Front Porch Magazine

294

JANUARY

2022

contents

closeups 3

Johnny Johnson reflection of heart & character

25

Ann Glave Reflections

31

taryn lewis Local Author

27

Porch talk 4

on the porch...life in fredericksburg Messages

6

blue zones for a healthier FXBG

7

everything greens: looking back, looking forward

8

In the Garden: winter gardens

9

growing & crawling: new life from old plants

10

i have a friend: joy

11

Robbie Burns Night Returns

12

tidbits...small bites of local news

13

season’s bounty: let it snow

14

empty bowl comes home to libertytown

15

vino: sparkling & white wines

16-17

Calendar of Events

18

history’s stories:winter 1862-1863 History in our backyard: famous flank attack of cW

19

what’s in A tiltyard?: Mercer fairground

20

mental health: coping with depression

21

emancipated patients:: don’t get diabetes

23

auto known better: Life viewed behind a windshield Life coaching

24

art in the ’burg ...galleries in January

26

bowling green scene Fit by K & iron heritage fitness

28

companions: spay/neuter benefits

29

astrology & you poetryman: january commute

30

fredericksburg sketches

31

biz notes: email marketing

25

...And More!

22

5

great lives series returns...in person!

27

preserving native american studies

31

Lady Legacy: Barbara Bartz

Cover: “wINTER sUN” By dAVID c. kENNEDY

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January 2022

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An Exhibit of Heart & Art johnny johnson’s workshop annual exhibit by collette caprara a veterinarian, a nurse, teachers, doctors, business owners, military personnel, and master gardeners!" she said. "Artists seldom missed a class. There was just too much good art fun and instruction to skip."

Pat Knock All are invited to explore the uplifting and inspiring creations of the artists of Johnny Johnson's Watermedia Workshop in their annual exhibit which will be displayed at the Fredericksburg library throughout January and February.

In addition to experiencing the delight of the artwork of a spectrum of talented and innovative painters, guests may also feel the magic of an atmosphere imbued with heart and depth. That spirit reflects the essence of the ultimate teacher, Johnny Johnson, which is also evident in the work of every artist whose life he has touched.

Launched more than 25 years ago and held at the Dorothy Hart Community Center, Johnny's workshop quickly became a legend in its own time, with artists queuing up to register before the class was full. Acclaimed watercolorist Beverley Coates recalls her experience when she joined the group in 1996 (which she still gathers with weekly). "When I joined my first session, my discovery of watercolor happiness began! Throughout

Cindy Whitesides my 26 years with the workshop, our class has included a four-star general, florists,

Bev recalls that Johnny would often enlist a model who was an artist's family member or friend and that the workshop included periodic ventures such as plein air sessions at the Rappahannock rapids or the Potomac River shores at Aquia Harbor. The class typically included a period where artwork was displayed and "critiqued," but always with much praise and constructive suggestions. Johnny continually challenged the artists to move beyond their comfort zones, urging us to "use more pigment" to spark a subject to life or "faster, faster" when a wet-on-wet creation was in process. He

introduced surprising artistic tools, ranging from plastic wrap to toothbrushes and sponges in demonstrations where a "happy accident" would tap new levels of creativity and imagination.

"Johnny was kind and encouraging to those of us who were just beginning to find our 'art legs.' But, the experienced teacher that he was, Johnny could also be challenging. Our group still laughs about his tendency to set up stilllife arrangements that left us groaning about the aesthetics of a collection of rusty tools," said Katie Green who has painted with the workshop for nearly 10 years. She recalls that Johnny often challenged the artists not only to expand artistically but to explore and recognize their responses to subjects that might be considered sensitive, such as one still-life arrangement that included an African mask and a painted wooden slice of

watermelon.

When she reacted with what today might be called "white fragility," Johnny just nodded and laughed.

"I was so excited to join Johnny Johnson's Watermedia class five years ago, but that emotion was accompanied by a feeling of trepidation when I found myself among so many talented artists," said Kathleen Mullins. "In short time, that fear turned to gratitude when I recognized the fine nature of the man and teacher that Johnny is. I will always be grateful for the encouragement and guidance that he gave in his critiques. Not only am I a better watercolor artist because of Johnny, I am a better person for knowing and emulating him."

William Wachter, who has been with the workshop since 2015, recalls that he first met Johnny when a library exhibit was being set up. "I asked him if those artists were his disciples," he said. "He invited me to the opening reception and I subsequently joined his watercolor and acrylic classes." Wachter said he painted a portrait of Johnny based on another artist's photo, and when he heard that Johnny's wife, Jean, liked it, he gave it to her. "I learned that spirit of generosity from Johnny," he said. "He was always generous with his knowledge, his tools, and his friendship." Another portrait Wachter did of Johnny won a first-place at Fredericksburg Women's Club Exhibition and he gave that to Johnny as well. "His own generosity with charitable groups set the gold standard for donating art. Even today, I give away my family portraits," said Wachter. "He was unfailingly kind but willing to rattle the cage of anyone who could handle the ribbing. We had fun together."

"Simply put, Johnny is a towering figure in our local Fredericksburg history-an exceptionally gifted, internationallyrecognized artist with a style that is uniquely recognizable," said artist Jim Ramsbotham. "He is ten times as good a teacher of art as he was an artist. And

William Wachter ten times as good a human being as he was teacher. An example of what humility should look like--a modest sense of his considerable gifts and a passion for sharing them with others."

"The hallmark of Johnny's workshop is its wonderful camaraderie," said Coates. "This has been a top-notch experience of my lifetime. Johnny is an outstanding human being and I am so grateful to know him"

William Wachter The artists' portraits that accompany this article reflect their respect and gratitude for Johnny Johnson and his guidance, as well as their appreciation for his heart and character. Their works can be viewed in the theater of the FXBG Branch of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library, 1201 Caroline Street, from January 3 through February 23. For hours, visit librarypoint.org or call (540) 372-1 1144.

Collette Caprara is an artist & writer

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ON THE PORCH Norma Woodward Guest Porch Editorial Contributing Writers & Artists Rita Allan Wayne Amann Sally Cooney Anderson Amy Bayne Laurie Black Dianne Bachman Sonja Cantu Collette Caprara Janet Douberly Frank Fratoe Bill Freehling Jon Gerlach Ann Glave Lisa Gillen Marcia Grimsley Kathleen Harrigan Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks David C. Kennedy Jill Laiacona Indiana Lee Ray Mikula Vanessa Moncure Pete Morelewicz Patrick Neustatter Frank O’Reilly Lori Orlinsky Penny A Parrish ML Powers Paula Raudenbush Rob Rudick Terry Rensell Erica Terrini Mandy Smith 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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January 2022

the road traveled

by Norma Woodward In these days of fast paced travel, it is possible to take a time saving flight over the vast landscapes of our country.

However, by doing so one misses so much of the essence of the beauty and culture below.

There is another, slower, more interesting way - the once fashionable road trip. In earlier times, families traveled across the country in station wagons piled with suitcases, coolers, kids, and dogs for the All- American adventure stopping at national parks like Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Great Smoky Mountains and so many others.

There were no interstate highways. Two-lane roads with names like Route 66 "The Mother Road", or The Lincoln Highway stretched across the plains, the desert, and numerous mountain ranges. Or ran beside oceans where the kids could happily watch the waves and hear the shorebirds through the open windows of the unairconditioned car.

The ubiquitous fast-food giants of today were nonexistent. Coleman coolers were packed with carefully prepared homemade sandwiches, lemonade, and cookies. The family chose a grassy site beside the road, ideally under the shade of a large tree, spread blankets on the ground and enjoyed a picnic as a respite from time in the car.

Most either tent camped or pulled a travel trailer. The ones who could afford it stayed in places with names like Doc's Motor Court, Blue Swallow, Hilltop Inn, or Thunderbird where they could park and unload the car directly into the room.

Then the interstate highways were built to allow fast travels from east to west or north to south. They bypassed and eventually shut down many of the small towns. Local businesses closed as the

messages Thank you for all that you do on behalf of the art community! We so appreciate you!

Warmly, Lynn Abbott

new service stations, restaurants and motels stretched endlessly at the exits from the busy, new, fast, convenient interstates drawing travelers to a new type of travel.

Thankfully, it is still possible to take the slower, scenic routes - the ones described by William Least Heat-Moon in his book "Blue Highways." Traveling the back roads, you might meet the farmer in Kansas who tells you about this year's crop of wheat, the cowboy in Texas who talks about the roundup or the new calf he delivered that morning, or the Chesapeake Bay waterman who will display the day's catch and advise about the best seafood restaurant in the area.

Sample the food prepared by a local cook, not chef, at diners scattered across the country. Question the early morning coffee group in the old-fashioned cafés to find the most interesting routes, sights, and adventures. They know them all and are delighted to share.

Stop in towns like Wild Horse, Pumpkin Creek, Bisbee, Iuka, and Jim Thorpe. Discover the origin of their name.

Find out what is important to those who live there. Drive the two lane, bumpy, gravel, dirt rural roads. Visit abandoned towns whose stories are told by what remains. Stand quietly and listen.

There is an America that can only be experienced by going there and interacting with the locals, some of whom have never left the immediate area where they were born. They are the glue that keeps the struggling towns alive. They are the women who save the historic buildings scheduled for demolition or the men who work to teach skills to the next generation or the teenagers who mow the lawns for elderly neighbors. They are important!

They are America.

Virginia, another beautiful issue. Thank you for the nice memorial to Carl Grenn (October). He loved Front Porch.

Tuffy Hicks

Virginia Beautiful tribute to a wonderful woman (Lasting Legacy, Linda Pisenti, November, 2021) Matt Jones

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Thank you for all you do to knit our community together and specifically to get the word out about Empowerhouse.

Kathleen Harrigan

Time constraints in our busy culture prevent many from experiencing the "real" America which still exists but is so often forgotten in our haste to get "from here to there."

America is a beautiful, amazing, fascinating country filled with a rich stewpot of people and cultures. Everyone should road trip across our vast country at least once. Such a trip will promote understanding of what it is to be American. They will return with a pride of place about what we really are as a people and an appreciation of the magnificent landscape contained within our borders.

I hope each of you will be able to make that trip and return safely to your home, read this Front Porch article, and ponder its message.

I wish you travel!

Norma Woodwrad is a photographer and back road traveler

Front Porch My wife and I just discovered your paper when I grabbed it upon our exit from The Sunken Well, and I am glad I did, we love it! We read it from cover to back page and really appreciate the event calendar in the middle. We will be making a point to secure it regularly from now on.

James Kotwicki

Great Lives Series returns in person

By Jill Laiacona

WINTER CLEARANCE

723 Caroline St 899.8077 Daily 11-5 Sunday 12-4

Painter Vincent van Gogh, humanitarian Mother Teresa and country music icon Dolly Parton are among the prominent personalities featured in the upcoming William B. Crawley Great Lives Lecture Series.

The 19th season of this treasured University of Mary Washington tradition will be held in person - for the first time in nearly two years - in George Washington Hall's Dodd Auditorium on the Fredericksburg campus. These free lectures will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from Jan. 18 through March 10, at 7:30 p.m. Proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test is required.

Bestselling biographers and several UMW faculty members have spent countless hours chronicling iconic subjects - artists, adventurers, peacemakers and more. They'll provide riveting reflection into their lives and loves, strengths and struggles, and successes and failures.

"We are very much looking forward to resuming live, in-person presentations in 2022," said Distinguished Professor of History Emeritus William B. Crawley, Great Lives founder and director.

"Audience members will be able to interact directly with lecturers, who are preeminent scholars in their fields." Books by most of the speakers will be available for purchase and signing after each lecture.

200 William St Downtown Fredericksburg 540-373-4421 crownjewelersfredericksburg.com

The series kicks off with John Glenn, the third American in space and first to orbit the Earth. Historian Jeff Shesol, author of Mercury Rising: John Glenn, John Kennedy and the New Battleground of the Cold War, will discuss the late astronaut - who also became a U.S.

senator - and the heroic flight that put America within reach of the moon.

whose 1955 murder mobilized the civil rights movement.

Season highlights include subjects known for their humanitarian efforts, such as Mother Teresa, the Catholic missionary canonized for her charitable work, and Jimmy Carter, whose presidency has been recast as "consequential" by writer Jonathan Alter.

After leaving office, Carter built homes for Habitat for Humanity, working well into his 90s. Multiplatinum recording artist and actress Dolly Parton built a successful career, penning songs about working-class women, but she's also revered for funding the Moderna vaccine and promoting childhood literacy.

