November Front Porch Fredericksburg Magazine

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’s stories: fredericksburg

in A

heritage: 52nd

health:

susie c.

known better:

in the burg

& you

...And

“Forest Traveler” By Beverly coates

In this month of giving thanks, a note of gratitude goes to the folks at Curitiba Art Café-the inviting hub of community life on Caroline Street across from our historic Market Square. Curitiba's owners Cori Blanch and Megan Samples have designed their café as a threshold through which the world and its array of creative offerings can enterincluding the spectrum of artists who periodically exhibit their works and the musicians who treat guests to weekend performances ranging from Bluegrass to Rock to Salsa.

A hallmark quality of Cori and Megan is their unbridled enthusiasm for adventure and unintimidated spirit in the face of any challenge-one of which was taking the reins of the café, a firsttime entrepreneurial venture for both. But, the greatest challenge in taking ownership of Curitiba was not a learning curve. Megan had been one of the café's managers when its original owners, Frank and Ana Robinson , approached them in January 2020 about the possibility of buying the business. By the time they took over the business, it was July and the pandemic was in fullthrottle and lock-downs and CDC restrictions were in place. "It was definitely a challenge, but also a great opportunity," said Megan. "Frank and Ana worked hard to put us in the best position starting out. We felt that it was really important to 'pay forward' the opportunities we had been given. That drives the principles we embrace and the

Curitiba Art Cafe

blessing to the

burg

By collette caprara

diversity of people come to Curitiba-all different kinds of people, people of all different backgrounds, interests, ages, and demographics.

A Pioneering Road Trip

more remote motorcycling trips."

work we do at Curitiba within the community."

In addition to serving as advocates for local artists, Cori and Megan are involved in a range of local community-service and advocacy organizations such as Continuum of Care for the homeless. Their care and concern also extend to the young people they employ. "We try to create opportunities for our staff to move up, providing tools and mentorship along the way," said Megan. That investment of heart is, in turn, reflected in the baristas' thoughtful service to their customers. "Some of the most rewarding parts of our experience with Curitiba are the relationships we've

This summer, Megan and Cori's spirit of adventure was displayed to the max, as they launched off for a two-week cross-country road trip on motorcycles. They had been following the YouTube postings of a long-distance motorcyclist, "Where the Magpie Flies " When they heard about the Rocky Mountain Roll Bikers' Fest that she was hosting in Corvallis, Montana, they determined that that event would be their destination-a trip of more than 5,000 miles through 15 states.

They carefully chose and secured all their gear, including camera equipment, a camp kitchen, and a virtual portable garage with tools for maintenance, lubrication, chain maintenance and repairs. "There's no substitute for experience when it comes to planning for what you will really need. There were a lot of places-especially in South Dakota, Montana, and Nebraska-where there were long stretches with nothing around. We definitely learned a lot traveling through those spaces about what we need for next time," said Megan. In fact, their journals of the trek include the harrowing story of riding through the dark of night in the rain, with a gas tank teetering on empty. " That was definitely a learning experience," said Megan.

For those who are wondering how the Bike Fest in Montana was, it turns out that the journey took longer than anticipated and Cori and Megan missed the event. "But we got as far as the Big Sky National Park," said Cori with resilient enthusiasm, "and, next year, we'll get our tickets to do it one more time!"

made with the community and the growth we've seen in our employees," said Cori.

"Relationships are everything," said Megan. "We are happy to serve as a hub where people can come in and feel welcomed and comfortable.” Such a

The couple had decided to avoid the main highways for most of the trip and that choice brought some unforgettable experiences. Travelling down one gravel road, they crested a small hill to encounter "fields and fields of sunflowers, as far as the eye can see."

"If anything, the trip helped us understand what is possible," said Cori. "We definitely want to do another trip on these motorcycles, and we want to do

Collette Caprara is a local writer and artist with Brush Strokes Gallery.

ON THE PORCH

Jenna Edwards Guest Porch Editorial

Contributing Writers & Artists

Rita Allan Sally Cooney Anderson

Dianne BachmanLaurie Black

Sonja CantuCollette Caprara

Beverly CoatesElizabethDaly

Janet DouberlyJeannie Ellis

Jenna Elizabeth EdwardsFrank Fratoe

Bill FreehlingJon Gerlach

Hilary Jacobs HendelAnne Hicks

Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks

Christie HoernemanNancy Kelly

David C. Kennedy

Christine Lush-Rodriquez

Lisa Chinn MarvashtiRay Mikula

Anne-Tillery Melson

Vanessa MoncureM.C.Morris

Pete MorelewiczPatrick Neustatter

ML PowerGerri Reid

Paula RaudenbushRob Rudick

Mandy SmithAnne Timpano

Rim Vining Tina Will Norma Woodward

gift of history by jenna elizabeth edwards

This Thanksgiving marks our third living in Fredericksburg, and when I reflect on what I love and am most grateful for about this place, it is the sensation that history is alive and essential here. I believe that history is alive everywhere, but in most places, it's underground and any chance of finding it requires substantial digging. It is difficult to imagine what came before you if there is no trace of its heartbeat. But in Fredericksburg, that heartbeat is a rhythm you can nearly dance to, it's so palpable.

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

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

Messages from our readers are welcome. All article submissions must be received by e-mail by the 16th & calendar items the 19th of the month preceding publication.

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

Front Porch Fredericksburg PO Box 9203 Fredericksburg, VA 22403

Ad Sales: E-Mail: frntprch@aol.com 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 2022 Front Porch Fredericksburg Magazine All rights reserved.

And when you open your senses to the people and events that surround and precede you, your sense of family and continuity expands with it. It is no longer just 2022, but 2022 layered on centuries of history and change and development. It is special when you can live your daily moments in the presence of the infinite and know that by your very existence, you're passing on a baton that has long predated you and that will long surpass you.

I am blessed that my history is now so deeply intertwined with that of Fredericksburg. My husband, Fred, and I were married at the Fredericksburg Court House on March 14, 2022. It felt aweinspiring to formalize our union and family amidst so much history - home to the only Gothic Revival courthouse and Revere Foundry Bell in Virginia; a site that had served as an observation point during two Civil War battles and for the administration of the Freedmen's Bureau

A few months later, we opened the Edwards Law Firm at 802A Princess Anne St. After picking up the keys, we christened our 'homecoming' by researching the history of the building, courtesy of the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc (HFFI). We learned that Dr Robert Wellford, grandfather of the building's original owner, Dr Beverly R Wellford , was revered for his ethical treatment of American prisoners during the Revolutionary War, and would thereafter become President Washington's choice for Surgeon General. The building has since been occupied primarily by attorneys, and we could not be more thrilled to join that legacy.

In the aftermath of the COVID19 pandemic, it has been such a treat to begin engaging with all the Fredericksburg seasonal traditions. I loved serving as a

volunteer for Historic Garden Week and learning about the pivotal role of Fredericksburg women and Kenmore in founding the Garden Club of Virginia. My family and I had such a memorable evening at the centennial celebration of the George Washington Foundation. I had a blast dancing and enjoying all the amazing local performers at the Sounds of Summer Concert Series in the Fredericksburg Area Museum Courtyard. This autumn, I enjoyed my first pumpkin patch at Belvedere Plantation and absolutely adore that Fredericksburg is home to one of the most widely celebrated fall festivals in the state. I cannot wait to experience another Fredericksburg Christmas Parade amidst family and friends, of course with hot chocolate from Agora's in hand. The window decorating competitions and seasonal decorations just fill the air with the festive spirit. I am eager for all my firsts to come - including a Fredericksburg Hauntings Ghost Tour this Halloween, HFFI's Historic Pub Crawl in November, and the 52nd Annual Candlelight Tour I know that Fredericksburg will be such a beautiful home to grow our family and careers.

I am also grateful and impressed by Fredericksburg's efforts to face the darker and more somber aspects of history with resilience, creativity, dignity, and an eye towards how we can better grow in community. I was profoundly moved by the ceremonial unveiling of the historical marker commemorating the Walker-GGrant Class of 1950 Protest I was also touched by Fredericksburg National Cemetery's Luminaria and the city's ceremony in honor of Memorial Day. I have been privileged to write about the people and organizations that honor, celebrate, and advocate for the rich diversity in our past, present, and future.

I firmly believe that history can be our greatest asset if we are receptive to and grateful for its lessons. It is our

common thread and inherently relational, rooting us to each other within a particular place and time. What we make of this relationship is up to us. I am thankful to be forging that relationship with and within Fredericksburg. My sincere gratitude to Virginia Grogan for welcoming me as a writer to the Front Porch Magazine, Fredericksburg's source of good news since 1997. Read it cover to cover to learn about all our amazing community has to offer.

Jenna Edwards and her husband, Fred Edwards, own The Edwards Law Firm, located at 802A Princess Anne St. across from the historic Fredericksburg Masonic Lodge No. 4 and City Hall.

Fredericksburg’s Finest

Common Sense Healing: Bob & Dawn Sharrocks

by Jenna ELIZABETH eDWARDS

that keeping healthy will require less frequent visits to a medical professional. That is what their logo, a bright green apple suggests; that by utilizing healing methods such as acupuncture, a person will stay in a healthy state naturally, with minimal drugs or medical interventions. Dawn says, "We create an environment that allows your body to heal itself naturally, the way it was designed to do,"

detective", attempting to find where the blockages are for each client. By applying acupuncture to certain points, energy flows well, the body functions optimally and health improves. Contrary to what some people think, acupuncture does not hurt

As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us strive to be more intentional about living our lives in a spirit of gratitude. But it's difficult to feel grateful when you don't feel well. Wouldn't it be truly "happy holidays" if those aches and pains and dis-eases were a thing of the past?

Dawn and Bob Sharrocks are dedicated to helping people experience wellness at an energetic and cellular level through their acupuncture and holistic health care business Common Sense Healing, located at 904 Princess Anne Street in downtown Fredericksburg. Since its opening in November 2021, Common Sense Healing has been voted Best of the Burg 2022 in the Holistic Medicine category.

The proverb, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away," originally implied

Common Sense Healing empowers clients to cultivate natural wellness through painfree and drug-free multi-sensory experiences. Services include acupuncture, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF), red light therapy, guided visualization, aromatherapy and vibrational sound healing.

These therapies are effective at reducing pain, inflammation, and blood pressure; promoting weight loss and restful sleep; improving blood flow, circulation, and metabolism; facilitating recovery from injury or surgery and detoxification.

Acupuncturists consider the human body to have more than 2,000 acupuncture points connected by pathways, called meridians.

These pathways create an energy flow called Qi (pronounced 'chee') through the body that is responsible for overall health. Disruption of the energy flow causes pain and disease. Dawn takes a lengthy history, calling herself a "holistic

"At the root of all disease are unhealthy cells," the Sharrocks say, "And no one is working on your cellular level on purpose, except us. We use PEMF to increase energy and oxygenation in your cells, thereby decreasing inflammation, which results in healthy cells. Healthy cells mean a healthy you."

