Jeremy Sutton
Guest Porch Page Editor
Contributing Writers & Artists Lynn Abott Nancy Bauer A.E.Bayne Megan Byrnes Collette Caprara C.Ruth Cassell Rick Collier Ryan Davis Arch Di Peppe Frank Fratoe Joan Geisler Basil Georgiadis Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks E.L.Hinkes Lori Izykowski Trish Jackson Jill Jacobs Chris Jones Karl Karch Janele Kennedy David Kerr Wendy LaRue Bob Martin Vanessa Moncure Gary Olsen Ashley Powell M.L.Powers Scott Richards Wendy Schmitz Jeremy Sutton James Kyle Snyder Christine Thompson Anne Tremper Rim Vining Suzy Woollam Wayne Wray
Front Porch Fredericksburg is a free circulation magazine published monthly by Olde Towne Publishing Co. Virginia Bigenwald Grogan, Publisher.
The mission of Front Porch Fredericksburg is to connect the diverse citizenry of Fredericksburg with lively features and informative columns of interest to our community’s greatest resource, its people. Messages from our readers are welcome. All submissions must be received by e-mail by the 19th of the month preceding publication. Writers are welcome to request Writer’s Guidelines and query the Editor by e-mail. Front Porch Fredericksburg PO Box 9203 Fredericksburg, VA 22403 Ad Sales: Stacy.Howell@gmail.com E-Mail: frntprch@aol.com Web Site: www.frontporchfredericksburg.com The opinions expressed in Front Porch Fredericksburg are those of the contributing writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Front Porch Fredericksburg or its advertisers. Copyright 2014 Olde Towne Publishing Co. All rights reserved.
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August 2014
ON THE PORCH
2nd Annual
Pat Pollard Poker Run 140 Mile Ride to Support Angiosarcoma Cancer Research
“Best Friend” BY Chris Jones I
remember that Saturday morning years ago when my father’s footsteps creaked on the staircase leading down to our rec room. I was watching cartoons when the door popped open and, to my surprise, a young dog charged in. He ran around the room and I began to play with him. He had a black, brown and white coat and because I was into astronomy at the time—I wanted to be an astronaut—I named him Astro. I’m sure some of that also had to do with my regular viewing of The Jetsons, who had a dog of the same name. I recall all of the adventures I had with my furry friend over the course of seven years. We played in the woods seeking lost treasure, he followed me when I rode my bike on the winding country roads where we lived, and he would accompany me when I fished the pond throughout the summer. Astro really embodied what it meant to be man’s best friend. Astro enjoyed his own missions, too. He roamed our neighborhood and scurried into the woods chasing deer or squirrels for hours at a time. One summer day, I came home from a late evening bike ride and realized that he wasn’t there. One day became two and then three. My dad assured me that he was fine and must have found a girlfriend on one of his excursions. I accepted that because my dad was one of those guys who had a good answer for everything. It wasn’t until my
messages Virginia: It is wonderful to see the FRONT PORCH holding onto its traditional good news... and presence. Sara Irby
Virginia: Again, thank you so very much for your beautiful coverage of our (Fritzi and me) collaborative exhibit, and now for this new extraordinary honor! You truly make an enormous difference for all of us in the Fredericksburg art community! Warmly and With Much Gratitude For All that You Do! Lynn Abbott
Front porch fredericksburg
August 2 Printpack, Inc, 3551 Lee Hill Drive, Fredericksburg, VA 22408
mom came home from picking up pizza that my hopes in ever seeing him again were dashed. As she placed the box on the dinner table, she told my dad that she believed that she had seen Astro near the restaurant. My heart fell flat. I could tell by the look on her face that something was amiss. My dad drove to the location and found my dog. We buried Astro in the back yard. I cried. He wasn’t just a dog he was my friend, too. And despite owning two other dogs since, I have never forgotten how much value Astro added to me. In August, we pay tribute to people and their pets. It’s an amazing give and give relationship between person and pet. Did you know that pet ownership could boost health? People who own pets show reduced signs of stress, have better moods, lower blood pressure, are likely to get more exercise and show fewer signs of depression. I work in an office where we rotate days for our pets to visit and when they’re in we notice a difference in our work environment. We’re happier when the dogs are frolicking around the space. We laugh more. We let our guard down and give ourselves permission to be silly. We get more exercise added into our workday.
