Front Porch Fredericksburg

YEAR 26

ISSUE 301

AUGUST 2022

contents

closeups 12

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27

16-17

Calendar of Events

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history’s stories: artifact what’s in A light? embry power station

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Our Heritage: it smells like money

dr. janet gullickson germanna pres top leader

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mental health: managing bipolar disorder

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emancipated patients: bone-0n-bone

spanglish latin american band

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Life coaching: building successful friendships

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auto known better: garland gentry

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art in the ’burg ...galleries in August

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ride the vre for free in sept

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companions: home alone

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astrology & you poetryman: cosmic input?

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fredericksburg sketches

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biz notes

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Amy jessee umw alum fills key role

Porch talk 3

be on the lookout for blessings in disguise

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on the porch...life in fredericksburg Messages

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everything greens: dandelions

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In the Garden: water wise landscaping

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growing & crawling: pokeweed

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...And More!

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i have a friend: bonnie & gil

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authentic self-care :back to school

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tidbits...small bites of local news

5

protecting your child from traffickers

13

season’s bounty: tomato-mania

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riverfest crabs goes green

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vino: summer lovin

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15 minute city: fred15 initiative Cover: “Handful of Dragonfly” By David C. Kennedy

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Be on the Lookout For blessings in disguise By collette caprara had harbored plans of places we could go, things we could do, and people we could visit when, literally, we were left in the dark. It seemed like one of the worst things that could happen during this much-awaited visit. But we could not foresee the treasured moments that the blackout would bring.

Though we anticipated that those days with our son would surely involve a good amount of screen time and cellphone engagement, without a source of charging power and internet connection, interaction with our computers and gadgets and gizmos was put on hold.

That was replaced with hours spent in close proximity as we huddled around the fireplace in our family room and we all were transformed into our innovative, solution-oriented "best selves." One idea we came up with for a supper that would be memorable was roasting foil-wrapped plant-based sausages over our fireaccomplished with both a sense of humor and pride.

In the midst of the sweltering Dog Days of summer, it might seem odd to be talking about the frigid time we experience in January, but that is a subject that is inescapably on my mind-with a message that Blessings Often Come in Disguise.

The hours spent around the glow of that fire gave rise to memories from our past experiences together and stories we may have never shared as we bustled along in the busy-ness of our lives. Even the darkest hours of the night brought a sense of camaraderie and unity as we retired to our beds wearing ski jackets and wool sherpa hats and cozied into our sleeping bags.

Those candles that were put away in storage once provided our sole source of light, with a bit of a theatrical touch, as they glowed from their positions throughout the kitchen and family room.

And so, the visit that we thought would be lost in the dark days of the loss of all power emerged as one of our most treasured times and a reminder that blessings in disguise may be in store for us all, if we view them through the lens of opportunity.

Collette Caprara is a local writer and artist with Brush Strokes Gallery.

I recently came across a cache of candles in a rarely-opened cupboard, ranging from a group in glass containers with three wicks to a variety of tall candlesticks. That discovery took me back to the Big Storm this winter in which our family lost our power for three days.

This "unfortunate incident" happened just as our son arrived for a rare visit from his home in Japan. All of us

EVERY FRIDAY front porch fredericksburg

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ON THE PORCH Kathleen Harrigan Guest Porch Editorial Contributing Writers & Artists Rita Allan Sally Cooney Anderson Amy Bayne Laurie Black Dianne Bachman Sonja Cantu Tom Conway Collette Caprara Karen Finucan Clarkson Elizabeth Daly Janet Douberly Jenna Elizabeth Edwards Frank Fratoe Bill Freehling Jon Gerlach Micah Golmant Marcia Grimsley Kathleen Harrigan Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks David C. Kennedy Kathleen Lewis Anne-Tilley Melson Ray Mikula Vanessa Moncure Laura Moyer Pete Morelewicz Patrick Neustatter Tammy Ozolins Gerri Reid Paula Raudenbush Rob Rudick Carleigh Starkston Mandy Smith Anne Timpano Rim Vining Tina Will 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 article submissions must be received by e-mail by the 16th & calendar items 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 2022 Front Porch Fredericksburg Magazine All rights reserved.

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wall of honor by kathleen harrigan Can you believe The Front Porch has been bringing Local Good News to the Fredericksburg region since 1997? How many issues have you thumbed through while sipping a cup of coffee, or sitting on your couch? Twenty-five years is a long time to be in the business of community building.

In creating the Front Porch, Rob and Virginia Grogan gave our community more than just a free monthly paper. We received the gift of the voices of our community - the artists, healers, historians, entertainers, and so many more. We learned about new business endeavors, non-profit service organizations, and about ourselves. We were able to see ourselves reflected back to us in this collaborative effort of so many talented people and such a labor of love. As Bill Beck noted "Rob Grogan conceived the idea of a true community based publication that would focus entirely on the things he most enjoyed about his adopted home town. Within a few years, Front Porch became a significant part of the social fabric of Fredericksburg. No other publication has ever come near to offering as much of our local culture…without a trace of unpleasantness. I never heard him utter an unkind word. If he had a fault it was simply that of being too nice."

On the pages of the Front Porch writers have linked the faces of people and organizations we see in our neighborhoods with tales of their back stories, accomplishments, and aspirations.

Their words have helped the Front Porch be a cheerleader for what is good and unique in Fredericksburg.

"People refer to Rob as a 'nonstop cheerleader' for the region, but he was so much more than that. He nutured.

Rob more than just supported artists in the region-he published them. He gave many of us our first byline or photo credit", reflects Sue Henderson. "He strengthened. Rob's infectious energy and enthusiasm for all that was good and unique in Fredericksburg spilled out from the pages of Front Porch and into every interaction. He connected us. Rob was the very definition of communityminded. He quietly led. Perhaps humble to a fault, Rob never wanted the limelight. Rob Grogan contributed to the foundation of the Fredericksburg region by focusing on what made us unique and special. In his every activity, he made people feel special and valuable by treating them like family. He was a rare

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ability to work across socioeconomic lines and support of the greater good and he never missed a chance to build UP Fredericksburg."

Along the journey of the past 25 years, we lost Rob Grogan to cancer in 2014. In considering that loss, Ray Woodruff commented that "We lost our collector, our greatest appreciator…We lost a great connector between a huge number of creative people artists, writers, musicians, foodies. We lost a great appreciator of what this town could create and of what this town is and, most importantly, of what this town could be.

We lost our great believer."

I am proud to announce, that later this year Rob Grogan will be recognized for his contributions to the Fredericksburg community with a plaque on the City of Fredericksburg's Wall of Honor (check back with us in October for ceremony date).

To be in Rob's presence was to be fully seen. His eyes would look straight at yours and his spirit would envelope you.

You couldn't help but be fully present and respond in kind with openness, with thoughtfulness, and hope. I feel this applied to individuals as well as to the community at large. This is not to imply that Rob was a Pollyanna of never seeing where change was needed, when growth needed to be stimulated, or a problem solved. But it is to say he would see it honestly and look upon each of us with love, kindness and a view towards what tomorrow could bring.

In creating the Front Porch with his wife Virginia, Rob brought our community more than just a free monthly paper (although that is significant enough). We received the gift of the voices of our community - the artists, healers, historians, entertainers, and so many more. We learned about new business endeavors, non-profit service organizations, and about ourselves. We were able to see ourselves reflected back to us in this collaborative effort of so many talented people and such a labor of love.

It was in this editorial space that Rob reached out to us as readers and as a community, as Brynn Pacitti remarked, "His love of humanity and particularly his

Fredericksburg community was expressed through his written word monthly, told from a lifetime observing, loving and listening to people from all walks of life, young and old alike. Rob had a keen ability to listen and noticed unique gifts in others. Rob became a voice for these folks and felt a duty to share their words, talents and highlight all that his beloved community members had to offer. Rob's influence profoundly touched Fredericksburg by deepening relationships and connections among its citizens and by encouraging and motivating folks to be their best and share their gifts with others. Rob instilled a culture of sharing 'Local Good News' among the community he loved so much….and his legacy is that folks are still sharing".

I feel there is a link between people and organizations I've met through the Front Porch with those that are recognized on the Wall of Honor.

Fredericksburg is rich with people who have made a difference in remembering our past, improving and enriching our present, and helping us dream and build our future.

Each month I can mute the phone, step away from emails/texts/videos and sit down with my hometown in articles written by our neighbors and friends. I read Front Porch cover to cover each month and find myself meeting new neighbors and learning all the good news about our community.

Kathleen Harrigan came to Fredericksburg to attend UMW and stayed because of the community of people she met. She currently devotes her time to family, volunteering for Empowerhouse, and baking.

Painting of Rob Grogan

by Sue Henderson

Central Virginia Justice Initiative Protecting your older children from sex traffickers by kathleen lewis Traffickers will lure a potential recruit. This can be online or face-to-face. It may be a test to see how far the teen will stray. A party invitation might be during school hours or a request to meet up might be after midnight.

If the teen responds to the request, the trafficker will take it to the next step.

Traffickers will groom their potential recruits. This is the process the trafficker uses to create an emotional attachment, often by initiating a romantic relationship. The trafficker Michele Trampe, Executive Director of may be older or the same age.

Central Virginia Justice Initiative Sometimes a peer belongs to a gang and the peer's role is to romance the potential recruit.

You drilled them about stranger danger, but now they're older. While cases Sometimes the initial contact with the of abduction for the purpose of sex potential recruit pretends to be a friend, trafficking exist, more often a trafficker someone previously recruited by the (pimp) will use the pretense of romance to trafficker. A trafficker may give gifts or supply necessities freely, or alcohol and/or lure and groom a pre-teen or teen. drugs to a teen to create a dependency for the purpose of leverage. This leads to the The key to their safety is prevention next step. and awareness.

Traffickers will hunt online for potential recruits. They'll assume false identities on social media and gaming sites. They'll use personal information shared publically to select a target. Youth who write about their dissatisfactions: parents/guardians, living arrangements, or life, are prime targets. Photos shared publically may prompt a trafficker to respond in the form of a flattering comment, a request for further communication, or a fraudulent job offer.

Traffickers will use coercion, emotional manipulation, threats or violence to gain compliance. "Do this or else." It may be a threat to share photos, videos or secrets with friends or parents.

It may be emotional manipulation tied to the romantic relationship: "If you love me, you'll do this," or, "I'm in a bind and I need money ASAP and this is how you can help."

Shame, threats, fear of or actual violence are tools used by the trafficker to wield power and control.

Learn about human trafficking from the experts and share what you learn with your teens. Don't be afraid to share experiences from your own life when you were vulnerable and someone sought to groom, coerce, or emotionally manipulate you. They'll be more apt to be open about their own experiences.

Central Virginia Justice Initiative (CVJI) is a faith-based, 501(c)(3) operating since 2014 to fight human trafficking in Fredericksburg and surrounding counties through awareness and education. CVJI is a member of Planning District 16 Human Trafficking

Task Force and an advisory member of the Virginia Coalition Against Human Trafficking. Since 2018, CVJI has provided crisis support and case management to adult survivors of human trafficking, transportation to safe housing, emergency supplies-backpacks, and through our partnerships with other non-profits, access to medical, counseling and legal assistance. You can contact us at 1-866620-2889 or JusticeCVA@gmail.com

If your pre-teen or teen is or has experienced sexual assault or sex trafficking, contact our community partner Rappahannock Area Council Against Sexual Assault at 540-371-1666 24/7 to talk with someone.

Central Virginia Justice Initiative is hosting Fundraiser for Hope at 7 p.m. on Sept. 16 at the Fredericksburg Country Club. See our website events page for more information and a link to register. https://www.centralvajusticeinitiative.com /events

Kathleen Lewis is the Communications Director of CVJI and a resident of Spotsylvania.

