fpfAugust2019

contents

closeups

5

18

history’s stories: masonic cemetery heritage: floating theater

19

what’s in a story?.....the chimneys

20 Senior Care: travel outside of the usa 5

Bill Carroll born to broadcast

10

“I am a junkie anthony slaughter

31

lee & terry owsley of latitudes fairly-traded products

Porch talk 4

on the porch...life in fredericksburg Messages

6

In the garden: summer = grow, learn, play

.7 8

21

it’s all energy..back to school

22

emancipated patients: falls

23

dragonfly yoga studio: ying & yang

24

art in the ‘burg

25

mYSTERY hOUSE tale of two sisters

26

back to basics@bsg

27

fxbg music scene: toni

28

Companions: home alone

29

astrology & you poetryman: nightfall

30

fredericksburg sketches

27

on the trails: pastor kris beckert everything greens:jeanette & emmy

10

I have a friend...rosalie & janice

11

chatham manor

12

renees crepes & cakes..sweet & savory

13

season’s bounty: crabbin’

14

cooking with kyle: tomato corn salad

15

vino...wines of austria

16-17

Calendar of events

...And more!

12

3

hyperion celebrates silver anniversary

9

porchfest: community music festival

30 cover artist: katherine arens Cover: "Hyperion" by Katherine Arens

2

august 2019

Front porch fredericksburg

Hyperion Espresso celebrating 25 years of coffee & community

BY Collette Caprara

Twenty-five years ago, an adventurous young couple who had met in an art class in Seattle followed the suggestion of a friend who was moving East to pursue a degree in Historic Preservation at Mary Washington College and they journeyed across the country to explore their prospects in Fredericksburg.

That trio was Ana Brugos, Dan Peterson and their friend Steve Sollien.

“Steve wanted to earn some extra money to pay for school and he suggested opening a coffee shop in Fredericksburg,” Ana said. “When we came here in 1994, there were only two Starbucks in DC, and we thought it could be an attraction.”

The shop they launched was destined to become the Heart OF the Burg located in the heart of the Burg—Hyperion—the gathering place for a community of folks

of all ages and walks of life.

As it happened, they found the ideal spot at the corner of Princess Anne and William Streets. From the beginning, the creation of Hyperion was a hands-on, bottom-up project with Dan, Ana, and Steve investing their unique talents.

“Steve was a carpenter and Dan had construction experience as well.

We pretty much did everything ourselves, except for the plumbing and electricity,” said Ana. Even the creation of Hyperion’s iconic logo was a collaborative effort: Steve suggested the name, Ana created the design, and Dan painted it. “The three horses and the three spears represented our three partners,” said Ana.

Though the success of the venture and its wide popularity could not have been predicted, Ana said they did not worry about the risks. “We invested sweat equity, not a lot of money. We didn’t hire any employees during the first three months. We just went for it!” With the business venture a success, Ana and Dan tied the knot.

From the beginning, Hyperion has been faithful to two founding goals: to provide quality beverages and to serve as a hub of community interaction. The Big Table in front of the coffee bar was not placed there by chance. “We wanted to echo the culture and tradition of my home-country Spain by providing a place where families and friends could gather,” Ana explained. The regulars who have gathered around that table for decades include Tony and Magda Rodriquez, a Cuban-American couple. Magda is writing a book on 500 years of the political and cultural history of Cuba and finds that Hyperion provides the perfect ambience to stimulate her productivity.

Magda is not alone. There may be a muse residing at the building from the old days when it was home to the Free Lance-Star newspaper. A series of writers have p r o d u c e d substantial portions of their works at the coffee shop, including c r e a t i v e writing teacher Jon Pineda, who wrote much of his most recent book--a finalist for the 2019 Library of Virginia’s “People’s Choice” award—there.

In addition, UMW poet laureate, the late Claudia Emerson, wrote poems at Hyperion for her collection “Late Wife,” which won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for poetry.

Other regulars include Ben Anzelmo, a graphic artist/illustrator has been coming to Hyperion for 16 years— half his lifetime—and Vivian Vestre who says she has been coming to Hyperion for 18 years “because it has the best coffee in town!” “One couple met at Hyperion, got to know each other here and married, and today we see their children coming,” said Ana. “We strive to hire the right people who enjoy what they’re doing and

provide a welcoming atmosphere, and our Amanda manager Jones ensures that the spirit of community is always here.”

T h e celebration of Hyperion’s 25th Anniversary will begin with a ribboncutting at 4:00 pm on August 1st and will continue through the month with live entertainment featured every Sunday from 2:00 to 4:00 pm (till 6:00 on August 25th).

In addition, a special exhibit of works of local artists, curated by Bill Harris, will be displayed through September—a fitting tribute to the coffee shop that has become the iconic subject of many, many paintings, drawings and photographs.

Hyperion Espresso 301 William Street, Downtown open 7 Days a week Come celebrate with us and share your memories at hyperionespresso.com or on Instagram #hyperionmemories. We'll display old photos and stories at Hyperion Espresso Collette Caprara is a local writer &artist.

Painting, Bill Harris Photos courtesy of Hyperion

front porch fredericksburg

august 2019

3

A.E.Bayne

ON THE PORCH Guest Porch Editorial

Contributing Writers & Artists Rita Allan Sally Cooney Anderson Katherine Arens A.E. Bayne Dianne Bachman Laurie Black Kevin Brown Melvin Brown Collette Caprara Judy Chaimson Jeannie Ellis Christina Ferber Frank Fratoe Liz Foster Mary Geil Joan M. Geisler Jon Gerlach Alexis Grogan Bill Harris Anne Hicks Ralph “Tuffy”Hicks Karl Karch David C. Kennedy Vanessa Moncure Pete Morelewicz Patrick Neustatter Aimee O’Grady DeLaura Padovan M.L. Powers Gerri Reid Rob Rudick Casey Alan Shaw Anthony Slaughter Pat Smith James Kyle Snyder Mandy Smith Aaron Spicer Beth Stenstrom Georgia Strentz Susan Van de Putten Cathy Walker Tina Will Dawn Whitmore Sonja Petersen Wise Norma Woodward

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 / Artists / Photographers are welcome to request Guidelines and query the Publisher by e-mail.

Front Porch Fredericksburg PO Box 9203 Fredericksburg, VA 22403 Ad Sales: E-Mail: frntprch@aol.com Web Site: www.frontporchfredericksburg.com Facebook: @Front Porch Fredericksburg 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 2019 Olde Towne Publishing Co. All rights reserved.

4

August 2019

School Days

by A.E.Bayne School days, school days, dear old golden rule days; reading and writing and rithmetic, taught to the tune of the hickory stick… ~ Hal Leonard While schools have always been a vital resource in our communities for socialization, learning to communicate, and preparing people for adult responsibilities, today’s schools serve a population of students with ever-diverse needs. Schools are no longer simply local institutions of learning and career preparation; today, they address food insecurity, support students through crisis, address students’ mental health, and keep an eye out for neglect and poverty, all while facilitating learning through core and extracurricular subjects that prepare students for 21st century collaborative-centered careers that have yet to be created. If that makes your head spin, it should. The people on the front lines of these monumental efforts are our teachers, staff and administrators in our local schools.

One aspect that remains the same – the bridge, really, between 20th century schools and schools of today – is the unique place these institutions hold for us through the life-altering, and sometimes life-changing relationships that form between teachers and students.

These bonds remain part of our fabric, the very culture that we build together, and the threads of these relationships connect and sustain us as a community network.

Local educator Becky Slominski says often it’s her students who motivate her to be a better person and teacher. She was fortunate to have one such student this year: “A student I taught and coached this year is truly inspiring.

Everything he does is 100%, whether it’s his beautiful schoolwork, his amazing work ethic in sports, or his truly kind heart. I truly cannot wait to see what his future brings. I feel lucky to have had this student in my life.”

messages Hi Virginia, The June issue looks wonderful!!

My cover (“Carls”, June 20119) looked great. Thank you so much, Sonja Wise Petersen Thank you so much Virginia.

You have been such a positive force in the Burg. Thank you again for all you do.

Andy Lynn

Front porch fredericksburg

Sometimes, it’s knowing that as a mentor you have made an impact in a student’s life. Dave Yablonski, a teacher in Stafford County, recalls receiving this note in an email from a student at the end of last school year: “Thank you for all the things and values you taught me and always giving me chances and believing in me when nobody else really would.”

Yablonski says, “I always try to celebrate my students. It’s why I teach.”

Y a b l o n s k i ’ s daughter Ally also attended Stafford schools.

She remembers the support her teacher Suzanne Wilson provided her in middle school and beyond. Ally graduated from high school last year and will begin studying to become a teacher herself this fall. She says, “Having my dad and Mrs. Wilson as such positive influences on my academic and personal life has been the biggest blessing I can imagine.”

People often make special connections with teachers of extracurricular subjects; such was the case for Leonina Reverendo. Now an adult, Reverendo once attended Fredericksburg City Schools and remembers retired art Cathy Herndon’s teacher intuitive mentorship: “I came to the U.S. when I was 11 and attended Walker Grant immediately. I spoke no English and Mrs. H. no Spanish. Her class was the absolute best. She’d hand me things and let me create. Days felt long and ran together like white noise because I couldn’t understand my teachers and peers. Her class felt like my safe space.”

her hope and love at a time when she needed it. She recalls being quiet and shy, and Klopp would have activities in her art room that supported her in feeling a part of things. Forshee says, “Overall, she listened and paid attention. She always saw me. Even in adulthood, I still seek her advice.”

As our children return to school this month, let’s recognize the monumental importance that these institutions hold in building our communities. If you don’t have students of school age, get involved as a mentor or volunteer. Schools are stronger when a community is involved in their growth and prosperity. Have a great year, everyone!

Amy Bayne (above right with family) is a veteran educator, artist, and writer who publishes the Fredericksburg Literary and Art Review. This will be her 18th year in the classroom.

Similarly, former King George student Sara Forshee says her art teacher Lara Klopp, now residing in Florida, gave

Front Porch Count me as one of your longtime fans of Front Porch.

Phyllis Whitley Hi Virginia, Thanks for helping to keep our community strong.

Kevin Brown Great article on the “Other Art Galleries ( Two Hidden Gems” June, 2019) Dawn Whitmore

Front Porch Wonderful article (“Two Hidden Gems”, June 2019) Lynn Wilson

I see this Holly & her family custom bike all over FXBG! (On the Trails: #30daysofbiking”, June, 2019). Loved the article ...thanks for featuring.pedalpower.

Jim McGee

Bill Carroll Born to be a radio personality By mandy smith Bill Carroll was born in upstate New York, about 100 miles north New York City in the mountains of the Catskills. Bill was referred to as “Billy” in his childhood days and even today at 50 years young. He came from a very rural town where his Mother was a teacher at his elementary school. He grew up in a neighborhood where you could ride your bikes everywhere for miles and parents didn’t have to worry. When it was time for dinner his mother used to ring a cow bell to call Billy home for supper. It was a safe middle-class neighborhood where people would go caroling at Christmas time and have large multi-family BBQ’s in the summer. Bill had a picturesque childhood in a quaint New York town.

Growing up Bill was always fascinated with radio and television. He especially loved radio, becuase you couldn’t “see” any of it happening like you can with television. His dad shared Bill’s passion for radio and they would listen to old time radio shows on records from the 20’s through the 40’s. They were the kind of shows where sound was created by hand and mouth while telling stories. Bill was hooked. He even taped a local radio station’s Saturday night program called “For Lovers Only”, where the DJ would read love letters that were sent in and dedicate songs to listeners.

When Bill was fourteen his older sister started dating a Tony who worked at a local radio station WBPM 94.3. He begged her to ask Tony to take him on a tour of the station. She luckily said yes and Bill was further entranced with the world of radio.

Bill was determined, vowing that one day he would work at WBPM 94.3. After high school, Bill was off

to radio school. Then after radio school he landed his first radio job at a well-known AM station in Kingston NY, WKNY. Bill was petrified to be on the air and you could tell. He worked there for three months learning the ropes before hearing about an opening at his dream station WBPM 94.3. He applied, got the job, and became a full time DJ for the 7:00pm to midnight show. This was the start of Bill’s long and amazing career in radio. Before coming to Virginia and working for B101.5, Bill worked at seven different stations all over New York. Later he became the Assistant Production Director for a company that owned twenty-two stations along the East Coast.

For a brief period of time, before working at B101.5, Bill left radio to pursue another career path that brought him to Virginia. Bill had the fortunate opportunity to meet the former Program Director of B101.5, Brian Demay.

Brian offered Bill a part time job, which quickly turned into fulltime where he became the host of the 7:00pm to midnight show on B101.5. Today, Bill is known as the fun-loving energetic host of the 7:00pm to midnight show on B101.5.

He’s also the Production Director, winning multiple awards for creative and production; both locally and nationally.

Bill says that joining this incredible radio family at B101.5 in January of 2006, has been thus far the best of his career!

Mandy Smith is the Promotions & Marketing Diector for B101

Bill Carroll 7pm to Midnight B101.5

Give a Child

Summer CSA shares still available

Something to Think About

Books, Games, Amusing Novelties

www.fredericksburgcsa.com

M-Sat. 10am-6pm; Sun. 1pm-4pm

810 Caroline Street (540) 371-5684

front porch fredericksburg

August 2019

5

In the Garden summertime: grow, learn, play

By Tina Will

This year the Fair runs from July 26 to August 4. There’s great information there, a bug display, composting information, and an interactive Enviroscape display that helps visualize the effect of fertilizers and other sources of pollutants (and the resulting run-off) on our Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Fireflies are Good Guys! How to Attract them to your garden.

