every year, the Caregivers Action Network (CAN) picks a theme. For 2019, the theme is “Be Care Curious”. The theme is intended to remind caregivers to be aware of their loved ones’ goals for treatment and their care in general to make certain their loved ones are getting the care they want. Be curious about your loved one’s condition by researching and asking as many questions as possible. If your loved one is in the hospital, ask what happens next. Will they need home care after discharge? Are new medications or procedures required to manage their care at home? What are their limitations? Will you be trained on what to do and how to do it? Ask questions about medication options based on their insurance plan. The more you know as a caregiver, the more confident and capable you will be when providing care – knowledge is power! One of the main goals of National Family Caregivers Month is to draw attention to the many challenges faced by caregivers. However, in my humble view, the 2019 theme “Be Care Curious” focuses more on the care recipient than the care giver. I would rephrase the theme to “Be Care Protective”, meaning the caregiver must protect their own care as well as the care of their loved ones. Becoming a family caregiver can occur suddenly and without warning, or it can evolve slowly over time. Regardless of how it occurs, it is often a life changing event that can be very stressful if not embraced or accepted. Family caregivers do not seek out the job and they have a full life of their own. So, it is important that they make conscious decisions to take charge of their own life and make choices that consider their own needs as well as the
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needs of their loved ones. The caregivers must create balance between caring for others and caring for themselves. They also must protect their health and learn to say “no”, ask for help, and take time for their own respite care. As the healthcare system shifts toward paying for patient outcomes, hospitals will focus on reducing cost while improving quality and patient experience. More people will be discharged to their home where they prefer to be and often recover quicker. However, an unintended consequence is an increased burden on family caregivers. AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins said: “Family caregiving today is much more complex, stressful, and costly for caregivers than ever before”. Family caregivers are taking on higher level care needs often without preparation or training. For example, caregivers are assisting with medical/nursing tasks such as injections, tube feeding, wound care, managing catheters, and colostomy care. This intensive care will increase as more patients are being released home rather than rehabilitating in a nursing home. Technology is rapidly evolving where the hospital of the future will be the family living room for many care needs. Caregiving is a journey that should not be traveled alone. So, be curious, but also protective of your own health. Remember, the best way to be an effective and loving caregiver is to take care of yourself. You have options. Two very helpful resources are:www.caregiverstress.com and www.car egiveraction.org. Karl Karch is a Gerontologist and local franchise owner of Home Instead Senior Care, a licensed home care organization providing personal care, companionship and home helper services in the Fredericksburg and Culpeper region.
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It’s All Energy gratitude by christina ferber
Astrology for You Natal Charts Transits Consultations Diane Bachman 540.845.7622
Donate to a Cancer Organization
It’s always more fun in the Scenter of Town!
Essential Oils Liquid Herbs Reiki Reflexology Aromatherapy Custom Blending Aroma-Therapeutic Massage Harmonic Resonance Therapy Products ~ Services ~ Classes 907 Charles Street, Downtown thescenteroftown.com
ble at Availa n.com Amazo
Though we should practice gratitude all year long, November seems to be the month that it becomes a true focus as we give thanks for all that is in our lives. Practicing gratitude can be a profound and life changing experience, and adding a few Eden Energy Medicine techniques to your daily practice can help to boost the joy that you feel in your life. It might even help make the month of Thanksgiving even more thankful. Heaven Rushing In helps us to tap into the bigger picture of the moment. Place your hands on your thighs and take a few deep breaths to ground yourself. Then on an inhale, raise your hands to your sides and over your head, touching your hands above it. On an exhale, bring them down to a prayer position in front of your chest. On the next deep breath, open them wide to the sky above your head and stay there as long as you need to. When you are ready, bring your hands to your heart and breathe a few times feeling a loving, thankful energy in your heart area and throughout your entire body. The Nine Hearts exercise can help to tap into our natural state of joy, and therefore enhance our gratitude potential. Start by tracing three hearts around your face starting at your forehead. Next, trace three hearts starting at the middle of your chest and down to your pubic bone. Lastly, trace three big hearts over your head and down to your thighs or even to your feet. Be sure to breathe and not get too hung up on the specifics of this exercise.
vigorously and shake them off. Place them on your thighs with your fingers spread and take a deep breath. On the next inhale, circle your arms out and bring them to a prayer position in front of your heart and exhale. On the next inhale, stretch one hand up and one down, stretching as far apart as you can, and hold your breath. Come back to prayer position on the exhale and repeat on the other side. Do this twice on each side and after the last stretch, bend down as far as you can, letting your arms hang in front of you. Take two deep breaths, and then swing back and forth making sideways figure eights all the way up your body up The 2nd & 4th Chakra Hook-u helps to center us and "come home" to ourselves. This exercise connects two chakras (energy centers that play a role in all of the system in our body) and brings balance to the body. Place a flat hand over your heart area and the other hand flat across the area beneath your belly button. Do this while taking some deep breaths and feel gratitude as you practice this exercise. I wish you a month filled with gratitude, peace, and joy. To view videos of some of the above exercises, visit www.itsallenergywellness.com.