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Riverfest Crabs Going Green Friends of the Rappahannock annual event eco-friendly Carleigh Starkston This September, Friends of the Rappahannock (FOR) is doing everything but dying the crabs green to promote their eco-friendly initiative to reduce waste at their Crab Feast fundraiser extravaganza.

For those not familiar with the classic Fredericksburg area event, Rappahannock Riverfest is Friends of the Rappahannock's annual fundraiser for the river. Riverfest is a large gathering where "all-you-can-eat crabs'' are not the only highlight. With live music, live auction, raffle, delicious food and a great cause, this fundraiser provides much needed funding for the organization to operate throughout the year. It also provides a platform for FOR to gather with the community and celebrate the past year's work done to restore and preserve the Rappahannock.

Every year, this "All-You-Can-Eat Crabs" event is 'sold out' enticing the whole Fredericksburg region into supporting the Rappahannock River. With 1400 people in attendance, FOR noticed

that the amount of waste created from cups, dishware, and cutlery is excessive.

"It's been a goal for us to turn Riverfest into a sustainable event for many years," Development Coordinator Lis Heras shared. "Unfortunately our plans to implement this initiative in 2020 and 2021 got pushed due to the change in format during the pandemic. We are thrilled to finally be returning to an inperson Riverfest AND making these very necessary changes."

This year the organization is asking for specific "Green Sponsors'' who will support covering the costs of purchasing reusable and recyclable cups, compostable dishes, biodegradable napkins and reusable holders and more which will reduce their waste by almost 90%.

The river friends hope to use the opportunity to showcase how easy it is to make events, both small and large-scale, eco-friendly. They also plan to have education throughout the event

explaining the initiative and sharing the importance of keeping plastic, styrofoam and other waste from being disposed of and potentially getting into the Rappahannock.

This year, the event will be taking place on September 17th from 3 - 7 pm at City Dock and the adjacent Riverfront Property at 133 Sophia Street.

If you are interested in attending, event tickets are available NOW! Visit event.gives/riverfest22/ Interested in sponsoring or being a Green Sponsor?

Visit riverfriends.org/riverfest-sponsorship/ or email Lis Heras at elisabeth.heras@riverfriends.org Carleigh Starkston is the Communication Coordinator at the FOR

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Tomatoes Sweet Corn Watermelons Cantaloupes Free Range Eggs Snead’s Farm Honey Sunflowers Peaches 10 mi. S.E. of downtown on right side of Rt. 17

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August 2022

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Open 9-6 Daily 540/371-9328 www.sneadsfarm.com fb@sneadsfarm

Everything Greens our friend the dandelion

By Micah golmant Dean’s Plastering Services Plaster, Stucco, Drywall, Art 540.656.2399 540.419.8878 luckyluckydean@aol.com

Latin Name: Taraxacum officinale Common Name: Dandelion Plant Family: Asteraceae Do you love fresh food and hate mowing your lawn? Our friend the dandelion can offer you a tasty treat.

Dandelions get their name from the French Dent-de-Leon, or Lion's Tooth, due to the shape of the leaves. Dandelions are native to the Northern Hemisphere.

Though North America has its own native species, the most common cultivar we see today was brought from Europe on the Mayflower. Dandelions love disturbed soil and will grow just about anywhere, from sidewalk cracks to a well-manicured flower bed.

Dandelions are taproots, which means that they are particularly good at rooting down deep and breaking up compact earth. If you have clay in your yard, dandelions can be a great help as

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they aerate the soil and help make way for more tender-rooted plants.

Dandelions have many culinary uses! Dandelion leaves can be harvested any time in the growing cycle and are somewhat bitter. You can eat them in a salad, but they also make an excellent pesto. Green flower buds may be pickled like a caper. Mature flowers can be used as tea, made into jelly/jam (see recipe), infused into vinegars, eaten whole, or fermented into wine!

Blooming flowers are best picked early in the morning just after they open and are slightly sweet and floral.

Dandelion roots may be roasted and ground to be used as a coffee substitute.

They were also once used as a basis for root beer!

fridge for 24 hours.

2. Strain the tea. At this point it may smell a bit grassy, but don't worry - this aroma will transform into something sweet and honey-like once cooked!

3. Mix your dandelion tea with 2 Tbsp lemon juice and a pouch of powdered pectin and bring mixture to a boil.

4. Once boiling, add 3.5 cups of sugar and stir until dissolved. Boil for 1-2 minutes and then remove from the heat.

5. When mixture has cooled slightly, pour into canning jars and process in a water bath or simply place in the refrigerator for immediate use.

Micah Golmant is an intern and volunteer at Downtown Greens Community Greenspace.

NOTE: as with any wild-harvested plant, make sure that you are harvesting dandelions from an area away from main roadways or pet waste and free of chemical use, such as pesticides or herbicides. Your untouched backyard is a great place to look!

Dandelion Jelly Ingredients: 2 cups dandelion blooms, green parts removed 3.5 cups sugar 2 Tbsp lemon juice 1 pouch pectin

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1. Make dandelion tea by steeping 2 cups of cleaned dandelion flowers in 4 cups of boiling water. Cover, and let steep in the

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In the Garden water wise landscapes By tina will supply. But predictions may or may not come true, and although late Summer and Fall can be very dry, Winter and early Spring weather can relieve that.

Water bills can get high this time of year. No, kidding! What we need are some good strategies, and advice on plant choice and placement to lessen the amount of water needed, and lessen the chore of watering as well.

We live in the East, but we've all heard about serious drought and diminishing water supply in western states. I keep wondering if it will ever get that bad here. I don't think so unless the demands of the increasing population diminish our reservoirs and ground water

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We can adapt our plant choice and landscape design now before there is a serious need. Native plant choices are the first things to promote because their water needs are better suited to this climate. Cedell Brooks Jr. Native Plant Demonstration Garden in King George County has a fine collection and design to help educate us all, and prove that native plant choices do well here. There you will find wellestablished plantings (all native plant species) that have filled the large areas and hillside that is much improved with these plants.

Yaupon Holly, Baptisia, Sweet Pepperbush, St. Johnswort, and Fragrant Sumac are just five of the many great choices you can see on an easy Sunday afternoon visit. Master Gardeners Alvin Calhoun and Mary Ellen Green and their crew deserve thanks for their dedication and hard work since this plan was adopted in 2018. There are many lovely native plant choices at nearby garden centers. Meadow Farms has thoughtfully grouped many Native Perennials together to make it easier.

Lawns, even small ones, are still popular, and many of us want to keep at least a small one. They are considered

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'thirsty' for water, and no species of lawn grasses are well suited to this climate.

Where possible, VCE advice is to enlarge shrub and perennial borders (which can be done slowly), or consider using a 'hardscape' solution like the patio of a restaurant downtown that invites one to be outdoors.

fast, can fill an area between houses, and casts light and airy shade in the process.

Enlarging the area adds interest and reduces some of the lawn. Mulching landscaped areas (not tree trunks!) keeps the moisture from evaporating quickly, and keeps soil temperatures cooler. Other native small tree choices at Cedell include Buttonbush, Fringetree, and Sweet Bay Magnolia. There are many others; consider Redbud, Amur Maple, and Paperbark Maple. These and several others are visible at Cossey Botanical Park which is adjacent to the Fredericksburg Dog Park in downtown Fredericksburg.

If you enjoy volunteer work, and want to learn more about plants and where and how to plant them, call the VCE office soon (540-658-8000) and get your name on the Master Gardener Fall class list. There is a fee, and the class starts right after Labor Day meeting Tuesday and Thursday mornings until just before Thanksgiving.

Come join us; there's lots to learn!

The multi-stemmed River Birch is just one of many smaller trees that grows

Tina Will is a Master Gardener and lives in Stafford County.

She can be reached at brianandtina.will@gmail.com photos by Tina Will

Growing & Crawling don’t weed out the poke By janet douberly We've all seen it. Growing in fields and along roadsides, American Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) has been in our scenery all of our lives.

Native to almost all of North America, Pokeweed (or pokeplant, poke sallet, inkberry, pokeberry) is only edible as a new plant, when it is 6" or shorter, and only after it has been boiled to remove the toxins it develops as it grows.

During this stage, this temporary edible is a good source of protein, fat, and carbohydrates. But caution is needed, for after it leaves its edible stage the entire plant, from tuber to berry, is poisonous and will cause extreme gastrointestinal distress and even death on rare occasions.

Knowing all of that, one might think the pokeweed doesn't really belong in a garden or yard, and if one has small children, that argument is sound, but there are many reasons to keep pokeweed growing when you find it!

Beyond culinary interest for humans, this plant is an important source

of food for some of our native birds, including mockingbirds, northern cardinals, catbirds and mourning doves, to name a few. It's such a popular snack that one of the old names for this plant is Pigeonberry.

On top of being great for our wildlife the berries have been used for centuries as a very beautiful and intense fuchsia dye. In fact, "phytolacca" means "red dye plant".

Janet Douberly is a very beautiful and intense employee at Downtown Greens.

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“I Have A Friend” celebrating friendship: bonnie & gil

By Laurie Black Program, "I thought the program offered a good way to meet seniors in my community who would be interested in making new friends. I enjoy meeting new people and sharing time together."

Bonnie started volunteering with her new friend, Gil, in January of this year. "Gil is such a sweetheart. He is a great conversationalist, shares very interesting stories, and has a beautiful smile."

Bonnie also says of volunteering, "[I appreciate] how much enjoyment I get from volunteering and the kindness of the people I have met."

In 1935 the United States Congress pronounced the first Sunday in August to be designated National Friendship Day. This year the holiday falls on August 7th.

At Mental Health America of Fredericksburg's Senior Visitors Program, we love to celebrate friendship every day!

However, we cannot pass up the opportunity to recognize some special friends - our volunteers - whose kindness and friendship make such a positive difference in our community. Our volunteers are our program. Our volunteers are college students, couples, working professionals, recently retired, young adults, active older adults, and so on. The thing they all have in common is a desire to give back to the older adults in their community.

Though our volunteers are only asked to give an hour a week visiting an older adult, they often go beyond that in both time and compassion. Volunteers offer a listening ear, encouragement, someone to laugh with, perhaps someone to go for a walk or a drive with, and so much more. Volunteers offer friendship.

August 2022

If you know a senior who could benefit from having a weekly, friendly visit or if you would like to volunteer to visit a senior, call the Senior Visitors Program at (540) 371-2 2704 or visit our website at mhafred.org to download volunteer or senior applications. The Senior Visitors Program is a free community service program of Mental Health America of Fredericksburg.

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Gil says of Bonnie, "She's good people. She is very friendly. I don't get a lot of visitors, so she is a godsend. We call and check on each other. I just like her and like her company. I also got to meet her husband and he is real nice, too."

Recently, Bonnie helped Gil celebrate his birthday. Gil, chuckled as he explained, "I can only have baked things in moderation, but Bonnie brought me a little coconut cake which is my favorite.

She's real good to me."

Bonnie and Gil are just one example of how friendship can enrich and brighten our lives. A smile, a kind word, and a listening ear may seem like small things, but they can make a huge difference to both the giver and the receiver.

Donate to a Cancer Organization Let’s Find a Cure!

I hope as you celebrate National Friendship Day, you will be able to honor all the wonderful friends in your life.

Perhaps you can also celebrate by reaching out and forging new friendships.

One of our volunteers, Bonnie Newcomb, says of her volunteer experience with the Senior Visitors

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Laurie Black is the Senior Visitors Program Coordinator at Mental Health America of Fredericksburg.

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Authentic Self-Care! back to school By anne-Tillery Melson The new school year is fast approaching, which feels hard to believe.

The back-to-school season is often challenging for various reasons for students, families, and school staff. Not to mention during a pandemic that is still happening! To protect our mental health during this transition, self-care - and knowing how to care for others - is more important than ever.

