Front Porch Fredericksburg - March 2016 by Virginia Grogan

YOUR GUIDE TO THE LOCAL GOOD LIFE

front porch T H E R E G I O N ' S free C O M M U N I T Y M A G A Z I N E

L o c a l G o o d N e w s S i n c e 1 9 97 YEAR 19 • ISSUE 224 • MARCH 2016

Frontporchfredericksburg.com

contents

closeups 6

Makini Ainsworth, MD ...relentless pursuit norma Woodward ... artist & adventurer the death law ..author, claire cole curcio

porch talk 3

ren fields....healing through yoga

on the porch...life in fredericksburg Messages

on the trails:: through the eyes of children

downtown buzz: past & present

FXBG-Kathmandu Sister cities

fxbgers: a roomful of compassion

paranormal porch investigation

Vino: pinot noir pairing

season’s bounty: marching in spring

Cooking with Kyle...cornbread

food fight..what labels really mean

16-17

Calendar of events

Hop on Down

For a latte, mocha, cappachino, and more!

March 2016

Front porch fredericksburg

history’s stories.: fire of 1807 our heritage: i brake for barns

companions: therapy dogs providing comfort

mind your mind: uncertainty renew: how important is your butt?

Senior Care: it’s never too late

wellness: hard to resist emancipated patients: doctor quirks

art in the ‘burg: photography of sheila r. jones

stories of fredericksburg: tanyah cotton Flashback: mwh circa 1910

fxbg music scene:michael kelley @songwriters showcase

commonwealth slam poetryman: an exchange

the 95 percent

fredericksburg sketches joshua bell @UMW philharmonic

yoga foundation of fxbg from my porch: virginia, my adoptive mother

Ren Fields Healing through Yoga By Christina Ferber

...And more! 20

five years later: leyda remembered

agora...much more than a coffee shop

Carolyn goodridge abstract paintings of light Cover By Norma Woodword

Maybe you have tried physical therapy for that frozen shoulder, or seen an orthopedist for your bad back, but have you ever considered yoga as an integral part of your healing? Yoga combines various breathing techniques, postures (called asanas), and meditation as a way to harmonize the mind and body, and Ren Fields, owner of Healing Arts and Yoga Center, has taught countless students these techniques for four decades. "I started practicing yoga at sixteen to combat stress and chronic pain, and was hooked immediately. Combining the yoga asanas, breath work, and meditation became a formula for me to heal," says Fields, "After practicing for ten years I began studying to teach others." Fields offers classes and teacher training in yoga as well as yoga therapy. Students who complete her training are certified through the Yoga Alliance as teachers and yoga therapy practitioners. "Yoga is therapeutic, so yoga therapy is almost redundant, however it really gets to the root of the problem and causes the least amount of stress on the body as possible," says Fields. "We work on strengthening and freeing the joints, and stretching and strengthening the muscles to create balance." Fields teaches Structural Yoga Therapy (during Restorative Yoga classes), and also works with private clients. She has helped people with a myriad of issues including recovery from cancer, migraines, and shoulder and back problems. "My given yoga name is 'Vimala,' which means 'the immaculate one,' and when I use that name it inspires me to be all that I am," says Fields. According to her

students, she inspires them to be all that they can be as well. Students and clients mention life-changing experiences, and finding their strength and wholeness again through yoga classes and sessions with Fields. Along with certifications in Advanced Integral Yoga and Structural Yoga Therapy (a 700 hour program beyond her advanced 500 hour training), Fields also is certified in Yoga for Heart and Cancer, Chakras and Intuition, Acu-Y Yoga, Yin Yoga and YoKids. She is a certified Eden Energy Medicine practitioner as well (see Front Porch, Feb 2016), and over the years has participated in teaching yoga in schools through several grant programs, authored one text book, and produced several CDs and DVDs. “When I first started teaching, people would ask me 'What is this yogurt stuff?' because it was so new to our culture. It's amazing how yoga has exploded and become a go-to for many people. There's no competition with anyone including yourself, but by pushing yourself little by little, you become stronger, more flexible and balanced, and

Helping You Heal Naturally

The Way Your Body Was Meant To Dr. Jason Sneed, D.O. you build endurance," she says. "That's the beauty of yoga." Fields' newest endeavor is combining energy medicine and yoga together, and workshops, as well as a new book that she is working on showcase a way of doing yoga that powerfully enhances the energy systems of the body. Workshops are offered each month on other subjects as well, and classes are held throughout the day at Renewal Massage on Ballantraye Drive in Spotsylvania. Fields also sees private clients as both a Yoga Therapy and Eden Energy Medicine practitioner. For more information on Fields' classes, teacher training or workshops, visit www.healingartsyoga.com

Christina Ferber reports on all facets of the FXBG community each month for Front Porch

540-322-5040 www.odomedicine.com Where Customer Service and Title Insurance Become One

Jewell Wolterman 1320 Central Park Blvd, Ste 200, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 540-907-0574 www.elitetitleva.com jwolterman@elitetitleva.com front porch fredericksburg

March 2016

contents

closeups 6

Makini Ainsworth, MD ...relentless pursuit norma Woodward ... artist & adventurer the death law ..author, claire cole curcio

porch talk 3

ren fields....healing through yoga

on the porch...life in fredericksburg Messages

on the trails:: through the eyes of children

downtown buzz: past & present

FXBG-Kathmandu Sister cities

fxbgers: a roomful of compassion

paranormal porch investigation

Vino: pinot noir pairing

season’s bounty: marching in spring

Cooking with Kyle...cornbread

food fight..what labels really mean

16-17

Calendar of events

Hop on Down

For a latte, mocha, cappachino, and more!

March 2016

Front porch fredericksburg

history’s stories.: fire of 1807 our heritage: i brake for barns

companions: therapy dogs providing comfort

mind your mind: uncertainty renew: how important is your butt?

Senior Care: it’s never too late

wellness: hard to resist emancipated patients: doctor quirks

art in the ‘burg: photography of sheila r. jones

stories of fredericksburg: tanyah cotton Flashback: mwh circa 1910

fxbg music scene:michael kelley @songwriters showcase

commonwealth slam poetryman: an exchange

the 95 percent

fredericksburg sketches joshua bell @UMW philharmonic

yoga foundation of fxbg from my porch: virginia, my adoptive mother

Ren Fields Healing through Yoga By Christina Ferber

...And more! 20

five years later: leyda remembered

agora...much more than a coffee shop

Carolyn goodridge abstract paintings of light Cover By Norma Woodword

Helping You Heal Naturally

Christina Ferber reports on all facets of the FXBG community each month for Front Porch

540-322-5040 www.odomedicine.com Where Customer Service and Title Insurance Become One

Jewell Wolterman 1320 Central Park Blvd, Ste 200, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 540-907-0574 www.elitetitleva.com jwolterman@elitetitleva.com front porch fredericksburg

March 2016

Gabe Pons

ON THE PORCH Guest Porch Editorial

Contributing Writers & Artists

A.E.Bayne Kevin Bartram Kevin Brown Collette Caprara Tom Conway Dan Czajka Barbara Deal Christina Ferber Frank Fratoe Joan M. Geisler Ann Glave Lou Gramann Preston Garrett Alexis Grogan Ralph “Tuffy”Hicks Chris Jones Emily Hollinsworth Karl Karch Jo Loving Vanessa Moncure Patrick Neustatter Gabe Pons Danae Peckler Ryan Poe M.L.Powers Scott Richards Suzanne Scherr Casey Alan Shaw Patricia Smith Meg Sneed Georgia Strentz James Kyle Synder Christine Thompson Dawn Whitmore 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 are welcome to request Writer’s Guidelines and query the Editor by e-mail. Front Porch Fredericksburg PO Box 9203 Fredericksburg, VA 22403 Ad Sales: E-Mail: frntprch@aol.com Web Site: www.frontporchfredericksburg.com 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 2016 Olde Towne Publishing Co. All rights reserved.