Christina Ferber is a Certified Eden Energy Medicine Practitioner
Connecting Heaven and Earth makes space in the body for energy to move, and can help to activate our Radiant Circuits to bring us more joy and gratitude. Rub your hands together front porch fredericksburg
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Emancipated Patients irish health hazards By Patrick Neustatter, MD On a journey of family exploration, wife Paula, and I recently visited Ireland, the childhood home of my greatgrandfather who was also a doctor. Like so many of his fellow countrymen who emigrated when the starvation and brutal oppression imposed by the English was made worse by a fungal blight, reputedly imported from American ships, devastated the potato crop. He finished up in Australia rather than America. The health of a nation is tied to the personality of its’ inhabitants. And on our “Castle-a-Day” tour contrived by Paula (of Cashel, Blarney, Limerick, Ashford, and Dunluce castles) with hire car and GPS, we got to see – or at least learn about – some of the peculiarities of the Irish. Fighting, Drinking, Breakfast and Other Health Hazards Some claim the “typical” vivacious, witty and “buoyant” Irishman is just a stereotype that doesn’t exist. But great-grandfather appeared to have one of the characteristics that has proved a health hazard – a hot temper. The concept of “The Fighting Irish” extends beyond the Notre Dame football team. “Where there are Irish there’s loving and fighting” noted Kipling. And Spike Milligan claimed you can never tell if the Irish are fighting or dancing. The Irish were attributed a significant role in the American War of Independence –when the surrender of Lord Cornwallis was announced in the British parliament it was attributed to the “exertion of Irish immigrants.” We didn’t get in any fights – though Paula and I we did have disagreement whether Jamesons whiskey from Dublin, or Bushmills, from the Northern Ireland distillery that we toured, was superior – a sort of north and south rivalry like Confederates versus Union. The drunken Irishman is of course part of the stereotype. I read claims that Ireland has the fourth largest alcohol consumption – but Wikipedia says their only 21st in the world (UK is 25th and the US a mere 48th). Every night our GPS seemed to guide us to accommodation above some
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quaint pub, and we found ourselves competing with the locals on what became a bit of a “Castle a Day Pub Crawl.” But “when in Rome . . . . . . “ A further health hazard was the “full Irish breakfast” each place served– sausage, bacon, eggs, beans, mushrooms, tomatoes, and that Irish specialty black pudding (also white pudding – the same concoction of pork fat and meal in a sausage skin but without the blood). In less refined circles I have heard this referred to as “a heart f***er breakfast.” Blarney And maybe in some way the Irish tendency to the Blarney is a health hazard? Irish politician John O’Connor Power described this as “flattery sweetened by humor and flavored by wit.” Queen Elizabeth I, who is claimed to have first used the term, remonstrated with McCarthy Mor, the Lord of Blarney castle, for his “flowery, but less than honest, cajolery.” This puts me in mind of present day politicians. Anyone can be endowed with the Blarney if they kiss the Blarney Stone - so the folklore has it. It was a blustery day, when Hurricane Lorenzo was meant to make landfall, Paula and I cautiously ascended the narrow winding stone steps to the top of Blarney castle. Paula had done it before so it was just me who had to do the health-hazard contortion of bending backwards, head down, over a 300 foot drop, as the only way to get to this inaccessible block of lime stone, and plant a kiss. Stereotypical Characteristics There are other not so complimentary stereotypes about the “mad Irish” or the ”dumb Irish” (and there were reports in the Irish Times that the Irish “have lower IQ scores than most European countries.” And that Ireland ranks joint third out of 36 European countries for mental health problems) but our experience was of nothing but warm wonderful hospitality. George Bernard Shaw noted “of all the tricks which the Irish nation has played on the slow-witted Saxons, the most outrageous is the palming off on him of the imaginary Irishman of romance.” But then Shaw was a blarney prone Irishman. Patrick Neustatter is the Medical Director of the Moss Free Clinic. author of "Managing Your Doctor, The Smart Patient's Guide to Getting Effective, Affordable Healthcare", at Amazon