Science backs these assertions. "The MagnaWave PEMF therapy that we use on our clients is the same cellular wellness used by NASA to maintain the health of astronauts in space, and by many professional athletes - human and animal." These services complement conventional medical practices,

headset to experience bi-neuro-algorithms that combine gentle pulses of light with visualization and soothing music to guide the brain through a range of brainwave patterns. This facilitates a coherent healing state for the brain to stimulate alertness, focus, relaxation and creativity. Dawn says, "I like to think of BrainTap as 'breaking the loop' of the constant hamster wheel of worries and anxieties that people must contend with living in a fast-paced modern society."

The Sharrocks' approach holistic medicine from a rich and diverse background. Dawn is an RN for thirty-two years and a licensed acupuncturist for 20 years who earned a master's degree in Chinese medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. Bob is a veteran of the United States Air Force and a retired manager from the NYC Transit System. Their experience growing up and working in New York City has contributed to their genuine desire to serve people from all walks of life.

"At Common Sense Healing, we derive energy and inspiration from others, and we love providing natural healing solutions that support people in being their best selves and living their best life.".

procedures, and medications, and can benefit almost everyone. Bob safely uses PEMF on dogs, cats, and horses

Scientific research has also supported the use of BrainTap Guided Visualization Technology to treat insomnia, reduce anxiety, and improve learning and productivity. Clients of Common Sense Healing use a special

Jenna Elizabeth is partner of the Edwards Law Firm PLLC and a local realtor. Her Facebook page, The Writing Realtor, highlights local business owners and community members to showcase why the Fredericksburg region is an amazing place to live.

Where Fredericksburg Gets Engaged

Tues-Fri: 10a-5p Sat: 10a-4p

Caroline Street

Town

The Joy of Giving

Lisa pitts ely cancer foundation

By anne hicks

many families. Since its inception it has reached the hearts and minds of Fredericksburg cancer patients and families and volunteers. Serving local cancer patients with medical needs, doctor's visits, household bills, gas, food, and meals and more Eley and all who participate in the activities this foundation offers are pretty much like having a group of Angels and Saints at your service.

abundance from candy bags, gifts, homemade baked goods multicolored mums, pumpkins, candy apples and much more were generous. A fine display of how the invisible and visible Saints put their heart and soul into this event.

It inspires the joy of giving and receiving and reminds every moment of every day is a time for giving and receiving.

There was a cover picture of Eley on St. Patrick's Day doing the same service as it is a regular act of kindness that takes place outside of Irish Eyes on Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, St. Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day. Yet, it

when my sons lost their father to multiple myeloma cancer but this kind of service is needed everywhere. Without this kind of support families endure more hardships, both interpersonally and financially.

As fall's harvest reminds us of the season's bounty, the gifts of giving and of those who are in need and those who need us are real. Please allow time for pause this Thanksgiving and keep all those who are ill with cancer or other disease, Chuck Eley and Lisa Pitts, her family, friends, the supporters, and the foundation in your life and support their mission.

Visit: lisapittseleycancerfoundation com

It's vital to know where to find help for you and your family when faced with the uncertainty of illness, loss, grief, and loneliness. It's a blessing to find those in the community who unconditionally want to help. Thanks to Chuck Eley who created The Lisa Pitts Eley Cancer Foundation in 2016 after losing his beloved wife to cancer this is a reality in town as the Eley Foundation is providing this vital support for cancer patients and families

The motto on the website says, "Together We can Take Care of those Who are Battling Everyday" , lisapittseleycancerfoundation.com

Together, the foundation provides much relief and sustenance to

This came about in response to how Eley and his family received an act of kindness during Christmas after his wife Lisa passed of Lung Cancer in 2014. The gifts the Eley family received from a group of friends not only helped relieve the pain and loss but was an inspiration to help other cancer patients and their families.

Recently, there was a Halloween Fundraiser in front of Irish Eyes on Caroline Street. This is a regular occurrence on special occasions now for several seasons. The owners of Irish Eyes are the Angels that provide space for fundraising. The space is vibrant in color and character a must place to stop. Eley commented, without Bernadette and Michael Esler owners of Irish Eyes, he wouldn't be able to do it.

It really showed up this year in a visit as the amount of donations in

doesn't stop there. You would recognize him as a Leprechaun next to St. Patrick.

We didn't live in Fredericksburg

Anne Hicks is a Fredericksburg resident and a contributing writer to Front Porch

Lisa Pitts Ely Food Pantry

Everything Greens going non-native

By christie hoerneman

I'm a huge advocate for using native plants in residential landscaping. With insects declining at an alarming rate, providing larval hosts-plants that have coevolved with insects to provide the necessary requirements for their larvae-is a good idea. To that end, I'm currently working on transforming half of my backyard into a native plant garden consisting of perennials, shrubs, and trees that will provide habitat and food for wildlife Since beginning the transformation, I've noticed how a native plant looks like any other plant in my garden, but when I go up close, it's swarming with dozens of bees, butterflies, and moths. I've also noticed with the increased insect and caterpillar population in my yard, there are many more birds building nests, including Eastern Bluebirds, which rely on those insects and caterpillars in my yard to feed their young.

However, while I love native plants, and I love how they help the ecosystem by serving as larval hosts and food sources, I also love ornamental flowers and shrubs. A lot of us, myself included, didn't grow up with gardens full of milkweed and other native plants, so some of our favorite and familiar plants are originally imports from other countries, which is (with a few caveats) ok. Certain plants remind me of home, and I also love to grow ornamental flowers solely as cut flowers. I don't mind cutting the zinnias that I've seen bees on all week. since I have other plants that will provide food. Some of my favorite cut flowers include: tulips, gladiolas, calla lilies, dahlias, peonies, and zinnias!

Before choosing any ornamental plants, it's important to ensure that you are not planting anything that is invasive, such as English Ivy, vinca, and Nandina. Unfortunately, many nurseries sell plants that are invasive in Virginia, because invasive plants are typically easy to grow and difficult to kill; qualities that many people are looking for in plants for their gardens. The reason though that these plants are a problem for the environment, is that they spread easily and displace essential native plants, which act as larval hosts Without insects and pollinators, we would have no food, because they pollinate the food we eat, and they help form the base of the food pyramid, which large animals are a part of. Until recently, I had Cosmos growing in my garden. I love Cosmos as cut flowers, but unbeknownst to me when I sowed the seeds in the spring, Cosmos can be invasive. Yes, the plants can be deadheaded before they go to seed, but I figured that I have enough to do in my garden without worrying if I deadhead plants before they can go to seed. If you're unsure if a plant is invasive, the simplest thing you can do is an online search for the name of the plant with the word invasive.

Christie Hoerneman serves on the board of directors at Downtown Greens and is a strong advocate for gardening responsibly

autumn

By ray mikula

The leaves of autumn have painted our landscapes gold, crimson, and bronze with the cooling north wind. Our gardens have withered with the frost and look like the plants are dying. If your garden has perennials then life is still there. You might find small green leaves at the base of the withered stalks These are the winter leaves which will last throughout the winter. The stalks can be trimmed within a few inches of the ground to make room for the spring

plant them in December as well but we still have some nice warm sunny days this month. The bright colors of daffodils, tulips, crocus and hyacinth are a great reward after a cold dark winter.

growth, then they can be added to your compost pile. Marking where your perennials are could be a big help when you are weeding later or getting ready to add new plants to the garden. A layer of mulch added after the garden is trimmed will insulate roots during the winter and add nutrients to the soil.

Annuals can be removed and composted but you might gather some of the seed heads if you want to grow your own next spring. That also goes for the vegetable garden as well. Removing all vegetation will help keep some of the pathogens from leaching into the soil Rotating your crops will also help keep the soil healthy as well. Now is a good time to plan next years gardens. You may have had an area that didn't do well because of little sunshine so you need shade plants or some plants that got scorched by the sun and now you need sun loving plants.

November is the best month to plant spring bulbs in our area You can

Those beautiful colored leaves look gorgeous now but wait until they cover your yard. That's another November chore. If you have a garden with acid loving plants like azalea, rhododendron, and holly you can let the leaves cover your garden for the winter They will insulate the ground and help keep the roots from freezing When they break down they will add nutrients to the soil. It won't matter that the water and decaying leaves make carbonic acid and lower the ph because these plants all like acid soil. Leaves can also be chopped and mulched and put in your vegetable garden but realize you will have to add some lime next spring to reduce the acid in the soil.

Looking a little further down the road, the annual seed swap sponsored by the Master Gardeners of the Rappahannock Area will be held in late January this year. Be sure to save the date. Also save some seeds to share from your garden. It is free and open to the

public. There will be speakers there with talks on gardening, free seeds, and information booths. Look for more information to follow next month.

Until the next time, Happy Gardening.

RayMikula is a Master Gardener.He has several acres of garden space & has been gardening for 62 years. Before retiring Ray was a Earth Science & Astronomy Teacher

"Two kingdoms, both alike in dignity, on a fair oak tree, where we lay our scene"

Usually in this article I write about one of three kingdoms, plants, animals (or insects to be more specific), and occasionally fungus. This month you are getting two for one.

We have all seen lichen growing on the sides of trees, rocks, and other wooden structures but how many of us have stopped to really think about what on earth lichen actually is?

As it turns out we should have been asking what ARE lichen.

Lichens are formed by a relationship of two organisms, an alga and fungus The fungus grows and leaves space for the algae to permeate the fungal structure, thoroughly entwining them into a mutualistic relationship.

Growing & Crawling lichen to this!

By janet douberly

Lichens are a great indicator of air quality. They absorb everything around them like air, water, pollutants, and nutrients. Toxins can be extracted from lichens by scientists to be studied.

Janet Douberly is the Media Manager at Downtown Greens

Friend”

By Laurie Black

Each month I highlight a Senior Visitors Program volunteer and the senior they visit. I enjoy sharing their inspiring stories of kindness and friendship. However, two recent conversations have me thinking I should share something a little different this month.

First, I will share a conversation with a current volunteer. I reached out to see how the volunteer and senior were enjoying their visits. The volunteer shared, "We are visiting each week, and the visits are fine, but it is not what I imagined. It is not like the articles you write in the Front Porch. We just are not going to be best friends. I don't know if I am doing something wrong or if I need to do something different."

I assured the volunteer they were not doing anything wrong, and they were not alone. With over 100 volunteers and 100 seniors in our program, it would be wonderful if we could have every volunteer and senior they visit become great friends. However, that is not realistic.

Volunteers and seniors are matched based on geographic location, common interests, hobbies, or background, and environmental factors (like pet allergies). Volunteers choose the senior they want to visit. Both the volunteer and the senior can ask for a new volunteer assignment at any time if they are just not connecting.

The goal of the Senior Visitors Program is to help lonely and/or isolated older adults in our community get reconnected with their community. Loneliness and isolation are risk factors for depression which can have a profound, negative effect on an individual's health and mental health.

The connection with a volunteer who visits each week for one hour may help alleviate an individual's loneliness and isolation, but we hope it is just the beginning. The Senior Visitors Program offers at least two social events during the year to help connect seniors and volunteers in our program to others within the program. We also encourage older adults, when possible, to find additional ways to connect with others in the community.