Mental Health America publishes a Back to School Toolkit every year with useful resources and information for students, parents, and teachers. At the time I am writing this, the 2022 toolkit has not yet been released, but you can view previous years' toolkits at MHAnational.org/back2school.

Our country is experiencing a mental health crisis. Most alarmingly, rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among youth ages 11-17 continue to increase. Especially in times of

transition such as the return to school, it is crucial that adults and youth stay educated and watch for signs of mental health challenges.

In my role at Mental Health America of Fredericksburg, I offer free presentations to schools and other youth organizations about the signs of mental health conditions (including suicide) and how to get help for someone you know.

Presentations are available for students, school staff, and parents. I believe that knowing what the red (or even yellow) flags are can be essential to saving someone's life.

Across multiple mental health conditions, these are some of the common signs and symptoms* to look out for: Problems with concentration, memory, or ability to think clearly Changes in appetite Feeling sad, empty, hopeless, or worthless Loss of interest in things that they used to enjoy Excessive worry Irritability or restlessness Changes in sleep Angry outbursts Not wanting to be around people or take part in activities *Borrowed from MHA 2020 Back to School Toolkit

that they need help. Free and confidential mental health screenings are available online at MHAScreening.org, where MHA suggests next steps based on your responses.

If there are serious signs that someone you know may be considering suicide or harming others, get help immediately. Call or text 988, the suicide and crisis lifeline If you are looking for a local mental health provider or want to learn more about MHAfred's programs, call Mental Health America of Fredericksburg at (540) 371-2704 or visit our website at mhafred.org.

Anne-Tillery Melson is the Suicide Prevention Education Coordinator at Mental Health America of Fredericksburg.

Back to School toolkits MHAnational.org/back2school Mental Health Screenings MHAScreening.org Mental Health America of Fredericksburg (540) 371-2 2704 visit our website at mhafred.org.

If you notice that someone you know is showing these signs, it could mean front porch fredericksburg

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TidBits

Become a Member

small bites of local News

By Bill Freehling VRE Free Fare September Virginia Railway Express (VRE) passengers will ride free during September

www.fredericksburgcsa.com

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

Gaye Adegbalola Featured in Living Blues Magazine Fredericksburg music legend Gaye Adegbalola is on the cover of the July issue of Living Blues magazine.

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

Serving Up Local “Good” News For a Quarter Century

Anytime Fitness Opening at Downtown FXBG Project An Anytime Fitness location will open inside one of the buildings currently being constructed at the former Free Lance-Star property in downtown Fredericksburg.

The gym will open in a 6,432square-foot location in the Amelia House building at the corner of Amelia Street and Washington Avenue. It will be open to apartment renters in the complex, guests of the adjacent hotel along Washington Avenue, and the general public. William Foxx, who will own and operate the Anytime Fitness location, said he hopes to have the facility open sometime in early 2023.

Water's End Brewery opening at Fredericksburg Square Now Open every Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Step 1 of the opening process has started! Serving Water's End Beer. .

Step 2 will be announced to you all as soon as we can!

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August 2022

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.A fare-free September is also VRE's way of saying thanks to those passengers who have stuck with us through the pandemic," said VRE Operations Board Chair Margaret Franklin, "and it's a wonderful way to celebrate VRE's 30thanniversary."

Summer Restaurant Week Now through August 7th, Fredericksburg will hold its Summer 2022 Restaurant Week. More than 30 restaurants are participating this year, including some newcomers.

Many restaurants offer a threecourse menu with pre-fixed options, or a featured dish or cocktail for a special price (normally ending in .22, for the year 2022). Many restaurants also feature a takeout option. Also, in addition to restaurants, other businesses such as bakeries, breweries, coffee shops and specialty food shops are participating.

Follow VisitFXBG on Facebook to stay up to date

Itty Bitty City Contest Now Under Way The annual Itty Bitty City scavenger hunt features small-detail photos that require the participant to search every nook and cranny of downtown Fredericksburg to find the itty bitty details that make up this great city.

This scavenger hunt through downtown Fredericksburg is a great way to appreciate all of the architectural details that span four centuries, and prizes are offered to the winners. Pick up an Itty Bitty City form at the FXBG Visitor Center (706 Caroline St.)

FXBG gets $1.2M Grant for Riverfront Park Stage, Bathrooms The City of Fredericksburg has received a $1.2 million federal grant to help construct a performance stage and restrooms at the recently opened Riverfront Park downtown.

The $1.2 million federal grant will be matched with $300,000 in local funds. Riverfront Park, which is between Sophia Street and the Rappahannock River, was designed with a future stage and restrooms in mind. Plumbing and electrical connections are already in place where the stage and restrooms will be installed. (rendering below)

Germanna President Named One of Top Leaders Virginia Business magazine has named Germanna Community College President Dr. Janet Gullickson as one of Virginia's top female leaders.

Gullickson is featured in the magazine's July issue on 2022 Women's Business Leaders. The honor came on the fifth anniversary of her becoming Germanna's first female president.

Read the profile in Virginia Business. Congrats to Dr. Gullickson!

Bill Freehling, Fredericksburg's director of economic development and tourism

The Sunken Well Tavern

Season’s Bounty tomato-mania vanessa moncure

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

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

The Fourth of July is the gardener's goal for the first ripe tomato of the season. I should have guessed that this year would be extraordinarily bounteous as I picked the first ripe fruit on the first of July. The next day? Three red globes.

Then they began to arrive exponentially.

Suddenly my little garden sprouted like Jack-and -the -tomato-stalk. The tomato plants grew over their once-tidy rows, began towering over me in height and the weight of the massed fruit wrenched the plants from their sturdy metal cages - I began having to harvest by crawling under the tomato jungle. By the end of July, filled five-gallon buckets began lining the kitchen, waiting to be processed. The Romas cooked into sauces, or canned whole. The Better Boys and Mortgage Lifters chopped for salads, cold and hot soups and juiced. And the pink, low-acid heirloom German Johnson saved for slicing, and as an accompaniment for each meal. The Yellow Pear, Purple Cherokee, Green Zebra and German Stripe were planted for salad color and contrast. One tomato variety we don't need to plant cherry tomatoes our are annual volunteers in the compost pile or garden corners and probably the most prolific of all tomatoes - and they continue producing into early Fall.

If you don't have a garden, it's easy to eke one out in a small space by building a raised bed or planting in containers. If planting seeds, you have to plan ahead - usually planting them in a rich potting soil in February, then hardening them in a cold frame until they're ready to be planted outdoors after the danger of frost has passed, usually May 1-15. Alternatively, locally or commercially grown plant varieties can be found at hardware stores or the Farmer's Market, ready to go in the ground. And don't forget your basil! It's the Ying to tomato's Yang and grows well planted with tomatoes.

BASIL Try this delicious MAYONNAISE - with just three ingredients, it's a cinch to make - I usually keep it on hand in the summer, during fresh basil season. I love it on ALT (avocado, lettuce and tomato) sandwiches and daubed on tomato slices as a side dish. Remove about ½ cup basil leaves from the stem, stack and roll them and slice in a chiffonade.

Fold into 1 cup mayonnaise (not salad dressing) and 1 tsp. lemon juice. Store

covered in the refrigerator about three days, if it lasts that long!

Try the ultimate summer cold soup - GAZPACHO. Into a large glass or china bowl, stir together: two peeled and chopped cucumbers; four peeled and diced tomatoes; two green peppers, diced; 2-3 finely minced cloves of garlic; one medium onion, diced; tops of two green onions, sliced; 2T minced parsley. Stir in at least 32 oz. spicy Bloody Mary mix, ¼ cup olive oil, 2T red wine vinegar and S&P to taste.

Refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving. For garnish: mix together 1 cup sour cream with 1 tsp. cayenne pepper (or to taste) and dollop a tablespoon or so on top of the soup. Cut a few chives and sprinkle on the sour cream.

Juicy summer tomatoes are a must-have for a TOMATO PIE. Preheat oven to 375F. Start by greasing a 10" deep dish pie pan or square 9" pan. Line bottom and sides with a 2 cup recipe of Bisquick biscuit mix (or homemade version). Mix together 4-5 cups peeled chopped tomatoes with ½ tsp. garlic powder and S&P. Pour over biscuit dough. Top with a mixture of 1 cup mayonnaise, 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 2T lemon juice, 1 tsp. garlic powder and S&P, spreading to the edges. Bake about 40 minutes or till brown and bubbly.

S&P to taste. Cut out the stem ends of four large tomatoes and fill with spinach mixture. Mix together 1-2 cloves finely minced garlic cloves with 1 ½ cups fresh bread crumbs, S&P and enough melted butter to lightly bind. Sprinkle over the spinach mixture. Place tomatoes in a deep buttered pan and bake about 20 minutes, until the crumbs are golden brown and the tomatoes begin to split. Yum!

Vanessa Moncure provides recipes & useful tidbits for every season

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Try BAKED TOMATOES with grilled steak and corn on the cob. Preheat oven to 400F. Defrost 2 cups frozen spinach, then squeeze out excess moisture.

Mix with ½ cup feta cheese crumbles, 1 beaten egg, 2-3 cloves finely minced garlic, 2 sliced green onions, 4T melted butter, front porch fredericksburg

August 2022

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Olde Towne Butcher Traditional Butchery - Fresh Perspective

Clean, local, sustainable, humane foods prepared fresh.

Better for you and your family, better for our planet, better for local economy, better food!

401 William St - Fredericksburg 540-370-4105 - OldeTowneButcher.com

Our Store is Open

320 Emancipation Hwy fxbgfoodcoop@gmail.com fredericksburgfoodcoop.com

Open every Sat 7am-2 2pm Rain/Shine @Hurkamp Park masks & gloves recommended 14

August 2022

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Vino

Join Us for Breakfast Now Serving Lunch $6 Weekday Lunch Specials 11am - 2pm Daily

summer lovin

by Rita Allan

540-373-8300 ~ 620 Caroline St. FXBG, VA

Join Us on the Rooftop for Chill VIbes, Tasty Eats, & Cold Drinks

314 William St..656-2500..fb@vivifyburger..vivifyburger.com

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

540-898-0737

Have you ever heard the phrase "money doesn't grow on trees"? If you would have asked the Mayans and the Aztecs back in 250 AD, they would have said, "Yes, it does!" The cocoa bean was their form of currency, and only the upper class could afford to drink their money.

What they discovered then is what we still love about chocolate today, Its perceived ability to increase stamina, endurance, mood, romantic arousals … LUST! The commercialization of chocolate started as machine manufacturing improvements were developed. In 1861, Richard Cadbury pioneered heart shaped boxes. In 1907, Milton Hershey manufactured teardropped shaped chocolates "kisses", so named by the sound of the machine dropping the chocolate on the belt. .

Chocolate was in the hands of the masses and was no longer the luxury item it once was. So why not give in to your chocolate desires and pair them with the 2017 Michael David Winery Lust Zinfandel from Lodi, California?

It is August, where you might not be thinking about chocolate melting all over your fingers because of the heat.

Maybe you just want to reminisce about summer love? Loving that awesome bottle of wine?

Starting with 2020 Evolúció Tokaj Furmint, from Hungary. The label is adorable with two birds sitting together on a tree branch. This dry, crisp wine has flavors of zesty mandarin, grapefruit, lemon, and lime, with scents of honeycomb and jasmine. And what could be sexier than pairing this with your raw oysters and sushi?

Shop Local Welcome to Downtown Fredericksburg’s Main Street District fredericksburgdowntown.org

Maybe you are attracted to the 2021 Carol Shelton Wild Thing Dry Rendezvous Rosé, from Mendocino County, California to make your heart sing? Groovy! It is going to tease you with 80 percent Zinfandel and 20 percent

Carignane. Fun trivia for you: It will get your juices going, with its strawberrywatermelon aromas with spring flowers and fresh citrus zest. It is refreshingly crisp and dry, with flavors of red fruits and candied cherries.

