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NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2009
Contents
36 Making His Mark Behind all the ink is one of Fredericksburg’s most charitable business owners. Kenny Brown, the king of tats at Jack Brown’s Tattoo Revival donates his time and skills helping others.
Your ideas are important to us, so if you’d like to recommend a story or send an event for Out&About, drop us a line at:
42 Go Outside & Play
Virginia Neighbors 520 William Street, Suite B Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Linda Bailey knows the Fredericksburg environment inside and out. More outside than in. Her outdoor programs for the city’s Parks and Recreation Department are a fun way to inspire greater respect and admiration for nature.
Frontdoor 9 TREnDs
Making the best use of the Internet for gift giving
10 BITs&PIECEs
148th anniversary of The Battle of Fredericksburg
12 OBsERVaTIOns The gift of Grace
26 PROFILE
Richard Harrison blends history, business and parenting
28 HUMOR
Tipping Phobia!
30 aRE WE THERE YET? Celebrate the Marine Corps Birthday with a trip to their museum
14 FOCUs
32 OUTDOORs
16 FLasHBaCK
34 TRaVEL
Finding service opportunities for new volunteers The closing and rebirth of the FMC plant
backYard
Summer is over but golfing doesn’t have to be Charm City beckons
Or, email us at: editor@vaneighbors.com
applause 50 MUsIC
Spotsylvania Community Chorus
52 WRITER’s BLOCK Winter page turners
52 aRT
Norman Rockwell visits Melcher’s studio
54 BEsT BITEs
Crabs in November? You bet!
out&about 59 Harvest Wine Dinner,
Scrooge—The Musical, Candlelight Tour, New Years Eve dancing and much more.
23 COME & GET IT
Cul-de-sac
24 HOMEGROWn
64 The Best Christmas Present
Mini Caramel Apples
Local athletes shoot for a bright future
« Enjoy storytelling, culture and cuisine during Asian Cultural Week at UMW. See page 59.
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2009 | virginia neighbors 3
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Virginia Neighbors is published every two months by:
520 William Street, Suite B Fredericksburg, VA 22401 540-899-3999 E-mail: editor@vaneighbors.com To subscribe visit:
www.virginianeighbors.com All editorial, advertising, reprint, and/or circulation correspondence should use the above address or visit the website. Virginia Neighbors welcomes but accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and art. © 2009 by Willow Publishing, Inc.
www.VirginiaNeighbors.com
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FROM THE EDITOR
I
received an email from a dear friend recently. In it was one of those dreaded chain letters. But because she is a dear friend, I dutifully forwarded the email to 12 friends I carefully selected because I hoped they wouldn’t tease me unmercifully for succumbing to such nonsense. I chose my friends wisely. I heard nary a peep from any of them, save one. Nor have they tortured me by sending me chain letter emails. But the whole email experience got me thinking about letters. Real letters. The ones that come in envelopes with stamps. The ones that make your face light up when you see them in the mailbox. I can’t remember the last time I’ve written a letter except for the occasional thank-you note. But I know how happy I am when I do receive a letter from a friend. Not long ago, a childhood friend wrote me. Her big loopy handwriting was as recognizable to me today as it was when we passed notes back and forth in elementary school. Of course, I quickly tore open the envelope and was rewarded with her breezy update on our friends, along with pictures from a reunion. Some letters I’ve kept for years. I still have the note my then future mother-in-law wrote in 1978 welcoming me to the family. Its bright yellow stationery suits my mother-in-law’s personality, and I smile with thoughts of her when I catch a glimpse of it tucked away in my desk drawer. Whenever I think of these cherished letters, I vow to write to a friend. I never do. But as the editor at Virginia Neighbors, my goal is to create a magazine that is as eagerly anticipated as a letter in the mailbox. In this issue, you’ll meet a nature enthusiast, a philanthropic tattoo artist, and two young basketball stars with promising futures. Also included are book reviews, places to go, and one woman’s essay on how dealing with an elderly neighbor taught her the meaning of grace. Please enjoy this issue of Virginia Neighbors and let us know if you have a neighbor you think our readers would like to meet. Shoot me an email at stremblay@willowpub.com, give us a call at (540) 899-3999 or drop by our office at 520 William Street.
Susan Tremblay Editor
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NEWS | HISTORY | BUSINESS | TRENDS | PERSONALITIES
FrontDoor
TREnDs
online shopping is not like space exploration But beyond the basics of typing something like “World War II model airplane” into the Google search box or combing web pages on the Macy’s department store website for a pair of stylish leather boots, there lies a galaxy of possibilities that can heighten your online shopping experience. All of the general search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and Lycos have a shopping search engine. MSN’s is now Bing. In addition, there are shopping search engines that are independent. Shopzilla, Pricegrabber and Nextag are among the more well known ones. Familiarize yourself with shopping search engines and their features. Knowing what they offer can save you money and make shopping and delivery easier. Some of the features are merchant and product ratings, reviews and buying guides, comparison-shopping links to online stores, and free shipping deals. Many engines also offer searches by category, brand, store or price range. Some are capable of giving total cost of a purchase by calculating shipping and taxes based on your zip code. PriceSCAN offers a tool bar that can be installed to a default search engine to compare prices and products conveniently. BING offers a cash back program and TheFind offers local searches, coupons and environmentallyfriendly product searches.
»
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ONLINE SHOPPING continued ______________________________ Some shopping search engines offer free memberships. While the search engine gets your name and email address for its list, you get a “favorites list” or deal alerts. Shipping costs can boost the total cost of an item, so don’t overlook search engines like Freeshipping.org. It provides free, printable shipping coupons and free shipping coupon alerts based on your preferences and zip code. Amazon has its own advanced search engine called jungle-search.com. Its features include a filler finder. Indicate the amount you need to spend to obtain free shipping for an item already purchased. Then press a button and the engine spits out a list of items you can buy to fill the gap. Some of the items cost less than one dollar. Other online shopping resources to consider are online auctions such as Ebay and Bidz.com, a brand names and jewelry auction. uBid is another online auction house that offers a My Page feature. Online shopping gives you the ability to shop conveniently for specialty gifts that satisfy your values. For example, if you want to buy fair trade products such as coffee, tea or chocolate from the international market, you can search Globalexchangestore.org or Ozville.org, a search engine for non-profits and charities that sell products. Want to know what to look for to make sure your purchase is secure? Safeshopping.org is a resource that will help make your online shopping experience safer. The informational website was created by the American Bar Association. The evidence that your purchase is secure is on the webpage: the image of a key or a closed lock on your browser window; the webpage address begins with https:// instead of http://; a pop-up box informs you that you are entering a secure area; or, Secure Socket Layer (SSL) appears on the page. The Safeshopping website also includes information on privacy policies and the use of cookies. Don’t dismiss this valuable website. Another helpful resource is Searchenginewatch.com. — Kathleen Lewis
HIsTORY
battle of Fredericksburg
T
his year, December 13 marks the 148th anniversary of the Battle of Fredericksburg, a defining moment in the Civil War that forever changed the city of Fredericksburg, and more importantly, the United States. Considered by historians to be a pivotal campaign in the early period of the Civil War, the Battle of Fredericksburg brought the North and South to a heated collision. From December 13-15, 1862, the Union Army of the Potomac’s 122,000 troops — under the guidance of Ambrose Burnside — and the Confederate army of Northern Virginia’s 78,500 troops — under Robert E. Lee — squared off with just 582 guns between them. While the result of the battle is undoubtedly historic, the story of how it transpired is equally as meaningful. When the Battle of Antietam concluded in September 1862, Lee withdrew his troops from Maryland and made his way to Virginia to establish a counterof-
fensive. Burnside and his troops followed suit, with the intention of crossing the river, capturing the city of Fredericksburg and launching a general offensive against the Confederate army. His plan, while bold, didn’t factor in a delay in the shipment of the pontoon train his troops needed to cross the river. Burnside was forced to wait, affording the Confederates a perfect chance to move in and fortify nearby heights. Cognizant of Lee’s movement, Burnside refused to wait any longer. He launched frontal assaults after crossing the Rappahannock at a different point in the river. The attacks were soundly repulsed by Lee’s troops, and the Union army fled to Falmouth in defeat. The battle was a blunder on behalf of the Union, resulting in 1,284 killed to Confederate losses of just 594. It was no doubt a bloody day, one that compelled Robert E. Lee to say, “It is well that war is so terrible — otherwise we would grow too fond of it.”
10 www.VirginiaNeighbors.com
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WHaT’s In a naME?
Sometime around 1879, Fredericksburg’s City Park caught the derisive attention of a local newspaper editorial, noting that it had the look of a “Lunatic Asylum.” John G. Hurkamp, a local businessman, stepped up to raise money for a renovation. The retooled park, located at the corner of William and Prince Edward streets, was named in Hurkamp’s honor during a nighttime ceremony lit by Chinese lanterns and fireworks, City Park Director Robert Antozzi said. In a region growing faster than the state or the nation, many new residents to the Fredericksburg area can run across some bewilderingly named places. Dahlgren? Culpeper? Embrey? Like most oddities, they have stories. The Dahlgren naval base in King George took its name from Rear Adm. John A. Dahlgren, who was in charge of ordinance for the Union army during the Civil War. He designed several cannons that historians believe tipped the balance of the war. Another military base, Caroline’s Fort A.P. Hill, is named for Confederate Gen. Ambrose Powell Hill, one of Stonewall Jackson’s most trusted generals. A West Point graduate, he later served under Robert E. Lee before being killed in battle. Not everything revolves around war, even in Fredericksburg. The Dorothy Hart Community Center was named for a 1949 Mary Washington College graduate who went to work for the USO, which occupied the building. Following World War II, the city inherited the building and Hart was hired to run a fledgling parks department. She eventually became director and even after retiring remained active until her death in 1988, Antozzi said. The Embrey Dam on the Rappahannock River was named for Alvin Thomas Embrey, Sr. (1874-1957), who started a company to create electricity-generating dams. The company later merged with Virginia Electric and Power Company. The seats of government reflect the area’s obvious ties to Great Britain and its aristocracy. Fredericksburg was named after Frederick (Prince of Wales, eldest son of England’s King George II) and the city’s streets named after family members. What is now Lafayette Boulevard, named for the French general who aided the Americans in the Revolutionary War, was originally named Prussia Street, Pearce said. When streets were laid out, George II’s family hailed from Hanover Germans, so the name made sense. By the time World War I rolled around, people weren’t nuts about the Germans so it first became National Street, then Lafayette Boulevard. The city was established in 1728 as a port to ship tobacco from Spotsylvania County, created in 1721 and named in Latin for Virginia Gov. Alexander Spotswood. Caroline County was also formed in 1728 and named for Caroline of Ansbach, George II’s wife. Culpeper, sliced from Orange County in 1749, was named for Lord Thomas Culpeper, governor from 1677 to 1683. He didn’t actually arrive from England until 1680, however, according to Virginius Dabney’s history of the state. But Stafford is the oldest. Established in 1664, it’s named for Staffordshire, a county in western England.
Visit us during November and December for many special events including Marine Corps birthday cake cutting ceremonies, visits from Santa, family days and puppet shows as well as ongoing special exhibits. Visit us at www.usmcmuseum.org for more information. National Museum of the Marine Corps
18900 Jefferson Davis Highway, Triangle, Virginia www.usmcmuseum.org|Free Parking & Admission Open 9 to 5 daily | Closed December 25
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O B s E RVaT I O n s
abiding grace a lesson in grace from an unlikely source
N
eighbors come in all shapes and sizes. We tend to think of them as the people next door. But a neighbor can be our colleague two floors below or someone who lives halfway around the globe. Neighbors are people with whom we have a connection. Grace was my neighbor — in the literal and figurative sense. We lived across the street from each other for a decade, and we established a bond. We made an odd couple — a senior citizen with no family who never left home, and a middle-aged woman with two kids who spent far too much time away from home. Grace always saw the glass as half-empty, and I’m a half-full kind of person. Even so, Grace and I came to depend upon one another. I provided her with 2 percent milk, Nabisco Social Tea Biscuits, news of the outside world — and an occasional Carl’s chocolate shake. She provided me with information about “old” Fredericksburg, lessons in patience and humility, and more knowledge of grace (little g) than I could have learned from any theology text. If one thinks of grace, as Webster’s does, as a disposition to be generous or helpful, Grace was the antithesis of her name. She rarely said “thank you,” she hoarded her money, and she put herself at the center of the universe. Many a day, I left her house praying: Lord, grant me the grace to never let me treat people the way Grace has treated me. Grace kept taking advantage of me, and I kept taking care of her. I think we each viewed the other with equal amounts of fondness and frustration. And we each practiced in our own way the scriptural adage: Love thy neighbor as thyself. Grace died in June. I won’t be able to see her indulge in her beloved Godiva chocolates during the holidays, and I won’t be able to help her celebrate her 90th birthday the day after Christmas.