We all need community We all need connection. A 2010 study by HoltLunstad, Smith, and Layton, found that

people with strong social relationships are 50% more likely to live longer. Mental Health America's national organization has great information about this study and other studies which provide insight into the positive impact social connection has on mental health. You can visit 4Mind4Body: Social Connections and Recreation | Mental Health America (mhanational.org) for more details.

So, even if a volunteer's service to a senior does not develop into a perfect friendship, that's okay! We are truly grateful for those volunteers who are out there visiting, listening, and offering encouragement and connection. Their time does make a difference!

Still, the majority of our volunteers and seniors do become good friends. Which brings me to another conversation I wanted to share. I recently ran into a former Senior Visitors volunteer. Though she and her senior have been out of the program for several years, and her senior friend has moved out of the area, she indicated that they still speak regularly. She said, "I am so grateful to have been a part of the Senior Visitors Program, and I'm so grateful the Senior Visitors Program is here in the community! You bring joy to many people who really need it."

I express deep gratitude to all our amazing volunteers who are giving their time and their heart to help older adults in our area. I am equally thankful for those older adults who allow us to come into their home, hear their stories, and remind them that their community is here for them!

Laurie Black is the Senior Visitors Program Coordinator at Mental Health America of Fredericksburg.

If you know a senior who could benefit from having a weekly, friendly visit or if you would like to volunteer to visit a senior, call the Senior Visitors Program at (540) 371-22704 or visit our website at mhafred org to download volunteer or senior applications The Senior Visitors Program is a free community service program of Mental Health America of Fredericksburg

Authentic Self-Care!

Did you know that roughly 1 in 5 U S adults identify as caregivers? 27% of those are helping someone with a mental illness, which offers its own unique challenges. November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to celebrate the contributions of caregivers and raise awareness of caregiving issues.

Mental Health America releases a toolkit every year with resources and information to support those who dedicate much of their time to taking care of others. You can check out these resources at mhanational org/caregiver

One of the most common challenges caregivers face is not practicing enough self-care, which can have significant effects on mental and physical health. According to MHA's 2021 Caregiver Toolkit, 23% of caregivers report a decrease in their health while caregiving and 36% report high emotional stress.

Self-Care for caregivers

By anne-Tillery Melson

I spoke with Nancy Masannat, Fredericksburg mom of a nonverbal adult with autism and a certified life coach working with parents of special needs children and adults to have a life reclaimed.

When asked about the barriers parents and other caregivers face to take care of themselves, Masannat shared, "They often will just not make the time for themselves. Caregiving becomes habit and routine - they simply just don't make it a priority."

She further explained that many people believe self-care "has to be big and costly, like getting a massage or mani/pedi." But the reality? It can be small and at home - it just requires being intentional. For Masannat, that means getting up early to have her coffee alone before her son wakes up. Mental Health America suggests other small ways to practice self-care such as going for a walk, spending time in prayer, or talking to a friend.

It may take time until self-care becomes routine for caregivers. Masannat says, "It's about starting small and building the habit. It can start out with stepping outside and stretching for just 5 minutes."

Taking small steps to take care of yourself is important not just for caregivers, but for everyone. But sometimes self-care is not enough. If you

or someone you know is experiencing mental health challenges, extra support may be necessary. Take a mental health screening at MHAScreening.org or consider seeing a mental health professional.

Mental Health America of Fredericksburg maintains an extensive list of local mental health providers that we call the HELPLINE We keep track of the services offered in the area, insurances accepted, and new client availability. If you are looking for a local mental health provider or want to learn more about MHAfred's programs, call Mental Health America of Fredericksburg at (540) 3712704 or visit our website at mhafred.org.

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

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

Mental Health Screening at MHAScreening org

Caregiver Resources at mhanational org/caregiver

Become a Member

TidBits

small bites of local News

By Bill Freehling

www.fredericksburgcsa.com

New Visitor Guides

Newly designed Fredericksburg Visitor Guides now available. As the name suggests, it's a great guide to the many wonderful things to see, do, eat, buy and more in Fredericksburg.

Come down to the Visitor Center at 706 Caroline St. anytime during open hours: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily https://fxbg.com/plan-your-visit/#visitorsguide to get physical or digatal copy

Always Flavored Open in Canal Quarter

Always Flavored at the Inn at the Olde Silk Mill, 1711 Princess Anne St. in the Canal Quarter/Creative Maker District specialize in gourmet creations which are influenced from across the world. You will

Pediatric-CCare Facility Opens in Fredericksburg

A youth-oriented medical facility has opened along U.S. 1 in Fredericksburg near the University of Mary Washington.

Pedsplus Pediatrics Primary Care & Urgent Care recently opened at 1300 Emancipation Highway. Roberson's Music was formerly in that building.

Pedsplus Pediatrics offers both primary care and after-hours urgent care for children and youth.

Candle Company Opening on Caroline St Fifth Scents Candle Co plans to open a store in downtown Fredericksburg this fall. The company offers a wide selection of homemade, wonderfully smelling candles. The shop will be located at 1011 Caroline Street. It is shooting for a mid-November opening.

Better4You Juices Open Better4You Juices recently opened in the reconstructed historic Beanery Building at 306 Frederick Street, Suite 101A in downtown Fredericksburg. Owners Claudia and Pat Barnes say that Better4You Juices are cold-pressed, a process that retains more of the vitamins, enzymes, minerals, and antioxidants in the produce. Made from the fresh produce they select, using a combination of organic, locally purchased and farm-fresh produce-never frozen! The result is freshly pressed combination blends that are nutrient-dense with no added sugar,

find creative collection of gourmet sauces, seasonings, and condiments that make cooking not only effortless but a delicious, fun, and unique palate experience. All of their products are locally sourced and produced naturally.

House of Mambo Open on Caroline St

The new business opened at 612 Caroline Street The business' retail offerings include candles, powders, herbs, baths and washes, herbal remedies, beauty products and more

Focus Performance Center

Focus Performance Center recently opened at 1104 Summit St. Owners Jeff Petty and Josh Johnson. says the facility helps athletes improve their strength and speed for a variety of sports with a focus on baseball and softball. focusperformancecenter.com.

Longtime Fredericksburg restaurant staple celebrating its 40th anniversary.

The restaurant is located at 1612 Caroline Street and is open for dinner daily expect Monday.

Go check them out and help them celebrate this terrific milestone!

preservatives or additives. View their website at better4youjuices.com for a full description of their products and hours of operation.

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

Olde Towne Steak & Seafood Celebrates 40 years

S e a s o n ’ s B o u n t y an apple a day vanessa moncure

May not necessarily keep the doctor away, but being rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, apples are a flavorful, nutrient-rich addition to the diet. And here in Virginia, fall apple season is in full swing with many varieties available across the Blue Ridge. Winchester, Virginia, the Apple Capital of the World" celebrates the apple in all forms and is one of the largest apple export markets in the nation, harvesting over 12 million bushels annually

Just a short scenic drive from Fredericksburg in Virginia's northern Shenandoah Valley, Winchester is known for its annual Apple Blossom Festival as well as the Fall Shenandoah Apple Harvest Festival, an "autumn weekend in apple country".

I usually purchase at least two bushels of assorted apple varieties, some to eat and some to store through the winter. The Virginia Cooperative Extension is a great resource to find orchards in Virginia as well as dates and varieties available. I find Golden Delicious to be the best all-around variety - sweet/tart, great for eating, excellent for cooking and stores well. Red Yorks and Staymans are my goto cooking apples as they age well and are best after several months of storage. Bushel baskets, either of wood or natural material, or cardboard boxes are best used for storage - never plastic as the fruit needs to "breathe". Keep an eye on your apples as the old chestnut "one bad apple spoils the whole bunch" is in fact, true. Ethylene gas is given off by ripening fruit - an old, wrinkled apple or one which is bruised or damaged will give off more and accelerate decomposition of others, reducing their shelf life. So…when the Fall trees begin to "put on their dresses of red and gold", it's the perfect time to stock up on seasonal apples to make warming side dishes and desserts - pies, tarts, crisps, breads, doughnuts, cobblers, dumplings, sauces, baked and fried apples - well, the ideas are pretty endless.

FOOD MILL

Probably one of my most useful kitchen gadgets is afood mill. Such a time and energy saver! It is the best tool for mashing/straining/ricing foods, creating a smooth consistency without having to peel, skin, seed or stem fruits or vegetables before cooking (which also increases nutrients in prepared foods).

APPLESAUCE

I just quarter apples, place in a deep saucepan, add an inch or two of apple juice or cider (to avoid scorching), cover and cook on low heat (stirring occasionally) until the apples are soft and cooked through. You can also use a slowcooker or Instant Pot. Then I run them through my food mill - et voilà - smooth homemade applesauce! The small amount of food waste can then be composted. If you don't have a food mill or want a chunky applesauce, peel and core your apples and prepare as above. When apples are done, either mash with a potato masher or let cool and run through your blender or food processor. I think apples, particularly adding the juice or cider, are naturally sweet enough without the addition of extra sugars. Add cinnamon, nutmeg,mace, allspice and/or ginger to taste after preparing the apples.

I love CRANBERRY APPLESAUCE as a tart and tangy side dish. For every 56 cups of raw apples, add 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries and prepare as directed. For this recipe, you will need a food mill or alternatively whirl in the blender or food processor to get a smooth consistency and to purée the cranberries.

APPLE RAISIN CAKE

This cake is rich and dense - it can be dusted with confectioners sugar or

frosted then sprinkled with chopped pecans if you like.

Preheat oven to 325F. Grease and flour one 10" tube pan. In large bowl, mix together one cup of canola oil and one cup each white and light brown sugars. Beat in 4 eggs. Sift together 2 cups of flour, 1 1/2tsp baking soda, 2tsp cinnamon and 1tsp nutmeg and stir into egg mixture. Fold in 4 cups of peeled, cored and coarsely chopped apples, 1 cup each golden raisins and your choice of chopped pecans or walnuts. Pour into tube pan and bake 50-65 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean (or thermometer reads 190F-200F). Or as one of the contestants on The Great British Baking Show confided, wait for the cake to "sing" to you. Well, I've probably baked thousands of cakes in my life, but I've yet to hear one sing! IDK, he might be on to something as he swept the baking awards.

Enjoy!

Vanessa brings us some of her favorite recipes each month in this space

Pig Pitt

downhome delicious bbq

by Mary lynn Powers

her daughters and a granddaughter work for her. She has lived in the area all her life, so needless to say she knows a bit about Fredericksburg.

