Stafford Magazine | December 2021/January 2022

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Wry Reports A ‘WHEEL’ WINNER BAND TOGETHER COMPOSTING INITIATIVE

Major Shawn Kimmitz is a behind-the-scenes social media star

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CONTENTS

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www.staffordmagazine.com Stafford Magazine is published every other month and distributed to over 9,000 selected addresses. While reasonable care is taken with all material submitted to Stafford Magazine, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to any such material. Opinions expressed in articles are strictly those of the authors. While ensuring that all published information is accurate, the publisher cannot be held responsible for any mistakes or omissions. Reproduction in whole or part of any of the text, illustrations or photographs is strictly forbidden. ©2021 Rappahannock Media LLC.

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NEIGHBORS

A ‘Wheel’ Good Time Stafford math teacher triumphant on game show

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AMAZING KIDS

Banding Together High school musicians raise funds for local food bank

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NONPROFITS

COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY NEWS

Kindness Shines

Feeding Life

Ellie’s Elves poised to help families in crisis

Embrey Mills couple creates composting initiative

New superintendent, Amazon announcement, and more

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COVER STORY

Wry Reports Stafford Sheriff’s Department Major Shawn Kimmitz is a behind-the-scenes social media star

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BUSINESS

Building Success Business owner, motivational speaker shares his secrets

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VOICES

Christmas in Wartime ON THE COVER: Stafford County Sheriff’s Department Major Shawn Kimmitz is the voice behind the office’s sometimes humorous social media posts.

Photo by David Fawcett.

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NEIGHBORS

A ‘Wheel’ Good Time Local math teacher triumphant on game show

BY T R ACY B EL L

A

s a child, Sean Belako spent every day watching “Wheel of Fortune” with his grandfather while he did his homework.

Belako is now a sixth-grade math teacher at Stafford’s T. Benton Gayle Middle School and might not recommend that gameplan to his students, but it’s a memory he cherishes – and it made him a lifelong fan of the show.

Belako recalled that his grandfather, Alex, who was known as “Grandpap” and has since passed, would compliment him on being a good puzzle solver and remark that he should go on the show one day.

He was right. This fall, Belako raked in $56,850 on an episode of “Wheel of Fortune” and said the experience was “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

“I really felt like my Grandpap was with me,” he said of his time on the show, which aired Oct. 20.

Belako, who lives in the Malvern Lakes subdivision, won $17,850 in the show’s main round and then moved on to the bonus round. There he solved the puzzle, “Lightweight Hoodie,” and won a cash prize of $39,000 – for a grand total of $56,850.

In the main round, he prevailed over competitors Anne Benovil-Murphy, a U.S. Air Force veteran and pharmacist from Lorton, and Keisha Andrews-Veney, a teacher from Upper Marlboro, Md. The trio represented the Washington area as part of the show’s “Great American Cities Week” – featuring a different city each day.

Belako, known to his students for wearing bow ties, sported a light-blue dress shirt and purple bow tie for the show. Host Pat Sajak introduced him as a father of two and a big fan of 1980s pop culture and music, including Duran Duran.

Apparently, Sajak could relate, reminiscing about the band Air Supply and asking Belako whether he likes Night Ranger.

“I could do Night Ranger,” Belako said, nodding and amused.

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Sean Belako celebrates with host Pat Sajak after winning $39,000 in the bonus round during his appearance on “Wheel of Fortune.”

This is Belako’s fourth year teaching at Gayle; he previously taught at Rocky Run Elementary School for 17 years.

“I knew I wanted to be a teacher since the fourth grade,” he said.

Belako has lived in the area for 21 years – in Stafford for 18 of them – and his sons, Nicholas and Benjamin, attend Stafford High School. For six weeks after the show’s taping, he kept it a secret that he won – even from his family.

“That was the fun of it,” he said. “Nobody knew.”

When the show aired, family, students and coworkers were thrilled, but Belako didn’t want to look at his phone as it exploded with excited callers. He preferred to take in the moment and let it sink in.

His winnings will come in handy as an investment in his sons’ education, he imagines.

But how did Belako’s stint on the show come about?

Rewind to June, when school was out and Belako had some free time, so he finally took his shot.

As a fan of the show, Belako has a Spin ID, which allows viewers to win prizes from home when contestants win. That actually

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never worked out, but after some “Wheel of Fortune” emails that encouraged people to audition, he applied to be on the show and sent in a video.

He took part in a virtual audition two weeks later, playing games and solving puzzles. Then, he waited but wasn’t holding his breath.

He was told he’d hear in two weeks to a month if he was selected to be on the show.

But to Belako’s surprise, an email popped up four days later saying that he had been selected.

“It was surreal,” he said. “I about fell over.”

Before he knew it, Belako was on a plane to Los Angeles, submitting to COVID-19 tests and eventually quarantining with 17 other contestants.

Producers told them they’re looking for a certain personality, not necessarily the best puzzle solver.

He learned that a million people audition every year, with only about 600 making the cut.

“Wow, that’s slim odds,” he recalled thinking, having practiced with an app to prepare.

