Jon Gerlach
ON THE PORCH Guest Porch Editorial
Contributing Writers & Artists Chuck Archer Rita Allen Kathy Anderson Sally Cooney Anderson A.E. Bayne Anna Billingsley Bill Blevins Laurie Black Cheryl Bosch Kevin Brown Collette Caprara Judy Chaimson Meghann Cotter Elizabeth Daly Barbara Deal Christina Ferber Bill Freehling Frank Fratoe k. Jeanne frazer Joan M. Geisler Jon Gerlach Lou Grahamm Alexis Grogan Ralph “Tuffy”Hicks Karl Karch David C. Kennedy Miriam Liss Jo Loving Alliaon Maybery Pete Morelewicz Vanessa Moncure Lenora Kruk-Mullanapy Patrick Neustatter Sarah Perry Penny Parrish Delaura Padovan Gabe Pons M.L. Powers Gerri Reid Rob Rudick Casey Alan Shaw Patricia Smith Georgia Strentz James Kyle Synder Christine Thompson Dawn Whitmore Tina Will Sonja Wise Norma Woodward Front Porch Fredericksburg is a free circulation magazine published monthly by Olde Towne Publishing Co. Virginia Bigenwald Grogan, Publisher. The mission of Front Porch Fredericksburg is to connect the diverse citizenry of Fredericksburg with lively features and informative columns of interest to our community’s greatest resource, its people. Messages from our readers are welcome. All submissions must be received by e-mail by the 19th of the month preceding publication. Writers / Artists / Photographers are welcome to request Guidelines and query the Publisher by e-mail. Front Porch Fredericksburg PO Box 9203 Fredericksburg, VA 22403 Ad Sales: E-Mail: frntprch@aol.com Web Site: www.frontporchfredericksburg.com Facebook: @Front Porch Fredericksburg The opinions expressed in Front Porch Fredericksburg are those of the contributing writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Front Porch Fredericksburg or its advertisers. Copyright 2019 Olde Towne Publishing Co. All rights reserved.
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February 2019
The Best City of All by Jon Gerlach The Past It all started in 1967 when my mom's car broke down on our way from Pennsylvania to Florida. While the mechanic fixed our ailing station wagon, we stayed at a hotel near a golf course (today, Central Park). We used the down time to visit the local battlefields, sparking my lifelong fascination with Virginia history. Later, our family vacations included stopovers in Fredericksburg because we loved it so much. As a teenager I went on annual history tours around Fredericksburg, led by my friend and renowned historian Jay Luvaas of Allegheny College. Jay's spirited teachings made history come alive for me. Eventually, I began a professional career in archaeology, an adventure that took me far and wide across the United States. After retiring from archaeology I earned a law degree at the University of Richmond. I practiced construction law, representing real estate developers and contractors in Virginia, before moving to Colorado where I acquired an insurance agency and raised my two wonderful children. Although I fell in love with the Rocky Mountains, I missed the daily reminders of history that permeate the Virginia landscape. When I was presented with the enviable opportunity of choosing a place to live for the rest of my life, I had no doubt where it would be. Nowhere else matched Fredericksburg's rich history, proximity to the mountains, easy water access for kayaking, and the world-class cultural offerings found here and in nearby metropolitan areas.
The Present I've lived in plenty of cities and towns, but there is nowhere else quite like Fredericksburg. Through my law practice at Gerlach Law Firm, PLC, I have met many diverse and fascinating people, cementing even more my love for Fredericksburg. Our 800 block of Charlotte Street, where Mitzi and I live, is a wonderful
messages Your magazine really helps citizens to feel more connected to this town. Great January issue! Tina Will
I love your magazine Amy Liles
Front porch fredericksburg
neighborhood. We visit with neighbors, and babysit their kids from time to time so parents can get out together. Kids love to stop in front of our house and inspect Hal, our large mechanical yard owl. His wings flap in the wind, which seems to keep the squirrels away while attracting children of all ages. Exploring downtown is our favorite pastime. We might stop for coffee, or shop in stores and chat with friends. Goolrick's has the best grilled cheese sandwiches, the restaurants downtown are fabulous, and we've taken to calling Valentine's Day "Carl's Day". A hike in the woods on the battlefield is just a few steps away. The City's Trails System and Lee Drive offer great opportunities for a lovely walk or a bike ride. River access downtown is the jumping-off point for a relaxing kayak float, courtesy of River Rock Outfitters, and Virginia Outdoor Center offers whitewater adventures further upriver.
The Future Wanting to give something back to this marvelous community, I joined the Architectural Review Board and currently serve as its chair. People think it's a thankless job, but I find the work very rewarding. I often talk about the goose that lays the golden eggs. The eclectic community-vibe and historic character of our City is the goose. Innumerable benefits come from that - economic vitality, tourism, cultural vibrancy, community cohesiveness, and quality of life - these are some of the golden eggs. We must be careful to nurture the goose. More real estate development is coming to the Fredericksburg area, creating many opportunities and challenges for the City. One challenge is to foster economic growth in ways that respect and enhance Thank you Mary Lynn Powers ("The Man Behind the Bar", December 2018) Jack Hyland Great cover! (December 2018, David C. Kennedy) Liana Pivirotto Thank you for the Shout Out (December 2018, Art in the Burg”) FCCA
those things that make Fredericksburg so special. I like to think of this ongoing work as "community preservation". One thing I appreciate most about the City is that our local government is non-partisan. We may differ on state, national and international issues, but when it comes to the City, partisan disputes are few and far between. Instead, we roll up our sleeves together as a team, from the City Manager to City Council, City Staff, its boards, committees, volunteers and the community at large, and get things done. How refreshing is that? For more than 20 years, Front Porch Magazine has been a wonderful platform for community awareness and civic engagement. I look forward to reading each issue from cover to cover, and I hope you enjoy this month's issue!
An attorney and retired archaeologist, Jon Gerlach chairs the Architectural Review Board in Fredericksburg. He frequently writes about historic properties for Front Porch Magazine.
Virginia Thanks for all you do for the Arts & our community! Lou Gramann
Virginia Greatly enjoyed article about one of our favorite fxbg food options by the very talented Collette Caprara (Juan More Taco, Dec 2018) Kevin Brown