Visiting the Hurkamp Park Plant Clinic a couple of weeks ago, I saw a surprise bulletin saying that Fireflies are good guys. Why a surprise? Most of us only associate them with their intriguing night light on a Summer’s eve. They are actually Beetles (Order Coleoptera, Family Lampyridae), not flies, and there are over 200 species in North America. The larvae of some species can glow, and finding the larvae aglow in the soil at night is a special

pollinators and provide the evening fun of catch and release. Suggestions to attract them: #1. Reduce or eliminate Pesticide spraying. #2. They like woody or shrubby areas and wetlands. #3. They need a moist environment. Soil moisture is obviously important for many reasons, but it also provides that home for the snails and slugs that firefly larvae feed on.

September 2019 Master Gardener Training Class Interested in becoming an Extension Master Gardener? The next class will begin in early September and meets Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9 to noon ending just before Thanksgiving.

There is a fee. Call the VCE Office at 540658-8000 to get more information about registering.

S.E.R.V.E. Volunteers tending Porter Library Garden S.E.R.V.E. in the Heat It’s been hot lately, but Spring rains were abundant again this year, although not the overpowering drench that Spring 2018 saw. The combination of sun, rain, and volunteer watering has given the Porter Library’s S.E.R.V.E. garden (Stafford Emergency Relief through Volunteer Effort) a generous harvest.(picture right) Already by mid July 150 pounds of produce has been donated. A dozen different fruits, vegetables and herbs were planted this Spring by Master Gardeners Susan Van de Putte, Kathy Hobby, Phyllis Phillips, Porter Library Branch Manager, Rachel Plachetti, and others from the neighborhood. SERVE volunteers come to harvest the produce every week. SERVE was established in

6

August 2019

1979, and adds the produce to its food pantry which distributes food to those in need. If you live near the Porter Library you should take a few minutes to visit the garden. All those involved are doing a great job!

Fredericksburg Fair At the Fredericksburg Fair, Master Gardener Judy Little has faithfully organized the Master Gardener display and volunteer team for more than 15 years. Roxbury Mills has faithfully donated the display plants, fountains and benches, including delivery, setup, and takedown of all their material. We miss them and were really sad to see Roxbury Mills close.

Meadows Farms is donating plants this year, and we are thankful for their help.

Front porch fredericksburg

treat. The adult lives only for about one month. In the larvae stage they eat cutworms, snails, and slugs that plague gardeners. The adults serve us as

Tina Will has volunteered with MGACRA for 13 years and lives near Ferry Farm in Stafford County.

Photos by Susan VandePutte

On the Trails Kris Beckert

By Kevin Brown

A Trail-R Running 'Pastor of Innovation and Multiplication' It is wonderful when newcomers arrive in our area and immediately dive into the local scene with contagious energy and enthusiasm. This is how I discovered our interviewee who is already contributing greatly to enhancing our trails-loving community. Let's get to know the one and only 'Pastor of Innovation and Multiplication', Kris Beckert.

Kris: "I'm a scientist-turnedpastor who moved to FXBG six months ago from NoVA to begin serving at Salem Fields Community Church. I enjoy starting new things, drinking pumpkin spice coffee year-round, connecting with people, and being outside as much as I can, in any sort of weather!

I'm a competitive runner-you might see me out

on the trails in the mornings or running with the Fredericksburg Area Running Club, VA Runner or at Bishop's Events.

The area is the perfect blend of city and country. One minute you can be in the midst of stores and restaurants, and in another, surrounded by trees and seeing bald eagles. I love the accessibility and enjoying "secrets" like Crow's Nest (picture above), as well as the Quarry Trails, the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail, the all-popular Heritage Trail and the Virginia Central Railway Trail.

Recently, I have been enjoying Mott's Run and the river with my little inflatable kayak, which hasn't sunk yet in the 13 years I've had it.

Both scientifically and experientially, I see getting outdoors as a necessity. It's almost like a soul-scrub. It cleanses you, focuses your mind, and

challenges your body. It helps me think and get my priorities straight.

Even as a pastor, I experience God outside. People might question that, but I don't believe experiencing God is confined to a certain hour or place. Jesus himself hiked mountains, paddled lakes and waded in rivers-so I think there's something we can learn there too. I know there are many who experience God outside-whether in the woods, on the river or watching a sunset or light snow.

I recently started a local hiking group called "Happy Trails FXBG" for people who also experience something spiritual on the trails and share a love of getting outside. Anyone interested is invited to join us for some local day-hikes and excursions-a great way to meet others too!

You can join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/happ ytrailsfxbg/ You can always find something interesting when you are out on the trails. Recently I was out on an early morning run on the Quarry Trails and was surprised by a bride (yes, wearing

white dress with bouquet) coming out of the woods-had I landed in the middle of a horror movie? Then I saw two photographers behind her, and thankfully realized they were trying to get pictures in the pretty morning light through the trees! Whew, that just about scared me silly!

I have also almost hit a bird, squirrel, and bat on the trails-while running! They don't seem to look both ways when they cross the trail. There should be a joke about them, not the chicken, as I have yet to run over a chicken crossing the road.

Our trails help us build a stronger community.

I enjoy making friends with the "regulars" out walking dogs or running. I love to see people of all ages, body types, and races out on the trails. It's the way it's meant to be!"

Kevin Brown is a City Resident and Administrator of the 'On the Fredericksburg VA Trails Facebook group'"

front porch fredericksburg

August 2019

7

Everything Greens

Summer CSA shares now available

jeanette kurucz & emmy conrad By liz foster JK: That’s something we’ve talked about.

We also would like more seating that would make people want to come and stay for a while. And I’d love more shade in the Upper Garden as well. Pergolas, some kind of covered shelter like that.

www.fredericksburgcsa.com

EC: What about that Sun Grant you were talking about?

JK: Yes! There’s an organization that gives grants to build shade structures.

The premise is about sun education and sun protection. You have to have a sun education program in place for a year before you apply for the grant, so I’d like to start teaching the kids all about sun protection so that, in a year, we could apply for a grant to get some shade in the garden!

LF: Is there anything else you would like to say before we wrap up?

Garden Assistants, Emmy Conrad (left) & Jeanette Kurucz LF: So, Garden Assistants – what drew you to this job?

JK: Well, I love gardening, I always have, and when my mom let me know about a job with Downtown Greens, I sent my resume right away. My partner and I run a business, which takes up a lot of our time, so this job gives me a chance to let go and just focus on the garden.

EC: It’s so therapeutic. It was nice coming here during the school year, especially during finals week, when everything was crazy.

LF: It’s obvious you two are passionate about what you do. What dreams do you have for the garden?

EC: We want to bring more art to the garden – little stuff to catch your eye.

We’re both working to create a welcoming environment. I’m personally

into wild edibles and foraging, so I’d like to plant more fruit trees in the Upper Garden. I’ve seen people from the neighborhoods come to pick fruit, so I’d love to expand that.

JK: I’d love to see more aquatic elements brought into the garden – ponds, water lilies. I’d also like to expand the garden further, all the way to the back of the property. In a perfect world, I’d love to see shipping containers in the Lower Garden, where we would have a brand-new kitchen for the Youth Farm Program and for the free Sip and See Tours we run all summer. Then the Lower Garden could become a venue space. We also would like to see a firepit area.

EC: Yes! A firepit. Or a grilling space, maybe camp grills.

EC: Come on down and check out the garden! We have open Garden Hours for anyone interested every Thursday from 3pm-6 6pm and Saturday from 9am-n noon!

Come find Downtown Greens and share your dreams to help the garden better serve our Fredericksburg community! Check out our Facebook page for more information about our Sip and See Tours and other summer programs.

Liz Foster is a Social Media Intern, Downtown Greens Downtown Greens, located at the intersection of Charles and Dixon Streets in Old Town Fredericksburg, is open to the public 365 days a year from dawn to dusk. Our mission, Keep It Safe and Keep It Beautiful gives very broad guidelines to our fabulous Garden Assistants.

Old Town’s Greatest Tour 35 Monuments, Markers, & Attractions AND the Fredericksburg Battlefields Weddings Reunions Shuttles Parties Group Outings Fredericksburgtrolley.com 8

August 2019

Front porch fredericksburg

540-898-0737

PorchFest Bringing the community together

By Cathy Walker

200 William St Downtown Fredericksburg 540-373-4421

Building on the success of the first Fredericksburg PorchFest held on Marye Street last August, The Arts & Cultural Council of the Rappahannock (RappArts) will be holding its 2019 Fredericksburg PorchFest in the 800 and 900 blocks of Charlotte Street on Saturday, August 17.

Fredericksburg PorchFest, a FREE, family-oriented, alcohol-free neighborhood music festival, increases the opportunity for all community members to experience various musical genres just by showing up. Every hour from 10 am to 4 pm, two to three performers are scheduled to play on porches along Charlotte Street.

Fairview Baptist Church has graciously offered the use of their porch and front sidewalk for performances as well as their three parking lots on Shepherd Street and the Handicapped Parking Lot next to the Church for event parking.

By including both new and well-known musicians in PorchFest, RappArts supports the development of local individual artists. Performers include: The Acoustic Onion, Belles & Beaux from the Stafford Handbell Society, Big Daddy Shag, Fairview Baptist Praise Group, Tony Fauntleroy, Hazel Run, Laurie Rose Griffith and Peter Mealy, John and Mary Vreeland, Karen Jonas, Kings of the Wild Things, The McTell Brothers, Soulegacy, Spanglish, and The Harry Wilson Quartet.

As you can tell, there is something for everyone in this year’s line-up!

Fa l l C o l l e c t i o n Coming Soon!

723 Caroline St 899.8077 Daily 10-5:30; Sunday 12-5

Traffic barricades will be placed on Charlotte Street at Shepherd and Weedon Streets to block traffic on the street so folks can walk and put up chairs to listen to the music. Since attendees must bring their own portable chairs for their personal use, everyone easily can move from place to place (or to each porch area) to hear the different hourly performers on Charlotte Street. RappArts will also be providing bubbles and sidewalk chalk again this year for children to use in the street to create their own artwork, too.

Additionally, traffic barricades will block Littlepage Street at Mercer and Wolfe Streets for the placement of food

trucks and portable toilets.

A variety of snacks and food will be available from our v e n d o r s , including Fire Escape, Pifer Brothers BBQ, Kona Ice, and Orofino’s Gelato.

“The McTell Brothers” Again, NO coolers nor alcoholic beverages are allowed at PorchFest.

Be sure to visit the RappArts Welcome tent during Fredericksburg PorchFest.

Event T-shirts can be purchased for $20. An extended history of the neighborhood and event programs are also available there.

Want to help make this a successful event? Community members can volunteer to help set up, clean up or to work a two-hour shift during the event.

The sign-up form is posted on the website www.fredericksburgprochfest.org at RappArts welcomes the financial support of individuals and organizations who would like the public to know about their support for local arts and arts groups.

People can support Fredericksburg PorchFest by purchasing an ad in the event’s program, by donating on the Fredericksburg PorchFest website, or simply by sending in a monetary contribution to RappArts, P.O. Box 3882, Fredericksburg, VA 22402. Please note on your check that the donation is for PorchFest.

RappArts’s goal in offering Fredericksburg PorchFest is to serve our mission as an arts advocacy group and to meet the goal of increasing opportunities for all citizens to participate in arts activities. By rotating PorchFest neighborhoods yearly, we are showcasing different parts of our community and expanding public awareness of the wide variety of local ARTS talent and happenings in our area.

RappArts will continue promoting our Rappahannock region as a premier arts destination on the east coast… and as a vibrant community with great neighborhoods in which to live!

Mark your calendars now for FREDERICKSBURG PORCHFEST on Charlotte Street on SATURDAY, AUGUST 17 from 10 am to 4 pm! See you there!

Cathy Walker is Vice-President of The Arts & Cultural Council of the Rappahannock and Chairman of this year’s Fredericksburg PorchFest.

Supporting Local Musicans Since 1997

front porch fredericksburg

August 2019

9

Stories

of fredericksburg

“I Have A Friend” ROSALIE & JANICE

anthony slaughter

"I'm a junkie for real.

“Junkie = a person with a compulsive habit or obsessive dependency on something.

“For years I was obsessed with the emotions and feeling that drugs provided. The life was fast, and with one hit to my vein, the high was faster.

Twenty-four hours a day, drugs were on my mind. My family and friends came second to my obsession. This high meant more to me than having a roof over my head or food in my stomach. I remember times when I would panhandle in front of gas stations with an empty stomach. I would ask people for money, anything was accepted. At times, people would ask if I would rather have food or money?

With my stomach hurting from hunger and my body drained from insufficient nutrients, I would choose money.

“I was a junkie for drugs. At the same time, I was a junkie for God. And he gave me the food and strength that my soul needed to get clean. He provided me with uphill POSITIVE OBSTACLES that would help me become a different kind of junkie. By God taking all the negative people and impure distractions out of my

life, it made room for growth and change. It gave me a chance to see how low of a person I'd become, and how others viewed me (Thank you, FXBG Wall of Shame Facebook group). With this newfound sight, I began to work on me TAKING IT ONE MINUTE, ONE HOUR, and ONE DAY at a time. I developed an obsession with sobriety. I started to love being clean, and with that, people around me noticed the change as well.