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Dee Daniels Born with a microphone in my hands By dee daniels I’m a proud Virginia girl!! I grew up just south of Richmond with all of my wonderful family around me. I was the first born – so, slightly entitled – basically born with a microphone in my hand. By the time my two sisters came along, I was 11 – built in babysitter!! Now my sisters are all grown up – married and almost married, and I have a crazy sweet nephew named Nolan who is the most adorable kid on the planet! My art teacher and my principal in high school really got me interested in finding my own voice. They really encouraged me to show off my gift of humor and performance. Although I was still a bit shy, I credit my Mom for pushing me to take
advantage of opportunities that came my way. My family has grown over the years, and I couldn’t do it without them. The fire that keeps me going is my partner who supports me in every way… with the early mornings and big events and crazy schedules – she’s definitely my strength. I started in radio back when we were still playing records – how funny that they’ve come back around to being cool again! I climbed the ladder for years, working overnights and evening shifts. I started doing news and traffic for many stations and a couple of TV stations. I was really grateful for the chances to get my name out on so many platforms. When the opportunity came up for me to build a morning show on this awesome station in Fredericksburg, B101.5, I jumped at it!! I got to pick my morning team, and I was so lucky that the station really let me have creative control to develop my show. Over the years, even though the team has changed here and
there – the message has remained the same – I LOVE being a part of our listener’s lives. I love making them laugh at the start of their day. I love giving them a new way to think about something. I love giving them things to talk about with their friends and co-workers. I love having fun with them every day. For the last 6 years, I’ve been blessed with leading the fundraising efforts for our Children’s hospital, Children’s National, and it’s been the best 6 years of my career. My passion is giving back to our community’s needs – and being a part of something that is bigger than me! I love it all! Thank you for listening!
Dee Daniels is Dee in the Morning on B101.5 Listen in 5-10am weekdays
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Art in the Burg Galleries in November "Save the Barnacle!" -- the work of Christine Lush-R Rodriguez Opening Reception First Friday Artful Dimensions Gallery 922 Caroline Street Why would anyone purposely put clay barnacles on pottery? Inspired by the movie Titanic, showing the bow of the ship with rusticles growing on it, intrigued Christine Lush-Rodriguez to experiment making barnacles on pottery. Come see the evolution of her 15 year obsession -"Save the Barnacle!" at Artful Dimensions Gallery from October 29 through December 1 and join us for the opening on November 1, 6-9pm. ~Sally Cooney
to 5:00 pm, to view the special exhibit and our artists' creations in a spectrum of mediums, including hand-crafted jewelry, unique glass art, metal sculpture, images on porcelain, charcoal drawings, pastels, photography, and paintings in oils, watercolors, acrylics, and mixed-media. ~Collette Caprara
“Changing Seasons and Times”, Beverley Coates @ Brush Strokes Gallery “Changing Seasons and Times” by Beverley Coates Brush Strokes Gallery, 824 Caroline St Opening Reception, Nov.1 Visitors will have an opportunity to meet and chat with Beverley and other gallery artists at the exhibit's opening reception on "First Friday," November 1, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Exhibit will be displayed through December 1. (see Feature article, pg 9) Visit Brush Strokes Gallery at 824 Caroline Street, open daily from 11:00 am
“Barnacles”, Christine Lush-R Rodriquez
“Whispers”, Rebecca Carpenter @FCCA Members Gallery
"Critters", Ed King Opening Reception, First Friday, Nov. 1 Art First Gallery 824 Caroline Street
@Artful Dimensions
“City Limits Photography Exhibit Opening Reeception, Nov 1 Darbytown Art Studio, 241 Charles St The works of G. Sean Walker, Wes Stone and Josh Stansfield will be the featured artist for First Friday, November 1, 6-9pm ~ Jeanne Ellis
“Whispers” Rececca Carpenter Member’s Gallery, FCCA, 813 Sophia St Rebecca explores the figure in spaces of light and shadow. Her exhibit is “Visual stories from abandoned spaces”
“City Limits” @ Darbytown Art Studio
Fredericksburg art lovers are very familiar with local artist Ed King's work. From iconic views of the Rappahannock's rapids to his trademark cows, you'll find original Ed King paintings in the homes of hundreds of area art collectors. Art First is excited to present "Critters," his latest collection of new works of oil paintings and clay sculptures devoted to his love of animals.