Rescheduled due to the pandemic, one lecture will recount the swashbuckling adventures of America's pirates, whose devilish deeds fascinated and frustrated colonists and the Crown.

Several UMW professors will present lectures, including Stephen Farnsworth, commenting on the comic genius of Charlie Chaplin, and Marjorie Och, who will share her thoughts on Vincent van Gogh, whose tragic life and artistic brilliance continue to captivate.

Surupa Gupta will offer insight on Indira Gandhi, the first and only woman to become India's prime minister.

Other barrier-breaking women featured this season include FDR's labor secretary, Frances Perkins, who helped deliver the New Deal, and Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman on the Supreme Court. Another lecture spotlights the pioneering female aviators who didn't get the same glory as their male counterparts.

Renowned authors will delve into the lives of investigative journalist Ida B. Wells, who exposed the horrors of lynching and white supremacy, and Emmett Till, the African American teen

Biographers will also shed light on British author and theologian C.S. Lewis, who penned The Chronicles of Narnia, and two poets spanning time and space: Homer from Ancient Greece and contemporary American writer Sylvia Plath.

First introduced as an academic course by the Department of History and American Studies, Great Lives later became a public lecture series held in conjunction with UMW's popular course, Great Lives: Biographical Approaches to History and Culture.

Shortly after its 2004 launch, the series received a generous endowment from John Chappell, whose late wife Carmen Culpeper Chappell graduated from Mary Washington in 1959. The Chappell family's continued support, with that of local individuals and corporate sponsors, has sustained and propelled the series.

Great Lives Series Tuesdays & Thursdays, Jan. 18 - March 10, at 7:30 p.m Umw Dodd Auditorium Visit the Great Lives website or contact the Office of University Events and Conferencing at 540-6 654-1 1276.

Jill Laiacona is the Media Manager, University Relations & Communications at UMW

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Blue Zones a healthier FXBG looks blue By erica terrini Exercise and eat right. The bare bones concept of a healthy lifestyle can seem simple-but what happens when you throw in a job, transportation, kids, friends and family, medical concerns, and other considerations many of us must make? What happens when there just isn't enough time or resources available?

These are just some concerns of Laura Valero, FNP, of the Culpeper Walk-IIn and Medical Clinic, and Lauren Bock, PA-C,

According to Valero, the "Power 9" characteristics include: natural movement, a sense of purpose, stress management, mindful eating, adding more fruit & vegetables to diet, healthy, social consumption of alcohol, a sense of belonging, being surrounded by others who support positive behavior and

Medical Professionals Lauren Block (left) & Laura Valero explains the core characteristics found in “Blue Zone” Communities at the FXBG Food CoOp

Toni Lipe, Fredericksburg Food Co-op board member, said "blue zones" represent "all our core values and integrates our operating principles as well. The co-op embraces healthy food, lifestyle, and community. I am personally happy to get this conversation started."

At this early stage, Bock said it is imperative to get more people "to see that 'blue zone' projects will help support other projects and ultimately pay for itself in health-saving costs for our generation and future generations."

Blue Zones focus a community-w wide approach to well being by improving park & street designs, public policy & social involvement so that it is easy for people to make healthy choices For more information, visit the FXBG Blue Zone Facebook group , bluezones.com or contact Bock at pabock@bewellhealthva.com.

Erica Terrini is a local Freelance writer "This could become a reality and a huge community benefit," Bock said. "If we make healthy choices the default, that is when people really start to change."

of Be Well Lifestyle Medicine and of Virginia Cardiology Consultants. Both medical professionals spoke at the Fredericksburg Food Co-o op last November about their hope to turn the city and its surrounding counties into a "blue zone" community-a concept that originated in 2004, when Dan Buettner worked with National Geographic to "identify pockets around the world where people lived measurably better, longer," according to the Blue Zone Project organization.

"Some [blue zones] are in these nice, guarded spots in Italy, Greece, Japan, Costa Rica and here in the U.S. The question is what can we do to start bringing these principles here to the Fredericksburg area," Valero said.

While Fredericksburg ranks among Virginia counties in the high middle range for health outcomes, it still is in the lower middle range in terms of health factors, according to a 2021 County Health Rankings and Roadmaps report published by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

"Each of the different 'blue zone' regions in the world that were identified have their own flavor but there have been nine shared distinctions among them," Valero said.

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January 2022

a family-first mindset.

Bock said Fredericksburg already has several projects that benefit healthier lifestyles but "when it comes to 'blue zones,' the next step is to take what we know of these communities and recreate that."

Solely looking at Fredericksburg and how "blue zone" projects could be implemented, both Bock and Valero said the concept is tangible but also a major undertaking.

In terms of funding and general process, Blue Zones Project organization officials would meet with city stakeholders to decide if residents are willing and ready to reshape the community.

If it is decided a community is ready to move forward, a site crew will meet with city planning officials and businesses to determine what projects will make the most impact.

Most funding is provided through large health insurance companies, Bock said, adding if becoming a "blue zone" community is not feasible, there is still an opportunity to socialize the idea and a small group of area supporters has already formed.

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Everything Greens looking back, looking forward By janet douberly Dean’s Plastering Services Plaster, Stucco, Drywall, Art 540.656.2399 540.419.8878 luckyluckydean@aol.com

The new year is a time when people look back over the things that happened in the past 365 days, look forward to happenings on the horizon, and make resolutions to do better. Better for themselves and better for others. We at Downtown Greens are no different. We are starting this new year by remembering how much we have accomplished with the support of the community, looking forward to all the projects, which sometimes seem like they've been years in the making, coming to fruition, and resolving to take the time and energy to nurture ourselves and our very beloved community and supporters.

2021 was a challenging year for our world. A new normal emerged and we all came out of hiding, squinting at the sun, and trying to remember how to socialize with people outside of our households.

At Downtown Greens, we threw ourselves headlong into the new seasons by having our first ever 5k, The Downtown Runaround, welcoming many

Please join with me and continue to support our Local FXBG small businesses in 2022 SUZY STONE Mobile:540.847.0630 Office: 540-898-2900 suzystone22@gmail.com C21redwood.com

Where Customer Service and Title Insurance Become One

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

new staff and board members, and embarking on a terrifying and thrilling new growth journey with the acquisition of 56 acres of farmland and wetlands. We got to host a block party for our neighbors and the community. We welcomed the amazing generosity of fitness instructors around the area who came out every week and taught us how to dance, how to stretch, how to move, and how to release. We even got to pull in some of our favorite musicians for the first time in years to get our feet moving and our blood pumping at our Backyard Benefit Concert. Through all of this we have been so moved and so grateful that we were never alone. You have all been there with us, encouraging us, supporting us, and opening your wallets.

2022 is now here and we could not be more revved and ready to go.

Because of you we have closed on the 56 acres and can now get down to the business of making it the greenspace, outdoor education center, and agricultural training center that this community deserves. With hammers aswingin', crews have begun the physical work of turning our basement into a community education kitchen. We are once again seeing the eager and smiling faces of our Garden Sprouts youngins as we show them the wonders and delicious miracles that can come out of their garden. We are looking forward to finally

getting to bring back our Youth Farm Program and Youth Garden Club kids, whom we have missed so terribly. From all of the hard work put in by our staff, board, and supporters we can now launch our Free Fridge and Pantry, teach more classes to kids and adults alike, continue to host our Free Farm Stand, and maintain our education gardens and our Take What You Need Community Solidarity Plot. We are giddy with how much we are going to be able to accomplish this coming year and completely overcome with gratitude because absolutely none of it would be possible without our community that supports us.

We here at Downtown Greens resolve to continue to support our community as much as our community supports us. Please accept this heartfelt "Thank You" from us to you. We couldn't do it without you. Happy New Year, friends.

Janet Douberly is Program Coordinator at Downtown Greens.

Founded in 1995, Downtown Greens is a non-p profit with a mission to foster community involvement and growth by protecting and nurturing urban greenspace through collaborative environmental stewardship and experimental education.Located at 206 Charles Street downtowngreens.org. Be sure to visit FXBG's Community Greenspace open from sunrise to sunset 365 days per year.

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In the Garden wINTER gREENS

By TINA WILL Several holly trees: American, Chinese, and 'Meserveae' (Blue) Holly have berries that ripen red now, and there is a yellow berried holly that is also wonderful against its foliage: Ilex x meserveae 'Golden Girl' and 'Golden Boy' (both are needed for flower and fruit set).

These, and Virginia Juniper which has the loveliest blue berries, are visible on several of my walking routes. A favorite shrub of mine, and right by my front porch, is Camelia sasanqua 'Shishigashiri.'

Don't let the name intimidate you.

The abundant bright fuchsia flowers survive cold temperatures pretty well, and put a smile on my face and lift my spirit on dreary days. The bright pink against the dark blue-green foliage is an outstanding combination.

Happy new year to all! Color is important to me, so when Winter arrives and takes most of it out of the landscape, I find myself buying more flowers for our table. But there are many beautiful shrubs and flowers outside at different times during this season. Outdoor garden tasks are few, but we chop and compost as many leaves as we can (collecting bagged leaves from neighbors) to use as a Winter mulch.

Remember that feeding your garden soil with an organic compost is the best thing you can do to encourage healthy plant and root growth.

I don't know how we'd get through Winter without evergreens, and there are many that are ready to show off with or without a white backdrop of snow.

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January 2022

We love Ferns, and have three that stay green all year round: Autumn, Christmas, and Holly. They brighten up our front yard and back woods, too, which is otherwise laden with brown fallen leaves. My husband has added some flower like bells and a hardy resident ceramic gnome, which makes everyone smile, and delights the grandchildren when they visit. I'd plant more pansies, but I'd just be feeding the deer, so I wait for crocus and daffodils. My Dafs are already poking their green noses out of the ground. I still find this alarming, but it never seems to spoil the Spring show.

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Master Gardeners don't hibernate in the Winter. In December, we welcomed the newest class that took the MG training given by VCE Agent Guy Mussey this past Fall. On January 29, 2022

we will hold our celebration of National Seed Swap Day at the Rowser Building, 1739 Jefferson Davis Hwy in Stafford (across from Log Cabin Restaurant). Plan to join us to share seeds you've saved and want to share, pick up new seeds for 2022, and hear some informative talks.

Our website: mgacra.org has information about the ideas that started the Seed Swap. (info.plantsmap.com/journal/saving-andsharing-seeds-for-a-seed-swap/). Please do not bring noxious weed seeds or invasive plant seeds. On April 2, 2022 we will hold our 9th Annual Spring Symposium: 'Made for the Shade.' Our website will have that information as well. We hope for a great and healthy new year for all, and we hope to see you at our events.

National Seed Swap Day January 29 Rowser Building, 1739 Jefferson Davis Hwy in Stafford (across from Log Cabin Restaurant)

Tina Will is a Master Gardener and lives in Stafford County. She can be reached at brianandtina.will@gmail.com

Growing & Crawling new life from old plants By janet douberly January can be a cruel and bitterly cold month that has us looking at our yards and gardens with longing for warmer times. Days when life was springing forth from the ground and our pollinator bffs were flitting around busily.

But now when we look at our gardens, we can sometimes see only the skeletons of past plants and not an insect in sight. It is during these cold months that many of us decide to tidy up our gardens so they are a blank canvas, ready for spring shoots to make their mark.

What we sometimes don't realize is that those old flower stalks and dried sticks that were once vegetable plants are already doing their job to help out this coming season. Many of our favorite pollinators and beneficial insects have gone dormant or laid their eggs inside these dry and hollow stems. The piles of leaves that have accumulated are home to many necessary insects that spend their winters burrowed and protected in these mounds.

Being a good gardener means supporting and maintaining the

ecosystem, not just on a large scale, but even our very own home ecosystem that we spend so many warm days nurturing and protecting.

This winter I encourage you to be like the bug, hunker down and take a load off, removing those old plants now can

only do harm. They'll still be there in the spring and the inhabitants inside will thank you.

Janet Douberly is Program Coordinator at Downtown Greens. learn more about things growing & crawling in Fxbg, check out our Facebook & Instagram.

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“I Have A Friend” joy

By Laurie Black have natural desire to participate in bringing happiness and companionship to seniors. And for me, I am answering God's call to serve. I am so glad MHAFred offers the Senior Visitors Program! My senior brings me great joy!” -Laura “I have always had a soft spot in my heart for seniors and now that I am one, I feel a need to help those who are not able to get out and do things. I also love talking with seniors about the "good ole days." - Darlene

As we begin a fresh, new year, I hope we can all fill our lives with a little more joy.

speaking with a visitor. The joy I perceive in my senior and their experience in this, transfers and becomes my joy”. - Rachel

Joy may start small with something as simple as a smile, but joy grows and leaves a lasting impression on our lives. Joy can help us be healthier mentally, emotionally, and physically. Joy cultivates resilience.