I miss my neighbor. More than anything, I am convinced that God’s grace — the gift of unmerited love and forgiveness — is what connected Grace and me in the first place and what kept us bound together all those years. I kept an eye out for her, and she kept a keen eye — through her bedroom window — on all of the goings and comings of my family. Higher entertainment value, no doubt, than TV. Grace eventually trusted me enough to hand over a key to her house — for emergency use only. Standing at my kitchen sink, I had a direct view across Parcell Street into her side door. The window shade on her door was a barometer of Grace’s well being. Like clockwork, first thing every morning, she unleashed that shade. If, by 9 a.m., the shade was still down, that meant trouble. I would dial her number, but no answer wasn’t necessarily cause for alarm. Her hearing was so bad that even an amplified ringer would usually fail to get Grace’s attention. The next step was to head across the street and ring the doorbell and bam on the window. Sometimes, that
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would rouse her. Often, she simply had slept in. Last resort: use the key while simultaneously dialing the number of a Fredericksburg couple who also kept in touch with Grace. The three of us shared not only power-of-attorney roles, but also an unfailing devotion to this crotchety old woman. We seemed to have some sort of internal homing device that drew us regularly to Grace’s house. Don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t as if we cherished our limited time with this soon-to-be nonagenarian and looked forward to end-of-life insight and epiphanies. We simply felt connected to our neighbor. Grace unwittingly bequeathed to all three of us a great blessing — a friendship with each other, a friendship among people whose paths likely would never have crossed except for our mutual attachment to Grace. Oh–the phone conversations we exchanged, the trials we endured, the tears we shed, and the stories we shared during the last years of Grace’s life! Another gift of g/Grace. I’ve always had trouble grasping grace, just as I’ve had a hard time comprehending Grace. This I know: abiding grace has allowed me to abide Grace. Her life was not one I would want to emulate. That is probably the most valuable lesson that I gleaned from Grace. I saw how I did not want to live out my final days. As a hospice worker put it shortly after Grace’s death, this woman could drive you crazy, but she also could steal your heart. How true. When I first encountered Grace, I could have steeled my heart. I shudder to think what rich experiences I would have missed out on if I had not connected with my neighbor. Instead, grace allowed Grace to steal my heart.
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FrontDoor
FOCUs
getting Your volunteer boots Wet service opportunities for new volunteers
P
overty is on the mind of Gov. Tim Kaine. In May, he created the state’s first Poverty Reduction Task Force. And in July, he invited residents to suggest solutions. The invitation is still open. Solving the problem of poverty and its ensuing issues is a mammoth task. About 18,000 Fredericksburg area residents live at or below the poverty line and more than 500 are homeless. Where does one begin to make a difference? The 122 percent rise in unemployment in Virginia this past year has added to the number of people needing some kind of assistance.
Donations of money and materials are needed. But community agencies and other people-serving organizations don’t want residents to overlook the value of volunteering. And the holiday season is full of opportunity. “One hour of volunteer work is worth $20.25. That’s a huge impact,” said Shelby Beck, the volunteer services specialist for the Rappahannock United Way. RUW is the epicenter for Fredericksburg area volunteer needs. It uses 1-800-volunteer.org as an online communication tool for posting the needs of county and city agencies and non-profit organizations throughout the area. Volunteers can post a profile that includes their skills and preferences for service. Either party can initiate contact within the system. Shelby advises new volunteers to familiarize themselves with the website or call her and she will answer questions and help them find a suitable match. She also suggests that they try some basics like serving food at the Thurman Brisben Center. Or, stocking shelves at the Fredericksburg Area Food Bank. “There is a greater need for volunteers during the holidays,” said Oya Oliver, the executive director of the Fredericksburg Area Food Bank. Volunteers also sort food, pack emergency boxes and record data. Training is on the job and there is no long-term commitment required. Another venue Shelby recommends for first timers is The Marine Corp’s Toys for Tots program. Volunteers sort and prepare gifts brought to the warehouse center for delivery. Other volunteers prepare and bring meals for the workers. For families who want a volunteer experience, Shelby suggests helping at the warehouse. “Parents want their kids to appreciate what they have and
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their kids get to learn about the needs in the community.” Another beginner opportunity for individuals or groups is ringing a bell for The Salvation Army. “You literally can do a one 4-hour commitment. And it goes right back into the community,” Shelby said. Lori Weresnick, the volunteer service coordinator for Spotsylvania Department of Social Services suggests sponsoring families through their Holiday Hope program. Sponsors can supply a meal for the family, or gifts for the child or children. The sponsor purchases, wraps and delivers the gifts. This year there are many teens to sponsor for Christmas. The Department also has a home improvement program that uses volunteers. Lori’s list in September included: fixing a broken window; taking down, washing and hanging curtains; repairing a door; building a ramp, and laying linoleum. Many agencies such as the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board use volunteers on a regular basis. There is an application process with background and criminal records checks to protect the clients with whom the volunteers interact. Volunteers attend required training and then agree to a required time commitment. But these same agencies have additional ways to utilize volunteers to benefit the people they serve. Michelle Wagaman, public information specialist for Rappahannock Area Community Services Board said RACSB welcomes book drives to provide reading material for participants of the Parent Education and Infant Development program. The agency also welcomes holiday party planning or Christmas caroling by a group for one or more of the group homes. “Come up with a project, something to make for our clients,” said Kammi Johannsen, volunteer coordinator for Rappahannock Area Agency on Aging. The Quilters Club makes quilts every winter and a Youth Group made handpainted flower pots in the spring. Last year, a school made 150 Christmas cards. “You might think that is trite, but it’s very meaningful to the seniors,” she said. Kammi also suggests bringing musical talent to perform during lunch at the center. Other places to look for volunteer opportunities are churches, non-profit organizations, the public library, health services organizations and youth-serving and mentoring organizations. Check their websites or call. The key to finding the best volunteer opportunity for the holiday season is to do some research and look for something that matters. Most one-time volunteer opportunities are a minimum of four hours. But at $20.25 an hour, that makes a nice donation. For volunteer information or to contact any of the agencies mentioned in this article, go to: 1-800-volunteer.org or call Shelby Beck at (540)373-0041, Ext.314. —Kathy Lewis
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The plant nearly doubled in size between its construction in 1930 (photo at left) and 1953 (photo at right) when it employed nearly 2,700 workers.
FLasHBaCK
When Cellophane Was King Closure of FMC plant brought heartache to hundreds of area families
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ray clouds hung overhead. Remnants of a recent snow splotched the muddy ground. Heads, once held high with prosperity and pride, were hanging, vacant eyes staring into an uncertain future. “The plant” was shutting down. “That was one of the saddest times of my life,” Chase Garland, 83, of Partlow says of the dreary March day in 1978 when the last 60 employees he supervised at the FMC cellophane plant punched the time clock for the final time. “There were a lot of tears, especially with the men who had worked there 20, 30 years.” The good years. The plant arrived in Spotsylvania County, near the southern boundary with Fredericksburg on U.S. 17, in the spring of 1930. The production of cellophane, a cellulose-based, clear wrapping used primarily for foods and cigarettes, still was in its infancy in the U.S. A new $1 million plant, built by Sylvania Industrial Corp., and a product of the future, would mark the end of
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lean years in the Fredericksburg area. From an initial workforce of 350, the plant would grow and grow, reaching its peak in 1957 with nearly 2,700 hourly and salaried workers, making it the largest non-government employer in the region. (Only the Naval Surface Warfare Center at Dahlgren was larger.) The cellophane-manufacturing workforce was maledominated, but “a lot of women worked at the plant,” says Chase’s wife, Roberta Garland, who worked in payroll. “Just about all the workers in the lab were women. Women filled most of the (clerical) office positions, too.” “It put Fredericksburg on the map,” says Chase, who worked at FMC for nearly 39 years. “It put a lot of meals on the table, lots of kids through school.” Spotsylvania County Supervisor Emmitt Marshall agrees. “The plant opened during the Great Depression. That was a tremendous thing for the community. It meant jobs for hundreds of people,” says Emmitt.
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It was a hold-your-nose-and-love-it relationship between many in the community and the plant. Thanks to emissions from the plantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s towering brick exhaust stack, the facility could be smelled long before it was seen. The late Roger Clarke, a retired insurance man who helped bring Sylvania to the area, told The Free Lance-Star in 1978: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We tolerated the smell â&#x20AC;&#x201D; got people to agree it was a good smell because it gave us a payroll.â&#x20AC;? End of an era. The early 1970s, with the emergence of new, cheaper plastic wraps, coupled with rising production costs for cellophane, would signal the gradual decline of output and employment at the plant. (Ownership had changed twice. American Viscose, which bought Sylvania Industrial Corp. in 1946, was absorbed by FMC Corp. in 1963.) In 1978 FMC losses were projected at $7 million. The end was coming. When the moment arrived, the workforce had dwindled to around 1,100. Chase, a supervisor in the pipefitting and plumbing arm of the engineering department, was one of the last to leave. He oversaw a crew of â&#x20AC;&#x153;10 to 12â&#x20AC;? workers in a plant that once employed thousands, operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They dismantled equipment that was sold. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a dismal place,â&#x20AC;? he says of the plantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last days.
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One memento from the cellophane-manufacturing era that made its way into hundreds of area homes was the cherished â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sylvania knifeâ&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;plant knifeâ&#x20AC;? that workers were issued to cut the sheets of clear wrapping material. The small paring knives with red, green or brown handles became popular kitchen items, with the green-handled knife the most coveted because its blade had the highest-grade steel, according to a March 7, 1978, article in The Free Lance-Star. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I still have mine, whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s left of it. The bladeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worn down pretty thin,â&#x20AC;? Roberta Garland of Partlow said recently. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The knives were so popular that [the now shuttered] Fredericksburg Hardware started to stock them.â&#x20AC;?
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EXPERIENCE
FMC PLANT continued ______________________________
Up from the ruins. The FMC property has undergone a tremendous transformation since the plant closed. In 1980, Spotsylvania County bought the 236-acre tract and FMC buildings for $6 million. A big attraction was David Smith is your the sewage treatment plant there, now choice for buying, owned and operated by the county. selling & property Spotsylvania soon began selling the management in buildings and land to recoup its investment. Fredericksburg and One of the first buyers was A. Smith surrounding areas. Bowman Distillery, which paid $1.75 million for eight former FMC buildings Call today to take and 25 acres of land. Founded in 1935, advantage of the two years after the end of Prohibition, best buyer’s market the company is best known for its in years and a new Virginia Gentleman bourbons. tax rebate. Investors Jay Adams, president of the priwelcome. vately-owned company, says the highly automated distillery, with only six emContaCt DaviD Smith toDay! ployees, utilizes about 35,000 square Office: 540.373.9300 (ext.115) • Cell: 540.273.0129 feet of the extensively renovated FMC davidsmith@mris.com • www.DavidSellsVirginia.com buildings and leases other properties to 774-A Warrenton Road, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22406 a variety of businesses. “We’re working on plans for a gift shop and maybe a restaurant to make it 3/9/09 6:09:53 PM of a tourist destination,” says Jay. more (Tours of the distillery already are available, but must be scheduled in advance.) Spotsylvania Business Park and a county-owned sewage treatment plant comprise the remainder of the FMC property. The county’s economic development department lists 48 enterprises, from heavy industry to restaurants, occupying the land once dominated by the cellophane plant. The transformation has resulted in a more stable economic base, says Russell Seymour, Spotsylvania’s director of economic development. “Anytime you get that much diversi#0"3%*/( t 53"*/*/( ty, you probably are better off,” he says. -&440/4o)6/5&3 +6.1&3 &26*5"5*0/ But one long-time area resident, #FHJOOFS UP "EWBODFE t :FBS 3PVOE 3JEJOH recalling the FMC plant in its heyday, "MM 8FBUIFS 3JOHT -BSHF *OEPPS 'BDJMJUZ laughingly laments: “Sometimes I still $MPTF UP 6OJWFSTJUZ PG .BSZ 8BTIJOHUPO think I can smell it. I know I can’t, but 2VBMJUZ )PSTFT BOE 1POJFT GPS 4BMF sometimes it seems like I can.”
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FINDING A HOUSE AND A HOME.