Love can be so powerful that it would cause you to be poured over, because it is just so 2020, the 2020 Thistledown Wines Gorgeous Grenache Old Vine No. 1 Small Batch, from South Australia, Australia. Now, this 100 percent Grenache will get you to stand up and be noticed, as its fragrant bouquet of violets greets your nose, followed by a flurry of red fruits. On the palate, a mix of red and blue fruits, strawberry, red cherry, black plum, blackberry, white pepper. Midpalate, it has a soft note of vanilla and cedar, with a touch of earth and spices.

Tannins are coarse, and when coupled with big fruit, the wine brings a mediumplus body, which is balanced with acidity, and gives pleasant finish.

Watch out for the last one of these wines, because the 2019 The Grateful Palate Southern Belle Precious, from Jumilla, Spain, will just steal your heart away. This one has many layers to explore, starting with aromas of violets, blackberry, blueberry, and black cherry.

Working down the flavors, you will experience caramel, burnt sugar, vanilla, fresh organic cream, pepper, and toasty wood aromas that flow to the palate.

Secondary and tertiary flavors include chocolate, tobacco, cedar, cola, leather, and smoke. This wine has silky tannins and a full body. It has a gentle power, a precision for richness, and a structure with a beacon of acid that keeps the focus.

Regardless of how much you enjoy the chocolate, we are sure you will truly LUST for these wines! Cheers!

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

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August 2022

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CALEND august 2022...Dog Days Are Here! Stay Cool!

Monday August 1

Calling all foodies - enjoy the best week of the summer.....Summer Restaurant Week. Experience the Fredericksburg food scene by enjoying special deals on breakfast, lunch, dinner and treats. Restaurant Week they August 8 FXBG Agricultural Fair, thru Aug 7, Join us in celebrating traditional fair events, contests, entertainment, motorsports, food

Live Music Skinny Wallace classic rock, country band Smokehouse, 623 Caroline St , 7-11p

@Billliken's

Live Music CFB Trio @Brocks, 503 Sophia St, 7-10p

Saturday August 6

Farmers Market, Hurkamp Park,7a-2p, home grown, homemade, or hand baked goods sold Bowling Green Farmers Market 9am-1pm 211 N Main .

Downtown Greens Yoga in The Garden 6p - Every Monday

Spotsy Farmers Market season: 8am - 1pm Location:12150 Gordon Rd

Music on the Steps, Angela Easterling DuoCRRL Main Branch, 7p

Master Gardeners Plant Clinic, Gordon Road Farmers Market

Tuesday August 2

Petsmart Massaponax Adoption Event, 11a-2p, .

Ladies, Come on out and play trivia! Strangways Brewing, 390 Lansdowne Rd Let's have fun and enjoy each other's company , 6-8P

Monthly Fun Astrology Workshop 2 to 4 pm. 540-845-7622 to register

FXBG Writers Community a group focused on reading our creative writing out loud and enjoying the company of other artists and writers in the area. all kinds of writers & artists Welcome come and share whatever you have to share. Barnes & Noble, Central Park, 7p

VA Black Business Expo, Fxbg Expo Center

Wednesday August 3

PAWS For Reading, Practice your reading with therapy dogs trained to be avid listeners. Grades K-6. , CRRL Salem Church Branch, 2:30- 4p

Join us for a Happy Hour event featuring Cigars, Bourbon, Beer, BBQ and Live Music!!!!! Billikens Smokehouse, 6-9p Trivia Night, Sunken Well at 6:30pm Match wits with the 'Burgs finest minds. Prize! 720 Littlepage

Live Music Adventure Stock'22, Free Music ALL DAY!!1-11p Amazing Food Trucks and even better BEER!, Adventure brewing North

Live Music, bOn at 6BG band brings its signature soul sound , -9p, 1140 International Pkwy

Thursday August 11

Elsewhere: Works by Rachael Hodge, 6-9p

Italian Station Paint Night Spend a with coffee and treats. Hosted by Ar Full Moon Paddle an evening Paddle Lynch. 7-9:30 P includes glow sticks

Friday August 12

Sculptors by Jan Elmore, Artist Alli Beach Live Music SFR Aciustic @Courtyard Sounds of Summer, Acoustic Onion

Saturday August 13

Farmers Market, Hurkamp Park,7a-2

Bowling Green Farmers Market 9am

Spotsy Farmers Market 8am - 1pm L

Master Gardeners Plant Clinic, Gord

Adventure Brewing North 5th Annu

Live Music, Spanglish Latin American in King George- free entry

Jeopardy nights at Adventure Eagle Village 7:30 pm.

Tax Free Weekend Women & Kids Show career opportunities, women's health, children's health, products for women and kids, enrichment programs for children Spotsylvania Towne Center r10a-9p

Thurday August 4

FXBG Jaz Jam, Colonial Tavern 406 Lafayette Blvd, 7p

Live Music, Suck It Summer Heat, KC

Live Music TJB@ Cowboy Jacks, 2312 Plank Rd, 7-10p

Sunday August 14

Youth Mental First Aid Training, teaches how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders in youth. 9a-3p, Rapp Area Service Board, 600 Jackson St Guest Bartendar Event Rebellion Bourbon Bar & Kitchen for a night of fun & charity!! We'll have local celebrity Guest Bartenders slinging Titos Speciality Cocktails in support of Gwyneth's Gift Foundation 5-9pm.

Sunday August 7

Live MusicVollten @ Adventure Brew

Sunken Well Tavern Sunday Brunch,

Friendship Day

Sunday Brunch @ Billiken's Smokeho

Sunken Well Tavern Sunday Brunch, Dine-In, . 720 Littlepage til 1p

Bluegrass on the Patio, Sunken Well

Live Music Robert Keelin@fxbG Food Co-OP, 6-7:30p, 320 Emancipation

Sunday Brunch @ Billiken's Smokehouse @The Chimneys, 623 Caroline

First Friday August 5

Bluegrass on the Patio, Sunken Well Tavern 6-8pm

Downtown Greens Join us in the u Garden - 10:30am;

Sip & Stroll Grab a drink from your favorite participating restaurant and take a stroll as you check out all the different things happening on First Friday. From gallery shows to Open Late retailers, street performers to art activities a night to celebrate art, community, and all the things that make the City of Fredericksburg so special.

Summer Slash, All Member Show Brush Strokes Gallery, 824 Caroline St FCCA Gallery, Carles Drake Moore, ikn Members Gallery, Artist Choice Regional Exhibit, 813 Sophia St Sounda of Summer, Riptise, Market Square Art First, featured Artist Nicole Myers, opening reception, 6-8p, 824 Caroline ST

Downtown Greens upper garden Storytime in the Garden - 10:30am;

FXBG Greater Virginia Bridal Show de visit the area's premier wedding ven

Monday August 8

Monday August 15

Possum Storytime, at Possum-bilities , stories animal experience & fun crafts. , 211 WILLIAM St, 10-11a Downtown Greens Yoga in The Garden 6p Live Music Spanglish Latin American Band Music on the Steps, CRRL Downtown

Tuesday August 9

Join Sip & Script® for a Night of Learning Calligraphy! Duly Noted enjoy a night of stationery and pretty lettering! , 714 Caroline St, 6-7:30p

Delana Anderson, featured Artist Darbytown Art Studio

Wednesday August 10

Live Music Spanglish Latin American Band in Lake Anna 7-9pm at Pleasant's Landing

Jeopardy nights at Adventure Eagle Village 7:30 p.

Become a Friend Advocate ~ Donate ~ Volunteer

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

August 2022

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Trivia Night, Sunken Well at 6:30pm 720 Littlepage

Golf Tournament - Fawn Lake-Brisbe

Downtown Greens Yoga in The Gard

Wednesday August 17

Trivia Night, Sunken Well at 6:30pm Jeopardy nights at Adventure Eagle

Thursday, August 18

FXBG Concert Band performs "Distra admission, public invited. or www.fr

Friday August 19th

Red Cross Blood Drive, American Leg

DAR of events Sunken Well Tavern, 720 Littlepage,

a relaxing evening painting pictures rt By Meech,

along the with River Steward Adam &s nightlife animals , City Dock Park ance, 5-9p, 100 Taylor St, Colonial Marriott FXBG, 6-9p Market Square, 6p

2p,

m-1pm 211 N Main .

Location:12150 Gordon Rd on Road Farmers Market al Car Show, 9a-3p

n Band duo White Hall Estate Winery

wing North, 6-9p

C Music Alley Station, 4p

, 720 Littlepage til 1p

ouse @The Chimneys, 623 Caroline Tavern 6-8pm

upper garden for Storytime in the

emos, vendor displays, try products, ndors, and designer fashion show

3rd Fri Latin Night at Curtiba Art Cafe- Spanglish Latin American Band

Spotsy Farmers Market 8am - 1pm Location:12150 Gordon Rd

Sounds of Summer, ELBY Brass, Market Square, 6p

Master Gardeners Plant Clinic, Gordon Road Farmers Market

Saturday August 20

Night of 1000 Pies to benefit Empowerhouse,

Art in the Park, Hurkamp Park, 9a-1p Farmers Market, Hurkamp Park,7a-2p, Bowling Green Farmers Market 9am-1pm 211 N Main St. Spotsy Farmers Market 8am - 1pm 12150 Gordon Rd Master Gardeners Plant Clinic, Gordon Road Farmers Market

VA Bourbon & Beer Festival, 4-6p, Fxbg Fairgrounds

Sunday Brunch @ Billiken's Smokehouse @The Chimneys, 623 Caroline

RappArts PorchFest on Winchester and Fauquier St.outdoor music into local neighborhoods for all to enjoy in a low-cost, casual, family-oriented manner. 10a-4p

Bluegrass on the Patio, Sunken Well Tavern 6-8pm

Sunday August 21

Sunken Well Tavern Sunday Brunch, 720 Littlepage til 1p Sunday Brunch @ Billiken's Smokehouse @The Chimneys, 623 Caroline Bluegrass on the Patio, Sunken Well Tavern 6-8pm Downtown Greens upper garden Storytime in the Garden - 10:30am;

Sunken Well Tavern Sunday Brunch, 720 Littlepage til 1p

Downtown Greens Join us in the upper garden for…Storytime in the Garden - 10:30am; Woodland Hike at Gerri Melchers Home & Studio, Conducted by Virginia Master Naturalists, informative walks cover a mile of trails in woodlands and fields and also touch onthe historic ruins of Belmont's past. 2-3pm. meet outside the Visitor Center

Casey's Crab Fest Music, Fun and Crabs , 622 Kenmore Ave, 3-5p

Join Personal Chef, Allan Fisher, as we explore the art of Sushi making! , Kimman's, 1004 Caroline St, noon -2p

Monday August 22

Monday August 29

Downtown Greens Yoga in The Garden 6p - Every Monday

Downtown Greens Yoga in The Garden 6p - Every Monday

Music on the Steps, Harry Wilson Quartet, CRRL Main, 7-8p

Music on the Steps, CRRL Fxbg Branch, 7-8p

Tuesday August 23

Wednesday August 31

Grow a flower and enter it in a contest for fun! Flowers will be judged

by Master Gardeners, and ribbons will be awarded. All are invited to come see the flowers on display. All ages , 9a-8p

Wednesday August 24

Trivia Night, Sunken Well at 6:30pm Match wits with the 'Burgs finest minds. Prize! 720 Littlepage Jeopardy nights at Adventure Eagle Village, 7:30p

Trivia Night, Sunken Well at 6:30pm Prize! 720 Littlepage Jeopardy nights at Adventure Eagle Village 7:30 pm. .

den 6p

Thursday August 25

FXBG Blues Society Jam , 7p Colonial Tavern, 4406 Lafayette Blvd

actions" at 7pm Hurkamp Park. Free redericksburgconcertband.org.