“I get joy from my Senior Visitor friendship that is now two old guys sitting around having lunch and telling stories”. - Peter

So, I asked the Senior Visitors Program volunteers: What brings you joy?

“Visiting a senior brings joy because you know that you are helping someone else - someone that often is just trying to live independently on their own.

Life is about helping others and developing friendships with people of all ages”. - Donna “I get joy when I hear my client laugh, talk about her concerns and just thank me for my time. It reminds me that I make a difference in her life and that is what I want to do”. - Carol “It's a wonderful thing to fill a void that a lonely individual might be experiencing. It is also a blessing in general to hear your senior talk about their life. Reminiscing about a husband who may have passed, or childhood memories of friends, family, and food!

These are things that bring joy to their day to talk about, things they may not have been able to conjure up again, without the opportunity of actively

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“I'm not sure who gives who the most. My senior, though younger than me and with more physical challenges, is a constant reminder of how wonderful life is and how fortunate we all are for our many blessings. She is truly inspirational”. - Connie “Seeing the delight in my clients' eyes when I arrive or hearing the pleasure when I call gives me great satisfaction in knowing I've brightened someone's day. Living alone can be depressing so it's rewarding to know my visits can ease that loneliness for a short time. As a senior myself, I, too, am uplifted when I share time with the senior, benefitting from remembrances of our generation. - Joyce “How does visiting my senior bring me joy? My answer lies in my favorite quote from Mother Teresa: "Never worry about numbers. Help one personal at a time, and always start with the person nearest you." -Mary “Many seniors are lonely as they experience their winter years. Because I grew up with several senior relatives, I

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“The opportunity to connect one-on one with someone who I'd probably otherwise not get to meet has been wonderful. My senior and I have shared stories about our very different upbringings, our family histories, and our experiences. Although all people have unique lives, there is a certain universality that connects us all. Seeing that emerge has been a joy for my senior and me. The more we share our stories -

as different as they are - the more we feel connected”. - Pete

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.

Laurie Black is the Senior Visitors Program Coordinator.

Robbie Burns Night Returns!

Bring a little sunshine to a senior’s life!

Too many seniors feel lonely and isolated.

Scottish Society Annual Celebration

By Wayne Amann

YOU can make a difference by volunteering to visit a senior in the Fredericksburg area.

of the Haggis and the address to it by the host or a guest.

Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish of the minced heart, lungs and liver of a sheep or calf mixed with suet, onions, oatmeal and seasonings boiled in the stomach of the animal. Tasting it is optional.

Volunteer training is provided & no special skills are required.

Following a buffet-style the meal of traditional Scottish and American favorites, various speeches and toasts are given, including a salute to Burns by the main speaker, an address to the lassies, a reply to the laddies, and the recital of various works by Burns.

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

Visit mhafred.org or call 540-371-2704

After a one year hiatus, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Scottish Society of Fredericksburg is renewing a celebration it has conducted for the last quarter century by honoring Scotland's iconic poet and lyricist Robert Burns.

Beloved the world over, "Rabbie" as he was

Treat your jewelry to the Spa Your ring cleaned and refinished for $99.

Where Fredericksburg Gets Engaged Tues-Fri: 10a-5p; Sat: 10a-4p 606 Caroline Street Old Town Fredericksburg 373-7847 www.gemstonecreations.org facebook

Your Hometown Jeweler Since 1940

On-Premise Jewelry Repair Large Selection of ESTATE JEWELRY 212 William Street,Fredericksburg 540-373-5513 Mon-Fri 9-5:30; Sat 9-4 jewelboxfredericksburgva.webs.com jewelbox14k@yahoo.com

known by his contemporaries, spoke directly to the hearts of working class Scots, celebrating their lives with warmth, insight, humor and occasional satire.

T h i s annual tradition continues Sunday Jan. 22, 2022, when his life and works will be showcased at the SSF's 26th "Robbie Burns Night," at the Holiday Inn Fredericksburg C o n f e r e n c e Center, 20 Sanford Drive.

The Scottish Society of Fredericksburg celebrates all things Scottish. Scots and their far flung kin have been remembering and honoring this perennially popular 'poet of the people' for more than 200 years around the world. The SSF links with all of them during its traditional observance.

Born on Jan. 25, 1759, in Alloway, Scotland, Burns is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is revered worldwide.

The itinerary of a formal Burns Night follows a standard order. After guests are greeted by traditional Scottish music, the host delivers a welcoming speech and the Selkirk Grace. A salad course is served followed by the evening's highlight, bagpipers signaling the arrival

The festivities conclude with everyone singing Burns' song Auld Lang Syne. Dress is evening attire. Men wear kilts or jackets and ties while women and

children wear something dressy. If you have a family tartan or Celtic style jewelry, you're encouraged to wear it. If you don't know your tartan, or don't have one, wearing wearing something plaid will do.

Admission is $60 for adults and $30 for children.

More updated information about the event will be posted on the SSF Facebook page.

Newcomers are invited to experience Burns Night and to join the Society to learn more about Scottish life, culture, history and more. So, save the date...1-22-22, and tell your friends!

Wayne Amann is the Scottish Society of Fredericksburg Publicity Chair Burns Night Scottish Celebration January 22, 2022 Holiday Inn Fredericksburg Conference Center Scottish Society of Fredericksburg @Facebook

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January 2022

11

TidBits

Become a Member

small bites of local News

By Bill Freehling permitted into another business and must be consumed on the street. Volunteers and police will be at different locations throughout to answer any questions. Cheers!

www.fredericksburgcsa.com

Fredericksburg’s Hometown Irish Pub & Restaurant Since 1961

Follow @VisitFxbg on Facebook!

We have a brand-new Facebook page that will highlight the many great things to do in the City of Fredericksburg.

Click here to check out the Visit Fredericksburg, Virginia page, and be sure to Like/Follow us!

FXBG Restaurant Week Returns Jan 14-2 23 The next edition of Fredericksburg Restaurant Week will kick off January 14 and run thru January 23.

The twice-annual event offers the perfect opportunity to sample the unique flavors of Fredericksburg's eclectic restaurants.

Menus will be shared leading up to the event at fxbgrw.com.

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

200 Hanover St. ~ 373-0738

Serving Up Local “Good” News For a Quarter Century

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January 2022

Sip & Stroll Returns Downtown Fredericksburg's Sip & Stroll officially begins on January 7th - the First Friday of the new year.

Sip & Stroll will run from 5-9 p.m. with restaurants setting up their own internal Sip & Stroll stations, providing a logo cup and creating one-of-a-kind drink specials. Participating locations for January, February and March are as follows: Benny Vitali's , Capital Ale House, Curitiba Art Café, Foode, Orofino, Rebellion, Sammy T's, Soup & Taco, Vivify Sip & Strollers will receive a wristband at the first participating location to wear throughout the event.

Drinks from one business will not be

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Main Street Wins Awards Fredericksburg VA Main Street Inc. (FVMS) recently received a 2021 Virginia Main Street (VMS) Merit Award for Best Downtown Business Promotion

for its Scan & LOVE promotion.

VMS recognizes a successful district-wide promotion or marketing campaign designed to attract customers and increase revenue for local businesses.

FVMS activated district storefronts by creating a digitally immersive experience telling a deeper story about shop owners and staff, while breaking down the barrier of the front door and inviting the consumer inside. It created curb appeal, brought Main Street to life and, most importantly, successfully supported businesses through sustained customer traffic and increased sales during the peak of the pandemic.

This business promotion was recognized for its clever approach to maintaining safety during the height of the pandemic, while engaging and driving customers through heartfelt stories to downtown businesses, even when businesses were closed. The project's creative storytelling furthers the Main Street program mission and vision by encouraging economic growth while maintaining an eye on our historical roots.

In December 2020, FVMS won Virginia's 2020 Main Street Idea Pitch competition, receiving a $5,000 award to help make the Scan & LOVE project a success.

Congrats to Main Street for these achievements!

Mimi's Vintage Cottage opens in FXBG 2800 Princess Anne Street i A small brick cottage on the corner of U.S. 1 and Princess Anne Street appears to have been in place since its construction in 1820. But this cottage, which used to be the home of the Fredericksburg Visitor Center, was originally built downtown before resting in storage for many years. But today, the cottage is home to a gift shop full of local art, knick-knacks, and blankets (most importantly blankets).

Alicia Stuck founded Mimi's Vintage Cottage in memory of her grandmother, Mimi, who passed away 32 years ago. "It's a vintage store," Stuck said, "and I thought it needed a vintage name." When she learned of the rich history behind the cottage, she knew she wanted a building with personality and a story.

The walls and tables of Mimi's Vintage Cottage are lined with handmade wooden cabinets, cutting boards, wool blankets, and a vast assortment of other items. Stuck felt it important to highlight local artists, and give them a place to show and sell their work. In that spirit, she currently sells the work of 13 vendors, resulting in 30 percent of her items being hand-m made locally. This January, also, many of her vendors will be offering classes to discuss their work.

"It's a personable place to shop."

If you are interested in becoming a vendor, you can contact Alicia Stuck at mimisvintagecottage@gmail.com or at Mimi's Vintage Cottage on Facebook.

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

Season’s Bounty

The Sunken Well Tavern

let it snow! 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

As a child growing up north of NYC, there was never a winter question Will it snow? Just WHEN will it snow? All the school buses had chains on their tires so even in half-blizzard conditions, my hatted, booted and muffled elementary school group huddled en masse waiting to hear the snapping metal long before we’d see the bus. We lived on a lake and usually

by Christmas our neighbor with his miniZamboni would be clearing a not-quiteregulation size ice hockey arena, mostly for the boys. No white skates allowed.

Huge treeless hills on the nearby golf course were overrun with sleds, toboggans, inner tubes - even a few pizza pans. Excitement and activity kept you warm at first, but it was time to drag yourself home when you finally couldn’t feel your extremities any more.

The greatest feeling was getting home, banging in the door and shedding pounds of sodden cold garments and pools of melting snow, changing into warm, dry clothes and a pair of scratchy woolen socks. Then a big bowl of soup with Louise’s Mother’s Worlds Best Grilled Cheese. My Mom’s was OK, but hers was, well, the Best. Sorry, Mom. HAM AND POTATO CHOWDER Melt 4 T. butter in large saucepan, soup pan or Dutch oven. Chop 1 medium onion and two large peeled potatoes, then sauté over medium low heat until softened, not browned. Stir in 4 T. flour to make a roux, then slowly add 2 c. chicken broth, a sprinkle of thyme, some garlic powder, ½ tsp. black pepper and 2 c. chopped ham (you can use uniformly pre-chopped ham found in plastic containers if you don’t have leftovers from a cooked ham). Simmer until potatoes are tender, then add 2 more cups chicken broth and 2 c. half and half. Bring to a low boil and thicken with a flour and water (or milk) slurry, stirring constantly.

Sprinkle the top with chopped fresh

Louise’s mom would buy the braided provolone and hand-slice it, removing the wax.

Then she would preheat her broiler, cut slices of crusty Italian loaf on the bias, sprinkle with olive oil (maybe the oil from calamata olives) and toast on both sides - then she would top each piece with several slices of the aged provolone and hand-cut thin slices from a Parmesan wedge and grill until the cheese was lightly browned and bubbly then she placed fresh basil leaves on each piece and put two pieces together to make a sandwich - the Best! Louise liked her Mom’s pickled eggplant in the middle, but I loved to dip mine in her Tomato Soup…

one large can of whole or chopped Roma tomatoes, with juice. Add 2 c. chicken broth, ¼ tsp. each basil and thyme leaves, 1-2 T. sugar, S&P to taste and a chunk of Parmesan cheese edge if available - remove before blending, though.

Simmer 15 minutes, then puree with hand-held blender or blend in batches until smooth.

Stir in 1 to 1 ½ c. heavy cream; bring to a slow simmer (so cream will not curdle).

Thicken soup with tomato paste if necessary, ladle into deep bowls, then top with fresh basil leaves cut into a chiffanade and croutons of Italian bread.

This is a thick soup, so add more chicken broth if you like a lighter tomato flavor.

LOUISE’S MOM’S TOMATO BASIL SOUP Chop one large onion and sauté with several cloves of garlic in olive oil, over medium heat in Dutch oven until onion is just soft. Stir in one large can of Italian pureed or crushed tomatoes and

Vanessa Moncure requests “just a bit of snow. But any day you see snow, you’ll know I’ll be making soup!”

