FPFSeptember2020 by Virginia Grogan

contents

closeups 3

20 Senior Care: pain, pain, go away

Paul morris obsessed with space

brian kiernan providing grab n go meals

princess moss N national education leader

history’s stories: dr urbane bass what’s in a vision? makers district

it’s all energy: spleen meridian

22 emancipated patients:: esport 23

24 art in the ’burg

Porch talk 4

on the porch...life in fredericksburg Messages

fxbg main street receives grant

stories of fxbg: Maria’s Story

In the Garden: lawn or natural landscape

b101.5 care-a-thon

snowdon@fxbg expands facility

MUSIC ON THE STEPS dance matrix ....distancing together

tidbits

Companions

astrology & you poetryman: come home

fredericksburg sketches

...And more!

i have a friend: staying in touch

counting on you!

season’s bounty: consider the cabbage

fxbg food coop begins construction

Gaye’s memories of 1960 fxbg sit-in

vino..sauvignon blanc

PORCHLIGHT: the groundhog saga

16-17

bulletin board

7 .sabrina fones: dtg media intern

Cover: “Gone Fishing” By Alexis Mary Grogan

September 2020

Front porch fredericksburg

Paul Morris Alum Skyrockets in Career as NASA Videographer By LISA CHINN MARVASHTI

Paul Morris '10 grew up recording epic space battles on stop-action film. He'd pose and re-pose Star Wars figures, capturing them with a Sony Super 8 camera that kept conking out. Now a video producer for NASA, Morris's outer-space odysseys are a bit more high-tech. A documentary he created - from conception to final cut - for this spring's 30th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope, went into orbit on social media garnerin more than 400,000 views. With a theatre degree he didn't know existed when he got to college - and the teamwork and storytelling skills that came with it - Morris turned his innate fascination with all things galactic into a soaring career.

"It's been an absolute dream," he said. "I've always been obsessed with space and with NASA." UMW, too, was ingrained in Morris, whose grandparents Marceline Weatherly Morris '50 and Elmer "Juney" Morris Jr. '50, married seven decades this month, began their courtship at Mary Washington. Paul Morris took a cue from the couple, meeting fellow theatre major Cassie Lewis '11 on campus and marrying her beneath a magnolia tree in his Nana's backyard. As his love for Cassie grew throughout college, so did his passion for theatre, and he earned parts in productions like Shakespeare's R&J and Our Town. Behind the scenes, especially with UMW's Studio 115 black box theatre group, he'd spill out his wildest ideas and cajole cast and crew to bring them to life. "I always thought of him as a storyteller," said Department of Theatre Chair Gregg Stull. "Even as a student he understood that many people have great ideas but what matters is doing the work to bring those ideas to fruition." Effort wasn't an issue for Morris. When Cassie graduated a year after him, they moved to New York, landing jobs at the social publisher Little Things and producing Refresh, a Facebook Live show featuring guests like Melissa Joan Hart and Fiona Silver. They'd climbed into senior production at parenting platform Wild Sky Media when Morris set his sights on a job at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, sharing the story of the Hubble Space Telescope. "The sheer idea of putting a telescope in space - and the fact that it works - is just wild to me," said Morris, who was 2 when it launched. He landed the job last spring, making videos about servicing missions and scientific discoveries, and archiving thousands of hours of footage captured by Hubble. Digitizing dusty Betamax tapes and embedding MP4s with metadata was

tedious, he said, but exciting. "I'll have in my hands a videotape filmed in space, and I'm the first person on Earth to watch it, sometimes â&#x20AC;Ś ever." With Hubble's 30th anniversary hovering, an idea emerged. Morris began stitching decades of B-Roll, photos and clips together with his own original interviews with astronauts and astronomers who've supported Hubble's mission and kept it in flight. The result, NASA's Incredible Discovery Machine: The Story of the Hubble Space Telescope, is a 50-plus-minute account of the trials and tribulations in the life of this amazing machine."There were moments when I was editing when I was near tears," said Morris, whose time at Mary Washington reinforced the value he places on hard work.

He spent many on-the-clock - and personal hours compiling the documentary, determined to forego text and voice-over options in favor of bonafide footage and dialogue. With more than 400,000 views on social media so far, the film casts its producer's awe for space exploration into the universe. "Hubble shows us how small we are â&#x20AC;Ś " said Morris, who, on some starspeckled nights, peers into the sky with his own telescope. "We're lucky to know how small we are because it shows how much bigger we can be."

Lisa Chinn Marvashti is the Assistant Director of Media and Public Relations Photos courtesy of Paul Morris.

Celebrate Constitution Week September 17-23 Spotsylvania Chapter, National Daughters of the American Revolution front porch fredericksburg

September 2020

ON THE PORCH Sue Henderson

Guest Porch Editorial

Contributing Writers & Artists Gaye Adegbalola Rita Allan Kathy Anderson Sally Cooney Anderson Dianne Bachman Laurie Black Sarah Kay Bierle Alvin Calhoun Sonja Cantu Collette Caprara Karen Ehrhard Sandra Erikson Christina Ferber Frank Fratoe Bill Freehling Jon Gerlach Anne Hicks Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks Sue Henderson Karl Karch David C. Kennedy Julie Laiacona Lisa Chinn Marvashti Sean MeLauren Beverly Mendez Vanessa Moncure Pete Morelewicz Patrick Neustatter M.L.Powers Bob Prinn Gerri Reid Paula Raudenbush Danielle Rose Casey Alan Shaw Mandy Smith Marianne Tokarz Tamara Wheeler Tina Will Norma Woodward

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

The mission of Front Porch Fredericksburg is to connect the diverse citizenry of Fredericksburg with lively features and informative columns of interest to our community’s greatest resource, its people. Messages from our readers are welcome. All submissions must be received by e-mail by the 19th of the month preceding publication. Writers / Artists / Photographers are welcome to request Guidelines and query the Publisher by e-mail. 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 2020 Olde Towne Publishing Co. All rights reserved.

September 2020

front or back ñ The porch is home by sue henderson Most of us spend summers traveling to rekindle, reenergize and reconnect with family and friends. We will spend time on others' porches watching waves or relaxing at the end of a long day of exploration. This summer we're discovering the distant difference between the back and front porch. I was talking to a neighbor in our tiny community and we decided the back porch is a connection to nature and solitude. We can sit on the back deck and listen to the birds and critters enjoying the Rappahannock river cruising back and forth. The girlish tweet of the hypermasculine eagles is contrasted with the utterly insistent woodpecker or the owl hooting everyone to shut up so he can get some shuteye. If you sit out there on any morning at this time of year, you can watch and hear the hummingbirds buzzing right at you to see if you're better fodder than the ubiquitous feeder syrup. The wasps don't bother much before the sweat-inducing heat of the day. And the squirrels bouncing from tree to tree at dizzying heights are an amusement all to themselves. But the Front Porch. Ah the front porch is the connection to the world. No matter how small or large our world has become in this crazy lost summer, the front porch is where we watch the dog walkers, junkie runners, and cars coming or going. It gives us a chance to wave to friends or greet the post person as they drop off the clutter. We can speculate who is getting what delivered while watching FedEx and UPS drivers try to decide to drive or walk up a long driveway. We have heard they are meant to take the fastest option so we debate whether it would take longer to back down or hoof it. At our house, the front porch is fully shaded in the heat of the afternoon making it especially desirable. Sometimes we text each other to meet at the two chairs strategically placed under the wide canopy of the magnolia tree straddling our driveways. We can commiserate on all the things we're missing and remind each other to be grateful for our good fortunes.

Front porch fredericksburg

These days it's a regular challenge between being in the moment vs the future. We dream of the trips we had to cancel and wonder what will happen in the coming months. Then we stop to chasten an errant pooch from either running like a newly released prisoner or jumping at us to share their joy. This struggle between now and future has been a running theme in my life for a while. With a business built on travel and tourism, I am always working on the next trip or assignment. As you might imagine, that is dried right up for 2020 and who knows what can be reliably forecasted for 2021? And, frankly, this moment is not just professionally challenging. We're all striving to find our level of comfort and juggle around those closest to us for theirs. Is the family reunion on or just postponed? Is the decennial school reunion still happening? Can this meeting happen next month or is it pushed again? Are the kids in school or not? As the King of Siam put it "Etc., etc., etc. ". We are navigating this or that restriction to accomplish basic tasks. And we're all doing it at our own speed. And the technology hurdle is real on our home front. Zoom cocktails with friends squished in with shared document platforms and online payment securities are not our favorite activities. We'd rather give a hug and catchup with a banker personally.

It's incessant isn't it? We, like you we suspect, began the whole pandemic with great projects for the house, with plans to learn something new, and with intention to read more. For the most part, those lists have long been exhausted. Now we play the ukulele while trying to determine what to do with too many tomatoes and squash we grew ourselves to avoid shopping. We've learned to can tomato peach salsa and zoodled a bunch of zucchinis. Now, in the lazy Indian summer weather, we have reassessed some longterm life plans, considered what is important and essential and, more importantly, what is not. Ultimately, we've figured out that whichever porch we're on, it's about paying a little attention to the sights and sounds of now, front to back, cover - to- cover - here safely at home on the porch.

Sue and Rick Henderson amidst the back-deck jungle garden contemplate what instrument to learn next while dreaming of future travels.

FXBG VA Main Street awarded $25 K grant Bybill freehling

Fredericksburg VA Main Street Inc. will receive a $25,000 grant from the Commonwealth of Virginia to help make streetscape improvements in Downtown Fredericksburg. The downtown-focused organization was one of 18 communities and organizations across Virginia that will receive a total of $278,000 in Virginia Main Street Downtown Investment Grants to accelerate the economic revitalization of their downtown districts as part of Virginia's COVID-1 19 economic recovery strategy. Nine Downtown Investment Grants were awarded to the Designated

Main Street towns of Culpeper, Luray, South Boston, St. Paul, and Wytheville, and the cities of Danville, Franklin, Fredericksburg, and Lynchburg. N i n e Commercial District Affiliate grants were awarded to the towns of Bedford, Cape Charles, Colonial Beach, Honaker, Onancock, and Tazewell, and the cities of Buena Vista, Covington, and Martinsville. "Downtown districts are the lifeblood of our communities and our local economies, and they need our support now more than ever," said Governor Northam. "Main Street communities across the Commonwealth have been greatly impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and these grants will provide critical assistance to help small businesses stay afloat and advance Virginia's economic recovery."

Virginia Main Street grants are administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development and help to reenergize development of downtown communities, while utilizing their cultural assets and character. Funding can go toward implementing innovative strategies, plans and programs, capacity building, or design projects that help stimulate increased private investment. This is further accomplished by pooling the resources of local civic and business leaders who are working to bring their Main Street communities back to life. The Virginia Main Street program is comprised of 26 designated communities and more than 90 Commercial District Affiliates throughout Virginia. "In the last five years, designated Main Street communities have sparked more than $413 million in private investment across Virginia," said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball. "Encouraging private investment and economic growth is the key to building vibrant communities across the Commonwealth during this pandemic and beyond."

The Downtown Investment Grants can be used for design and economic vitality projects in historic downtown neighborhoods located in designated Virginia Main Street communities. The Commercial District Affiliate grants go toward projects in historic commercial neighborhoods located in more than 90 Virginia Main Street affiliate communities. Projects include downtown revitalization, market studies, downtown marketing campaigns, wayfinding signage, streetscape improvements, and town murals. Several projects will support COVID-19 recovery efforts in the towns of Culpeper, South Boston, and St. Paul, as well as the cities of Covington, and Martinsville. Recovery projects include micro-marketing grants, advertising campaigns, promotional videos, support services, education, training, and lowinterest loans for small businesses.