“Critters”, Ed King @Art First Gallery Ed King earned degrees in art from Virginia Commonwealth University and the Pratt Institute in New York. He has been an art instructor at Germanna Community College for sixteen years. His artistic influences include Vincent Van Gogh, Howard Pyle and N.C. Wyeth.. In addition to this month's featured artist, you'll also find art displayed by more than twenty local artists and gallery members. ~Casey Shaw Thankful for FXBG Art Show & Food Drive, Nov 23, 6p Canal Quarter Arts, 1517 Princess Ann Bring canned food for St George’s Table & enjoy a unique art event at the ‘Burgs newest gallery
Nature's Still Moment: A Landscape Exhibition Marcia Chaves, Christine Long, Nancy Wing, and James Hinz. at UUFF, 25 Chalice Circle (see pg. 25 for info) ~Patricia Smth
Artists: Penny A Parrish, Lynn Abbott Beverley Coates “Do You See What I See” 24
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Beverley Coates
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“Harvest”
810 Caroline Street, Downtown 540.371.4099
Nature's Still Moment exhibit By four local Painters
By Patricia Smith "Nature's Still Moment" is the autumn art exhibition at the UUFF Gallery. The four local painters exhibiting their work are Marcia Chaves, Christine Long, Nancy Wing, and James Hinz. M a r c i a Chaves was born and raised in Fredericksburg, and she has cultivated an intimate spirit of “Crow's Nest”, James Hinz place in her work. "My roots are here. I watercolor, acrylic, oil paint with cold wax, know layers of history." Sometimes the pastels. You can see the variety of her layers of history are tangible. She lives in work at Studio 13 at Libertytown. the Old Stone House in Falmouth, once Currently she prefers monoprints and owned by the famed artist Gari Melcher. mixed-media collages. "Irish Sheep" is an "I dig in the garden, and I come across example of the dramatic high-contrast imagery in much of her work in this exhibit. Nancy Wing is an oil painter who often paints with a palette knife. She likes the broken color and distinct strokes that build up the atmosphere of a painting. She loves the expressionistic color, light and atmosphere in the works of William Turner. "Seascape Abstract" illustrates her emotional response to painting, her love of clouds and light and color, and her response to nature that can be called sublime. James Hinz prefers to paint large paintings that "South of the Boiler", Marcia Chaves engulf you. "Crow's Nest" is 5' X 4'. He aims for the kind one of his old painting tubes, or a of landscape realism illustrated by the colonial pottery shard, or an arrowhead." French artist Mark Maggiore, who paints She has painted her entire life, and her modern cowboys in mythic Western entire life is the subject matter she paints. landscapes. He is particularly fascinated She uses her old photographs as by painting clouds. He began painting 7 archeological evidence of a glimpse of years ago, by making small paintings for history, and she might take a tiny Christmas gifts. He moved to fragment of an old photo as a starting Fredericksburg from Michigan, and keeps point for a painting. A "matriarchal" intimately connected to his parents by series of paintings started that way. Her sending them photos of his work inknowledge of the land extends to process, and asking them for critiques. neighboring counties. Her favorite You can see more of his paintings at swimming spot in the Outer Banks is Darbytown Art Studio. south of an old ship wreck, the boiler stack Patricia Smith is a Member of UUFF visible at low tide, a favorite spot of Visual Art Committee and Painter surfers. Her painting "South of the Boiler" has an emotional connection to that place. Christine Long's art is influenced by her 45 years of teaching art. "I model all the techniques I teach." She immerses herself in monoprints, lino-prints,
“Nature’s Still Moment” Fall Exhibit of 4 Painters UUFF Gallery 25 Chalice Circle. Thru November 25, 2019.
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Life Changing Experience retracing freedom riders route By Jill Laiacona
James Farmer Jr. was one of the leaders of the civil rights movement and an organizer of the 1961 Freedom Ride, which challenged segregation across the American South. Stafford resident Frank White joined the Air Force in 1957, three days after finishing high school. Stationed in Texas, he traveled by Greyhound bus to visit his family in Virginia. For days and nights, he remained dressed in his uniform, sitting quietly in the back as the bus barreled through the deep South. “Don’t make waves, don’t draw attention to yourself,” the young airman was warned by his African American superiors.