At the studio, he and his group met with

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Sajak and Vanna White for a fun Q&A, and a “very nice” White greeted the group at a breakfast to wish them luck. He described Sajak as “very witty.”

A couple of surprises: The studio was much smaller than it looks on television and the wheel was heavy.

Six shows were taped in one day, with his episode set to air on a Wednesday.

There was also no audience.

After all, Belako explained, pandemic precautions were in full force, “very cautious,” and time was well-managed.

The group of 18 needed to stay inside the building, and they even lined up for bathroom trips, allowed to enter one at a time for social distancing.

The contestants were advised: “Have fun, cheer each other on; those 28 minutes will go by before you know it.”

Indeed, it was a whirlwind of excitement, and everybody at the show was great, Belako said.

“They’ve got it down to a science and it was a great experience,” he added. “I enjoyed every moment.”

And surely, Grandpap would be proud.

Tracy Bell is a freelancer living in Stafford County.

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AMAZING KIDS

Banding Together High school musicians raise funds for food bank ARTICLE AND PHOTOS

BY PAUL L AR A

S

tafford County families continue to reach out and help others, as evidenced by the attendance at the Stafford Public Schools’ 10th year of a tradition known as Band Together.

More than 300 high school musicians, color guard members, twirlers and student sound technicians gathered at Mountain View High School in early November for a cause.

Participating bands from Brooke Point, North Stafford, Mountain View, Stafford and Colonial Forge high schools each took turns on the field presenting a special threesong theme. Between sets, the stadium press box issued AirGrams of family members wishing their students well and congratulating them for their scholastic and musical successes.

This event marked a decade of the school system helping to spread awareness of local food insecurity, said Sandra Osborne, the school system’s director of public and community relations. The effort benefits the

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Fredericksburg Regional Food bank “The event seems to get a bit bigger each year,” she added.

Band Together to Fight Hunger grew out of a conversation between Stafford high school band directors over several years.

The directors realized that the marching bands, with their unique large-scale organization, highly motivated students and equally motivated parents could join together and make a powerful difference for those who are less fortunate and dealing with difficult circumstances.

Working closely with the food bank, the evening was centered on the needs of the community, and as families arrived to watch their students perform, they dropped off nonperishable food at the gate.

The food bank serves Stafford, as well as some of the surrounding counties in which numerous Stafford school teachers, staff members and county employees reside.

Last year’s COVID restrictions led to a

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digital fundraiser that showcased video of earlier years’ performances, but the event was in person this year.

Dan Mahr, president and CEO of the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank, said the event is possible only through widespread community participation. The food bank works with 31 partner agencies, schools and businesses and supplied 861,000 meals to Stafford residents in the past year, he added.

“It takes enormous resources to do so,” Mahr added. He noted that 29% of the food insecurity in children in the region is in Stafford.

“Were it not for basic needs being met, then it would be impossible for you to thrive,” Mahr told the band members.

“We are so grateful that this community recognizes what a basic need access to food is, and uses this event to provide this throughout the county. We are so grateful that these band students – and those who

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advise them – have that spirit of support, that spirit of commitment, and we feel fortunate to be a conduit to express that commitment to so many peers here in Stafford County.”

At the evening’s conclusion, all bands gathered on field to comprise the Grand Master Marching Band to perform “America the Beautiful,” conducted by Douglas Armstrong, former band director at both Brooke Point and Mountain View high schools, one of the founding members of Band Together and the 2003 Virginia Teacher of the Year.

The donors were invited on the field, and after check presentations to the five drum majors, it was announced that this year’s fundraising total came to $13,500, which Mahr said would allow the food bank to provide 27,000 meals to the community.

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Paul Lara is a reporter and photographer for InsideNoVa. He can be reached at plara@insidenova.com.

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NONPROFITS

Kindness Shines

Ellie’s Elves poised to help families in crisis

BY T R ACY B EL L

J

Joni Kanazawa (front, center in photo above) founded Ellie’s Elves in memory of a friend’s 2-year-old daughter (right), who died of a rare brain cancer.

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oni Kanazawa never forgot her grandmother’s favorite saying.

“I shall pass this way but once. Any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being, let me do it now.

Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”

Years later, in 2013, the Fredericksburg resident founded Ellie’s Elves, a nonprofit that supports families facing an unexpected crisis, such as a cancer diagnosis or a house fire.

Kanazawa hopes Ellie’s Elves can “be the light” for those who find themselves in a dark place.

The charity, inspired by a 2-year-old named Ellie who battled a rare brain cancer, calls its team of volunteers “elves.”

Those elves – hundreds of them – spring to action when needed, assisting families in Stafford, Fredericksburg and elsewhere in the region.

This holiday season, Ellie’s Elves is working with local social workers and the school system to help with Christmas,

Ellie’s Elves collects gift bags and other items for families in need.

including gathering presents for families experiencing a recent crisis.

Many of the elves are local, but the group has others spread across the United States, and even a few as far away as Japan and New Zealand, Kanazawa said.

Some volunteer weekly, others seasonally and some when they can. They keep in close contact through social media, gathering clothing, food or other helpful

items families may need.

Sometimes, the best thing they can offer is encouragement.