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Ann Garnett: 540-842-4228 9601 Courthouse Road, Spotsylvania, VA 22553
—David Lyne
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/<??<D2?@ 12@2?C2 . 92;12? A52F 0.; A?B@A Briner, Incorporated has been a family owned and operated business since 1985 and has been located in the Westwood Office Park in
Fredericksburg for more than five years. Very often Briner Mortgage works with first-time homeowners and stays with them over the years, helping them to grow. “We have helped families for generations,” says Owner Patti Mercer. “We are family owned and family oriented.” At Briner Mortgage everything is done onsite at the Westwood office, from the first application to the closing documents. The experienced and knowledgeable staff can quickly determine if a client is qualified for a loan, unlike bigger companies that send out files to be approved. Everyone on staff has been with the company for four or more years, and often clients can work with the same person throughout
the years. Applying for a loan can be performed online, or in person at the Westwood office. Customers appreciate the face-to-face meetings and personal service they receive and unlike larger companies, Briner Mortgage chooses not to have automated phone service because it wants to make sure that clients deal directly with a person, not a machine. Remember, prequalified buyers have an advantage over those who haven’t talked with a lender and Briner Mortgage can prequalify you quickly, answer any concerns and help you prepare before that dream house comes along! www.brinermortgage. com540-368-2300 Virginia State Corp Commission license MC-325
. A?B2 :2:/2? <3 A52 0<::B;6AF <332?6;4 B;6>B2 5645 2;1 6;16C61B.96G21 @2?C602 Virginia Partners Bank is locally owned and managed. It fills the niche for unique, high quality, quick customer service. Virginia Partners Bank prides itself as being relationship oriented. Most of the clientele are small business owners and individuals. Clients are dealt with on an individual basis and the bank will solve problems based on the client’s situation, rather than “canned” solutions. Virginia Partners offers all of the conveniences of a big bank, but with all of the individual attention of a small bank. Often, the bank can outmaneuver the competition. President Bill Young gives this example, “We fancy ourselves as a speed boat on the Rappahannock, and the others (the big banks) are destroyers. They can’t move as quickly.” Customers can do all their banking completely online. For a more personal touch, they can visit the main office in downtown Fredericksburg or
the convenient Westwood Office Park location. “Everyone is onboard,” Mr. Young says, “with the belief that you should treat all customers with respect, as you would like to be treated.” The bank is committed to the community and supports numerous local not-for-profit organizations. Quality over quantity, Virginia Partners Bank does right by its clients. www.vapartnersbank.com 540-899-3022
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Attorney Wesley Marshall earned his law degree at the University of Virginia in 1988. Afterwards he practiced law first in Richmond, then in Northern Virginia, before opening his practice in Fredericksburg 12 years ago in the Westwood Office Park. Helping people and using the debate skills of thought and persuasion are among the reasons Mr. Marshall became a lawyer. It’s a profession he finds most fulfilling. “My greatest reward is making a difference in peoples’ lives,” Mr. Marshall says. With a wide breadth of experience in personal injury, workers compensation disputes, contract disability compensation, and insurance claims he has been representing injured workers and accident victims in Virginia for more than twenty years. Mr. Marshall’s goal is to provide the highest quality of legal services and give clients a dedicated team who will understand their needs, to be thorough, professional, and timely in order to achieve the best outcome possible. www.vacomplaw.com 540-371-4444
32 20 lll#K^g\^c^VCZ^\]Wdgh#Xdb www.VirginiaNeighbors.com
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H&R Block is the world’s largest tax preparation business, having served 400 million clients since 1955. Its goal, says Tax Professional Steve Dickey, “is to save our clients as much
as possible, to keep up with the ever changing tax laws, and to help clients to pay as little as legally possible.” H&R Block strongly believes in education. All employees re-
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Learning Enhancement Centers believes in the plasticity of the mind — the ability to retrain the brain. Everyone can learn and grow. Owner Christina Carson and her staff, called Learning Specialists, help special needs children, learners who are behind in school work, adults looking to improve job performance and students needing assistance with college prep. They really work for their clients. “They (the clients) are the whole point,” Ms. Carson said from the center located in the Westwood Office Park. The Virginia Learning Enhancement Center will even refer clients elsewhere if the Learning Specialists feel they aren’t the best match for the clients. Learning Specialists each receive over 150 hours of specialized, in-house training before working with a client and continue to receive training every year. Clients are diagnosed using numerous tests to determine their strengths and weaknesses. After diagnosing the problem, the brain is first retrained, and then the Learning Specialists work with the client to tackle academics. Due to this methodology, clients are almost always successful in school and in life. Additionally, the center does this in half the number of sessions compared to the competition. Each client is treated individually. The teaching method is tailored to the client, made to be fun, but also challenging, and utilizes the most advanced, interactive tools available. Ms. Carson says clients leave saying, “Thanks so much!” www.learningenhancementcenters.com / 540-368-1960
ceive the best education possible. The courses employees take are on par with college courses. Employees have yearly ongoing education, and they also can earn specializations. Customers can be assured that they will be helped by the most skilled personnel in the field. Because H&R Block is an international corporation, clients can use its services no matter where they live. When clients move, their tax records can be transferred as well and they can
continue to have H&R Block help them with their taxes. In the past year the government has issued substantial tax changes that will affect everyone. Due to all of the changes Mr. Dickey says, “If you only see a tax professional every three to four years, this is the year to talk to someone.” Stop by their Westwood Office Park branch today and see how they can help you. www.hrblock.com 540-373-5432
The first rule of running a successful business is finding just the right location. Strategically located between Washington, D.C. and Richmond, Virginia, Westwood Office Park is on Route 3, less than a two minute drive from the ramps to Interstate 95. Your business or professional practice will benefit from the easy access to either major market as well as the surrounding counties. Call or go online today for more information about how you can get your business off to a great start.
www.westwoodofficepark.com 202-329-7711 s VIRGINIA NEIGHBORS 33 CDK:B7:G $ 9:8:B7:G '%%. NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2009 | L?H=?D?7 D;?=>8EHI 21
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HOME&GARDEN | TRAVEL | HEALTH | FOOD | FAMILY
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COME & GET IT
Kid-sized harvest treats There’s a chill in the air. What a perfect time to turn fall’s favorite fruit, the apple, into a scrumptious treat. Caramel apples, a nostalgic comfort food, are the
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CARAMEL APPLES continued ___________________________________________________ perfect blend of sweet and gooey with crisp and crunchy. Add some tasty nuts or colorful toppings and you’ve got a treat that’s sure to please. As the days get shorter and the list of school holidays seems to get longer, parents and little ones alike will be looking for something to do. Spending time in the kitchen can be entertaining and educational. And when the food is as fun to make as it is to eat, kids might forget they’re learning. An old-fashioned recipe might be just the way to involve all of the family, from grandmas to toddlers, and create a lasting family tradition.
Both Justin Anderson and Josh Hairston (far right) have bright futures ahead
Mini Caramel Apples For about 24 mini caramel apples, you’ll need: Melon ball scoop 2 Granny Smith apples, well washed, but NOT peeled 8 lollipop sticks (available in craft stores), cut in half 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 package (14 ounces) caramel squares, unwrapped 2 tablespoons milk 1-1/2 cups of decorative sprinkles, chopped nuts, crushed candies, etc. Mini cupcake liners or paper candy cups With the large end of a melon ball scoop, extract one-inch spheres from the apples, leaving a piece of peel attached to each sphere. Toss the apple balls with the lemon juice until well coated, then dry thoroughly with paper towels. Spear each apple ball through its bit of peel with a half lollipop stick, making sure to only go halfway through the apple. Dry the apple pieces once more (so the caramel will stick) and place on a baking pan. Freeze for 15 minutes while you melt the caramels. In a microwave safe bowl, heat the unwrapped caramels and milk on HIGH for one minute. Stir the mixture and heat at 50% power for another minute. Repeat as necessary until the caramel and milk are well mixed and the caramel is liquid. Reheat the mixture whenever it thickens. Remove the apple pieces from the freezer. Quickly dip each apple in melted caramel all the way up to the stick, covering completely. Immediately dip and roll the apple in a topping. Set the completed apples upright in mini cupcake liners and freeze for 15 minutes to set the caramel. Working in small batches yields the best results. Mini Caramel Apples should be served immediately, but will hold for a short time if refrigerated. Plan to consume these the same day they are made because juice from the cut surfaces of the apple will gradually liquefy the caramel. For longer holding time, substitute miniature Lady Apples (sold at holiday time) or seedless grapes for the cut apple spheres. — Drema Apperson
HOMEGROWN
Courting Success Two Spotsylvania boys strive to become basketball stars
W
ould James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, even recognize his game if he saw it played today? Long vanished are the flat-footed, two-handed set shots lobbed towards baskets; the modern game takes place in the air, with players deploying a balletic assortment of jump shots, layups, and dunks. Likewise gone is the original game’s leisurely Victorian tempo. Today, basketball games move at a dizzying pace, with all ten players in constant motion. Naismith would be impressed today by two local players with jaw-dropping talent. Josh Hairston and Justin Anderson, formerly of Courtland High School, will play together for Montrose Christian School in Rockville, Md., this winter. (Montrose’s coach, Stu Vetter, heads up one of the finest programs in the country and has developed NBA players including Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Linas Kleiza of the Denver Nuggets.) Following graduation, Josh, a senior, will become a Duke Blue Devil and play for the legendary Mike “Coach K” Krzyzewski. And Justin? Give him time — he’s only fifteen years old. Which is not to say the colleges aren’t already drooling over him. Both players showed early promise. Antonio Coghill, James Monroe High School’s basketball coach, recalls the first time he saw Justin. “I heard about this kid in Spotsylvania that was incredible, unbelievable. During warm-ups, some kid was shooting around, dunking the ball,
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and someone said that kid is only going into the eighth grade next year. I couldn’t believe it. He was already around 6’4” at the time.” J.T. Nino coached Justin at Courtland for one season. “Ever since I saw Justin in elementary school, he was far more physically developed than kids his age — he was dunking when he was in the 6th grade. The key for Justin in the future will be his ability to develop his game as other players grow and that physical advantage goes away.” J.T. also coached Josh for three seasons, including last year when he was named State Player of the Year, after leading the Cougars (with 23.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per game) to a AA state championship. “What separates Josh from most players his size (he’s 6’9”) is his quickness and agility. Josh has always used that ability to his advantage and it will be key for him when he gets to college.” J.T. continues. “You rarely see a teenage athlete come up to a coach and say ‘What days can I workout this week?’ It’s usually the other way around with the coach trying to get a kid in the gym. Josh was always looking to get
in the gym whenever he could. That’s how he approaches his entire life, not just basketball.” Both young men come from close, supportive families. Leaving home to attend Montrose wasn’t easy for Justin or Josh, but both players and their families felt it was the right step for them to further develop their skills. And themselves. “One of the things we do is to teach a work ethic,” said Stu Vetter, the Montrose coach. “Work ethics don’t come naturally but are developed over a period of time. At Montrose our players have to work hard academically and work hard developing their basketball skills.” They learn personal responsibility, too. Keith Hairston, laughs that his son, “has to get himself up, get his bed made, and keep his room clean. It’s good preparation for Duke.” During their rare free time at home, both young men enjoy normal teenage pleasures: catching a movie or having ice cream with friends, playing video games, just chilling. Josh and Justin are good friends and support each other. Other buddies help them maintain perspective. One is Zach Braswell, whose brother Baron was killed in 2006. Justin said Zach has, “been there with me through it all, keeping me humbled and putting me in my place.” Stu is candid with his players about the relative brevity of athletic excellence. “No matter how good a player you are, at about age 32 your playing career is over. Age expectancy is about 82. We try to gear our program to making sure that our players are prepared for the fifty years after they stop playing basketball.” Both Josh and Justin know there will be life after basketball. As Josh says, with admirable philosophical detachment for a 17-year-old, “the ball is going to stop bouncing at some point.”
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PROFILE
Signs Of Success Richard Harrison combines a love of history and a head for business
T
he real lessons about building a business from scratch can’t always be taught in a classroom. So Richard Harrison decided he would teach them to his three children himself. And he has the background to do it. In 1988 Richard co-founded a company called Global Securities Information. That firm, which was based in Washington, D.C., grew to nearly 150 employees, and in 2005 it was bought by a multibillion-dollar corporation, which freed Richard to retire if he wanted to. But in 2008, he decided to get back into business by launching a new company, called Marker History. It sells posters, books and postcard collections that show many of the historical markers scattered across Virginia. The poster collections are grouped by city, county, region, or by topics, such as African American history or the Civil War, while the coffee-table books have images of all of the markers in a particular region. Richard is a native of North Plainfield, N.J., who graduated from the University of Richmond. He lives in Fredericksburg with his wife, Susan, and their three children — William, 15, Mitchell, 13, and Emma, 10. The kids have been involved in launching the business from the very beginning. VN: Why did you sell the business you had built? RH: The biggest factor was that, at the time, my children were 6, 9 and 11 years old. I realized that in 10 years, my
kids would be gone from the house. I’ve been pretty fortunate in life, but what’s the point of it if you can’t spend time with your family? It was a lifestyle change. VN: How do you get your children involved
in this new venture?