but it does not,” said Williams, who often visited Farmer at his Spotsylvania home before the professor’s death in 1999. “Every day, we ask how can we honor him more? Making sure these stories are told in the way they should be is a start.” With the encouragement and leadership of Vice President for Equity and Access Sabrina Johnson, they invited the Fredericksburg community and alumni to join the trip. Like Mr. White, several who participated knew Dr. Farmer or were taught by him at Mary Washington. The UMW group departed Fredericksburg, which had been the first stop for the 1961 Freedom Riders, who felt relieved when they didn’t encounter intimidation, as they did when they ventured further south. A wide array of emotions swept over the UMW Above the mural depicting the Greyhound bus group as they traveled through the riders rode are the words, North Carolina, Alabama and “Could You Get On The Bus?” Georgia, stopping where the Mr. White remembered those Freedom Riders did and visiting significant travels as he sat at the front of the bus in civil rights landmarks and museums. October, one of 21 area residents who Together, they explored the painful truths joined 46 UMW students, as well as faculty of segregation, racism and injustice and administrators, to trace the route of pervasive throughout the American South the 1961 Freedom Rides during fall break. and beyond that persists today, over half a This social justice experience celebrates century later. Throughout the weekend, Dr. James L. Farmer Jr., the late civil rights Mary Washington faculty and pioneer and Mary Washington history administrators led “town halls” to help the professor who orchestrated the historic travelers process and discuss their protest to desegregate interstate travel. experiences. After the success of last year’s UMW Senior Jason Ford felt anger James Farmer civil rights trip, and desperation when he visited the Multicultural Center (JFMC) Director Anniston, Alabama, bus terminal where Marion Sanford and Assistant Director the Freedom Riders’ bus was bombed by Chris Williams wondered what they could the Ku Klux Klan, who brutally attacked do to make this one even more the riders as they disembarked. meaningful. With the 100th anniversary Sophomore Jessica Lynch cried of Dr. Farmer’s birth approaching and the upon seeing the cement chunk removed University announcing a centennial from the skull of Carol Denise McNair, one celebration in his honor, they decided to of the four young girls killed in the 16th dedicate this year’s experience to his Street Baptist Church bombing in signature movement and lifelong Birmingham. commitment to social justice. Senior Rahima Morshed was “Dr. Farmer is one of those heartbroken at the photograph of Emmett names that should roll off the tongue, Till in his open casket, mutilated beyond
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recognition, at the International Civil Rights Center & Museum in Greensboro, North Carolina. Freedom Riders’ bus firebombed by the KKK in She was also Anniston Alabama ,1961. The white mob trapped frustrated the Anniston the riders inside & brutally attacked them as they tried to escape the flames. marker wasn’t at the location of the bombing. “It were in college. They got on the bus was a mile outside of town,” she said. “It knowing threats, violence and perhaps reminded me that African American even death were awaiting them, she said, narratives aren’t only often untold, but and still refused to back down. intentionally misconstrued.” “Even at this age, you can play But all were grateful and awed by an active role in advocating for social those who sacrificed so the next justice,” Sanford said. “We want to give generation could have a better life. And all students tools and strategies to be agreed that it was more powerful agents of change – just like Dr. Farmer experiencing this history in person than and the Freedom Riders – and trailblazers reading it in a book. in their own right.” “The riders had more courage January 12, 2020, will mark the than I could ever imagine,” said Lynch. centennial birthday of civil rights pioneer “It reminded me that hope is all we have. and Mary Washington history professor Now I feel empowered to speak up when Dr. James L. Farmer Jr. Plan to visit someone says or does something that the Farmer Legacy 2020 website perpetuates racism.” JFMC Director Marion Sanford Jill Laiacona is the Media Manager hopes UMW students felt inspired by the at UMW. Photos by Lynda Allen “courage, conviction and character” of the Freedom Riders, many of whom also
Freehling on Fred A tale of two ballparks By Bill Freehling
Give a Child Something to A weekend in October provided me with a firsthand look into why it will be so great to have a professional baseball team here in Fredericksburg. On Saturday, October 5 – a perfect fall morning – my son, Andrew, and I set out on a 15-minute walk from our downtown home to the corner of Caroline and Wolfe streets. There, the name would be unveiled for Fredericksburg’s new Minor League Baseball team. (right) The Silber family, which owns the team, had invited Andrew and me to be part of a “fashion show” at the event to
unveil the team’s new merchandise. We were handed T-shirts and hats and reminded not to reveal them until the big announcement came. Hundreds of people filled the 100 block of Wolfe Street to hear the news: our new team will be the Fredericksburg Nationals. Cheers erupted, and Andrew and I soon took to the stage to show off our new gear. It was a special moment that showed how ready our community is to embrace the new team. The next morning, Andrew and I rode our bikes through the University of Mary Washington, across U.S. 1, past Hugh Mercer Elementary School and up Cowan Boulevard into Central Park for breakfast. We then biked over to the stadium site
near the Fredericksburg Expo Center to check out the progress. Even then, it was beginning to really look like a ballpark. We then enjoyed the fun ride down the new Fall Hill Avenue bike trail, around the popular canal trail and back to our home. Later that day, Andrew and I set out for the big city to take in Game Three of the National League Divisional Series between the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers at Nationals Park. (Bill & Andrew below) Many of the current stars of the Washington Nationals had played previously for the Potomac Nationals, which is now the Fredericksburg Nationals. The stars of the future will be playing in Fredericksburg starting April 23 next year. Andrew and I had a great time in Washington, but not without some hassle. We battled Interstate 95 traffic, and a missed turn on South Capitol Street meant an errant trip across the Anacostia River, some choice words by me and finally a successful back-tracking to the stadium. The game went late into the night, and then we had to make our way back to Fredericksburg. All and all it was a fun experience, and I am so glad that Fredericksburg is that close to the national capital, but it also made me appreciate the simplicity and ease of our life here in our Itty Bitty City. I am so thankful that we will soon be able to take in a game here in Fredericksburg at a fraction of the cost, time and even stress associated with going to Washington. It will be so nice to be able to even bike or walk to the local ballpark from downtown. #lovefxbg indeed.