Although many government and private organizations help low-income families, Ellie’s Elves wants to help those who may not qualify for assistance elsewhere.

“We strive to help families who may typically fly below the radar and often wouldn’t ask for outside help,” Kanazawa

said. “They are often caught off-guard with their situation and are referred to our organization through their friends or family.”

Ellie’s Elves gets lots of requests for help with clothing and housewares, she said.

Little things donated may seem insignificant but can be of huge comfort to a family in a crisis, according to Kawanaza, who knows all too well.

She is a breast cancer survivor who just celebrated 10 years being cancer-free. When diagnosed, Kanazawa had just moved from Atlanta to Fredericksburg for her husband’s job.

“Although I volunteered in Atlanta with cancer awareness organizations and did advocacy work prior to being diagnosed, I truly didn't understand the meaning of ‘crisis’ until our family was facing our own,” she said. “As they say, ‘You don't get it until you get it.’”

One day, Kanazawa found a lump in her breast during a self-exam in the shower. She was 34 years old.

“We soon found ourselves in a new location with his new job, a child about to start kindergarten, no family in the state

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Ellie’s Elves paint and repair houses for families in need and also hold local events.

How to help Ellie’s Elves regularly needs new socks, underwear, sport bras, t-shirts, toiletries, pajamas and hoodies in all sizes, plus new craft and STEM kits, educational games and books for all ages. The group also collects gift cards for grocery and clothing stores, gas stations, restaurants and coffee shops that are given to families facing hardships.

Need help?

Ellie’s Elves partners with Hollywood Church of the Brethren’s food pantry, at 225 Ferry Road in Fredericksburg.

Families in need can stop by there on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon and fill out a wish list for clothing and other necessities.

More information: Visit ellieselves.com

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and this terrifying medical crisis,” Kanazawa said. “When your whole world is shaken by an unforeseen crisis, you learn a lot about yourself, your support system and how to ask for help when asking for help isn’t typically in your wheelhouse.”

People rallied around her to help, including her daughter’s Grafton Village Elementary School teacher, Tina Renninger, and Renninger’s daughter, Carly Blaine. They made hats for Kanazawa to wear as she went through cancer treatments and Georgia Bulldog dresses for her daughter, to remind her of home.

The acts of kindness didn’t go unnoticed.

And not long after, the very people who had been helping her experienced their own trauma.

Carly and her husband, Richard, of Orange, discovered that their 2-year-old, Ellie, was suffering from pineoblastoma, an aggressive cancer affecting the brain.

“We knew that we had been called to support their sweet family like they helped support ours,” Kanazawa said. She and others rallied to help with meals, Christmas presents and more.

Thinking back, Kanazawa feels she was meant to be in Fredericksburg for a higher purpose.

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Ellie died three days before Christmas 2013, just shy of her third birthday.

But she truly inspired Kanazawa, who thought, “It doesn’t have to stop here.” And it didn’t.

Ellie’s Elves continued and to this day, upholds Ellie Blaine’s legacy.

The nonprofit created the Mary Washington Hospital Foundation’s Pediatric Oncology Fund in memory of Ellie. It offers resources for pediatric cancer families through events and fundraisers.

Donation closets at Mary Washington Healthcare in Fredericksburg and the Mary Washington Hospital Regional Cancer Center are stocked with clothing, shoes, home goods, toiletries and more. Ellie’s Toy Closet, a similar setup, holds toys, electronics and books for pediatric patients.

Kanazawa, whose perspective on life is forever changed, still works tirelessly, believing kindness is vital. Her hope is that people will recognize the ripple effect kindness has, no matter how big or small the gesture.

After all, “If you can’t find the light in the darkness,” the group stresses, “BE the light.”

Tracy Bell is a freelancer living in Stafford County.

Wry Reports Major Shawn Kimmitz has developed a following for his humorous social media posts

BY DAVID FAWCE TT

“M

any may have wondered if the McRib was back or the soft-serve ice cream was on last night after seeing a large law enforcement presence at the Ferry Road McDonalds. The response was actually for an intoxicated driver causing a disturbance during a traffic stop.”

So starts an Oct. 31 Stafford County Sheriff ’s report describing a DUI arrest.

Typically, law enforcement incident reports follow a dry, straight-forward “just the facts” approach. And depending on the situation, Stafford Major Shawn Kimmitz will adhere to that style.

But if there’s an opportunity to inject some humor into the situation, look out. Kimmitz will find a creative way to make people laugh while still informing them about department business. In the case of the McRib post, he had that one ready to go when the right time arose.

“I’m not trying to make fun of the criminal,” Kimmitz said.

“We are trying to provide transparency if people are not sure what is going on.”

In an increasingly digital world where people gather their information off smartphones, computers or tablets, Kimmitz began posting his tongue-in-cheek reports over the summer as part of an overall shift in strategy to garner more attention

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and provide context for how the Stafford County Sheriff ’s Department operates.

Kimmitz said he looked at how other departments handled their releases to learn what worked and attracted readers. In particular, he cited Polk County, Fla., as a main resource.

Kimmitz’s name is never attached to any of the clever press releases he writes, but anyone who knows the 28-year department veteran knows his touch.