Our Store is Open

parsley and serve with…

LOUISE’S MOTHER’S WORLD’S BEST GRILLED CHEESE Really being from the South (I was born in MS) pretty much the only cheese I knew anyone cooked with was either Velveeta or yellow American. My taste buds were in for a shock when Dad was transferred to NYC. I can still smell the tangy, garlicky, waxy, spicy, yeasty aroma from our local Italian market.

320 Patriot Hwy fxbgfoodcoop@gmail.com fredericksburgfoodcoop.com front porch fredericksburg

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13

Empty Bowl Coming Home to LibertyTown

bY Kathleen Harrigan

In 2000, the Empty Bowl tradition was brought to Fredericksburg by local potters. Over the last twentythree years, these skilled Fredericksburg artists have helped raise funds for the vital support of survivors of domestic violence in our community. What a generous gift of their time and their talents!

On January 30, Empowerhouse will continue the tradition by bringing the Empty Bowl fundraiser to LibertyTown Arts Workshop! This is such a fitting place to be! LibertyTown is the year-round home studio and gallery for many of the talented potters who support this event and D.D. and Ken Lecky (current owners of LibertyTown) have continued to host Bowl-A-Rama, an event focused entirely on making bowls for the Empty Bowl for years.

Across the years, the Empty Bowl has been a bright spot of smiles and good food breaking up the cold days of winter.

The potluck offering of delicious soups, breads and desserts; family style-table comradery; and live music has fostered a heightened awareness of domestic violence in our community and increased support for Empowerhouse's crucial programs and services.

For safety's sake, this will be the second year that the Empty Bowl will be set up outside. Gathering in the art-lined, outdoor courtyard of LibertyTown will help keep 2022 Covid-safe. Holding the event at LibertyTown feels like we have come home, and who doesn't need a little comfort these days.

14

January 2022

When you sponsor or purchase a ticket for the 2022 Empty Bowl, you are supporting survivors of domestic violence across our community. This year, we'll have beautiful bowls and a bag of treats for each participant, cookies and hot chocolate to warm our hearts and hands, outdoor heaters to take away the worst of the cold, and music to cheer us along on a winter's day.

In 2022, you'll have the option of selecting your bowl or choosing curbside pickup. If you sponsor the event, you have an additional option - delivery! Learn more by visiting our Empty Bowl Event Page at empowerhouseva.org. As a sponsor or ticket holder, you will support Empowerhouse and the work we do to end domestic violence in our community.

Make a plan to join us at LibertyTown on Sunday, January 30 (11 am - 2 pm) where all bowls are beautiful and the art inside is hot even when the weather is cold outside. Advance ticket sales only. No on-site ticket sales. [Note LibertyTown will be open from 10 am- 6 pm for you to visit and shop.] We'll turn the patio heaters on and warm up some hot chocolate in anticipation of your arrival.

Kathleen Harrigan, Empowerhouse Board member, has been involved with the Empty Bowl since 2004. If you have any questions, please contact her at kcharrigan@gmail.com to chat about the Empty Bowl and Empowerhouse.

23rd Annual Empty Bowl January 30 LibertyTown Arts Workshop

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

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

Vino

Now Serving Lunch

Sparkling & White Wines $6 Weekday Lunch Specials 11am - 2pm Daily 540-373-8300 620 Caroline St. FXBG, VA

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

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

540-898-0737

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

by Rita Allan While wine is gone after its contents have been enjoyed, the experience of sharing the bottle with friends and family lives on. The world is fast-paced these days, and being able to sit down and spend time with each other is one of the most precious gifts one can give. Here are some of our new year choices to gift and to share with those you love.

As the old saying goes, "all that glitters, is not gold" and we couldn't agree more. Sparkling wines glitter in your glass much to the enjoyment of everyone, and make any and every occasion a celebration. Our recommendations include Champagnes, like the Roland Champion Grand Cru Blanc de Blanc, which is 100 percent Chardonnay with fresh bread notes along with flavors of apples, pears, and baking spices. Another Champagne option is the Bauget Jouette Carte Blanche, which is 60 percent Chardonnay, 30 percent Pinot Meunier, and 10 percent Pinot Noir. This wine has a beautiful, fruity aromas of apples and grapefruit along with plums and hazelnuts. Its fruity nose reveals hints of fresh apples, grapefruit, plums, and hazelnuts, along with a richness and long finish. Our third Champagne option is Champagne Coutier Brut Grand Cru, which is a blend of 75 percent Pinot Noir and 25 percent Chardonnay. The Coutier has delicate bubbles and bright acidity, with light floral aromas paired with complementary flavors of apples, citrus, and brioche.

A local favorite sparkling wine is Thibaut-JJanisson Xtra Brut, which is grown and made here in Virginia. This wine is made from 100 percent Chardonnay, in the exact same manner as Champagne with secondary fermentation in the bottle. Since the Thibaut-Janisson and the Roland Champion are both made from 100 percent Chardonnay, a gift box including both wines might make for an interesting compare-and-contract experience. For another compare-andcontrast gift, pair the Champagne Coutier with Argyle Winery Vintage Brut Grower Series, which is from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. This wine is made from 70 percent Pinot Noir, 20 percent Chardonnay, and 10 percent Pinot Meunier, which is close to the blend in the Coutier.

For years, Viognier was the signature grape of Virginia for marketing purposes. If you have friends who are lovers of Virginia Viogniers, consider a gift of a Condrieu. Condrieu is in the Northern Rhone valley in France, and is considered

the home of Viognier. We have the Les Vins de Vienne Cuilleron Gaillard Villard Condrieu "La Chambee" available in the store, along with VA Viogniers from Bluestone Vineyards and Gabriele Rausse.

Consider two bottles to have a comparison tasting of Viognier, from its home in Condrieu, to its adoptive home in Virginia.

Other white wine options, include a Sancerre with the Alphones Mellot la Moussiere 2017 for your favorite Sauvignon Blanc drinker. Sancerre is considered some of the best Sauvignon Blanc in the world. We also have Sauvignon Blancs from Sancerre, Loire (outside of Sancerre), and Marlborough, New Zealand, available for gifting.

We have a few options for unusual white grapes to share with your family and friends including a lovely dry Scheurbe with the Wirsching Iphofer Scheurebe Kabinett Trocken 2014.

Scheurbe is a relative of the Riesling grape. The wine has great flavors of grapefruit, tangerine, apricot, and lychee.

The Edi Simcic Slovenia Malvasia 2017is made from the Malvazua (Malvasia) grape.

This wine is intensely fruity, with aromas of fresh and dried peaches and apricots, with a hint of salinity on the finish.

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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January 2022

15

CALEND january 2022...May Your New Year be Filled With Many Blessings Saturday January 1

Adventure Brewing Live Music featuring the area's best local artists Adventure North 7-9p

Art First "Red Tag Sale" Opening Reception 5-9pm. Sale continues throughout January

Happy 2022

First Day Hike Mott Run Reservior, 9a-Noon, Start the New Year off right by spending the first day out in Nature! Bring out the whole family to take a hike on one of the many trails at Motts Run Reservoir and enjoy a fun activity along the way.

Sunday January 2

Sunken Well Tavern Sunday Brunch, 720 Littlepage til 1p Sunday Brunch @ Billiken's Smokehouse @The Chimneys, 623 Caroline

"Winter White", Joan Powell, "Antique Blooms" @FCCA, 813 Sophia St "Red Tag Sale" All Member show & sale, Opening reception, 6-9p, Brush Strokes Gallery, Opening , Dec. 3, 6-9p, 824 Caroline St. "Winter White Sale", Artful Dimensions All Member Show & Sale, opening reception, 6-9p

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

Adventure Brewing Live Music featuring the area's best local artists Adventure Brewing Eagle Village 7-9p

Monday January 3

Saturday January 8

The artists of Johnny Johnson's Watermedia Workshop are hosting their annual exhibit in the theater of the FXBG CRRL, 1201 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, 22401, from January 3 through February 23. Free. For library hours, visit librarypoint.org or call 540-372-1144

Tuedsday January 4

Live Music @ Rec Center, Monochromatic Black, 6:60p, 213 Willaim St

Wednesday January 5

Adventure Brewing Live Music featuring the area's best local artists Adventure North 7-9p

Sunday January 9

Sunken Well Tavern Sunday Brunch, Dine-In, Take-Out, & Delivery. 720 Littlepage til 1p

Trivia on the Patio, Sunken Well at 6:30pm Jeopardy nights at Adventure Eagle Village 7:30 pm.

Wednesday January 12

Live Music @the Rec Center, Komrads, I Ya Toyah, STCLVR, 6-10:30p, 213 William ST UnFamily Feud @ Adventure North, 8- 10pm, 33 Perchwood Dr #101, Join us for the ultimate unfamily friendly fun! (ADULT humor)

First Friday January 7

Downtown Fredericksburg's Sip & Stroll officially begins. 5-9 p.m. with restaurants setting up their own internal Sip & Stroll stations, providing a logo cup and creating one-of-a-kind drink specials. Cheers!

Twelfth Night at Kenmore: A Dramatic Performance. Early January 1776 and the first Christmas that Fielding and Betty Washington Lewis celebrate in their newly built home. In the 18th century, December 25 was just the start of Christmas, a twelve-day celebration that ended on Twelfth Night. This final night was the most festive of the holiday season, if not of the entire year! Twelfth Night 1776 is not the usual joyous atmosphere, however. The Revolutionary War brings fear, & doubt, to the Lewis family, their friends, and Kenmore's enslaved community. Wearing masks are required $ performance thru Jan 9

Become a Friend Advocate ~ Donate ~ Volunteer

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

January 2022

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Adventure Brewing Live Music fea Adventure North 7-9p

Saturday January 15

Vulture Virtues, Vultures are the They are the best sanitation engin disease, and one of the largest sp opportunity to come out t (www.earthquest.org) and learn a impact on our environment. You wi personal with a few of these creatu

FXBG Snowball Fight Melee Held sn must be accompanied by adults. Th all melee" event.kids area for child fight game following the melee. The snowball bucket toss, the snowball knockdown. 3-5pm FXBG Nationals

Adventure Brewing Live Music fea Adventure Brewing Eagle Village 7-

Sunday Brunch @ Billiken's Smokehouse @The Chimneys, 623 Caroline Bluegrass on the Patio, Sunken Well Tavern 6-8pm

Thursday January 6

"Winter" @Artist Alliance, Members art work in many disciplines. 100 website artgallerycolonialbeach.com

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

Thursday January 13

FXBG Food CoOP, Book Group, 1p. January is suggestion month! At this meeting, we'll talk about books we think would be good reads for future meetings. Let's put together a list of compelling titles to keep us engaged through the coming year! 320 Jeff Davis HWY UnFamily Feud @ Adventure North, 8- 10pm, 33 Perchwood Dr #101, Join us for the ultimate unfamily friendly fun! (ADULT humor)

Friday January 14

Live Music @the Rec Center, Scissor 213 William St

Adventure Brewing Live Music fea Adventure North 7-9p

Sunday, January 16

Sunken Well Tavern Sunday Brunch Littlepage til 1p

Sunday Brunch @ Billiken's Smokeh

Bluegrass on the Patio, Sunken We

Celebrate the Birth of a Patriot H celebration at the Hugh Mercer A Shop. Refreshments will be se played.FREE, info 540-373-3362

Restaurant Week Begins in Downtown It's one of best weeks of the year!

This semi-annual event is the perfect opportunity to sample some of Downtown FXBG’s local dining scene. Thru Jan 23, FxbgRW.com for menus & participating resturants

Concert Series, Hazel Run, Local fav music! Concert is free with donati Church, 905 Princess Anne, 3pm

Adventure Brewing Live Music featuring the area's best local artists Adventure North 7-9p

Martin Luther King Day

Monday January 17

DAR of events

s will be presenting wintry influenced Taylor St, Suite 101 Colonial Beach m,Facebook :cbartistsalliance

Tuesday January 18

aturing the area's best local artists

Trivia on the Patio, Sunken Well at 6:30pm 720 Littlepage

Great Lives Series, 7:30 p.m, Umw Dodd Aud website for topic/presenter

Jeopardy nights at Adventure Eagle Village 7:30 pm.