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Bill Freehling is the Director Fredericksburg Department of Economic Development and Tourism He can be reached at: 540-372-1216
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Companions don’t be a turkey! by Gerri Reid dvm
Time for Football Games, pumpkin pie and Turkey! All the good things that make you think of Thanksgiving. We gather with our family and friends to feast on an array of comfort foods. Our pets tend to stay inside more curled in their beds. Our morning walks with our pets become far and few. As the days get shorter and the nights get longer, it’s no wonder that we tend to forget about their diet/exercise routine. At the beginning of the new year, our pets tend to have gained a bit of weight over the holidays. Maintaining your pet’s health/diet during the wintertime is not as hard as you think. So, here are some tips to keep your pet slim and trim! We all have that one family member that will feed our pets extras treats and food off the table. During holiday gatherings, let your guests know on arrival not to feed your pets any pieces of food/snacks. Some guests are not aware of what foods are toxic to pets nor may they know if your pet has an allergy to something. You can design a cute little sign for the table setting that says “While We Sit & Eat, Our Pet(s) do not need a Treat!” It will make your guests giggle while ensuring your pets are safe. So, tell Grandma or Grandpa to lay off feeding their Grandpups please! They are not starving! During the Winter months, we tend to stay inside more, sitting on the couch and enjoying a good Football Game. Walking our pets on most days is simply limited by the weather outside. Most pets find themselves going out to brave the rain or snow to use the bathroom only to run back inside. A solution to their lack of exercise is to consider taking them to Doggie Daycare to cure that Cabin Fever. Many places around town have Play Time
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designed to get your pet moving! And at times here in Virginia we will have some beautiful days that we can get out there for a walk. So take advantage of it! When it comes to your pet’s diet during the wintertime, consider these tips. Limit the number of treats given each day. I always tell my Clients to put a cookie jar or treat jar on the counter. Each day, fill it up with the number of treats available for your pet to be given. Let each family member know how many treats each pet gets and when the jar is empty, this means NO MORE TREATS! This is an easy way to regulate treats in your household. In terms of their regular diet, decrease the food by a “small handful” and replace it with green beans or carrots. This is a great way to supplement your pet’s diet while helping them stay slim and trim! So. let the Holiday Festivities Begin! Our pets tend to have more lazy days nestled by the fire or in the comfort of their favorite bed. Playing catch in the yard and taking the long hike is put on hold. Remember, we all tend to put on a few pounds during the Holiday Season and so do our pets! The tips provided can have your pet on the right track to a healthy weight. Doggy Daycare is a great alternative to beat the Winter Blues. And with a few changes to their diet, at your pet’s next checkup you will be surprised and happy with the results! Happy Thanksgiving to All!
Dr. Gerri S. Reid is the Owner/Veterinarian of Reid Mobile Veterinary Services. 540-623-3029; reidmobilevetservices.com ; facebook eVetServices
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Astrology & You
THE POETRY MAN
November transits & you
By Frank Fratoe
Resonating World
By Dianne Bachman
Come listen to all the sounds that mix together upon Earth: rainshowers sizzling the land whenever drought has left off, waves pulsing their downbeat again and again without end humanity offering up a hymn as choirs rejoice the future, tall grass blown by a breeze where upland chants to itself, starlings who churr on limbs after they rise from darkness, and even if a storm is near the audition of dawn plays on. Frank Fratoe lives & writes in the city.he loves.