March 2016

making waves BY gabe pons Artisan Movement Adapts to Today’s Marketplace It has been six years since Scarlett and I took the leap from sharing an artist studio at LibertyTown Arts Workshop to opening a retail storefront on Caroline Street. Looking back, I realize just how much has changed in both the way that we work as artists and how we operate our business in the commercial core of Fredericksburg’s historic downtown. When we opened PONSHOP in 2010, our business strategy was identical to the years spent in our LibertyTown studio with the addition of a “gallery” component. What we soon came to realize is that operating a dual-sided business where we are producing, marketing, and selling our work (fine art and ceramics) under one roof is a challenging operation but also has its share of advantages which have informed our practice. This concept of a “studio to showroom” format is not new. In fact, historically the tenants that inhabited our buildings downtown fabricated and sold their wares from the same rooms. Today, several of our neighbors on Caroline Street work in this format as well including: Ladyburg Apothecary, Fraser Wood Elements, We the People, and Spencer Devin Brewing to name a few. The term “maker’s movement” applies to what we do and with a twenty-first century twist – independent entrepreneurs combining their passion for creating genuine products merging technology with craftsmanship, old fashioned Do-It-Yourself rigor with mobile-friendly marketing and commerce. The means of creating handcrafted items for clientele is in stark contrast to the big box store culture of sweatshop outsourcing and mass-produced imports. Instead, we focus on being innovative artists and designers, asserting our aspirations for creating original and genuine products. The benefits of owning a small business include autonomy and freedom, Ian Vibbert, owner of We the People said, “What I love about our business is the freedom we have to create. We are the bosses, so everything is on our shoulders. There are pros and cons to being your own boss, but I feel like when we rely own our decisions and create things we love, things go ok.”

Front porch fredericksburg

And with freedom comes great responsibility. Being able to take critique from our clientele is a learned skill and is instrumental in helping our brand evolve. Scarlett has given specific instruction to clients who purchase her latest ceramic pieces – welcoming input on the ergonomics of her functional pottery. How can the design be improved so that the object is even more pleasing? The ability for the maker to get real-time reactions and feedback from customers is priceless. Our ability to respond to customer requests and inquiries is a great advantage in a marketplace that is becoming increasingly reliant on online product reviews and user ratings. In addition, creating work in incremental series or batches allows for the product to grow and evolve – the process informs the product. Shawn Phillips of Spencer Devin Brewing commented, “We interact directly with customers for the decision on what will fill at least one of our taps at all times; so in that regard we simply ask them. We reach out on Facebook and present them with a choice of styles and whatever they vote on, we brew. Doing business directly with farmers, what is available drives much of what we put on the menu. Our Anniversary beer, for example, is a Saison because I can be flexible with how it is brewed and take advantage of local ingredients and change those ingredients each year to not only explore flavors, but also to what is available in the community.” Small business owners wear several different hats between managing their brick and mortar storefront, and maintaining their online commerce and social media. One of the biggest challenges that we face is balancing our time between the studio and the gallery. There is always

Do Your Knives Make the Cut? Sharpening Services at

374-0443 www.shopwhittingham.com work to be done on both fronts and navigating the workday can be strenuous. At the same time, the dialogue that ensues between the two worlds is an exciting dimension that adds authenticity to our business. Customers are intrigued with seeing the progress and activity in our studio while simultaneously seeing the finished product on the shelves. This connectivity adds another layer of integrity to our shop and instills a sense of “hyper-local” pride – embedding a narrative into our products that increases their value – an experience that customers find special. It is an exciting time to be part of Fredericksburg’s downtown business community. We have never felt so engaged with the public and our fans and colleagues over the past six years as we have today. We’re proud to collaborate with so many ambitious and motivated entrepreneurs in our city’s shops, restaurants, and venues.

1021 Caroline Street

Front Porch Fredericksburg

Highlighting Local People, Places & Events Since 1997

On the Trails Rediscovering Trails Through the Eyes of Children

By Kevin Brown For the good folks in the Villages of Idlewild, our popular city subdivision that was recently connected via the 2.7 mile paved Virginia Central Railway Trail to downtown Fredericksburg, this month we focus on one of your own! Meet Andy Wolfenbarger, Supervisor of Technology for Stafford County Public Schools, dutiful husband and proud father of three children. Andy’s enthusiasm about trails has led him to advocate for his neighborhood at the city’s bi-monthly Fredericksburg Pathways Committee meetings and as a member of his neighborhood’s HOA Board of Directors. So tell us your story, Andy, how did you become the Idlewild trails guy? “Way back when, as a teenager, I lived in Spotsylvania near Loriella Park. My friends and I spent our days riding bikes. Coming from Oak Grove Terrace, we would ride the trails in Loriella Park, cut over to Leavells Crossing, follow a short trail to Carriage Hills, hop across Harrison Road to Twin Springs, cut through a yard (yes we made our own trails sometimes), through Maple Grove, and then go hang out at the Mall. One trip, I recall stumbling upon the historic Virginia Central Railway pathway, which we followed for a while, then got lost in the woods, then found a dirt trail that led us over some a large swath of undeveloped property (now Idlewild) to Home Depot. Thinking back to those days, it seems like we had a lot of freedom and to make our own trails - just be back by dark! Well, as Fredericksburg got more busy, so did I. Responsibilities grew and leisurely outdoor adventures became few and far between. My wife Jen and I moved to this wonderful family-friendly neighborhood that was built on the land

So sit back on your porch and read this issue of Front Porch cover-tocover and be as proud as we are to have a publication that has highlighted our community.and its people for the past 19 years.

where I use to ride as a kid and began raising kids of our own. Consequently, I have begun rediscovering my youthful spirit through their eyes and taking family bike rides and trail walks. We enjoy mountain biking, hiking, and just exploring the “deer house”, as my oldest once affectionately called our nearby woods. As my kids grow older and venture out as I did as a teenager, it gives me great pleasure to know that a growing Fredericksburg trails system will provide them with pathways to experience their own adventures.

neighborhood trails. I’m also excited to hear that plans are in the works to build a bridge from the VCR Trail across Hazel Run to connect with our adjoining Kingswood neighborhood, and one day to further connect to the remainder of the unimproved VCR tunneling under I-95 to Spotsylvania (so I can go hang out at the Mall!). I also look forward to the day when the proposed North-South Trail connects us to the Smith Run Trail, Central Park, the coming Fall Hill Trail, and the River Heritage Trail/Canal Path in a giant trail loop around the entire city.”