RH: One of the things we all want to do with our kids is teach them what we know. One of the things I’m good at is vision and strategic planning for a business. I was trying to teach my kids how to start a small business, and about the value of planning and implementation. You know — the painful details of life, things they wouldn’t necessarily get in school. I brought them in through the initial strategy of the business. They do a little bit of market research on product development. My oldest son helped me with proofreading the first book that’s going to the printer. You cannot completely immerse them in it like it was a full-time job, but you can give them pieces at a time. VN: Why did you decide that this new
business was a good idea?
RH: About a year ago I was down in the Northern Neck at a friend’s house, and saw the markers in Westmoreland
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County. We couldn’t find a single poster [for sale] for the markers in any state. So we kind of latched on to that idea. Plus, I’m a big fan of history in general. One of the things I always did while traveling was stop and read the historic markers. There are 2,200 markers in the state, and they add about 30 to 60 every year. Most people just read the first few lines as they’re driving by.
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VN: Who do you think your
customers will be and what are your goals?
RH: Local buyers, tourists, and educators will all be interested in this product. We think it’s a really great way for kids to develop an interest in history and learn more about the area in which they live. The other part I am trying to teach my kids is that in any business, you’ve got to give back. We’re giving a portion of our retail sales to the Virginia chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, because they help pay for putting up new markers around the state. And we’re going to help local preservation groups engage with residents in their area, by providing our posters, with images of local historical markers, at a wholesale price. They keep the proceeds for whatever they sell. It’s readymade for their fundraising efforts. It’s a good opportunity for them and for us.
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VN: What’s next for
this company?
RH: We’ll see what kind of success we find as a business. I don’t know that the children will necessarily be running it. We’re trying to teach them about building scale into a business, into any business. There are 32 states with historical markers and we could expand the business into other states. I had them working on it quite a lot this summer, especially the boys. It’s about teaching them methodology, and what business is about. But it’s a fun thing to do.
One generation later ... OUR COMMITMENT & VISION REMAIN STRONG w w w . n i c h o l l s a u c t i o n . c o m
( 5 4 0 ) 8 9 8 - 0 971
— Robert Burke
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HUMOR
To Tip or Not to Tip When did tipping become so complicated?
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or $2.59, the large waffle cone seemed like a decent deal. But I was shocked when the teenage server told me the ice cream would be extra. What’s with that? That would be like ordering a box of KFC and just getting a box, no chicken. But I rolled my eyes, chose chocolate fudge and grudgingly handed him my money. Then I spotted…THE TIP JAR. Now what? Should I fork over even more? I felt a brain-freeze headache coming on, and I hadn’t even taken my first bite. I could so picture the kid behind the counter driving that two-toned car with the banged-up bumper I’d seen in the parking lot. I don’t know whether he could use a new set of wheels. But an upgrade in acne medication certainly was in order. Either way, I felt sorry for him, standing there in that funny paper hat. I dug in my purse, fished out some change and dropped it into the jar. What happened next I never would have imagined. A slew of employees I hadn’t even realized were in the building began to swirl around me, tooting horns and dancing around like we were at the Hard Rock Café on a Saturday night. Some people might enjoy that kind of tip-celebrating attention. Not me. I felt my neck start to get hot and then my face. Next, I did the only thing I could think to do. I ran to the bathroom — cone in hand — and locked myself inside. Turns out, chocolate fudge ice cream isn’t as tasty when you eat it in the loo. You might be thinking I overreacted, but those guiltinducing jars are just the beginning of my trepidations about tipping. Whether it’s a strategically placed container on a coffee shop counter or a prodding Christmas card left in my mailbox, I’m never sure what’s apropos — especially during the holidays. I’m not exactly known for my loose purse strings, but my husband, whose mother raised him alone on a hairdresser’s salary, has taught me the importance of tipping
well. He has me so intimidated about giving the right gratuities at the salon that I sport a head full of split ends and fading highlights for most of the year. How much do you give the shampoo girl? Should you tip the stylist if she owns the salon? Is anyone who so much as touches your hair while you’re there entitled to a gratuity of some sort? I worry that if I don’t give enough, they’ll get me drunk off their so-called complimentary wine and talk me into a hot pink Mohawk that would really flatter my face. Same goes for the end-of-the-year tip for the mailman. If I stiff him, will he go postal? Will all of my Christmas cards end up “lost in the mail?” And just where is the best place to leave the garbage guy’s holiday tip? Taped to the underside of the trashcan lid? What if the money comes loose and ends up in the landfill? If he thinks I didn’t even try to tip him, will he start refusing my recyclables when I accidentally mix the paper with the plastics? The grocery store is just as bad. I work out, but I’m no weight lifter. Still, I seem to be able to pull off incredible feats of strength when it comes to avoiding the tipping dilemma. Bagger: “Do you need help out today?” Me: “No, thank you, these two 50-pound bags of dog food are a lot lighter than they look.” Same thing happens at the airport. I try to pack light. And hotels? Forget it. I almost prefer the cruelties of camping to the host of tippees that awaits at a nice hotel — the doorman, the bellhop, the concierge, the housekeeper. Where does it end? As my wallet gets lighter, so does my head. I’m so confused. The only thing I know for sure is that I won’t be tossing any more of my hard-earned cash into the tip jar at that ice cream shop. I’ll just stick to my stingy ways while I’m there, thank you very much — no matter what wrath the servers decide to reap on the lady who never tips. On second thought, maybe I better start looking for another ice cream shop. — Lisa Chinn
28 www.VirginiaNeighbors.com
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F A M I LY F U N
Ooh-rah! Celebrate the Marine Corps birthday with a trip to their Museum
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or many, November is a time of giving thanks; a special month for recognizing those who make lasting impressions on our lives. It is also a month dedicated to honoring the brave men and women who fought — and continue to fight — for our freedom. This November, there’s no better way for Virginians to share their appreciation than by visiting the National Museum of the Marine Corps, a fascinating complex devoted to the history and pursuits of Marines. The National Museum of the Marine Corps opened with much fanfare on its birthday, November 10, 2006, ushering in a new generation of fans for the smallest military unit in America. Built as a lasting tribute to the Marines — the past, present and future — this high-tech museum is a cooperative effort of the United States Marine Corps and the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. The museum serves as the centerpiece of an upcoming complex called the Marine Corps Heritage Center, a campus that will include the Semper Fidelis Memorial Park, parade grounds, hiking trails and other offerings. As it stands now, the Marine Corps Museum is the
number one tourist attraction in Virginia, eliciting visits from more than 500,000 people annually. The facility is an astonishing work of architecture resting on a 135-acre site just a stone’s throw from the Marine Corps base in Quantico. What sets this 118,000-square-foot structure apart from its contemporaries is its provocative exterior— the museum boasts a soaring design modeled after the heroic flag-raisers of Iwo Jima. While the façade is an impeccable work of craftsmanship, some would argue that it doesn’t compare to the highly interactive, technologically savvy exhibits that honor bravery at its best. Upon arriving at the museum, visitors will enter Leatherneck Gallery, where they will be confronted with life-size aircraft suspended from a 210-foot stainless steel spire. The four authentic planes are “piloted” by mannequins, all of whom serve to recognize the brave Marines who protect America by air. As you’re walking, don’t be alarmed if you pass by a few life-like figures— actual Marines were used as models for all of the figures in the museum. If it’s genuine artifacts you’re looking for, a casual jaunt through the galleries will expose you to more
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than 60,000 historic relics, including authentic news reels of war-time footage, personal letters from Marines in battle and the first and second flags raised at Iwo Jima. While these amazing artifacts of history educate and entertain visitors, the real selling point is the museum’s “immersion” exhibits; grandiose displays that leverage cuttingedge technology to bring the true Marine experience to life. Folks of all ages can step into a Marine’s boots and walk the mock shore of Iwo Jima, witness the winter battle of the Korean War and experience the life of a soldier at war. An integral part of the immersion effect is the museum’s helicopter, an authentic, hollowed-out aircraft separating exhibits. Visitors can walk from one scene, through the belly of the helicopter and into the steamy Vietnam War set. Topping it all off is a practice M16 rifle range with a recorded drill sergeant egging you on. In addition to these interactive galleries, visitors can view the Global War on Terrorism and Marine Corps Band exhibits, as well as artwork by Marine artists. What’s more, tourists can relive the Corps’ beginnings through the recreation of Tun Tavern, the famous building where the military branch was born. When your brain is full of fun information, you can fill your stomachs at an authentic “mess hall,” modeled after a typical dining area where Marines would gather to eat. If you’re looking for a souvenir or you want to relax, the museum offers classrooms, a theater, a gift shop, and a beautiful bar and restaurant— everything you need to top off an amazing journey through the 234-year history of the United States Marine Corps. This November 10, take some time to recognize the brave men and women who put their lives on the line so that we can comfortably live ours. One family trip to the Marine Corps Museum will enrich the mind, excite the eye and remind us that we all have a lot to be thankful for. In the end, that’s really the best birthday gift of all.
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To learn more about the United States Marine Corps Museum, visit the official Web site of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation at www.usmcmuseum.org. Details: National Museum of the Marine Corps 18900 Jefferson Davis Highway Triangle, VA 22172 1.877.635.1775 info@usmcmuseum.org Hours and Admission: The National Museum of the Marine Corps is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Christmas Day. Admission to the museum is free. NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2009 | VIRGINIA NEIGHBORS 31
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BackYard
OUTDOORS
Fall Fairways Autumn and winter golfing could be easier on your wallet
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ew things, says Randy Drewniak, are more pleasing than strolling onto a golf course on a clear autumn morning. Ahead of you are a few miles of lush fairways lined with the bright colors of turning leaves. You are joined by friends, or new friends, and there is absolutely nothing to keep you from shooting a great round — except perhaps, you may not be very good. But on the first tee, everyone is equal. “Fall is the prettiest time,” says Randy, a retired teacher who works a couple of days a week at The Gauntlet, an 18-hole public course that is wrapped around Lake Curtis in Stafford County. “You meet a lot of good people, and it’s a great way to be outside. You get around the lake and everything is so
nice.” Autumn, when the heat of summer is long gone, is a great season for golf. And the Fredericksburg area has plenty to offer for serious players and novices too. That’s a big change, because not that many years ago, there were just a couple of courses in the area, such as he remembersonly Fredericksburg Country Club, or Shannon Green, which disappeared when the Central Park shopping center was built. But in 1994 the Lee’s Hill Golfer’s Club opened in Spotsylvania County, followed the next year by The Gauntlet, and Augustine Golf Club, also in Stafford. In 2003, Cannon Ridge Golf Club opened in south Stafford right next to the Rappahannock River. These courses and others give golfers in this region and beyond plenty of places to test their skills. Jamie Loughan, a PGA professional and general manager of the Lee’s Hill course, has worked at several of the area’s courses. “We have options in Fredericksburg that we never used to have,” he says. As the region’s population grows, and as golfers outside the region discover the cluster of courses here, the game’s popularity continues to grow. Jamie, who took over the Lee’s Hill course in 2007, says the course had about 26,000 rounds of golf played that year, and had 74 members. This year, membership is up to 181 people, and the number of rounds played will likely be close to 36,000, he says.
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There’s an old saying that, “golf is a good walk spoiled.” It is a challenging game and can be disheartening. But beginners can find a place to give it a try. “It is frustrating,” Randy says. “You have athletes with high skills in other areas, and they come out here and have no skills.” In that way, golf is a great When you subscribe equalizer, he says. “Being big doesn’t for 1 year (6 issues) mean you can hit the ball far in golf. It’s at only $12! not like baseball.” Jamie says newcomers are welcome at area clubs. “One of the ways to start is to come down and practice on the driving range,” he says. “Come down and hit balls, or seek professional instruction.” In fact, the fall and winter seasons are a pretty good time to do just that. Fees usually go down, starting in November. All of the local courses offer lessons, and there are often discounted prices for rounds on days when the course isn’t busy. That’s a great time to practice your game without a crowd of players behind you. The Gauntlet, for example, offers “$10 Tuesdays” which is a pretty SubscriptionAd.indd 1 cheap way to get onto a good course to play or to take a lesson. And sometimes there are discounts just for living nearby — Cannon Ridge, for example, charges $59 a round Monday through Friday for residents of Stafford, Spotsylvania and Fredericksburg, which is $10 below the regular fee. Plus, the fees for a round in this region are generally lower than in the Washington area. On a typical weekend morning, the most expensive time to play, The Gauntlet charges just over $57 a round. The Augustine course is $76 for the same time, while the Cameron Hills Golf Links course in King George County is just $49, dropping to $39 in November through February. Randy says rates in the D.C. region can run from $80 to $100 for a weekend morning round. “We have a lot of D.C.-area golfers come down here because of the cost,” he says.