People are crazy about BBQ. It's incredible how many restaurants specialize in this slow cooked pork dish. Fredericksburg is not exempt in this area. There are at least five spots locally that all sell good products, so if you are a fan, how do you choose? I recently revisited The Pig Pitt at 1017 Sophia Street for an enjoyable taste of this southern delicacy. It's simply a down home place that serves delicious BBQ. Owner, Peggy Durrette runs a family driven enterprise. Meaning many employees are family. All three of

Peggy said they took over the business in August of 2020 just as the virus was in full swing. It was also the same time the Chatham Bridge was closed for over a year. The Pig Pitt is literally a stone's throw from the bridge. Though many restaurants took a hard hit over the last two years, Peggy stated things are finally picking up for them. I saw a huge catering order go out the back door, and she said they have a few events scheduled for the holiday season. Peggy said that even though the minimum wage has increased, it's harder to secure and keep good employees. This seems to be a common complaint when speaking to restauranteurs.

Olde Towne Butcher

My first visit to The Pig Pitt, I tried a Brisket sandwich that was tender and succulent. The next visit I tried the BBQ pork, typically smoked and simmered for a long time. They serve a hearty amount of meat with a variety of home made sauces on the side. They have pork and chicken available which is lightly smoked using hickory chips. It used to be one would differentiate between Carolina and Memphis BBQ, but now most places use their own techniques, and it can be a combination or cross of the cooking methods. I feel like it has become one of the typical American foods.

Many eateries use pre-prepared ingredients, but The Pig Pitt makes most of their own dishes, not only the meats, but the sides as well. They do a nice coleslaw which had a tinge of sweetness. Their Mac and Cheese is creamy and filling. Even their Collard Greens were good according to my dining buddy. Also on the menu, they have homemade pork rinds I did not ask too much about those.

Our Store is Open

I enjoyed talking to this hard working mother and grandmother. Peggy has 9 grandchildren and 1 greatgrandchild. It takes an amazing amount of energy to run a business and keep a family close. We could probably learn a thing or two about the old work ethic from Peggy. Check out this local gem, and of course if you do enjoy your experience, like them on Facebook.

Mary Lynn enjoys meeting and writing about interesting people in the 'burg.

every Sat 7am-22pm

Rain/Shine

Daily specials are posted with interesting twists on their dishes.

italian spin onthanksgiving

by Rita Allan

This time of year, there are many articles written about what wines to pair with your Thanksgiving meal. To add an interesting international spin to your Thanksgiving table, City Vino is taking you across the globe to Italy. Italy is the home to many different wine regions, and many indigenous grapes, and its wines vary greatly in grapes and styles. Here are some recommendations for Thanksgiving:

For a nice aperitif or pre-meal toast, try the Ca del Doge Prosecco Extra Dry Prosecco is made from the Glera grape, via the tank method, where the second fermentation occurs in a pressurized tank, rather than in individual bottles like Champagne, Crémant and Cava. Making the wine in this method helps to keep the price affordable. Prosecco usually exhibits bright fruit and floral aromas, due to the Glera grape, and the wine has lighter, more frothy bubbles than other sparkling wines, due to being fermented in tank. The Ca del Doge is dry with notes of orchard fruits, like apple and pear, along with a hint of lemon zest.

For your holiday white wine drinkers, our first white wine suggestion is the 2018 Cavaliere Vernaccia Di San Gimignano This wine hails from Tuscany, and is made from the Vernaccia grape. This wine is bright, crisp with lovely floral aromas, and a hint of minerality with a slight almond finish.

Another choice for a white wine for your holiday table is the 2017 Prà Soave Classico Otto This wine is from the Veneto region of Italy, and is made from the Gargenga grape. This is another great wine to drink alongside a cheese-andcharcuterie board, and would also pair nicely with vegetable side dishes.

Red wine drinkers don't despair. There are red wines that can sit on the table astride the white meat turkey and all the sides. One red wine option is the 2016 Fazio Gabal Nero d'Avola Nero d'Avola is the most important red grape from the island of Sicily, and ranks high on the list of important indigenous varieties in all of Italy. The wine has delicate notes of blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and cherries, and is velvety on the palate. This wine pairs well with savory meat dishes and bacon, so drink this one with those brussel sprouts cooked with bacon, or that corn bread stuffing made with sausage.

And our final red wine is the 2016 Dievole Chianti Superiore Le Due Arbie This wine is from the Chianti Classico region in Tuscany, and is made from 80 percent Sangiovese and 20 percent Merlot. It has aromas of ripe red cherries, with a hint of dried violets. This wine would pair well with olives on a relish tray or antipasto plate, but should also stand up with a roasted turkey with a rich gravy, as well as herbaceous side dishes, like stuffing.

Finally, for a wine to pair along with dessert, we suggest 2018 Lodali Moscato D'Asti , which is from the Piedmont region of Italy, and made from the Moscato grape. The wine is sweet and lightly bubbly, with fresh peach and floral aromas. This wine would be lovely when paired with a slice of homemade apple pie, or some fresh berries and cream.

Try these wines and see if there is a place for them at your Thanksgiving table. As always, let us know if we can help with your holiday wine selection. Cheers.

City Vino is located at 810 Caroline St. You can find owner Rita Allan on-site to provide answers to all your wine questions.

CALEND

Fred SPCA's annual Animal Rescue Festival family-friendly fall festival at new and improved Riverfront Park, the area's first "smart park. 1:30-6p

Tuesday November 1

Live Music Guitarist Ward Warren will be joined by Nathan Green in a lively musical program based on their military experience, faith, family & love. 6-7:30, Food Co-Op, 320 Emancipation Hwy

Wednesday November 2

Trivia Night, Sunken Well at 6:30pm Match wits with the 'Burgs finest minds. Prize! 720 Littlepage

Jeopardy nights at Adventure Eagle Village 7:30-9p.

Thursday November 3

Interested in getting started at Germanna? Tour the center, get your questions answered, and learn about programs, 12-1p,

Fredericksburg Area Museum (FAM) Evening with an Expert lecture, Dr. Gaila Sims, Curator of African American History-8:30p

Live Music The Acoustic Onion Beatles Night, 6-9p Colonial Tavern Lafayette Blvd

First Friday November 4

Holiday Open House, Finishing Touch Florist & Giftds, See the latest trends in holiday decorations , 2006 Lafayette Blvd

Holiday Bazaar & Fall Festival Bazaar (opens Friday night 6-8 PM continues 8:30 am - 1:00 PM Saturday): one-of-a-kind handmade crafts for purchase , FXBG United Methodist Church,308 Hanover St

Holiday Market at Haley's Honey Meadery, 12-5p, 1600 Princess Anne St

FCCA, Linda Larochelle "Linocuts: Past & Present", 813 Sophia St

"Deck the Walls", Brushstrokes Gallery, holiday exhibit & sales, 824 Caroline St

Art First "All Member Exhibit, opening reception, 6-9p

"Spirit Animal", works by Charlenne Woods, Artful Dimensions, Opening Reception, 6-9p, 922 Caroline St

Peter Glancy @ Darbytown Art Studio, 241E Charles St

Live Music Masggies Antone @6 Bears & A Goat Brewing, 1140 International Pkwy,7p

Karaoke Party 8pm-12am at Amy's Cafe in Fredericksburg by the Falmouth Bridge.

Live Music Brandy Station, 8-11p Colonial Tavern, Lafayette Blvd

Saturday November 5

Spotsy Farmers Market, 8am - 1pm12150 Gordon Rd

Writer's Conference, a day celebrating writers with informational workshops and panel discussions, Germanna Community College

Bellydance Celebration show starts at 2:30p CRRL, FXBG Branch

Women's Lifestyle Expo, 10a-4p, Expo Center

Learn about the surprisingly active nights of 18th-century early America Night in Washington's Day program , Historic Kenore, 7-8p

9th annual Jazz4Justice™ concert University of Mary Washington Jazz Ensemble , Dodd Aud, 8:30-10p

Live Music Blues Jam, 2-4p, Colonial Tavern

Live Music, Bruce Middle Band 8-11p

Live Music Metal Night @Adventure Brewing North, 8-11p

Sunday November 6 End of Daylight Savings Time

Sunken Well Tavern Sunday Brunch, 720 Littlepage til 1p

Sunday Brunch @ Billiken's Smokehouse @The Chimneys, 623 Caroline

Bluegrass on the Patio, Sunken Well Tavern 6-8pm

GriefShare Grief Recovery Support Group will be helpful to you in your grief journey , Grace Fellowship Church, 3-5p, 1600 Stafford Ave

Wednesday November 9

Chimney's Top Comedy Open Mic, The Chimney's, 629-11p3 Caroline St,

Live Music, Chromatic Static, Courtyard Marriott Downtown, 6-9p

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

Jeopardy nights at Adventure Eagle Village 7:30 pm.

Thursday November 10

Historic Pub Crawl Learn about 300 years of history & taverns explore the sites of FXBG earliest taverns and visit three current bars, where you can buy a drink as we learn about the history of the buildings.6-9 p.m.Register online at hffi.org/events or 540-371-4504

Friday November 11 Veterans Day

Fxbg Veterans Day Procession to honor the contributions of our United States Veterans 10am Procession Route: Along Washington Ave ,

Fabulous Friday: Dinovember! Crafts, games, and science, all about dinosaurs! For grades K-6 , Crrl fxbg Branch, 4:30-5:15p

Swingin' good evening of music, dancing, company Put on your dancing shoes, bring come on out to The George Washington Foundation's Centennial Celebration Event: USO Night at Historic Kenmore!

Live music performed by the performances by Dance FXBG, 1201

Live Music Dave Guy, Acoustic Ro Blvd, 8p No Cover

KC's Comedy Open Mic Night, 1917 Karaoke Party 8pm-12am at Amy's

Live Music 3 exists to Memphis, Adv

Saturday November 12

Holiday Open House, Downtown

Spotsy Farmers Market, 8am - 1pm1

Officer James Shelhorse Memorial Ur Park through historic downtown For

Brush Strokes Gallery, "Small Work throughout Nov & Dec. Find that sp

Downtown Window Wonderland thr

Join us for the Patawomeck 13th A Order OF Eagles, 21 Cool Springs Rd

Wine & Food Expo fun day of win demos & more 12-5p Expo Center

Eden Try Holiday Bazaar,Join us for a winery and enjoy live music and a fo

Patawomeck Bluegrass Show Catch Fraternal Order of Eagles 21 CoolSp

CYT FXBG, The Music Man, Spotsy H

Live Music Bailey Hayes, Adventure B

Live Music The Cold North, Adventu

Sunday November 13 Holiday Open House Downtown

Sunken Well Tavern Sunday Brunch, Sunday Brunch @ Billiken's Smokeho Bluegrass on the Patio, Sunken Well

Monday November 14

Possum Storytime, a fun storytim Possum-bilitied, 211 William St, 10-

Tuesday November 15

Mother Goose Time, trained staff p lay the foundation your child needs

DAR of events

Fredericksburg Big Band, dance Washington Ave, 7-9:30p ock@Colonial Tavern, 406 Lafayette

Princes Anne, 18:30Cafe by the Falmouth Bridge. venture Brewing North, 7-9p

Wednesday November 16

Trees of Hope Midweek Merriment holiday luncheon among the trees, 11:30-2p, Woolen Mills in Downtwon, 203 Ford Street

Trivia Night, Sunken Well at 6:30pm 720 Littlepage Jeopardy nights at Adventure Eagle Village 7:30-9 pm.