Live Music TJB@Cowboy Jacks,

Sunday August 28

FXBG Nationals vs. Down East Wood Ducks , 7p Nationals Stadium

Village 7:30 pm.

Swing Dance @DanceFXBG, 902 Caroline St, 7:30-11p

Author J. Lawrence Matthews FXBG Central Park Barnes & Noble to sign copies of his gripping historical fiction novel, “One Must Tell the Bees , 10a-5p

en Center Invitational

m 720 Littlepage

GRUB Fest, Fxbg Fairgrounds amazing day of Craft Beer & Sprecialty Foods open at 11 a Taste samples of top dishes from Fxbg area Food Trucks and Restaurants.Unlimited beer samples from National, Regional and Local breweries, local vendors and much more

Friday August 26

Sounds of Summer, Major League, Market Square, 6p Live Music Metal Night @KC's Musisc Alley at Central Station 1917 Princess Anne St, 7:30p

If you are reading this 301st issue of FPF, thank an advertiser as we begin our 26th year of continuous publication!

List your events email frntprch@aol.com: subject Calendar Deadline for September 2022 issue is August 19th.

Saturday August 27

Farmers Market, Hurkamp Park,7a-2p, T

gion Post 55, 461 Woodford, 9a-1p

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

Bowling Green Farmers Market 9am-1pm 211 N Main St.

Open every Sat 7a-2 2p Rain/Shine @Hurkamp Park

Dog Walking Pet Sitting Companion Play Time & Mini Furies, Too!

540-735-8228 On facebook as “City PetSitting” front porch fredericksburg

August 2022

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history’s stories

Artifact

By Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks

August 2022

Embry Power Station By jon gerlach

I grew up with the term ARTIFACT. I was always collecting something at an early age such as rocks, marbles, arrow heads and civil war relics. When I was a teenager in the 1950's, I was into relic hunting for Civil War items. I was told that I had one of the biggest Civil War artifact collections in the area. Today there are many large collections locally and nationwide.

Artifact by definition is an object made by a human being that includes tools, art and clothing at a certain time and place. A shard of broken pottery or a glass item can also be in the definition.

Artifacts are useful to Archaeologists and scholars trying to study and learn about the past. Many of our ancient cultures did not have a written record of their past.

I am amazed at times when we try to learn about events that occurred in our lifetime which is less than a hundred years. Recently my friend Jeff Scott was asking about researching his father's bakery SCOTTY'S that existed in the 1960's. I am often frustrated how difficult it can be to research something that occurred in our lifetime, much less hundreds of years in the past. We are fortunate with all the electronic files on the internet and in our City library. With research of old business directories and tax files I was able to find references to the history of the bakery and it is still a work in progress. Fredericksburg is unique in that we have individuals that are interested in the history of the city and the adjacent areas especially the historic attractions related to colonial history and the Civil War with four major battles having taken place within a few years of each other.

Many of us have family histories that go back to the founding of the town in 1728, up to the present times. Much of that is related to the ARTIFACT, which could be a tool, paper currency, or a piece of furniture that was made or used in the home. Recently there was a story on Goolricks Pharmacy one of the oldest in the United States still in operation. A nice

18

What’s in A Light?

Artifact is a Goolricks medicine bottle embossed with the name or a written prescription for medicine.

The value of any of these artifacts may vary from a few dollars up into several thousand. A lady on Washington Avenue was working in her flower garden when she found a civil war Mississippi belt buckle that she framed and hung in her hall until she was offered well over $15,000.The point that I would hope each of you would remember if you found or have any historical documents or personal items, that you would have them examined by someone that is honest and knowledgeable about such items. We are fortunate to have the National Park Service), Fredericksburg Area Museum, and several Antique businesses in the city with owners such as Bill Beck, Tim Garrett, Bill Henderson just to name a few local knowledgeable experts.

In the last few years, the reproduction market has expanded with hundreds of items being manufactured in China and NOT being marked (Replica/Reproduction) the bulk of these item are United States coins. It was easy to tell at first as they were steel silver plated.

A magnet would pick them up so at once we knew they were fake, however, they now make them using silver and Nickle but a close examination an expert can tell.

Buyers of coins have been cheated out of thousands of dollars by these to good to be true deals. Recently hundreds of these fake coins have come into the Fredericksburg area. The same is true with many of the Civil War items especially Southern Buckles and Buttons that are valued into the thousands of dollars.

I recommend always buy from a seller that will stand behind his items and issue a refund. Collecting historical items is always a fun learning experience. ABC (Always Be Careful) Dedicated To: Lenny Smith, Jimmy Seay, Max Garland, Leroy Hicks, & Martha Scott Ross Tuffy is Front Porch’s Resident Historian

Front porch fredericksburg

As an archaeologist I have photographed many old ruins, from the abandoned hospitals on Ellis Island to "Old West" ghost towns. Locally we have our ruins too, and few places in Fredericksburg match the majesty and mystery of the iconic Embry Power Station.

Proudly standing along the river like a sentinel that never left its post, this antique hydroelectric plant at 1709 Caroline Street once powered all the incandescent lights in Fredericksburg.

If your house is old like many in Fredericksburg, you might still see remnants of this outdated electrical system attached to your beams and rafters. Known as "knob-and-tube" wiring, the wires were held in place by porcelain knob insulators attached to the framing members. To get from room to room, the wires passed through the joists inside porcelain tube insulators. Both the neutral and hot wires ran parallel but were spaced apart for safety. The wires were insulated by a rubberized cloth, which deteriorates over time. There was no ground wire. As legend goes, a scurrying mouse or squirrel could chew through the insulation and meet its demise by electrocution, but I've never seen it happen myself.

Embry Power Station was built shortly after 1910. It used water to make electricity. The water came out of the gates upriver at Embry Dam, flowed into the canal and down Ford Street, and filled the large metal silos that still flank the front of the building. From there, water pressure in the silos forced the water through six turbines, whose spinning blades in turn spun a generator that produced the electricity. After leaving the turbines, the water flowed through large flumes under the building and back into the river.

This system produced up to 3,000 kilowatts of electricity for some

2,000 customers in town. Until 1926, nearly all of Fredericksburg got its electricity from this building. Then, the station was acquired by the Virginia Electric Power Company, and soon the network was connected to other generators in Virginia. Being part of a wider network assured that Fredericksburg would have a steady source of electricity during dry spells when the water level of the Rappahannock River was too low at Embry Dam to send much water to the Embry Power Station. This system was operational for around 40 years.

During that time, Embry Power Station was the hub of industrial activity in the Historic Old Mill District.

In the 1960s, Embry Power Station was retired and our electricity came from elsewhere. After another 40 years or so, the Embry Dam was demolished in 2004, returning the river to its natural flow and providing recreational users the ability to enjoy this Virginia Scenic River from its headwaters at Chester Gap all the way down to the Chesapeake Bay. Embry Power Station is poised for another chapter in its long life. We remember that special night in 2017, when the building was illuminated by magnificent colors. Many folks would like to see it converted into a fine dining restaurant. Owner and visionary Ed Whalen points to Rocketts Landing in Richmond, a similar project that converted an industrial waterfront site into a popular urban/natural destination.

Perhaps one day Embry Power Station will regain its place as a vibrant part of local life.

So … what's in a Light? Here … a proud old icon of local industry that patiently awaits its next chapter.

An attorney and retired archaeologist, Jon Gerlach serves on Fredericksburg's City Council, Ward Two. Photo by Jon Gerlach

OUR HERITAGE it smells like money By elizabeth daly received too well by some of the men. A friend whose childhood travels brought her through Fredericksburg recalls the stench. Employees ordered hot dogs from the Recreation Center on William Street and had them delivered by cab (early Grub Hub/Uber Eats?).

Cellophane production requires substantial quantities of wood pulp and water and gives off a putrid odor. Odor or not, the manufacturing of cellophane, by the Sylvania Industrial Corporation (SIC) was a main reason the Fredericksburg area did not suffer economically during the Great Depression (1929-1939). In 1929, SIC gained the patent rights to manufacture the clear wrapping material and engaged the Ballinger Company to design a modern industrial facility. Using Ballinger's patented "Super-Span" sawtooth roof construction method, the Hughes-F Foulkrod Company built the complex. The sawtooth roof, with angled skylights, maximized natural light and reduced harsh sunlight. The Super-Span used special trusses that minimized the number of support beams. Architecturally, the design embodied elements of Art Deco and Stripped Classicism. Spotsylvania, just south of Fredericksburg on the Rappahannock River was the perfect place for the Sylvania plant.

Cellophane, the product, revolutionized merchandising. Owing to this amazing innovation, instead of going into a store and handing a clerk a shopping list, the customer could roam the aisles to inspect the goods-wrapped, protected, and visible.

The 40-acre complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2020 as the Sylvania Plant Historic District. This designation recognizes architecturally and historically significant contributions to the area.

The plant began operating in fall 1930.

The staff ranged from professionals, including chemists and engineers, managers, clerical support, to mechanics, warehouse employees, vehicle operators, and maintenance employees. It was the South; whites occupied professional jobs, and Blacks were relegated to lower level jobs. At one time, the plant employed 2,500 people-a about 10 percent of the 1940 population of Fredericksburg City and Spotsylvania County. During World War II, the plant produced the Sylvania Anti-Gas Cape, wrappings for K-rations and small parts.

In 1946, SIC merged with American Viscose Corporation and later became Avisco in 1954. When the plant, by then owned by FMC Corporation, closed in 1978, it had 1,100 employees.

Many local residents whose families were here in the 1930s have a connection to the Sylvania plant. The late Eleanor Mitchell, in her oral history, spoke of her secretarial job. She lasted 3 days; she couldn't tolerate the smell. A local dentist got to work at 6:30 a.m. so he could see patients coming off the night shift. A newly minted graduate of Mary Washington College was hired to do psychological testing. She said it wasn't

It was a sad day, but not unexpected in 1978 when FMC announced the plant's closure. Cheaper petroleumbased products had largely replaced cellophane. Many of the long-time employees retired or found employment locally. Younger employees were open to relocating. The area had diversified economically, minimizing the impact of the end of the Sylvania plant. The plant is now home to a variety of businesses, including Bowman Distillery.

Elizabeth Daly, volunteer with the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. Images courtesy of a photo album documenting the construction and early years of the plant, recently donated by the family of Rene' Jules Schwarz [noted as "RS" in some of the album's photographs]; HFFI Archives.

The Central Rappahannock Heritage Center is a non-profit, all-volunteer archives whose mission is to preserve historically valuable material of the region and make it available to the public for research 900 Barton St #111, Fredericksburg, VA www.crhcarchives.org contact@crhcarchives.org 540-373-3704 Volunteers Wecome!

Contact us about donating collections of documents and photographs

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Mental Health managing bipolar disorder

By Tammy Ozolins

As I have learned on my mental health journey, managing and coping with the symptoms of bipolar disorder can be challenging. When I was first diagnosed in my mid-twenties, I struggled to fully accept this new reality; frankly, I barely listened to my doctor explain my diagnosis and treatment plan. I followed the recommended treatment plan for a while, but once I started to feel better, I stopped taking my medication and the symptoms returned.

My recovery did not begin until I truly accepted that managing my illness would be a lifelong endeavor - an endeavor that requires paying close attention to my warning signs. Once I came to this realization, my life slowly began to change for the better. Now, I fully understand my symptoms, and I have become in tune to my body; as a result, I can identify the causes and warning signs of a possible episode almost immediately. When I determine that it is going to be a difficult day, I am able to prepare myself and use my coping skills to manage my symptoms.