Friday January 28

Great Lives Series, 7:30 p.m, Umw Dodd Aud Visit website for topic

Wednesday January 19

Thursday January 27

FXBG Food CoOP Vegan Wine Dinner, 7-8:30p Come enjoy an evening of Wine Tasting , great food & great company, 320 Emancipation HWY $

unsung heroes of the natural world. eers you could ask for, impervious to pecies of bird in our area. Take this o Motts Run with Earthquest about these cool creatures and the ill have the chance to get up close and ures as well. 2-3p

Thursday January 20

Live Music @Highmark Brewery, Ronnie Richards, 70's & 80;s Rock, 6-9p, 390 Kings Hwy

UnFamily Feud @ Adventure North, 8- 10pm, 33 Perchwood Dr #101,

Live Music: SteadFast Resolve Band debuts at the Fraternal Order of Eagles #4123! 21 Cool Springs Rd, 8p

now or shine, children 10 and under he snowball fight will be a fun "free for dren 10 & under organized snowball ere will be mini games to play like the chin race and the snowball cup tower Ballpark, $

Adventure Brewing Eagle Village Live Music 7-9p

aturing the area's best local artists -9p

rfist, Trival Difference, & More, 6:40p,

aturing the area's best local artists

h, Dine-In, Take-Out, & Delivery. 720

Great Lives Series, 7:30 p.m, UMW Dodd Aud website for topic/presenter

Friday January 21

Live Music @the Rec Center, Labyrinth of Hymns Tour, 6-11:30p

LIVE Music @KC"s Music Alley Central Station Adventure Brewing North Live Music 7-9p

Saturday January 22

Mary Poppins Tea, Belle Grove Plantation,Just a spoonful of sugar and delicious treats and your afternoon tea will be supercalifragil , 1p, 9221 Belle Grove Rd The Scottish Society of FXBG's annual Robbie Burns Night honoring Scotland's National Bard, Holiday Inn FXBG Conference Center, 20 Sanford Lane. Social hour 5 pm, festivities 6 pm, UMW Eagle Pipe Band, & Highland Dancers; DragonFyre performs Celtic music Live Music Sirens & Demons @KC's Music Alley Central Station, 1917 Princess Anne St, 7-11:30p Joe Clair Comedy Night @KC's Music Alley Central Station, 9pm

house @The Chimneys, 623 Caroline

Adventure Brewing North Live Music 7-9p

ll Tavern 6-8pm

Sunday January 23

Hugh Mercer, Noon-4pm - A birthday Apothecary Shop open house at the erved and bagpipe music will be

vorite returns with folk and bluegrass ions accepted at the door St George

Sunken Well Tavern Sunday Brunch, 720 Littlepage til 1p Sunday Brunch @ Billiken's Smokehouse @The Chimneys, 623 Caroline

Adventure North Brewing Live Music

Saturday, January 29

FXBG Drive-In Movie Series: Tom and Jerry at Old Mill Park Gates open at 5pm Movie starts at 6pm Admission is FREE For info: fxbgparks.com Adventure Brewing Live Music featuring the area's best local artists Adventure North 7-9p

January 30

Empowerhouse celebrates the potters of the Empty Bowl by bringing the 23rd Empty Bowl Fundraiser to LibertyTown Arts Workshop where so many of the beautiful ceramic bowls are created.

Sunken Well Tavern Sunday Brunch, Dine-In, Take-Out, & Delivery. 720 Littlepage til 1p Sunday Brunch @ Billiken's Smokehouse @The Chimneys, 623 Caroline Bluegrass on the Patio, Sunken Well Tavern 6-8pm “Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?”, Riverside Center for the Performing Arts , 95 Riverside Parkway, 3-5p 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. Masks are required.

Bluegrass on the Patio, Sunken Well Tavern 6-8pm Live Music, Counter Eclipse @the Rec Center "I Met a Yeti" 6-10p

Tuesday January 25

Great Lives Series, 7:30 p.m, Umw Dodd Aud website for topic

Wednesday January 26

Trivia on the Patio, Sunken Well at 6:30pm 720 Littlepage

If you are reading this 294th issue of FPF, thank an advertiser as we celebrate our 25th year of continuous publication!

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

Jeopardy nights at Adventure Eagle Village 7:30 pm..

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

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

January 2022

17

history’s stories

Winter 1862-11 863

History in Our Backyard

By Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks

most famous flank attack of the Civil War By terry rensell Major Robert F. Beckham (pictured) was given command of the Stuart Horse Artillery after the mortal wounding for Major John Pelham at Kelly's Ford in March of 1863.

The winter of 1862-63 was the darkest for the Army of the Potomac during the entire war between the states. The devastating loss at Fredericksburg on December 13th, along with many of the units had been through Pope's Virginia campaign that was a rout, along with Antietam had left the army depressed and now in winter quarters along the cold and dismal Rappahannock river. With one more low point to be known as the "MUD MARCH", where the Army of the Potomac would leave their camps on January 20, 1863, only to become bogged down in the rain and mud, forcing them to return to their former camps for the rest of the winter.

The Christmas of 1862 came less than two weeks after the battle of Fredericksburg. The local citizens returned only to find their homes destroyed with furniture and windows broken and any items of value stolen by the invading Union Army. A group of the Southern troops came into the town and helped the residents repair their homes. Letters written by Union soldiers said that the Southern troops had visited across the river and traded tobacco for coffee and other items. Union and Confederate soldiers decorated Christmas trees and played Santa Clause.

It was after the ill-fated Mud March that the winter became extremely icy and cold with the temperatures hovering near zero. The troops North and South had built huts by digging into the earth and putting log sides with crude fireplaces for heat. It is written that there were no longer any large trees within Stafford County or any wooden fences since firewood was in such demand. One letter from a New Jersey soldier said that the entire Brigade had to move camp a mile from the old camp due to the lack of firewood.

along with thousands of his troops. Today the remains of the hut sites are still visible. Some of the hut sites are ten feet in depth as the soldiers found that the depth would help them stay warm in the frigid environment. The extreme cold along with the ice and snow made it difficult to obtain supplies and provisions for both armies. Many of the Union supplies came from Washington and the Southern Army supply line was out of Richmond. Today that is a quick trip of approximately two hours at the most. In 1862 it would have been two days in mild weather, however, with the snow and ice and deep mud it could take a week or longer. The trains were running but the weather delayed their movement.

Both sides experienced desertions especially the Union with over three hundred per day due to the recent defeats and the conditions in the Army. A large number of the officers and troops were disappointed with Ambrose Burnside replacing the popular General George McClellan. General Burnside did not last long as he was replaced on, by General Joseph Hooker on January 26, 1863.

Interesting point was that General Burnside had proposed the dismissal of General Hooker, as being unfit to hold command because General Hooker was critical of Burnside. This order was never issued as Burnside was relieved of his command before his order was issued.

Years after the Civil War was over soldiers in both armies would talk and write about the terrible winter of 1862-63 and how they had dug a "hole in the ground" to keep warm. Today we can still see those depressions in the woods where the Civil War Soldiers spent the winter of 1862-1863, 160 years ago.

Dedicated to : Wayne Morris, John Hopkins, Jorrice, David Wright, & Linden White Tuffy is Front Porch’s Resident Historian

Moss Neck was a large plantation of the Corbin family and Stonewall Jackson chose that site as his winter quarters

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On May 2, 1863, Lieutenant General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson took the Second Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia along the trails of Chancellorsville and through the wilderness of Spotsylvania County to come out of the right flank of the Union's Army of the Potomac. As the Confederate soldiers waited, hidden in the woods, the Union's XI Corps had no idea that they were there.

A little after 5:00 p.m., Jackson's commanders confirmed to him that they, and their men, were ready.

He then gave his famous command, "You can go forward, then." Thus began the most famous flank attack of the Civil War, as the Second Corps charged into the open fields on the Army of the Potomac's right flank.

Two of the guns of the Stuart Horse Artillery, that Major Beckham now commanded, moved east along the Orange Turnpike, taking full advantage of the rolling terrain along the road, they used the rises of high ground to fire into the panicked Union soldiers. The tactics perfected by Pelham were used to profound effect by Beckman.

Just to the east of the intersection of the Orange Turnpike and the Orange Plank Road, Colonel Adolphus Buschbeck, a brigade commander in the 2nd Division of the Union XI Corps, was able to form a defensive line. Known as the "Buschbeck Line," he was able to delay Jackson's advance for a brief period of

time. Beckman moved his guns into position on a small knoll, just west of the intersection, and resumed firing into the Union troops, causing Buschbeck to fall back, allowing the assault to continue.

It was here that "Stonewall" Jackson said, "Young Man, I congratulate you," to Major Beckham. The Central Virginia Battlefields Trust is currently in the process of preserving this piece of land forever. To learn more, please go to www.cvbt.org/beckham-tract.

Founded in 1996, the mission of Central Virginia Battlefields Trust is to preserve land associated with the four major campaigns: Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness and Spotsylvania. To date CVBT has preserved over 1,550 acres of historic battlefield.

Terry Rensell is the Executive Director of CVBT

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What’s in A Tiltyard?

Mercer Fairgrounds By jon gerlach stables, watering troughs, blacksmith, and latrines. The upper part, between Littlepage and Shepherd Streets, is likely the site of the tiltyard and spectator area.

On a lovely autumn day, colorful pennants flutter in the breeze. The crowd grows large, and a bit nervous. The seconds tick by, endlessly. Children are hoisted atop their parents' shoulders to see what's about to happen. Suddenly a handkerchief falls to the ground, and the action is on. Two heavily armored knights on horseback gallop furiously towards one another, lances leveled ...

Imagine the incredible force of two knights on horseback, combined weight of more than a ton, thundering towards each other at high speed. The force of impact - a head-on collision concentrated at the tip of that lance -- is simply colossal.

An ancient form of combat adapted for entertainment, jousting was done in a field called a "tiltyard". We know about early tiltyards from Medieval times.

Famously, evidence of the tiltyard of King Henry VIII was recently discovered at Greenwich Palace by archaeologist Simon Withers, using ground penetrating radar.

While competing in a joust there in 1536, the King was severely injured in a nasty fall from his horse. Some scholars believe his jousting accident caused a traumatic brain injury; a turning point that permanently changed the King's personality, and with it, the trajectory of English history. But that's another story.

Jousting in Virginia was an extremely popular spectator sport in the first half of the 1800s, but it differed from Medieval jousting. Instead of two armored knights trying to unseat each other, a single rider festooned in colorful attire (not armor) attempted to drive his lance through brass rings suspended along the tiltyard in front of the judge's area. The horseman who speared the most rings was declared the winner, entitling him to dance with the maiden of his choice at a grand ball afterwards. This was the civilized form of the sport: nimble horsemanship and a cool hand was the order of the day.

At Fredericksburg's Agricultural Fair in the 1850s, "ring tournaments" were held at Mercer Fairgrounds, located near the Stratton House and Innis House. Also known as Mercer Square, this was a 10 acre enclosure bounded roughly by today's Mercer, Weedon, Wolfe, and Shepherd Streets. A tall, sturdy wooden fence of vertical boards surrounded the site, which kept out prying eyes (and discouraged young rascals from avoiding the main gates).

Mercer Fairgrounds was essentially a split-level piece of open ground. Researchers believe that the lower (or downhill) part, roughly between Littlepage and Weedon Streets, housed the

At the start of the Civil War, the land became a Confederate training camp (see sketch), and months later, a bloody battlefield. After the Civil War, the site of the old fairgrounds began to sprout houses, and today the terrain is completely covered by the Fairview Neighborhood.

An attorney and retired archaeologist, Jon Gerlach serves on Fredericksburg's City Council, Ward Two. Sketch of Mercer Square in 1861

by Frank O'Reilly, courtesy npsfrsp.wordpress.com, 1-26-2011.

Interestingly, the carousel ride we enjoy at amusement parks today -- on some carousels you can even reach for a brass ring -- likely evolved in the late 1800s from the "ring tournament" form of jousting; so in a sense, the sport still lives on for children of all ages!

So what's in a Tiltyard? Here, a once-lively place that rests now, silently, just beneath our feet.

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 when a loved one suffers from depression By indiana lee Take Care Of Yourself Wanting to take care of your partner is a good thing, but it cannot always be your top priority.

You can't take care of someone when you're completely burnt out physically or mentally. You may not struggle with depression yourself, but you are more likely to experience mental health struggles if you're not prioritizing your own well-being. You might start to feel overly stressed, tired and anxious if you're worrying about your partner all the time.

Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions in the world; in fact, 19.4 million people have at least one depressive episode each year.

Accordingly, you likely know someone who lives with depression - maybe even someone who struggles with it daily.

When that someone is your partner, and depression develops a presence in your everyday life, it's important to find healthy ways to cope.

