Suzy Woollam
ON THE PORCH Guest Porch Editorial
Contributing Writers & Artists Rita Allen Chuck Archer A.E. Bayne Laurie Black Carol Bochert Pamela Bridgewater Kevin Brown Susan Brown Collette Caprara Caitlin Daly Renee Dunn Christina Ferber Dan Finnegan Frank Fratoe K. Jeanne Frazer Rich Gaudio Joan M. Geisler Jon Gerlach Alexis Grogan Eunice Haigler Ralph “Tuffy”Hicks Judy Hill Karl Karch David C. Kennedy Kevin Klump Jo Loving Donna McCague Lenora Kruk-Mullanaphy Pamela Lake Pell Clint Manning Pete Morelewicz Vanessa Moncure Patrick Neustatter Sarah Perry Carol Phifer Gabriel Pons M.L. Powers Casey Alan Shaw Vivian Shelton Lee Storm Georgia Strentz James Kyle Synder Kathleen Walsh Tina Will Sonja Wise Norma Woodward
Front Porch Fredericksburg is a free circulation magazine published monthly by Olde Towne Publishing Co. Virginia Bigenwald Grogan, Publisher. The mission of Front Porch Fredericksburg is to connect the diverse citizenry of Fredericksburg with lively features and informative columns of interest to our community’s greatest resource, its people. Messages from our readers are welcome. All submissions must be received by e-mail by the 19th of the month preceding publication. Writers / Artists / Photographers are welcome to request Guidelines and query the Publisher by e-mail. Front Porch Fredericksburg PO Box 9203 Fredericksburg, VA 22403 Ad Sales: E-Mail: frntprch@aol.com Web Site: www.frontporchfredericksburg.com Facebook: @Front Porch Fredericksburg The opinions expressed in Front Porch Fredericksburg are those of the contributing writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Front Porch Fredericksburg or its advertisers. Copyright 2018 Olde Towne Publishing Co. All rights reserved.
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June 2018
baseball & friends & fathers by suzy woollam Welcome June! The sun is sunnier, the days are longer and the allstar break is so close you can almost taste it! Admittedly, I am a baseball fan. Those who know me would say I was a “we interrupt this family for Boston Red Sox Season” fan. They would not be wrong. I do love my Sox. Like a deep-down-DNAlevel-die-hard-Buckner-depression-man-Ihate-the-Yankees Red Sox Fan. I secretly dream of the day when I will be the one to float drag the baseline at Fenway. It could happen. But on a broader scale, I just love Baseball. Baseball teaches us. It guides us with its wisdom (It's like déjà vu all over again) For Baseball is a thinking man’s game. I had a friend who was arguably as big a baseball fan as I am. He knew why 6+4+3 =2. OPS, ERA’s and WHIP’s peppered our every conversation, like most people discuss the weather. We once “watched” an entire World Series (2013, 6 games, Red Sox for the Win) together via text message. We drove people absolutely crazy. And while we had an intense commonality, a “like-mindedness”, we had one major point of contention. He was a Yankees fan. I know what you are thinking..a Red Sox fan and a Yankees fan cannot be friends. It’s like, peanut butter and ketchup, Hatfield’s and McCoy’s. It’s not possible that two such strongly opposing sides could ever find a common ground. But, we did. We took the time to see past our differences, to find the things we had in common. We did not simply give Tolerance to one another, in that Golden Rule do-unto-others paradigm, we actually listened to one another, learned to accept our differences as well as similarities, and understood the others point of view. Despite our opposing viewpoints, we found
messages Congratulations Front Porch for your 250 issue! (May 2018) You always give us something to look forward to each month! Phyllis Whitley Congrats on your 250! Billl Freehling Great Cover (May 2018) Kevin Brown
Front porch fredericksburg
a commonality, a mutual respect in, and for, each other. We agreed to disagree, supported one another in our decisions, and in our team choices. Had I been short sighted enough to eschew this relationship because of our oppositions, I would have missed out on so many things. I would have missed having him as a friend, a confidant and a source of information for almost 20 years. I would have missed his wit, and wisdom, his kindness and vision for a brighter future for our community. I would have missed out on the joy of knowing, and loving, his family as my own. Had I let myself be close minded, I would have missed out on so many magical, irreplaceable moments. I would have missed the opportunity to remember and share what I learned from him, to “pay it forward” if you will. I can share with his Wife what an amazing friend he was, how he was kind to me when others were not. How he saw potential, and had faith in me when others couldn’t. I can share with his daughter his fabulous sense of humor, his reminder to live in the moment and to find happiness wherever you are in life. How his eyes would light up when he spoke her name. And I can share with his granddaughter how very, very much he loved her, and wanted the best for her. How he loved being a Husband, and a Father. That family was what truly mattered. And on a
Hello friends at the Front Porch, As a frequent visitor of Fredericksburg, I must admit I eagerly await every new issue as a means of staying in the know about all things Fred. I comb through it every month with my good friend VJ, and never has an issue disappointed. It is impossible for your investment in and adoration for this wonderful town to go without notice. Thank you for all you do! A faithful reader Molly K Freiert
personal level, a reminder to always meet, accept and love people where they are at. Not where you need them to be. To accept without judgment, to support without fixing, and to be fully present in the moment, for it might be the only moment that you have. To support my community, to be kind, to “Look at the man in the mirror” And, on June 16 , Father’s Day Weekend , as the Red Sox prepare to take on Seattle, I will be happily watching New York battle Tampa Bay, proudly wearing my Yankees T-shirt, gratefully celebrating an amazing friend, father, and baseball fan. Let’s go Yankees!