Kimmitz has a good sense of humor to begin with. But he also has a writing background. His aunt, Nancy Rossbacher, is the editor of the North South Trader’s Civil War magazine, based in Orange. His grandfather, Richard Rossbacher, wrote books.

The 1993 James Madison University graduate credits Stafford High School English teacher Winona Siegmund with helping him improve his writing as well.

And Kimmitz points to a course he took at the FBI Academy led by Penny Parrish. Parrish, a former journalist with a TV background, taught Major Shawn Kimmitz media relations and crisis is the commander of communication to local and the operations bureau state police officers for 14 years. for the Stafford County Among other things, Kimmitz Sheriff’s Department. said Parrish emphasized the need

BY DAVID FAWCETT

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Here’s a sampling of some of Kimmitz’s work: Oct. 19: “Two men with an appetite for destruction were arrested yesterday when they emulated the Disney character Wreck-It Ralph during a disturbance over car service.”

Oct 26: “Traffic Alert: We may never know if a tree that falls in the woods makes a noise, but if it falls across a road it definitely causes traffic issues. This tree is blocking Widewater Road in the 100 block near Tamerlane Drive.”

Nov. 9: “Deputy K.P. Hall is seeking information in a condiment caper which occurred on Friday November 5th at 12:01 a.m. at the 7-Eleven, 201 Garrisonville Road. The suspect is accused of striking a store employee with a bottle of mustard when he was confronted during a suspected shoplifting. If we are able to ketchup to the offender, he faces charges of assault and battery. We relish any information to put this suspect in a pickle….”

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to always have a message ready for the audience.

“Hands down the best class I’ve ever taken,” Kimmitz said.

As the department’s second in command under Stafford County Sheriff David Decatur, Kimmitz oversees field operations, special operations, court services and animal control divisions.

The public information office did not technically fall under his direct supervision, but Kimmitz asked Decatur if he could take it on as well. The department has a public information officer, Sarah Maroney, who handles the daily report and most of the lookout posts, which do things like warn citizens about a suspicious person, a vehicle involved in a hit or run or a shoplifting suspect.

Kimmitz wanted to oversee the public information office because he has some background handling Freedom of Information Act requests. He likes interacting with the public as well to make sure they have an accurate understanding of what’s happening.

When he’s devising funny lines for an incident report to post on Facebook, he bounces ideas off others if need be, including his family, like his aunt. But for the most part, Kimmitz feels comfortable with what he’s written. It flows with little effort.

Using Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, Kimmitz feeds the department’s various social media platforms with a plethora of witty takes.

He sifts through the deputies’ reports searching for nuggets he can turn into something amusing. Knowing what Kimmitz is looking for, some deputies now highlight potentially humorous items and send them Kimmitz’s way.

Kimmitz said traffic-related topics rank as the No. 1 concern in the county and draw the most interest.

On nearly every post, readers ask who the author is or comment on how the humorous writings brighten their day.

Kimmitz is grateful that people are enjoying the posts. It’s a good stress reliever and a good recruiting tool that shows the fun side of working for a department that Kimmitz said has a reputation for “catching the bad guys.”

But what matters most to him is that those in the field are recognized for their work and that the public has a more complete picture of what the sheriff ’s department does.

“It’s nice to reach so many people,” Kimmitz said.

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COMMUNITY

Feeding Life Embrey Mills couple creates community composting effort ARTI C LE AND PHOTOS BY ERIC ALTH OFF

M

ike and Ashley Dennie weren’t content to simply do their part to compost their own waste – rather, they realized that a communitybased approach was necessary.

The couple, who live in Embry Mills with their two children, has always been environmentally conscious in their choices and purchases, but given that they are now a family of four, they knew they needed to do more to reduce their impact on Mother Earth.

“We’ve always been aware of our carbon footprint and strived to recycle and drive

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fuel-efficient vehicles [and] do what we can to be good stewards of the earth,” Mike said recently at the couple’s home.

When food waste is buried too deeply in landfills, it turns into methane, which is more toxic to the air than carbon dioxide.

Composting is a process by which food waste is put back into the earth so that it can be “devoured” by microorganisms, which then renourish the soil with the basic building blocks of life.

“Food waste is nitrogen-rich, and it feeds life,” said Mike, adding that compost will actually help new plants grow larger – thus

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taking even more carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

Early into their union, Mike and Ashley realized that they had a similar environmental ethic. Too much was going to waste – and had been for quite some time.

“Among the most convincing parts for me was when I realized that 40% of what we throw away can actually be turned into compost,” Ashley said. “The earth really needs compost.”

Mike said they found that composting is actually intuitive and simple. He estimates that an average family of four produces 100 pounds of waste a month. This can translate into tons of material diverted from landfills.

The Dennies founded a co-op called Generation Compost, which promotes composting in their neighborhood and the greater Stafford County area. Working with a board of directors, they partner with the Rappahannock Regional Landfill and Recycling Center and continue to seek new avenues to increase composting opportunities.

For a small fee, residents can even drop off compostable waste at one of their pickup locations, and they have about a

Mike and Ashley Dennie (far left) have created a compositing initiative within their neighborhood. Food scraps that are composted (middle photo) are used to grow vegetables in a community garden (right photo).