So it’s not surprising that I’m a huge advocate for our neighborhood trails and the Fredericksburg Pathways. In Idlewild, we are exploring options with the city to install a paved path to connect our trails to the VCR trail, while also working to maintain and improve our approximately 3 miles of natural

Sound exciting! Thanks for the ride down memory lane Andy, and for being such a huge supporter of our trails! We’ll see you on the VCR! Kevin Brown shares up-to-date local trail news and photos as administrator of the "On the Fredericksburg Va Trails" Facebook Group

PUT IT TOGETHER ALL IN YOUR ORBIT

front porch fredericksburg

March 2016

Gabe Pons

ON THE PORCH Guest Porch Editorial

Contributing Writers & Artists

March 2016

Front porch fredericksburg

Do Your Knives Make the Cut? Sharpening Services at

1021 Caroline Street

Front Porch Fredericksburg

Highlighting Local People, Places & Events Since 1997

On the Trails Rediscovering Trails Through the Eyes of Children

So sit back on your porch and read this issue of Front Porch cover-tocover and be as proud as we are to have a publication that has highlighted our community.and its people for the past 19 years.

PUT IT TOGETHER ALL IN YOUR ORBIT

front porch fredericksburg

March 2016

MAKINI AINSWORTH

Your Hometown Jeweler Since 1940

On-Premise Jewelry Repair

relentless pursuit of a dream

Past & Present

Large Selection of ESTATE JEWELRY

By preston garrett

of her medical school and US Navy obligations during this time frame. She was honorably discharged from the navy in 2010 after achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Dr. Ainsworth joined the staff at Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center (SRMC) in 2010. At SRMC she provided a range of services that included acute care, minor in-office surgical procedures, chronic disease management, geriatric services, and comprehensive physical exams. On February 17, 2015 Dr. Ainsworth held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially launch the opening of her

By Ann Glave

212 William Street,Fredericksburg 540-373-5513 Mon-Fri 9:30-6; Sat 9:30-5 jewelboxfredericksburgva.webs.com jewelbox14k@yahoo.com

It was great to see a wide diversity of attendees at our full house Community Meeting in February. Wilson Greenlaw, Main Street’s 2016 president, introduced the new Board members and recognized the many partners that contributed to a successful 4th quarter. Below is a brief recap of the meeting. Holiday promotions were successful. The majority of businesses saw an increase of 10% to 60% in sales for this 4th quarter compared to 2014. While yearly sales were down for some businesses resulting from a slow summer period, the majority of our businesses saw an overall increase in 2015. Small Business Saturday took an interesting twist this year. Where Black Friday is typically bustling at the big box stores, creating a quiet Downtown, this year was different. Downtown had strong Friday, Saturday and Sunday sales which has not been true in previous years. It appears the pendulum is swinging away from the big box stores. Main Street will investigate how to expand the Small Business Saturday concept for 2016, probably making it an entire weekend event. What do a penguin, chicken, beards, dancing toes, and Van Gogh have in common? They were all part of the Small Business Saturday subsidized videos. 35 businesses participated in this creative process. Averaging over 2,000 views with a high of 15,000 views, this is a project worth repeating. Check out fredericksburgmainstreet.org to view our local creativity, if you haven’t done so already. There were a few hiccups in 2015. Our gift card vendor decided to change banks at one of the busiest time of year for businesses. With less than 2 weeks’ notice, Main Street created a new gift card program designed after a

SUZY STONE 540.847.0630 suzystone22@gmail.com C21redwood.com

Dr. Makini Ainsworth is a board-certified physician who opened her private medical practice in Fredericksburg on February 17, 2015. After completing her first year in business she finds herself enjoying the challenges and rewards of private ownership and looking forward to spreading her holistic approach to medicine. Dr. Ainsworth’s journey from a little girl with a big dream to CEO of her own company is indeed a compelling story. It is indeed a story of perseverance and faith buttressed by the love of her family. She has already impacted many lives and has served as a sterling role model and inspiration to others. Dr. Ainsworth’s quest to become a physician can be traced back to her graduation from elementary school where she received numerous honors and awards. Her personal motivation was to become the first medical doctor in her family. She went on to graduate from St. Mary’s College of Maryland, a public honors college. When one of her professors at St. Mary’s tried to discourage her from becoming a physician, it only increased her determination to achieve her goal. Ainsworth graduated summa cum laude from Barry University with a master’s degree in Biomedical Science. In May 1999 she was commissioned in the United States Navy. She then attended Drexel College of Medicine in Philadelphia. After completing medical school, she received orders from the navy to perform tours of duty at navy hospitals in Portsmouth, VA (internship) and Beaufort, SC (residency). Dr. Ainsworth gave birth to five children from the end of medical school to the end of her navy career. Incredibly, she was able to meet all

March 2016

Each Office Is Independently Owned & Operated

private practice (MD Wellness and Health Center) in the Fredericksburg community. Ainsworth is also certified in Integrative and Holistic medicine and Auricular medicine. She currently offers traditional and non-ttraditional services in her practice. Her non-traditional services include Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment (SAAT), Auriculotherapy, Auricular Medicine, and Homeopathy. Her husband, Dr. Darren Ainsworth, recently joined her practice as a health coach and will provide patients with a systematic approach to live a healthy lifestyle. Dr. Ainsworth and her husband are determined to continue their quest to save lives by changing lifestyles. She calls herself a compassionate physician who celebrates her patients’ accomplishments. Her website contains several personal testimonies from her patients. All of Dr. Ainsworth’s children attend school in Spotsylvania County where they excel inside and outside of the classroom. Dr. Ainsworth somehow finds time to be a soccer mom and coach one of her son’s basketball teams. We congratulate Dr. Ainsworth for the impact she has already made on the Fredericksburg community and we wish her well with her new practice. Be sure to check out her website (www.mdwellnesshc.com), or call the office at (540) 645-6400. Preston Garrett is a recent retiree seeking to launch a career as a freelance writer.

Front porch fredericksburg

Downtown Buzz

Dreaming of Owning Downtown? Let’s Make it Happen!

The Frenchman’s Corner is a premier Chocolate Shop in Fredericksburg. Serving only the best Belgian chocolates available, The Frenchman’s Corner is located on Caroline Street in the heart of downtown Fredericksburg. After you step in, the scent of chocolate immediately hits you and you feel as if you are in a whole other world. We have something for everyone; enjoy handmade chocolates, truffles, fudge, coffee, hot chocolate, and we even have sugar-ffree and gluten-ffree chocolates! Come in for great chocolates we are positive you will come back for the amazing service. We don’t just sell chocolate, we sell an experience. Come see us! 817 Caroline Street 540.899.7655

ROXBURY F

ARM

MAIN: (540) 373-9124 NURSERY: (540) 371-8802

successful Main Street program in Staunton. In addition, the “removable” 4hour parking decals were not easily removed in cold weather and it took volunteers three times longer than anticipated to remove them. We have a much simpler plan in mind for 2016. Wilson Greenlaw recapped the three goals for the 2016 Main Street program: 1) Strengthen Funding Stability. This will be accomplishing by developing a sustainable funding strategy to ensure organizational stability, which will allow

The majority of (downtown) businesses saw an increase of 10% to 60% in sales Main Street to support projects that maintain and increase the economic vitality of the Main Street District. 2) Broaden Community Engagement. This will result in new and improved partnerships and community education. The overall goal is to transform stakeholders (those who benefit from our activities) into active partners (those who to our activities). contribute Contributions shall be defined both as monetary as well as in kind. And finally 3) Create vibrancy through historic preservation. The preservation and enhancement of the Main Street district will help to preserve the historic integrity of Fredericksburg and provide a rich cultural foundation for the community and for the long term success of Main Street. Work plans are the written strategies that connect projects to one or more of the goals listed above. Active work plans are connected to at least one of the four Committees – Design, Promotions, Economic Vitality and