November: time to hunker down with cool temps, take the wool and flannel out of mothballs, and throw the Halloween pumpkin on the compost pile. It is also time to get yourselves out to the polling places and vote. As a matter of fact, if we look at the line up of the planets for November 5, we could see some renewed vigor in voter turnout (more below). Oh, and don’t forget to look skyward for the peak of the Taurid meteor shower on the 11th and 12th, and for the peak of the Leonids on November 16 and 17. The Taurids are especially showy with streaking fireballs, though this month the Moon will be full, interfering with our ability to fully appreciate the show. November 1 finds Venus entering the sign of Sagittarius, giving way to enthusiasm and the journey of our hearts toward new learning. This is an opportunity to honor what we believe to be true for ourselves. It is expansive and respectful of the idea that differing opinions can co-e exist instead of being a point of contention and strife. Before Mercury goes retrograde, it is only 3 degrees away from Venus, in the sign of Scorpio. Scorpio deepens communication and thoughts, and the slower Mercury is more deliberate and meticulous.
Mercury went into retrograde on October 31 and will go direct again on November 20. The shadow of the retrograde lingers until Saturday, December 7 at 12:55 PM EST. The shadow period is the time that Mercury will retrace its orbit in the heavens back to where retrograde began. As we know, Mercury retrograde is always a time of slowing down, reviewing, rechecking. Just remember to keep your electronics plugged into surge protectors and back up any important data. It can be a grand time to ease the pace and become more mindful. On Election Day, November 5 (did I remind you to get out and vote?), the Moon in Pisces will be sextile Uranus. Emotions could be running high today and Uranus radiates just the spark to activate us, stir us up a bit. Also, the Sun will be sextile Saturn, and this shines a light on our responsibilities, further adding to the possibility of great voter turnout. Our full Moon is in the sign of Taurus this month and occurs on the 12th. An earthy tone is given off the next few days and is the most sensuous of the planet/sign combos. Certainly, a good time for romance, for making your environment warm and comforting, and for enjoying a delicious meal. This is the perfect time to splurge on high quality chocolate! The Moon will also be trine Pluto for the next few days, so this can intensify emotions and passions, sometimes even triggering a bit of obsessive thinking, so be sure to remember to breathe.
Around the 19th, Mercury goes direct in Scorpio and Mars enters Scorpio. Although the closest they get to each other until the end of the month is 9 degrees, this adds a little high test to the mix. Communication is bold and direct, though watch out for temper. Certainly, when Mars is in Scorpio, we can be tempted to go full bore, to go for the jugular. But, better to put filters in place than to be burdened with regrets later. November 22, the Sun enters Sagittarius and it is time to look toward adventures and following any enthusiasm for learning. Also, a time for reconnecting with your spiritual life if you have been caught up in the swirl of fall busy-ness and holiday frenzy. On the 25th, Venus enters Capricorn, and this is a good time to focus on plans for the holidays. If you find the holidays enjoyable, then attention to detail makes it all the better. If you struggle with the holidays, it is also a good time for planning how to re-create them by changing the theme or the place, maybe through travel. Jupiter conjunct Venus lends a more hopeful and expansive tone to the next few days, so take advantage of this energy. Finally, we end the month with the new Moon in Sagittarius, gathering our intentions for self-growth and optimism. With Neptune going direct in Pisces at relatively the same time, perhaps we can see things a bit more clearly, so if you have been feeling isolated or confused, it is now time to emerge into the world of possibilities. Diane Bachman is a psychotherapist & astroger practicing in FXBG. She can be reached at dbachmanlcsw@gmail ..com Painting “Bird Watcher”, by Sarah Bachman
Dog Walking Pet Sitting Companion Play Time & Mini Furies, Too! (540-903-0437; lexig0892@gmail.com) On facebook as “City PetSitting” front porch fredericksburg
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Nancy Williams November Cover Artist
Artist Nancy Williams draws her inspiration not only from nature, but also from her memories, feelings, and imagination. She is fond of painting landscapes, but also enjoys working in abstraction. Nancy has worked in a variety of painting media for over 30 years- watercolor, acrylic, oil, and mixedmedia. She is currently re-discovering the spontaneity and happy surprises that come with watercolors. Nancy grew up with artists in her family and drew from an early age. She is from the Annapolis area and attended the University of Maryland where she received a BS in Housing. Fascinated with drawing, she kept sketchbooks for years. After her first child was born, she felt the need to start painting. Nancy came to Fredericksburg 24 years ago and felt instantly at home. She has deep affection for the Rappahannock River and is often drawn to depict its mystery and beauty. Nancy loves nothing better than to visit art galleries and museums. She feels that art nourishes the soul and spirit and that is is a prime communication tool. "The art viewer or appreciator and their background and the part they play in the
art experience is just as important as that of the artist", states Nancy. She also feels that taking the time to experience works of art in-person is the best education an artist can give themselves. A few years ago she had to face the challenge of having Parkinson's Disease. Though it sometimes it limits the activities she would like to do, it has not limited her artistic drive or expression. She is active in three Parkinson's Support groups in our area and has donated paintings for sale which are on Fusion Physical display at Therapy to help support the expansion of Rock Steady Boxing in Fredericksburg, a therapeutic boxing-exercise program for patients with PD.