“NOW I AM JUNKIE. I 'M A JUNKIE FOR LIVING CLEAN. I'M A JUNKIE FOR STAYING POSITIVE. I'M A JUNKIE FOR WORK. I'M A JUNKIE FOR PROGRESSION. I'M A JUNKIE FOR INSPIRATION. TODAY, I'M A JUNKIE FOR GOD AND HAPPINESS. Today, I'm a Junkie for real. “p.s. I will not relapse because of you. I try not to put myself around negativity. I don't want to be around negative people. Negative vibes cause stress that can cause depression, anger or heartache and pain. These issues for an addict are usually solved by using substances. I have lost a lot in my life and worked my butt off to gain a little back. So when I tell you (and you know who you are), I'm done, I'm really done. I don't need negativity. This is not a rant, this is a message to ANYONE who associates with an addict, either currently or in recovery at some stage.

Bring positivity into their lives and leave the BS out of it.

Connection and Positivity are the two main ingredients to maintaining SOBRIETY. So please help them stay on the right path.

“Stay strong, God Bless.” Anthony.

For local assistance in overcoming drug/alcohol addiction, please call the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board at 540-3 373-3 3223.

Anthony currently commutes between Fxbg & Charlottesville, providing positive encouragement and hoping to influence other recovering addicts at every opportunity.

Large or Small, I Sell Them All! Dreaming of Fabulous City Living?

Let’s Make It Happen!

SUZY STONE Mobile:540.847.0630 Office: 540-898-2900 suzystone22@gmail.com C21redwood.com

10

August 2019

Front porch fredericksburg

By Laurie Black

In 2008 Janice Row became an empty nester. One evening while reading the Free Lance Star, she saw a notice requesting volunteers to visit seniors.

Janice said, “Wanting to do something productive with my ‘free time’, I placed a call to Mental Health America of Fredericksburg.

The receptionist transferred me to Program Director, Teresa Bowers, and the rest is history as they say!”

Really, it was the beginning of a new and wonderful friendship. In 2010 Janice was matched with Rosalie. Rosalie also came to the Senior Visitors Program in 2008 after being referred by a home health agency. Janice and Rosalie were initially matched with other people, but sometimes those initial matches do not work out for one reason or another.

However, Janice and Rosalie were instant friends. Janice said, “I thank Teresa for being a part of brining Rosalie and me together! What a great friend Rosalie is to me!” Janice and Rosalie are now writing a new chapter in their lives. So far they have nine years worth of memorable moments. Janice says her favorite memory was driving Rosalie back to her hometown, Hazelton, Pennsylvania. They visited with Rosalie’s brother and sister and their families. “It was a great time of laughter, story telling and a continuous buffet of food,” said Janice. Rosalie said, “I love

Janice and being with her. We have a great time together. We talk about everything, laugh, and have fun. She is so greatly appreciated. I feel so blessed to have her and the Senior Visitors Program.”

Their special friendship has endured both time and some health challenges. Janice shared, “My senior friend, Rosalie, has reached a milestone – more than two decades ago she was diagnosed with a rare liver disease in which she needed a transplant. It wasn’t too long before a donor match was found. This past May, her transplant surgeon told her she is the longest surviving liver transplant recipient of 25 years – a history breaking record!”

In recent years, her kidney function has been affected by continually having to take an anti-rejection drug. But, she has defied the odds once again, because the doctor said within five years of taking the anti-rejection medications – her kidneys would begin to fail. Rosalie will tell you that it’s because she has had the BEST doctors through out this 25 year journey. This is where I’m going to interject and say that having a positive attitude AND always having concern for others’ well being, being kind and generous has contributed to her well being also. Every one she meets will be greeted with a BIG smile and a hug! And then she will strike up a conversation and offer words of encouragement.”

Laurie Black is the Administrative Assistant for the Senior Visitors Program To learn more, call the Senior Visitors Program at (540) 371-2 2704 or visit our website at mhafred.org.

Refer a senior or sign up to be a volunteer!

The Senior Visitors Program is a free community service program of Mental Health America of Fredericksburg.

Where Customer Service and Title Insurance Become One

Jewell Wolterman 12225 Amos Lane, Ste 204 Fredericksburg, VA 22407 540-907-0574 www.elitetitleva.com jwolterman@elitetitleva.com

Chatham Manor History, Preservation & Partnership By beth stenstrom

Built between 1768 and 1771

by William Fitzhugh, and named for William Pitt, the Earl of Chatham, Chatham Manor stands proudly overlooking the Rappahannock River and the City of Fredericksburg. These walls and grounds have witnessed much over the years, from famous guests and grand parties to plantation life and all that entailed to devastating destruction during the Battle of Fredericksburg.

In 1806, Fitzhugh sold the property to Major Churchill Jones, and, later, the manor was owned by his niece and her husband, Betty and J. Horace Lacy.

During the Civil War, Union officers used

the house as headquarters in 1862, and then as a hospital following the battle. Wounded soldiers were tended at times

by Clara Barton Walt and Whitman.

Following the war, the house survived a series of owners.

In 1920, Daniel and Helen Devore purchased the property and retained prominent architect Oliver H. Clarke to design the restoration of the original Georgian appearance of the mansion.

Next, they hired landscape architect Ellen Biddle Shipman to create a colonial revival garden. She designed a walled garden which featured perennials blooming through the seasons, parterre beds, boxwood borders, paths through the garden and classical statuary. Despite their extensive renovation, the Devores remained at Chatham only until 1931, then sold the property to John Lee Pratt,

the last private owner. As specified in Mr. Pratt’s will, Chatham passed to the National Park Service upon his death in 1975.

Today the house is the headquarters for the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park (FSNMP).

In 2012, a small group of local residents founded the non-profit organization Friends of Chatham (FoC) to partner with the National Park Service and support the preservation of Chatham Manor. In its brief history, Friends of Chatham has helped host public events at Chatham including two naturalization ceremonies, art events, concerts and the annual visit of Civil War Santa.

Since its beginning, Friends of Chatham has been instrumental in funding the maintenance and enhancement of the Shipman designed walled garden. Partnering with the Rappahannock Valley Garden Club and Rappahannock-F Fredericksburg Rotary Club, the groups funded the restoration of the Pan statue after it was vandalized, and fund a professional gardener who oversees upkeep and plantings, and directs the

activities of a group of faithful volunteers who work in the garden every week.

FoC donors and members supported several projects, including repair of the summer house, the windows of the mansion itself, and the restoration of the temple in which Pan resides.

Most recently, FoC has funded the restoration of the statue of the Goddess Diana, which graced Chatham’s garden in the Devore era. Mr. Pratt donated Diana to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA). When VMFA decided to deaccession the statue and offered it to the FSNMP, FoC was there to provide assistance. In September, Diana will be returned to her original location at Chatham to delight the tourists who visit Chatham and its beautiful gardens. .Beth Stenstrom is the PR and Marketing Chair, Friends of Chatham & Communications Director for Friends of Wildreness Battlefield Chatham Manor is open at no charge.

House open from 9 am – 4:30 pm daily, grounds open from sunrise to sunset.

It is a piece of history well worth a visit

Wills and Trusts Provide for Incapacity Trusts for Minor Children Wealth Preservation Trusts Avoid Probate AhearnEstateLaw.com

540/371-9890 front porch fredericksburg

August 2019

11

Renee’s Crepes & Cakes

The Sunken Well Tavern

sweet & savory Delight

By Mary Lynn Powers

Renee and Foteinos (better known as Frankie) Psaras are the proud owners of the small shop next to the decades old Parthenon Restaurant. The Parthenon is owned by Renee’s parents, Sophia and Emmanuel, and is one of Fredericksburg’s oldest and popular eateries.

Renee and Frankie opened Renee’s Crépes and Cakes in 2016. It took them 20 months to get all

the necessary renovations and permits in place. The space is small, but clean and cozy. Renee told me that they did the majority of work themselves. In the end, Renee’s dream of owning her own restaurant came true.

Initially, Renee wanted to open a restaurant in Greece, but the expense was overwhelming. She and Frankie returned home, and as the fates would have it, the building next to her parents became available. They had wanted to do a Greek restaurant, but felt it was too much overlap with her parent’s establishment.

They do cater Greek specialties like Moussaka, pastitsio, and stuffed grape leaves upon request, but are primarily focused on the crépe aspect, as well as cakes that can serve large parties, weddings or any event that needs an extra special delicacy.

12

August 2019

The name of the shop is a little deceiving in that it is not just the sweet crépes you would expect, but also savory crépes (pix: Southwestern Crepe) which become a meal in themselves. You can build your own using a selection of sweets or savory meats and cheeses. A menu board on the wall displays some of the innovative choices like eggplant parmesan in a crépe or a southwestern style using guacamole. They also do a chicken alfredo crépe which has become a lunch favorite.

There is also a gluten free option available. Renee told me many of the weight watchers gang come for lunch, as the crépes are low in calories.

I stopped on a quiet morning to talk to the couple, and was really excited about the shop. Although they are off the beaten track, it was well worth locating them.

Frankie made me a deliciously sweet crepe with Nutella, strawberries, and bananas. Absolutely an energizing start to a day! The crepes are made with a very thin pancake like batter, and cooked on a professional crepe griddle.

Everything is made fresh to order. Though the crepes originated in France, they are popular all over Europe.

It is always amazing the amount of new restaurants that emerge in our area. Renee’s Crépes and Cakes has been open for over two years which get them past the first round of eliminations that often happens with local eateries.

Restaurants seem simplistic, but they are far from that in execution. It takes a special dedication and passion to make a success out of food. I think this one is a keeper, and I hope everyone has a chance to try one of their delicious delicacies.

Mary Lynn enjoys meeting and writing about interesting people in the 'burg.

Renee’s Crepes & Cakes 2020 Augustine Ave (next to Parthenon Restaurant) reneescrepes.com; & on facebook

Front porch fredericksburg

Eat Well Drink Well Live Well 720 Littlepage sunkenwelltavern.com 540-370-0911

Season’s Bounty

WELCOME TO OUR GREAT OUTDOORS It’s Beautiful ~ Night and Day!

Crabbin’ vanessa moncure

Mon-Thurs 11am-9pm Fri & Sat 11am-10pm Sun 11am - 9pm Bar open until 2am everyday

Locally Owned Irish Pub and Restaurant 200 Hanover St. ~ 373-0738

The Soup & Taco, Etc. 813 Caroline St. Fredericksburg, VA

Serving Traditional Mexican, Tex-Mex Food and Something More!!

Tuesday to Saturday 11am-9pm Sunday 11am-6pm

Phone: 540-899-0969 soupntaco@yahoo.com

Ahhhh…...Summer in the South.

Blissful, asphalt-melting, sun beating-down days and childhood nights where the only attempt at sleep could be in a wet sheet, on a camp bed out on the sleeping porch.

At least that’s where I was in Colonial Beach, tossing and turning during the hot and humid night of August 11, 1963, when the Reno Pier burned down. I was devastated! Just that night, I had been allowed to go to BINGO for the first time and won - wait for it - a yellow plastic colander! I remember my great-aunt hurrying the children inside, away from the smoke, and closing up all the screened windows and doors. No more attempts at sleep for anyone in the house that night!

She made us take our pajamas off and dress in summer clothes - I guess in case we had to evacuate if the flames blew further down Irving Avenue. I would have gladly traded that hot night in the summer house on the Potomac for a trip back to town in my great-uncle’s brandnew air-conditioned blue Buick Electra 225 with power windows, double-stitched twotone seats and self-advertising protective papers on the floorboards - he was a Buick dealer back home just down the street from his brother’s (my grandfather’s) motel with a Gulf gas station and auto repair shop. We usually spent a full week at the beach together, with most weekends spent fishing, boating, fishing, eating at Wilkerson’s, fishing and more fishing. At least three or four times each summer we covered the tops of the two wooden picnic tables with layers of newsprint and poured a bushel of spiced cooked blue crabs between the two - plenty of napkins, melted butter, a big box of saltines, sharp little knives and wooden dowels for cracking - and small bowls to hold the pickings. Off came the big front claws into piles at the ends of the tables - usually cracked for the children. After pulling off and discarding the end of the shell, we children gave them a swish through the butter, and with one long bite of meat from the cartilage you had a weapon! If it

had been cracked just right, you could pull one side of the claw and make your own pincer. It was a great trick to hide under the heavy leaves of the fig trees ringing the back yard and jump out, having your pincers aimed to snap at an unsuspecting cousin. It really hurt and left a mark if you were the victim, though!

One heavy male blue crab produces only about two to three ounces of crabmeat - minus any stray cartilage or shell. You will never fill up with the effort required for such a small result! But, oh, what a special treat. It’s harder and more expensive today to find Chesapeake Bay handpicked crabmeat - but the Asian and Louisiana crabmeat flooding the market today can’t hold a candle to our local sweet and subtle blue crab deliciousness! I just checked with Amazon - two pounds of fresh Chesapeake Bay crab, lump style, is a bargain (??) at $154.95 delivered. There are several grades of local generally available crab meat, each best for their own type of recipe. Jumbo Lump consists of the two large muscles at the swimming fins of the crab and is impressive for its size, whiteness and taste. Lump is a blend of broken jumbo lump and special crab. It’s best for use in recipes where large size isn’t necessarily a consideration - crab cakes, salads, dips, casseroles, stuffings and hors d’oeuvres. Special crab meat is more affordable and consists of the smaller pieces of crab picked from the body - use for flavor, not for size. Claw meat is usually sold canned, and is a brown meat with a stronger flavor. This is ideal for heavier dips, sauces or soups. There are also special sizes available for commercial use - for instance, the Colossal Lump which is similar to jumbo lump but from larger male crabs. Super Lump is made from pieces of jumbo lump bound with large flakes of white body meat. Claw Fingers are the brown meat from the first section of the crab claw, with part of the shell still attached. These are great for use as dipping appetizers or as edible displays on top of soups or jambalaya. You can find crab meat available canned or frozen year-round, but it tastes nothing like fresh does in the summer. As with eating garlic, it’s best if everyone eats cracked crab together - the distinctive smell does linger!

special or lump crabmeat, and before using, go through the crabmeat to remove any small pieces of shell or cartilage before using. If you don’t, it’s like finding a piece of eggshell in a souffle! Don’t break the pieces up any smaller, though.