Organization. Current work plans underway include Face the River, Planters, Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon Weekend, Holiday promotions, Sandwich Invitational, Open Late, #LoveFXBG, business exit and entrance interviews, ribbon cuttings, ongoing building and business inventory along with strategizing a fundraiser plan. There are others as well in the planning stages. Any one desiring more detail or who has an idea for a work plan, please reach out to Main Street. Upcoming events: The Fredericksburg Police Department pilot program, Coffee with a Cop, is March 15 at 8:15 to 9:30am at 25 30 Espresso (400 Princess Anne Street). It‘s great way to meet the police officers and discuss issues that affect downtown. For any “deadheads” out there or anyone wanting a different perspective on business, the Main Street's Book Club read is Everything I know about Business I Learned from the Grateful Dead: The Ten Most Innovative Lessons from a Long, Strange Trip by Barry Barnes. This book addresses all the things that are important in today’s business world: social responsibility, values, experiences, creativity by consumers, loyalty, communication, and authenticity. Join in this discussion on Tuesday, March 22 at 25 30 Espresso from 6:15 to 7:30pm. Main Street welcomes to Downtown: Flowers by Val (911 Caroline Street), Holy Chic Nail Bar & Beauty Lounge (1004 Caroline Street), Tidewater Mortgage Service, Inc. (904 Princess Anne Street, #202), and BobbyPins & Blush (600 Caroline Street). Ann Glave is the Executive Director of Fredericksburg Main Street. Contact her at info@fredericksburgmainstreet.org

& GARDEN CENTER

Since 1929

601 LAFAYETTE BLVD

roxburyfarmgarden.com

We have all your gardening needs! Come Shop With Us

#lovefxbg front porch fredericksburg

March 2016

MAKINI AINSWORTH

Your Hometown Jeweler Since 1940

On-Premise Jewelry Repair

relentless pursuit of a dream

Past & Present

Large Selection of ESTATE JEWELRY

By preston garrett

By Ann Glave

212 William Street,Fredericksburg 540-373-5513 Mon-Fri 9:30-6; Sat 9:30-5 jewelboxfredericksburgva.webs.com jewelbox14k@yahoo.com

SUZY STONE 540.847.0630 suzystone22@gmail.com C21redwood.com

March 2016

Each Office Is Independently Owned & Operated

Front porch fredericksburg

Downtown Buzz

Dreaming of Owning Downtown? Let’s Make it Happen!

ROXBURY F

ARM

MAIN: (540) 373-9124 NURSERY: (540) 371-8802

& GARDEN CENTER

Since 1929

601 LAFAYETTE BLVD

roxburyfarmgarden.com

We have all your gardening needs! Come Shop With Us

#lovefxbg front porch fredericksburg

March 2016

Norma Woodward

FXBG - Kathmandu Sister City Initiative

artist and adventurer

debuts @ multicultural fair

By collette caprara In addition to her beloved husband, Les, there are two other loves in arts photographer Norma the life of fine-a Woodward: exploring the discoveries afforded by travel and using the camera to capture the personality of objects and places, revealing traces of the people connected to them.

“The Blues”, Beale St., Memphis Norma’s travel adventures began when she was just three years old. As a toddler in the WWII era, Norma grew up seeing troop trains rumbling by on the tracks just behind her house. One day she saw that one had halted and her curiosity drew her across her backyard and up the steps to board. The soldiers thought she was adorable and assumed she was with one of the guys—until her frantic babysitter discovered her near-getaway

As amazing as this story is, solo travel was no anomaly for Norma during the years of her early childhood. When she was four, her mother would take her to the bus stop daily with seven cents in her pocket to take the city transport to her school. She also spent her summers with an aunt and uncle in northern Mississippi, and her dad— a Trailways employee—would take her to the station with her bus pass, introduce her to the driver, and send her on her way. “I thought I was really something special!” she recounted, “I’d sit in the front seat and on the stool beside the bus driver at the rest stop!” To this day, the lure of the road continues to call to Norma (now in her 70s), and she takes her camera on annual treks (sometimes solo) to the Southwest. One of her favorite journeys is along the old Route 66 that stretches from Chicago to Santa Monica, California—a once highlyt r a v e l e d highway that was left behind as the Interstate Highway System drew travelers, leaving behind nearly 2,500 miles with abandoned motels, diners, tourists’ sites. “Pursuit of “That’s why I love Route 66. There’s a story behind every one of those dilapidated buildings,” said Woodward. “There’s a m y s t e r y behind each of those sites: Who was there? What did they do? Why did they leave?” Recently, Norma’s lens has been trained on intentional visual expressions of the personality that she encounters in

“Things That Matter”, Jackson Ward, Richmond and retrieved her before the train moved on.

March 2016

Front porch fredericksburg

By Collette Caprara

A Large Selection Available

towns and cities throughout the country and around the world. Her new exhibit, “Urban Art,” will be featured at the Brush Strokes Gallery throughout March and highlights public art ranging from intricate commissioned murals to the words and images of stealth graffiti created on the run. In search of those subjects, Norma and her camera have ventured into

Happiness”, Fredericksburg some unchartered territory, including an abandoned building whose interior was covered with drawings and symbols and an old bus yard. She muses that the graffiti can elicit sad feelings, since the artists are anonymous and their venues’ days are numbered. Yet at the same time, as with mandalas drawn in the sand, its ephemeral quality is part of the value and essence of the art form. See Norma’s new exhibit, Urban Art at Brush Strokes Gallery, 824 Caroline Street

Collette Caprara is an artist, writer, and Fredericksburg Arts Comissioner Note: Norma Woodward “The Coffee Shop”, is this month’s cover.

200 William Street Downtown ,Fredericksburg 540.373.4421 Mon-Fri: 9:30-6 Sat: 9:30-5 CrownJewelersFredericksburg.com

Visitors who tour one group of exhibits at the April 9th University of Mary Washington (UMW) Multicultural Fair this year will recognize some familiar faces of local folks who now share a new bond. The exhibitors at five displays will each represent a unique element of the Fredericksburg community and each will have a role to play in the plan that unfolds for the exchanges of our newest sister-ccity initiative, which links the Fredericksburg region with Kathmandu, Nepal. Many of the sister-city affiliates have had ongoing engagement with Nepali counterparts but just recently became aware of one another through the Rise Nepal! fund-raiser last June. In that benefit concert/silent auction last spring, the generous contributions from the local community provided enough funds for the construction of 150 transitional homes for victims of the tragic earthquake in Nepal that claimed 9,000 lives last April. Booths at the FredericksburgKathmandu Sister City displays at the fair will feature Nepal-inspired creations by local artists and authentic artifacts from Nepal as well as Nepalese cuisine and entertainment—including a performance by the legendary folksinger of the Himalayas, Prem Raja Mahat, and other traditional instrumental performers Participants from the local business community will include The House of Milk and Honey which offers crafts created through microenterprises launched to support disadvantaged women of Nepal, Latitude Fair Trades with handcrafted items empowering Nepali artisans, and River Rock Outfitters, with prospective trekking adventures in the Himalayas. Fredericksburg Arts The Commission is generously hosting an exhibit featuring the works of local artists that were inspired by Nepal and intricate