Bill Freehling, Fredericksburg's director of economic development and tourism, lives downtown with his family

front porch fredericksburg

September 2020

Stories

of fredericksburg

Maria’s Stor y From the Files of Empowerhouse Maria suffered abuse for almost her entire life starting when she was a girl. Her step-father sexually abused her when she was 13. Her mother knew but could not stop it. She was not supported in any way and in fact her mother forced her to marry an older man. She decided to escape and ran away to a neighboring country. When she was fifteen years old and far from home she became a victim of human trafficking. Escaping from the trafficker, she came to the United States not knowing that she was pregnant with her first child. Years later, Maria met her husband with whom she lived for eight years. This relationship became exploitive and abusive too. He sold her, offering her to other men, with whom she had to have sexual relations for money. He mentally, verbally and physically beat and terrorized her. During one of the last attacks he bit her and pushed her down the stairs

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September 2020

while pregnant. She lost her baby. When she went to the hospital because of injuries from the fall, it never came out that her husband pushed her. At home recovering from the fall she was taking strong medications and she was sleeping a lot. A few days went by. She woke up and everything was very quiet in the house which was uncommon in a house full of 7 children. Something in her heart told her that she needed to be worried. She went to her daughter's bedroom and when she opened the door, she saw her daughter on her bed and her husband half naked assaulting her. Her daughter started to scream, "It's not my fault, it's not my fault." Maria started to beat him and scream; he ran to the kitchen and she ran outside and called her neighbor for help and told her what happened. Her neighbor called the police, and took Maria and her daughter with her to her house. The police came to Maria's house; they interviewed both of them separately, and they sent Maria to the hospital with the social worker and her daughter and left him at the house with the rest of the children and the police officer. When the officers finally left, her husband was alone with the rest of the children. He used this moment to plan his next move. He knew he could use the children to punish Maria and the family for contacting the police. He left with the children. When Maria returned home she found an empty house. She called the police officer again and they started to look for her husband. The next day she called her brother-in-law and he told her that he had the children, and asked her not to call the police. He told her that he would give her back her children. Maria's husband escaped to his birth country. Referred by the police officer, Maria called Empowerhouse for support. She talked with an advocate and decided to come to shelter. Maria came to the Empowerhouse domestic violence shelter. While there, she began to rebuild her life taking steps to get care for her and her children, taking legal steps, and accessing supports available in the community. Social services provided daycare, TANF, and food stamps. She applied for custody of her children which she later gained and started her U-Visa application

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to seek legal status after being a crime victim for so many years. With a long road ahead to overcome barriers to entering housing, Maria moved into the transition house where she and her children lived in their own residence owned by Empowerhouse for many months without paying any expenses. During that time Empowerhouse supported her family and helped with transportation to doctor's appointments and counseling support for her and her children. Also during that time Maria was diagnosed with pre-cancer (HPV) and Empowerhouse provided transportation for all her doctor's appointments and also to the surgery appointment. Advocates helped her make arrangements with her sister and some of the women from the Empowerhouse Latino support group to assist her and her children during her healing time. Also, her advocates referred her to an office that fixed her dentures for free. The Healthcare Advocate assisted her in completing paperwork related to her son's facial reconstruction surgery. The Healthcare Advocate also provided transportation to the son's doctor's appointments. While Maria was waiting for the U-Visa, the Housing Victim Advocate assisted her and her children in applying for an apartment through Empowerhouse. Our partner, Central Virginia Housing Coalition helped her find an apartment and sign a lease. She has found a job. She now has her own transportation thanks to a donation by a member of her church. This will help her to be more independent and maintain her employment. Recently, Maria expressed how grateful she is to Empowerhouse. She mentioned never having received so much support in her life. Her children received so many gifts, toys, food and clothes at Christmas thanks to generous donors. Maria received gift cards from Empowerhouse when she left the transition house as a reward for taking such good care of the unit where she was living with her children. This money will help her to buy things that she will need for her new home. Reflecting on her journey with the Latina Support Services Coordinator, Maria said "On this day I lost what I considered to be my family but yesterday

(a year later) was a celebration because I received [a new family] from Empowerhouse. “For the first time in my life, I am not afraid thanks to all that I learned during the year from each of you (the Empowerhouse advocates). At shelter, I always felt warmth from Rose when I was sad. I was exhausted as a person. “When I was in your (transition) house, for the first time I was in a house and did not have to pay anything. This changed my life. I never had this much support from my family or people I knew and trusted. “I learned to have humility and patience from Tammy. I am grateful to Monica for supporting my health and for all of her guidance and support. She also helped me to enroll my children and orient them into daycare and school. “From Aundrea, I felt her support and assistance with all of my requests. In support group, I learned and strengthened my knowledge. It allowed me to meet other women and Dilcia. Dilcia supported my transportation and helped me connect with a Doctor for my teeth and a Doctor for my son. ‘And, I thank you Leslie because you always take my calls regardless of the time of day and you talk with me on any subject. “I feel blessed to have Empowerhouse and that each of you are guardian angels for women like me who have difficult life situations. I want to write a letter to express all of my gratitude and to let everyone who has supported me know that I am optimistic, that I feel hopeful, and that I have faith in myself because I now live a dignified life." Empowerhouse is a non-p profit organization providing confidential domestic violence assistance in the city of Fredericksburg and the counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, and Caroline. These services include a free and confidential 24-h hour hotline, a temporary emergency shelter, information, referrals, and advocacy. To help Empowerfhouse’s Domestic Violence Shelter and Families, please support the Shelter by mailing your donation to: Empowerhouse, PO Box 1007, FXBG, VA 22402 For Free Local Confidential Services call 540-3 373-9 9373

Everything Greens Social Media Marketing Intern Sabrina Fones interview By marianne tokarz Social Media Marketing intern, Sabrina Fones, on plans after Downtown Greens, puppy videos, and why you should get serious about social media." Q: Tell us a little about yourself. A: I am a senior at Old Dominion University going into my last semester. I will be graduating with my BSBA in Marketing and I couldn't be more excited to start my future career! Aside from work I love hiking, bike riding, and writing. Side note: I am currently writing my first book and I hope to have it published by 2022! Q: What do you do here at Downtown Greens (and how long have you been here)? A: I have spent 6 weeks at Downtown Greens working as the social media/marketing intern. I have been concentrating on creating a social media strategic plan (including audit, posting calendar, social media handbook, etc.) to achieve Downtown Green's marketing

and social media goals. Q: What are your plans after this internship? Where do you hope to use this experience? A: I plan on continuing my career in the marketing and social media fields and I intend to continue my search for my first full time position after my graduation using this experience. I hope to gain further experience through internship/working opportunities and will continue to work towards my own personal goals which include publishing my book and possibly starting my own business. Q: What is your favorite thing about Downtown Greens? A: My favorite thing about Downtown Greens is the acceptance of anyone and everyone for the purpose of serving the community. In the world of business, you see a lot of selfishness and ill intentions, however, Downtown Greens is anything but this. They are a

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community for the community that strives to bring the beauty of gardening to the people of Fredericksburg. For someone who grew up in Fredericksburg, there's nothing more special than working for such an organization. Q: What's one tip for people who want to up their social media game? A: If you're serious about building your social media - get serious! Social media isn't just a fun tool for interacting with viewers and promoting your brand (even though it is very much that). Social media ALSO takes planning, timing, scheduling, and establishing you and your voice. It should always be fun, but the only way to make your social media work for you is to dive head first into the world of Instagram stories, Facebook analytics, and Twitter timelines. Q: What is your social media guilty pleasure? Or, what are your favorite kinds of apps/accounts to follow right now? A: Well in terms of 'guilty pleasures', I have been watching a TON of dog/puppy videos since me and my husband are planning on getting our first dog by christmas time. It's probably a little embarrassing just how many puppy videos are in my YouTube watch history. My favorite apps include: Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Q: What is your favorite plant? A: My favorite plant would be the Orange Rose. It has always been my favorite flower because of its slight uniqueness and all of the beautiful variations of orange, yellow, and red that can appear on the petals. My mom even named her business after my love of the flower. Readers can see the fruits of Sabrina's work on our Instagram & Facebook pages IG: @downtown_greens and Facebook at Downtown Greens, Inc. Marianne Tokarz is the Office Administrator for Downtown Greens

Please join with me and continue to support our Local FXBG small businesses

Jewell Wolterman 12225 Amos Lane, Ste 204 Fredericksburg, VA 22407 540-907-0574 www.elitetitleva.com jwolterman@elitetitleva.com

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

front porch fredericksburg

September 2020

In the Garden Lawn or natural landscape? By Tina Will

Have you struggled to grow grass in the heat and drought of our area? VCE Agent Guy Mussey often gets calls from worried homeowners about their lawn problems, especially at this time of year. He answers their questions and gives them advice on the needs of grass. Although many of us like at least some lawn, photo by Sean Laurin when we consider all that is involved, we traditional lawn. This is interesting news might wonder if a different type of because it indicates that people don't want landscape design would be worth the demands of lawn upkeep, that they considering. have gotten the message that too much fertilizer is bad for water quality, and they According to a recent article on don't want to have to drive to a park to CNN www.cnn.com/style/article/lawns- experience beautiful surroundings. The american-yard-usl homeowners are advantages to our environment are easily seen: more flowers, songbirds, and natural beauty, less fertilizer and water needed, and less mowing and l a w n m o w e r pollution.

photo by Alvin Calhoun

changing their lawn-scapes. Landscape designers are getting more requests to install native plants and a more pollinator friendly landscape, rather than a

September 2020

Many of our Master Gardeners are adopting the advice given in Doug Tallamy's book: Bringing Nature Home (Timber Press 2009) to increase native plant usage. Sean McLaurin is converting some of his lawn to native plants and clover now that his kids have grown. He is very happy that those

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areas require less maintenance. Linda Dunn has very little lawn, and has a beautiful complement of different perennial gardens surrounding her home. Karen Ehrhard has recently converted her property to a no-mow landscape leaving room for plants to establish and grow, and Alvin Calhoun is enlarging his collection of annuals and perennials where his lawn is struggling to survive. The trend to use native plant species began several years ago, and local garden centers continue to see that the demand for these remains strong. Yea for more beauty and less maintenance! Though we want some grass for our grandchildren to be able to run, and play games, we have slowly expanded the shrub and tree areas so that there is less lawn to mow. We have the classic problems that come with trying to grow grass: weed competition, hot weather and drought leading to dormant grass, and the need to reseed every Fall in certain areas. We've decided that there is nothing wrong with having a diverse collection of green plants

photo by Karen Ehrhard (i.e. grass and weeds), except when some shade out the grass seed we actually pay for! Lawn growing is still important to many of us, but if it is not needed then plant for beauty and encourage the pollinator and bird population. Good lawn guidance is available from our VCE Agent, or the information at: www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-719/426719.html. First step: get your soil tested by requesting a Soil Sample Test Kit from our local VCE office: 540-658-8000. The Smart Green Lawn program is also available through our Stafford office. Tina Will has volunteered with MGACRA for 16 years and lives near Ferry Farm

B101.5 Care-A-Thon finding care for nemo, close to home By mandy smith Nemo was only three weeks old and resting in his mother Tiffany's arms the day he stopped breathing. Fortunately, he was already at Children's National Hospital. "The nurse hit the code blue button and the whole team flew through the doors to save his life," Tiffany says.