Thursday November 17

Trees of Hope, cocktail party & tree auction, Woolen Mill in Downtown, 203 Ford St, 6-9:30p. Benefit Loisann Hope House

Friday November 18

12150 Gordon Rd

rban Trail Ride Begins at 9a Old Mill r infovisit UnitedHorsemen.org ks" display & sale, 824 Caroline St, pecial gift.

u Dec 30th

nnual Tribal Craft Sho w, Fraternal d, 9a-3p

nr sampling, food vendors, cooking

a holiday shopping experience at the ood truck , 2-7p, 6818 River rD h the Larry Stephenson Band at prings, rd 4-11p HS, 2p & 7p

BREWING North, 7-9p ure Brewing Eagle Village, 7-9p

Friends of the Library Center & Bookshop"Friday Before Thanksgiving Sale" , 10a-7p, 20% off all purchases, great selection of gift books, holiday books & more, 125 Greenwich Dr, Suite 150

Karaoke Party 8pm-12am at Amy's Cafe by the Falmouth Bridge.

Live Music Docksters, Adventure Brewing North, 7-9p

Live Music @ The Sangria Bowl, Culpeper, VA, Kevin Caffrey, Originals & Covers, 7-9:30pm.

Saturday November 19

Spotsy Farmers Market, 8am - 1pm12150 Gordon Rd

Create a holiday-themed "room box" that you can display during Kenmore's A Wee Christmas Dollhouse & Miniatures Show , 7a-3p, Historic Kenmore, 1201 Washington Ave.

Come out to the Fredericksburg Food Cooperative to meet adoptable animals from the Fredericksburg SPCA and learn all about our programs! 320 Emancipation Hwy, 10a-1p

Fredtoberfest, 6 Bears & A Goat Brewing (6B&G) Company presents the first annual one-of-a-kind authentic German-style Oktoberfest celebration at the Fredericksburg Nationals Baseball Stadium ,12-10p, 42 Jackie Robinson Way

Children's Christmas Tree Lighting and Jingle Bell Sing-a-Long 4pm Riverfront Park Free admission For information please call 540-372-1086 or FXBGparks.com

Live Music Green Bean, Adventure Brewing Eagle Village, 7-9p

The UMW Philharmonic and UMW Choirs join forces to present the hauntingly beautiful Requiem of Gabriel Faure. The concert will also feature several additional works by Faure. This concert is FREE and open to the public. Dodd Auditorium, 7:30p

Wednesday November 23

Trivia Night, Sunken Well at 6:30pm Match wits with the 'Burgs finest minds. Prize! 720 Littlepage

Jeopardy nights at Adventure Eagle Village 7:30-9 pm.

Thursday November 24 Thanksgiving

If you don't already have Thanksgiving plans, come join us for dinner at Noon, Fairview Baptist Church, 900 Charlotte St.

Friday November 25 Black Friday

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

Saturday November 26

Small Business Saturday...support local businesses!

Spotsy Farmers Market, 8am - 1pm12150 Gordon Rd

Sunday November 27

Sunken Well Tavern Sunday Brunch, Dine-In, Take-Out, & Delivery. 720 Littlepage til 1p

Sunday Brunch @ Billiken's Smokehouse @The Chimneys, 623 Caroline Bluegrass on the Patio, Sunken Well Tavern 6-8pm

Wednesday November 30

Trivia Night, Sunken Well at 6:30pm Match wits with the 'Burgs finest minds. Prize! 720 Littlepage Jeopardy nights at Adventure Eagle Village 7:30 -9pm. Play on your own or with your friends to test your trivia skills .

, 720 Littlepage til 1p ouse @The Chimneys, 623 Caroline Tavern 6-8pm

me, animal experience and craf ts, 11a

present stories, songs, activities that to get ready to read

Live Music Tre Smith, Adventure Brewing North, 7-9p

Sunday November 20

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

Sunday Brunch @ Billiken's Smokehouse @The Chimneys, 623 Caroline Bluegrass on the Patio, Sunken Well Tavern 6-8pm

Grand Opening Party of Bistro & retail location, Always Flavored, 2-5p 1711 Princess Anne St

If you are reading this 304th issue of FPF, thank an advertiser as we begin our 26th year of continuous publication!

frntprch@aol.com:

history’s stories FXBGPostal History

What’s in A Card?

By Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks

This is a story about a mysterious artifact, and its place in local history. Some years ago, a copper printing plate for a calling card was found on ground occupied by Confederate troops during the battle of Fredericksburg.

susie c. huffman

By jon gerlach

The book is based on the history of Fredericksburg and its involvement in the establishment of the Postal Service that we have today. Keith and I have enjoyed our friendship for over fifty years. He is very modest when he gives me credit for his success in having one of the finest collections of Fredericksburg items from early currency, stoneware, books, documents, and other related material. Keith always wants to praise the staff at CRRL especially Nancy Moore in the Virginiana Room for their help. A copy of the book will be available for your research there.

We must remember that in Colonial America there was no established system to communicate. It was not until the Act X in 1657-1658 that the Virginia Legislation tried to regulate public letters. In those days, the letter would travel from Plantation to Plantation or Coffee House to Coffee House until it reached it final destination which could take weeks or even months before it reached the addressee. The Queen Anne Act in 1711 gave the British control of the colonial mail with Virginia objected to the system. Alexander Spotswood was Governor during this period from 1710-1722.

In 1730, Spotswood was sworn in as Deputy Postmaster General of the colonies and he established his headquarters at NEW POST just south of Fredericksburg. By 1727 the mails took twenty-four days for a round trip. In 1776, Ben Franklin was appointed the first Postmaster General. Spotswood had developed a fondness for Fredericksburg and the surrounding area long before he became Deputy Postmaster Gerner or even Governor of Virginia. He had established a Tubal Furnace for iron at Germanna and built a road that ended on the bank of the Rappahannock river at New Post, where he had a wharf for shipping his ore to Europe. This is a vital link showing the importance of Fredericksburg in the establishment of the early mail in America. The Postmaster had many duties one of which was placing a notice with names in the local newspaper

of individuals with letters waiting to be picked up. This advertising of letters would continue until 1919.

The author goes into detail about how the postmaster would use Postal marking to cancel the letters. I believe that one major clarification the author was able to make was that for years it was believed that the Rising Sun Tavern housed the Fredericksburg post office, this is not true. The location of the post office was in Gordon's/Weedon's Tavern, located on the corner of William and Caroline Streets

Chapter three has extensive information on the Fredericksburg Postmasters. A few of which I will discuss.

Joseph Timberlake was appointed postmaster in February 1815. It was in 1819 when the stage lost the mail between Fredericksburg and Washington.

It is written that two slaves found the bag and took the $2800 in cash and burned the mail and by the time they were arrested they had spent $800. Timberlake the Postmaster had been in debt to the Post Office Department. Timberlake was one of 375 postmasters in Virginia who owed money to the Postal Department. Timberlake owed well over three thousand dollars when he suddenly died in 1823. In 1923 Gunyon Harrison was appointed Postmaster by President Warren Harding. Gunyon was a WW I decorated hero that was a leader of the local National Guard. He took over the largest Post Office staff in Virginia with thirty-three employees.

The most popular Postmasters in Fredericksburg, Lemuel (Lem) Houston was officially appointed in 1949. Houston was a Marine veteran of Iwo Jima and was called up again during the Korean conflict. His starting salary was $4,500.00 per year. Houston implemented the Zone Improvement Plan (ZIP CODES) in 1963. He retired along with his deputy postmaster Tom Morrison (52 years) in 1972 having served Fredericksburg longer than any other Postmaster.

Dedicated to: Glenn Hyatt, Edith Withers, Larry Sullivan, and Hal Cooper

This limited edition hardbound book is profusely illustrated in color available at kelittlefield@gmail.com

Tuffy is Front Porch’s Resident Historian

Also known as "visiting cards" , calling cards were important in the structured etiquette of 19th Century society. They were used to announce a visitor, and a corner could be folded to convey a message. For example, folding the upper left corner meant it was a congratulatory visit, whereas folding the lower left corner indicated a condolence visit.

This printing plate bears the name Susie C Huffman (pictured, with reconstructed letters). Susie (1845-1892) was a Fredericksburg resident with famous connections. Her father, Landon J Huffman (1820-1873), was a City Councilman who, among other things, voted to build the Renwick Courthouse. In the spring of 1862, Landon was one of 16 Fredericksburg citizens arrested by Union forces and held in captivity at the Old Capitol Prison (where the U.S. Supreme Court Building stands today). He returned home that September in a negotiated prisoner exchange. The "Hostages" historical marker across the street from Fredericksburg Baptist Church (where Susie was married) tells a more complete story of his arrest.

In 1866, just after the war, Susie married Andrew Benjamin Bowering (1843-1923) and had five children. Beyond that, we know very little of her. We do know a lot about Andrew. He led the band of the 30th Virginia Infantry and composed the dirge for "Stonewall" Jackson's funeral in 1863. Andrew also bugled the final "military recall" of the Civil War at Lee's surrender at Appomattox, just one year before marrying Susie. Later, among other pursuits, he was President of the City School Board and Fredericksburg's Commissioner of the Revenue He worked in his sons' businesses (Hope Foundry and the Progress Engine and Machine Works) and directed the Fredericksburg (aka Bowering's) Band.

Susie had grown up at 600 Princess Anne Street (today's site of the U.S. Post Office). In 1883, Susie and Andrew built their house at 700 Prince

Edward Street, just a block away. Susie lived in this, the Bowering house, until her death nine years later, and Andrew lived there for the next 31 years until his death. Today it's the site of the Heflin Apartments, erected in 1925 by designer and contractor "Peck" Heflin.

In an early example of historic preservation in Fredericksburg, Andrew's friend and band mate "Peck" Heflin moved the Bowering House to 505 Charlotte Street before building the Heflin Apartments, where it still stands today as a wonderful example of Italianate architecture (pictured).

Now comes the mystery. We know that Susie Huffman's calling cards pre-dated her marriage in 1866 (when she took Bowering's last name). But we don't know how the printing plate ended up on the Fredericksburg battlefield, behind Confederate lines. Was Susie's childhood home at 600 Prince Edward Street ransacked by Federal troops during their debauchery of December 12, 1862, and the printing plate taken as a souvenir by a Union soldier? If so, was he killed the next day in the assaults against the Stone Wall? We do know that some Confederate soldiers relieved the Union dead of their clothing and personal effects. If this "chain of custody" holds any water, then we have a double larceny: once by a Union soldier, and soon afterwards by a Confederate soldier. We'll never know, but if artifacts could talk, this one would have a story to tell.

So … what's in a Card? Here … a window into Fredericksburg's 19th Century society, and a curious mystery.

An attorney and retired archaeologist, Jon Gerlach serves on Fredericksburg's City Council, Ward Two.