woodcarving and cultural artifacts from Nepal, as well as an informative display on the Fredericksburg-Kathmandu sister city initiative. Involvement is welcomed in the sister-city’s exchanges in the arenas including: volunteerism and service; university and academic initiatives, arts and cultural exchanges, and business and tourism. Carol and Frank Mauro will be onsite with a display and information about the Sagarmatha Children’s Home they generously support to provide homes and a loving educational environment for abandoned and orphaned children of Nepal. Other initiatives to raise cultural and academic awareness about Nepal are also being considered in conjunction with UMW programs including the Center for International Education, directed by Dr. Jose Sainz, the Leidecker Center for Asian Studies including Tibetan Buddhism directed by Dr. Daniel Hirschberg, and the Center for Honor, Leadership, and Service, directed by Dr. David Rettinger. The Annual Multicultural Fair will be held on Saturday, April 9, from 9am to 5pm at the UMW Fredericksburg Campus. Sponsored by the James Farmer Multicultural Center, the fair was launched in 1990 and, throughout the last 25 years, has grown to include 4 performance stages, featuring more than 25 performances, and more than 60 vendors with items from a spectrum of cultures, attracting more than 5,000 visitors. Those who have Nepali-related art or artifacts they would like to display should contact Sue Henderson at sue@focusbyhenderson.com. For more information on the FredericksburgKathmandu sister-city initiative, visit facebook.com/FredericksburgNepalExchan ge or the Here and Abroad Deli, 1004 Princess Anne Street. front porch fredericksburg

March 2016

Norma Woodward

FXBG - Kathmandu Sister City Initiative

artist and adventurer

debuts @ multicultural fair

“Things That Matter”, Jackson Ward, Richmond and retrieved her before the train moved on.

March 2016

Front porch fredericksburg

By Collette Caprara

A Large Selection Available

Collette Caprara is an artist, writer, and Fredericksburg Arts Comissioner Note: Norma Woodward “The Coffee Shop”, is this month’s cover.

200 William Street Downtown ,Fredericksburg 540.373.4421 Mon-Fri: 9:30-6 Sat: 9:30-5 CrownJewelersFredericksburg.com

March 2016

Five Years Later Leyda Remembered By emily hollingsworth

March 2016

Battle of Betrayal

a room full of compassion What kind of a world do we want our children to inherit? If you were at the Presbyterian Church in Fredericksburg on February 7th, you would have witnessed a beautiful vision of a room full of adults and children all dreaming of a world without hunger. The goal of everyone in that room from the youngest to the oldest, was and is to work hard to make sure that by 2030, not one of the 800 million starving people on our planet today, will ever go hungry again. Several years ago, Bruce Harvey the coordinator of Christian Education for The Presbyterian Church, attended an Association of Church Educators conference in New Mexico discussing world

difficult for Beverley and Jim, who remember each of Ledya’s anniversaries and quirky habits. Beverley recalled a quote from author Jay Neugeboren, who said “A wife who loses a husband is called a widow. A husband who loses a wife is called a widower. A child who loses his parents is called an orphan. There is no word for a parent who loses a child. That’s how awful the loss is.” “It’s not the way it’s supposed to be,” Beverley said. Beverley, now a doula, reflected on what Leyda may have been like had she turned 12. How the impish Kindergartner who loved the carrot raisin bread at Mimi’s restaurant, ate lemons and liked watching TV would have been as a teenager. “When we adopted her, we knew her life was going to be short,” Beverley said. “It was a conscious decision.” Many of the photos she and Jim have of Leyda were of her as a toddler, as she was in too much pain later in her life. Beverley remembers the photos well. “[They were] when she was 2 or 3, running around, watching TV. That is what I miss. That is what makes me sad. That is the child I want to have back,” Beverley said. To learn more about Leyda Bouchard or the care packages, please visit their Facebook page “Leyda’s Memorial Blood Drive.” Emily Hollinsworth brings us profiles of local folks each month in Front Porch

FXBG’ERS

By Christina Ferber

by georgia Lee Strentz

Even before Leyda Bouchard died at 6, her foster mother, Beverley, said that Leyda continually had an impish smile and a twinkle in her eye. “I used to think ‘what are you going to be up to next?’” Beverley said. Bouchard and her husband, Jim, ran their fifth blood drive in February in memory of Leyda, who died in October 2011. Hope Presbyterian Church in Fredericksburg hosted the blood drive, and the blood drive reached its goal. The Bouchards hold the drives every February for National Heart Health month and Leyda’s birth month. What made this year different for them, according to Beverley, was having the drive for five years. “It was pretty big emotionally,” Beverley said. Next year, Beverley is excited for the blood drive as it will happen on Feb. 4, what will be Leyda’s 12th birthday. “We will have to do something, bring a birthday cake,” Beverley said with a laugh. In addition to having a blood drive every February, the Bouchards also collect items and makes care packages for families who stay in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at area hospitals. The packages include supplies such as toothbrushes, packages of coffee and toys for the children. “It does boost your morale to get these little goodies when you’re sitting in the hospital,” Beverley said. Leyda was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, or HLHS, preventing the left side of her heart from sending blood to the rest of her body. She had multiple surgeries to get the right side of her heart to do the work her left side could not. However, there were complications. A stroke left Leyda unable to talk before she died, so she used an iPad to communicate. Grieving Leyda’s death has been

A Paranormal Porch Investigation:

Front porch fredericksburg

hunger. The program that was presented, suggested including members of the church both adults and youth take part actively making nutritious food packs for some of the 800 million starving people all over the world. St. George's Episcopal Church joined them in this effort, with their congregation volunteering and splitting the cost of $5,800.00 for the nutritious ingredients to provide 20,900 meals for our starving brothers and sisters on planet Earth. The meals created will be going to school children in Africa. 175 smiling faces came together with compassion being the driving force. From the smiling face of church Kay Lanceley member greeting everyone, to the wonderful parents with their children of all ages and so many others of all ages. Michelle Coffman, who is the volunteer church youth advisor for middle school, brought her daughters Kaileen (Courthouse Elementary) and Sydney (Spotsy High). Michelle commented that participating in church "gives our youth

support and continuity in their lives." Sydney feels that she can learn to be a more positive influence in the world through her church work. As the busy hands all donned gloves and strange looking caps, they learned about the equipment. Joshua Rollins ( Gayle Middle School) commented, "I really want to help stop hunger." His mom said she feels this project is a wonderful opportunity to teach this abstract concept of world hunger to our young people. Will Doherty's (F.A.) older sister Kate told him it was a very fun activity, so he was anxious to participate. Grace Webb (Chancellor Middle) said she liked helping people. Emily Wright (Dixon-Smith) said, "helping people really makes me feel happy." Jack Valco, age 8,said,"I might be helping thousands of people who are hungry." Avery Foresman (Lafayette Middle) said, "It makes me feel so good I am feeding kids." Riordan Kneale (Ferry Farm) age 8, "I feel so good to know I am feeding people." Grace Webb (Chancellor Middle) said,"I like helping people." Niles Pederson (age 14,Brooke Point) likes supporting his friends in this project. Heidi Pederson likes helping people also. The Director of Youth Ministries, Rachel Erb, was overseeing the activities, as was Gay Rahn, Associate Rector of St. George's and of course our Bruce Harvey, directing, helping everywhere. "Remember," said the Stop Hunger Now representative Florence Domenech, who was showing everyone how to pack the food, "one person dies every 4 seconds from hunger on our planet and 800 million are starving daily." With our community full of "Fredericksburgers" filled with compassion and working on this problem, we just might make that deadline of a world without hunger by 2030!