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Nemo, now 3, lives with his family near Fredericksburg, VA. He was born with a heart defect and first came to Children's National for life-saving heart surgery as a newborn. He has been back for four additional surgeries. Care from our cardiac team has helped him grow into what his mom calls "a full-blown rambunctious boy who loves to smile and laugh." Nemo is named for the main character of his family's favorite movie, Finding Nemo, in which the main character has a similar physical defect. Nemo the fish's right fin is smaller than his left. Nemo the boy's right side of his heart is smaller than his left. Part of Nemo's normalcy is that he can get care close to home - for both post-surgical and routine visits. Nemo's Mom said, "Children's National gave my son his life. They keep doing everything they can to keep him happy, healthy and living a normal life." Our community's support during Care-A-Thon help make it possible for Nemo's family and many others in the greater Fredericksburg area to receive convenient, compassionate, world-class care from Children's National. Caring for More Children, Closer to Home Due to the generosity of B101.5's listeners Children's National Fredericksburg was launched in January

2020. YOU have helped make it possible for families to access pediatric care close to home from their experts in the following medical specialties: Cardiology Neurology Gastroenterology Hematology (added June 2020) These additional medical specialties are coming soon: Orthopaedics Pulmonology PhysicalTherapy Endocrinology via telehealth Psychology via telehealth Dee Daniels said, "I can't believe this will be our 7th annual Care-A-Thon! Over the years, thanks to our listeners, we've donated $652,983.00 to Children's National Hospital. Being able to take part in the B101.5's Care-A-Thon for Children's National Hospital every year is a true honor. It not only brings about amazing research and technology for

this world-renowned hospital, but it also gives our community and area businesses a chance to come together for something that is so much bigger than us. Together we are providing hope and unmatched care for our children.â&#x20AC;? B101.5's 7th annual Care-A-Thon will take place Thursday September 24th and Friday September 25th. Donate early, donate now at B1015.com Keyword: Donate or text the word Buzzy to 51555. If you have questions or want to get involved email Mandy@wbqb.com Mandy Smith is the Promotions & Marketing Director for B101.5. AKA "AJ" Weekend Air Personality

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September 2020

“I Have A Friend” Staying in touch despite pandemic By Laurie Black JoAnn heard about the Senior Visitors Program from her daughter. After completing the volunteer training and orientation, JoAnn was matched with Bea. They have been visiting now for a little over a year. JoAnn says, "Volunteering is an uplifting experience. I thought that I was doing it to help someone else, but I found that it was a great experience for me!"

For the past 20 years, the Senior Visitors Program has been connecting local seniors with a volunteer who visits weekly for about an hour. That volunteer often begins as a friendly face and a listening ear, but quickly becomes so much more. Every time I speak with a volunteer or senior from the Senior Visitors Program, I come away feeling inspired by their simple acts of kindness and stories of enduring friendship. Such is the case with volunteer, JoAnn Robinson, and her senior friend, Bea.

Bea lives with her daughter, Patty, and granddaughter, Zoey. Patty and Zoey say of JoAnn, "They became close friends quickly! JoAnn is such a caring, kind and thoughtful person. Mom is always so happy when they have a visit together. JoAnn is genuinely caring about Mom and about our whole family. She engages Mom so much; it is just a real treat to see. They often look at photo albums together and Mom tells all kinds of stories. JoAnn is really positive and always makes it fun for Mom!" JoAnn says, "Bea is a wonderful person. She is delightful company. Bea is a very creative and talented artist. I love hearing her stories about her past and her lovely family." Bea replies, "It is so wonderful that someone wants to come and visit and have a conversation with you. I like having a friend to talk to and I think JoAnn is a really good friend." Before the restrictions that the pandemic placed on their visits, JoAnn and Bea enjoyed outings to get lunch or ice cream. Bea fondly recalls a time they

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September 2020

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drove out Route 3 to the Battlefield Country Store. Bea proudly says, "She drove and I told her how to get there!" Though they have had to make adjustments due to the pandemic, they have continued their friendship. Patty explains, "During these past months of isolation, JoAnn has reached out to my mom with many phone calls and often will send her cards. This has meant a lot to us!" Patty goes on to say, "Having a senior visitor has really changed life for Mom at 92. There is nothing like having a new best friend! Please, if you can, volunteer for this amazing program, or, inquire about it if you are caring for a special loved one. We are truly grateful for the Senior Visitors Program." 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) 371-2 2704 or visit mhafred.org. Senior Visitors Program is a free community service program of Mental Health America of Fredericksburg. Laurie Black is the Administrative Assistant for the Senior Visitors Program

Bring a little sunshine to a senior’s life! Too many seniors feel lonely and isolated. YOU can make a difference by volunteering to visit a senior in the Fredericksburg area. Volunteer training is provided & no special skills are required. The Senior Visitors Program is a FREE community service program of Mental Health America of Fredericksburg. Visit mhafred.org or call 540-371-2704

Counting on You! Census Takers Visiting Fxbg Households By Sonja Cantu

Census takers have begun visiting households who have not yet responded to the Census, as the U.S. Census Bureau begins enumeration activities nationwide. The goal of the 2020 Census is to count everyone who lives in the United States on April 1, 2020 (Census Day). Census statistics are used to determine the number of seats each state holds in the U.S. House of Representatives and inform how billions of dollars in federal funds will be allocated by state, local and federal lawmakers annually for the next 10 years. It is estimated that every person counted in the Census will bring $20,000 to our community. "So far, only 64% percent of Fredericksburg households have responded to the Census," states Susanna Finn, Fredericksburg's Community

Development P l a n n e r . "Completing the census ensures our City will receive the funding we need for valuable community services like educational and housing programs. This is important for our whole community and we need every household counted. Responding online at is easy, safe, and confidential and I hope everyone will visit 2020census.gov." Households can still respond now online at 2020census.gov, by phone at 844-3 330-2 2020, or by completing and mailing back the paper questionnaire they received. Households can respond online or by phone in one of 13 languages and find assistance in many more. Households that respond on their own will not be visited by a Census worker. What Households Can Expect Census takers are required to wear masks when they visit and to follow

all state and local public health guidelines. They may make several attempts to each household to obtain census information. This includes leaving notification of the attempted visit on the door. The notification will include reminder information on how to respond online, by paper or by phone. In addition, census workers may try to reach the household by phone to conduct the interview. Census takers are hired from local communities. All census takers speak English, and many are bilingual. If a census taker does not speak the householder's language, the household may request a return visit from a census taker who does. Census takers will also have materials on hand to help identify the household's language. How to Identify Census Takers Census takers will display a valid ID badge with their photograph, a U.S Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date. They may also carry Census Bureau bags and other items with the Census logo. To confirm a census

taker's identity, the public may contact their regional census center to speak with a Census Bureau representative. Households have until September 30th to submit their information to the Census and everyone is encouraged to do so. "By responding to the Census, we will shape the future for ourselves, our families, and our City for the next ten years. Everyone counts in our community" said Finn. For more information visit https://2020census.gov/

Sonja Cantu, a local artist , is the Public Information Officer for the City of Fredericksburg She can be reached at 540-372-1010 ext. 304, or spcantu@fredericksburgva.gov

front porch fredericksburg

September 2020

Grab & Go

Become a Member

free breakfast & lunch programs covers all students

By anne hicks www.fredericksburgcsa.com

As Labor Day closely follows the start of a new school year that begins as it ended last year due to COVID-19, Brian Kiernan (right), Food Service Director for Fredericksburg Public School ensures students learning outside the classroom have access to free breakfast and lunch. It's a labor of love and an arduous undertaking with three food trucks and five buses supporting meal distribution for a city's school system. The opportunity to receive free breakfast and lunch daily during the pandemic consists of a full-time staff and partnership with Micah Ministries, the Salvation Army and others key players. The program's reach is extensive, and they efficiently prepare wholesome meals at five school locations with food from the local areas and other food distributors. This is a concerted work from the heart of all participants. Communication is key. Feel free to share this article and associated websites to ensure maximum participation.

The biggest concerns and challenges says Kiernan, are trying to raise awareness to all families so they know the food will be available every day between 11:30 and 1:00 p.m. for breakfast and lunch pick up and to ensure the families and students will take part each day. While they cannot go door to door, Kiernan, and his team have done extensive research and know where the public-school students and families live. The program has tents and alternative arrangements in adverse weather conditions. If your neighborhood is not on the main route, the program is in the process of making ways to ensure your families are served. While they will accommodate reaching each area that may not be on the dedicated routes. Students/Family members must come out and pick up the meals. The goal is to make sure all nutritional needs for the students are met. The team, led by Kiernan, who himself has worked for the school systems since 2005 is blanketing the whole city and tracking food counts. They endeavor to help make it easier for the students and families while practicing safe social distancing and following CDC health guidelines. The five schools that prepare the fresh food daily service zones covering Fall Hill, Route, I, Blue Gray Highway, Lafayette Boulevard, drive through locations at Hugh Mercer Elementary, Lafayette Upper Elementary, James Monroe High School. The neighborhood cafĂŠ is also is available in Idlewild, Mayfield, Confederate Ridge, Morningside and Braehead Woods. Other harder to reach neighborhoods are being served by staff and participants as the program expands its reach. You will find the postcard of locations and more information at

September 2020

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CitySchoolsCafe.com/Bkiernan@cityschools.com. Kiernan's team have served the students with nutritional meals in schools before the COVID pandemic. In 2019, one cafeteria manager, Araceli Donahue, was inducted into the No Kid Hungry Hall of Fame for providing over 100,000 free Summer Meals since 2014. This summer the team was part in an emergency

program. Ken Crampton (below), member and artist designed postcards that have been mailed to all families with students in the city. Kiernan was a general manager at Sammy T's. He left the restaurant business to work at Stafford County Schools as an Engineer, and baseball coach. Sixteen years ago, he began in Fredericksburg's school kitchens and within a year became a Director. Anne Hicks is a resident of Fredericksburg and contributing writer for the Front Porch Magazine

Season’s Bounty

The Sunken Well Tavern

Consider the Cabbage

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

The Soup & Taco, Etc. 813 Caroline St. Fredericksburg, VA

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

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

I must admit that, in my home garden, getting a cabbage to maturity just does not happen on a regular basis. Or even an irregular one. Hahaha, laugh the brassicas whisperers of the backyard garden. What's wrong with you? They just grow themselves! These round relatives of cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and Savoy cabbage, the smooth-leafed and multi-layered headed cabbage is a good source of Vitamins C and K and provides plenty of dietary fiber. Red cabbage is also familiar, and some varieties grow in a panorama from deep green to a goldengreen shade. Extremely versatile, cabbage can be eaten raw (as in slaws), steamed, sautéed, boiled, braised or pickled - and don't forget my fermented cabbage known as sauerkraut softly burbling away in a deep crock. Fermented cabbage dishes are eaten around the world - besides sauerkraut, probably the best known side dish is spicy Korean kimchi - Central Europeans ferment the whole sour head and pack it in barrels in the Fall to last through the winter months. So, okay, I know a lot of ways to cook cabbage, but I experience little but perversity in my quest for backyard cabbage. My seedlings fail to grow, small plants wither or rot in the ground, my plants flower without setting the head, my roots rot or the plants turn yellow before completely dying. Worse and worse, I believe all of the local cabbage cutworm, aphids, June beetles, stink bugs, cabbage maggots and webworms rush to our garden spot (hey, pssst, come on guys, no spraying here! Woo-hoo chow time!) as soon as it’s planted. We might harvest a few stunted heads - and I can see my grandmother now, sadly shaking her head while saying “well, they wouldn't win a prize at the county fair!” My grandfather's efforts produced grand basketball-sized orbs, growing so vigorously that they split their layers. No, I didn't inherit that cabbage-growing gene - so I must thank you, farmers of the Farmer’s Market! TANGY COLE SLAW All of the vegetables in the brassicas family are known as cole crops (betcha never knew why this summer staple was called “cole”). To serve 10-12, quarter a medium-large cabbage, but don't remove the core. Hold on to that as you thinly slice lengths of cabbage, then discard the core (in your compost!). Shred two to three large peeled carrots and toss

vanessa moncure

with cabbage. Place in serving bowl and make dressing - one cup mayonnaise, one-third cup each lemon juice and sugar, one teaspoon each dry mustard, garlic powder, salt and celery seed - and a few turns of the pepper grinder. Mix well and cover cabbage and carrot mixture - you can refrigerate for several hours, but don't toss until you're ready to serve. Some North Carolina slaw recipes substitute their vinegar-based BBQ sauce for the lemon juice. Tastes great and gives the slaw a great color!

