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T he Volume 39, Number 31
Sports
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Area swim meet roundup
School sales tax holiday Aug. 7-9 page 8
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Stratford Hall executive director dies in cycling accident out,” said Glover. Tributes poured in from others in The well-known and popular the Northern Neck Region, many executive director of historic of them noting Reber’s passion for Stratford Hall was killed last week drawing visitors to the area. “This is a devastating blow in a tragic accident while cycling in to tourism,” said King George rural Westmoreland County. Paul Reber, 56, was fatally injured Supervisor Ruby Brabo, who had when his bicycle collided with a worked with Reber on the Northern tractor-trailer as he was riding on Neck Tourism Commission (NNTC) for the last four years. “Paul was such State Route 604. “On behalf of the entire Stratford a great advocate for tourism and Hall family, including board he saw the economic development members, staff, and supporters, we potential of the assets of each of the are all shocked at the loss,” said individual counties in the Northern Custis Glover, president of the Robert Neck. He’s definitely irreplaceable.” The Virginia State Police are still E. Lee Memorial Association, which investigating the accident, which owns and operates Stratford Hall. “Paul has had a great impact on occurred on July 22 just north of State all of us, and Stratford has benefitted Route 607, Kinsale Bridge Road. Law from his leadership and guidance, his enforcement officers said Reber, who energy, love of history and the Lees, lived in Kinsale, was traveling south his involvement in his community on Route 604, Sandy Point Road, on and the Northern Neck. He was his bicycle when he was passed by a deeply committed to ensuring 2001 Peterbilt truck. “There was room on the road for Stratford’s well being, day in and day Richard Leggitt
both the bicycle and the truck, but for some reason the bicycle came into contact with the right side of the tractor as it passed,” said an investigating officer. The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured in the crash and has not been charged. Reber, who frequently traveled the Westmoreland County back roads on his Cannondale Supersix bicycle, was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Badly injured by the collision, he was rushed by helicopter to the VCU Medical Center in Richmond. He died at the hospital Thursday night. In addition to his work at Stratford Hall, Dr. Reber was chairman of the Northern Neck Tourism Commission and a board member of the Virginia Tourism Corporation. “Paul was a tireless advocate for increased tourism in the Northern See DIRECTOR, page 8
Photo courtesy of Stratford Hall
Paul Reber poses in front of Stratford Hall, birthplace of Gen. Robert E. Lee, in this undated photo. Reber, who served as Stratford Hall’s executive director, died due to a July 22 cycling accident in Westmoreland County.
Honoring America’s lost warriors: Davey’s Battle Brothers Ride 2015 set for Aug. 15 Linda Farneth
Photo courtesy of Sonja Ruhen
Jim Bell , Jimmy Brinkley and Edward Lewis stand next to the grave of Sgt. David Ruhen while Scott McMillion sings “Drink a Beer” by Luke Bryan during a ceremony at the 2014 Davey’s Battle Brothers Ride The annual ride, which runs from Fredericksburg to Quantico Cemetery to Manassas raises money to help the families of America’s killed and wounded warriors.
Sonja Ruhen has turned the tragedy of her son’s sacrifice into an opportunity to pay tribute to all those who America has lost, honor those who serve and raise money for veterans by hosting Davey’s Battle Brothers Ride 2015 on Aug. 15 starting at the Mason-Ruhen Readiness Center National Guard Armory “Dec 21, 2004 was a day that changed the lives of so many. It left some with so many questions and others in a place of non-belief,” Ruhen said. “This was a day when a suicide bomber walked into a mess hall in Mosul Iraq filled with American soldiers and ignited a bomb. That was the day our country mourned the loss of 14 amazing lives and left so many others with injuries that in some cases may never heal. Those of us who were hit the hardest were those who lost the most, our husbands, uncles, brothers and child.” On that fateful day Sgt. David
Allen Ruhen, a native of Stafford County, was standing amongst the 14 American soldiers that were killed in that mess hall. Since that day, Ruhren has continued to support America’s protectors and honor its fallen soldiers. One of the events Ruhren created was “Davey’s Ride” in 2007 – a motorcycle ride that helps raise funds for wounded warriors and their families. Throughout the years “Davey’s Ride” has helped college-bound high school graduates on their paths to reaching their goals with scholarships. It’s helped children of fallen soldiers ensure a nice Christmas and it has raised funds for “Hope For The Warriors” In 2014, the 10-year anniversary of the loss of Sgt. Ruhen, the ride was renamed to “Davey’s Battle Brothers Ride” to let it be known that this ride supports and honors all of America’s military service members past, present and future. Since that year the ride has raised funds for “Serve Our Willing Warriors.”
For over seven years SOWW has been in operation helping wounded and ill soldiers feel a little taste of home during their stays at Walter Reed and Fort Belvior Community Hospital. Annual events include gift-giving at holidays, summer cookouts and visitation with lonely service members and family members. To learn more about SOWW go to willingwarriors.org. Ruhen said, Davey’s Battle Brothers Ride is not only to raise funds. It has become an opportunity for all to come together in a day of remembrance, a day of honor, a day of respect, but mostly it’s a day to say thank you and “You will never be forgotten” to those who have died in defense of America. This year’s ride will start at Fredericksburg’s recently renamed “Mason-Ruhren Readiness Center,” so named in honor of Sgt. Ruhren and Sgt. Nicholas Mason of King George,
Downtown Colonial Beach Steering Committee seeks non-profit status Linda Farneth The Downtown Colonial Beach Steering Committee is now operating with a board of directors, complete with officers. The group made the move in order to apply for incorporation and non-profit status. Downtown Colonial Beach was organized to carry out the work of revitalization after grant money has been used to carry out initial improvements. The town has been approved for two revitalization grants. The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development has granted the town a Revitalization Block Grant in the amount of $747,000 to revitalize downtown Colonial Beach. Meanwhile, the Virginia Department of Transportation has awarded the town a Transportation Alternative Project (TAP) Grant in the amount of $542,000 to install a pedestrian plaza at the end of Colonial Avenue.
The first phase of revitalization will not only change the physical appearance in the downtown area, but will also seek to change the economy as well. By forming an organization to market and promote the Historic Resort Commercial Boardwalk area and by offering small business loans, town leaders hope tourism will increase and job opportunities will open up. After both grants have been implemented, the downtown area stretching from Washington Avenue to the boardwalk and from Colonial Avenue to Hawthorne Street will have undergone a complete make over. Pedestrian plazas will be placed at Colonial Avenue and Hawthorne to frame out the downtown area. Decorative street lamps and furniture will line the streets and boardwalk. Repaving of the boardwalk where needed and expansion of pedestrian areas will help alleviate congestion
during busy tourist weekends. Downtown Colonial Beach will follow “Main Street” guidelines to maintain the work done in the project area and continue helping to grow business in Colonial Beach after the projects have been completed. Main Street is a national concept that promotes historic preservation and community to foster revitalization. The four-step plan uses organization, promotion, design and economic restructuring activities to help localities find their historical niche and build on their natural resources to attract tourism. Roughly 15 members now make up the board of directors and officers for the Downtown Colonial Beach Steering Committee. The group will attend two workshops in August. Tourism Development Specialist, Sandra Tanner of the Virginia Tourism Corporation will conduct two visioning workshops to brainstorm ways to bring tourism into the town.
Photo by Linda Farneth
A view of the Boardwalk looking towards Colonial Avenue. The boardwalk will undergo concrete repairs and will be enhanced with new vegetation, trees and seating, among the many improvements planned for the downtown area.
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See RIDE, page 8