Photos by Jon Gerlach

Keith Littlefield recently published a book entitled FROM NEW POST to PRINCESS ANNE STREET

52nd Annual Candlelight Tour

a home with an unusual history, will be an exterior stop. Each home will be beautifully decorated.

Twinkling lights, sparkling ornaments, and lush green wreaths. It's time for the holiday season and Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc.'s (HFFI) 52nd Annual Candlelight Tour. For the first time, the tour will be in College Heights This triangular area is defined by College Avenue, William Street, and Emancipation Highway. In 2016, it was surveyed to determine whether it would be a candidate for listing on the Department of the Interior's National Register of Historic Places

The neighborhood grew up around Mary Washington College (later to become University of Mary Washington) between the 1930s and 1960s. It has many examples of mid-century modern architecture. Many residents worked for "The College." Others worked at the Sylvania Plant, the region's major employer. College Heights, annexed by the City of Fredericksburg in 1951, offered new homes with more land, space, and amenities.

The 2022 Candlelight Tour will be held Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, December 9, 10, and 11. Four houses will be open, and a section of the Alms House,

1104 College Avenue This Colonial Revival home was built in 1935 for Fred and Ada Walker. In 1945, Edward and Frances Alvey purchased it. Dr. Alvey, as dean, guided Mary Washington College from its role as the female teachers' college of the University of Virginia to become the independent, coeducational institution it is today. The Alvey heirs sold the house to Mary Washington College, which used it

By elizabeth daly

for offices and guest accommodations. In 2019, the current owners bought it, and after an extensive restoration, returned it to a private residence.

1206 Colony Road This contemporary home, designed by Fredericksburg architect James McGhee, was built for Dr. Jacques and Valerie Riviere in 2009. Modern amenities have been incorporated to make the home elegant, comfortable, and low maintenance. The current owners purchased the home in 2017.

1216 Brent Street Built in 1913 and expanded over time, this Craftsmanstyle, two-story frame house with a stone foundation and a massive chimney has been home to the current owners for 15 years. It is a warm cheerful family home.

1228 Payne Street. This Tudorstyle home, built in 1936, has a welcoming and distinctive gable entrance with a curved front door. Although it is one of the older houses in the area, it has been lovingly maintained.

1205 Dandridge Street Exterior only. This building, once part of the Alms House, was moved, along with what is now 1400 College Avenue, to make room for Marye House, the residence of the school's president. A third part of the Alms House was razed in 2018. The Alms House was initially used to isolate citizens with small pox and later for housing indigent persons. This portion is now a private residence.

Tickets for the 2022 Candlelight Tour will be available at the HFFI, 1200 Caroline Street, and at the Fredericksburg Visitors Center, 706 Caroline Street, as well as the Spotsylvania County Visitors Center, 4704 Southpoint Parkway, and online at hffi.org.

Elizabeth Daly, volunteer with the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc.

2022 Candlelight Tour Ornament and image by Christine Lush-Rodriguez,. a local ceramic artist, inspired by the architecture of 1104 College Avenue.

Mental Health

the problem with yelling

By hilary jacobs hendel, lcsw

"The problem with verbal abuse is there is no evidence," Marta shared. She came for help with a long-standing depression.

"What do you mean, lack of evidence?" I asked her.

"When people are physically or sexually abused, it's concrete and real. But verbal abuse is amorphous. I feel like if I told someone I was verbally abused, they'd think I was just complaining about being yelled at," Marta explained. "It's much more than that," I validated.

"The problem is no one can see my scars." She knew intuitively that her depression, anxiety and deep-seated insecurity were wounds that stemmed from the verbal abuse she endured as a child.

"I wish I was beaten," Marta shared on more than one occasion. "I'd feel more legitimate."

Her statement was haunting and brought tears to my eyes.

Verbal abuse is so much more than getting scolded. Marta told me that there were many reasons her mother's tirades were traumatizing:

The loud volume of her voice

The shrill tone of her voice

The dead look in her eyes

The critical, disdainful and scornful facial expression that made Marta feel hated

The long duration-sometimes her mother yelled for hours

The names and insults-you're spoiled, disgusting and wretched

The unpredictability of that "flip of the switch" that turned her mother into someone else

And, perhaps worst of all, the abandonment

Being frequently yelled at changes the mind, brain and body in a multitude of ways including increasing the activity of the amygdala (the emotional brain), increasing stress hormones in the blood stream, increasing muscular tension and more. Being frequently yelled at as children changes how we think and feel about ourselves even after we become adults and leave home. That's because the brain wires according to our experienceswe literally hear our parents' voices yelling at us in our heads even when they're not there.

Attachment and infant-mother research confirms what we all intuitively know: Humans do better when they feel safe and consistently loved, which means, among other things, being treated with respect. What is news to many of us is that we are born with fully matured, hardwired, core emotions like sadness, fear and anger. And when fear, for example, is repeatedly triggered by a harsh environment, like one where there is a lot of yelling, automatic physical and emotional reactions occur that cause traumatic stress to a child. The stress in their little brains and bodies increases from anything that makes them feel attacked, including loud voices, angry voices, angry eyes, dismissive gestures and more.

Children do better when they are calm The calmer and more connected the caregiver, the calmer and more secure the child And the healthier it is for the child's brain and body Knowing this, here are some things all parents can remember to help young brains develop well, by ensuring our children feel safe and secure.

Know that children have very real emotional needs that need proper tending. In general, the more these needs are met, the easier it will be for the child to be resilient in the face of life's challenges.

Learning about core emotions will help your child successfully manage emotions.

You can affect your child's self-esteem by being kind, compassionate and curious about their mind and world.

When a break in the relationship occurs, as often happens during conflicts, try to repair the emotional connection with your child as soon as possible.

You can help your child feel safe and secure by allowing them to separate from you and become their own person. Then welcoming them back with love and connection even when you are angry or disappointed in their behaviors.

When you ' re a parent, it's not easy to control your temper or realize when you ' ve crossed the line into verbal abuse There is a slippery slope between being a strict disciplinarian and traumatizing a young brain. A little awareness goes a long way. Being aware of one's behavior, listening to our tone of voice and choice of words and watching our body language will keep us in check. Little children, who can act tough, defiant or even indifferent to our actions, are still vulnerable to trauma.

Our own childhood experienceswonderful, horrible and everything in between-need to be remembered and honored. And we can all strive to help ourselves and our families evolve for the better: to increase the best, gentle experiences we received as children and reduce the painful ones. Marta, for example, worked hard to recover from her abuse. She strove to develop compassion for herself and self-soothe her distress, both necessary but challenging parts of healing.

Several years into our work together, Marta came in following a distressing weekend and shared an

amazing experience. A fight with her mother had left her reeling: "I told myself, my distress will soon pass and I'll be okay. I named, validated and felt the sadness in my body as I gave myself compassion. After I spent time with my feelings, I took a walk through the park and looked at nature. I felt better."

Proud of the way she could now self-soothe, I said, "What a wonderful mother you were to yourself."

Hilary Jacobs Hendel, LCSW, is the author of It's Not Always Depression (Random House ), a book which teaches both the general public and psychotherapists about emotions and how to work with them to feel better. She received her BA in biochemistry from Wesleyan University and an MSW from Fordham University. She is a certified psychoanalyst and AEDP psychotherapist and supervisor. She has published articles in The New York Times and professional journals. Hendel was also the Mental Health Consultant on AMC's Mad Men. For more information and free resources for mental health visit: https://www.hilaryjacobshendel.com/

To

about NAMI

E

collage for grief

By Patrick Neustatter, MD

Loss of a child has been described as descent into a "labyrinth of unspeakable grief," and is probably the worst thing any parent can experience notes Gloria Lloyd - a retired grief counsellor for hospice, but who happened on a better way to help the grieving parents in the group she ran.

"You expect to have to bury your parents" she notes, "but not your children."

Now a compassionate and caring, active 83 year, Gloria experienced the trauma of losing a child at age of 16 when she gave birth to a baby girl, but who was strangled by the umbilical cord being around her neck.

The distress of this was bad but was compounded by a Lutheran minister telling her that because the child was not baptized, she would go to hell. And years later by learning that the hospital staff "taking care of things" meant her baby would be combined with "other waste" and incinerated.

Taboo

Not surprisingly she suffered great distress, but "thought you couldn't talk about grief" - until she attended a week-long retreat for therapists of many kinds run by Elisabeth Kübler-RRoss (famous for her study of death and dying and her grief theory including the five stages of grief).

Here the focus was on the attendees own unacknowledged grief and the message you can only help others if you understand your own grief.

Hearing other people talk about their grief helped Gloria open up - though participants were also encouraged to "beat on a phone book with a rubber hose" to vent their distress, she told me.

As part of her work with hospice, Gloria ran a grief writing group. But when she came across Artful Grief, A Diary of Healing a book by artist Sharon Strouse, whose daughter died by suicide, she was introduced to the idea of expressing distress in pictures as a "grief collage."

This prompted her to start her own grief collage group that came to call itself the Collateral Beauties Participants were provided with a file of pictures from magazines and a glue stick (Gloria scrounged around for magazines and tore or cut the pictures out as she found if she used whole magazines, people would get distracted by the articles). Once completed, each member would write a description of what their collage represented and read this to the group.

Collaging "changes what are very fuzzy ideas to something much clearer" Gloria told me. And in her book, Sharon Strouse says her experience was that the "collage had a mind of its own. I listened carefully and it told me what it wanted to be. I got out of my own way."

Reinforcing the benefit of pictures over words, a member of the group Wanda Graham, whose daughter Jodi died in a car accident told me "Collaging my grief expressed feelings for which I had no words."

Different grief counselors at different times have tried a variety of techniques - talking, writing, painting, sandboxing, quilting. But the collaging was so popular that Gloria kept the Collateral Beauties going as a volunteer for seven years after she retired from hospice.

As we sat on her screened porch, she showed me multiple examples, including those she did to preempt the grief she knew she would experience when her ailing husband Bob died (which he did just ten months ago).

"He saw them all and was intrigued" Gloria told me - which was fairly typical of Bob's equanimity and philosophical approach to dying.

Maybe seeing Gloria having such a graphic and emotive way of dealing with grief would have been comfort to Bob. A comfort that she would be able to deal with his leaving her - if it had been powerful enough to get her to come to some acceptance of the loss of her baby daughter.

A Mysterious Process

Auto Known Better

Adeline & Millie Reunited Stolen Otter Recovered

An exhaustive search to find a well-known Fredericksburg otter has come to a close thanks to an alert citizen. Fredericksburg Police said Adeline, the otter statue at Hurkamp Park was stolen some time over the weekend of October 16 and found on Octoer 20.

Adeline greets people as they enter Fredericksburg, and news of her kidnapping brought the community together and even sparked a #BringOurOtterHome campaign and donations. On Oct. 18, B1011.5, a local radio station offered a reward for the safe return of the statue. Adeline buttons were available at the visitor's center to raise money for the Find Adeline Reward Fund. Local Businesses such as Juan More Taco and North Star Towing and individuals including artists Steven and Stuart Wegner, who cast the bronze otters, contributed.