CABBAGE ROLLS Practically the national dish for several European countries, I learned a few shortcuts from a friend. Her family used to core giant cabbages, steam them in huge boiling pots, then peel them layer by layer to get the best leaves for filling and rolling. Now, she cores a large cabbage, puts about ½ cup water in the bottom of a large glass container, put the cabbage in and covers tightly with cling wrap. Microwave on HI about 10-12 minutes, check for doneness with a skewer and when ready, set aside to cool while making the filling. Mix one pound ground beef or turkey with one cup diced onions, 2 cups cooked long-grain rice, S&P and one-half can condensed tomato soup. Pull off all the cabbage leaves, setting aside the ones which can be stuffed and placing the others in the bottom of a baking dish along with one chopped medium onion. Roll the filling into the leaves, place in pan, tucking the open end on the bottom. Mix together one and one-half cans tomato soup with one fifteen ounce can chopped tomatoes in juice, S&P to taste, and pour over rolls. Cover tightly and bake 350F 3545 minutes. Enjoy! And they’re even better the next day!

BLAUKRAUT Great with bratwurst, pork chops or ham. In a large Dutch oven, melt two tablespoons butter with one tablespoon of sugar and saute slowly until golden brown. Stir in one cup each minced onion and peeled apple. Shred one head of red cabbage and toss together. Pour onequarter cup wine vinegar and mix together. Cover and braise slowly about ten minutes - the cabbage should be tender and a bright purple color. Add S&P to taste and one-quarter cup red currant jelly. Heat through and serve right away great with dumplings, too!

Vanessa shares her fabulous recipes , with a bit of southern charm & wit, each month in FPF

Open every Sat 7am-2 2pm Rain/Shine @Hurkamp Park masks & gloves recommended front porch fredericksburg

September 2020

FXBG Food Co Op

Join Us on the Rooftop for Chill VIbes, Tasty Eats, & Cold Drinks

Begins Construction by Bill Freehling 314 William St..656-2500..fb@vivifyburger..vivifyburger.com

Fredericksburg Food The Cooperative celebrated the start of its planned member-owned grocery store Sunday with a ground-breaking ceremony in front of the location. Joshua Cole, Virginia Del. Fredericksburg Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw and some of the Co-op's founding board members were among the speakers at the event at 320 Jefferson Davis Highway in the Lee Plaza shopping center. The event was also streamed live online. The Co-op has completed demo work in the space and expects to start construction within the next week or two. The store is likely to open in late 2020 or early 2021. The Co-op currently has approximately 1,527 members. Nonmembers will also be able to shop at the store. Take a look at the space currently. We are excited to see it transformed over the coming months!

WHAT IS A FOOD COOPERATIVE? A food co-op is a special kind of business owned and controlled by the individual community households who have invested in it. Food co-ops sell food and related items to owners and nonowners, but rather than seeking to maximize profits, cooperatives make decisions to maximize service to their owners and the community.

September 2020

The Fredericksburg Food Co-op will be a full service community-owned grocery store.

WELCOME TO OUR GREAT OUTDOORS Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Beautiful ~ Night and Day!

The focus will be on locally grown and locally sourced products. We will offer a great selection of organic and natural foods and household products. As a community-owned cooperative, we will make decisions to maximize service to our owners and our community. Our vision is to be a place to shop as well as a gathering place for people and ideas. We aim to implement the most environmentally sustainable practices in all aspects of our operation and to join others in working toward positive environmental goals for our community. We will collaborate with other businesses and entities in our community and will put a special focus on sharing best practices on nutrition, wellness, and the benefits of moving toward a more plantbased diet.

Become a Member

Our success relies on the broad support of both our owners and the community. Please consider becoming a owner today! ~ Fredericksburg Co Op

FXBG COOP can be reached at: fxbgfoodcoop@gmail.com fredericksburgfoodcoop.com

Front porch fredericksburg

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

Locally Owned Irish Pub and Restaurant www.fredericksburgcsa.com

200 Hanover St. ~ 373-0738

Join Us for Breakfast

sauvignon blanc why we love it

Breakfast Sat./-Sun. 7am-12noon & Appetizers / Bar Menu Sat./Sun. 4pm-11pm

by City Vino

540-373-8300 ~ 620 Caroline St. FXBG, VA

Olde Towne BUTCHER orner of William & Charles Streets Downtown Fredericksburg 540.370.4105 www.oldetownebutcher.com Monday to Thursday, 10am to 7pm; Friday 10am to 8 pm Saturday 9am to 8pm, Sunday, 11am to 6pm Keith Lebor Proprietor

Become a Member

fxbgfoodcoop@gmail.com fredericksburgfoodcoop.com

Open every Sat 7am-2 2pm Rain/Shine @Hurkamp Park masks & gloves recommended

Vino The dog days of summer are upon us, and that means we want to quench our thirsts with wines that have bright enough acidity to make our mouths water. We also want wines that pair with light meats, non-fatty fish, and salads that feature the summer's bounty of fresh vegetables from our gardens or the local farmer's market. Sauvignon Blanc fits the bill, and that is why we love it! Sauvignon Blanc originated in the Bordeaux and Loire Valley in France. The name sauvignon comes from the French word sauvage meaning wild and from blanc meaning white. The grape is a descendant of the grape Savagnin, and one of the parents of Cabernet Sauvignon. Wines made from Sauvignon Blanc are noted for their green herbaceous flavors, often paired with a touch of minerality. The flavor profiles exhibited by the grape will depend on whether the grape is grown in a cool or warm climate, and run the spectrum from citrus or orchard fruit, to full-on tropical fruit. Cool-climate Sauvignon Blanc, like those from France, Chile and New Zealand, will have high acidity along with green flavors like grass and green pepper, along with passion fruit and elderflower. A notable characteristic of cool-climate Sauvignon Blanc from France includes a hint of minerality, smoke, or even gun flint. Warm-climate Sauvignon Blanc, like those from Australia and California, will have more super ripe grapefruit, along with other bold tropical fruit flavors and grassiness. White wines from France labelled with locations like Sancerre and PouillyFumé will always be 100 percent Sauvignon, as dictated by the region's appellation laws. Wines labelled Fumé Blanc from California bear this name, invented by Robert Mondavi in 1960s, to get past the fact that consumers thought Sauvignon Blanc was an uninteresting wine. Mondavi attempted to create interesting wines made from Sauvignon Blanc, bypassing the varietal name. He was known for aging the wines in oak, though not all wines labelled Fumé Blanc are oakaged. France has the highest acreage of Sauvignon Blanc, at 71,000 acres, followed by Italy, New Zealand, the United States, Chile, and Spain. White Bordeaux wines are usually made from Sauvignon Blanc, and which, by law, can be blended with any

combination of the grape, along with Semillon, Muscadelle, and Ugni Blanc. One of the finest and most famous sweet wines in the world, Sauternes, is usually made from Sauvignon Blanc, along with Semillon. Sauvignon Blanc is a thin-skinned grape, which makes it susceptible to Botrytris, which is a fungus that dehydrates the grapes, thereby concentrating the sugars. Areas of Bordeaux have the perfect climate for this to occur, and Sauternes are wines that have high acid, super luscious sweetness and richness, with flavors like honeysuckle and orange marmalade. Sauvignon Blanc was one of the first wines to be bottled in commercial quantities in New Zealand with a screwcap. The wine is meant to be drunk within a year or two of bottling, so the screwcap is an appropriate and easy closure for the wine, since it isn't meant for long term aging. Sauvignon Blanc wines are best when chilled to about 45 degrees. Food pairings for wines include chicken, pork and turke-especially if served with pesto or salsa verde. When it comes to pairing for these wines, think green. The wines pair beautifully with asparagus, sautéed green vegetables, and any dish that has fresh herbs like basil or parsley. Oysters and Sauvignon Blanc make a great pairing too. Sauvignon Blanc's ability to pair with things light and fresh is yet just another reason why we love Sauvignon Blanc!

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

front porch fredericksburg

September 2020

BULLETIN september 2020... Be sure to check online stores, brick & mortar stores, galleries, restaurants & facebook pages to keep current with schedules. Thanks to B101.5 & City of Fred(fxbglovelocal.com) Many events have been cancelled or have gone virtual. Below is calendar events that we have received.

First Froday, September 4 “SIZE MATTERS", Featuring Art First artist Linda Warshaw. First Friday reception, 6pm to 9pm. Exhibit on view through Sept. 27. Gallery Open Thurs. Through Sun., 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. “Dimensional Expressions" Artful Dimensions Gallery 922 Caroline, A national juried exhibition of dimensional art All Together - Apart!, Brush Strokes Gallery,824 Caroline St.Reopened our doors Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11am to 5 pm. “Home Alone”, The Artists' Alliance (AA), at Jarrett Thor Fine Arts 100 Taylor St., Suite 101, Colonial Beach.has reopened. Fridays and Saturdays, from 11-4. Our new featured group show, Home Alone, displays work created by our members while on virus home restrictions.

Saturday September 5 Farmers Market, Hurkamp Park, 7a-2p

Tuesday, September 8 UMW Virtual Presidential Series, Woodrow Wilson: SelfRighteous Idealist or Far-Sighted Visionary? Lecture by UMW Prof Emeritus Wm. Crawley. Lectures pre-recorded & available in UMW Great Lives Archives

Wednesday, September 9 Drive-in Senior Bingo, 10 am Dorothy Hart Center Parking Lot, Canal St. Participants must remain in vehicles. Numbers will be called thru radio & signs. Call BINGO by honking horn. Drive-In Family Bingo, 6:30pm Dorothy Hart Center Parking Lot, Canal St. Participants must remain in vehicles. Numbers will be called thru radio & signs. Call BINGO by honking horn. FCCA Classes Gelli Plate Printing 6pm-8pmCost: $50.Celeste Johnston: 804.401.0546 Cbotanart@aol.com

Thursday, September 10 FCCA Classes Lino Block (cut) Printing : 6pm-8pm $.Celeste Johnston: 804.401.0546 Cbotanart@aol.com

Become a Friend Advocate ~ Donate ~ Volunteer

540~479~4116 1013 Princess Anne St , FXBG 16

September 2020

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Friday, September 11 FCCA classes, Wood Block Printing 6pm-8pm $ Celeste Johnston: 804.401.0546 Cbotanart@aol.com

Saturday, September 12 Farmers Market, Hurkamp Park, 7a-2p Yoga Training Course, Fall seesion begins! meet once a month 9am-5pm through June .2021 Call or text 540-498-7979, healmeyoga@gmaiol.com Heal Me Yoga Institute

Friday, September 18 Fairy Godmother Stardust Ball Watch Party. Bringing the ball into your home Ball will be a live-streamed virtual event. Purchase tickets or a sponsorship to host a Watch Party and FGP ,will provide all the items necessary to experience the Stardust Ball in your home. Food., Bar kit containing beer and wine of your choice, Printed program, Kit containing plates, napkins, and cups- Access to live-stream of Stardust Ball 2020 fairygodmother project.org

Saturday, September 19 Farmers Market, Hurkamp Park, 7a-2p

Monday, September 21 CRRl Music on the StepsAcoustic Onion (Energetic Old School Rock n' Roll)

Tuesday, September 22 Umw Virtual Presidential Series Franklin D. Roosevelt: Savior or Spoiler of American Democracy? Lecture by UMW Prof Emeritus Wm. Crawley. Lectures prerecorded & available in UMWA Great Lives Archives

Wednesday, September 23 Join the Civil War Round Table of Fredericksburg at Chatham Manor for a discussion on The Legacy of War: A Conversation about Remembering and Forgetting. John Hennessy will talk about how the Civil War relates to the ongoing unrest in America--how we got here, and where we might be going. Round Table will gather at the garden in Chatham, 6:30-8:30pm. Bring

your chairs and mask. reservations.