Registration 9 am - Kickstands Up 10:15 am LIVE MUSIC BY SOUTHERN RAIN, FOOD, CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT AND PRIZES All Bikes, Hot Rods & Cars are Welcome! For updates, donations and more information visit: www.facebook.com/PatPollardPokerRun Questions? Contact Randy, rsisk@printpack.com (804) 925-5188 or Wayne (540) 220-2453 I hope you’ll enjoy the stories in this month’s Front Porch. Perhaps my story, or one of the stories in this issue, will encourage you to explore pet ownership. There are a number of great resources right within the community where you can adopt. The Fredericksburg and Stafford SPCAs host scores of animals. My last dog, Huck, was acquired from the Fredericksburg branch. If going all in seems a tad intimidating, become a dog walker on the weekends or pet sit for a friend. Remember though, that when you’re ready to adopt, it’s easy and who knows, you may bring home your next best friend. Chris Jones, this month’s guest “on the Porch” writer, is the editor in chief of The Health Journal in Williamsburg, Virginia, and a regular contributor at Fredericksburg Parent. He called Fredericksburg home for eight years.
Virginia:
Virginia:
Thank you for carrying on with the Front Porch. The FP is a blessing to me personally and to Downtown greens the non profit. More importantly the Front Porch is a blessing to the whole town. So many times you help people get the word out. Reading about all the good stuff happening in our little Burg uplifts readers Even if I no longer live in Fredericksburg I STILL love the Front Porch and I am not the only expatriate that feel this way.Love to you and yours Laura Shepherd
Thanks so much for covering our current exhibit at the FCCA. Front Porch has such a wide readership, so the publicity is much appreciated. Thanks for your continued promotion of local art. Fritzi Newton
Front Porch’s Companions
All proceeds will go toward Angiosarcoma Cancer Research
Lexi Grogan’s Pet Sitting Service “Your pet becomes my pet while in my care, and I care a lot!” - Lexi (540-903-0437; lexig0892@gmail.com) On facebook as “lexi grogan’s pet sitting service” Prices: Dogs - $15 per canine per visit Cats - $12 per feline per visit
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Quiet Moments for the love of a puppy By archer Dipeppe When I was five years old, I saw a small puppy out in the street in front of my house. I went out and picked her up and brought her into the house and told my mother that she followed me home. Part of her was Cocker Spaniel and part wasn’t. She had shiny black, curly fur. I named her Maisey. I don’t remember why. Maisey taught me everything I ever needed to know about unconditional love. Three years later I left the house one summer morning and walked a block to the Chesapeake Bay. Somehow Maisey slipped out of the house and took off after me. As she crossed the last street, she was hit by a car. A friend saw it happen and told me that she would have made it, but the driver sped up and purposely hit her. That driver taught me everything I needed to know about pure evil. There is still a very dark place in my heart for that person. I love animals but especially dogs. Mark Twain said, “If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man.” Dogs are always happy to see you, even when you don’t deserve it. Most love to play. My son’s dog Maverick will chase a ball and bring it back all day long. Of course, this is the same dog that once stole a pizza from the kitchen table and buried the part he didn’t eat in a pile of clean laundry. I didn’t get mad because it wasn’t my laundry. I love that dog. I tried to take him for a walk on a leash only once. Maverick got so excited that before I could get two houses away, I had to bring him back. He kept jumping straight up and down in the air so high and fast like a kangaroo that I was afraid he was going to wrap the leash around my neck and
strangle me. It was a brief walk but an informative one. We live vicariously through our children’s dogs. We had dogs most of the thirty-eight years we have been married, but I get so attached to them that I cry like a baby when we eventually have to put them down. I just can’t take it anymore. For awhile, our son and his wife were dog rescuers and would keep various dogs until permanent homes could be found. We never knew what dog they would bring when they came to visit. We never minded. The best part about being grandparents to a dog is we get to keep them for a week at a time when our children go on vacation. We spoil them like grandchildren. I spend most of the week on the floor playing please don’t bite my ears. It is probably one of the most important things I do all year. Arch DiPeppe is many a man (and woman) “best friend”.
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Virginia & Front Porch: Thanks for your continued support of the arts in Fredericksburg! Casey Shaw front porch fredericksburg
August 2014
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