COLOR: Right

dozen home subscribers to their service. waste generates heat, which can be felt A few local businesses such as Mother’s even a few inches from the new soil, which Microgreens, whose owners study at the will grow new crops in turn. Neighbors can University of Mary Washington, are also bring their food scraps, and the couple will on board. The couple hopes for even more begin the composting process right there in partners. the garden.

They also compost the plant-based “It does take a concerted effort to learn cups used by the Fredericksburg Food a new habit and figure out where to store Co-op, and through their board found a your food scraps before you take them to composting solution for Mary Washington the garden,” Ashley said. via a firm called Apex Organix to reroute It seems so remarkably simple that it’s cafeteria scraps. “We seem to have a wonder composting hasn’t been adopted stumbled upon an opportunity to divert a more widely. The Dennies are working literal ton of food waste,” Mike said about on that: Composting can be done by working with the university. anyone, right in their own backyard. The But Ashley said the biggest goal is to couple emphasizes that even apartmentspread awareness of composting. “[The dwellers can have a “warm box” to start the public isn’t] really aware that this can composting process. happen when you mix the greens and the “Just shred up newspaper or cardboard, browns.” or use dried yard debris as a brown and Not far from the Dennies’ home, a mix it with food waste, and throw it into community garden grows produce planted an earth bin or a tumbler,” Mike said. “Or in recently composted soil. The process by really any open pile.” clickwhich swatch, and find and with color microorganisms consume the replace food Ashley correct added that she sees evidence of

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Ashley Dennie (top photo) checks on vegetables in the community garden, which uses compost generated by food scraps collected from the neighborhood. The Dennies measure the temperature of the compost pile to be sure it stays warm. They estimate that after a year they have diverted 3,600 pounds of food waste from local landfills.

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composting on Instagram from around the world.

“Australia is way ahead of the curve with it. They have an actual trash pickup service that picks up your scraps.”

Technology exists to capture methane released into the air, but the Dennies believe it’s far simpler to head off that methane before it ever has a chance to drift upward from a landfill. Ashley says such a system is only about 85% effective, meaning “15% of what that landfill is releasing into the air is pure methane. So it’s still bad, but it’s better than 100%.”

Despite dire warnings about climate change, the Dennies are optimistic about composting’s role in slowing the pace of global warming. Even their young children see the value of composting.

“We dropped [our daughter] off at her grandma’s house. [Mike’s] mom was eating a banana and she said, ‘Are you going to compost that?’” Ashley relates with pride.

“Every little action we can take will have much bigger impacts than we think. There is room for hope.”

In fact, that’s why the Dennies chose the name Generation Compost. “We’re trying to leave the earth a little bit better than we found it,” Mike said. “I’d like to think that [our children] will adopt these [habits and] make it commonplace.”

And among their neighbors, friends and

colleagues, they are continuing to spread the word. The couple says that after a year of operation, they recently surpassed 3,600 pounds of food waste diverted from landfills between their home, family, neighbors and paid subscribers.

“I love gardening, and to now have composting be involved in it, it’s truly a food loop,” Ashley said. “You grow your vegetables, you eat them, you throw your scraps into your compost pile, and then you put [that compost] over the top of your vegetable garden when you’re growing the next iteration of vegetables.”

Indeed, several of their teen-aged neighbors in Embrey Mills are also volunteering to tend to the garden as part of a community service requirement for school.

“We’re primarily focused on empowering people to give composting a try in their own backyard or starting a community composting effort in their neighborhoods,” Mike said recently.

“Once people choose to give it a shot in their own backyard and they feel their pile get warm for the first time – and they see the little creepy-crawlies calling it their home – it’ll create a spark, and they’ll want to keep on doing it.”

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Eric Althoff is a freelance writer who lives in Stafford County.

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How to know when your compost smells ‘right’ “It generally shouldn’t smell bad,” Ashley Dennie advised of a composting pile – even as it’s being infested with tiny critters.

“If it smells bad, it generally means that you need more browns – more dried grass or ground or wood chips.”

She has other advice: “Generally, if your pile is too cold, then you would add more food waste and mix it, and that’ll heat it up. We always cover the food waste with browns, with some sort of heavy wheat straw or wood chips, and then we let it heat up, [which] is really important.”

Mike added that just like any other life, “the microorganisms need air, so just flip it and mix it up every now and again. Throw a pitchfork in there or just tumble it every couple of days.”

“Aerate it somehow,” said Ashley.

“Really all you need is some carbon stuff, some nitrogen stuff and some airflow, and you’ll create healthy vitamins for the earth out of food waste,” Mike said.

– Eric Althoff S TA F F O R D M AG A Z I N E

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BUSINESS

Building Success Business owner, motivational speaker shares his secrets

BY E RIC ALTH OFF

Ray Milano is founder and CEO of 9 Hammers.

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R

ay Milano claims to be an introvert.

Yet he can speak at length about his work, his history and his business philosophy – largely unprompted.

The founder and CEO of roofing and siding company 9 Hammers operates out of an unassuming industrial park in the Southern Gateway, a busy section of south Stafford County near the county’s border with the Rappahannock River.