Mix together one-third cup mayonnaise, one tablespoon cracker meal or very finely crushed saltines, one tablespoon mustard, one teaspoon lemon juice, one-quarter teaspoon (or less to taste) white pepper, two eggs and one tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce.

(Some like to add Old Bay seasoning - one to two teaspoons is plenty if so). Stir this mixture together, then gently fold in the smallest bits of crab. Add more mayonnaise if needed to bind, then gently fold in the larger lumps. Shape into rounds and roll in cracker meal.

Gently fry over medium heat in half butter and half canola oil, turning once, until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Serve on rolls or on a bed of greens.

Serve with TARTAR SAUCE Into one cup mayonnaise, add three to four tablespoons drained dill relish (or sweet, I just love dill), some finely minced sweet red pepper, celery, and minced chives or sweet Vidalia onion.

Mix well and serve immediately. I usually only make enough for one meal as the onion begins to make the taste too strong.

Serve with juicy tomatoes in season, corn on the cob and a cucumber salad. Yum!!

Vanessa serves up yummy recipes for all seasons

Th ro

ug

hA

ug

ust

4

CRAB CAKES A pound of crabmeat makes about six to eight crabcakes, or up to twenty fried crab balls for appetizers. Use

front porch fredericksburg

August 2019

13

Cooking With Kyle Tomato corn salaad by james kyle snyder

Snead’s Asparagus Farm Ro a d s i d e S t a n d O p e n B l u e b e r r i e s, B l a ck b e r r i e s, R a s p b e r r i e s, C u c u m b e r s , S q u a s h , Ta l l Tu n n e l To m at o e s S u ga r & S p i c e C o r n , Z u c ch i n n i 9am - 6pm Daily 10 mi. S.E. of downtown on Rt. 17

I have fond memories of this time of year: Penetrating thoughts of eating baby carrots right out of the garden, shucking a fresh ear of corn and gnawing the sweet milk out of the kernels, and peeling the thin skin off of new potatoes with my finger to enjoy the young spud's unique taste remind me of how healthy and vibrant life can be.

A few years ago, I found myself tired, 6'6" tall, and 299 pounds. At a BMI of 34.5 I was the face of obesity. How did this happen? I was a Marine Corps Drill instructor; I was a swim instructor; I WAS healthy. Like many of us, I allowed life and its activities, all the noise that distracts us from the important things, to take control and made excuses for why I was the way I was: Too busy, cooking is too hard or too expensive to name a few.

We have turned into a nation of "a pill for every ill." Many doctors are not nutritionists. I needed to allow the words from the father of medicine, Hippocrates, " Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food" guide my actions. I needed to get back to my roots my grandmother had instilled. Once I was ale to look in the mirror and take responsibility saying, "Kyle, you are obese" was I able to take the initial step toward recovery.

Simple healthy food is part of that recovery. I was not alone. I lost 70 pounds since then..

At a health and wellness seminar I heard Blake Mallen state the following statistics: 70% of Americans are obese or overweight, 30% of our children are overweight with 17% being obese, childhood obesity has tripled in the last 30 years, for the first time ever, there are more obese people in the world than

14

August 2019

suffer from malnutrition.

2.8 million obese and overweight deaths occur every year, obesity impacts every organ system in the body and is considered more damaging than smoking or drinking. The AMA has designated obesity as a disease.

Fear not. There is a solution within our own grasp.....Simple Food Done Well.

In a nutshell, it is being conscious of what we eat and making sure that it is fresh, clean, healthy, and most importantly tasty! Here is one of my favorite recipes, Tomato & Corn Salad that is cheap, delicious, easy, and exemplifies the concept. It looks great too in a bowl from Trista Chapman at Sophia Street Studios!

Shuck six ears of corn, wrap them in moist paper towels and place them in the microwave for five minutes.

While the corn is cooking, dice 2 large beefsteak (or any "meaty" tomato).

Make a dressing of 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon apple cider vinegar and a dash of salt and pepper Cut the kernels off the stalk while still hot.

In a large bowl, gently mix the corn and tomatoes. Slowly drizzle the dressing into the salad while folding the mixture together.

540/371-9 9328

C L THE HAPPY M The Only Thing We “Overlook” is the Rappahannock!

Monday ~ Saturday: 11am ~ 9pm Sunday: 12-8pm 1017 Sophia Street

540-899-0140 (ph)

540-899-0141 (fax)

Rand Sompayrac & Richard Moncure, Proprietors

Become a Member

Voila! Simple, healthy, and delicious!

Kyle Snyder appeals to your palate and your other senses when it comes to good, simple, healthy eating

Front porch fredericksburg

fxbgfoodcoop@gmail.com fredericksburgfoodcoop.com

Vino Monday – Friday at 6 am Saturday – Sunday at 7 am Serving Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Weekly Lunch Specials

540.373.8300

Wines of Austria

by City Vino

620 Caroline Street

Olde Towne BUTCHER Corner of William & Charles Streets Downtown Fredericksburg 540.370.4105 www.oldetownebutcher.com Monday to Thursday, 10am to 7pm; Friday 10am to 8 pm Saturday 9am to 8pm, Sunday, 11am to 6pm Keith Lebor Proprietor

Austrian vineyards are all located on the east coast of Austria, surrounding the capital city of Vienna, and near the borders with the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovenia. The grape growing is away from the Alps and is centered around the flatter part of the country, so that the grapes have enough warmth to ripen.

The wines of Austria are known for having lightly perfumed aromas and mouth-watering acidity, due to the coolness of the region, which lies at the same latitude as northern France (think Alsace) and Canada.

There are 40 allowed wine grapes in Austria, of which 26 are white and 14 are red. The key white grape is Grüner Veltliner, and is the most planted grape in Austria. Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch, and St. Laurent represent the key red grapes.

Grüner Veltliner is a white grape that is often compared to Sauvignon Blanc because of its herbaceous aromas and flavors. The wine is known for having racy acidity and notes of green melon and fresh cracked white pepper, along with hints of green bean.

Zweigelt is the most planted red variety in Austria. Wines made from this grape are lighter, rarely oaked, and more like wines made from Grenache or Gamay.

It's a lighter red wine, like Grenache or Gamay, and it has aromas and flavors of sour cherry, raspberries, and black pepper.

Zweigelt is a crossing between Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent.

Blaufränkisch is the bigger, bolder red wine in Austria that is ageworthy. It has bright acidity and bold tannins. Wines made from this grape have aromas and flavors of blackberry, black cherry, chocolate, black pepper, allspice, and a wee bit of citrus. Many of these

elements can be found in the Leo Hillinger, Blaufränkisch 2016 .

While St. Laurent represents only about two percent of Austria's vineyards, it is notable for having a similarity in flavor to Pinot Noir because, surprisingly enough, Pinot Noir is one of its parents.

The other parent is unknown. Wines from St. Laurent can have aromas and flavors of raspberry, blackberry, sweet tobacco leaves, and baking spices.

Come visit us & try some Austrian wines today!

City Vino is located at 810 Caroline St. You can find owner Rita Allan on-site to provide answers to all your wine questions photo courtesy of City Vino

front porch fredericksburg

August 2019

15

CALEND august 2019…Dog Days of Summer Thursday, August 1

Hyperion Espresso is celebrating 25 years of coffee & community :month long celebration starting at 4pm ribbon cutting ceremony with mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw. Opening for the art show of works of Hyperion Espresso from local artists, curated by Bill Harris, on view August and September.

Celebrate CRRL 50th B’day games , refreshments, activities & more. FXBG Branch 1-2:30pm Downtown Greens Garden Hours 3pm til 6pm Help us work the soil, !

Open Mic with Larry Hinkle every Thursday at Highmark Brewery!, 390 Kings HWY FXBG Agricultural Fair, Thru Aug 4th Live Music at 7:30 Kenmore Inn. live performances with an eclectic range of musical styles -

Betsy Glassie exhibit @ Historic Crowninield Museum Building, to left of iron gate "Much Ado about Opera" , Stafford Opera Troupe Summer Oper program baased on the Shakespeare classic. MT View HS, 7pm. FREE Admission Colonial Seafood Live Music @ La Petite.311 William St 8-11p

City Vino Wine Tasting Sample featured wines of the week. 12-4p The Shoppes @810 Spotsy Farmers Market @ Commuter Lot at Route 3 West and Gordon Road, 8a -1pm Rain or Shine facebook@SpotsyFarmersMarket

Celebrate CRRL 50th B’y Porter Branch 10-Noon

Art in the Park a 9am - 1pm at Hurkamp Park local artists and crafters on display a Free admission

Artful Dimension, All Member Summer Show, opening reception, 922 Caroline St

“{Take Me to the Show Concert” FXBG Community Concert Band Hurkamp Park, 7-8:15p. Free admission, fredericksburgcommunityband.com.

"Kool & the Gang", After Hours Concert Series, Gordon Shelton Blvd, 7p Mark Vollten Live Music, Curitaba Café, 8-10p, 919 Caroline St

Sunday, August 4

Remixed 7, Vinyl Art Show, Ponshop, 712 Caroline St, opening reception

Hyperion Espresso 25th Anniversary Celebration, Live Music, "FredNot" from Folk to Funk,,2-- 4pm, 301 William St.

Karen Jonas, Sounds of Summer Concert Series FREE 7 - 9 PM in historic Market Square 907 Princess Anne Street.

Two Sisters Art Exhibit, UUFF Gallery, opening reception, 11:45-1:30p, 25 Chalice Circle, FXBG, 22405

Become a Friend Advocate ~ Donate ~ Volunteer

540~479~4116 1013 Princess Anne St , FXBG 16

JUly 2019

Front porch fredericksburg

Wednesday, August 7

Sunken Well Trivia 7:45pm, 720 Littlepage, ~

Farmers Market Week Celebration, 7am - 2pm, Hurkamp Park tasting locally grown fruits and veggies. www.thefarmersmarket.co

Celebrate CRRL 50th Salem Church Branch 2-4pm

"Fire and Ice = Hydrants and Cones", David Lovegrove, Opening Reception: 6 to 9p.m., Art First Gallery, 824 Caroline St,

Celebrate CRRL 50th B’day Howell Branch 10-Noon

Saturday, August 3

Celebrate CRRL 50th B’day . Snow Branch 11-1pm

Brush Strokes Gallery "Back to Basics" All Member Show opening eeception, 6-9p, 824 Caroline St

Tuesday, August 6

Spotsy Farmers Market @ Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center, 2-6pm local vegetables, fruits, meats, seafood, & more. Rain or Shine

Meet the Artists @ Community Bank of the Chesapeake, 2-5pm. kick off 1st Friday!

FCCA Jennifer Gaalvin & Toni Scott, Members Gallery, Opening reception 6-9, 813 Sophia St

“Music on the Steps”, FXBG Branch, 1201 Caroline 7p.m., Lawn chairs, blankets, and picnics are welcome. Whiskey Django Foxtrot

Live Music, John & Mary Vreeland, Curitaba Cafe, 8-10p, 919 Caroline St

"Much Ado about Opera" , Staffird Opera Troupe Summer Oper program baased on the Shakespeare classic. MT View HS, 7pm. FREE Admission

First Friday, August 2

Monday, August 5

City Vino Wine Tasting the week. 12-4p The Sho

“Take Me to the Show Co Concert Band Spot fredericksburgcommunit

Spotsy Art Festival, 100 creations, street perfor the lawns Spotsy Court Rd, 22553 spotsyartsfes

Sunday, August 1

Thursday, August 8

Hyperion Espresso 25th continues Live Music, "T Rock, 2-4pm, 301 Willia

Open Mic with Larry Hinkle every Thursday at Highmark Brewery!, 390 Kings HWY

Spotsy Art Festival, 100 creations, street perfor the lawns Spotsy Court Rd, 22553 spotsyartsfes

Live Music at 7:30 Kenmore Inn. live performances

Monday, August 1

Downtown Greens Garden Hours 3pm til 6:00pm Help us work the soil,

Friday, August 9

Meteor Shower in view m

CRRL 50th B’day Towne Center Branch 2-4p

“Music on the Steps”, F

Downtown Greens Sip & See Tours, , 4pm.

Tuesday, August 1

Zachary Smith & the Dixie Power Trio “Sounds of Summer Concert Series” 7- 9 PM in historic Market Square located at 907 Princess Anne Street.