Some possible causes and warning signs of my episodes, which I will share in hopes of helping others recognize their own, include: 1. Prolonged Stress Almost everyone will deal with some form of stress in their lives, but I've learned that stress can impact me differently than those who do not live with my mental health condition. If my body is under a lot of stress - personal, professional or a combination of both - for a long period, I am at a higher risk of mood swings, which can evolve into a manic episode.

When I experience prolonged stress, my thoughts will begin to race, and my brain struggles to turn off and rest.

When I reach this point, my thoughts are

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scattered and sometimes even doing the simplest tasks i s overwhelming.

Naturally, this takes a physical and emotional toll.

4. Changing My Routines Over the years, I have learned that I have a "type A personality," and I thrive when I stick to a rigid schedule. I need this to keep myself in order. I do not like chaos; my house is always clean, and I make appointments well in advance. If my schedule gets rearranged unexpectedly or I fall behind, I may begin to panic and spiral.

2.

Lack Of Sleep When I notice that I'm not sleeping well, I start to pay close attention to my mental state. Often, if I'm not sleeping, I find that this is due to racing thoughts consistent with a manic episode.

What begins as less frequent sleep can easily turn into staying awake for 24 hours - a clear sign of a manic episode.

Unfortunately, this character trait is also accompanied by high expectations of myself and others; I expect people to work at the same level of intensity as I do, which can cause me to have added stress in my professional and personal life, which could potentially trigger an episode. However, to manage my mental health, I do my best to organize the things I can control and try to remain flexible whenever possible.

Of course, this lack of sleep will make my physically tired, but often the most difficult symptom is my mind is unable to rest. I may find myself lying in bed, tossing and turning. Usually, my best coping mechanism is staring at the ceiling and praying I will fall asleep. To avoid these scenarios, I do my best to maintain proper sleep hygiene to keep my physical and mental health in check. For me, this means getting at least eight hours of sleep a night.

3. Unexpected Reactions To Medications Over time, I've learned that unexpected changes to my routine and care regimen, including medications, can trigger an episode. Recently, I took an over-the-counter allergy pill, and within the next few days, I noticed my moods were changing. I spiraled into a depressive episode in which I cried uncontrollably and had no energy at all. A few days later, I found myself feeling irritable, wanting to spend lots of money and talking a mile a minute.

After a few weeks of this pattern, I was able to identify this behavior as a bipolar episode that I would need to "ride out." As I weathered the onslaught of symptoms, I began to reflect on what I had done differently recently, and I remembered that the only change to my regimen was the allergy pill. So, I stopped taking the pill and replaced it with a different one. Within a few weeks, I was back to my usual self.

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ble at Availa n.com Amazo

Ultimately, I feel blessed to understand my illness and my body well enough to identify the warning signs of a possible episode. By knowing myself and my mental health condition, I am better equipped to manage and cope with bipolar disorder. This is what helps me to find hope through that storm.

Tammy Ozolins is a full time educator, residing in Richmond, Va. She is a mental health advocate and hopes to encourage people living with mental health conditions to live their best lives.

To learn more about NAMI programs, visit Website namirapp.com.

Donate to a Cancer Organization Let’s Find a Cure!

Dianne Bachman,LCSW Psychotherapist/Astrologer Now offering psychological astrology & astrological consultations In addition to Individual, family & marital therapy Hypnosis Expressive Arts 540.845.7622 diannebachman.com dbachmanlcsw@gmail.com

Have You Tried Acupuncture?

Emancipated Patients bone-on-bone

By Patrick Neustatter, MD

Call Now to Schedule 540.847.6985 AcupunctureFredericksburg.com

Although it was only 5.30 in the morning, as I lay in the bright lights of Mary Washington Day Surgery Center, on a gurney, feeling vulnerable in what seemed like a tissue paper gown, there were already a mass of staff bustling every which way, checking my pulse oximeter, blood pressure, I.V., ID bracelet, name and date of birth a million times.

A Taste of my Own Medicine Now I was the patient. It was me getting manipulated.

Having that disconcerting experience so many friends getting a colonoscopy joke about.

Despite the inclement hour, they couldn't have been nicer. They were prepping me for Dr. Brian McDermott to change out my old hip for new.

Also confused why someone else's legs are in the bed with me. Then gradually realizing they were mine numbed and paralyzed by the spinal anesthetic.

The Upright Primate and The Search I am one of those primates who, some time back, adopted an upright posture, putting undue burden on the joints of my appendicular skeleton - hips in particular.

My X-rays showed degenerative joint disease - or "bone-on-bone".

Confronted with this issue in the past, orthopedic surgeons, in their macho way, reasoned, "if the joints worn out put in a new one."

What to make it of has been the problem. What will be friction free, not wear out, disintegrate, or induce an immune reaction?

The very first attempts was with ivory - which amazingly was quite successful. Then a steel shaft with a glass but the glass shattered.

Then metal and a variety of plastics, or metal on metal, but there was a tendency for both to disintegrate and shed toxic particles into the body. The latest - touted to last 20 years - is metal and ceramic.

Much of the development of hip replacement is attributed to Sir John Charnley - a native son of Bury in Lancashire, England. Interestingly a bit of a duffer in high school, but like others who just need to find their niche, a star when it came to inventing orthopedic devices - which he would manufacture himself on the lathe of his home workshop.

He was on staff at my old almamater, Guy's Hospital in London for a while. And many years later, when I was a junior hospital doctor there myself, I would assist with the vigorous pulling, and twisting, required to do a Charnley Total Hip Replacement.

"When are we going to start?" I ask innocently as I came too from the Propofol - when of course it's all over.

Home that same day by 2 pm such are the advances in THR - and passed on to Home and Heart Health, Inc, to provide hardly needed nursing care, but, the unavoidable tortuous rehab of physical therapy.

Here I digress to make an editorial point. A point about how medical practice has gone mad with busy-work, documentation and consents. All of my colleagues in practice complain about this, how documentation and forms are depriving them of time with their patients.

I don't mean to single out this agency as aberrant, but it's an example that they are obliged to provide me information on advance beneficiary non coverage, Medicare non-coverage, photo consent, admission agreement, two different lists of the agencies Policies and Procedures, criteria for referral and transfer, privacy practices, patient's rights, advanced directives, fee schedule, homebound handout, cover your cough guide, communicating your healthcare choices, hand washing, home safety, and flu and pneumonia vaccine information.

A little OTT. Maybe fussing about this is one of the peculiar symptoms of healing I have experienced - a lot of energy needed for recovery, leaving me lethargic. But also a wee bit irritable.

Otherwise, as the pain subsides and the mobility improves, I am beginning to be happy to join so many of my ageing buddies and the ranks of "Bionic Man."

Patrick Neustatter, MD is the Medical Director of the Moss Free Clinic

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21

Life Coaching building successful friendships

By Marcia Grimsley 907 Princess Anne Street, Downtown Fredericksburg

Recently, my ex-husband and dear friend was recovering from an intense medical procedure at my home.

During this same time, I was dealing with some challenging health issues of my own.

We needed both physical help and emotional support, as these conditions seemed like an unusual pile on. We were so blessed to receive this support from others.

As we moved through this difficult time, I began to think about friendship and how important this is in our lives.

Friendship comes in many disguises. There's old and new friends, friendship within an intimate relationship, family members who are also friends, coworkers and neighbors, and acquaintances who temporarily fill this role. Friends can be any age, sex, or come from any background. I began to investigate what spiritual teachers and relationship therapists have written over the years about creating and maintaining friendships.

Below is some helpful guidance, that I found from my I hope these tips will investigations. enhance your friendships, making them more fulfilling.

1. It's helpful to come into a friendship with an attitude that says, "You can count on me, no matter what."

Remember, how you treat a friend reflects how you value a friend.

2. Spending time with these important people is essential. If we don't make time for these relationships, they can't be cultivated and made strong. They can fall apart, when we need them most.

Too often busy lives and commitments take precedent. Make a space for your friendships.

3. Be available to listen to your friends and share yourself with them. A good friend can also be a strong phone

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buddy. Often getting together physically may be challenging. Texting and e-mailing can feel cold and remote. These venues are great for brief connections, but do create the opportunity for deeper interactions by phone.

4. Be willing to with those closest to you. through trials with them, an available part of your support system.

laugh and cry Be willing to go and to become friend's needed

5. Thank your friends for their devotion and kindnesses. Don't take anyone for granted. Let others know you value their love and support. Be thoughtful and considerate. Help lift your friends up, when they're down.

6. Remember, that no one is perfect, not your friends and not you. So, try to have loving friendships. The power of forgiveness is healing for both you and another. It helps create healthier and more lasting relationships.

7. Admit when you are wrong.

Watch out for constantly defending yourself with others. Explanations are often required when there's a misunderstanding, and these can smooth out rocky roads. It may be helpful to ask a friend, "what can I do to help restore or re-build this friendship?"

No one is recommending that you stay in a relationship that is unhealthy for you.

Some relationships are nothing more than energy drainers.

Always be kind and loving to yourself in and through all your friendships!

Hopefully, these pointers will bring you richer and more successful relationships, more joy, and peace in your life.

Marcia Grimsley, BA, MS, is a Professional Life Coach.She offers Personal, Career & Business and

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www.donatelifevirginia.org

15-M Minute City

Auto Known Better

fred15 promotes walking & biking

can you relate?

by tom conway

By Rim Vining all the way to Central Park, and we're getting ready to approve a trail up Lafayette Boulevard to Twin Lakes."

"Of course," he continued. "We still have a long way to go. We have trails connecting Mayfield to the city, for example, but not a lot of businesses that are walkable from there. Attracting businesses to all parts of this town is a vital part of making it truly accessible."

It might seem a bit eccentric that someone as wealthy and prominent as George Washington didn't have a car, but he didn't. The man walked everywhere.

Sometimes he rode on the back of a horse.

In fact, until the 20th century, everyone traveled primarily on horseback or on foot. "When you think about it, Fredericksburg was built to be accessible," said Adam Lynch, volunteer co-founder of the Fifteen Minute Fredericksburg (FRED15) initiative. "There were no cars. People got around on foot all the time. It was that way for more than 200 years."

Still, progress is being made. In addition to the Heritage Trail, we have recently seen the creation of the Canal Trail, a multi-use path along the historic canal that improves pedestrian access for Memorial Park and James Monroe High School, and the VCR trail, which carries walkers and bike riders through Alum Springs Park past Route 1. Meanwhile, the creation of Riverfront Park and downtown events like First Friday and the Sounds of Summer concert series in Market Square encourage people to explore downtown on foot.

"After all," said Lynch, "our dependence on cars is at the root of a lot of our problems. Walking and biking are healthy and good for the environment.

All of the businesses and resources downtown benefit from having more people walk by."

In the modern era, however, we've stopped following Washington's example. For the last five decades, downtown areas have emptied out in favor of suburban strip malls and big box retailers with huge parking lots, far removed from the city centers. People drive to work, they drive to stores, they drive to restaurants, and they drive to parks where they go for walks.

The most obvious man to machine relationship is with the auto. A four letter word if there ever was one.

How can an infernal, smoking, belching, polluting and dangerous machine evoke such lofty accolades for beauty, grace and power? How can one man have fond memories of a '61 Studebaker Lark and yet covet the sleek lines of a sports car without betraying one or the other?

I fall in the category of a car buff who likes them all but definitely has a favorite in the MG BGT. It's a sporty hatch back that is slower than a Pinto but looks so much better. It's the only sports car that holds two guitars and your sweetheart and after 45 years of owning a half-dozen examples I still enjoy the ride and I still have the same guitars and the same sweetheart! That's a relationship.