Doors fly open for no reason. Furniture is moved and cabinets are pulled out without anyone present. If this type of paranormal activity peaks your interest, then you may want to check out one of Paranormal Porch’s upcoming adventures. The Paranormal Porch team, which includes Stan Miles, Darlene Lloyd, Chante’ Rittenour, Patrick Bishop and Rob Kelly, investigates strange happenings in our area and up next for them is a live investigation at Belle Grove Plantation in

King George, the birthplace of James Madison. The weekend of investigations, entitled The Battle of Betrayal, will take place on March 18th and 19th with a very special guest, Brian J. Cano, from the SyFy Channel’s, The Haunted Collector. Along with the Paranormal Porch team, Cano will offer his own perspective on the strange happenings at Belle Grove as participants are guided through what a real paranormal investigation looks like. They

will also get a chance to help make and listen to electronic voice phenomenon (EVP), which appear on a recording device and are considered evidence of paranormal activity by investigators. “Cano was a tech specialist for The Haunted Collector, and is very well known and respected in the paranormal community. We’re excited to have him with us at Belle Grove, which is a very active place,” says Miles, who also owns Dravin Wolf Productions. “The idea is to teach people the ethics and process of doing a proper EVP session, and actually record the voices of the hereafter.” Participants can anticipate a meet and greet with all of the investigators, including guest investigators from Virginia Paranormal Occurrence Research and Tidewater Paranormal, along with hors d’oeuvres beginning at 7 pm. The investigation starts at 9:30 pm and will last until 3 am. Teams will be led through four buildings: the mansion house, the slave summer kitchen, the old caretaker’s house, and a church complete with a cemetery. Along with the upcoming Battle of Betrayal investigation, Paranormal Porch has also launched other ways to

showcase bizarre activity in our area. A new online magazine is available at issuu.com (search Paranormal Porch) and features haunted places in the region, as well as stories of the paranormal. A You Tube series on the Paranormal Porch channel offers stories of local phenomenon, with the first episode showcasing the Stafford SPCA and the interesting activity on its grounds. The next episode will feature the historical connection of the location to the Civil War. An upcoming interview on the ParanormalFiller.com podcast radio show will be available March 6, and the group is planning their own podcast as well. The investigative team is available for private investigations, and Miles is in the planning stages of bringing Fredericksburg’s first Para-Con event to our area. “Our real focus is to bring out the side of Fredericksburg that people don’t really talk about, but it’s so much a part of the history. It’s here, it’s around us, so let’s tell the story,” says Miles. To purchase tickets for Battle of Betrayal, find out more about the group, or book them for an investigation visit www.paranormalporch.com/.

front porch fredericksburg

March 2016

Five Years Later Leyda Remembered By emily hollingsworth

March 2016

Battle of Betrayal

FXBG’ERS

By Christina Ferber

by georgia Lee Strentz

A Paranormal Porch Investigation:

Front porch fredericksburg

front porch fredericksburg

March 2016

Vino Pinot Noir Pairing The Renowned Northern Italian Restaurant once in Stafford on Garrisonville Rd moves to downtown Fredericksburg’s “Historic Chimney’s Building” on Caroline Street adding Internationality to their Cuisine

The General Store

Restaurant

Since 1978

Italian/American Food Monday-Saturday 11 am-10 pm

371-4075 2018 College Ave. Fredericksburg

March 2016

Open 7 days a week Monday to Saturday 11 am to 10pm International Sunday Brunch 9am to 3pm Dinner from 3pm to 9pm Private Dining Rooms for Your Holiday parties or any occasion!!! 623 Caroline Street Fredericksburg VA 22401 Tel (540) 368-1 1107 Fax (540) 368-1 1108

Front porch fredericksburg

By Scott Richards February was jammed packed with the various Valentine's Day events going on at wineries, the Virginia Expo in Richmond, and the Governor's Cup Gala at the end of the month, where the winner of the Governor's Cup is announced. for the sports minded, Super Bowl 50 came and went with its usual controversial halftime show. It is the end of high school basketball and the beginning of Major League Baseball as pitchers and catchers take the first days of spring training in hopes of making it into the majors. And now, it is March, finally. March has always been a transition month, in particular when working in the vineyard. The pruning should be done, and serious thought concerning a spray program commence as signs of the vines budding become more apparent. This March, also, my wife and I celebrate our 38th wedding anniversary. For some, it is a transition from the reds of winter to the whites of summer. I really enjoy both all year, but the changing of the colors can be a traditional change, and one not to be thought little of by local wine snobs. Some go cold turkey in the change over. I have friends that go Wild Turkey, but that is another column. But for those who would like a good change over to the whites, Pinot Noir is an excellent choice. What a good Pinot Noir brings to the table is a wine that is not as heavy as some of the Cabernet Sauvignons or Petite Verdots which are considered by some as winter wines, but in every way is holds its own against them. Pinot Noir is a different varietal with a character all its own. A wine originally from the Bourgogne region of France, it proves to be a very difficult grape to grow due to its thin skins and susceptibility to the many fungi that exist. The Bourgogne area is said to be one of the worst areas there are to try to plant this grape, but centuries of growing it there have obviously given viticulturists the opportunity to develop their methods, yielding world class wines. Pinot Noir may be used as a transition wine between winter and summer, but it should be noted that this wine stands by itself among the better known wines of the industry whatever the season. In France, Camus Pere et Fils has long produced wines of a superior quality. Displaying hints of dark fruit with hints of strawberry, accompanied by vanilla as a result of oaking, this wine is often served with various cheeses, and roasted meats such as lamb and pork tenderloin. A favorite food is mushrooms, whose earthy taste goes well with the smokey flavors exuding from this fine wine.

Oregon and Washington State have become the areas where Pinot Noir has been most successful in America, producing a lighter style of this wine. Virginia is one of those places where we can enjoy the four seasons. Instead of looking for a wine to help pass the time while transitioning between seasons, enjoy a good Pinot Noir from winter through spring and summer. It is truly worth it. My wife makes a wonderful mushroom soup that would pair well with this any Pinot Noir. From Prevention Magazine, November 1999:

Mushroom and Barley Soup 1 oz dried mushrooms 1 1/2 tsp dried oregano 3 cups water 2 cans (14 1/2 oz ea) chicken broth 1 large onion, chopped 1/2 cup barley 2 carrots, chopped 1/2 tsp salt 1 celery rib, chopped 12 oz cremini or button mushrooms, stemmed and sliced In a saucepan, bring dried mushrooms and water to a boil. Remove and let stand 15 min. Coat a Dutch oven w/nonstick spray. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Coat lightly with nonstick spray. Cook over medium heat, stirring some for 3 min. Add mushrooms and oregano. Cook, stirring some, for 6-8 min or until vegetables are soft. Add broth, barley, and salt and cook for 10 minutes. . Line a mesh sieve with a coffee filter or paper towel and strain the dried mushroom water into the pot. Remove and discard the filter. Rinse the dried mushrooms under running water to remove any grit. Chop the dried mushrooms and drop into the pot. Cook for 10-15 min or until the barley is tender Scott Richards is owner of Loch Haven Vineyards, and a free lance writer Contact him at bgmeadowswine@yahoo.com

Season’s Bounty marching in spring

Olde Towne BUTCHER Corner of William & Charles Streets Downtown Fredericksburg 540.370.4105