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— Robert Burke NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2009 | VIRGINIA NEIGHBORS 33
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BackYard
The USS Constellation, located in the Baltimore inner harbor is the last existing American Civil War-era naval vessel. At the time of its construction in 1911 the Bromo Seltzer Tower was the tallest building in Baltimore. Great seafood at Faidleys in the Lexington Market.
T R AV E L
Baltimore: Defying Stereotypes A world apart from Washington
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t seems hard to believe now, but a weekend escape to Baltimore from Fredericksburg could’ve involved a fun overnight excursion by boat until shortly before World War II. Charm City is far closer now in hours and miles but still makes for an exciting weekender with an almost limitless number of things to see and do. How two cities could be as close in proximity as Washington and Baltimore and be as different as night and day remains a mystery. You might almost say Baltimore is everything Washington is not: dynamic, informal, and full of surprises and proud locals who did not grow up somewhere else, and who love to talk about their city. And while it might shock many, Baltimore is both bigger (land area) and more populous than its “distant cousin” 40 miles down the road. The home of Babe Ruth, H.L. Mencken, Edgar Allen Poe, Upton Sinclair and 80 or so other famous Americans has enough things to do and places to discover for a lifetime but, if time is tight and this is a first visit, the Inner
Harbor has to be the focus and the National Aquarium the starting point, simply because there is so much there so close together. The Aquarium is one of the finest among dozens across the country now, and with changing shows and exhibits, it’s best to check the website (aqua.org) to plan where to spend time in this huge facility. That failing, you can’t go wrong in the Tropical Rainforest and New Dolphin Show. Elsewhere, a short walk away there is much to choose from: the Maritime Museum with its several ships to board, Harborplace for dining and shopping, Maryland Science Center, the quirky but delightful American Visionary Art Museum, and beyond that the stunning views from Federal Hill that mark the northern edge of an entirely different, intimate neighborhood spirit with more restaurants and the Cross Street Market. Cross Street is one of several food markets scattered throughout the city. A staple of old Baltimore, which has a number of ethnic neighborhoods, each market is different and fascinating.
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Inner Harbor and vicinity are best covered on foot, but a great many of the city’s other attractions are dispersed and require either a car or familiarity with using public transit. Branching out, the Fort McHenry National Historic Monument, the B&O Railroad Museum, Fells Point and Washington Monument are also on the must-see list. Fort McHenry played a key role in the defense of Baltimore when the British fleet sailed up the bay and began heavy bombardment in the War of 1812. Of course the noble redoubt won lasting fame as the place that inspired Francis Scott Key’s immortal words, which eventually became the National Anthem. The Maryland Science Center and American Visionary Art Museum are on the south side of the Inner Harbor, a bit less visited by tourist throngs but well worth the minimal effort to walk there. The former has all the bells and whistles of a top-flight science museum including an IMAX theater, while the art museum is one of the best anywhere focusing on unschooled and indigenous art. The vibrancy of some of these works is stunning, often inventive and engaging. The B&O Railroad Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate, may well be the best of its kind in the United States and is well worth the effort. The museum, at 901 W. Pratt St. west of Inner Harbor, is complete with a genuine locomotive roundtable from its working years. It is farther than most want to walk and a car is advised. In 1830 the little Tom Thumb steam engine chugged away from this spot toward Ellicott City to begin the first railroad service in the country. A precise, functioning reproduction of this locomotive is one of dozens of gems featured. Another section of town well worth seeing centers on the Washington Monument, some nine blocks north of tourist central. Known as Mount Vernon, the areas treasures include the Walters Gallery, Peabody Institute, Maryland Historical Society and Eubie Blake Jazz Museum, which may or may not be open (check ahead). The area has quite a number of excellent restaurants, also. Baltimore surprises many first time visitors in being an outstanding town for the arts. In addition to the Walters, the Baltimore Museum of Art on the Johns Hopkins campus farther to the north, and the Maryland Institute, College of Art are among major attractions. As with any foray into new territory, first-time visitors are strongly advised to acquire a good street map featuring tourist attractions, as well as an up-to-date guidebook. And one more thing: spend some time on the city’s tourist website: baltimore.org, before leaving. The winter months are ideal for this junket because there are fewer tourists and prices are often lower. —Paul Sullivan NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2009 | VIRGINIA NEIGHBORS 35
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Making His Mark Kenny Brown is the co-owner of Jack Brownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tattoo Revival in downtown Fredericksburg. The bushy-bearded man with the ready smile and eye-catching tats is known for his hardhitting artistic style, generosity and ability to make just about anyone feel at ease. by Donya Currie photography by Adam DeSio
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Chance Kenyon works on a client during the SPCA fundraiser event. 38 recent www.VirginiaNeighbors.com
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Business is booming at Jack Brown’s. The five artists who work at the Princess Anne Street studio are experts at their craft. No matter what style you want or where you want it, someone here can accommodate you with a lovely rose, a perfectly etched cartoon character, a blood-encrusted skull and crossbones or whatever else you desire. The place has an edgy feel with tattoo renderings hanging on the walls and hard rock playing from the sound system that makes the experience of getting inked that much more memorable. And then there’s the friendliness of co-owner Kenny Brown, 35, who has that enviable ability to put people at ease — soccer moms, biker dudes, college kids and everyone in between. “I don’t know anybody who doesn’t like Kenny,” says shop co-owner Chance Kenyon. “He’s a really good guy.” Even on the most stressful days, when the phone’s ringing constantly and the waiting room’s packed and someone’s complaining about something going wrong, Kenny keeps the ship running smoothly. “Things can get stressful here, but Ken always tries to make it fun,” says Brandon Leake, who works at the shop’s reception desk. “He’s always laughing and joking.” Kenny’s known around town as the tattooist with a heart, too, for his yearly fundraising efforts. It started three years ago when proceeds from a weekend’s tattoo work went to the Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault. Last year the shop raised more than $6,000 for the local food bank. And in August, the place was packed for two days straight as guest artists and Kenny and his coworkers donated the weekend’s proceeds to the Fredericksburg Regional SPCA. “When I grew up, my parents were always charitable. It’s always something I wanted to do, but I’m Bryan Chalmers Artwork
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a lazy guy,” Kenny says one day inside the shop’s waiting area, where a large display case features Tshirts, ornately decorated bags for sale, and a note that you can pick up A&D ointment for $6. That’s for keeping a fresh tattoo clean and lubricated for the first few weeks to stave off excessive scabbing. He credits wife Tawnia Brown, 33, with helping him organize each year’s charity weekend. She’ll remind him when it’s time to design the flier and tend to other details. “I thought if we were going to open a business and this town supports us, I like to be able to give back, locally,” says Tawnia, who like her husband, is heavily tattooed, each piece of work symbolizing something personal. The little boy giving the pigtailed little girl a kiss on the cheek that adorns her upper left arm, for example? Kenny did that one on request, and it reminds her of their first kiss in high school. Tawnia and Kenny, who’ve been married four years, live the love story of a movie plot. They dated in high school, when she was in ninth grade and Kenny, a self-described “late bloomer,” was the cool 11th grader with the black leather jacket. Tawnia had her eye on him for awhile and finally geared up the courage to bum a cigarette off him in the school parking lot. She was Kenny’s first kiss. The fact that Tawnia’s mom wouldn’t allow her to date and the only time the two had together were stolen moments in the woods behind the school probably led to their breakup, Tawnia said. But their love prevailed. After Tawnia went away to college and drifted back to their hometown of Mechanicsburg, Pa., NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2009 | VIRGINIA NEIGHBORS 39
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the two got back in touch on and off, had serious relationships with others, then met up at Tawnia’s mom’s house nine years ago. “The butterflies were still there,” she said, even though Kenny had put on a few pounds and her first thought was, “Wow, look how giant you are.” He somehow manages to meld tough guy with teddy bear, sporting tattoos on either side of his neck, the length of each arm and a letter on each finger spelling the words “HEAD CASE.” His bushy beard is reminiscent of an Amish farmer, and he wears a long cobbler’s apron while tattooing. He got his start in his teens when best friend Scott Jenkins, who’d always had his heart set on becoming a tattoo artist, started working for a tattoo shop in Carlisle, Pa. While Scott worked, Kenny would hang out and draw, leaving his doodles lying around. The shop owners saw those artful doodles and knew they had a talented tattoo guy on their hands. “When they offered me the job, I was terrified,” says Kenny, who points out drawing on paper is a whole different animal than inking someone’s skin. He had to learn to turn his tiny doodles into designs that would be suitable for a tattoo. His style? Samples on his MySpace page range from a pirate’s treasure map to a memorial portrait of a dog surrounded by roses to a wizard holding a magic wand emitting beams of yellow light. Fellow artist Kelly Drake says what sets Kenny apart, though, is his ability to tackle any design.
“It’s not just one style, it’s anything you ask him to do, he does an amazing job,” Kelly says during the SPCA benefit weekend as he crouches over a table in the back of the shop working on a design. “And he’s a spaz and he takes too much on,” Kelly says, laughing. “His head’s going to explode one day.” Chance says people warned him against going into business with a partner, especially if they wanted to remain friends. Yet it’s worked out just fine. “It’s really easy to work with him. We haven’t had any major issues that we haven’t been able to just sit down and drink a beer and discuss,” Chance says. “I couldn’t ask for a better partner.” On this particular Sunday, when the almost-50year-old Meg Raymond walks into the shop with a friend because she likes the SPCA benefit idea and wants to do something to commemorate her “tragically looming birthday,” the place is crammed with folks taking advantage of the walk-in-and-get-tattooed occasion. Usually, Kenny is booked at least two months in advance. Rob Glenn, 38, of Orange, who’s had tattoos done by artists across the globe, appreciates both the convenience of getting his feet inked today and Kenny’s attitude. “Kenny’s got a real cool vibe,” says Rob, who never winces in the two hours it takes for Kenny to finish the cartoon characters Pinky and The Brain, one on the top of each foot. “He’s really laid back.” Virginia law says anyone younger than 18 wanting a tattoo has to bring along a parent or guardian. But even when those reluctant parents chaperone their teen sons and daughters into Jack Brown’s Tattoo Revival, Kenny will try to talk them out of it. “The first tattoo is a very serious decision,” says the man with ink covering a good two-thirds of his body. “You’re changing a part of your body for the remainder of your life.” Rob sits on the upholstered tattoo table while Kenny applies a readied stencil to his right foot. Not liking the placement, he wipes off the ink and tries again. A painting behind him reads, “The week [sic] will inherit a gut full of teeth.” At the front of the shop, a group of 40-something women enter, some hoping for a paw print tattoo for the SPCA benefit (Left) A wall full of stencils (artwork ready to transfer to skin) stands ready for service. (Right) Tattooing for the benefit of your favorite charity is a new experience for many.
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and to symbolize their love of pets, one contemplating a belly piercing. “All right, bro, you ready?” Kenny asks, warming up his tattoo gun, which looks a little like an airbrush and makes a buzzing noise when operating. “Try not to kick me in the face, OK?” He laughs and jokes with waiting customers and fellow artists while he’s working, never losing concentration on Rob’s design. Just before he begins, he looks Rob in the eye again and says, “I’m going to be doing a fat line and a skinny line, so one of them’s going to hurt really bad, and the other one’s going to hurt really bad.” Everybody in earshot laughs, but they also know the tops of the feet are one of those sensitive body parts, and this is not going to be pleasant. “Seriously, if you need a break, let me know.” The first tattoo Kenny did was a “cover up” to improve on a piece someone no longer liked. He turned “a really weird cloud with bats” into a full
moon with a crescent shadow and a mean face. On his off hours, he sings in a band, something he’s done since high school, and writes song lyrics. The band’s style? “A lot of hard rock but it isn’t uncommon to hear some bluegrass or hip-hop.” Still fond of painting on canvas, Kenny created some watercolors that were hung alongside fellow tattooists’ work during the September First Friday event at Sammy T’s, showing a style that’s compelling but hard to classify. Tough guy meets Cartoon Network? Some of his work has an old timey feel, other pieces are dark and crammed with symbolism — a leg sporting a garter, an 11 of hearts, doves and a high heeled shoe. He says he considers himself lucky to have a job he loves. Tattoos, for him, are “almost like adorning myself with a certain amount of armor. Like a caterpillar with bright orange markings that might make a bird think twice before taking a bite.” d
Kenny and Chance can be reached at 540-899-9002 or you can visit www.jbtrtattoo.com
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42 www.VirginiaNeighbors.com
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Go Outside & Play! As the nature education coordinator for Fredericksburg’s Parks & Recreation Department, Linda Bailey’s enthusiastic message rings loud and clear...
by Marjolijn Bijlefeld photography by Jamie Haverkamp NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2009 | VIRGINIA NEIGHBORS 43
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n the past 15 years, Linda Bailey has lead thousands of people for a walk in the woods. She’s taken them to Hazel Run, the stream that runs through Alum Spring Park, where they wade in the water and see what turns up in their dipnets. She has shown the preschool set how to make plaster casts of animal footprints, encouraged entire families to come to Motts Run Reservoir on moonlit nights and delighted the non-squeamish who dig through owl pellets to find mouse or bird bones.