Wednesday, Augu

Brokedown Boys Live Music, Highmark Brewery, 390 Kings Hwy Andrea Clement, "A Taste of Trinidad" Opening Reception, Friday, August 9, 6-9p, Artists' Alliance, 100 Taylor St, Suite 101, Colonial Beach Karaoke Night @^ Bears & a Goat Brewery, 8-11p, 1140 International Parkwy, . www.6bgbrewingco.com

Saturday, August 10

Farmers Market, Hurkamp Park, 7am-2pm features 29 vendors selling a wide variety of fresh items Spotsy Farmers Market @ Commuter Lot at Route 3 West and Gordon Road, 8a -1pm open Shop local Rain or Shine facebook@SpotsyFarmersMarket

Fredericksburg Photogra members 7pm at the Do

Spotsy Farmers Market Medical Center, 2-6pm

Sunken Well Trivia ton 720 Littlepage,

Thursday, August

Composting 101. Hands your composting questio 8:30pm. Info fredericksb

Downtown Greens Garde

Open Mic with Larry Hin

Live Music at 7:30 Kenm

Friday, August 16

Whiskey Rebellion “Sou Series”7 - 9 PM in histor

DAR of events

Sample featured wines of oppes @810

Live Music at 7:30 Kenmore Inn. featuring amazing live performances

Acoustic Onion @ La Petite.311 William St 8-11p

oncert� , FXBG Community tsy Courthouse Village, tyband.com. 7:30pm

0+ artistsfeaturing original rmers located throughout thouse, 9101 Courthouse stival.com

1

h Anniversary Celebration The McTell Brothers" Indie m St.

0+ artistsfeaturing original rmers located throughout thouse, 9101 Courthouse stival.com

Karaoke Night @ Bears & a Goat Brewery, 8-11p, 1140 International Parkwy, .

Night Catfishing @Motts Run, 6600 River Road 7p1a. (540) 786-8989

Saturday, August 17

PorchFest! 2019, . a FREE, family-oriented, music festival, 800 & 900 blocks on the porches along Charlotte Street, 10a-4p, presented by RappArts. A Art in the Park 9am - 1pm at Hurkamp Park Browse and shop local artists and crafters Farmers Market, Hurkamp Park, 7am-2pm features 29 vendors selling a wide variety of fresh items

12

Spotsy Farmers Market @ Commuter Lot at Route 3 West and Gordon Road, 8a -1pm

FXBG Branch, 7p.m.,

City Vino Wine Tasting Sample featured wines of the week. 12-4p The Shoppes @810

aphy Club welcomes new orothy Hart Center

ust 14

t @ Spotsylvania Regional . Rain or Shine

night starting at 7:45pm,

15

s on Clinic to answer ALL ons. CRRL FXBG Branch 7burgfoodcoop.com

Downtown Greens Sip & See Tours, , 4pm.

Karaoke Night @ Bears & a Goat Brewery, 8-11p, 1140 International Pkw, . www.6bgbrewingco.com

Saturday, August 24

Farmers Market, Hurkamp Park, 7am-2pm features 29 vendors selling a wide variety of fresh items Spotsy Farmers Market @ Commuter Lot at Route 3 West and Gordon Road, 8a -1pm open Shop local Rain or Shine facebook@SpotsyFarmersMarket

Karen Jonas Live Music @ La Petite.311 William St Night Catfishing @Motts Run, 6600 River Road 7p1a. Questions? (540) 786-8989 Mustang Club Of America Grand National Show.

Event showcasing 500 Ford Mustangs from across our nation over the Labor Day weekend 2019 at the FXBG Expo & Conference Center FREE fredericksburgexpocenter.com

City Vino Wine Tasting Sample featured wines of the week. 12-4p The Shoppes @810

Karaoke Night @ Bears & a Goat Brewery, 8-11p, 1140 International Parkwy, . www.6bgbrewingco.com

Night of 1000 Pies, Benefiting Empowerhouse, 710p. Info: 373-9372

Saturday, August 31

Sunday, August 25

Monday, August 26

Farmers Market, Hurkamp Park, 7am-2pm features 29 vendors selling a wide variety of fresh items

Hyperion Espresso 25th Anniversary Celebration continues , Live Music, "The Adaptations" Soul, Rock, 2-4pm, 301 William St.

Music on the Steps, downtown FXBG Branch, 7p.m., Semilla Cultural

Spotsy Farmers Market @ Commuter Lot at Route 3 West and Gordon Road, 8a -1pm open Shop local and pick up some of the healthiest, freshest, most delicious ingredients the area has to offer. Rain or Shine facebook@SpotsyFarmersMarket

Monday, August 19

Wednesday, August 28

"Bamboo Baton" workshop by Kay Portmess @ the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fredericksburg 10 AM - 1 PM. Contact kayaportmess@gmail.com.

Sunday, August 18

Music on the Steps, CRRL FXBG Branch, 1201 Caroline Street7p.m., . FXBG Concert Band

Wednesday, August 21

Spotsy Farmers Market @ Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center, 2-6pm Rain or Shine

en Hours 3pm til 6:00pm

nkle Highmark Brewery,

Sunken Well Trivia tonight starting at 7:45pm, 720 Littlepage

more Inn.

Thursday, August 22

unds of Summer Concert ric Market Square .

Downtown Greens Garden Hours 3pm til 6:00pm Help us work the soil,

Friday, August 23

Slide FXBG sliders ride an inflatable inner tube down a 1000-foot slip-and-slide on William Street through downtown Fredericksburg. The fun begins at 11:00 AM. Questions? online at slideFXBG.com or e-mail us at info@slideFXBG.com.

most of the night

12

Friday, August 30

Hyperion Espresso 25th Anniversary Celebration Continues, Live Music, "Cori Blanch"Acoustic Soul & "Karen Jonas" County,2- 4pm, 301 William St.

Celebrate CRRL 50th Birthday with games , refreshments, activities & moreNewton Branch 56p

Spotsy Farmers Market @ Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center, 2-6pm Discover the bounty of the fresh, local vegetables, fruits, Rain or Shine Sunken Well Trivia 7:45pm, 720 Littlepage, Celebrate CRRL 50th B’day, games , refreshments, activities & more. Cooper Branch 5-6p

Thursday, August 29

Downtown Greens Garden Hours 3pm til 6pm

Celebrate CRRL 50th Bday games , refreshments, activities & more. Montross Branch 3-4p

Open Mic with Larry Hinkle 390 Kings HWY

Open Mic with Larry Hinkle Highmark Brewery!, 390 Kings HWY

Highmark Brewery!,

City Vino Wine Tasting Sample featured wines of the week. 12-4p The Shoppes @810

If you are reading this 265th issue of FPF, thank an advertiser as we celebrate our 23rd year of continuous publication!

If you are an advertiser, list your events.

Deadline for September 2019 issue is August 20th. To submit events go to frontporchfredericksburg.com/submit

3488 Fans (& Growing) Want You to Join

Front Porch on

front porch fredericksburg

August 2019

17

history’s stories

Masonic Cemetery 1784

By Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks

Fredericksburg has so much history and historical attractions to explore it is quite easy to overlook one that has so much historical significance. That site is located at the corner of Charles and George Streets adjacent the James Monroe Law Office building.

I first became aware of the historic site when I was twelve years old when my father took me with him to care for it.

Thirty-two years after the founding of the Fredericksburg Lodge #4 AF&AM (Ancient Free and Accepted Masons) acquired the land at the corner from a Scottish merchant and former Mayor of Fredericksburg (1792-1793), James Somerville. The Masonic Lodge’s intention was to construct a building for the Masonic Lodge. After deciding not to build the Lodge at that location the members designated the land as a Cemetery for the members and relatives. Prior to this there had been a dispute among the Masons and another Lodge was established, #63 AF&AM which also established a Cemetery near what is Hurkamp Park on William and Liberty Streets. Lodge #63 was in existence until 1860, when most of the members decided to rejoin Masonic Lodge #4.

In 1954 the graves and head stones were moved from the Hurkamp Park area to the Masonic Cemetery at Charles and George Streets. The old cemetery site is now where the Fredericksburg Rescue Squad is housed and a real estate office building. This area is also known as the old city limits, as that was the boundary wall.

Some of the earlier recorded burials are around 1785 with many of the burials in the early and mid-1800’s there are currently no plots remaining. Since many of Fredericksburg’s early residents and political figures were members of the Masonic Lodge, their final resting place is at this cemetery. Many of the names are well known such as Lewis Littlepage and Bazil Gordon the first millionaire in America whose home is still located in Falmouth.

One of the most visited and interesting grave sites is that of Mrs. Christian Campbell 1723-1792. Christina Campbell known for the Tavern that she owned and operated in Williamsburg from 1755-1775. She operated the Tavern after the death of her husband to support herself and her two daughters. In 1787 she moved from Williamsburg to Fredericksburg to be near her daughter. Ebenezer Day, her daughter is buried next to Christian, Ebenezer died November 3, 1804, when she was 51 years old.

Today there are several Cemetery sites in the city that are historical, such as the National Cemetery on Lafayette Boulevard, the Confederate and City Cemetery on Washington Avenue, Saint George’s Cemetery on Princess Anne Street and Shiloh Cemetery on Littlepage Street.

A visit to the Masonic Cemetery with the beautiful old sandstone wall surrounding it will complete a walk around Old Town Fredericksburg and give you an additional pride in the community.

Dedicated in Memory of: Vernon Peyton, Elizia Williams, and Mary Ann Tsompanas Tuffy is the Front Porch resident FXBG historian

18

August 2019

Front porch fredericksburg

OUR HERITAGE

A look at the Central Rappahannock Heritage Center collection

floating theater

By Judy Chaimson

As Fredericksburg residents comment and complain about the heat in the summer of 2019, so did area citizens in previous decades. Some, like Corinne Stearns, escaped the Virginia summer.

Many of the letters received by her during the Augusts of 1927, 1933 and 1941 were addressed to Vermont, Massachusetts or Colorado. In the letters, her family back home complained about how “excessively hot” it was in Fredericksburg.

Most people, however, stayed home and “swelter[ed] in scorching rays of a merciless sun with no relief in sight” (Free Lance-Star, August, 1930).

The drought that year caused low water in the Rappahannock and many fish died. A small note in the Free Lance-Star praised Stewart Ellis for digging a well behind his Falmouth Café to supply drinking water to local residents. Doctors advised folks to wear light, porous clothing, eat less, drink water “judiciously”, and “walk in the shade.”

Distractions from the summer heat were few and far between, according to Warren Farmer. In his oral history, Farmer describes the Fredericksburg of his youth as worthy of the name “Dead Fred”.

However, he goes on to describe one of the more interesting activities available to some fortunate residents – the Floating Theater.

Founded in 1914 by James Adams and his family, the Floating Theater toured Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries staging shows in Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina.

Warren Farmer enjoyed the theater when it tied up at the “foot of Charlotte Street on the Rappahannock and put on a different play every night for a week”. In her oral history, Virginia Durrett describes her excitement when she was taken to watch the “famous” actress Beulah Adams perform when the Theater docked at the Port Royal pier in Caroline County. She also fondly

remembered the popcorn! Colonial Beach was also a regular stop on the Theater’s circuit. A photo of the Floating Theater taken in Colonial Beach sometime in the 1920’s appeared in a Chamber of Commerce brochure (2002).

It is doubtful that either Warren or Virginia realized at the time that their summer distraction was a part of American literary and musical theater history. In 1924, the novelist Edna Ferber spent four days aboard the James Adams Floating Theater and went on to write Show Boat. She claimed that those four days were the only showboat experience she ever had. In 1927, Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein adapted her novel into one of the greatest and most influential American musicals.

They premiered Showboat on Broadway that year on December 27th.

Perhaps Virginia Durrett, Warren Farmer and many other area residents who grew up in early 20th Century Virginia enjoyed Showboat in later – maybe even on Broadway! But I have a feeling that the memory of their Broadway experience was no more exciting than their earlier memory of going to the river on a summer evening to welcome the Floating Theater to their sweltering small towns.

Stearns family letters, copies of Oral Histories, the 2002 Colonial Beach brochure and issues of The Free LanceStar & Front Porch Magazine are all archived at the Heritage Center which is open to the public on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Judy Chaimson is the at CRHS Facility Manager Photo courtesy of the 2002 Colonial Beach Chamber of Commerce brochure

What’s in a Story?

The Chimneys By jon gerlach

This is a story about The Chimneys. Mark Twain would have had fun with it. I can't write nearly as well as he did, but please humor me. I'll try to keep it brief.

Once upon a time, a Scottish merchant by the name of John Glassell build a stately home in Fredericksburg just before the Revolutionary War. It was

flanked by two massive chimneys. Some folks thought John was a Loyalist, meaning he favored the British in a private way. He left Fredericksburg when the war started, crossed the pond, and little was heard from him after that.

In the magnificent house that John built, there lived a little girl named Nell Herndon. She was known for her

beautiful singing voice and "ethereal presence". As a young socialite with promising dreams, Nell would fall in love with a rising star from New York, named Chester Arthur. By all accounts it was a very good marriage. Unfortunately, Nell died of pneumonia. This was a common and oftentimes fatal - situation in the 1800s. A single parent now, within the year he would become Vice President of the United States. His sidekick, James Garfield, was assassinated soon afterwards, so Arthur assumed the Presidency. By that time there were three Presidents who were widowed when they took the oath of office (Jefferson, Jackson and Van Buren), and Arthur made it four.

There was a roundtable in the White House, but wait … this is a story about The Chimneys.

So … Nell's father (remember Nell?) was a gentleman by the name of William Lewis Herndon. He was captain of the mail steamship Central America. In 1857 William went down with his ship off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, lost at sea in a ferocious storm. Besides the mail, he was transporting tons of gold coins and bullion, valued today at well over $100 Million. The shipwreck might just be the most talked about treasure in American history. The "Ship of Gold" was the subject of furious litigation over ownership and profit rights. The wreck was salvaged using cutting-edge ROV technology, designed to lovingly retrieve stacks of uncirculated gold coins in an undamaged state.