By vanessa moncure Spring is the most fleeting of the seasons - fragile snowdrops push their way out of the warming ground, tulips and daffodils follow with a riot of color, impressionistic waves of forsythia and cherry blossoms color the awakening landscape - and the garden! shovels, spades and garden hoes turn over the loamy soil, seeds are planted in narrow rows or widely broadcast and the annual miracle of germination and growth begins anew. We are the fortunate denizens of spring renewal, especially in the kitchen. After the warming soups and stews made to sustain us during our winter’s hibernation, we crave freshness and lightness as reflected in longer warming days of the new season. Because we now import so many fruits and vegetables, the lines between seasons have begun to blur except for the price and the freshness. I would rather wait for fresh local asparagus at the farmer’s market rather than an older, woody Andean crop jetted in chilled containers to grocery distribution centers. A convenience, yes but no comparison in taste. Try these recipes with fresh vegetables from the farmer’s market - a seasonal revelation. BUTTERCRISP ASPARAGUS Rinse one pound of green asparagus and trim off woody ends. In a 12” frying pan with lid, melt 4 T. butter over mediumlow heat. Place asparagus in one layer in pan, cover and cook for about 8-12 minutes, or until asparagus is crisptender. Arrange cooked asparagus on platter and pour pan juices over - drizzle with the juice of one lemon (more or less, to taste), then generously place shaved Parmesan cheese over the asparagus - you shouldn’t need any salt as the cheese is salty. TRICOLOR ASPARAGUS SALAD Wash and cut woody ends off 1 lb. asparagus - purple, white and green. Blanch each color separately until tender, then cool immediately in ice water to retain color. Drain and pat dry. Drizzle with an herb vinaigrette - Mix together ? c. prepared herb mustard, ½ tsp. crushed green peppercorns, ? c. champagne vinegar, 2 T. finely chopped parsley and 2 c. olive oil. S&P. SPRING GREENS WITH GREEN GODDESS DRESSING The original Green Goddess dressing was created at San Francisco’s Palace Hotel in the 1920s in honor of a hit play “Green Goddess”. I’ve updated it with some watercress - and made the original anchovies optional. Serves 8. Toss together 6 cups of spring mix salad, one head of Boston lettuce and one bunch of frisee lettuce in a salad bowl. Separate two heads of Belgian endive

www.oldetownebutcher.com Hours Monday - Saturday, 9am to 9pm; Sunday, 11am to 6pm Keith Lebor Proprietor

and add leaves to the salad mix. Set aside while you make the dressing - 2 whole anchovies, mashed (optional), 1 garlic clove, peeled and smashed, ½ c. each Italian parsley leaves and watercress, ½ c. fresh tarragon, 2 T. each chopped chives and lemon juice, ½ tsp. kosher salt and ground pepper to taste, 1 ¼ c. mayonnaise and ¾ c. thick sour cream. Combine all ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth, scraping down the sides of blender as needed. Drizzle over salad and toss. Any extra salad dressing can be refrigerated for up to a week. SPRING 3-P PEA SALAD Lightly blanch and chill one cup each of shelled spring peas, snow pea pods and sugar snap peas. Mix together a dressing of ¼ c. lemon juice, slivers of lemon zest, 2 T. white balsamic vinegar, 1 T. dijon mustard, 1 c. fruity olive oil, freshly ground pepper. Drizzle over pea mixture (there should be some left over). Thinly slice a head of fresh radicchio onto a platter, then place pea mixture atop. Garnish with fresh pea shoots if available. STRAWBERRY AND RHUBARB CRISP The crisp mixture can be made ahead and stored in the freezer, to be used as needed. It’s great for apple, pear and peach crisps in other seasons. Mix together until crumbly 1 ½ sticks butter, 1 c. flour, 3 c. whole rolled oats (not quick cooking), 1 c. light brown sugar, 1 T. ground cinnamon, ½ tsp. salt. Set aside. Toss together 6 c. diced fresh rhubarb (never use the leaves, only stems) and 4 c. sliced fresh strawberries with ¾ c. sugar, 3 T. cornstarch, 2 tsp. grated orange zest and ½ c. orange juice. Bake in 9”x13” glass baking dish at 350F for 45-55 minutes or until fruit is bubbly and topping is browned. Serve with fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Spring is sprung!

S ammy T’ s DOWNTOWN FREDERICKSBURG’S

Serving Great Food Since 1981

Home of the “Camper Special” & the Best Burger in Town 801 Caroline Street

(540) 371-2008

Try Our Self-Serve Yogurt open 11:30 am Daily Still Owned by the Emory Family

Open Daily 11am - 4pm 540.371.2233 www.thevirginiadeli.com 826 Caroline at the corner of Caroline & George Streets Master Card ~ Visa ~ Discover front porch fredericksburg

March 2016

The General Store

Restaurant

Since 1978

Italian/American Food Monday-Saturday 11 am-10 pm

371-4075 2018 College Ave. Fredericksburg

March 2016

Front porch fredericksburg

Season’s Bounty marching in spring

Olde Towne BUTCHER Corner of William & Charles Streets Downtown Fredericksburg 540.370.4105

www.oldetownebutcher.com Hours Monday - Saturday, 9am to 9pm; Sunday, 11am to 6pm Keith Lebor Proprietor

S ammy T’ s DOWNTOWN FREDERICKSBURG’S

Serving Great Food Since 1981

Home of the “Camper Special” & the Best Burger in Town 801 Caroline Street

(540) 371-2008

Try Our Self-Serve Yogurt open 11:30 am Daily Still Owned by the Emory Family

Open Daily 11am - 4pm 540.371.2233 www.thevirginiadeli.com 826 Caroline at the corner of Caroline & George Streets Master Card ~ Visa ~ Discover front porch fredericksburg

March 2016

Cooking With Kyle Cornbread

agora coffee shop

March 2016

Etc.

by Dawn Whitmore

by james kyle snyder

Some times, the best food comes in the simplest forms. It was a recent trip to New Orleans that reminded me of how relatively easy it is to create amazing food where less is more; beignets, a simple crawfish boil, or the easiest of all staples – bread – all lend themselves to make the idiom true. Irene Anderson, my grandmother and inspiration for ensuring that there is always enough for everyone, made all types of bread. As the mother of 7 she had bread, and the appearance of abundance, down; her loaf breads were crusty and delicious, her three and four-petalled yeast rolls could rival any restaurants flat bread, sweet bread, banana bread, pan bread, corn bread – lets pause at corn bread. This quick bread has been around longer than our country. The Native Americans used corn for many of the staple foods. Due to the variance of the type of corn grown in an area, each of the local breads would be different. Blue corn was used in the southwest, where yellow was used in the northern regions and white in the southern areas. Some sweetened the breads with molasses while others made it more savory by using lard or rendered fats. The best part about cornbread is that you can make it taste like you want it to fairly easily. We still laugh about Grandma’s secret corn bread receipt. A virtuoso of the culinary arts, she could create a meal out of thin air when unexpected guests arrived. Bread was always a part. Grandma, a petite woman at 5’ 5”, would walk to the cupboard, get her step stool, and reach behind the other ingredient to reveal her secret. Shazam! A little blue topped box with a word that starts with a J on the front. Who knew the key to being a great host is knowing when to bring in help?

Soup & Taco,

much more than coffee

I can’t make cornbread without remembering that moment. As I have progressed in my cooking abilities, I have grow more adept at knowing when to bring in help my self. For cornbread at our house though, it is still made from scratch in about 30 minutes and contains whole kernels of creamed corn – The unexpected guests might have to participate in the assemblage if they are hungry.