Milano is also a smiler and unfailingly courteous, making it rather easy to understand why his firm has been as successful as it has.

“How you do anything is how you do everything,” Milano said recently in a conversation at his office. His goal is that if his workers “can go home with a positive instead of a negative [attitude], they can now really build” in their own lives. He extends such optimism to his clients as well.

His sunny disposition is somewhat surprising given the bumpy road Milano has traveled. He admits to having been a

poor student but was adept with his hands.

Before 9 Hammers he worked in computer programming and taught himself database administration and then decided to try his luck at consulting. Those early ventures failed, but still he believed in himself, despite being shy.

“I think the majority of really successful people are also introverts,” he said.

When Milano was first consulting, he discovered a natural knack for referring homeowners to contractors he trusted. He even offered his services to vet potential clients for the homeowners and to perform some of the due diligence that too often he had seen ignored.

“I know that homeowners are not asking for proof of license and proof of insurance,” he said. “I’ve actually called the companies to make sure their policies are active because there are cases where guys will get insurance for the certificate and then cancel the policy – and then not have to pay the premium. It’s unfortunate, but that’s why

the reputation of the industry has a bad stain on it.”

When Milano founded 9 Hammers, his house was in foreclosure and the beatup truck he used to get around had to be cleaned after squirrels nested in the engine compartment.

“That’s how I started this company: dead broke,” Milano said. “I walked into every parking lot I could find, every real estate office and gave them business cards that I personally made and printed off my own computer.”

With 9 Hammers now a multimilliondollar firm, Milano, recalling those difficult days, is patient with clients. If they have difficulty paying, he is happy to set up payment plans or make alternate arrangements. He’s only had to commence legal proceedings against a non-paying client once, he said.

“I know what hardship is like, and I’m very sensitive to people who are going through that kind of thing,” he said.

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What’s in a name?

So what are the origins of the name of Ray Milano’s business, 9 Hammers?

“I was a programmer, and in programming numbers come before letters,” he explains. “And back in the day … if you opened up a phone book it was all alphabetical order so the first companies you would see are like A,B,C or 1,2,3. So I thought, ‘OK, let me do a number.’

“Nine I think is a great number. It’s a large number but it’s also the most common number. You see it at the end of every single price tag.

You don’t see more numbers than the number 9. So I liked it and that’s kind of what we went with. And I also think it’s kind of curious.”

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COURTESY OF 9 HAMMERS

Such hardship includes watching his own parents get stung by contractors who added on to the family home in Vienna, where Milano grew up. Years later, Milano redid the shoddy work at the family home and realized he wanted to help other people avoid the traps his family had experienced.

And why stop there? Milano knew how to work mouldings, paintings, doors, windows and building decks. He is now the only master-elite certified shingle installer in Fredericksburg. By 2019, he says he was known as the largest “re-roofer” in the area.

“It was customers referring us,” Milano said. “We went above and beyond for everybody.”

Matt Evans, a homeowner who had 9 Hammers install several custom windows and replace two HVAC systems, said that when he called for an initial estimate, Milano himself came to the house. When one of the new HVAC units proved defective, Milano gave Evans a portable air-conditioner until a replacement could be shipped.

Evans also hired 9 Hammers to replace several window panes that had rotted.

Even though the manufacturer sent the wrong-size windows, Milano wouldn’t accept even a token down payment until the correct windows could be both sourced and installed.

“Not once did Ray or 9 Hammers ask for any payment at all. It took me having to basically force them to take a check covering a significant percentage of the contracted work,” Evans said.

Milano says he has a policy of not asking for any money upfront from anyone. This makes him an outlier among contractors, but he says you can’t put a price on customer peace of mind.

“Most everybody across the board is requiring 50% or 30%” upfront, Milano said.

“I think there’s more value in providing the quality and service that is in their best interest versus just [going] after the money.”

Dr. Ray A. Letteer, a compliance branch deputy chief for the Marine Corps, hired 9

9 Hammers owner Ray Milano often visits potential clients himself to provide estimates.

Hammers to refashion his back deck after several other contractors brushed aside the “small” job. Milano came to the home to look it over, Letteer was so impressed with the work that he and his wife hired 9 Hammers to add a second deck.

“Ray and his team offered some wonderful options, working to keep costs to a viable level, and included a repair of an enclosed porch as part of the job,” Letteer said. He added that during pandemicrelated supply chain issues, Milano kept him constantly updated on a reasonable job timeline.

Another client of 9 Hammers, who asked to remain anonymous, said she was struck

by Milano’s passion and vision.

“When I worked with Ray, I felt I had found ‘my guy’ for all of my homeowner projects,” the client said, adding she later asked him to redo her deck after other quotes were far higher. Milano even helped her pick out the right color for the deck.

“I don’t want you to walk out on the deck or look at your roof and have this negative energy,” Milano said, adding that such positivity translates into more referrals – and even more positivity. “That to me is good business, and I think that’s what,

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ultimately, everybody is looking for.”

Milano is very careful about his hires.

They must fit his culture of positivity and not view sales as a game. He says he works for his employees more than the other way around and has even hired people who knew little about roofing but had a stellar work ethic. His employees’ growth at home is as important to him as at the office.