You may ask yourself: How can you love and support your partner while making your own mental health a priority? What can you do to help them, yourself and your relationship all at once?

Here are a few suggestions to get started.

Learn And Grow With Them Because depression is a common mental health condition, most people have a general familiarity with the typical ways in which it manifests. However, everyone experiences depression differently. Many of the core symptoms are the same, such as loss of interest in normal activities, changes in sleeping or eating habits and feelings of guilt or worthlessness. But your partner may experience less commonly known symptoms, like anxiety or anger.

They also might be highly functional on some days and in a nonfunctional depressive state the next.

When you're in a relationship with someone with depression, learning more about mental illness should be your first step. There are plenty of widely circulated myths about depression, so doing your research or asking your partner to share their experience with you is important. This dialogue can strengthen your communication skills, improve your relationship and boost your emotional intelligence.

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Growing this "emotional intelligence" - and developing traits like empathy and self-awareness - can help you to feel more in-tune with and connected to your partner. When you're acutely in touch with both your partner's and your own emotional well-being, you both can be there for each other on a deeper level.

Support Your Partner When you love someone, seeing them hurting or struggling in any way can be heartbreaking. It can often seem like there is no "right" way to support them.

Perhaps you try a gentle approach one day and a firmer one the next, only to feel like nothing is working. You might even try taking clues from TV shows that depict depression accurately, like "This is Us." Unfortunately, the fact that depression impacts people differently means that not even the best screenwriters in the world can always get it exactly right.

One of the best things you can do is to simply talk to your partner and ask what they need. Ask what you can do to help them feel supported. It's also important to maintain balance within the relationship and keep things as consistent as possible. Be compassionate with their needs and understand that those needs may change.

Additionally, it can be helpful to focus on the positive aspects of your relationship and highlight them to your partner. You can also plan something you know they'll enjoy. Or, do something that might boost their spirits, like setting up a date night at home if they don't feel up to going out. Planning a movie marathon, cooking them dinner or having a game night are all great ways for your partner to stay in their comfort zone while allowing you to reconnect and get closer as a couple.

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ble at Availa n.com Amazo

It's not selfish to put your own mental health first. In fact, doing so will allow you to better support your partner because you'll have the drive, energy and focus to attend to their needs. Self-care doesn't have to be something over-the-top and luxurious. There are things you can do each day to boost your mental health: Exercising Practicing mindfulness Journaling Making sleep a priority Doing activities you enjoy Practicing gratitude If you love someone with depression, remember that you're not alone. It can be helpful to talk to someone else about your life and what you're dealing with. You don't have to carry the weight of your relationship on your shoulders or sacrifice your well-being in order to support your partner. You can love them and support them while still taking care of yourself.

Indiana Lee has a passion for the environment and wellness.

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

Astrology for You A language of planetary patterns that connect us with universal energies.

We are born with unique configurations that can advise us, guide us, help us grow to our highest potential Consultations by Four Winds Astrology. LLC 540.845.7622 FourwindsastrologyLLC@gmail.com

Have You Tried Acupuncture?

Emancipated Patients don’t get diabetes

By Patrick Neustatter, MD

Call Now to Schedule 540.847.6985 AcupunctureFredericksburg.com

The guy I saw the other day was there with a twisted ankle. "So" he asked, "why did the nurse need to ask me about my blood pressure and if there's diabetes in the family?"

It didn't have much to do with his ankle it's true, but what he didn't know is that at the Moss Clinic we're running a program to screen for a serious medical problem that affects a third of the population. But of that third, nine out of ten people don't know they've got it.

The Problem What we're screening for is prediabetes - where fasting blood glucose is elevated, in the 100 to 125 mg/dl range (it shouldn't be more than 99 mg/dl - and above 125 mg/dl is in the full blown diabetes range) I tell my patients "don't get diabetes" - this because the toxic effects of e l e v a t e d glucose, and the oxidative stress it causes is so widespread and pernicious. It causes damage to large and small blood vessels resulting in neuropathy (painful inflammation of the nerves), nephropathy (damage to the kidney) coronary artery and generalized vascular disease - resulting in heart attacks and heart failure, and poor circulation to the feet in particular (it is the commonest cause of foot amputation). It also effects the eyes and is a common cause of acquired blindness.

So detecting it and "nipping it in the bud" is a good thing. Unfortunately, we are becoming less active and eating more processed and fast foods, which promotes diabetes and obesity.

Instigated by Natalia GiscombeSimons as part of a nursing doctorate program she is doing at VCU, and partly funded by a grant from Virginia Diabetes Council, Moss Clinic is doing a trial of a questionnaire based on the American Diabetes Association Risk Test. This asks about history of blood pressure, family history of diabetes, amount of exercise as well as ethnicity, sex and weight to identify people at risk.

Anyone scoring a 5 or more has their Hemoglobin A1c measured (an indicator of what the blood sugar has averaged over the preceding 90 days The Challenge These at risk pre-diabetics need to change their diet and lifestyle. A

challenge that is taken on by YMCA explained Associate Community Health Director for the Fredericksburg branch, Nicole McGee. They run courses with classes consisting of 25 sessions run over a whole year. "People really benefit from being in a group and learning from each other" noted McGee. People do find this a bit daunting though, one of the teachers, certified Lifestyle coach Zakia Wichowki told me. But they "are motivated by concern about developing full -blown diabetes."

She is motivated to teach others, Wichowki told me, being diabetic herself though she presumably practices what she preaches, as she told me "I've had no diabetes in the last 15 years."

Despite pre-diabetes being so common, people are still surprised and upset when they are diagnosed, she told me. And still find it hard "to give up their favorite foods like cheesy fries" - which she seems to see as the epitome of what you shouldn't eat.

They also tend to feel ashamed, and uncomfortable about coming to a gym. "They'd much rather just take a pill" she told me.

Smart But Simple This is a work in progress to an extent, but the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) - that expert panel that advises on what interventions are worthwhile - recommends screening all adults between 35 and 70 years for prediabetes - especially anyone overweight.

In the US with its runaway development of ever more high-tech, expensive, interventions, it's gratifying to see a common-sense, low tech, highly effective - but unfortunately not particularly sexy - program, that has huge potential benefit to shine the light on this very common and potentially very serious problem.

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

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A Letter to Downtown REFLECTIONS

by Ann Glave Embrace the seasons and cycles of your life. There is magic in change . - Bronnie Ware

907 Princess Anne Street, Downtown Fredericksburg Eight years have passed since I was hired as Fredericksburg Main Street's first Executive Director. My, the time has flown by! It's been a project of love - and #LoveFXBG. This story starts with the City's Exploration Task Force investigating historic preservation, economic development and National Main Street. Richard Trembley, Karen Hedelt and the Economic Development Authority (EDA) were constant supporters. And two downtown business owners - Paul Cymrot of Riverby Books and Scarlett Pons of PONSHOP Studio - made it a reality after two years of dedicated work getting the buy-in from the downtown businesses. Without Andi Gabler's encouragement, I wouldn't be here today.

I would like to acknowledge the first official Board of Directors, who in 2013 worked tirelessly to bring the vision of Main Street to fruition.

And the story is not complete without mentioning Tom Crimmins. Tom was my mentor with the EDA. He is a gentle wise soul who guided me from the start.

I will miss connecting the dots.

It's the collaboration that makes Downtown strong. My heart is happy when I can bring a buyer and seller together for a business sale, solve a business need or be an ear and brainstorm solutions.

There have been many accomplishments over the years resulting from dedicated volunteers working together: $266,900 in grants awarded to Main Street since I came on board.

Over 23,000 volunteer hours.

24 planters with two seasonal plantings every year.

A brand for Fredericksburg Main Street and Downtown. Don't you love the banners in Market Square Alley?!

New promotions like #LoveFXbg, Thunder Alley, Scarecrows are Coming, Treats on the Streets, and Small Business Saturday.

Downtown Gift Cards.

Open Late initiative.

Scan & Love, creative storytelling about our historic buildings using QR codes, is

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the winner of both Virginia Main Street's Best Business Promotion Merit Award and Pitch Award.

A Downtown Affair, a community dinner celebrating our historic and vibrant downtown, winner of Virginia Main Street's Outstanding Fundraising Effort Award.

Our first text to donate Power of 100 campaign which raised over $15,000 for more bike racks, trash cans and planters.

Two bike repair stations and a water bottle filler for Riverfront Park resulted from the selling of raffle tickets to win the City of Fredericksburg's box for a Fred Nats game. " The Otter-lly Amazing Public Art Project, a series of bronze otters cast by local artists Steven and Stuart Wegner of Wegner Arts Foundry, to be installed in various downtown locations.

The companion Otter-lly Amazing Board Game, designed by Pete Morelewicz of Print Jazz, to raise monies in support of the otter installations.

There is a strong love for Downtown. And you came out in droves to support Downtown in the midst of the pandemic and civil unrest. The City of Fredericksburg - the Departments of Community Planning and Building; Economic Development and Tourism; Parks, Recreation and Events; and Public Works - the Economic Development Authority and our numerous community partners, along with our downtown stakeholders, have been instrumental in the success of Fredericksburg Main Street over the years.

Now it is time for a new leader.

The friendships and memories I have will always be a bright spot in my time here. I wish Fredericksburg Main Steet the best as the Board of Directors embarks in a new direction.

Warmly, Ann Photo of Ann & her son

by Dirt Road Photography

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www.donatelifevirginia.org

Life Coaching Living Skillfully in our world

By Marcia Grimsley

Auto Known Better Life viewed through a windshield

By Rim Vining "I wonder if there are junkyards in heaven?"

That's how Autoknown Better started 22 years ago and now that I am that much closer to reaching the Pearly Garage doors I'm hoping that heavenly "Pick-a-Part" locations have expanded and are part of the master plan. I'm not sure on which one of the six days they were created but I have faith that somewhere between the Duckbill Platypus, Yellowstone and the Northern Lights, SHE/HE found time to provide so that SHE/HE would have something to do on HER/HIS day off.

Ever wonder what SHE/HE drives?

The months of January and February signal the start of the "real winter." Let's face it. Winter is not an easy time of the year to love. We often feel a mood change from the excitement of the holidays. So, how can we make peace with the winter season and make good use of cold days? This winter is particularly challenging because we are being forced to stay indoors even more because of COVID19. Over time, I have collected some winning winter tips that you may find helpful.

Relax and Care for Yourself During These Colder Months…

Allow winter to be just what it is, a quieter, less active time. Take the opportunity to view nature's wonderland through a windowpane. You might light those holiday gift candles and listen to your collection of music. Remember that pile of books waiting to be read? Dive in and let them take you into worlds of wisdom and suspense.

Let us now turn our attention to self-care. The winter months provide a wonderful opportunity to begin making "you" a priority. When we turn our focus on ourselves, many of us start looking at our health and wind up distressed about our weight. Why not decide this can be the season for nurturing yourself into your ideal weight. Healthy, nurturing food and indoor exercise are a winning combination.

Stay Indoors and Benefit from the Art of Meditation …

Have you ever wanted to learn to meditate? Start this winter! The benefits of meditation are numerous, for both your physical and emotional body. There are so many opportunities to study this

quieting and reflective practice in your home. Online classes, meditation books, and phone apps are available.

This Winter Make Use of Indoor Time to Organize and Utilize Creativity …

Working in your home to "organize and clear out" makes sense during the winter. Maybe you have been thinking about doing this for awhile.

Videos online are available to support you in this endeavor. Why not start today!

Take up your old hobbies again, or begin something new. Have the courage to expand your talents and your creative side.

Stay Connected to Others…

Take time to cultivate relationships, even though this can pose a challenge during COVID. Keep up with friends and family by phone, internet, or Facetime. Good emotional health will be supported by these activities.

Make the effort to move through these winter months with courage. Try to enjoy this season, rather than spending the time wishing for spring. Remember that your joy is found in the present moment!

Marcia Grimsley, BA, MS, is a Professional Life Coach She offers Personal, Career & Business and Health & Welllbeing Coaching Contact her at 540-785-4104 or www.marciaslifecoaching.com

So it's been six years since my last column and so much has passed through the windshield from actually owning a new car (I drive a 71 MG daily if possible and the new car went away quickly - boring) and now I'm actually thinking of how to wire in a car-charging station by the driveway. Change is in the air.

I wrote about a lot of things like do cars truly have gender? "Wow she's a sweet ride!" and "Boy is he fun to drive!"

I also wondered if they had a particular 'orientation' but now that there are more 'orientations' than points on a compass a manufacturer's full line-up has to cover it all. The salesman has to ask how the customer identifies themselves and write the contract with the correct pronouns.