Linda is the city’s environmental dynamo. When she arrived in town 15 years ago, the city’s Parks & Recreation Department had no nature education coordinator. The job was created for her. And in return, she has created a comprehensive year-round program for children and adults. Most of these programs, not surprisingly, are held outside in two of the city’s delightful parks— Alum
Spring Park, in the city at the end of Greenbrier Drive, and Motts Run Reservoir Recreation Area, an 860-acre natural area that includes a 160-acre reservoir that supplies the city’s drinking water. Linda’s goals are simple, yet can have an enormous impact on people’s lives. “I would like to get people outside. Get off the couch, come for a walk,” she said. And she wants them to be comfortable doing it. “There’s a lot of fear about being out in the woods. People might be afraid of the heat or getting lost or bugs. I understand that,” she said. She’s allergic to bee stings, so she knows when the yellow jackets are most active and where they’re likely to be. She wants others to understand that nature is not some inexplicable force out to get you. So her programs, presentations and displays are all focused on the idea that the more you know, the less frightening it is. In the Nature Center, the logcabin chalet at Motts Run, Pocket, the resident corn snake, is the public relations ambassador for reptiles. “People’s opinions of snakes change as they learn more about them,” she said. In fact, moving people toward greater respect
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Linda introduces Pocket the corn snake and gives a brief lecture inside the Nature Center before heading out with her students to begin collecting acorn tops to make whistles.
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and admiration for nature and the environment is Linda’s broader goal. “Maybe when people see the opportunities and the beauty, they’ll want to do more to protect the environment,” she said. “I’d like to be part of developing that next generation of environmentalists because so many children haven’t had the chance to be outside in nature.” Linda grew up, more outside than inside, in Seattle, Wash. Her parents took the family for long hikes — the kind that have imprinted on her. As much as she loves Virginia and the eastern forests, she misses the panoramic and breathtaking views on the trails on the West Coast. “Everyone who knows me knows it’s one of my dreams to one day have a log cabin in the woods in Washington state,” she said. She attended Washington State University in Pullman, Wash., and as a sophomore on May 18, 1980, saw a great dark cloud roiling in the distance. The students watched as the cloud turned darker and steadily approached, just as news was breaking that Mt. St. Helens volcano had erupted. By that afternoon, even 300 miles away from the volcano, the cloud of volcanic ash turned the day to night. Fine particles of gray ash fell for hours, and by morning, a gray dust covered everything. Linda still has her vial of Mt. St. Helen’s dust. Her husband, Carry Bailey — whom she would meet two weeks later when they both had summer jobs at Olympic National Park — has his vial of Mt. St. Helen’s dust, too. Since he was closer to the blast, his particles are grainer, more like
(Left) Linda Baily holds a leaf up to a booklet showing the kids how to identify their leaves. (Above) Students find a baby newt in the woods.
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(Clockwise from top left) Twelve-year-old Davis Bryant and eleven-year-old Maddie Johnson identify leaves during Bailyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s outdoor class. Fourteen-year-old Michaela King studies the trees around Motts Run Reservoir. Nine-year-old Paul Thomas uses an increment borer to determine the age of a Virginia Pine Tree along the shore of the Reservoir.
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tiny pieces of rock. Linda’s summer jobs were working for lodges in Olympic and Yellowstone National Parks. “I worked for the lodge companies, and the national parks would be my playground on my time off.” In the city’s education programs, young volunteers play a big role. Many of the teens who help out with Camp Hideaway, a weeklong day camp for younger children at Alum Spring, or Camp Wildwood, a day camp for older children at Motts Run, are graduates of the program themselves. Linda has guided several Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts through service projects. Two of the projects were completed by her sons. Zach, her oldest son, designed and built the orienteering course at Motts Run, an interwoven series of eight off-trail paths of varying lengths and levels of difficulty. It was his Eagle Scout service project. Her younger son, Carl, created two informational kiosks, near the Nature Center and the boating area, for his Eagle project. Linda’s network of volunteers is extensive. Trail stewards check the trails several times each year, letting her know about large fallen limbs or other dangers. Volunteers staff the Nature Center on weekends, showing visitors around or answering questions. The city’s Earth Day celebration has grown every year. Local astronomer and optometrist Myron Wasiuta has worked with Linda to develop and lead a series of stargazing from Motts Run Nature Center. “The entire Parks and Recreation Department depends heavily on volunteers,” Linda said. And the department is buoyed by community support, such as the $20,000 seed money grant for the Nature Center that the Fredericksburg Area Service League donated in 2001. Linda has made some changes to the nature education program recently. For example, the Hobgoblin Hike at Alum Spring, an annual October event for at least a decade, had become so large, it occupied much of Linda’s time and energy for months of the year. Writing the skits, finding volunteers to act and others to light the trails became all-consuming for several months. So in 2008,
Linda ended one program and started another — Spooky Stories by the Shore. The early session stories are tamer, for younger listeners. The later session of stories read by the shore of Motts Run are designed to scare. With her late summer and fall freed up from the demands of the Hobgoblin Hike, Linda was able to start a Junior Naturalist program, a four-week program for 1015-year-olds who can really get their heads around one aspect of nature. The program started last fall with a session on insects; in the spring, it was herps — reptiles and amphibians — and this fall’s topic was trees. Kids who complete one of these four programs — birds is the focus for Spring 2010 — receive an embroidered patch. She has also been able to add more late summer and fall hikes and programs. Before dozens of people start vying for her job, Linda wants them to know that she doesn’t spend all day, every day in the woods. Her role includes marketing, developing programs, creating budgets and finding and nurturing volunteers. Still, more than many people, Linda gets to see and hear the direct impact of her work in the smiles and squeals of children as they pull in a net of water creatures or turn over a rotten log to see the squirmy bugs underneath. That’s the sound of children enjoying nature. And that’s music to her ears. d
For more information call 540-372-1086 ext.213 or visit www.fredericksburgva.gov/departments/recreation. NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2009 | VIRGINIA NEIGHBORS 49
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ART | ENTERTAINMENT | MUSIC | DINING
MUSIC
Ensemble Extraordinaire
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he Spotsylvania Community Chorus’s annual Christmas Candlelight concert will be held Dec. 12-13 at Spotsylvania Middle School. The chorus, a non-profit group of more than 60 singers from the Fredericksburg area, will perform traditional seasonal music lullabies and spirituals at 8 p.m. Dec. 12 and at 3 p.m. Dec. 13 in the school’s auditorium at 8801 Courthouse Road. The concerts are free. The chorus, founded in 2002, is affiliated with the Spotsylvania County Parks and Recreation Department. In addition to the Christmas concert, the group’s other major performance is in May. Directed by Linda Monner and accompanied by Marilla Haas, the chorus is known for its variety. “I like to call our music, ‘Doo-Woopera,’” Linda said, noting that last May the chorus performed a medley of Doo Wop songs followed by a selection from an opera. “Variety is our hallmark. We like to provide musical entertainment for everyone who comes out to hear us,” said Linda, a former voice and general music teacher on Long Island. In New York, Linda was a founding director of both the Suffolk County Silver Chords Chorus
and the West Suffolk Community Chorus. Her choruses performed for the governor and for the New York State Legislature and were the opening act for Rosemary Clooney’s Christmas Show at the Westbury Music Fair on Long Island. In April, Linda and the Spotsylvania Community Chorus were recognized by the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors as leaders in choral music entertainment. A 16-member ensemble within the chorus, called “The Spotlighters,” performs at a variety of organized events including July Fourth celebrations and fundraisers. The Christmas concert is a gift to the community; a small fee is charged at other performances. The community chorus is always interested in new voices and chorus membership is maintained at about 65 singers. Auditions for vacancies usually are held in January and September. Rehearsals are on Monday evenings from midSeptember to mid-May at the Marshall Center in Spotsylvania. For additional information and schedules go to www.spotsylvanians.com, email the membership chair at spotsymembers@cox.net or call (540)786-9643.
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WRITER’S BLOCK ART
A GARDEN WORTH TENDING
Illustrating Your Health
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he 20th Century brought many contributions to American culture; a period where travel started on foot and ended in space travel, with life changing medical revolutions in between. Of the various depictions of our changing society, none are so cherished by Americans as the work of Norman Rockwell. “Without thinking too much about it in specific terms, I was showing the America I knew and observed to others who might not have noticed.”—Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) Picturing Health: Norman Rockwell and the Art of Illustration on exhibit at Gari Melchers Home and Studio in Falmouth, VA , features eleven original paintings by Normal Rockwell. The collection contains Rockwell’s advertising commissions from 1929 to 1961 for The Upjohn Company, Lambert Pharmacal and American Optical. The work of fourteen illustrators featured in Healthy Living, Men’s Health, Newsweek, The New York Times and The New Yorker accompany the Rockwell pieces. The complete exhibit is organized and curated by the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, sponsored by Pfizer, Inc., and runs from Sat, October 31 through Sun, January 31, 2010. The presentation focuses on the importance of the doctor/patient relationship and the mind’s connection with promoting healing. Through studying the exhibit one will notice the significance of narrative images, culture and technology in shaping public perception on health. In conjunction with the exhibit, on Sunday, December 13, from 10-5, a Family Health and Art Day sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, will feature health care professionals providing hearing and vision screenings and information about balanced nutrition and healthy lifestyles. The museum will sponsor art activities for children 6-12 focusing on Norman Rockwell’s style and subjects. All activities, and entrance to the exhibition, are included with the price of museum admission. On Tuesday, January 19, a luncheon with Stephanie Plunkett, Deputy Director and Chief Curator of the Norman Rockwell Museum, will be held in the Studio Pavilion. Reservations are required. Contact Betsy Labar at 540 654-1848. Later the same evening, January 19, Stephanie Plunkett will present an illustrated talk, “Norman Rockwell: Picturing America” as part of the University of Mary Washington’s Chappell Lecture Series: Great Lives. The free talk will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Uuniversity of Mary Washington’s Dodd Auditorium. For admission prices and more information visit Gari Melchers Home and Studio website at www.umw.edu/gari_melchers/news/exhibitions. — Candice Carver
George Pelecanos, “The Night Gardener” Local mystery maven George Pelecanos’ fourteenth novel puts an intriguing twist on the dangers of city life. Set in the 1980s, “The Night Gardener” revolves around the murder of three teens, all of whom were dropped in community gardens and had palindromic first names. The killer, dubbed the Night Gardener, eludes the law for decades … until 2005. Has the killer returned, or is there a copycat? In true Pelecanos fashion, this thriller goes above and beyond most of today’s fiction fare.
VROOM. VROOM. Dennis Adler, “Ferrari” Bold and beautiful— that’s the best way to describe the legacy of Enzo Ferarri, the visionary behind one of the world’s most luxurious vehicles. This introspective look at Enzo’s legacy and his role in the car industry is as enticing to read as it is to view. Full of gorgeous photos and facts, “Ferrari” delightfully overwhelms with its strict attention to detail and insider’s look at almost every Ferrari ever made. If you’re a car fan, this monster of a book will drive you wild.
THE MAGICAL FABRIC OF A FAMILY Scott Turow, “Ordinary Heroes” In many respects, Ordinary Heroes is the iPod Nano of novels and the PlayStation 2 of prose— it’s that smooth and savvy. The book
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begins by detailing one son’s attempt to understand his father’s war-torn past. Following his father’s death, the son stumbles across some old letters. After uncovering an unknown fiancée, not to mention a surprising court martial and imprisonment, the son is determined to learn who the old man really was. As it turns out, he’s anything but ordinary.