“I like to say that we hire exceptional people, and that’s because we hire who they are – we don’t hire what they can do,” he said.

Milano, who used to post positive aphorisms on social media, now gives motivational speeches at Strayer University, in which he advises listeners to abide by a simple credo: Create your own tomorrow, and don’t give up. Also, remain openminded and open-hearted to ideas that aren’t your own.

“You can speak it into existence,” Milano said. “When you start thinking and speaking it, your actions are going to follow through. You’ll never find somebody who’s got the success and never had this great struggle. It’s very grounding, it’s very humbling, and it grows your value system and your appreciation.”

When COVID hit last year, Milano sent his employees home but stayed in the office himself. The first few months of the pandemic were difficult, but with people stuck at home, he found that clients wanted to upgrade their homes, which were now doubling as their offices. Deck requests skyrocketed, and Milano estimates that his business in the first half of 2021 was up over 300%.

Supply chain problems continue to be an issue. He advises clients to be patient but vows a fine job in the end. And all without any money down.

“There’s a lot of very different successful models out there. This is just ours,” Milano said. “We’re not the ‘right’ way; we’re just our way.”

Eric Althoff is a free-lance writer who lives in Stafford.

Happy Holidays from Great Outdoors

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COMMUNITY NEWS

New superintendent joins Stafford schools

D

r. Thomas W. Taylor has been named the next superintendent of Stafford County Public Schools.

Taylor was chosen by the School Board in November and was scheduled to begin his new duties Dec. 1. He previously was the deputy superintendent for Chesterfield County Public Schools in suburban Richmond. In that role, he supervised daily operations and instruction for 65 schools in Virginia’s fifth-largest school district, serving more than 62,000 students and more than 8,000 full-time employees.

Taylor joined the Chesterfield schools in 2016 from Middlesex

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(Va.) County Public Schools, where he served as superintendent for nearly four years.

“The School Board’s appointment of Dr. Taylor is a perfect trifecta: right person, right place, right time,” said School Board Chair Holly Hazard. “As we navigate this unprecedented time, I view Dr. Taylor as a beacon for moving the division forward.”

Taylor said he is honored to be joining the Stafford community.

“I owe my success to the teachers I had growing up, and I’ve dedicated my professional life to ensuring that every student has access to a great education not by chance, but by design,” he added. “Stafford County is well-positioned to be not only the fastest growing district in Virginia, but also the best performing district.”

With an operating budget of more than $340 million, the Stafford district serves roughly 30,000 students and includes 17 elementary schools, eight middle schools and five high schools.

Taylor began his career as a social studies teacher in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. In 2008, he became principal of Charlottesville High School.

He has a master’s degree in educational leadership and a doctorate in education policy studies from the University of Virginia’s School of Education & Human Development and a master’s degree in business administration from the College of William & Mary.

He is married to Susan Winslow, a civil engineer. They have five children, three of whom are in high school.

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Amazon announces more big plans for Stafford

A

mazon has announced another significant investment in Stafford County.

The company will establish a 630,000-square-foot Cross-Dock facility on the Northern Virginia Gateway site, at 220 Centreport Parkway. This will serve as one of Amazon’s East Coast hubs, representing the beginning of the supply chain where products from third-party vendors are sorted, repacked and distributed to its other distribution centers.

The opportunity creates “first job” training with 21st century logistics technology, to careers with the potential for five- and six-figure incomes, according to Stafford’s Department of Economic Development.

This follows Amazon’s development and recent opening of a 200,000-square-foot delivery station in Stafford.

Hartwood District Stafford County Supervisor Gary Snellings said of the latest announcement, “It has been rewarding in the last few years to see the long-term vision of Centreport come to light.”

The area surrounding the regional airport is home to another 457,000-square-foot facility with a tenant still unnamed and recently announced investment by Flint Development Co. with plans to build a 930,000-square-foot facility.

“Stafford County established the Centreport Area as a strategic logistics and distribution employment center, and focused on attracting major brands,” said Crystal Vanuch, chair of the Stafford Board of Supervisors.

“This location provides the users with direct access to I-95, placing light industrial business traffic adjacent to Stafford Regional Airport.”

GCubed earns HIRE Vets Award

G

Stafford Elementary School staff members dressed up as characters from “Toy Story” to help celebrate the successful fundraiser.

Elementary students complete fundraiser focused on kindness

S

tudents at Stafford Elementary School recently completed a two-week, kindness-focused fundraising campaign named Raise Craze. During the fundraiser, students showed their appreciation to donors by completing acts of kindness for others.

At the end of the campaign, the students completed more than 630 acts of kindness and raised more than $16,000.

Kindness acts ranged from picking up trash in the community to writing special letters to teachers, said Stefanie Sanders, principal of the school. Some students even made blessing bags for the homeless, and the school hosted a community “Chalk the Walk” to spread kindness messages and art.

As the culmination of the campaign, school administrators, with the support of the PTA, created a surprise “Magical Celebration” day on Nov. 19. Each grade level hallway was immersed in a different Disney movie theme. Teachers, administrators, counselors and staff dressed as characters from the movie.