Fredericksburg Sketches A visual Celebration of our community
By Casey Alan Shaw
SKETCH #59: Two Spires on Princess Anne No matter how many incursions I take to sketch around town, I always seem to return to these two buildings. The Renwick Building and St. George’s Church are really the heart of downtown for me. There might be more shoppers scurrying along Caroline Street and diners strolling along William Street, but the corner of Princess Anne and George Street is always the spot I bring visitors when I really want to give them the feel of Fredericksburg.
Nancy has been a member of Brush Strokes Gallery at 824 Caroline Street since 2006. Her work can also be seen at www.facebook.com/NMWilliamsArt.
Rather than tiring of this view, I hope to return here many times over the years. It will be very interesting to see how my interpretations of these buildings, and those of other artists, change over time while, at the same time, t hese two spires remain seemingly timeless.
Casey Alan Shaw is a local artist. He teaches art at James Madison University and Germanna Community College and exhibits his original artwork and limited-edition prints at Art First Gallery 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 9-5:30; Sat 9-4 jewelboxfredericksburgva.webs.com jewelbox14k@yahoo.com
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Thank you for 27 wonderful years! ~Nancy & Craig Sheldon 606 Caroline St, Old Town , 373-7847, gemstonecreations.org
Where Fredericksburg Gets Engaged
DOWNTOWNERS Kate Guy, Downtown Greens Interview by DeLaura Padovan
Tell us a little about yourself. Kate: I’m a local portrait photographer and full time mama to two very sweet and energetic boys. I love to hike and spend time outside and photograph what I see while I’m there. An Atlanta native, I moved to Virginia 12 years ago and I love being able to call Fredericksburg home. The more involved I’ve gotten with the community here the more pleasantly surprised I am by just how much community exists here. What volunteer role have you had at Downtown Greens? Kate: I volunteered my time and provided photography for Virginia first lady Pamela Northam’s visit to Downtown Greens’ Garden Sprouts program at the Walker Grant Center. It was so inspiring to watch the kids’ enthusiasm for learning about and participating in the garden. What a fun day! Do you have a favorite thing about Downtown Greens? Kate: Everything! I think the
Downtown Greens mission and message is so, so important, but particularly the youth education piece. I love that you guys are teaching these kids not just how to grow the foods, but also how to cook them; not just how to nourish the earth, but how to nourish their bodies too. There’s no better way to care for our earth and each other than to teach the next generation how to do it!
amazing. Lately I’ve been cutting stems to go with small bouquets of sunflowers; they pair perfectly together and they make the house smell wonderful. Also, any plant that’s edible.
soothing. I think that’s why I love rainy days, and will always have a soft spot for black and white photography.
If you could be any animal, what would you be? Kate: I saw my first black bear at Shenandoah National Park this past summer, and all I could think as it crossed the trail in front of me was that it had a pretty sweet life; spending it’s days in the park, no real rush for anything, just enjoying the scenery and the wild fruit that grows there. Plus, they get to sleep all winter. When the cold weather hits I’m out, so hibernation sounds pretty awesome.
DeLaura Padovan is the Administrative Assistant at Downtown Greens.
What is your favorite color? Kate: According to my boys it’s pink, which always makes me smile. But actually I love gray. I feel like that’s a boring answer, but I find gray really
Kate Guy Photography kateguyphotography.com facebook @kateguyphotography
Downtown Greens, Community Greenspace, established in 1995, fosters community involvement and growth by protecting and nurturing urban greenspace through collaborative environmental stewardship and experiential education. 206 Charles Street facebook @downtowngreensinc www.downtowngreens.org
What’s something that you are looking forward to in the coming months? Kate: Oh man. I love everything about fall! The cooler weather, and the pretty colors; I love being outside so much and fall just has the best feeling about it. And of course Thanksgiving! I’m such a fan of comfort food, and there’s nothing more comforting than sharing my favorite dishes with family and friends What
is your favorite plant? Kate: I have two Lacey Leaf Russian Sage plants in my yard that I just adore. They’re so wild looking and wispy, and they smell absolutely
Wills and Trusts Provide for Incapacity Trusts for Minor Children Wealth Preservation Trusts Avoid Probate AhearnEstateLaw.com
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