UNEXPECTED HEROES FOR A GENERATION Jason Kingsley and Mitchell Levitz, “Count Us In” “Count Us In” is a thought-provoking look at how two young men defied the odds and unknowingly became the faces of a Down syndrome population. Lifelong friends Jason Kingsley and Mitchell Levitz shattered perceptions about Down syndrome when they wrote 1994’s “Count Us In,” an eyeopening memoir about the highs and lows of living with the genetic disorder. Fifteen years later, the book is still as powerful as ever.
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HOME AND COUNTRY TAKE CENTER STAGE Jane Erdrich, “Books & Islands in Ojibwe Country” Few writers have done more for Native Americans than Jane Erdrich. Known for her passionate approach to indigenous cultures, Erdrich returns to her roots with “Books & Islands in Ojibwe Country,” a revealing look at the mystical Ojibwe people. Though the novel is short, Erdrich manages to fill each page with empathy and insight into her own personal devotion to family and country. This work of non-fiction is one of the most honest and introspective travelogues you’ll find in bookstores. — Nicholas Addison Thomas
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BEST BITES
The Captain is Ready to Take Your Order
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here’s no need to head to the beach just to satisfy your craving for a real oceanside seafood experience. Just drive a few miles south of Fredericksburg to Capt. Jack’s Crab Shack in Thornburg, where you can enjoy top quality fresh seafood, Louisiana products, old-fashioned country store merchandise, and lake- and crab-themed gift items. Owners Shelley Van Cleve, her daughter Alexandra, and Shelly’s sister Valerie Boyer have a passion for everything seafood, and they’re committed to providing a full waterfront market experience for their customers — even though there isn’t a drop of salt water for miles around. Capt. Jack’s opened in 2001 at Spotsylvania Courthouse as a small operation selling crabs and shrimp. Relocated two years ago to their present site on Morris Road near Indian Acres, they now offer a full variety of fresh seasonal seafood, including live blue crabs, year round. The spot is a popular stop for boaters and weekenders on their way to Lake Anna, but Capt. Jack’s also attracts customers from Washington, D.C., to Richmond and beyond because of the quality and variety of their products. There were some initial challenges when this womanrun business opened in a traditionally male-dominated industry, but through knowledge and perseverance the owners of Capt. Jack’s and its wholesale operation, The Virginia
Crab Cake Company, forged strong relationships with suppliers. Any shipment that doesn’t meet their standards will be rejected without hesitation, and the suppliers know it. “We’re tough,” says Shelly. “They tell us we’re like nobody else in the industry. We cater to people who are looking for quality in their seafood.” They’re purists at Capt. Jack’s cafe, preferring to let the seafood shine without excess breading, spices, or sauces. Whether it’s generous crab cakes, meaty fried oysters, or perfectly steamed and spiced shrimp, the seafood is the star. Coleslaw and all condiments are made fresh daily on the premises, and you can top off your meal with one of their truly “from scratch” desserts, including authentic Key Lime pie. Capt. Jack’s isn’t a restaurant — there are no tables inside. Take your order to go or enjoy it at one of the picnic tables out front in true crab shack style. They have a wide selection of domestic and imported beers to choose from, or take a trip back in time with an old-fashioned soda such as North Carolina’s Cheerwine, a long neck Dr. Pepper, or a ten-ounce Coke. “We have to travel out of state to get these products,” Shelly confides. The market offers fresh selections daily of over 40 varieties of seafood in season. Call ahead or contact them through their website to find out what is best that day, or
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for large or special orders for parties or other events. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a seafood novice, there is a resource center with recipes and tips, and Alexandraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s excellent instructional videos on www. monkeysee.com will teach you everything you need to know about cooking and eating crabs. For your own Cajun or Creole feast, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find items from Zatarainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Tony Chachere, Tabasco and other companies providing authentic seasonings, and Jackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Freezer stocks andouille, alligator, frog legs, crawfish tails and boudin. There are also gallon and half-gallon containers of genuine slow simmered Louisiana gumbo, with a deep rouxenriched spiciness that will transport you straight to New Orleans. Shelly, Valerie and Alexandra enthusiastically share their love of seafood and entertaining, and they schedule special events throughout the year with product demonstrations and party ideas. February is Mardi Gras Open House month, with beads, beignets and gumbo, and their Holiday Open House starts in November. But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Septemberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s popular Crab Eating Contest that really gets things hopping. Crab lovers vie for the crown of King or Queen, and the top contenders each clean and consume nearly a crab per minute during the hourlong contest. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Drema Apperson Capt. Jackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Crab Shack is located on Morris Road (Rt. 606) 2.5 miles off I-95 at exit 118. Open seven days a week year round, call them at 540-582-8868 or visit their website www.welovecrabs.com.
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WHAT’S HAPPENING IN AND AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Out&About
Asian Cultural Week
A celebration of Asian culture, one of the more well-known events at UMW. Events include an assembly with Asian storyteller, Linda Fang on November 11th at 7 p.m. in UMW’s Lee Hall, Room 411A. Fang captures the culture, traditions and beauty of China. Then enjoy Taste of Asia held November 13th at 7 p.m. in Woodard Campus Center’s Great Hall, Taste of Asia educates the community about the different aspects of Asian society and the different cultures and lifestyles represented therein. Complete with a fashion show, dance performances, and a variety of ethnic food, the event provides an inviting and festive atmosphere.
Harvest Wine Dinner Caroline Street Cafe & Catering presents Chef Shane Sheaffer on November 14, 2009. Delight the palate with gourmet foods paired deliciously with El Don wines. For reservations, call 540-654-9180.
For more information, visit the website at www.umw.edu/multicultural/cas. 11/4/2009
11/6/2009
11/7/2009
Leslea Newman
First Friday
A UMW Cultural Awareness Series and Jewish Cultural Week event, come see Leslea Newman, Poet Laureate of Northampton, Mass., and author of 57 books for adults and children. Starts at 8 p.m. in UMW’s Lee Hall, Room 411A. (540) 654-1044
A celebration of the arts in Old Town Fredericksburg with new free exhibit openings in downtown galleries from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Food and drink will be available. Exhibits include: Opening Reception for “Oil Paintings by Barbara Kenny” in the Main Gallery at LibertyTown from 5-9 p.m. 706 Caroline St.
Unique Tees: Silkscreen
11/5/2009
Lighting the Path through Leadership UMW’s College of Graduate and Professional Studies is hosting their 16th Annual Leadership Colloquium for Professional Women from 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Featuring keynote speaker Courtney Lynch and seminars about surviving recession, health, emotional intelligence, branding, engaging a mentor, running meetings and time management. Advance registration required: www.umw.edu/lcpw.
11/7/2009
Fall Birding Hike University of Mary Washington Biology Professor, Dr. Joella Killian, will lead this interpretive hike along the river and up the Rappahannock Canal path. Bring binoculars for better viewing of numerous migratory birds along the way. 9 a.m.–12 p.m. Rain or shine. Pre-registration required, call 540-3733448 to register.
From 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Fenella Belle, Instructor of Art, Piedmont Virginia Community College will lead a workshop for 6th grade children to adults. From idea to finished object, participants print their own professional-looking and unique t-shirt. This workshop makes for a fun and fastpaced day and involves both individual creativity and team work! Participants provide own t-shirts and bring a brown bag lunch. To register, contact Education Coordinator Michelle Dolby at 540-654-1851. Gari Melchers Home and Studio, Fredericksburg. 11/9/2009
Life With(out) Walls: East Germany In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the
Berlin Wall Marcel Rotter, assistant professor of German; will be sharing his personal account, “East Germany Before and After the Fall of the Berlin Wall” from 5 to 6 pm.. (540) 6541996, University of Mary Washington, Combs Hall, Room 139, Fredericksburg, 11/12/2009
Helping Hands Curbside donation of canned food, part of a national
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Out&About campaign, will be reciened from 9 to 5 p.m. 1301 College Ave., Seacobeck Hall, Fredericksburg. 11/12/2009 to 1/16/2010
Annie Jr. - The Musical Originally adapted from the popular comic strip of the 1920s, this delightful musical tells the story of a spunky, red-headed, Depression-era orphan determined to find the parents who abandoned her on the doorstep of a NY City orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan. Your kids will love this fun-filled adventure! Price includes lunch and a show. Party packages available. Time: Sat. matinee 1:00-3:15 p.m.; select Tues. & Thurs. 10:00 a.m.–12:45 p.m.; Riverside Children’s Theater, Fredericksburg. 11/14/2009
Second Saturdays at the Museum The entire family will enjoy hands on activities during Harvest Festival in the
depict human rights issues throughout the world; a Cultural Awareness Series event; 6 p.m.; more information at www.umw.edu/ multicultural. 1301 College Ave., Lee Hall, Fredericksburg.
museum’s Mansard Gallery. Movie begins at 7 p.m. Cost $3 per member, $5 per nonmember. Pre-registration required, 540-371-3037 ext. 127 Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center
Urban Trail Ride
11/17/2009
11/21/2009
The horses take to the streets! Riders on their own horses tour Old Town Fredericksburg, 9:30 a.m. to Noon. starting at 700 Mary Ball Street, Fredericksburg.
Evening with An Expert Lecture Series
George Washington’s Young Friends
“Cure, Care and Remedies on Back Roads and Battlefields.” Dr. Henry Poore recalls his time as a country doctor and how modern medicine has evolved. Included will be tales from his book titled “Memoirs of an Audacious Country Doctor,” composed from his years as a physician in Virginia, North Carolina, Arizona and Africa. Attend free, starting at 7 p.m.; reception to follow. Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center.
First-person interpreters will offer glimpses into 18thcentury life at Ferry Farm. Enjoy period clothing, activities, and more. General Admission applies. See kenmore.org/events.html for more information. George Washington’s Ferry Farm, Fredericksburg.
Square! Architectural walking tours of downtown Fredericksburg will also be offered. FREE! 1–3 p.m.; Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center. 11/14/2009
11/14/2009 to 11/15/2009
Downtown Holiday Open House Festive holiday decorations, music and refreshments for the kick off to the holiday season in Old Town, known for its unique shops and personalized service. 706 Caroline St., Fredericksburg. 11/16/2009 to 11/19/2009
Human Rights Film Festival
11/20/2009
Featuring fiction, documentaries and animated film that
Bring the family to view “National Treasure” in the
Movies in the Museum
Scrooge — The Musical It is Christmas Eve, 1843, in the city of London. Ebenezer Scrooge, the greedy old business man undergoes a series of mysterious phantom visitations and a striking transformation. You’ll love this Charles Dickens favorite based on the story of A Christmas Carol, and brought to musical life by the musical score of Leslie Bricusse. Enjoy dinner and this holiday favorite from the privacy of a candlelit dining table. Playing from 11/28/2009 to 1/3/2010 ; time: Wednesday matinee 11:30am lunch, 1:30pm show; Thursday– Saturday 6pm dinner, 8pm show; Sunday 1pm dinner, 3pm show. Riverside Center Dinner Theater, Fredericksburg. www.riversidedt.com.