Thursday September 24

B101.5's 7th annual Care-A-Th B1015.com Keyword: Donate o

Friday, September 25

B101.5's 7th annual Care-A-Th B1015.com Keyword: Donate o

Saturday September 26

Farmers Market, Hurkamp Par

Dance Matrix & Company presen artists to come together in a live

Distancing Together, Old Mill Park,

Sunday September 27

Come together FXBG, Hurkamp Fred

Monday, September 28 CRRl Music on the Steps Haze country, Roots-rock)

"There canno where there is not good Hartwood Winery, Good Wine 540-752-4893. 345 Hartwood

City Vino:, 810 Caroline St, delivery 540-368-0400, online

Potomac Point Winery, 540-44 wine & wine-cakes, check websi

Adventure Brewing, to go or ge web site pick up or delivery, a

6 Bears & a Goat, 1140 Interna curbside pick-up of food & BEE

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ontact info@cwrtf.org to make

hon Donate early, donate now at or text the word Buzzy to 51555.

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nts an opportunity for performing performance to present their work

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curb-side pick-up, shipping, & e store @ cityvino.com.

6-2251, Vineside Pickup for food, te for more info

et it delivered. order form on our adventurebreing.com, 242-8876,

ational Parkwy, 22406, delivery & ER! @6bgbrewingco.com

Highmark Brewery, 390 Kings Highway.Fridge stocked? Get your Growlers and cans Check facebook for daily hours

Rappahannock United Way, Story time takes place every day at 11:00 am Facebook page.

Spencer Devon Brewing, 106 George St.curbside pick-up of food and BEER! 540.479.8381 to order. delivery of beer within a 30 minute radius of the brewery. To place your beer delivery order please TEXT 843.384.5750 with your beer order. 540-479-8381

Virtual Museum Tours, Check out the Louvre in Paris, NASA Space Center, The National Gallery of Art, National Women's History Museum , The Vatican Museums, Toyota Automobile Museum, or The Spy Museum!

Humanity runs on Coffee ~ Unknown

Wine & Design Fredericksburg, 709 Caroline St | 540-809-0899 Party with us at home! Virtual Classes. FB page for schedules.

25 30 Espresso, 400 Princess Anne, full service walk-p & delivery through UberEats Agora Downtown Coffee Shop, 520 Caroline St delivery service Grubhub." (540) -369-8180, fb@agoradowntowncoffeeshop Hyperion Espresso, 301 William St, takeout/to-go, 540-3734882

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll Do It Tomorrow.... Today Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m Going Fishing!

Not All Classrooms Have Four Walls Virtual Fun & Tours Art Time for Kids, 101 Hanover St 540-842-6250 virtual art class, Weekly Art Instruction K-6th grade.Art History lessons drawing, painting, sculpture! "Paint the Town" postcards are now available that feature a variety of black-and-white Fredericksburg scenes. print them out, color them in with your choice of design and share them on social media with #fxbgcolor #lovefxbg #fxbgstrong. Fredericksburg Area Museum, 907 Princess Anne St | 540-3713037 virtual tours of our exhibits and educational resources. FXBG & Spotsy National Military Park Virtual Classroom , Explore the experience of war in Fxbg & Chancellorsville through interactive activities, primary sources and multimedia LibertyTown Arts Workshop Virtual art classes, with detailed directions, online videos, and skill building. kids. Adult PONSHOP Studio and Gallery, 712 Caroline St | 540-656-2215 Online Classes available for children ages 6+.

3689 Fans (& Growing) Want You to Join

Front Porch on

front porch fredericksburg

September 2020

history’s stories

Dr. Urbane Bass By Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks I can recall growing up hearing stories from my Grandfather about two local men who had fought with him in World War I, receiving the (DSC)Distinguished Service Cross. They were Alexander Stone who had come back with him and Dr. Bass who was killed in the France, however, they both were buried in Fredericksburg the National Cemetery located on Lafayette Boulevard. It would not be for many years that I would hear about Dr. Urbane Francis Bass.

In 1980 I was elected to City Council and it was at this time I would meet another Council member, Sidney Ellison. He was the brother of Dr. Richard Ellison, a local physician who had been in practice for many years serving mostly the Black community. Dr. Ellison and I became friends and he would tell me of Dr. Bass and his accomplishments in the Fredericksburg community. He advised me that in 1920 Shiloh New Site Church installed a stained-glass window in honor of Dr. Bass. Dr. Ellison went on to tell me that Dr. Bass was the first Black Physician between Richmond and Washington. I contacted the local expert on WW I, Glen Hyatt for more information on Dr. Urbane Bass and as usual, Glenn was no disappointment. He was quick to verify Dr. Ellison's information and adding even more. Dr. Urbane Bass was born in Richmond in 1880, graduated from Virginia Union University and Leonard Medical College in North Carolina in 1906. After graduation he married Maude Vass and set up a practice in Richmond, that he would move to Fredericksburg around 1909, at 508 Amelia Street. Dr. Bass was the first Black physician in the city since Reconstruction. In 1916 with a well-established practice he wrote Secretary of War Newton Baker wanting to work as a Physician for the Army. In 1917 Dr. Urbane F. Bass became one of the 104 Black medical doctors who volunteered for service, and one of eight that would be assigned to a combat zone. The Black doctors would serve with the 92nd or 93rd divisions as these were the first black combat divisions. He would end up working with the French since they were short of medical help. These units found themselves in the trenches on the front lines near the end of the war. On October 17, 1918, Dr. Bass was working at a forward aid station when he was hit with shrapnel and he died at age 38. His Distinguished Service Cross citation reads: Urbane F. Bass, First Lieutenant (Medical Corps), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Monthois, France, October 1-6, 1918. During the attack on Monthois Lieutenant Bass administered first aid in the open under prolonged and intense shell fire until he was severely wounded and carried from the field. On July 23, 1921, his body was returned home and buried in the Fredericksburg National Cemetery, the only Black officer buried there. His wife Maude never remarried and died in 1986 at 100 years old and is buried next to her husband. A true hero one of only two of the awards to WW I Fredericksburg soldiers Dr. Richard Ellison went on to practice a total of 51 years, into the 1980's. They were honored by having the Bass-Ellison Health building named in their honor by the city.

Dedicated to: Pat Pelletier, Carlton Musselman, Jack Hicks, Bill Harr, Lawrence Decatur, Brenda Haley, Tom Johnson & Artemis Wilhour Tuffy is the Front Porch resident FXBG historian

September 2020

Front porch fredericksburg

What’s in a Vision? THe Maker District By jon gerlach

In 1967 our Rambler station wagon broke down in Fredericksburg on a trip from PA to FL. The lumbering beast was towed to a service station along Princess Anne Street. We thought it was belly up for good, but we were back on the road in a few days (only to break down again in GA, but that's another story). While stranded here, we explored historic sites around Fredericksburg and vowed to return, which we did often in ensuing years. Oddly enough, the machinations of a fickle engine - a uniquely modern experience - kicked off a child's lifelong passion for history and Fredericksburg. Today, the Princess Anne Street and Fall Hill Avenue corridors retain a wonderful mix of eclectic buildings that conjure up the City's growth in the mid20th Century, tied to mobility and America's "love affair" with the automobile. Nearly all of the structures are at least 50 years old, exhibiting a wide variety of architectural styles. This unique commercial area has lived several lives, and it's time now to map a new direction along its arc of history. The Planning Department contracted with Streetsense to complete an intensive planning study of the area in 2017. Working with a wide variety of stakeholders including the Canal Quarter Neighborhood Association, the City's vision for changing this area into a Creative Maker District is well on its way, as part of the Small Area Plan for Area 6. The idea behind the Creative Maker District is to foster a mix of light manufacturing in harmony with nearby residential neighborhoods, by attracting marketable uses and encouraging adaptive reuse of old buildings. Businesses will run the gamut from making and repairing small parts, machines and equipment, to mom-and-pop concerns that produce all manner of things; and yes, even breweries. The Creative Maker District aims to strike a balance between sustainable levels of land use and neighborhood interests such as traffic, school capacity, and the

character of adjacent development, a type of "Smart Growth" popular today among urban planners. New construction will follow a "Form Based Code", a land development tool that relies on "Transects" of density levels to foster predictable results in a high-quality public realm by using physical form as the organizing principle, instead of land use types. More intensive types of development will require a special use permit with opportunities for public comment at the Planning Commission and City Council. The Form Based Code adds standards to the zoning ordinance to ensure that any future development is compatible in form and scale to adjacent neighborhoods by using "Transitional Zones". This is achieved through urban fabric, frontage, and building type standards that require a harmonious public realm and compatible building forms. High on the list are strategies that incentivize the preservation of character defining historic buildings. In 2018 the Architectural Review Board (ARB) identified almost three dozen buildings that contribute to the character of the commercial core in this area, a key step toward future incentive-based preservation efforts. Among the character-defining structures identified by the ARB are Carl's, the Embry Power Plant, Old Silk Mill, George Washington Executive Center, 2400 Diner, Maxon-D Dixon Café, Little Tire, Washington Woolen Mills Pants Factory, the old Mary Washington Hospital, and a variety of motels, show rooms, garages, auto service centers and filling stations. So, what's in a Vision? Here, exciting prospects for economic vitality, quality of life, and the adaptive reuse of some wonderful old buildings. Stay tuned! An attorney and retired archaeologist, Jon Gerlach serves on the Architectural Review Board in Fredericksburg. Embry Power Plant photo by Jon Gerlach

OUR HERITAGE 1960 fredericksburg sit-ins By Gaye Adegbalola dentist and president of the NAACP; my mother, Gladys Poles Todd, sponsor of the NAACP's Youth Council; and Mamie Scott, mother of Fredericksburg's first black lawyer, John W. Scott. They organized role-playing sessions at Shiloh Old Site Church to prepare us for the sitins.

Gaye Protesting

Donate to a Cancer Organization Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Find a Cure!