There's an app for that.

My regret in ending the column in 2015 was that I would miss writing about the election. I wanted a Trump card in my pocket. I wanted to pull up to the pump, choose English or Russian, swipe the card, and have the pump ask if this is debit, credit or bankruptcy? I wanted to hit that "bankruptcy" button, fill my tank and drive away without having to pay. I wanted a convertible top on my car that looked like a comb-over. Sadly there is nothing humorous about how that played out and how it is challenging our country in ways not seen since the days of Lincoln.

Heartbreaking… more on that later.

back into a parking space and another car goes around you the "automatic braking system," sensing the "other car," stops yours dead so theoretically on a busy street you will never get into the parking space… ever.

Still, for an inexpensive afternoon's entertainment, I would suggest a relaxing beverage and a SLIM JIM while sitting downtown watching folks in an SUV or a F350 nosing head first into a parking space. Clueless is as clueless does.

It was a fun ride. Kind of like driving way too fast in an old Studebaker, scary but fun. Pappa G's only question when I showed him my first column was whether I thought I had more than one column in me? I'm sure Virginia is having that same thought. However the SHE/HE doth provide so I'm pretty well convinced that life, when viewed through the windshield, will continue to provide unlimited topics and I plan to explore them like every project: with grease under my fingernails and a few choice words of persuasion.

HOMOPHONE DISCLAIMER: SHE/HE is not the local car dealer. autoknownbetter@gmail.com Rim Vining, humorist, friend and a devoted community volunteer

The Front Porch provided a forum for me to share my view of the world through my own personal windshield and see what there was to see between the passes of worn out wiper blades. My old rants about ONSTAR and computer driven autos is so 90's. It's the abacus and a tinfoil hat against smart technology now and we don't have a seat at the table. Now when you're trying to front porch fredericksburg

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Art in Burg Art Galleries in January The January exhibit and Red Tag Sale artwork will be displayed from January 2 through January 30. .

Brush Strokes Gallery is open from Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm and Friday 11 am to 8 pm. ~Collette Caprara

Winter White Joan Powell, "Antique Blooms" FCCA, 813 Sophia ST Th-F Fri, 12-4 4p; Sat 11-4 4, Sun, 1-4 4p ~Valerie Lecea

“Where Locals Go” Patty O'Brien, solo show Thru March 2022 Mary Washington Hospital Gallery Wing .

Canal Quarter Arts 3rd Friday, Jan 21, “Art for All” Canal Street Art Gallery “Snow Shadows”, Stacie Gerise @ BSG represents and exhibits contemporary artists “Red Tag Sale” working in all styles and Brush Strokes Gallery mediums, offering an open Opening , Dec. 3, 6-9 9p, 824 Caroline St. space where all creative voices Thursday- Sun 11am - 5 pm. may be heard. ~Jeannie Ellis Brush Strokes Gallery Says Thank You to the Burg!

“Winter White Sale” As an expression of gratitude for All Member Show the support that has been offered by the Opening Reception Fredericksburg community throughout First Friday, January 7--6 6-9 9pm the past year, the artists of Brush Strokes Artful Dimensions, 923 Gallery will include a special Red Tag Sale Caroline St “Deer In Snow”, Rob Rudick, Artist Alliance as part of their January exhibit. Selected The Winter White Sale original, unique works of art along with started in 1878 at Wanamaker's prints will be offered at a reduced price Department Store in Philadelphia, as an and will be displayed on artists' wall space idea to increase sales after the holidays. At as well is in bins throughout the gallery. that time, most bed linens and towels were Artwork displayed throughout only available in white. The idea was to January includes captivating depictions of have "a fresh start" for the New Year. At nature such as the delicate beauty of Artful Dimensions Gallery, we celebrate "Bleeding Heart" blooms painted by Nancy this tradition by presenting our collection Williams, the grace of "White Peacocks" in of white-ish artworks from our members Sarah Flinn's painting, and the alluring ~ Sally Cooney Anderson and thought-provoking scenes of Stacy Gerise's "Snow Shadows" and Collette

“WInter White Sale” @Artful Dimensions

LibertyTown Arts Workshop All New Classes for the New Year 916 Liberty St Check website for descriptions and dates ~ D.D.Lecky

Come See What We Have On The Walls For You!

“Red Tag Sale" Opening Reception, First Friday ,December 2, 6-9 9p Art First, 824 Caroline ST Thursday-S Sunday, 11a-5 5p .. ~Lisa Gillen

“White Peacocks”, Sarah Finn @Brush Caprara's "Shenandoah Vista." In addition, some artists are offering the equivalent of comfort food for the soul, such as Marianna Smith's iconic image of "The Purina Grain Tower," a constant sentinel in the Burg, and Penny A Parrish's photograph featuring a detail of a luxury sportscar overstepping its parking space with the tongue-in-cheek title "Lotus Position."

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The Artists' Alliance “Winter Wonderland” Opening Friday, January 14, 69pm 100 Taylor St, Suite 101 Colonial Beach website artgallerycolonialbeach.com, Strokes Facebook :cbartistsalliance The theme of Winter. Members will be presenting wintry influenced art work in many disciplines. Gallery open Saturday - Sunday, 11-5.

The show runs through February 6. AA members are also displaying their painting, photography, pottery, sculpture, jewelry, and wood furniture. Carl and Joyce Thor continue to sell their art in the adjoining galleries. ~ Rob Rudick

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“Simles of the Season” Beverley Coates

“Autumn Falls” Lynn Abott

“Red Boat Iceland” Penny A Parrish

Miss Kite Can’t Do Right nEW cHILDREN’S bOOK BY tARYN lEWIS bY lORI oRLINSKY

effort on her part, Miss Kite can break her bad habit. Will Miss Kite learn to listen?

Writing a children's book has always been a dream for Taryn Lewis, and when the pandemic hit, she decided to fulfill that dream.

"I've always loved to write and when the pandemic hit, I used the time at home to complete a bucket list goal and completed my children's book," said Lewis. "I actually chose a kite as the main character because of the pandemic and not being able to travel. A kite is free flowing… goes with the wind -it symbolizes the ability to get up and go and be free."

New Children's Book Miss Kite Can't Do Right Shows Kids the Importance of Being a Good Listener .Miss Kite loves to travel and explore, but she has a terrible habit of only hearing what she wants to hear. Join her on a journey through her neighborhood, where Miss Kite learns about her bad habit from the animals she meets along the way. Maybe, with a little help from her new friends and a little

done and book is published you still have a lot of work to do, so be prepared to turn from author to small businedss owner and media manager.” Lewis further commented, “For those trying to write a book, take the chance and submit your story to a publisher because you never know what will happen.”

Connect with Lewis on Instagram: @misskitebook. For information regarding Miss Kite Can't Do Right, contact Lewis at misskitecantdoright@gmail.com.

Inspiration for the story came from Lewis's experience as a parent."When my daughter was young, I always had to repeat myself because she wasn't listening, or she heard what she wanted to hear. I was always telling her 'Listen to what people are saying, listen to what I'm telling you.'"

Lewis hopes her imaginative, whimsical, and beautifully illustrated story will help kids learn the value of being a good listener.

"I hope kids will see the importance of listening to what people are saying, needing and asking you to do," said Lewis. "The story shows kids the consequences of what happens when you're not listening."

Miss Kite Can’t Do Right is available online with Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, & Mascot Books Miss Kite Can't Do Right, illustrations by Teresa Alberini Lori Orlinsky is the founder of Forward Publicity

Lewis lives in Spotsylvania, Virginia with her husband Dermaine and their daughter Morgan “I’m a life-long local who never left”, says Lewis.. Before she started writing children's books, she earned her degree in Business Administration from the University of Mary Washington. When Lewis is not writing stories, she's working her 9-5 in the insurance regulatory industry.

Taryn offer some advice to aspiring authors: “The writing/publishing process is ongoing. Once the writing is

Supporting Local Artists & Writers For 25 Years

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The Bowling Green Scene Happening Hamlet in the Heart of Caroline Co.

By amy bayne After decking the halls, festively feasting, and generally overindulging throughout the winter holiday season, it's not uncommon for people to want to start the new year with a renewed focus on health and fitness. Kyaer Lee of Fit by Ky Training and Fitness, LLC, and Morgan Ray of Iron Heritage Strength and Fitness, have advice, answers, and facilities to help everyone - from beginners to those experienced with setting fitness goals - get back into a routine and feel better about the way they treat themselves, their health, and their bodies in 2022.

Kyaer Lee is a Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Boxing Fitness Coach. A native of Caroline County, Lee was a stand-out football and track athlete throughout high school, and he played college football at Bridgewater College where he interned with the college's strength and conditioning department, training other athletes to excel in their athletic abilities. He holds a B.S. in Health and Exercise Science and has experience with weight loss, muscle building, and rehabilitation.

Morgan Ray is a competitive bodybuilder and powerlifter with a background in helping a wide variety of clientele, both in-person and through virtual coaching. She has worked with seniors trying to regain strength, balance,

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and stability; athletes preparing for competition; and people wanting to get into shape, look better, and feel better.

She has a B.S. in Exercise Science and is certified as a strength and conditioning coach, a personal training coach, and a nutrition coach.

For those looking to improve their health and fitness routines in the new year, Ray says, "My biggest piece of advice is to find something active that you enjoy doing and just start. It doesn't have to be 100% full-force starting January 1st; in fact, it's better to start slowly by developing good habits before trying to completely stop bad ones; you want to really focus on enjoying the process and everything you're gaining from making a change rather than what you're giving up. Finally, don't be afraid to mess up and start over; fitness and health are lifelong endeavors, and one bad day won't make a difference as long as you try again the next."

Lee says that those looking to begin a fitness program in January should assess what they want out of their goals. He notes, "A piece of advice I would give is to find a program or gym that is right for you. For example, what type of environment will you thrive in?

Would you like personal training?

Do you need motivators? Do you prefer group training or individualized training? All of these are good questions to ponder when setting out to reach your goals in the new year.

Finding the right program or gym is one of the major keys to success and you have the key to unlock it."

Both Fit by Ky and Iron Heritage gyms offer programs to assist all fitness levels.

Amy Bayne is a writer, artist, and educator who lives with her family and a menagerie of fur babies in Bowling Green, Virginia.

Fit by Ky 110 West Broaddus Ave, Suite 200, in Bowling Green, VA. Contact Kyaer Lee on Facebook @Fitbodybyky, by email: fbbk.ts@gmail.com, or by phone at (540) 388-8 8915.

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Iron Heritage Strength & Fitmess 107 North Main Street Bowling Green, VA. Contact Morgan Ray on Facebook @ironheritagegym, by email: info@ironheritagegym.com

or through the gym's website at www.ironheritagegym.com.

Preserving Native American Stories umw “preservation in the community” course

by Jill Laiacona Blankenship is getting that chance in University of Mary W a s h i n g t o n Assistant Professor Lauren McMillan's Preservation in the C o m m u n i t y course. This past N o v e m b e r ' s National Native American Heritage Month, UMW juniors and seniors enrolled in this G. Anne Richardson, longtime chief of the Rappahannock Tribe h i s t o r i c John Blankenship's passion for preservation seminar are collaborating historic preservation is personal. A with the Patawomeck and Rappahannock member of Virginia's Patawomeck Indian tribes to create a driving trail that honors Tribe, he's always been interested in their past and present. learning about his family tree and the McMillan, who has partnered with roots his ancestors laid along the Potomac the tribes on archaeological excavation River. projects for previous courses, said their work has the potential to put the region "Since I was young, I've wanted on the map as a destination for those who to ensure that the people and events of wish to learn more about indigenous the past are remembered," he said, "and history and culture. that their stories are told accurately."

"Most Americans know about Pocahontas and the Trail of Tears but have little understanding of the longer history of these tribes," said McMillan, citing the Racial Integrity Act of 1924, which once barred Virginia residents from claiming indigenous heritage. "With projects like this, we aim to rectify years of Native American erasure while highlighting contemporary tribal communities still active and vibrant in our region."

G. Anne Richardson, longtime chief of the Rappahannock Tribe, echoes those sentiments. "These places have been lost to us for more than 350 years," she said. "It's invaluable to be able to tell a more complete history of our tribe's impact on this land."

The class conducted extensive research, zeroing in on several narratives key to the tribes, such as the use of river resources over thousands of years and modern fishing practices. Other topics include long-distance trade routes, and traditions and stories passed down through generations of descendants, many of whom have made their home in King George, Stafford and neighboring counties.