11/21/2009 to 11/22/2009
Fall Celebration Hartwood Winery celebrates the fall holidays with a guest winery, live music (weather permitting), wine tastings, tours and hors d’oeuvres. Hours: 11 a.m.–5 p.m. www.hartwoodwinery.com. 11/21/2009 to 11/22/2009
Merry Market- Holiday Boutique and Gifts The Fredericksburg Area Service League, Inc. is pleased to present their 3rd Annual holiday shopping event featuring exhibitors from Virginia and surrounding southeastern states. Merry Market will he held on Saturday Nov. 21st (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Sunday Nov. 22nd (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at the Jepson Alumni Executive Center at UMW ( 1119 Hanover Street). Merry Market offers an exceptional mix of custom jewelry, handbags, apparel, quality crafters, original artwork and decorative accessories for the home and garden. There will also be live choral music for
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your enjoyement. Funds raised will benefit local children’s charities such as FASL Books in Hand, Summer Scholars, High School Scholarships and Hopsice Camp Rainbow. More information: www.faserviceleague.com 11/26/2009
Thanksgiving Buffet Bring the family together for Fredericksburg Hospitality House Hotel’s Thanksgiving Buffet. Carving stations, Salad and Soup station, Chef’s Buffet, Kid’s Buffet, dessert Station for a bountiful feast! www.fredericksburghospitalityhouse.com 11/27/2009
The Children’s Christmas Tree Lighting The community gathers to sing carols with Santa Claus and light the City Christmas Tree in Hurkamp Park at the corner of Prince Edward and George Streets, 6 p.m. 11/27/2009 to 1/1/2010
Virginia’s Holiday Light Fest A dazzling illuminated drive through holiday experience will feature larger than life displays and close to a mile of true holiday magic. Brand new in 2009, Virginia’s Holiday Lightfest at Patriot Park will benefit the Greater Chapter of the American Red Cross. Patriot Park, Spotsylvania. More informatio: www. virginiaholidaylightfest.com. 11/29/2009
Belmont’s past. Please wear sturdy footwear. Meet outside the Visitor Center of Gari Melchers Home and Studio, Fredericksburg at 2 p.m. 12/3/2009 to 12/4/2009
UMW Community Symphony Orchestra Join in this free holiday celebration beginning Dec. 3, 2009 from 6–7 p.m. by participating in the annual Fiddlestix - Instrument Petting Zoo. A popular children’s event hosted by the principal players of the orchestra. Come play a flute and touch an oboe. This event is followed at 7:30 p.m. by the annual Holiday POPS concert, ‘Christmas Then and Now’. Share a special holiday evening listing to beautiful arrangements of your favorite carols. Featured works from the Mannheim Steamroller series by Chip Davis. If you can’t make this event on Thursday night, join us on Friday, December 4, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. for a second Holiday POPS show of Christmas Then and Now. 1301 College Ave.,Dodd Auditorium, Fredericksburg, 12/4/2009
First Friday A celebration of the arts in Old Town Fredericksburg with new free exhibit openings in downtown galleries from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Food and drink will be available. 706 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg. 12/5/2009
Guided Woodland Walk
Deck the Halls
Conducted by Virginia Master Naturalists, this free informative nature walk covers a mile of woodland and field trails, and it touches on the historic ruins of
Holiday Floral Decorating Presentation with florist Jan Williams; 9-11:30 a.m., repeat session 12:30-2 p.m.; $22 or $17 for members of the Friends of the James Monroe
Gingerbread House Competition and Exhibition Join Ferry Farm for their 24th annual, holiday event that delights children of all ages. Your family will enjoy viewing and smelling these creative entries by individuals and groups of all ages and skill levels. Many exhibitors spend months planning their displays and weeks creating them. If you’d like to create your own entry, contest rules are made available on their website: kenmore.org/events.html. Exhibit Open Daily: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Closed Christmas Day, New Years Eve, and New Year’s Day). George Washington’s Ferry Farm. Museum; reservations required; (540) 654-1043, 1301 College Ave., Jepson Hall, Fredericksburg. 12/5/2009
24th Annual Christmas Parade A downtown Fredericksburg holiday tradition beginning at 5:30 p.m. with bands, marching units, and floats, followed by Santa and Mrs. Claus. Please visit this website for more information: fburgjaycees.com/events.htm.
12/5/2009
32nd Annual Spotsylvania Christmas Parade Come see Santa arrive in style at the 32nd annual Spotsylvania Christmas Parade in the Spotsylvania Historic Court House District 12/5/2009
A Monroe Christmas: Holiday Open House Holiday festivities at The James Monroe Museum commence with an open house with period music and
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Out&About light refreshments. Visitors will be welcomed by “President Monroe,” and staff will be on hand to guide through the galleries. The museum will be decorated for the season by a local garden club. Free and open to the public from 4 to 6 p.m. 12/5/2009 to 12/6/2009
Holiday Open House It’s not too late to check some Holiday gifts off your list!! Celebrate the Holiday season with carolers, gift shop and wine discounts, wine tastings, and Holiday cheer!! Potomac Point Winery, Stafford. 12/6/2009
Linocut Printmaking Instructor Cathy Stikes. will teach the process of Linocut, a
printmaking technique that involves carving away at linoleum to make a relief surface. Students will be given the opportunity to create numerous prints suitable for gift giving. 2–5 p.m. Grades 812. To register, please contact Education Coordinator Michelle Dolby at 540-6541851. Gari Melchers Home and Studio, Fredericksburg. 12/6/2009
Candlelight Tour at the Mary Washington House The home George Washington bought for his mother in 1772 opens for a free evening of candlelight tours and refreshments. 4–7 p.m. 1200 Charles Street, Fredericksburg.
12/6/2009
12/12/2009
Christmas Open House at The Rising Sun Tavern
Second Saturdays at the Museum
A free event featuring 18th century entertainment and refreshments. “Tavern Wenches” provide visitors with a lively interpretation of eighteenth-century tavern life. The tavern is filled with period furnishings and stories of early life in Fredericksburg. 6-9 p.m., 1304 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg. 12/6/2009
Civil War Lecture Salem Church Library in Fredericksburg presents Civil War author, Harriet Bey Mesic speaking on “The Civil War Through the Eyes of Lewis Wrenn, a Civilian Living on the Battlefield.” Ms. Mesic is the author of “Beside the Stone Wall in Fredericksburg” and “Cobb’s Legion Cavalry.” Refreshments will be served. This free event starts at 2 p.m. 12/6/2009
Courthouse Christmas Luminaria
New Year’s Eve Fine Dining and Dancing On the 31st come to a special evening to celebrate the past year and look forward to the New Year. The evening will consist of wine tastings, appetizers, dinner, dessert, sparkling wine toasts, our famous midnight balloon drop, and end with a breakfast and coffee station in the early morning hours. DJ/musician Norman Voss will play live classical guitar during the wine tasting, croon in the style of Sinatra, Michael Buble’ and Elvis during the meal, and then break out all the dance songs of all your favorite Motown, disco, 80’s, country and current favorite dance hits to keep the night electric with excitement for ringing in the new year. Potomac Point Winery, Stafford
Candlelight service on the lawn of the Spotsylvania Courthouse. Music provided by area church choirs. 4:45 p.m. at the Spotsylvania Court House, Spotsylvania. 12/11/2009
Friends of the Rappahannock (FOR)Holiday Open House We invite you to join us for our Open House. Bring a potluck dish to share and your curiosity. Have questions about FOR, the river, the staff? We will gather to share food and fellowship at FOR, from 6–8 p.m. Preregistration required, call 540-373-3448 to register.
The entire family will enjoy hands on activities in the Learning Center, and architectural walking tours of downtown Fredericksburg. Free with Museum admission. 1–3 p.m. Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center. 12/12/2009 to 12/13/2009
Rappahannock Model Railroad Club Christmas Show Annual Christmas Model Train Show and Display. Many Operating Trains and Train Layouts. Model Train-related vendors will be present. Door Prizes. Admission is $7 for adults with kids free, and the show hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Fredericksburg National Guard Armory. 12/12/2009 to 12/13/2009
Christmas with the Animals Open House Visit the new SPCA Humane Care Center and meet the animals. Bring a monetary donation or item from the Angel Tree. Holiday goodies for everyone. One Amanda Lane, Fredericksburg. 12/13/2009
Battle of Fredericksburg Commemoration A free 30-minute program commemorating the 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg. The program will be held at the Kirkland Monument adjacent to the historic Sunken Road. 2 p.m. 1013 Lafayette Boulevard, Fredericksburg. 12/13/2009
Family Health and Art Day Family Health and Art Day will feature health care professionals providing
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hearing and vision screenings and information about balanced nutrition and healthy lifestyles. Art activities will focus on Norman Rockwell’s style and subjects and will be geared towards children 6–12. All activities, and entrance to the exhibition, are included with museum admission. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Gari Melchers Home and Studio, Fredericksburg. 2/19/2009
LibertyTown Arts Workshop Holiday Open House Come by 10 a.m.–5 p.m. for the free Holiday Open House! Great gifts and holiday cheer with local artists. Find that unique gift of art by our very own Fredericksburg artists! Refreshments and time to meet the artists. LibertyTown Arts Workshop, Fredericksburg 12/20/2009
Historic Christmas at Chatham Come to this historic home, Chatham Manor, decorated with candles and traditional greenery. Learn about the history of Santa Claus and Christmas traditions during the Civil War era. This event is hosted by the National Park Service. Tours are provided by Chatham docents. Call (540) 373-6122 for info. 12/31/2009
First Night Fredericksburg 2010 A family-oriented community celebration of the arts, 6:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. to ring in the new year with song, dance, comedy, and children’s activities. Caroline, Pincess Anne & Sophia Streets, Fredericksburg.
2009 HFFI Candlelight Tour Six stately homes will roll out their holiday welcome mats for the 39th annual Historic Fredericksburg Candlelight Tour. Tour-goers can catch the spirit of the season as they stroll along downtown streets and then shake off the chill when they head inside charming homes that are decorated to dazzle. Set to take place Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 12 and 13, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., this year’s event includes homes on Hawke and Cornell streets and on Washington Avenue. The tour’s essence reflects a time when the warmth of the yuletide season caused neighbors to open their doors to one another. Presented by the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc., the event began as a one-day affair organized by the Foundation’s junior board, said Dr. John W. Willhide, a Fredericksburg dentist who was HFFI president when the tour began in the early 1970s. Now a seasonal staple, the experience is designed to celebrate not only the magic of the holidays but also the history of the city, said tour coordinator Lori Syner. “We are trying to show people who attend … some history in the area and some beautiful homes that they would never be able to see” otherwise, she said. Entertainment on the Washington Avenue mall, costumed speakers at Fredericksburg’s Confederate and National cemeteries, and haunting stories told by the Ghosts of Fredericksburg guides are other tour highlights. HFFI’s yearly ornaments will be for sale at the Candlelight Tour Gift Shop inside The Free Lance-Star’s community room on Amelia Street. Tour-goers can enjoy complimentary cookies and cider at the gift shop and buy items from local crafters. Tickets for the tour – HFFI’s largest fundraiser – cost $25 in advance and $30 on the day of the tour. Discounts are available for children, HFFI members and groups of 10 or more. Free admission to Kenmore is included in the price of the tour. Tours of individual homes can be purchased for $10. Tickets to a special private tour and gala cocktail party, which will take place Saturday beginning at 6 p.m., cost $60 per person or $100 per couple. For more details, visit hffi.org or call 540/371-4504.
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Cul-de-sac
The Best Christmas Present By Logan Childress Many winters back when I was a young girl, I remember visiting my grandparents on their farm. It was the best country Christmas a little girl could ever wish for. The old farmhouse was nestled between two rolling hills. The long and winding driveway was lined with pine trees and large oaks. Brown stained fencing divided the fields into snow-covered pastures. When I arrived, I opened the front door; I could smell the aroma of fresh baked cookies coming from the kitchen. My grandma always kept my favorite cookies on hand. My grandparents were filled with joy. Though, they did not have much money for expensive presents, I was overwhelmed with excitement to spend Christmas with them on their farm. The first thing my granddaddy wanted to show me was a mother-to-be mare. My granddaddy held my hand and escorted me to the horse barn. The plump, brown mare looked as if she was ready to pop! He said, “she’ll have it soon.” There was a sparkle in my granddaddy’s eye that just matched the silver of his messy hair. Spending time in the horse barn was what I liked most. I loved the smell of hay and the sounds the horses made wrestling in their stalls. I spent hours petting them, making sure each and every one of them received the same amount of affection. Christmas Eve arrived; I was excited that Santa was coming. Most importantly, the mare was about to have her baby. I changed into my flannel nightgown, and my grandma and granddaddy tucked me in under colorful quilts so tight I could hardly move or breathe. I shut my eyes and drifted off to sleep. I dreamed of what Santa would bring to me. I also dreamed of the horse barn. I dreamed that it was already spring. The pastures were fresh and green and it was warm. I remember dreaming the horses were running in the fields and among them was a new long legged, black colt.
Slam! I was awakened by the front door. My eyes sprang open and I threw on my boots. Running with joy, still in my nightgown, I ran down to the horse barn to find out about all the commotion. I could hear the mare’s cries. I slowly peeled back the barn door. I knelt down to see the new shiny, black colt. He had a brilliant white blaze down the center of his nose that matched his four white socks. He lay snuggled in straw beside his tired mother. I knew he was going to be a huge piece of my heart. It was just three years later, and the colt had grown into a strong black stallion. Now he stood sixteen hands tall. He is leader of the whole herd, and the most beautiful. I named him Jake, that cold Christmas night. He was given to me by my granddaddy. You see, he told me not all presents come wrapped up in paper and bows. The best presents of all come straight from the heart, no matter how big or small. Jake was the best gift I could’ve ever received. No other horse could ever take the place of Jake. Now that I am grown and much older, riding horses takes me back to my granddaddy’s farm and that special night. Oh how much I’ll always love that colt. _________________________________________________________ Logan Childress is a sixth-grader at Fredericksburg Academy and her granddaddy’s favorite.
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