We were told to dress neatly, not touch any merchandise (so we couldn't be called thieves), bring books to read, and not talk among ourselves. At all times, we were to be non-violent. We were organized into shifts to sit in at the four chain stores: Woolworth's, Newberry's, Grant's, and

Mercer and I were the first on the streets. Not long ago, I found a copy of a mimeographed letter among my mother's belongings. It was an invitation to black community members to attend a Mass Meeting on July 7 at Shiloh Old Site to plan the next steps because "the Mayor, the City Council, the Retail Merchants Association, the Fredericksburg Ministerial Association, and the Editorial page of the local newspaper all remain silent and non-committal." The black community turned out en masse. These meetings renewed our spirits. By the end of July, sales at

On February 1,1960, students from the North Carolina A &T College sat in at the local whites-only lunch counter in Greensboro. This non-violent act exploded into mass protests all over the South. It reached Fredericksburg that summer. Local high school students, including me, were eager to participate. But first, we were instructed by three adult leaders: Dr. Phillip Wyatt, a local

Peoples Drug Store-all on Caroline Street. Getting there was part of the challenge. There was no public transportation, and very few people had cars. Many of these young people had to walk from the Mayfield section of town in the hottest month of summer. The first day fell around the first of July. I felt immense anxiety, but I also felt proud and courageous. We took our seats at Woolworth's as instructed. The most frightening times were when we were leaving our posts to return to the church. One particular evening, a crowd of whites gathered outside Grant's waving Confederate flags. The crowd chanted "Come out coons! Come out coons!" and other insults. We quietly moved through the crowd and found our way to the safety of Old Site Church. Every day we would report to our stations, sit quietly, and watch the waitresses' nasty stares while the stores almost echoed with emptiness. Obviously, they were losing business. With all four stores' counters covered, we expanded our protest and decided to picket. My best friend Jerine

boycotted stores in the South had dropped by a third, leading their owners to desegregate lunch counters. The news spread all over the South, and by August, three of the stores here in Fredericksburg dropped their segregation policies. People's Drug Store did not. It was still segregated when I left for college in fall1961. I pray that the current protests yield even greater changes-changes that are deeper than pocketbooks. Gaye Todd Adegbalola was born, raised, and still lives in Fredericksburg. She is a griot-a traditional storyteller and musician. The lunch counter is in Woolworth's. photo courtesy of Fredericksburg Area Museum. You can read more about these demonstrations in Ruth Coder Fitzgerald's A Different Story and in Historic Fredericksburg Foundation's oral history interviews with Gaye and her mother.

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September 2020

Senior Care Pain, Pain, Go away By Karl Karch

September is National Pain Awareness month. Pain is that uncomfortable feeling telling you something may be wrong. It can be steady, throbbing, stabbing, aching, pinching, or described in many other ways. Sometimes, it's just a nuisance, like a mild headache. Other times it can be debilitating. As we age, the creaks and kinks get more noticeable and frequent, often indicating something is wrong and, if left undiagnosed and untreated, leads to pain. Pain can bring about other physical symptoms, like nausea, dizziness, weakness, or fatigue. It can cause emotional effects like anger, depression, mood swings or irritability. Furthermore, it can even change your lifestyle and impact your job, relationships, and independence. Pain falls into two categories: acute pain and chronic pain. Acute pain may be mild and last just a moment, or it may be severe lasting weeks or months. In most cases, it disappears when the underlying cause of pain has been treated or healed. The bigger culprit is chronic pain which lasts longer than three months according to the U.S. Center for Health Statistics and often is under treated. Chronic pain can range from mild to severe and can be the result of an initial injury or infection, or a disease such as arthritis that may require ongoing treatment. Chronic pain persists even though an injury has healed. One-third of the people who are living with chronic pain describe it as debilitating in relation to daily tasks. The extent to which pain can negatively affect how a person functions can easily create a ripple effect and lead to other adverse conditions. Chronic pain can: lessen the ability to function and increase dependency on others, create poor quality of sleep resulting in exhaustion and prompting other health issues, limit social activities leading to isolation and depression, and decrease capability for physical activity

September 2020

leading to loss of muscle strength and flexibility and increasing the risk for injury. About 1 in 5 American adults (50 million) and up to half of adults over 65 have chronic pain. The problem is compounded for older adults who often have more than one type of chronic pain. Opioid use is becoming more prevalent among aging adults creating a potential health hazard that could impact professionals as well as family caregivers. AARP found that 40 percent of older adults have chronic pain that is often treated with opioids, yet the American Academy of Pain Medicine found only 58 percent of patients say prescription painkillers effectively treat their pain. In a 2018 study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association, patients with stubborn backaches or hip or knee arthritis found that opioids worked no better than over-the-counter drugs and other nonopioids at reducing chronic problems with walking or sleeping, and they provided slightly less pain relief. Staying active is one of the top ways experts recommend addressing agerelated aches and pains, especially when it involves back, knees, hips, and shoulders The following website provides some simple and effective exercises to help relieve pain in various parts of the body: www.aarp.org/health/conditionstreatments/info-2 2019/best-e exercises-fforpain.html. In addition, walk more and climb stairs rather than taking an elevator or escalator. Another way to increase walking is to park your car further away from an entrance. A side benefit is avoiding dings in your car. Addressing pain early will help maintain quality of life later.

Karl Karch is a Gerontologist and local franchise owner of Home Instead Senior Care, a licensed home care organization providing personal care, companionship and home helper services in the Fredericksburg and Culpeper region.

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Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s All Energy Spleen meridian by christina ferber

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Astrology for You A language of planetary patterns that connect us with universal energies. We are born with unique configurations that can advise us, guide us, help us grow to our highest potential Consultations by Dianne Bachman 540.845.7622 dbachmanlcsw@gmail.com diannebachman.com

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ble at Availa n.com Amazo

As we continue our yearlong journey through the Meridians (energy pathways in the body), this month brings us to the Spleen Meridian. The Spleen Meridian (SP), according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, has a tremendous role to play in the area of metabolism. It not only metabolizes our food, but also helps to process our emotions, thoughts, and experiences. The Spleen, as an energy system, is also associated with the Pancreas, and together these two organs help to breakdown food and worn out tissue, such as red blood cells. An imbalanced SP can lead to digestion issues, exhaustion, stress, and even chronic fatigue because of the role it plays in helping to keep our immune system functioning optimally. Emotionally, we can feel worry, have an inability to understand our experiences and recognize the good in them, and overthink things. We can also have trouble concentrating, be overly concerned with how others view us, and can have low selfesteem. However, when we use techniques to balance SP (like the Eden Energy Medicine exercises listed below), we can feel a fairness toward ourselves and others, be open to our experiences and view them in a positive way, and are open to the possibilities ahead of us. In essence, we can experience compassion and joy toward ourselves and others when SP is balanced. The Spleen Radiant Circuit Activation exercise can help to boost SP as well as an energy system associated with keeping us in a joy filled place. Place your thumb, first and middle fingers in a cluster together (called a 3-finger notch) at the center of your chest and with the other hand, place a three-finger notch on any side of your body toward the bottom of the ribcage, about four inches from the armpit. Hold these points and take deep breaths for as long as it feels good (see diagram).

The Triple Warmer/ Spleen Hug can be done without anyone noticing, and can also calm us down, center us, and balance SP. Place your right hand on the left side of the rib cage, and the left hand on the other arm with the pinky finger at the tip of the elbow. Wrap your hand around the elbow and take three deep breaths. Switch sides and repeat. The Spleen Thump can aid a healthy metabolism and is also part of the Eden Energy Medicine Daily Energy Routine (see my website for this routine). Simply, tap the areas located on both sides of your body at the base of your ribs (see diagram). Working with the Source Point of Spleen can help balance the organ, as well as the Meridian. Rub or press on the point on your foot near your bunion area that is noted in the diagram above. Work this point on both feet. You can also place your hand around your foot and squeeze the sides of it, being sure to cover this point. There are quite a few other ways to balance SP Meridian, and for those exercises, as well as other techniques to balance the energy systems of the body, visit www.itsallenergywellness.com. Christina Ferber is a Certified Eden Energy Medicine Practitioner

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September 2020

Emancipated Patients esport By Patrick Neustatter, MD My immediate response to hearing about schools adopting Esport as part of the official school sports curriculum was "not sure about that." Multiple local high schools and colleges are creating teams to play computer games as a school sport with championships and leagues like any other. There are already multiple national league National organizations, like the Association of College Esports - that has awarded $9million in scholarships since 2016. Shenandoah University is offering bachelor of Science in Esport, and the Washington Post predicted in 2018 that it will be a $1.5 billion business by 2020. A few particularly talented kids are making big bucks playing - one from Colonial Forge HS, reported in the Free Lance-Star claimed to have made $20,000 in a 5 month period. Am I being a dinosaur that it just doesn't seem right to me? Your Whole Life in Front of the Computer One of the main criticisms I have

September 2020

is how much time it requires these kids to spend in front of their computer. The 12 hours a day claim is you have to train 8-1 to be competitive - when the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends no more than 2 hours a day for kids over 12 (and, incidentally, none for kids under 2). Likely at the expense of exercise and face to face social interaction. Gaming can cause repetitive movement injuries, and there are reports of collapsed lungs - The Washington Post reports "players are being warned not to hold their breath during intense moments." Local child and adolescent psychiatrist, Dr. Scott Young, MD, commented in an email response to my inquiry. "In general I don't see any problem with video gaming." It can promote problem solving, teamwork, anticipating consequences, alertness, sportsmanship and provide opportunity to those kids "who are not athletic and have to watch all the successful athletic kids get all the accolades" he says. Research is ongoing about if, and

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how, gaming may have adverse effects on the brains of our progeny - in whose brains we invest so much hope. And there are definite concerns about addiction to video games. Dr. Young does note that the local schools are choosing games like League of Legends and SMITE because they claim they are not as violent as others. Or at least don't encourage sociopathic behavior like Grand Theft Auto or the like. There is some hypocrisy in condemning some of the most violent "shoot-em-up" games, like Call of Duty, he says, because "our society adulates and venerates the soldier/veteran." My comment would be that even though League of Legends and SMITE are not the most violent, you are still killing usually minions and monsters, though sometimes opposing players. Not to mention rampaging and destroying your opponent's home base "Nexus" or "Phoenix" - or whatever they call it. Supervision is Needed The AAP's official publication, Pediatrics (https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/co

ntent/138/2/e20161298), says the answer is supervision and provides a list of recommendations. They have reservations about not celebrating or encouraging violence. In particular "eliminate the use of violence in a comic or sexual context" they say. And some have pretty bad language and frank sexual content. "Manufactures adhere to the classification system" notes Dr. Young, like labelling games MA (mature audience). But, "like cigarettes and vaping teens want to cross the line and manufacturers don't care who buys or plays their product." One hopes schools and colleges would prove responsible in selecting appropriate games for Esport competition for our impressionable kids to play. And parental monitoring is recommended for kids roaming the internet on their own. "We have a large and diverse population hopefully with a niche for everyone" notes Scott Young. "Esports may fill a niche." Patrick Neustatter is the Medical Director of the Moss Free Clinic.

Snowden

About Town

Expands Behavioral Health Care facility By Tamra Wheeler Mary Washington Healthcare (MWHC) recently held a virtual ribbon cutting for the expansion of its behavioral health acute care facility, Snowden at Fredericksburg. Snowden at Fredericksburg is a private, dedicated facility on the campus of Mary Washington Hospital, offering a full spectrum of inpatient, outpatient, community, and emergency care.

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"I am proud of MWHC's commitment to providing resources that allow community members to access behavioral health and medical care services right here in their own backyard. This is crucial for both patients and families in these unprecedented times," said Charles Scercy, Director, Snowden at Fredericksburg. Snowden at Fredericksburg provides mental health inpatient services for adults and adolescents age 13 and up, an adult intensive outpatient treatment program for substance abuse, and adult outpatient programs for both mental health and substance abuse. Highly trained, experienced specialists including psychiatrists and physicians, clinical social workers and licensed professional counselors, registered nurses, and expressive therapists, provide services with the utmost confidentiality and discretion in a safe and caring environment. The virtual ribbon cutting and informational video can be found on MWHC's You Tube channel. "Behavioral health is always a priority, and it's been a desperate need in this community," said Mary Katherine Greenlaw, Mayor, City of Fredericksburg, Virginia. "We are fortunate to have MWHC in our community, and, once

again, its Board of Trustees and leadership has stepped up to meet the healthcare needs of our citizens and those of the entire Fredericksburg region." According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 19.1% of U.S. adults experienced mental illness in 2018 (47.6 million people). Each year, approximately one in five U.S. adults experience mental illness, and one in 25 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness. Tamra Wheeler is the Public Relations Coordinator, MW Healthcare

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September 2020

Art in Burg Art Galleries in September “Home Alone” The Artists' Alliance (AA) at Jarrett Thor Fine Arts 100 Taylor St., Suite 101, Colonial Beach.