Suzy will happily talk about essential oils, natural health, and all things baseball at The Scenter of Town, on Charles Street.
Yeah for Doctor Yum, "meet Dr. Yum", May 2018 Erin Grant Kiblawi
We appreciate the excellent work of Front Porch Magazine Sincerely, Kathleen Walsh & Arts and Culture Council of the Rappahannock What an accomplishment, 250 Issues & 21 years of bringing “Good News” to the ‘Burg! Thanks Brad Delanney
Juneteenth 2018 - We Are One Celebrating Unity By Eunice Haigler Juneteenth annual is the celebration of the freeing of the last of the slaves in Galveston, Texas, two and one half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. This event has been held for the last four years in Fredericksburg at New City Fellowship, a church founded to create racial diversity. Juneteenth is the sustaining event born Race Coalition of out of the Fredericksburg when two groups (Virginia Organizing and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship) came together to discuss racism in the area. It turned out to be the 150th anniversary of Juneteenth, so it was decided we would use that celebration to kick off our event. It has since become one of the largest African American events in this area. The theme for Juneteenth 2018 is "We Are One", with the purpose of giving hope and knowledge to the community as they get to fellowship with one another. Given some of the events this past year, it is more important than ever that we come together in Unity in order to create a better way of life for all citizens. Some events Juneteenth sponsors are: The David Q Haigler award, given to people of the community who aren't normally recognized; David's Game, a mentoring program teaching the game of chess. Both of these events are in honor after my son, who was murdered in 2011. Additionally, Mrs. Cleo Coleman, president of the Sunday School Union of Spotsylvania, will again do a Harriett Tubman reenactment. We will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King with a tribute from Rev. Dobynes of
Old Site Baptist Church. The Unitarian Universalist Church Fellowship Handbells will again provide music, along with Mt. Zion Baptist Church and other groups. There will be lots more entertainment, including Praise Dancer Minister Linda Young, the mother and daughter duo McKenzie Morefield and Tanika Morefield, and many moire. We will also introduce MCs Ahmad Spense and Malik Johnson, who have made their marks in the community in media, and Miss Lacy Hughes and Mr. Max Nectabor, who both have incredible voices. We will again have a homeless o u t r e a c h c o m p o n e n t sponsored by Rev. Day and Minister Sharon McCall. Food and clothing will be available, with all food and water left over from the event going to one of the homeless shelters. The event will be held on Saturday, June 23 from noon to 7 p.m., New City Fellowship, 200 Prince Edward Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401. It is free and open to all. The success of this event is due solely to the kindness of donations. Please contact Eunice Haigler @ 540-429-6322 for information or to make a donation. Juneteenth June 23, Noon-7 7pm New City Fellowship
Eunice Haigler is a long-time resident of the Fredericksburg area, an activist, and is particularly passionate about race relations and social justice.
Hot Dog Days, Cool Event s 101 Days of summer By Chuck Archer It’s a warm, humid Tuesday afternoon in May as B101.5 promotions assistant Stephen Tuchings (below) prepares to slide into a 15 pound bee costume. Fully engulfed in what amounts to two heavy winter coats, gloves, thick boots and a heavy bee head, Tuchings bravely zips up and starts his workday transforming into B101.5’s mascot, Buzzy the Bee. While the Buzzy costume adds about 20 degrees to the already hot day,
entertainment schedule for the 2018 Picnic in the Park is: June 5 - Karen Jonas; June 12 - Dave & Zack Guy; June 19 - Gerry Maddox; June 26 - Becky Y Slam Buzzy then flies off to another signature event during the B101.5 “101 Days of Summer”, the Spotsylvania Stars and Stripes Spectacular at the Spotsylvania Courthouse area. Always held on the Saturday before July 4th (this
Tuchings isn’t fazed. He nimbly dances, waves, hugs and takes selfies with kids and parents at the weekly Picnic in the Park in Hurkamp Park in downtown Fredericksburg. Organized by the Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation, and Events Department, it’s one of the signature events signaling the beginning of B101.5’s “101 Days of Summer”. Started in 1997, Picnic in the Park has been a spring and early fall tradition. Every Tuesday, from 11:30am 1:30pm, for 8 weeks May through June, and 3 weeks in September, Hurkamp Park comes alive with music and entertainment just right for audiences of all ages. B101.5’s Buzzy and the B-Crew are always there with fun craft activities for the kids. The remaining June
year on June 30th), Stars and Stripes is an all-day event with live music on three stages, food, games, and the main event, the W.J. Vakos Fireworks Spectacular at dusk. B101.5 has been a partner of Stars and Stripes for well over a decade and it’s consistently the station’s most-attended event. While Buzzy (and Tuchings) is buzzing from event to event during the “101 Days of Summer”, on-the-air B101.5 will celebrate summer in other ways. From cash giveaways with the Big Money Mystery Voice to ticket giveaways to some of the hottest concerts like Pentatonix at Jiffy Lube Live, there’s always something hot playing on B101.5 all summer long.
Chuck Archer is the Operations Manager at B101 & 1230 WFVA
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June 2018
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