Naturally, a single scratch devalues a rare coin. The significance of this wreck to coin collectors, investors (and old story-tellers like me) cannot be overstated.

Remember The Chimneys? This is a story about The Chimneys. At 623 Caroline Street, it's a fine example of Georgian architecture and an icon in

Fredericksburg's preservation movement.

Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. (HFFI) bought the building and put a preservation easement on it. Successive owners Bill Vakos and Tommy Mitchell have maintained The Chimneys in good condition, reflecting their commitment to historic preservation. Today, Billiken's Smokehouse at The Chimneys offers delicious barbeque, hand-smoked in the back yard. Rooms can be rented for private parties. Bands play Rock & Roll covers on the brick patio. When nostalgic tunes waft on the fragrant breeze, do you ever wonder what Arlo Guthrie's song "Alice's Restaurant" was really about?

That's a story for another day.

So … what's in a Story? Well … here it's about a little girl who …

An attorney and retired archaeologist, Jon Gerlach chairs the Architectural Review Board in Fredericksburg Photo courtesy City of Fredericksburg

front porch fredericksburg

August 2019

19

Senior Care travel outside the usa Dog Walking Pet Sitting Companion Play Time & Mini Furies, Too!

By Karl Karch

(540-903-0437; lexig0892@gmail.com) On facebook as “City PetSitting”

A co-worker recently returned from a trip to Europe with her elder parents and siblings and their families.

When they landed in Dulles Airport and were picking up their luggage, her mother fell which resulted in a fractured hip. We talked about what would have happen if this occurred overseas. This prompted me to learn about medical insurance benefits when injured overseas.

Much to my surprise, I learned that, except in very limited situations, Medicare does not cover medical costs outside the United States and its territories. Since I have Medicare, that prompted me to call my supplemental Medicare Part C insurer and was told they cover foreign travel medical costs with a $250 deductible and a 20% co-pay with a $50,000 lifetime maximum benefit. According to AARP, some Medicare Advantage plans cover overseas medical emergencies as do some employer or retiree plans and TRICARE military benefits. According to a recent Consumer Reports article, 15% of travelers have some type of medical problem while traveling. In my opinion, that’s too high a risk not to be certain of having medical insurance coverage.

Prior to traveling outside the U.S., it’s important regardless of age to learn what, if any, medical services your health insurance will cover. Regardless of amount of coverage, consider purchasing supplemental travel health insurance which is separate from regular trip insurance.

If you have a pre-existing condition, you may also need to get a waiver. Examples of why you may need emergency medical coverage: you contract a severe case of food poisoning; you trip on a cobblestone street and break a tooth or otherwise injure yourself; you get in a traffic accident; or you just want the assurance of having travel medical assistance services in an emergency. While some health insurance companies pay "customary and reasonable" hospital costs

20

August 2019

abroad, very few pay for your medical evacuation/transport to a place where you can receive appropriate medical treatment, or back to the United States should that be necessary.

Medical evacuation can cost more than $50,000, depending on your location and medical condition so also consider purchasing separate medical evacuation insurance.

Even if you’re covered by your regular private U.S. health policy and supplemental travel health insurance, you should be ready to pay up front for medical care you receive because most foreign healthcare providers require payment in cash or by credit card when you receive treatment. One friend of my co-worker told of how he had to pay daily with a credit card for costs incurred while in a hospital for several days in Europe.

So, make certain you have a high maximum on your credit card. Be sure to get receipts for all medical costs incurred for submission to your insurance provider. Prior to travelling, look up the closest U.S. embassy or consulate for recommendations on nearest medical facilities or clinics should medical attention be needed.

Researching for this article was an eye-opener for me and my co-worker whose mother often travels overseas and never thought to purchase travel health insurance.

We both agreed that next overseas trip will now include the cost of travel health and medical evacuation insurance. I wish you all safe and stressfree future travels with adequate medical insurance.

Karl Karch is a Gerontologist and local franchise owner of Home Instead Senior Care, a licensed home care organization providing personal care, companionship and home helper services in the Fredericksburg and Culpeper region.

Front porch fredericksburg

It’s All Energy back to school by christina ferber

THE

FREDERICKSBURG LAMP Only Available At

The Copper Shop 371-4455 1707R Princess Anne

Behind Silk Mill Like Us on facebook

Donate to a Cancer Organization

Helping homeless children and families in City of Fredericksburg, Counties of Caroline, Stafford & Spotsylvania 540 371 0831

ble at Availa n.com Amazo

Believe it or not, for the greater Fredericksburg area, early August now means back to school time. Sometimes this transition can be hard on kids, but never fear, Eden Energy Medicine (EEM) can come to the rescue to calm fears and anxiety, as well as help kids focus in the classroom. The following exercises can be completed at home or modified for school, and can also help adults in an office setting or anytime you need a little balancing throughout the day.

When we get or feel out of the loop and unfocused, oftentimes it's because our energies are not crossing over. Think of how the left hemisphere of the brain governs the right side of the body, and vice-versa. Doing exercises and techniques that encourage that crossover pattern even more can help us maintain focus and better coordination, as well as give us more energy overall. One way to do this is with the Crossover Shoulder Pull and Cross Crawl. Start with a shoulder pull by placing your right hand on your left shoulder. With a little pressure, push in and drag your hand across your body to the opposite hip. After repeating on both sides a few times, move to an exaggerated walk as you cross over each hand to the opposite knee. Continue this cross-over march a few more times to cement the pattern.

As a sixth-grade teacher, I realize that it would be mortifying for many students to get up in the middle of class to do this (though I sometimes have my students do it as a class). Luckily, there are some other ways to cross our energies when we are stuck at a desk. The eight pattern is a great way to crossover, and though you don't want to draw them all over your paper, you can draw a few sideways eights or just trace over that pattern a few times. You can even trace that pattern with your fingers on your desk or imagine it in your mind. Simply

crossing your legs and/ or hands is also another way to get that crossover pattern going.

When your head feels clouded and you need to think more clearly, the Crown Pull can help. Place your thumbs on your temples and your fingertips in the middle of your forehead. With pressure, stretch your forehead by moving your fingers to your temples. Repeat at your hairline and move over your head until you reach the base of your neck. Pull across it and place your fingers behind your shoulders. Squeeze your fingers over them to the front, and with a deep breath, pull your hands off. You can also pull out your ears by simply moving up and down the outside of your ear and squeezing lightly as you pull. To make this something easy to do in the classroom, just scratch your head from front to back.

I do this often throughout my day at school and it does wonders for clearing out my thinking.

What if it's test time, and you need to calm down and focus? Placing your hands on the points right above your eyes (the Main NV Reflex Points) can help.

To do this inconspicuously, simply prop your elbow on your desk and lean your head in your hands stretching your hand across your forehead and resting on those points.

I wish I had room to add more to this column, because when it comes to school, every little bit can help make the school day a less anxious place. Please check www.itsallenergywellness.com for more exercises and videos. I hope students and everyone involved with educating our students has a very successful year!

Breathing counting

Christina Ferber is a Certified Eden Energy Medicine Practitioner

front porch fredericksburg

August 2019

21

Emancipated Patients falls

By Patrick Neustatter, MD

It bugs me that people only seem to be excited by the latest high-tech gizmos and processes of modern medicine – the latest surgical robot that the local hospital has acquired; the latest telemedicine portal their doctor has implemented; the latest drugs made by gene splicing for example.

So it pleases me to report on some basic, low-tech, common sense medical care that has the potential to save a lot of morbidity and mortality.

Atul Gawande Sees The Light I was intrigued to read Atul Gawande’s account, in his book Being Mortal, of going to sit in with a geriatrician. The geriatrician was not the least bit interested in the patient’s specific diagnoses. He was interested in their risk of falling.

“The single most serious threat” says Gawande of one elderly lady they saw, “was not her lung nodule or her back pain . . . .it was falling.”

This idea is reinforced by Fredericksburg geriatrician Wayland Marks MD (for whom the ‘Partners in Aging Dr. Wayland Marks Gratitude Award’ is named incidentally). He notes that “falls are the leading cause of injuries in people over 65 years” – and they are becoming more common.

A recently published Research Letter in JAMA (June 4th 2019) noted falls have increased from 52 per 100,000 in 2000 to 111 per 100,000 in 2016 in people over 75.

There are many factors that can contribute. The three primary risk factors according to the geriatrician Gawande writes about are: Poor balance Muscle weakness Taking more than four prescriptions.

Marks notes, the people most likely to fall “are those who have had a fall before.”

Also the risk is much higher in people with poor vision and problems with cognition. And if taking medicines that are sedating – like benzodiazepines (Valium

22

August 2019

and Xanax for example), sleeping pills, even antihistamines like diphenhydramine/Benadryl which is often in OTC night time decongestants.

The other medication problem Mark’s sees is people over treated for high blood pressure - so their pressure drops dangerously low and they get very light headed or pass out, when they stand up abruptly.

Function and Quality of Life Common sense measures to avoid falls are in keeping with the role of a geriatrician, says Marks. “Geriatricians have a different approach – they focus on a persons function and quality of life rather than any specific illnesses.”

Each year about 350,000 Americans fall and break their hip. 40 percent of these end up in nursing home, and 20 percent never walk again – so falling can be far more devastating than many diseases.

Avoidance of falls is all about minimizing risk factors. This is not high tech medicine, notes Marks – but is the kind of basic stuff he has learned, in large part, because his work with Partners in Aging involves doing house calls.

“Paying attention to the environment is essential” he says. “Don’t have loose throw rugs on the floor, or pets that get underfoot.” But “do have grab bars in the bathroom, a chair in the shower; and good lighting.”

You can get home health agencies to do a home risk assessment.

Another important prevention is specific exercise programs to build muscle strength and improves balance (the latest edition of the AARP Bulletin has “Daily Exercises You Can Do in 10 Minutes for Better Balance” – also available on line at www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info2019/better-balance-exercises.html).

There are not nearly enough geriatricians, or even primary care family physicians and internists to help promote this kind of basic medical care complains Marks (as graduating medical students look for more lucrative specialties to pay of their enormous student loans).

So this is another instance where the person or their family needs to be informed and involved. Needs to be an emancipated pateint.

Patrick Neustatter is the Medical Director of the Moss Free Clinic. author of "Managing Your Doctor, The Smart Patient's Guide to Getting Effective, Affordable Healthcare", available at Amazon.com

Front porch fredericksburg

Thank You Fredericksburg for Your Support Since 1997 Accepting New Patients Emergency Patients Welcome Participant With Most Major Insurance Plans 131 Park Hill Dr, FXBG, 22401 540-373-0602 fdadental.com

It’s always more fun in the Scenter of Town!

Dragonfly Yoga Studio

Essential Oils Liquid Herbs Reiki Reflexology Aromatherapy Custom Blending Aroma-Therapeutic Massage Harmonic Resonance Therapy

Ying & Yang

by Anne Hicks

Products ~ Services ~ Classes 907 Charles Street, Downtown thescenteroftown.com

As yoga grows roots in our community, Dragonfly Yoga Studio, on Caroline Street has fulfilled a promise to create a vision by providing more space, diversifying the range of classes, becoming eco-friendly and giving back to the community.

Anne Kemp, the owner, conscientiously used local artists to help bring her vision for the studio to life.

Gabriel Pons, owner of the local art studio Ponshop, redesigned the logo and created an eclectic colorful mural depicting the eight limbs of yoga (above).

Gabriel expressed, that his intention was to “inform and inspire”.

“The nine paintings are a visual map for students and instructors, while expressing the energy of the space – a sacred place for the whole community.”

Additionally, Kemp worked with local photographer Aaron Spicer to take photos for the website and social media. Her husband, Jesse Kemp, an active duty service member, manages the Dragonfly website. It’s a local team effort.

The studio now has a cadre of 20 dedicated and experienced teachers all working to provide an average of 50 classes per week. Kemp said her aim has been to create a balanced holistic yoga experience for the community.

In addition to the more commonly known physical asana classes such as hot, stability, power, vinyasa, Kripalu, beginner, prenatal, and chair yoga, she has deliberately expanded the offerings of Yin, restorative, Yoga Nidra, and meditationbased classes.

Overall, Kemp’s goal for Dragonfly has been to provide a balanced “yin and yang” class schedule with “yang” style classes designed to build heat, strengthen muscles, improve stability, and fire up prana (life force energy), while “yin” style classes give the body and mind

equal opportunity to soften, release heat, and let go of effort.

Dragonfly has generously given back to the community donating to various local organizations such as Friends of the Rappahannock, Mental Health America of Fredericksburg, and the Dr. Yum Project. Recognizing the documented benefits of yoga for Fredericksburg’s very large military veteran community, the studio also began sponsoring four active duty military members or veterans with fully paid one-year memberships.

The first two veterans for the program were chosen in May and the next two veterans will be selected in November.

Kemp also committed the studio to going green this year. Earth Day 2019 was her inspiration to permanently eliminate single use water cups and paper towels for cleaning mats.

She also replaced bathroom materials with 100% recycled paper products.

Last May, I wrote about Anne Kemp and Kit McFarland’s transition of studio ownership. Both owners began with a passion to share their yoga experience in the Fredericksburg community. Now in its sixth year, Dragonfly is becoming a local legacy. Anne Kemp, a natural business owner, radiates her love and gratefulness for the continued support of the yoga community just as previous owner Kit did.