All the community goodwill and support led to the successful recovery of the beloved statue when someone spotted Adeline and the Fredericksburg Police Department recovered her.

"Thank you to the Good Samaritan who saw her and called us. Adeline, you're one of the reasons we #LoveFXBG," said Fredericksburg Police Department in a Facebook post.

Adeline was found by two dogs and their owner near a bench in Hurkamp Park according to Fredericksburg Police. The statue did not appear damaged, but was released to the Wegners to assess the statue and fix any damage. Adeline will be reinstalled at the corner of William and Prince Edward Street to rejoin her otter pup Millie. Plans to better secure the statute to her stone are now under review.

Otter statues were installed throughout downtown Fredericksburg earlier this year as part of the Otter-lly Amazing Fredericksburg Project The Otter-ly Amazing Fredericksburg Project was started in 2021 to install bronze river otters to "inform residents and tourists about the attributes of beautiful Downtown Fredericksburg and the Rappahannock River." Stewart and Steven Wegner from Wegner Metal Arts Foundry and Gallery designed and built the otter statues.

You hear people talk about bucket lists but what kind of bucket? Is it a bucket full of great adventures that will provide that gusto for life that you have been seeking and let you bask in the glory of a life well spent? Or, do they run to the more attainable, like finally getting a new roof on the house so you can say, "I'll never have to do that again." Do you finally have all the rooms in the house painted so you can say, "I'll never have to do that again."

I am at the "age and station in life" as they say, where you couldn't stuff another piece of furniture or treasured family heirloom in this house without reinforcing floors and plastering over doorways. The walls are covered in masterpieces from our kids in grade school and friends from college. We've bought a few painting from local artists and have 'family' art as well and we can name each piece and identify the creator. The furniture is old and needs work but you know where it came from. My life is a collection of hand-me-downs and then there are the boxes and boxes and albums and scrapbooks, my God! They are full of pictures and snap shots of somehow related strangers but who the hell knows because no one ever writes on the back of the damn things. The penalty for writing the names of who is in the picture must be worse than tearing the tag off a mattress.

Sadly, I recognize I am no better. It is genetic or perhaps part of human DNA that we can trace back to the Paleolithic cave paintings of Lascaux in France. We know the artists knew the names of all those animals but did they bother writing it on the wall? Did they leave any clues for the next generation of

cave dwellers? Hell no. They tore off the tag! Or perhaps they too had that little notion tucked in the recesses of what's left of their brains that said, "Yeah, let the kids deal with the dirt."

So the big news last month was a local enthusiast heading to TROG to run his vintage racer on the sand in Wildwood, NJ. Unfortunately, after Hurricane Ian wreaked havoc in Florida with tragic loss of life, it also had plans to ravage the east coast. Therefore, The Race of Gentlemen was not run this year. Which is not to say that the dedicated did not show up in spite of the weather to at least fire up the engines and make a little noise. You may be able to identify the gentleman in his racer on the beach.

I don't think his participation was on a bucket list but was more of a "something new to do that might be fun." So what do you do when the race has been cancelled? You find another race.

This time it was Allentown, PA running the 1/8 mile in vintage class. I am pretty sure somewhere in this driver's background there might have been a few ¼ mile runs out on Rte 3 when there weren't six cops in three counties. That measured mile marked off on the Eisenhower road headed to Loney Beach certainly is a handy place to hone your skills.

I hear there are more pictures of both events and that this handsome Fredericksburger took 3rd Place drag racing! Not too shabby for a spare time gig.

Rim Vining, humorist, friend and a devoted community volunteer

life can be a drag...race that is

By Rim Vining

Art in Burg

Galleries in November

“Deck the Walls”

Opening Reception First Friday, Brush Strokes Gallery, 824 Caroline St

The approach of the Holiday Season elicits thoughts of both gift-giving and gratitude for the blessings we've been given, and Brush Strokes Gallery's November exhibit echoes both. In their creations, many of the gallery's artists depict the bounty of comforting and uplifting sights and scenes of our natural world, including Kimberly Zook's "Dandelion," which celebrates the perfect patterns of petals of the bright yellow flowers that fulfill their potential whether or not they will ever be seen or appreciated. "Autumn Glory" by Lois Baird conveys the majestic

Goolrick's Pharmacy from two distinct vantage points in paintings by Marianna Smith and Stacy Gerise and the classic and captivating cityscape of Taylor Cullar's "Fredericksburg View from Chatham." Meanwhile, Penny A Parrish 's photo "Vases" shows how the perspective with which we view even ordinary objects can reveal the magic they can bring to our lives.

Collette Caprara

"Spirit Animals" -

Works by Charlene Woods

Opening Reception

First Friday, Nov 4, 6-99pm

Artful Dimensions, 922 Caroline Charlene Woods has been creating assemblage art for eight years, using unexpected materials. Being an avid animal lover, this show focuses on their spirit attributes. Says Charlene, "I love the playful nature of these pieces and I'm sure you'll find an animal that speaks to you."

~ Sally Cooney Anderson

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

. ~Anne Timpano

glass to reduce glare and protect the artwork. Most show my love of old buildings in their natural landscapes."

.~ Rob Rudick

Works by Peter Glancy Darbytown Art Studio, 241E Charles Street, Peter Glancy, a native of Fredericksburg, Virginia has been creating art for as long as he can remember. Growing up as the second son of Paul and Sandra Glancy in the legendary Paul's Bakery. When he is not creating art, Peter is often found at his family's bakery helping to bring sweets and joy to the families of Fredericksburg

Jeannie Ellis

Gallery open Sat-SSun, 11a -55p

transformation of nature's pallet that we experience every year, while Nancy Williams' "Big Red" highlights the vivid hue of the cardinal, a symbol of hope and joy.

Other artists' works depict sites and scenes that have become emblematic of the welcoming and embracing spirit of our town, including images of historic

“All Members Exhibit”

Opening Reception,Nov 4 , 6-99pm

Art First, 824 Caroline ST

The theme for the All-Member Exhibition during the month of November will be COLOR, in all its expressive qualities. There will be a range of subject matter presented, with some artists focusing on autumn themes. Subject

Barbara states that, "Fall is my favorite season so I'm happy to have the opportunity to show this collection of paintings that revel in autumn's rich, warm tones. The beauty of an old barn's wood and its rusting metal roof are revealed when summer's glare weakens as we head towards winter. These paintings in oil and pastel were created in my studio, based on my own photographs. The pastels are framed with museum

Feature painter Barbara Brennan The Artists' Alliance Show runs thru Nov 6 100 Taylor St, Suite 101 Colonial Beach

Robyn Ryan

Autum Hues ,Beverley Coates

Sunrise Princess Anne St , Lynn Abbott

Marianna Smith, “Goolricks” @Brushstrokes

Charlene Woods,@Artful Dimensions

Barbara Brennan @Artists’ Alliance

Peter Glancy @ Darbytown Art Studio

Public Art Project

New sculptures installed

bY MC Morris

Three new public-art sculptures are up in Fredericksburg as part of the City's Public Sculpture Project.

The Fredericksburg Arts Commission, working with volunteer and project champion Preston Thayer, selected the sculptures in a competitive application process that saw nearly 30 entries. The sculptures will be up at the following three locations for the next year: Dixon Park, the Train Station and Fall Hill Avenue near the intersection of Village Lane.

"The public sculpture project is a wonderful example of our city's commitment to bringing beautiful and interesting art to residents and visitors," said City Councilor Jason Graham, who also sits as a liaison with Councilor Kerry Devine on the Arts Commission. "This initiative demonstrates our values and

used industrial pipe that had been discarded from standard construction and gave these elements "new life and meaning through the sculpture process…Combining the old and discarded with newly fabricated forms to demonstrate growth and rebirth."

Washington sculptor Matt Duffy installed his "SUN" sculpture along Dixon Street at Dixon Park. The sun is simple geometric shapes. The artist adds that the art " alludes to the high-capacity industrial power of solar energy. The peach color of sunrise is contrasted with the bold red of sunset, with sky blue inbetween."

character, and we're grateful to the volunteers who helped bring this art to Fredericksburg."

This year's artists/sculptures:

Jennifer Rubin Garey created "Flat Curves," which is now up near the train station along Caroline Street. Jennifer describes her work as "focusing on the female figure and how we choose to allow ourselves to be judged by standards of appearance…Our true form may or may not be consistent with the contemporary idealized image of a beautiful, successful woman."

Jennifer's husband, Adam Garey, installed his sculpture "Deflection" along Fall Hill Avenue near the river. Adam re-

These rotating three sculptures are a compelling addition to the four permanent sculptures at Canal and Prince Edward streets; Riverside Drive and Welford Street; Old Mill Park; and the

Wolfe/Kenmore/Prince Edward street triangle. There are also an array of beautiful murals around town.

MC Morris is Fredericksburg Assistant Director of Tourism

“Deflection”, Adam Garey

“Flat Curves”, ennifer Rubin Garey

“SUN”, Matt Duffy

Hope for a New Generation

empowerhouse dedicated to breaking cycle of violence

By nancy kelly

break the cycle of violence through shelter, housing, advocacy, education, prevention, and intervention. In fiscal year 2022, we served over 3,700 women, men, and children in our community who, thanks to our lifechanging services, were able to make a new start and realize a brighter future.

self-esteem, better self-care, and the skills for a healthy relationship.

Over the past year, our shelter and housing program provided domestic violence survivors and their children a safe place to heal, receive services and rebuild their lives. In FY2022, our shelter served over 260 people (over half were children) and our housing program enabled 39 adults and 69 children to transition to a more stable environment.

In the last year, our Youth Team delivered our free Healthy Relationships Classroom Presentations to over 3,400 area elementary, middle, and high school students. These age-appropriate programs empower a new generation by covering topics like bullying, boundaries, and communications skills. For older students, we raise awareness about teenage dating violence and offer supportive resources.

continue to provide prevention education and critical tools for young people to Empower a New Generation. You can help us support children, youth, and survivors and break the cycle of violence by donating online at empowerhouseva.org or by mailing a check to Empowerhouse, P.O. Box 1007, Fredericksburg, VA 22402. If you, or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call Empowerhouse's 24-hour, confidential Hotline at (540) 373-9373.

Nancy Kelly is the Development Director for Empowerhouse.

To learn more about Empowerhouse and ways you can be involved or to donate visit our website at empowerhouseva org or follow us on Instagram and Facebook

Sometimes, hope feels hard to find, especially when it comes to domestic violence. One in four women in the U S have been a victim of intimate partner violence In our community, 10,000 children witness family violence each year. Empowerhouse's Hotline calls are still up over 32% versus pre-pandemic times with people needing urgent assistance.

Though these are devastating statistics, there are many reasons for hope as we celebrate the courage, strength and resiliency of survivors and their children who inspire us as they receive the support and resources to move forward and heal. Since 1978, Empowerhouse has helped survivors of domestic violence and their children in Virginia build new lives filled with dignity, respect, safety, and hope. We

We also find hope in our caring community who rally around us and enable us to continue our important mission even when we face unexpected challenges like the fire this summer at our shelter caused by a lightning strike. We are so moved by everyone's generous response to help as we rebuild the shelter and continue to serve survivors and their children.