“We wanted a fundraiser that meant something. The kids were so excited to complete their acts of kindness and see how being kind can make a big difference,” said Kathleen Meade, Stafford Elementary PTA president.

The students also were surprised with two kindness assemblies.

The Stafford County Sheriff ’s Department provided several displays from its special operations unit, including the SWAT Team, the K9 Unit, and the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Team. And Stafford County Fire House 4 conducted the second assembly, providing a 100-foot fire truck. The students watched as school administrators were raised into the air above them to read “Be Kind” by Pat Zietlow Miller.

Cubed Inc., an IT-focused government contractor, has been selected as a 2021 Platinum HIRE Vets Medallion Award recipient.

The Stafford-based company has received a Gold Medallion Award in the program for the previous three years, but this is its first Platinum Award, said GCubed founder and CEO Vernon Green Jr., a retired Army chief warrant officer.

“This is a demonstration of our commitment to help transition and hire veterans into our organization because we know the value they bring to our team,” Green added.

“Their leadership and commitment to mission success are unparalleled. Their work ethic and ability to perform under pressure are unmatched.”

Recipients of the 2021 HIRE Vets Medallion Award meet rigorous employment and veteran integration assistance criteria, including veteran hiring and retention percentages, availability of veteran-specific resources, leadership programming for veterans, dedicated human resource efforts, and tuition assistance programs for veterans.

Stafford, Germanna receive cybersecurity grant

S

tafford County Public Schools has received a state grant to support a partnership among the school system, Germanna Community College and local businesses to create a four- to five-year pathway for high school students to complete industry certifications in cybersecurity and earn an associate’s degree.

The grant of $158,043 was announced in November by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam and was among grants to seven school divisions to implement career and technical education programs to prepare students for high-wage, in-demand careers. The programs also provide work-based learning experiences for students, including mentorships and paid internships.

“This investment will help students grow and get good jobs,” Northam said. “These programs are great opportunities for students to get valuable experience in industries with high-demand and high paying jobs.”

The Career and Technical Education High School Innovation Grants are funded through the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014.

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VOICES

Christmas in Wartime:

Faux turkeys to cakes made of crumbs

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U.S. ARMY SIGNAL CORPS COURTESY OF THE U.S. ARMY CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY.

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merican service personnel can be almost anywhere in the world, but true to a longstanding tradition, the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard will do their best to make sure every person on active duty has a Christmas dinner.

This isn’t always possible, but the services do their best, because having that connection with the familiar is important to young service personnel stationed a long way from home.

However, there have been times in our history when American military personnel have had a tough time finding a way to celebrate Christmas, let alone enjoy a Christmas dinner.

Nonetheless, left to their own devices, American service personnel have proven remarkably resourceful. In one prison camp in Germany during World War II, U.S. prisoners of war decided long before Christmas that they were going to have a cake for Christmas.

That was a fine idea, but the Germans weren’t giving them enough to eat as it was, and a Christmas cake seemed farfetched. However, they had a professional baker in the camp, and at his direction, for several weeks in advance of Christmas, they saved their breadcrumbs and sugar rations. All in hopes of making a cake.

The cake was small, and each man’s portion was only teaspoon-sized. But it was, according to one account,

BY DAV ID S . K E R R

American troops in Europe opening Christmas care packages (1944)

“It would be wonderful if one day our young men and women didn’t have to celebrate their Christmases in faraway, dangerous places.” “simply delicious,” and the men made it the center of a day-long festivity.

On another Christmas Day back in 1944, the 101st Airborne Division was surrounded by German troops at Bastogne in Belgium. This was part of the famous Battle of the Bulge.

Because of the atrocious weather, heavy snow and subzero conditions, these men weren’t getting air drops and had to survive on what they were carrying.

Army chaplains, who were easy targets for the enemy

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because they tended to stand up in the course of their duties, roamed through the lines organizing impromptu Christmas services.

The situation wasn’t that different when U.S. soldiers wintered at Valley Forge.

When it came to food, the situation was desperate. Even then, George and Martha Washington trudged through the Pennsylvania snow to visit every encampment on Christmas Day. There wasn’t a feast, but for years men in the Army would talk about how the

visit from the general and Mrs. Washington had made the day an event.

Civilians could also find themselves in a tough spot when it came to Christmas dinner during wartime. In London, World War II was at their doorstep and one in 10 homes had been destroyed by the bombing. Food was severely rationed.

But they did have one thing.

The United States, through “Lend Lease,” sent them an American product called Spam.

Spam is made from pork and pork by-products and is still sold in most grocery stores today.

In 1941, an enterprising group of British housewives had some fun and crafted a Christmas turkey composed entirely of Spam. It still tasted like Spam, but it looked like a turkey and the newspapers in war-ravaged Britain had a good time with the story.

It would be wonderful if one day our young men and women didn’t have to celebrate their Christmases in faraway, dangerous places. That hope, even amid our own worries at home, is something we should remember when we all sit down for our own Christmas dinner this year.

David Kerr is a Stafford resident and an adjunct professor of political science at VCU. He worked on Capitol Hill and for various federal agencies for many years.

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