After consulting archives, archaeological reports and oral histories,

University of Mary Washington Assistant Professor Lauren McMillan has partnered with the tribes on archaeological excavation projects skills they can transfer to a career."

Senior Samantha Melvin, who will give a presentation on the finished Middle Atlantic product at the Archaeology Conference this spring, hopes the work will lead to more collaboration among the tribes, municipalities and Mary Washington.

Drew Gruber speaks to McMillan's students about interpretive signage. The class is creating seven signs with narratives identified by the tribes. students are creating brief summaries for seven interpretive signs, using design principles they learned from Fredericksburg graphic artist Pete Morelewicz.

Drew Gruber '08, executive director of the nonprofit Civil War Trails, shared his expertise on heritage tourism marketing with the class. "It's important that they see the opportunities available to historic preservation graduates," McMillan said. "They're gaining real-world

“That's the plan”, said Nick Minor, executive director of King George's Department of Economic Development and Tourism. He envisions a regional driving trail spanning not only King George but into the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula. The tribes will have an active role in choosing sites and shaping narratives, he said, as well as determining the direction of the campaign's branding and aesthetics.

"The Patawomeck and Rappahannock tribes already do a wonderful job sharing their history," Minor said. "At the end of the day, it's their stories and heritage. We're just lucky to have the privilege to help them tell people about it."

Jill Laiacona is the Media Manager, University Relations & Communications at UMW

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Companions here’s to the new year by gerri reid, dvm

Happy New Year to one and all!

As we enter into 2022, many of you may have acquired a new furry four-legged friend. Maybe from Christmas or just because you wanted a new pet. For some, pet ownership may be new and for others it may be all too familiar. Whatever your level of knowledge is to owning a pet, it doesn't hurt to remind ourselves of what our pet may need to keep them healthy.

Vaccines, diet and regular visits to your Veterinarian will help you ensure your pet's health. But when it comes to long term health, spaying (female pet) or neutering (male pet]] your pet is most important.

I find that many people do not know the benefits of having their pet spayed/neutered.

As I speak to these people, there seems to be some reservation about having it done. There seems to be a fear of putting their pet thru surgery/anesthesia. A Blood test will be done prior to surgery to evaluate the kidneys and liver as these organs need to be functional to process anesthesia.

Proper monitoring of your pet during surgery is not only done by a Licensed Veterinary Technician but also by blood pressure/oxygen machine. An IV catheter is placed for quick access in case of an emergency.

Rest assure that your Veterinarian will take all the necessary measures for your pet to have a positive outcome for this much needed surgery.

So why spay/neuter? There are medical and behavioral benefits to having your pet spayed/neutered.

Medical benefits for female pets include preventing uterine infections as well breast tumors. Spaying your female pet before the first heat, 5-6 months of age, offers the best protection from these diseases. Neutering a male pet prevents testicular cancer and prostate issues.

Behavioral benefits for male pets include

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less aggression, less likely to roam away from home and making your pet a better behaved pet as unneutered males are more likely to mark their territory.

Another myth pet owners have about spaying/neutering their pet is that it will not cause your pet to be overweight.

We tend to see this after surgery due to the lack of exercise and over feeding. Your pet can remain fit and trim as long as you continue to provide exercise and monitor food intake. Many feel that neutering your pet will fix behavioral problems. As it may in certain cases but if your pet has had certain behaviors prior, neutering may not fix the problem.

As we can see, the benefits of spaying/neutering your pet out weighs the diseases/cancer that can occur. There are low cost Spay/Neuter Facilities in our area that can help off-set the cost. The goal is to provided these services at a lower cost to help curve the number of unwanted pets and homeless pets. These facilities are highly equipped to offer these surgeries with the same preventive measures as your Veterinarian to ensure your pet's safety during the procedure.

Spaying and neutering your pet is one of the most beneficial procedure you can do to ensure that your lives a healthy life. Hopefully understanding why we recommend to spay/neuter your pet will ease your mind about making the decision to have it done. We can avoid issues such as reproductive infections and cancer. So, in the famous words of Bob Barker from The Price is Right…Please Spay & Neuter Your Pets!

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 @ReidMobileVetServices

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THE POETRY MAN

Astrology & You Happy New Year

By Frank Fratoe

January Commute In Fredericksburg

By Dianne Bachman missed (hopefully he isn't eyeballing Henry, our cat). I was debating about the theme of this month's article, but my winged friend has inspired me to offer some perspective for the year ahead. Eagles are excellent at seeing the big picture. For them, it is literally a matter of keeping on top of their game. So below are a few highlights to consider as we head into 2022.

After rainfall or mist the showers become snow coming down gradually as a cold-snap rides in.

Our city that had slept is no longer lethargic but throngs the streets with a convoy of people.

Not dismayed by weather crowds proceed en route returning to their work between fall and winter.

Holidays are recalled of the year-end warmth they had left dreaming in a transient snowfall.

Nothing will stop them subduing a viral-plague which antibodies deter and energy can overcome Frank Fratoe lives & writes in the city.he loves.

At the moment I am writing this a lovely, big bald eagle is cruising in the blue sky behind my house, probably looking for that stray little mouse the cat

Mercury will go into retrograde four times this year.

As always, retrograde can be disruptive or add a kafuffle to the mix, but it is also a suitable time to slow down, rethink, recheck, and reconsider things.

These retrogrades will tend to be more in earth signs, so look at your birth chart to see how Mercury might be mixing it up in your life.

January 14 to February 3; May 10 to June 2; September 9 to October 2; December 29 to January 18, 2023.

Pluto will make its return in February. This is an every 248-y year event, and we all know what was going on 248 years ago here in the U.S.: a revolution!

Certainly, we are in a time of upheaval and change, not only in our own country but worldwide. But, as disruptive as Pluto transits can be, Pluto is all about clearing away what is no longer serving us, forcing us to look ahead. Pluto is in the sign of Capricorn, which reflects government, responsibilities, structure, limits, restrictions. For those of you with a prominent Pluto or with strong late Capricorn planets, you may want to take a gander at what this means for you personally. Someone wise once said, "…the degree of pain one experiences as part of a Pluto transit is equal to the degree with which they cling to the past." So, take excellent care of your physical, mental, and spiritual health and remember that change is the most certain element in life.

My grandfather's words: There is nothing so certain as change….

Solar and Lunar eclipses will be on the Taurus/Scorpio axis and the theme could not complement the Pluto return any better! These eclipses trigger energies that allow us to dive deeply into our values and discern what is most important to us, what drives our choices, our words, our actions. The key word here is choice: do we take the high road and do the right thing? Here are the dates: partial solar

eclipse on April 30; total lunar eclipse on May 15/16; partial solar on October 25; total lunar on November 7/8. On the new Moon we keep an open heart, ready for the new. On the full Moon we honor the possibilities.

Mars will station retrograde on October 30 in the sign of Gemini and will go direct on January 12, 2023. Mars goes into retrograde about every two years and this retrograde can impact some folks(depending on where Mars is in your chart) with low energy, sluggish thoughts, difficulty getting going with studies or projects. It isn't the most optimal time to begin anything new. Rather, it could be advantageous to reflect on how you relate to Mars energy, to get in touch with your own Mars within and how it manifests in your life. How Mars plays out for you depends upon the sign and house Mars occupies in your birth chart. This should give you a clue about ways to approach this retrograde. Starting in the beginning of November, Mars will be out of bounds until May of 2023. Be aware of any frustrations regarding a slow down in your activities and know that it will pass.

Out of bounds Mars will be packing an energy punch when it stations direct in May and energy and ideas will have room to move forward.

Uranus will be conjunct the North Node. As Café Astrology notes, this is more like astrological weather, as it will impact all of us. The North Node is where we are evolving to and in the sign of Taurus it speaks to beauty, calm, abundance, values, nurture. Uranus embodies the collective, societal concerns, innovation, and sometimes quick changes.

Together they embody the possibilities of growth regarding how we care for each other as well as how we fill the role of benevolent stewards for our earth. Quite a lovely time to engage in a community garden (Downtown Greens!), roadside cleanup, or speaking out for kindness and conservation.

Diane Bachman is a psychotherapist & astrologer practicing in FXBG. She can be reached at FourwindsastrologyLLC@gmail.com Painting Splendor Solis

by Salomon Trismosin (1582)

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Fredericksburg Sketches A visual Celebration of our community

By Paula Raudenbush

Old Dominion Power Plant Happy New Year! Hope 2022 is a good year for all of you.

If you follow this column, you know that urban sketching is a form of reportage. This just means that we record the gritty along with the beautiful and everything in between.

Last month I sat in my car (because it was cold!) and sketched the old Dominion Power Plant in all its dereliction. There have been many rumblings about big plans for this building for years but, to date, nothing has happened. I've wanted to sketch it for quite a while and I'm glad I finally got the chance. I hope to go back and do more just because it's got lots of interesting bits that are fun to sketch.

I would love for any of you to join us if you ever get the urge to go out in the world and sketch what you see. Meanwhile, I will continue to share my work with you. Cheers!

Paula Raudenbush is a local artist and organizer of the Fredericksburg Chapter of Urban Sketchers International (on Facebook at Urban Sketchers Fredericksburg.

Give a Child Something to Think About

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

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810 Caroline Street (540) 371-5684

Around Town

Biz Marketing email marketing

Lady Legacy

By Mandy Smith Your Business and Content Is your business the type of business that should use Email Marketing? This is a big question with several layers, and it all starts with… what content do you have to entice your customers to open an email?

Content is key and it's important that you give a little to get a return. You can do this by offering a discount, freebie, email exclusive contesting, or giveaway secrets. These strategies work great if you're a business selling products or a restaurant or service that can offer a discount or freebie.

"Lady Legacy" Lady Legacy is a fashion boutique carrying a assortment of unique chic jewelry,scarves, shawls, handbags, clothing. & much more most haves!

Classy, friendly, Barbara Bartz is at the store daily to help you spiff up your wardrobe or buy that special gift!

Be sure to stop by and browse the fabulous inventory and say hi to Barbara Check out new merchandise, specials and sales at Facebook@Lady Legacy Fredericksburg

What if you can't offer specials?

You need to identify content that you can send clients that is "openable". For example, I have a friend who is in insurance, specializing in working with seniors. He doesn't send a monthly email about his services; he sends easy recipes and health tips to his clients. Re-think your content. Emails shouldn't be solely about "look at who we are", "look at what we do", "word words words". People are too busy and attention spans are too short for ALL THE WORDS. Email should have the feel of a buddy saying, "hey friend, here's some cool tips and fun things for your life". By re-thinking how you do your email marketing, you are covertly marketing to your clients. The more they engage with you, the more you will be top of mind.

What do I mean by "giveaway secrets". For example, if you own an Italian restaurant that makes amazing lasagna, email the recipe to your customers. I know it sounds crazy. Think about it for a second. You suck them in with a great subject line like, Our Secret Lasagna Recipe. They're shocked you would give away a family secret and they open the email. You've developed a connection, you are top of mind, you are engaging, and when they think about dining out for Italian food; they'll think of you.

Structure and Consistency It's very important to be consistent and have structure. First think about how much content you have each month. Should you send a weekly, bimonthly, or monthly Email? If you send out a weekly email, but don't have enough unique content, it can be viewed as a nuisance. Think about the emails you open. What entices you to open them? Is it a great subject line? When you open the email, what makes you read it or delete it?

Make sure you have a good subject line.

Something that would make YOU want to open the email to learn more. If you're going to do a monthly email, pick a day of the month to always do it. For example, the first Friday of every month is your Email Day… hello structure! Now that you have a consistent day of the month, you can use that week to prepare your content. Building a good email takes time, so be sure to carve out a couple hours.

Once you get use to the process it will be a much easier task to complete.

Remember, sending an email willy-nilly with spelling errors and bad content equals UNSUBSCRIBE. You need to commit 100% to doing it right!

Building your Database How do you build your database?

Simple answer, with customers and clients.

I want to warn you not to buy emails or to pull emails that are available on random websites. These are people that have not said, "yes we want to engage with you". If you're using an email service like Google, the risk you take is having a ton of people unsubscribe and then your emails will start being flagged as spam. My advice is build it up overtime with real customer and clients.

What are your competitors doing?

I think it's wise to see what your competitors are doing by signing up for their emails. How do their graphics look?

Shat is their content like? What can you duplicate and do better?

Email Marketing, is it right for your business? If you don't know, give it a try! There's nothing wrong with trying a marketing strategy, finding out it doesn't work, and then putting your efforts towards something different.

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

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