Last month I met another long term owner of an MG with forty years behind the same steering wheel. Open the door, slide in, pull the choke and hit the key. Blissful blue-toothing without any modern equipment. Just you and the clack of the valves having an intimate and quite private conversation. It's a nice way to smile away the miles.

That, however, is beginning to change, and the founders of FRED15 are hoping to speed up the process. "Our goal is really to engage the public in the idea of a 15-minute city," says Lynch, "where everyday needs - groceries, recreation, healthcare, schools, restaurants, and even jobs - are all within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from home."

"The City of Fredericksburg has walkability as one of its main goals," agrees Fredericksburg Vice Mayer and Ward 4 City Councilman Chuck Frye. "It's in all of our small area plans, and we've already come a long way. We've built the Heritage Trail along the river, which goes

Life is all about relationships and they aren't always smooth sailing… that's why they're called relationships.

S o m e t i m e s relationships are with people and sometimes they're between people and objects or machines or dreams they hold dear. Either way the 'six degrees of separation' is quite real.

Tom Conway is a local writer and an English teacher at James Monroe High School.

For more information on FRED15, check out their website: www.Fred15.org

When you talk to some folks about their first cars it's interesting how glowingly they speak about them and how strong their emotions are regardless of the reality of the ride. Like the one about an old used Toyota Corolla with roll-up windows, AM radio and no A/C but in their world it meant one thing: FREEDOM! Cruise the back roads, go out with friends, be your own person…. date!

A relationship between car and driver that says, "We're in this together."

So what got me started on relationships and six-degrees of separation is that we lost someone last month who

was instrumental in me being able to gleefully leave the world of commercial millwork and become a full time tinkerer of tin. Over twenty years ago I wrote my first Autoknown column and it just so happened that a gentleman named Garland Gentry had come to town and was opening a small restoration shop called British Classics & Collectibles. He picked up a copy of the Front Porch and the article struck a chord so he wrote to the paper and his letter was published… so I now knew his name.

Shortly thereafter I met him at a car show which led to a little part-time employment working on British tin. Years later that led to an offer to help get the Classic Car Center off the ground when he and Marty Miller started that shop. That in turn led to the perfect semi-retirement gig with Dave Harman and Classic Car Solutions along with an absolutely amazing roster of friends, their cars, their kids and their stories…

Garland was a classic as well. A little over the top… style first, details later.

Blue blazer, gray slacks and Weejuns… a classic. His days in the shop were evenly divided: half cars and half planning for the next fishing trip with his brother Ed who passed away a few years ago and other assorted cronies. He loved Austin Healey's, TR3's and Grand Marinier on the rocks! And Ed served up the best hush-puppies I ever ate. Enjoy the fishing gentlemen. ~autoknownbetter@gmail.com

Rim Vining, humorist, friend and a devoted community volunteer

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Art in Burg Art Galleries in August

“Waterlilies”, Lois Baird @Brushstrokes Gallery “THe Beauty of Summer & Nuances of August Days” Opening , First Friday, August 5 Opening recption 5-9 9p Brush Strokes Gallery, 824 Caroline St. Throughout August, the artists of Brush Strokes Gallery feature an exhibit that celebrates the beauty and nuances of summer days.

Kimberly Zook's "Tranquil Woods" and Seija Martin's "Time for Harvest" convey the enchanting atmosphere of sunlight filtering through a woodland path and golden field. The Sunflowers of Megan Crockett's "Ukraine Peace," and Carol Waite's "Sunflower Bunch" bring to mind the strength and resilience of the people of Ukraine, while Lois Baird's "Waterlilies," also connotes hope and resilience.

Artwork that conveys the summer respites of the ocean and rivers Taylor Cullar's enchanting include "National Harbor's Sunset," Stacy Gerise's intriguing "Midnight Swim," and Marianna Smith's playful "Manta Rays," as well as Michele Milano's "White Topaz Bronze Sea Shells" necklace. Norma Woodward's "Richmond Tower" and Penny A Parrish's "Cloisters" depict the atmosphere and attitude of our built environment at different times of day, while Nancy Williams' "Summer Garden" conveys the peacefulness and joy that is elicited through our efforts to nurture nature. ~Collette Caprara

“Square Plate II Supporting the Community Opening Reception First Friday, August 5 , -6 6-9 9pm Artful Dimensions, 922 Caroline Community members decorated 12” square ceramic plates by painting and embellishing them. Plates are available for sale with part of the proceeds benefitting MANARC & Leashes of Valor, an organization that supports our Veterans in receiving highly trained qualified support dogs. ~ Sally Cooney Anderson

“Wings”, Jan Elmore @Artist Alliance

“Sunset Perch”, Nicole Myers @Art First Nicole Myers, or are new to her work, this show, celebrating our beautiful city of Fredericksburg, will not disappoint. ~Anne Timpano

The Artists' Alliance Scupltor by Jan Elmore Opening August 12, 5-9 9p 100 Taylor St, Suite 101 Colonial Beach Gallery open Sat-S Sun, 11a -5 5p Jan's wall mounted sculptures are amazing. She describes her artistic essence this way: "The sculptures in this exhibit explore flow from the aspects of literal flow, as in the grain in wood or leather, to creating the suggestion of flow with shapes, textures, and colors. The work is the result of my personal "flow state" Her mixed media, wall-mounted sculptures are composed of native hardwood species and textured metals mounted on painted canvases and panels, and may also incorporate exotic woods, hand-painted papers, leather, fibers, and stucco. Reflecting the importance of sustainability and economy, many components are "scraps" retrieved from other makers. .~ Rob Rudick

“Square Plate II ”, @Artful Dimensions Featured Artist Delana Anderson Darbytown Art Studio First Friday, 5-8 8:30 .~Jeannie Ellis "Chasing the Light" New Works by Nicole Myers Opening Reception, 6-8 8pm Art First, 824 Caroline ST In her show, entitled "Chasing the Light," Nicole shares a collection of 20+ all-new paintings showcasing the play of romantic lights and chromatic shadows upon the historical architecture of beloved and iconic Fredericksburg landmarks.

Collectors of Fredericksburgthemed art will not want to miss this exclusive collection. Whether you are one of the many local collectors of art by

Delana Anderson @Darbytown

“Goolricks By Night”, Nicole Myers @ Art First

810 Caroline Street, Downtown 540.371.4099 “Flamingos” Beverley Coates 24

August 2022

“Winter Trees Gulf of Finland”, Penny A Parrish

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“Sunrise Princess Anne St”, Lynn Abbott

Artist on Site Saturdays

Spanglish Latin American Band style a combination of jazz, pop, Latin music

bY gene pollard Elle Jay, lead singer and originator of the band Spanglish, born Boricua-Americana, grew up feeling like she had to choose a flag.

Spanglish Latin American Band has a name that perfectly describes their style, a combination of jazz, pop and Latin music Spanglish presents a repertoire of music featuring a fusion of Latin and

American rhythms. The band has a variety of performance repertoire to include American Jazz standards, Bossanova, Salsa, Samba, Bachata, Cumbia, Latin Jazz, and many Popular English music standards that have been originally remixed with bilingual lyrics and tropical rhythms.

Drawn to jazz and soulful sounds while naturally gravitating to pulsing latin rhythms she never could pick a favorite. All grown up now, Elle has decided that two flags are always better than one.

Influenced by her years of performing and singing with ensembles of Salsa, Latin Jazz, Gospel, Pop, Blues, American Jazz, Folkloric, Bomba, and Funk she brings this eclectic mix to her vocals.

Together the band brings decades of professional music experience that is sure to deliver an exciting and festive sound sensation to every concert.

“Elle Jay and the band members were amazing” says Bill Carroll, “They engaged the crowd like I haven’yt seen in a long time from any band.Their music was on point and the vocals were incredible!”

With their duo, trio, quartet, quintet, and larger orchestra, they have performance flexibility.

Check Spanglish out for your restaurant, business, private party, outdoor music festival, corporate gala, wedding reception, virtual event or more “If you want a reat Latin American sound by a group of lively,

talented performers, look no further”, comments Tracy McPeck They also offer as part of their entertainment package the options of including Ballroom Dance Instruction and DJ services.

Spanglish Latin American Band 703-7 789-0 0798, Spanglish5@juno.con facebook Check out the calendar (p16-1 17) for their performances in August

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Ride the Vre fares eliminated systemwide in september by karen finucan clarkson and comfortable transportation.

Additional information is available at www.vre.org.

Karen Finucan Clarkson is from the VRE office of Public Affairs

For information on train schedules, system map, up to the minute train status and alerts go to vre.org

Celebrate Constitution Week September 17-23

Virginia Railway Express (VRE) passengers will ride free during September and between certain stations in Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia during October, following a vote of the VRE Operations Board today. The decision to suspend fares will make VRE a more attractive and viable option for Metrorail riders during the closure of Blue and Yellow Line stations south of Reagan National Airport, slated to begin September 10, and those returning to work post-Labor Day. "VRE will be a major contributor to mitigation efforts in the region during the first part of the Metrorail shutdown, which is expected to last six weeks," said VRE CEO Rich Dalton. "The temporary elimination of fares will maximize VRE's usage."

Fare-ffree rides in September will be systemwide. In October they will be limited to travel between the six VRE stations most impacted by the Blue Line station closures - Backlick Road on the Manassas Line, Franconia-Springfield on

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the Fredericksburg Line, and Alexandria, Crystal City, L'Enfant, and Union Station on both lines.

"A fare-free September is also VRE's way of saying thanks to those passengers who have stuck with us through the pandemic," said VRE Margaret Operations Board Chair Franklin, "and it's a wonderful way to celebrate VRE's 30th anniversary."

Parking is free at most VRE stations, and WMATA is considering free parking at the Franconia-Springfield parking garage for the duration of that station's closure.

VRE welcomes full-size bicycles on all trains, eliminating the first-mile lastmile conundrum for many commuters.

The nation's 13th largest commuter rail service, VRE connects Central and Northern Virginia with the District of Columbia. VRE is recognized for its provision of safe, reliable, convenient,

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Spotsylvania Chapter, National Daughters of the American Revolution

Amy Jessee UMw Alum FILLS Key rOLE

by Laura Moyer Incoming Executive Director of University Communications Amy Jessee has already mapped out her first days on the job.

As chief communicator for the University of Mary Washington, Jessee will begin by listening - to students, staff, faculty, administrators, alumni, community supporters and others with a stake in telling the university's stories in the ways that matter most.

When she arrived on campus in she didn't have to start from scratch.

Jessee is a 2006 graduate of UMW, where she majored in business administration and English and earned the Colgate W. Darden Jr. Award, bestowed on the undergraduate with the highest gradepoint average. She holds a master of arts degree in professional communication from Clemson University.

Her four years on campus in the 2000s laid the groundwork for a higher education communications career that has seen her handle increasing responsibility and a variety of challenges. Jessee has worked with large public land-grant research institutions, private universities, and technical colleges via workforce investment boards, but her mission remains in the public liberal arts and sciences, where she's served for the past 10 years. She has directed editorial Georgetown University services at McDonough School of Business and most recently led a multimedia communications team at UNC Asheville.

Jessee is eager to return to her alma mater, to support and serve the university where she made discoveries intellectually, personally and professionally.

"I loved my time at UMW," she recalled. She explored classes in creative writing, linguistics, accounting, marketing and organizational creativity, an expansive experience that she said speaks to the power of the liberal arts and sciences.

"This education is one that really launches a lifetime of learning," she said. "It gives you the potential to see things from a variety of perspectives."

As a sophomore, Jessee began working for the precursor to the department she will now lead, University Communications. She started as a news clipper, tracking media mentions. But mentors within the department soon recognized her value as a contributor, particularly as the institution underwent

its name change from Mary Washington College to the University of Mary Washington.

Jessee's role with the department grew to encompass writing and editing, handling media inquiries, and managing the university website. After graduation, she stayed on full time for a year before leaving for graduate school at Clemson.

