AHalfYearToRemember three people three quick stories

Anne a pioneer. "How she plays, how she interacts." He says, "Grace Anne is a shining example of bringing your best to the gamewhatever that game is-and that opens doors to new venues and new opportunities."

In her life away from golf, Grace Anne has worked in food services at UMW for 27 years. On campus they call her "Amazing Grace".

By ted schubel

He says night in night out you can feel the energy in the stadium because of his entire staff. "Our sound guy spends so much time cutting up clips and trying to engage with everyone who is sitting down"

It's become a tradition of ours to look back at the previous year. We'll do that again at the end of 2023. But just like kids like to have a half-birthday party, we highlight three people who've already had a year to remember in the first half of the year.

Grace Anne Braxton (above) continues to dominate Special Olympics golf on the WORLD stage. Grace Anne is a regular at Fredericksburg County Club But...In July she won the silver medal in Berlin at the World games. Competing against men and women. Competing against men, Grace Anne says, "I'm not as strong and can't hit it as long. But I can play against them." She does that my practicing constantly at FCC and other courses on the east coast.

She's participated in five Word Games-previously winning the silver in Abu Dhabi, the gold in Greece and the gold in China.

Special Olympics Virginia President David Thomason calls Grace

Helping tell all of history is Dr Gaila Sims She's been here for a year as the Curator of African American History and Special Projects at the Fredericksburg Area Museum. Sims put together the powerful display for the slave auction block at the FAM that opened late last year. She's working on what panels and stories will be told where the block used to reside at the corner of William and Charles Streets.

Dr. Sims was excited to see the John Washington marker at Foode on Princess Anne Street that tells the story of a freed slave. Sims says, "It's powerful. That restaurant is Black owned but there is also now a marker whenever anyone walks down that street they can think of John M. Washington." (Honorable mention to Chris Williams and Victoria Matthews and their stellar work on the Civil Rights Trail too as half-birthday accomplishments)

The Fredericksburg Nationals continue to be one of the leaders in all of Minor League Baseball. Their new General Manager is Robbie Perry (right)

While Robbie has the GM title, he's credits everyone working around him.

His goal is make your time at the stadium memorable. "I never played baseball in my life," he says. "I grew up overseas. Yet, Robbie Perry says, "If you like baseball there's no better park to watch baseball with our sight lines and young talent. If you're not a fan, come to the game. I promise you'll have a great time. You'll be entertained."

Three people. Three quick stories. What stories will develop during the rest of 2023?