Since 25.6% of American children are exposed to family violence in their lifetime, Empowerhouse is dedicated to supporting this next generation and breaking the cycle of violence by reaching out to young people with our free programs. We want to empower a new generation with the vital tools for greater

As we enter the holiday season, a season of hope, Empowerhouse's goal is raise $75,000 by December 31 to

Cameron Washington

Diversity Award Winner Aims to Bolster Equity

by lisa chin marvashti

Cameron Washington was unsure about starting college. He had to talk himself into attending that first scholarship dinner. Then Orientation. Then the Student Transition Program he signed up for the summer before freshman year.

"I didn't know if I wanted to do any of this, but I jumped out of my comfort zone and gave it a try," he said. "I've loved it ever since."

Now a University of Mary Washington senior, he found camaraderie and a sense of connection at the James Farmer Multicultural Center (JFMC), where he became a student aide. From there, his résumé bloomed; he's president of Brothers of a New Direction, secretary of Voices of Praise and a member of the NAACP UMW chapter. His most recent achievement - the 2022 Citizenship Award for Diversity Leadership - has Washington ramping up efforts to increase equity and inclusion for incoming students just venturing out of their own comfort zones.

"Cameron is truly an ambassador for diversity on campus and an activist for positive social change," said JFMC Director Marion Sanford "He passionately and consistently works to enhance the experiences of student life at UMW, wherein all students feel welcome, celebrated, valued and heard."

Growing up in Tappahannock and Richmond, he absorbed the spirit of service from his mother, who works to bring benefits to state employees, and from his late father, a funeral home director who attended to those in grief.

"I want to help and accommodate people," said Washington, who plans to pursue a post-college path to become a mortician, himself, at the business his grandfather started. Along the way, he'll use his communication and digital studies major to build a career in user interface design, a pursuit he hopes eventually to fold into funeral work.

At UMW, Washington has participated in Human Rights Film Series and MLK Day of Service events, drawing on lessons imparted by the late civil rights icon and Mary Washington history professor James Farmer "From reading Lay Bare the Heart to being on the 2019 Freedom Rides Tour, I've learned about him and the impact he made on UMW and on civil rights activism as a whole," Washington said. "His legacy has really been transformative for me."

Campus events like the Multicultural Fair, Colors of Africa and the Kwanzaa Celebration have also made a mark on Washington, who serves as a student co-coordinator for the Diversity Peer Educators/Farmer Fellows program. "It's like a full-circle moment," he said of receiving the Citizenship Award for Diversity Leadership, previously given to UMW peers he admires.

With it, he hopes to help bridge the gap between students and faculty,

create opportunities for members of the Mary Washington community to learn about and appreciate one another's differences, and champion UMW's ASPIRE values.

"I encourage the class of 2026 to jump out of their comfort zone," Washington said. "You may not know what you'll find, but chances are, once you make the jump, it will be something beautiful.

"

Cameron Washington has also received the Richard V and Rosemary A Hurley STEM Scholarship

Lisa Chinn Marvashti is the Assistant Director of Media and Public Relations

don

m p a n i o n s

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 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

Astrology & You

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

By Frank Fratoe

Autumn DanceAutumn Dance At Smith RunAt Smith Run

Floating toward brookside are leaves coaxed by wind that a few hours before nudged them to midstream.

Woods ascending the bank once flourished in warmth but now drop a treasure as they foreshadow winter.

Cold and haze are coming brought by clouds rushing to encourage the sundown along this darksome line.

Distances of shade expand and tremble the hawthorns openly aloft from ground inside a miniature ravine.

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

Following the daily planetary transits is an excellent way to get a feel for the cosmic weather. It is not that the transiting planets cause us to do things or feel a certain way. We have free will and choose the roads we travel on our Earth journey. But we can use the information much like tuning the radio to the morning traffic report or the daily weather forecast. Potential opportunities or pitfalls may or may not present themselves, but we are prepared and ready to roll with whatever arises.

A helpful tool in finding the current planetary positions is a collection of tables called an ephemeris . The American Ephemeris 1950 - 2050 at

astrology & self care

By Dianne Bachman

Midnight, created by Neil F Michelsen and Rique Pottenger, is the one I use. Page after page the major planets are accurately listed, telling us where each planet is (sign, degree, and minute) as well as when it stations retrograde and direct. The monthly phases of the Moon are also listed with exact times of her phases and any eclipse information. Though they can appear rather intimidating with all the tables, glyphs and numbers, an ephemeris is a wonderful way to keep up with what is going on with the latest orbital data. I highly recommend that anyone interested in a deeper relationship with astrology obtain and learn how to read an ephemeris.

Paying attention to our personal planet returns also helps us keep true to our needs. A planetary return is the exact time that a transiting planet reaches the degree and minute it was when you were born A solar return (yearly) helps us take stock of the year ahead, how our light might really shine. Lunar returns (monthly) can remind us to pay attention to our needs, our emotions and how we are feeding and nurturing our own true nature. Venus (8 years) speaks to our relationships, resources, creativity, and how we might value ourselves. Mercury (yearly) can focus us on self-expression, communication, and learning. Mars (1.5 to 2 years) gives us insight into what we might initiate, our courage, and the quality and quantity of our energy.

Now here is a look at our weekly cosmic weather for November: November 1 to 7: We start the month with a fair amount of Scorpio energy impacting the Sun, Venus, and Mercury. There could be some break-uup or break-tthrough themes going forward, especially with relationships of any kind. Venus in Scorpio seeks the truth and can be quite focused on plumbing the depths. With the Saturn/Uranus square still strong, how we let go with grace can be a valuable lesson. Watch any tendency toward quick anger or impulsivity. Mars is stationed retrograde in Gemini and squares Neptune, so things may not be the way they seem. There is room for getting creative, though, so if you need to blow off steam, try to be artful with it.

November 8 to 15: Continuing the theme of endings (which can also be new beginnings!) is the powerful energy of a total Lunar eclipse (full Moon in Taurus), and Mercury's cazimi (exact conjunction) with the Sun. The Moon in Taurus brings focus on many things at many levels: the earth, resources, finances, what we possess, how we value ourselves. Eclipse energy is powerful in creating portals for change and with Mercury conjunct the Sun, communication and thinking are deep!

This eclipse on November 8 will be visible for the Fredericksburg area, lasting 3 hours, 47 minutes. Partial begins at 4:09:12 am, full begins at 5:16:39 am, maximum at 5:59:11 am, and full ends at 6:41:36 am. Let's hope for clear skies-and while you are up so early, GO VOTE!

November 16 to 23: We start the week with Venus entering the sign of Sagittarius, moving away from the intense Scorpio vibes and into lighter, sociable, and fun energies Venus is followed closely by Mercury entering Sagittarius and learning, travel, and getting ready for holiday festivities should boost the collective energy. On the 22nd, the Sun enters Sagittarius, bringing more optimism and good will to the table. If you have been feeling boxed in, now is the time to kick out the jams, let your freak flag fly! On the 23rd, there is a new Moon in Sagittarius, a fabulous time to plan travel, plant the seeds of change regarding personal freedom, optimism. Perhaps you have been thinking about learning something or starting a new course of study Now is the time!

November 24 to 30: With Mercury conjunct Venus, communication should be harmonious, though Mars will still be out of bounds and retrograde and making an exact opposition to Venus on the 30th. If you find yourself feeling vulnerable this week, reach out for some extra TLC, either from your friends, loved ones, or from yourself. Afterall, we spend so much time with ourselves that we benefit from learning to be our own best friend. This is a highly favorable time to change up the colors in your wardrobe, try on a fresh style, or focus on what is aesthetically pleasing to you

Dianne Bachman is a psychotherapist & astrologer practicing in FXBG. She can be reached at FourwindsastrologyLLC@gmail.com Artwork from the 1587 Book of Comets

Fredericksburg Sketches

A visual Celebration of our community

By Paula Raudenbush

Eileen’s Bakery & Cafe

Sometimes it's just a window. This one at Eileen's Bakery and Café on Caroline Street caught my eye as I sipped coffee from one of their outdoor tables. You don't always need to sketch the entire building to get a sense of the architecture. As I write this, the weather is beautiful so it's a great pleasure to sit outside and sketch. I'm trying to take advantage of the good days because sketching in freezing weather is no fun. I've actually had my water colors freeze while I was trying to sketch in February. Someone told me you can add vodka to your paint water to keep it from freezing but I'd rather sit by the fire and sip it. Meanwhile, if you see urban sketchers drawing in town, stop and say hello. Or, better yet, grab a sketchbook and join us! Happy Thanksgiving!

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

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BizNotes

When a commercial comes on the radio and it has a jingle do you sing along? If someone says the name of a business, does the jingle pop in your head? I'm sure you can think of a few jingles right now that you know by heart. A jingle is a way to brand a business by using a catchy song. Jingles are a powerful advertising tool!

I asked our Sales Staff to give their professional opinion regarding the impact a jingle can have for a client. Here's what they had to say!

Lance Carmine - A jingle, if it's catchy, like Fletcher Construction or Capitol Sheds, get stuck in your head. A commercial with a jingle can air maybe three to four times a day… but can play over and over in your mind. Commercials can paint a picture and a jingle can provide the soundtrack to that picture

Oh, What's in A Jingle??

by mandy smith

Kristin Nash - Who do you think of when you think of Heating and Air? For Heat and Air there's just one name.... Robert B Payne. Pest control? We're PermaTreat Pest control, when insects start biting, call PermaTreat Pest Control. Jingles are powerful because they can quickly set your business at the top of a consumer's mind. 90% of people say that the first call they make is to what is top of mind. If you want to get there quickly, get yourself a jingle!

Monica Owens - Just as a song can take you back to a memory, so does a jingle. The 6 cords before a McDonald's commercials will have you thinking about those delicious fries by ad's end. A jingle will identify your business right away to the listener. When used in enough rotation, people will associate it with your business and what you do. A jingle is a smart way to set yourself apart from your competitors for years to come.

Trish Hall - Jingles are a fantastic tool for elevating top of mind awareness for any business! It's like an audio signature that represents an organization's unique identity. We can all call to mind memorable jingles for different businesses. This comes from the consistency of using that unique audio signature. Jingles work best with time and consistency!

Mark Bass - We work with a great team of writers, singers, and composers to produce the very highest quality musical identity for our clients. The process is very simple, contact one of our sales reps, we

put you directly in contact with the producer. You work in collaboration to identifying a catchy theme and slogan. Then they get to work developing your jingle… always keeping you and your rep in the loop. They continue working until YOU are satisfied. You then will receive several different versions of your jingle. For example, a full singing version, a version where you can insert commercial copy, etc. We then give you back the cost of the Jingle in advertising on WBQB and WFVA to help get you started!

Mandy Smith is the Promotions & Marketing Director for B101.5. AKA "AJ"Weekend Air Personality