Warshaw's September featured-artist show dallies between the 2D and 3D, the manipulation of colors, shapes, sizes and repetition. Her imagination and responses to her readings also helped create these pieces. ~Casey Shaw

Pleased to announce that it has reopened. We are open on Fridays and Saturdays, from 11-4. Our new featured group show, Home Alone, displays work created by our members while on virus home restrictions. AA members are also displaying an array of painting, photography, pottery, sculpture, jewelry, wood furniture, and basketry. Additionally, we have retired our Art for Your Bathroom exhibit, and replaced it with Art for Your Laundry Room. Don't you have bare walls there? The gallery is open to the public free of charge. The gallery can also be visited by appointment. For infol 804 224 7200, 804 224 6007, or 301 452 1333.

“Road Trip”, Stacey Gaglio @Brush Strokes Gallery

All Together - Apart! Brush Strokes Gallery 824 Caroline St. Reopened our doors Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11am to 5 pm.

“Night Scene”, Rob Rudick @The Artists' Alliance

“Dimensional Expressions" Artful Dimensions Gallery 922 Caroline A national juried exhibition of dimensional art will open at Artful Dimensions Gallery on September 4. Artists throughout the country were invited to submit and our juror's selections represent a diverse array of mediums and a high level of creativity ~Sally Cooney Anderson

"SIZE MATTERS" Featuring Art First artist Linda Warshaw First Friday reception, Sept. 4, 6pm to 9pm Exhibit on view through Sept. 27 Open Thurs. Through Sun., 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

“”, Linda Warshaw @Art First Gallery

What does a proton look like? What do up quarks and down quarks look like? How small is the smallest? How big is the biggest? Questions like these were the incentive for Linda Warshaw's latest show.. Choosing quantum mechanics as a theme for an art show was a challenge for the Stafford-based artist. "It was so different a subject. It helped me, though, to get out of my comfort zone and grow as an artist," said Warshaw. "As a theme, I found out that interpretation and representation was boundless! Though I have spent over a year on this show, I have hardly explored all the artistic possibilities. It was a rewarding choice to do; I am glad I persevered and did it."

elements of constancy amidst change. In addition, a number of works connote the reprieve of a short getaway, whether it is through the act of creation referenced by Pete Zincks' "Pick a Pen" welded steel sculpture, Penny A Parrish's ocean scene "Beach Blankets," or the trailer and camp chairs featured in Stacy Gaglio's "Road Trip." Yet two more pieces put this moment in perspective: In her "Ablaze" watercolor painting, Nancy Williams juxtaposes several burning trees with the serenity of the full landscape of mountains and green trees and Norma Woodward shows that there can be a way up and out in her photo-on-aluminum "Spiral Staircase." Online gallery: www.brushstrokesfredericksburg.com. The gallery will also be open by appointment. To ensure the well-being of all, safety protocols, including the use of masks, will be followed. ~Collette Caprara

“Bodie Light at Night” Buddy Lauer @Brushstrokes

The September exhibit could be viewed through a lens that highlights sights and scenes that unite us in heart though we may be physically apart. Images such as Buddy Lauer's "Bodie Light at Night, "The Purina Building" by Sarah Flinn, "Shenandoah Sunset" by Collette Caprara, and the personality of Carol Haynes' "Little Blackie" pet portrait depict

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“Happy Faces”, Beverley Coates 24

September 2020

“Chatham Blooms”, Penny A Parrish “If Walls Could Speak”, Lynn Abbott

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Artist on Site Saturdays

Music on the Steps..... Virtual Concerts in September

Dance Matrix distancing together By Beverly Mendez

There will still be a 35th Annual â&#x20AC;&#x153;Music on the Stepsâ&#x20AC;? Concert. Only it will be virtual due to Covid safety concerns. Here is what is up in September : September 21: Acoustic Onion (Energetic Old School Rock n' Roll) September 28: Haze & Dacey (Original, Folk-p pop, Alt-ccountry, Roots-rrock)

Go to librarypoint.org/music-ssteps for updates, and links to watch. There is also a dial-in number if you are unable to watch online The library hopes to hold live concerts in August outsde the FXB Main Branch, with appropriate social distancing measures. Space at live concerts will be limited. Check for updates as season progresses

(LtoR) Amy Kelly in DMC's THE RIVER WITHIN, performance poet Micki O'Hearn, Abby Buck and Bill Green, and PRISM Dancers featuring Anthea Poole DISTANCING TOGETHER' The 4th Annual Performing Arts Festival Call for Artists Dance Matrix & Company (DMC) is announcing an opportunity for performing artists to come together in a live performance to present their work 'DISTANCING TOGETHER', will be a one day event, Saturday, September 26, 2020, giving the community a taste of the rich and vibrant variety of arts groups and artists in the area. Grants from the Fredericksburg Arts Commission and the Rappahannock Electric Coorperative will give artists a performing opportunity and funding to create new works. The event will be at the Dorothy Hart Community Center in downtown Fredericksburg, VA. In case of Covid restrictions and the community center is closed, the Festival will be held at Old Mill Park in a covered pavilion. We will follow all the rules to insure the safety of all performers and attendees, such as: masks, social distancing, designated areas for different performers/groups, hand sanitizer stations, and limited numbers of audiences as suggested by the CDC and Virginia state guidelines. DMC is inviting artists ages 18 and up to apply: to perform in the evening show, to teach afternoon classes and

workshops, or to display their works in an exhibit. The planning committee hopes that artists of many different genres will apply; actors, choreographers, dancers, directors, musical theater, musicians, poets, singers, and more. Students and artists under 18 must be submitted through a producing organization. Check out the Emerging Artist Program on our website dancematrixcompany.com for details Information and applications can be found on the company's web site at dancematrixcompany.com and for questions, contact DMC at liv2dns@earthlink.net DMC is a nonprofit Arts Production Company sustained by grants and donations. The money raised goes to support local professional performing artists by awarding them stipends to create new works. DMC also houses a professional dance company of adult dancers. Dance artists over 18 can continue their creative work with the company while they raise families and work in The 'burg Beverly Mendez is the Artistic Director DMC. She can be reached at dancematrixcompany.com. Photos by Bob Prinn.

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September 2020

Princess Moss UMW aLUM WINS NATIONAL EDUCATION vp POSITION by lISA cHINN mARVASHTI A position Princess Moss won last week with the National Education Association (NEA) will give her a larger voice for teachers and students throughout the country. A 1983 Mary Washington graduate, Moss will trade her current post as secretary-treasurer of the nation's largest professional organization, representing three million educators, to become vice president. She was a University of Mary Washington music major when she began her nearly four decades of service with NEA, becoming a student member of the affiliated Virginia Education Association (VEA), of which she later served two terms

she's held influential positions, supporting the NEA's mission to ensure students receive well-rounded educations and advocating for the arts in schools. Moss credits her success, at least in part, to her undergraduate career, which gave her strong leadership and communication skills, she told University of Mary Washington Magazine in 2014. That year, she was elected secretary-treasurer of the NEA, and spent two three-year terms overseeing the multimillion-dollar budget and fiscal integrity of the organization, for which she has held leadership positions at national, state and local levels. Virginia

College of Education (COE) Advisory Board, she received the University's Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2006 and served on the UMW Board of Visitors from 2007 to 2011. Last month she joined COE Dean Pete Kelly and Spotsylvania County Schools Director of Human Resources Melanie KayWyatt '92 to teach "The Pandemic's Impact on K-12 Education," the final installment of UMW's free eightweek online "COVID-19 in Context" summer course. "Princess Moss is a passionate and powerful advocate for teachers and the teaching profession," Kelly said. "The COE and our students benefit from her service and support on the COE Advisory Board. I feel fortunate to have her as an advisor, a colleague, and a friend." Moss has been "unapologetic and relentless" in her fight for students to receive support and resources, outgoing NEA President Lily Eskelsen GarcĂa said in a release last week on the neaToday website.

as president. With the COVID-19 crisis further exposing inequities in public schools, Moss wants teachers to know that, in her new role announced last week, she will work to provide safe learning spaces for all, and that she stands with them. She's been there, having spent 21 years in the classroom as a public school elementary music teacher. Along the way,

Governors Mark Warner and Tim Kaine both tapped her to serve on the commonwealth's P-16 Education Council, which coordinates education reform from preschool through higher learning. Moss earned a mas ter's degree in elementary and secondary administration and supervision from the University of Virginia. A member of Mary Washington's

"Our students are not for sale," Moss said, renouncing the promotion of vouchers that divert funding from public schools, on a recent promo video for her bid for the NEA vice presidency. To teachers, she said: "I am in awe of you. You're always there for your students, sometimes putting your own lives at risk, making sure your students have what they need in order to be successful."

In the video, she pledged to continue her service to the NEA, working to ensure strength, stability and future growth for the organization, putting it in the position to navigate crises, such as the current pandemic, in the rapidly evolving world of public education. "You know me. You know my work. You know my heart â&#x20AC;Ś " Moss said in the video. "Working together, we can change the world. Let's do it."

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

Highlighting Local People, Places & Events Since 1997 26

September 2020

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TidBits small bites of local News Changes Coming to William Street William Street is currently being repaved as part of the City's ongoing paving maintenance plan. The full project will extend from the Blue and Gray Parkway to Washington Avenue. Rehabilitating this major travel corridor for downtown Fredericksburg will include a new striping plan and more parking spaces where this route courses through College Heights. City traffic staff have been discussing options to improve safety along William Street for some time. The speed limit is 35 MPH, for instance, which can make pedestrian crossings a challenge. At one time, William Street functioned as a major east-west roadway. The Blue and Gray Parkway has since drawn off a significant amount of through-traffic, which allows renewed attention to City neighborhood needs. Parking has also been an issue for many years. A more efficient use of the available pavement between existing curbs can provide more parking as well as calm traffic speeds. The City's Traffic Division has evaluated the overall William Street corridor and has developed a striping plan that will be implemented once the current resurfacing project is completed. From College Avenue headed west, the City will narrow the road from two travel lanes to one, to establish 25 on-street parking spaces on the west side of the street. In turn, the consolidated travel lane will facilitate dropping the speed limit from 35 to 25 MPH. This will allow for the installation of two pedestrian crossings. One painted crosswalk will be located at Stafford Avenue/Adams Street and the other will be at Daniel Street. These changes will provide pedestrian safety benefits as well as additional parking, without compromising the function of the roadway. Although some work has been performed at night so far, all remaining work will occur during daylight hours. We anticipate that the new pavement markings between the Blue and Gray

Parkway and College Avenue will be in place and the lower speed limit in effect by the end of August. For updates regarding how traffic may be affected by this road work, please sign-up for Fredericksburg City Traffic Advisories at FredericksburgAlert.com. Look for the list "Traffic Alerts" (located under General Community Updates). For more information, please visit Fredericksburgva.gov or call 540-3721010.