With exceptional growth this year, it’s clear Dragonfly will be a mainstay in our town promoting health and wellness for years to come.

Anne Hicks is a writer & a certified yoga teacher who works at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Photo by Aaron Spicer Dragonfly Yoga Studio 810 Caroline Street, Downtown,FXBG www.dragonflyyogafred.com; faacebook

front porch fredericksburg

August 2019

23

Art in the Burg Galleries in August

“Freedom”, Michael Broadway “Remixed 7” Vinyl Album Art Show POSHOP, 712 Caroline St Opening Reception.First Friday, August 2 , “Remixed 7”, the most popular community art exhibition for August and September, features original artwork using 12” vinyl record albums. The exhibit includes over forty participating artists working in this unconventional canvas.

This is the seventh year of the “Remixed” vinyl-themed show and PONSHOP has received an overwhelming response from local artists. As of this artile, the gallery has issued over fifty albums to be adorned by local and regional artists. This community art show has proven to be a great addition to the gallery’s exhibition schedule, involving artists of all backgrounds and also boasting affordable artworks for the home office ranging from $25-$150. “Remixed 7” will is curated by gallery owners Scarlett and Gabriel Pons. ~Gabe Pons All Member Show Opening Reception, First Friday, August 2 Artful Dimension, 922 Caroline Street Stay cool and visit us on First Friday and throughout August to see new works by our member artists.

Dawn DeCourcey , "Alphabetography," & Wayne Butler Photography Opening Reception, First Friday, August 2, 6-9 9pm Darbytown Art Studio, 241 Charles St. Dawn DeCourcey will be showing her unique concept of "alphabetography," the art of photographing everyday items that appear to form a letter of the alphabet or number. She uses recycled barn wood to make her frames.

Wayne Butler will also be featuring his amazing photography and a few paintings used from his own reference photographs.

Free Trolley stops at our door

“River”, Wayne Butler @Darbytown Art Studio every 20 minutes Andrea Clement, "A Taste of Trinidad" Opening Reception, Fri, August 9, 6-9 9p Artists' Alliance, 100 Taylor St, Suite 101, Colonial Beach Andrea, a native of Trinidad, takes her audience on a vacation to the tropical islands of Trinidad and Tobago.

Beautiful tranquil beaches, delicious cuisine, boisterous calypso music are all represented in her vibrant acrylic

paintings. AA members will also be incorporating water and beach themes in their displays. ~ Rob Rudick

"Fire and Ice = Hydrants and Cones", David Lovegrove Opening Reception: First Friday, August 2, 6 to 9p.m.

Art First Gallery, 824 Caroline St Exhibit through Sept. 1.

All the works in David Lovegrove's latest featured artist show are abstractions and photographs of local fire hydrants and ice cream cones.

The cone shapes of the hydrants and ice cream take on a double meaning and function, and even merge in some of the artworks.

To accomplish these interesting juxtapositions and observations, Lovegrove engages a number of different media, including acrylic and pastel on paper and canvas board, digital photographs and polaroid photographs.

In addition to this month's featured artist, you'll also find art displayed by more than twenty local artists and gallery members. ~Casey Shaw

Featuring.the works of Jennifer Talbot, Nancy Brittle, Ruth Ann Loving, Elena Broach, Mary Lynn Wolfe

FREDERICKSBURG LAMP Only Available At

The Copper Shop 371-4455 1707R Princess Anne

Behind Silk Mill Like Us on facebook August 2019

Front porch fredericksburg

Andrea Clement, “Five Fingers” @Artists Alliance

Associated Artist Show Backdoor Gallery 819 Caroline Street Opening reception First Friday August 2, 6-8 8

THE

24

David Lovegrove, “Bluedumbells” @Art First Gallery

Nancy Brittle, “Jack, Betsy & the Laundry Basket” @Backdoor Gallery

Kay & Amanda

Name This House win downtown gift certificate

A tale of two sisters

By Pat Smith

Kay Portmess (right) . and Amanda Carter have settled in the Fredericksburg area after decades of living abroad.

The sisters were born in Mandeville, Jamaica, grew up in St. Croix, and went to boarding school in Derbyshire, England.

Eventually their parents moved to the D.C. area, and Kay migrated here. Amanda has lived here for the last four years.

Amanda is happy to have finally found her permanent home. Amanda's husband was a diplomat in the foreign service. They lived in Gabon, Madagascar, Malawi, Bangladesh, Germany, Mexico City, Canada. He was the US ambassador for the Ivory Coast. Amanda's painting, "Children of Hope", depict special children in her life from her work in an orphanage in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. She volunteered at the orphanage every Wednesday for a year and a half. Amanda paints joy, often using bright colors and flat patterns. She has been influenced by some of the best folk art traditions in the world, and then made it her own.

You can see her paintings in her Libertytown studio.

Kay credits the terrific art education program in England for fostering her love of art. Kay married an artist, and she still lives in the area. Her boys graduated from VCU. Kay creates a

variety of arts and crafts. She often creates mixed-media collages with hand sewing.

Her painting "Basking in the Light" is a loving testament to her relationship with her husband. She has painted several of these poignant mystical portraits of her husband and herself over time, which is meaningful to her.

Kay will teach a "bamboo baton" workshop at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fredericksburg on August 17, from 10 AM until 1 PM. She developed the craft as a meditation practice, as well a way of coping with the bamboo in her yard! The craft is intended for children of all ages. The cost of the workshop is $30, which includes materials. She will provide the bamboo sticks, fabric, and paint.

However, I am already gathering items for embellishing my own bamboo baton, such as yarn, beads and thread, and ribbons.

Enrollment is limited. Please register with the artist directly. Kay will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Contact kayaportmess@gmail.com.

Pat is a member of the UUFF Visual Arts Committee and a painter.

“A Tale of Two Sisters” Amanda Carter & Kay Portmess UUFF Gallery, 25 Chalice Circle, Opening reception August 4, 11:45 AM to 1:30 PM. thru September

Identify this mystery house and you could win a gift certificate from a downtown merchant. Here’s how: Email frntprch@aol.com, Subject: Mystery House, Identify house address, Your name, address, email.

The poem below is a hint of the location of the mystery house. Good Luck!

Last Month’s House: 810 Cornell Winner of a gift certificate: Rappahannock Area YMCA- Water Park Passes is Mary Alexa Oh you friendly little cottage, with a pedigree so bold.

I see your historical research, attached to your little metal plaque, that you may be a Peck- Heflin home, which were built solid with pride and style.

Being below the college, hugged up against it's hill, is a lovely location, everyone envies you still.

You are mature, yet beautiful , in your black and white color scheme, keeps you up in style.

Smell the donuts, so close to your back yard.

College kids drifting by, keeping you timelessly, still.in the loop

Shop Local Free Concert Every Friday, 7-9p Market Square

Welcome to Downtown Fredericksburg’s Main Street District fredericksburgdowntown.org front porch fredericksburg

August 2019

25

Back to Basics Behind the Scenes View of the Process of Creation

By Collette Caprara “map” that will be duplicated in the finished work, and, in fact, may reveal to the artists elements that should be eliminated, accentuated, or added to accomplish their Nancy vision.

As Williams’ “Touch of Winter” watercolor painting shows, while the resemblance between a sketch and a complete painting may be clear, the final

Throughout August, Brush Strokes Gallery will feature an allmembers “Back to Basics” exhibit that offers a behind-the-scenes view of the process of creation.

Like a stellar ballet performance, an artwork that enchants and engages its viewers may seem to come effortlessly from its creator, and the impact of the line, color, lights and shadows that convey its subject are experienced immediately as a whole.

In truth, years—and sometimes lifetimes—of practice have been invested in honing the skills of photographers, sculptors, and artists whose talents are manifest in their work. And careful planning has gone into choosing a subject, designing the composition, and capturing the values, hues, and lines of the work of art. The Back to Basics exhibit conveys the effort that is involved in the preliminary stages of creation by displaying works in both their initial and completed stages side-b by-sside.

Many painters will begin with a pencil sketch of their subject or scene that they will use as a guide in considering scale, content, composition, and contrast.

This initial drawing is not a hard-and-fast

26

August 2019

creation may take the concept to a different level.

In contrast with watercolorists whose medium is transparent, artists who use oil paints enjoy the liberty to develop creations through layers of opaque media and can change the presentation of a subject on canvas as they work. For many, the process of creation begins with a sketch of a subject or scene on canvas, followed by capturing the relationship of basic forms by blocking them out in arbitrary colors—which may include such

Front porch fredericksburg

anomalies as an orange body of water or dark blue figures. Within those basic color forms, the artists use their brushes to create a sense of three dimensions, adding darks, highlights, realistic colors and details.

For photographers, a picture may serve as a flexible image that can be finessed through various developing techniques. A case in point is the “World in Monochrome” (pictured left) collection of photographs by Norma Woodward. In contrast with artists who begin with a black and white ink or pencil drawing, Norma seemingly reversed that process.

She began with her finished color photos and reproduced the images in black and white to accentuate differences in value and the unique character of her subjects, and to give the photographs the allure of timelessness.

Carol Haynes is an artist who uses a minimalist black-andwhite pallet in her charcoal drawings to convey the essence and unique personalities of the figures she chooses—the most beloved of which are winsome and emotive canine and equine subjects. Viewers might marvel at Carol’s ability to convey power, movement, and personality through simple lines on paper, but the key to her transforming power of creation lies both in years of dedicated practice and her painstaking process of preparation for each work—which may include taking multiple photos of a subject from a variety of angles and investing hours and days in finessing the figures to convey the structure, texture, and essence of her subjects. “The eyes become especially

Norma Woodward. important in connecting with the soul of the subject--which is probably why I focus on the face predominantly when it comes to choosing where to focus the viewers’ attention,” she said. “My goal is to capture the uniqueness that each one brings into this world.”

Carol, who first conceived of the idea for the Back to Basics theme for the August exhibit explains the importance of the preliminary effort in the act of creation. “The initial stages of any piece of art are probably the most crucial. For any artist, the basic question of ‘where to even begin’ will be ultimately dictated to by what it is the artist is trying to accomplish. For example, as a portrait artist, I find that the entire body plays a role in defining the subject--not just the head and facial aspects.

Anatomical correctness is paramount whether one is drawing a person or an animal.

The process of ‘working out that correctness’ can be seen as the artists build on their initial sketch, and it becomes what they had envisioned.”

"Back to Basics" exhibit will be displayed from July 29 through September 1, and visitors will have an opportunity to meet and chat with the gallery artists at the exhibit’s opening reception on “First Friday,” August 2, from 6 pm to 9 pm.

Brush Strokes Gallery 824 Caroline St

Collette Caprara is a writer & artist who lives in FXBG

FXBG Music Scene Passion for music & life By mary geil Toni the Soprano (formerly known as Toni Maxine Crowder) is a local performer and educator. She grew up in Arkansas. She moved east and ended up in Fredericksburg .In addition to performing, she has been a voice coach for many students over the years. “Experience The Passion” is the title of her website and as evidenced by hearing her perform, she has a passion for music and life.

In the spring of 2019, she fulfilled a long time dream of singing an operatic role with international artists in Italy. She performed the role of Santuzza from the opera Cavallaria Rusticana at Villa Contarini, Monselice, Italy. In the fall of 2018, she performed in a solo concert at the Basilica di S. Maria Assunta in Bagno Di Romagna. In 2017, she performed in a joint concert with acclaimed tenor Maurizio Saltarin at the Chiesa di San Martino in Este, Italy for the EsteFredericksburg Sister City Association.

Toni states that “it is very rewarding at this stage in her career to finally sing with such renowned artists who have

performed at the Metropolitan Opera and in the greatest opera houses of the world. “ Toni’s previous opera credits range from the title role in the world premiere of Michael Ching’s Faith, at Operafest of New Hampshire, to Margherita in Boito’s Mefistofele, conducted by the Metropolitan Opera’s Joan Dornemann in Tel Aviv. In 1998, The Washington Post hailed her performance as Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus for the “vigor and excitement” she brought to the role of the “svelte Hungarian Countess.” Other highlighted roles include Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte, and Musetta in La Boheme. She was honored to cover the roles of Violetta (La Traviata) and Countess Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro) for Opera Roanoke productions under the baton of Metropolitan Opera conductor Steven White.

Per Toni, “When we choose to let go of our past and release ourselves from our attachments we are then free to set sail on new uncharted waters! Some are called to make this a true and literal

process, while others only need to make a metaphysical journey. Either way, releasing and letting go gives us the w o n d e r f u l freedom to listen to Sat Nam - our true Toni’s Concert Posters from Itay tour identity. It is my prayer that my August, she boards a plane with a one way story inspires you ?and gives breath and life to your own voyage!” She is following ticket returning to Italy where she will her own advice as she embarks on her next sing the title role of Floria Tosca in Giacomo Puccini's beloved opera Tosca. act of being a citizen of the world. As she Her journey reminds us all that it describes she is becoming a nomad by is never too late to pursue our true choice. This will open the door for her to embrace many new adventures including passions. Auguri and bravissima Toni.

You can find out more about Toni and singing and speaking Italian, practicing subscribe to her travel blog by visiting Kundalini yoga, visiting sacred sites ToniMaxine.com. around the globe, diving into more Wim Hof Method adventures and taking in the sun and light of God’s presence with her brothers and sisters around the world. In

Mary Beth Geil works at Naval Support Facility Dahlgren & lives in Spotsylvania.