There, she and husband John Ridout, a fellow 2006 Mary Washington alum, both earned graduate degrees. He holds a Ph.D. and works as a transportation planner. They have two children.

Mary Washington is fortunate to bring back a communicator with Jessee's unique combination of professional and personal experience, said UMW Chief of Staff Jeffrey McClurken.

"As an alumna, as an accomplished communications leader, and as someone with great familiarity with public liberal arts and sciences institutions, Amy brings knowledge, experience and insight with her as she starts this new role," McClurken said. "I look forward to working with her and the University Communications team to tell the Mary Washington story."

Laura Moyer is the Associate Editor of University Relations & Communications

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Companions home alone by gerri reid, dvm

It’s Back to School time for mostly all Schools. Gone are the days we would have most of August to still enjoy a vacation or a day at the pool. It is time for Back to School Nights, shopping for school supplies and preparing our children for the upcoming school year.

Some people have adopted new pets or maybe a new kitten/puppy over the summer. Our pets have become adapted to everyone being home more and being on a whole different routine. So how do we help our pets adjust to our new schedule?

Here are some suggestions to help your pet adjust a bit.

Many people each day take their pets for a walk in the morning/afternoon and evening. Even our children can get involved and walk the pets during the summer. As we go back to work and school, these daily walks may not be possible. I recommend to consider a Pet Sitter who will come daily and provide your pet with a walk and some playtime.

This service is especially good for young dogs/puppies as continuous potty-training is essential. Businesses such as this will come and do a Meet & Greet and discuss their services as well as meet your pets. .

Just like we take our children to daycare, many people will also drop off their pets at a doggy daycare. Places such as Dogtopia offer daycare services where your pet can enjoy a day of playing with other dogs. Whether you need to drop your pet off for a few hours or for most of the day, Dogtopia has packages for any budget. They have daily fun activities for your pet such as pool parties and an outdoor area for your pet to run and explore. If your pet enjoys playing with other dogs, then consider a Dog Daycare

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type setting.

This will keep your pet happy and safe while you are at work and of course, your pet will certainly enjoy it!

For you Tech-savvy pet owners, there are some nifty ways to keep your pet Furbo Dog Camera with entertained.

Treat tossing is new on the pet scene. This device will detect when your pet is barking and send a notification to your phone.

The camera, day or night, allows you to see what your pet(s) are doing throughout the day. It allows you to talk to them to calm them or just to say “Hello” plus you can fill it with your pet’s favorite treats and “Toss” one to them!

All these features with just a touch of a button from your phone. It is also Alexa compatible. This is perfect for pet owners who want to keep an eye on their furry ones!

Nowadays, we don’t have to worry about our pets being left at home.

From pet walkers to doggy daycare, your pet doesn’t have to just sit at home and wait for you. Technology has allowed us to monitor or talk to our pets from the comfort of our office and even reward them without us even being there. As we venture back to work/school, there is something out there to fit your pet’s needs. Gone are the days of our pets being left Home Alone!

Dr. Gerri S. Reid is the Owner/Veterinarian of Reid Mobile Veterinary Services. She can be reached at 540-623-3029 or reidmobilevetservices.com or facebook @ReidMobileVetServicesa

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Astrology & You THE POETRY MAN

leo comes in with a roar

By Dianne Bachman

By Frank Fratoe

Cosmic Input?

(goddess of marriage, women, and family) memorialized Nemean for trying to kill Hercules by placing him among the stars as Leo. Nothing juicier than a Greek myth, right?

Many planets are now hidden behind nebula-dust far away when supernova fired a salvo nobody here could listen to amid the breadth of distance because sunburst was remote and uproar never reached us through vast and deep space.

Yet we begin to acknowledge what is alive beyond Earth culled from radio-telescopes that catch electronic pulses churning wavelengths at us and maybe not so far ahead humanity can listen to talk whispering on other worlds.

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

Leo Season Comes in With a Roar Leo is ruled by the Sun, is a fire sign, and the fifth sign of the zodiac. In Greek mythology, our astrological Leo was the lion (Nemean) that Hercules was tasked to kill as a punishment for killing his own wife and children. Nemean proved impervious to weapons and the arrows just bounced off, making it necessary for Hercules to kill the lion with his bare hands. To make a long story short, Hera

Well, today we see Leo in a different light. With Leo comes the reminder to follow your joy, to be creative, and to kick back and have some playful fun. Leo has a warmth and a charisma. There can also be a boldness, a courage to emerge from the watery sign of Cancer and bask in the glorious rays of the Sun. This first week of August 2022 has the potential to be packed full of roaring energy!

Here is what to be aware of: On August 1, Uranus, Mars, and the North Node will make an exact conjunction in Taurus at 18 degrees.

When Uranus and Mars come together, there can be a great degree of disruptive energy, even if it is a shake-up that ultimately proves positive. Uranus can represent the genius or innovator in each of us, but it can also be the bringer of swift change.

Ka-pow, bing-bang, breakthrough or break up, the winds of change can turn into a squall. Things can feel chaotic, uncertain, yet some may feel as if they are experiencing an AHA. With the North Node in Taurus, we may crave stability and predictability, so if these planets are prominent in your chart, take a step back, breathe, and get grounded.

Look at your birth chart for any planets that may make an aspect with 17 to 20 degrees Taurus, as these angles make the energies more significant for you.

On August 9, we will experience a Moon wobble. Back in February 2022 I wrote about the last wobble, which occurs about every 86.5 days. Moon wobbles are when the Sun makes either an exact square or conjunction with the lunar nodes. A man by the name of Carl Payne Tobey discovered the phenomenon in the 1940s, originally calling it "lunar node instability". Mr. Tobey was exploring the relationship between insurance claims and accidents and astrological cycles. He wrote: "When the Sun is conjunct or square the lunar nodes there is human instability.

People are excitable. They are more easily confused. Their reactions are emotional rather than intellectual." So, it is not that horrible things happen because of this wobble, but people are thinking less clearly, and it makes us more susceptible to things like fires and accidents.

So, we can look at the astrological climate of August and be prepared but it is impossible (in my experience) to predict what will happen.

We can use our knowledge of cosmic weather to be prepared and to use it to our advantage rather than being blind-sided.

Here are other significant planetary transits for the month of August: August 4th Mercury enters the sign of Virgo. Organize, plan. Anything requiring precision is favored as mental acumen is potent.

August11th Venus enters Leo bringing relief to the intensity of the first week. Play, love, get artsy and creative.

Give the energy of the past week a voice through any artistic medium that expresses.

Full Moon in Aquarius, a day busy with cosmic energies! Groups, hobbies, or social activities are favored today. You may be called to humanitarian pursuits or to advocate for issues that impact the collective. This Moon is also conjunct Saturn, which is favorable for focusing on any habits you wish to modify or change.

The Moon is squaring Uranus, deepening the energies of the first week, and is a suitable time to remain open to new possibilities if there are situations that come along and surprise you. Finally, the Moon will be squaring the North and South Nodes, which can bring subconscious feelings or legacy issues to the surface.

August 20th Mars enters Gemini.

Speak up but be careful not to be too impulsive with your words and actions.

Also, feed any passions you might have re: learning new things.

August 23rd Sun enters Virgo.

Precision, planning, working out details and being of service to others are prominent themes.

August 24th Uranus stations retrograde.

Time to revisit any disruptions from the first week and gain insight or rework solutions.

August 25th Mercury enters Libra. Social events, artistic pursuits are favored.

August 27th New Moon in Virgo.

Planning, organizing, health check ups and starting new health routines are all supported.

Dianne Bachman is a psychotherapist & astrologer practicing in FXBG. She can be reached at FourwindsastrologyLLC@gmail.com photo “Moon Rise Over Santorini” by Linda Burns of FXBG

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Fredericksburg Sketches A visual Celebration of our community

By Paula Raudenbush

FAM Entrance Sometimes urban sketchers have time for only a quick sketch and this was one of those times. I had gone to Hyperion Espresso for a coffee before my class at Libertytown Arts Workshop and realized I had a few minutes so I sat down outside and looked around for something to draw. I've drawn from this corner many times but even when I have sketched something before it feels different every time. I grabbed my favorite fountain pen and started in on the opposite corner. I knew I wanted the awning and the doorway to the Fredericksburg Area Museum to be my focal point so I started with the brick planters that run along the sidewalk. From there I began adding the other elements, letting some fade to nothing the farther they were from the entrance. Then I spent a little time darkening the trees and the area around the door. This darker area served to draw the eye to what I felt was the most important part of the sketch. This one took me about 20 minutes. Then I grabbed my now-cold coffee and headed off to class feeling like I had accomplished something! I'm sure you'll see more views from this corner in the future.

Cheers and happy sketching!

Paula Raudenbush is a local artist & member of the Urban Sketchers

Give a Child Something to Think About

Books, Games, Amusing Novelties M-Sat. 10am-6pm; Sun. 1pm-4pm

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August 2022

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810 Caroline Street (540) 371-5684

Biz Notes importance of in-person connection

By Mandy Smith The way we communicate in business has changed tremendously over the last 20 years. From fax to email and phone calls to texts, are you truly connecting with your clients? It's easy to get a false sense of being connected. Social Media allows us a glimpse into the lives of our clients, friends, and family. This makes us feel like we know what's going on in their world. Text, phone calls, and emails give us a sense of being connected as well.

After all, communication is happening, right? There is a difference between communication and connection. According to Google's English Dictionary, communication is, "the imparting or exchanging of information or news".

Whereas connection is, "a relationship in which a person, thing, or idea is linked or associated with something else".

Connection with clients can happen in a more relevant way, when it can be done face-to-face.

I asked our staff to give us their take on the importance of in-person connection.

Chuck Archer: One thing that is missed in social media, e-mails and to a certain extent MS Teams/Zoom (especially with the camera off), is non-verbal communication. The way our body expresses nuanced language.

Experts say 70-90% of all communication is non-verbal. Meeting face-tto face tells us so much about a person you're meeting with and them about you. With nonverbal communication you can tell if someone is truly engaged in your conversation, understanding a concept, or even telling the truth. In addition, meeting someone in person sends the message that they are important in your world. That you're willing to sacrifice your own time to be with them and that's powerful.

Monica Owens: A phone call or visit compared to an email or text is like the difference between virtual and realty. Virtual may look real…but it's not the REAL thing. You have to meet with your clients! How else

are they going to get to know you? Putting a face to the voice or email is so important in establishing a good relationship with your clients.

Trish Hall: Many clients like to use text messaging as a form of communication.

I'm happy to work with whatever their preferred method of communication is.

That being said, I do find that having an in-p person conversation is the best way to stay in touch. This allows us to cover more information in an efficient way, helping me give my clients the best sales experience possible!

Lance Carmine: For as connected as we are with text, Facebook, email; it is easier now to disappear or go silent. You can ignore all those things. That's why it's important to call and stop by to say hello to your clients. Things can be misconstrued or miscommunicated in an email or text.

Face-to-face allows you to make sure you and your client are on the same page.

Kristin Nash: The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz is a small book that has been my guide for dealing with clients and life!

Be impeccable with your word, don't take anything personally, don't make assumptions and always do your best. If I stick to these principles, I find I have happy clients. It is also very important to visit, talk to and keep them informed. I find that the leading salespeople are the best at these services.

Mark Bass: One thing we do differently here at B101.5 is encourage our sales representatives to visit clients face-to-face.

Even if they are out of state. In some cases, the decision maker isn't based in this region. It's important to get to know the people you're working with and for them to get to know you. By doing this our sales team creates strong relationships with all their clients, no matter where they are based.

Mandy Smith is the Promotions & Marketing Director for B101.5. AKA "AJ" Weekend Air Personality

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