~ Sonja Cantu Visitor Center Now Open The Fredericksburg Visitor Center has reopened with measures in place to help keep people socially distanced. The Visitor Center, which is at 706 Caroline Street in Downtown Fredericksburg, had been closed since this spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Visitor Center re-opened Wednesday and will now be open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Customized face masks are available for purchase in person, allowing visitors to safely enjoy Fredericksburg's beautiful downtown. Click here for a list of open businesses and institutions (including the Fredericksburg Area Museum, which reopened this week as well). We can't wait to see you back at the Visitor Center soon! ~ Bill Freehling

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September 2020

Companion recipe for your pet’s health by Gerri Reid dvm

The School Year has started and for many it is rather different. Virtual learning is the way of learning for our children and for many parents working from home is now the new way of making a living. For our pets, it will be a change to have the whole family home every day. They will become our company that sits in the office while we work taking that never ending nap that we all wish we could take! As we all adjust to our new way of life and our organized chaos, we can't forget about the Family pet! Here are some reminders for keeping your pet happy and healthy! You may ask yourself…when was the last time my pet has been to the Vet? If you can't remember, well, it may be time to call for an appointment. Many pet owners get into the habit that they only take their pet to the vet for vaccines. Well, routine annual exams become important even if your pet is up-to-date on its vaccines. Even if you feel your pet is healthy, having your pet seen yearly can be very beneficial and insightful! Here's how: A routine annual exam can definitely ensure that your pet stays on a healthy path. A lot of changes can occur in a year! At the visit, your Veterinarian will be able to monitor your pet's weight. You will be surprised how many pounds your pet can put on in 1 year. Overweight pets are more prone to joint/hip issues and can be more prone to diabetes. Therefore, having an annual exam can address weight gain and your Veterinarian can suggest a good weight plan. This plan may include reducing the amount of food and treats given each day to increasing your pet's exercise. Keeping your pet's weight healthy is the key to your pet's overall health.

September 2020

As your pet gets older, your Veterinarian may recommend to do some lab tests such as annual bloodwork. We tend to recommend bloodwork starting at age 5-7 years as these are the years we can begin to see changes. This test will monitor your pet's kidneys, liver and thyroid, signs of any infection and any diseases such as diabetes and thyroid disease. I always believe that we should take a Preventative approach to our pet's health. Routine bloodwork will help your Veterinarian identify any problems and address/treat them in a timely manner. We should never wait for the pet to be sick to do bloodwork. For ourselves, we go to the Doctor and they will requests yearly bloodwork for our health and wellness. The same applies to your pets. With the advancements of Veterinary Medicine, diseases such as kidney disease can be managed and your pet can maintain a rather heathy life. Your pet's health is important not only to you but to your Veterinarian. Managing your pet's health is a two-way street. Your Veterinarian will make a recommendation to see your pet yearly but it is up to you to follow thru. As long as I have been practicing, I am a firm believer that prevention is key. The best investment you can make is in your pet's health! Call your Veterinarian and schedule your pet's annual exam today!

Gerri S. Reid is the Owner/Veterinarian of Reid Mobile Veterinary Services. has been named “2020 Best Veterinarian in the “Burg, 540-623-3029; reidmobilevetservices.com

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Astrology & You THE POETRY MAN

Are Men Really from mars? By Dianne Bachman

By Frank Fratoe

house, our beginning, our act of continually becoming. This calls up images of extroversion, boldness, courage, initiation, and high energy. Venus is yin energy and is earth, making it more an inner process of harmony, grounding, sustenance, and beauty. In this way we can see that the planets have much more to teach us if we look beneath the surface of stereotype.

Come Home The most wondrous spot on land is wherever you happen to dwell if you would only consider how after changing billions of years it has become exactly what it is.. At this very juncture in space envision a cosmos with your mind where wisdom has redone itself giving you the core of knowledge to try exploration once again. Yes, proceed beyond the horizon and voyage to realms far-away but come home at journeyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s end to realize that where you began is remarkable place on Earth. Frank Fratoe lives & writes in the city.he loves.

If you identify as a man are you from Mars? I am a woman and I have a Mars, so does that mean I'm not from Venus? Well, the answer is we all have a Mars and we all have a Venus and it gets tricky when we assign gender to planets. Personally, I like to keep gender out of the discussion when it comes to planetary energies. Our understanding of astrology and ultimately our understanding of ourselves is sculpted by our culture and customs. In our culture Mars and Venus are highly charged with gender stereotypes and these prevent us from going deep into a place of knowing the true Self. Certainly, they prevent us from getting beyond the superficial. Here is a more helpful way to look at the planets without getting mired in the dogma. There are two categories of energy that planets manifest: yin energy and yang energy. Yin pulls energy inward; its process and focus are internal. Yang pushes energy outward, is dynamic and external. Each planet also possesses the essence of an element (earth, water, fire, air). These elements interact with yin or yang energy, creating a unique dynamic. So, let's use Mars and Venus for examples to illustrate how this works. Mars is yang and the element is fire. It rules the first

Now that we have tweaked our vision of Mars, let's take a peek at this planet's upcoming retrograde and what that might mean for us. For those who do not know what retrograde is, it is a perceived change in the movement of a planet through the sky. The planet appears to be traveling in reverse, but it is an illusion created by our view of the retrograde planet from the earth. The earth's orbit is moving faster than the retrograde planet at a particular time of the year. Mars will station retrograde on September 9 and will stay there until November 13, 2020. Mars stations retrograde about every year and a half or so. If you would like to see where Mars retrograde will be impacting you, locate between 28 degrees to 15 degrees Aries in your birth chart, give or take 5 degrees on either side. What house does Aries rule in your chart and which of your planets are in Aries? Do they make any significant angles (conjunctions, squares, oppositions, sextiles, or trines) to other significant points or planets? In general, retrograde Mars can be a time of overdrive, making it difficult for some to relax. Retrograde motions tend to direct energies inward and Mars is a planet that is yang, so it isn't quite comfortable hanging back and listening to the grass grow. It's a bit like gunning the accelerator of your car and at the same time pushing down on the brakes. Tension

can build from a slow boil to a burst of scalding steam if we don't mind our minds and our bodies! Making sure to eat nutritious foods, getting adequate exercise and taking time to rest and relax are all ways to manage these potentially volatile energies. Mars retrograde can make it difficult to face situations head-on, so you may want to postpone any confrontation or launch of a major project. If you can't, then using a journal or some other tool for self-awareness can be a godsend. It will allow you to sort feelings and to defuse any untended psychological land mines. Retrogrades are always a fantastic opportunity to grow in our understanding of our selves as we take our yearly trips around the Sun. Other astrological points of interest for September 2020: Jupiter, Pluto, and Saturn are still hunkered down in Capricorn. Pluto will remain in retrograde throughout the month, but Jupiter stations direct on September 12 and Saturn stations direct on the 29th. This threesome will be squaring Mars (which will be in retrograde). Look at 17 to 25 degrees Capricorn is in your chart. Full Moon in Pisces, September 2 at 1:22 a.m. The Sun in Virgo brings a sense of realism and focus to our dreams but be careful not to limit your imagination. Sun enters Libra at 9:31 a.m. on the 22nd. New Moon in Virgo, September 17, bringing a focus on how we serve ourselves and others and how we strive (or don't) to be the very best version of ourselves. Diane Bachman is a psychotherapist & astrologer practicing in FXBG. Reach her at dbachmanlcsw@gmail.com â&#x20AC;&#x153;'Are Men Really from Mars' artwork--a poster of the 1953 Invaders from Mars.

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September 2020

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By Paula Raudenbush

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Where Fredericksburg Gets Engaged

Merryman’s & Soup n’Taco . Sometimes the most mundane scene can make the most interesting sketch. It's one thing to draw the beautiful, the elegant, the well-known places in town but I often gravitate to those with a bit more grit. I sketched this scene of Merryman's Service Center and Soup 'n Taco II from my car. The same challenges exist for the sketcher no matter what the subject. What do I include and what edit out? Should I do it in black and white or add color? How do I best show the perspective? With a sketch like this one, I decide what parts I want to focus on, find the center, and work outwards from there. This sketch is about 5" square. I love drawing utility poles and lines but my sketching nemesis is vehicles. This seemed like a good place to practice. Paula Raudenbush is a local artist and organizer of the Fredericksburg Chapter of Urban Sketchers International (on Facebook at Urban Sketchers Fredericksburg).

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September 2020

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Porch Light Stories that Shine a Light on Life

the saga of the groundhog by collette caprara peaches, which fell to the ground as hollow shells. This year an entirely new nemeses emerged-the Groundhog. At first, we knew the stranger only as a mysterious presence that, unobserved, ate the flowers of Groundhog Scoping Out Prospects at Ferry Farm every squash plant before they had a chance to produce fruit. We identified the villain one day At a time when people are when we walked by a neighbor's house a longing for some element of normalcy and few doors down. Upon seeing her in her consistency, I am pleased to report there yard, we started up a conversation, asking is one thing that has never changed in our how she was coping with the unique athousehold: My husband's annual quest to home weeks we were experiencing. protect the fruits of his gardening efforts from opportunist plant-eating creatures. But our neighbor didn't have a lot of time for chit-chat. She was on a When most folks think of mission, patrolling her environs and gardening equipment, images of shovels, searching for the culprit who was digging spades, and rakes may come to mind. But holes around her lawn and under her my husband's tools also include a plethora house and raiding her garden. She had of innovative gadgets and contraptions tracked down the unwelcomed interloper that he invents to defeat the enemy in a and identified him as a Groundhog. She yearly contest with neighborhood critters truly had a sense of mission--not only to who lie in wait to get to the harvest before protect her yard and house , but also to we do. carry on the legacy of her husband, who had dutifully defended his premiere In past years, the bandits have garden each year from a herd of deer who been a bevy of bold squirrels who engage passed word around that there was a with my husband in competition for the "country buffet" in the 'Hood. fruit from our lone peach tree. One year, this battle escalated to the point where he My husband shared his surrounded the trunk with the barrier of experience of the garden raids, and our a huge cardboard billboard-which seemed neighbor confirmed that the culprit must to accomplish its mission of making the be one and the same. She equipped my tree squirrel-proof. But the victory would husband with a large animal trap and be brief. The tree succumbed to a swarm advised that we should release it far from of neighborhood honey bees that feasted the neighborhood if the trapping on each and every one of the ripened

endeavor was successful. That evening, my husband Googled to find the best bait to use and found a list that included fresh carrots, lettuce, and tomatoes. (I made an unwelcome comment in an attempt to add a touch of humor to the situation, asking if it also included a white linen tablecloth, noting that I thought the menu had been posted online by the groundhog.) The trap sat dutifully at the edge of the garden for days but to no avail---and emerging plants, once again, disappeared during the night. As an added protective measure, my husband went through the house, collecting baby gates and pet screens that we had accumulated through the years, as well as a variety of tarps and flattened cardboard boxes. If the sight of a ravaged garden was an eyesore, it was dwarfed by the image of the giant fence of junk that was created. Then one day as we sat on our screened porch, we caught sight of the critter munching on the leaves of flowers in our back garden. My husband went down the steps and confirmed that the interloper was the gluttonous groundhog. But that was the moment that the "enemy" disappeared for good-not because he fled to the ravine below, but because he was so cute, and chubby, clumsy, and winsome that he changed our hearts.

My husband proclaimed that, like us, he needed food, and that our garden's bounty should be shared. In following days, when we saw our new friend scamper by, we called out a little hello. The disappearance of the villain was accomplished not by the elimination of the little creature, but by our change in perspective.

Collette Caprara is a local writer and artist. Photos are from I Dig George by Noelle Chason Hall, illustrated by Collette Caprara

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Articles inside

tidbits

PORCHLIGHT: the groundhog saga

astrology & you

Senior Care: pain, pain, go away

art in the burg

emancipated patients:: esport

Gaye’s memories of 1960 fxbg sit-in

history s stories: dr urbane bass what’s in a vision? makers district

stories of fxbg: Maria’s Story

counting on you

bulletin board

fxbg food coop begins construction

In the Garden: lawn or natural landscape

fxbg main street receives grant

i have a friend: staying in touch

b101.5 care-a-thon