Photo by Melvin Brown

“In the Moment”

by Beverley Coates 810 Artists: Beverley Coates, Watercolorist Penny A. Parrish, Photographer; Lynn Abbott, Oil Painter Daily 10 to 6.

Artist on site Saturdays

540.371.4099

810 Caroline Street, Downtown Fredericksburg front porch fredericksburg

August 2019

27

Companions home alone

by Gerri Reid dvm

It’s Back to School time for explore. If your pet enjoys playing with mostly all Schools. Gone are the days we other dogs, then consider a Dog Daycare would have most of August to still enjoy a type setting.

This will keep your pet vacation or a day at the pool. It is time happy and safe while you are at work and for Back to School Nights, shopping for of course, your pet will certainly enjoy it! school supplies and preparing our children For you Techfor the upcoming school savvy pet owners, Our pets have become year. Some people have there are some nifty adapted to everyone being adopted new pets or ways to keep your pet maybe a new home more and being on a Furbo entertained. kitten/puppy over the whole different routine.

Dog Camera with summer. Our pets have How do we help our pets adjust Treat tossing is new become adapted to to our new schedule? on the pet scene. This everyone being home device will detect when more and being on a whole different routine. So how do we help our your pet is barking and send a notification to your phone. The camera, day or night, pets adjust to our new schedule? allows you to see what your pet(s) are Here are some suggestions to help your doing throughout the day. It allows you pet adjust a bit. to talk to them to calm them or just to say Many people each day take their “Hello” plus you can fill it with your pet’s pets for a walk in the morning/afternoon favorite treats and “Toss” one to them! and evening. Even our children can get All these features with just a touch of a involved and walk the pets during the button from your phone. It is also Alexa summer. As we go back to work and compatible. This is perfect for pet owners school, these daily walks may not be who want to keep an eye on their furry possible. I recommend to consider a Pet ones!

Sitter who will come daily and provide Nowadays, we don’t have to your pet with a walk and some playtime. worry about our pets being left at home.

This service is especially good for young From pet walkers to doggy daycare, your dogs/puppies as continuous potty-training pet doesn’t have to just sit at home and is essential. Businesses such as this will come and do a Meet & Greet and discuss wait for you. Technology has allowed us to monitor or talk to our pets from the their services as well as meet your pets. . comfort of our office and even reward Just like we take our children to them without us even being there. As we daycare, many people will also drop off venture back to work/school, there is their pets at a doggy daycare. Places such something out there to fit your pet’s as Dogtopia offer daycare services where needs. Gone are the days of our pets your pet can enjoy a day of playing with being left Home Alone! other dogs. Whether you need to drop Dr. Gerri S. Reid is the your pet off for a few hours or for most of Owner/Veterinarian of Reid Mobile the day, Dogtopia has packages for any Veterinary Services. 540-623-3029; reidmobilevetservices.com ; facebook budget. They have daily fun activities for eVetServices photo of Dr. Reid newest your pet such as pool parties and an addition, “Chocko”, by Gerri outdoor area for your pet to run and

28

August 2019

Front porch fredericksburg

Astrology & You time of reviewing, renewing, rechecking

THE POETRY MAN

By Dianne Bachman

By Frank Fratoe

opportunity to be mindful, slow ourselves down, and examine aspects of our lives. As Molly McCord says, it is a time of “re”: reviewing, renewing, rechecking. This is true of all the planets when they go retrograde, so let’s look at the most popular, Mercury.

Nightfall: Meteor Shower A web-film shrinks and lowers westward expanding the dimness that gradually enshrouds space.

Colors blend into an obscurity and withdraw slowly one by one till the surrender altogether.

Then intruders dazzle headlong to mark a fall of high meteors tracing firepaths through air.

They are the debris of a comet appearing each August above us as remnant from sun’s birth.

And they recall how sea formed when “Shooting-stars” rode sky flooding this planet with life.

Frank Fratoe lives & writes in the city.he loves.

It warms my heart to see that more and more people are beginning to take notice of things astrological, like Mercury Retrograde! This gives me hope that popular culture will embrace astrology much as they do meteorology and weather forecasts (though astrologers can be infinitely more accurate than weather forecasters). Except for the Sun and the Moon, all the other planets have retrograde periods, though most folks don’t make as much of a fuss over them.

They are equally as powerful in terms of the energetic nuances in our lives and how they might impact our day-to-day, each planet being unique and having its own influence in our charts.

When we think ‘retrograde’, we may perceive that a planet is either standing still or moving in a backward motion. Put very simply, what the planet is doing is slowing its orbit around the sun and veering outside its typical elliptical.

Though some will speak of Mercury in retrograde with dread, it isn’t such a bad thing. It provides us with an excellent

Mercury rules all types of communication, formal contracts and agreements (leases, wills, etc.), the mail and other means of conveying documents including fax and the internet, how we process and exchange information, as well as transportation and travel.

Mercury goes into retrograde about every four months for 21 days or so.

Miscommunications, delays, travel kerfuffles, unusual communications or errors in communication, and the surfacing of memories are common phenomena. Though typical Mercury travels fast and wants to race ahead, retrogrades are a time to slow down, to double check. Did you remember to put the stamp on your payment to the IRS? Did you pack an extra pair of underwear in your carry-on luggage just in case your suitcase winds up in Miami when your actual destination is Fargo?

The current sign Mercury is traveling through is significant in that it adds context to the planet. July’s Mercury retrograde was in Leo. This would typically be a time to check ourselves to make sure we are not coming off as arrogant to others or that we are mindful to communicate from our heart. Also, a time to reflect on how we validate ourselves— do we look to others for praise and confirmation that we are good enough, or can we begin to stop, reflect and find ways to validate our own creative worth?

Mercury was in retrograde from July 7, 2019 until July 31, when it went direct again. There will be one more slow down for our zippy planet Mercury in October. As of August 1, 2019, there are five planets in retrograde: Jupiter, Saturn, Pluto, Neptune and Chiron.

Now, here are some astrological happenings for August 2019: There will be two New Moon phases in August, one on August 1 in Leo and the other on August 30 in Virgo. The Full Moon will be on August 15 in the sign of Aquarius. This month is a great time for all of us to look at the big picture and how we want to be creative, express our heart’s deepest truth considering our communities, our world.

Leo gives inspiration, flare and creativity while Aquarius can lead us to working toward the greater good. The New Moon in Virgo comes along at the end of the month and provides the energy to form details, plan, be of service.

Uranus (in Taurus) goes retrograde on August 12, giving us a time to slow down and sit with what we value, whether it be our dear Mother Earth or the gold bullion we have stacked in our safes. I am thinking it will be a beneficial time to look at what each of us can do individually as well as collectively to improve our natural environment. With Mars entering Virgo on August 18, this could give the push, the initiative and the fire to even begin a movement!

Diane Bachman is a psychotherapist & astroger practicing in FXBG. She can be reached at dbachmanlcsw@gmail ..com Painting: Georgio de Chirico Self Portrait with Mercury

Dog Walking Pet Sitting Companion Play Time & Mini Furies, Too! (540-903-0437; lexig0892@gmail.com) On facebook as “City PetSitting” front porch fredericksburg

August 2019

29

Katherine Arens

Fredericksburg Sketches A visual Celebration of our community

Cover Artist

By Casey Alan Shaw

“The ‘discovery’ IS the thing — what I DIDN’T know going into the piece IS what makes it art. The big change occurs and the painting is DIFFERENT than what I expected… that is where I find my JOY. I do enjoy the challenge of capturing a likeness of the people and places I love.

“I find joy in the local, the ordinary, the eccentric. I love that the past and the present constantly collide Fredericksburg. This is exemplified in my recent paintings: Hyperion Espresso, Purina Tower and Goolrick’s. My mind makes connections to the past when I am making art and I enjoy that.

“I have loved making art for as long as I can remember, and Fredericksburg is the perfect place for creative spirits! I started spending a lot of time at Hyperion back when Apple Music was across the street. My son’s kindergarten teacher once said she thought she saw him ordering a drink there- she did. We spent time drinking coffee (or juice) while his older brother played guitar. It’s a wonderful place to sit outside, sip a cappuccino, and enjoy Fredericksburg. I have painted it several times; this town loves that place.

“My kids have grown up in the area, and fortunately for me, two of them still live nearby. I get to share my love of this town, and of art making, with my six grandchildren. They have come to see my art exhibits and joined me at Liberty Town to work with clay and see what’s new in the studios. I am very lucky and they are very talented already.

“I love the water and recently learned to SUP (stand up paddle board) at the City Dock with Kolbie Rosser- small town- it turns out she went to high school with one of my children. I hope to get my dog Oli out there with me sometime, but he’s pretty nervous about that idea. He was born on the Northern Neck, in Heathsville, but he did not take to water

30

August 2019

like you might expect. He loves to run on the beach at the River and enjoys sitting at the waters edge.

“There is such a wealth of galleries, art opportunities and artists willing to share their talents in this town.

I love that about living here. I was fortunate enough to go to UMW to study art as a late bloomer. Painting with Joseph DiBella was an amazing experience. I was in a great cohort and got to learn alongside some very talented students. I also received an undergrad research grant to spend some time in Venice, Italy. Marjorie Och’s Art History class that semester truly enhanced my Venice trip and love of Venetian Renaissance artists.

“I owe everything I know about power tools to Carole Garmon- who might say that’s not a whole lot, but my experience at UMW was unique and wonderful and she taught me to love 3-D art and making things. For a small liberal arts school, Mary Wash has an outstanding Art Department.

“There are too many galleries to mention and too many artists I love to run into on First Friday. FCCA is a fabulous place with a big heart; so many local artists get a start in exhibiting there. I have served on the board there and also at Artful Dimensions. The art community in Fredericksburg truly embraces the idea of community. First Friday is the embodiment of that community- it’s a true celebration of all art makers and art lovers. Fredericksburg is a great town and Hyperion is a great place to gather and celebrate life here. ~Katherine Arens

SKETCH #57: “Behind Pickers” In some ways, this month’s sketch is a continuation of my column from last month.

The image above was also created entirely on the computer, rather than the sketches I do more traditionally using pen & ink, etc. In this case, once I had the basic drawing down, it allowed me to play endlessly with color choices to see how they worked together. One other reason, I chose this technique was that I had a flat-color poster look in mind.

I chose this scene because I love walking the alleys downtown.

They are infinitely interesting on a visual level, full of color and texture.

It’s not unusual to encounter photographers working on a fashion shoot or creating graduation photos. And it’s also quiet enough to hear your footsteps as you walk the same paths locals have used for hundreds of years.

Personally, I think they are one of the “hidden” gems of the ‘burg.

Casey Alan Shaw is a local artist. He exhibits his original artwork and limited-edition prints at Art First Gallery and atwww.caseyshaw.com.

606 Caroline Street Old Town Fredericksburg 373-7847 www.gemstonecreations.org Tuesday - Saturday 10-5 Wednesdays until 6:30 and by appointment

View Katherine’s work @ katherinesart.com facebook.com/katherineartist linkedin.com/in/katherinearens

Front porch fredericksburg

Where Fredericksburg Gets Engaged

DOWNTOWNERS Latitudes: Terry and Lee Owsley

by georgia Lee Strentz

photo by Aimee O’Grady

Federation,and their stores to help them have a better life,with their children in these far off countries of Mexico Guatemala, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Africa, Haiti, and hundreds more.

When Lee, a public school teacher, returned from her weaving trip, she and Terry started their business with little money or supplies. They filled up some of the tables with with art work from Terry's parents, who are artists, and live on their home farm where Terry grew up in Culpeper, until they could afford more products from overseas. Many friends volunteered to help promote and market the developing country artisans.

So many mediums of art are used by these women, such as stone, old discarded metal, wood, natural products, sea shells...anything imaginable these woman use so beautifully in their artful products. The store became so popular Lee soon stopped teaching public school, to run the store full time. Terry

Our beautiful hometown, a flora of interesting shops and restaurants, trees, historic and picturesque buildings, the river, parks and bridges,wonderful,give you a smile at all times citizens!.

Latitudes is a shop downtown, but it differs in that it represents the talents and artistic abilities of women all over the world who are the artisans of the beautiful art and useful products they have created and labored over for you.

They like us, have children whom they cherish. Like us they are working hard to earn money to supply them with school supplies, Terri Powers of Latitude’, stocking shelves clothing and nutritious food, love and security.The later gave up his job at Sprint to Fair Trade Federation, who coordinates a help.manage. large group of merchants who market the In 2014,t hey opened their store products of these diligent women, make in Fredericksburg, which Terry manages, sure they are fairly treated, with fair while Lee remains in the Warrenton prices for their products. Terry and Lee location where their daughter, Owsley (top) are two members of the Kelsey,helps. Their daughter Anna runs a Federation, who help promote and protect Latitudes store in Staunton, Son Ben and sell the beautiful products these creates all the displays in the stores, and women create. these products from all daughter Emily does the interior design, over the world.

Come in and meet the whole family at all Terry and Lee started their store the stores! in Warrenton, with volunteers, after Lee Take a peek at all the beautiful gifts the returned from a trip on a grant to study wonderful women artisans have created weaving in Guatemala. While there she discovered these women artists,the Latitudes, Fair Trade Store Baskstrap loom in particular, on which 800 Caroline St 540 - 370 - 8778 many garments are created for their latitudesfairtrade.com; facebook. stores. Lee and Terry hope to help these latitudesfredericksburg/ women market their products through the

front porch fredericksburg

August 2019

31