Preheat oven to 425 and put a 10” cast iron skillet in it to heat. Now cream the corn. Put 4 C of frozen corn in a sauce pan. Add ½ cup of cream, 1 heaping tsp of S&P, 1 TBS sugar, and 2 TBS of butter to the pan and bring to a boil. Thicken with corn starch or a 1 TBS butter and 1 TBS flour rue and cook for 10 mins on simmer (make extra so there is a side dish for the meal - yummmmm). Now for the Bread! Combine 2 C stoneground cornmeal, 1 tsp kosher salt, 1 TBS sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, and ½ tsp baking soda. Whisk together 1 ¼ cups buttermilk, 2 large eggs, 1 C of the creamed corn, and 2 TBS of oil. Now, blend both bowls together well. Pull the hot skillet from the oven and swirl (carefully) bacon fat or oil to coat the bottom and sides. Pour in the batter and jiggle the pan to evenly distribute. On the center rack, bake for 20 minutes or until the bread is golden brown and springs back when touched. Once you get good at this try layering chorizo through the batter and serve with with a cilantro chutney and poached egg.

Thanks Grandma! Simple, easy, delicious. Be well!

Kyle treats us to simple, easy & delicious recipes each month in this space. Photo by Kyle Snyder

Front porch fredericksburg

Nestled on the 500 block of Caroline Street is Agora Coffee Shop, a bright yellow building, which some pass by without noticing. These folks are missing more than coffee. They are missing out on one of Fredericksburg’s amazing treasures. The Stone Sisters, MJ and Andi Stone, owners of Agora, reveal there is hope and a strong work ethic alive in our younger generation. Why do I say this? One reason…these young entrepreneurs committed to work 120 hours per week, with no employees, for the first 4-5 months when they first opened. It would be a sacrifice well worth the effort. When discussing owning a business, MJ states, “many romanticize the vision of owning business, when in truth the business truly owns you.” The Stone Sisters’ vision, a simple one, a community coffee shop. However, simple doesn’t mean easy. Understanding this one phrase, along with a strong work ethic, a solid business plan (including, the aforementioned no employees for the first 4-5 months), and a creativity-filled supportive family to assist transforming the building into commercial use would be the beginning of Agora. Agora is a “family business”, from the Stone’s younger brother, Brayden who took the first order when the business opened (a real charmer, who still makes appearances), to Sumner, a younger sister, who handles Story Time Tuesdays. While Andi and MJ, now share the front duties of barista with a small employee staff, Andi’s passion of coming up with food items for people with dietary restrictions is an impressive part of the Agora community. MJ handles the books, along with the consignment of 50 local artists. These artists include authors, photographers, painters, and musicians. The name, Agora would be the idea of the Stones’ Dad. Agora in Greek means ‘community or gathering’ and in Portuguese means, ‘right now.’ These two

meanings are an integral part of the shop. Community is covered mutually… in each patron being encouraged to stay awhile, enjoy their time with friends, and through the consignment of local artists. The ‘right now’ is for the morning commuters. An honor box is set up for those who need to get their coffee and get on their way. When asked the question, “What are a few things you didn’t expect when you first opened?” MJ shared, “We didn’t’ expect food to be so accepted.” The current ratio is 50/50 food and coffee. “Some being surprised about the consignment portion of the shop,” is another unexpected aspect since we opened, “Yet, because of my arts background and my other business venture, Arts Actually, the consignment was natural to me,” says MJ. Arts Actually provides MJ with insight for communicating with the artist and the consignment portion of Agora. She can still be found crocheting and creating custom orders when relaxing. Agora regularly auctions Arts Actually scarves with 100% of the proceeds going to Micah Ministries. She further explains, “When implementing something new, make sure you give it (your idea, concept) a good chance to succeed or fail. Also, don’t be afraid to let your business evolve to your customer’s needs.” The used bookstore portion of the store evolved to fill a customer requested need. Two bookstores closed in Fredericksburg and customers were continually asking if they could buy the used books in the back reading room at Agora. The books in the back reading room and foyer are now for sale. What is on the horizon for Agora? Slowing down and resting on their laurels is not part of the plan. Two events are upcoming for Agora. The first falls into the Stone Sisters’ desire to create and build upon community: this spring a backyard, with outdoor seating to host musicians and live performances is planned. In the beginning, the focus will be on the musicians who have consignments at Agora. The second event includes Miranda Reynolds and her students. Reynolds and her students will construct a mural for Agora. This will be a service project with her students. The mural will be inside the building in the foyer. With all the happenings inside Agora, make sure stepping inside this yellow building on Caroline Street is on your to-do list. I can guarantee it will be the best part of your day. Oh and tell Sami, “Hi” for me. Dawn Whitmore is a landscape photographer and writer who lives in Spotsylvania. Visit facebook.com/dewphotographypage or her website at www.dewphotographyva.com.

FOOD FIGHT ?

The

813 Caroline St.

So many labels for your lettuce, but what do they all mean By meg sneed

Fredericksburg, VA Buy Organic! Buy Local! Buy Natural!

Serving Traditional Mexican, Tex-Mex Food

We’re ready for the Leprechaun ! 24 on Tap

J. B rian’s Tap Room 200 Hanover Street

373-0738

and Something More!! Tuesday to Saturday 11am-9pm Sunday 11am-6pm

Phone: 540-899-0969

You hear these buzzwords thrown around quite a bit lately but it can be hard to tell the difference between them, and even harder to decide which how to prioritize them for yourself and your family. While I certainly would love to buy all our food natural, organic, and local, that isn’t always an option – it may not be in season, grown locally and organically, or just not in the budget. Deciding when and where to compromise can be tough, especially if you aren’t sure what those terms really mean, so here’s a quick overview to help you make the best decisions for your family, both in the grocery store and at the farmer’s market! Organic is a term regulated by the USDA, and as such anyone who uses the term must be inspected and certified

meaning at times. It is not yet a regulated term by the US government nor any other certifying organization per se, but is generally accepted to mean food produced within 50-400 miles of its point of sale. Which, I agree, seems to be a ridiculously large range. Congress, and subsequently the USDA, have combined the terms “local” and “regional” within the “Consolidation Farm & Rural Development Act” of 2008, which is where the outlying number of 400miles originates. Most farmer’s markets, CSA’s, and local grocers however favor a span of about 50 miles on average, whereas bigger stores such as Wegman’s that boast of providing some local produce tend to allow a range of 50200 miles. The more local the produce, the better! So what should you choose? Personally, we typically choose local

E-mail: soupntaco@yahoo.com

The Sunken Well Tavern

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

by the USDA agents – a lengthy and expensive process. Organic produce must be grown in soil “free of prohibited synthetic fertilizers and pesticides for the past three years” and organic meat must “have the ability to graze on pasture and be fed 100% organic feed/forage and be antibiotic and hormone free.” Be aware, however, that this does not mean that certified organic produce is completely free of all sprays – only those prohibited by the USDA. Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) is not regulated by the government, but is a peer-reviewed group which certifies that members grow within their rather strict guidelines – which include mandates on length of time since the land was last farmed conventionally and regulations on specific farming practices allowed by growers with a CNG certification. These standards can be found online at www.cngfarming.org, and are generally considered to be on par with organic requirements, if not better in some instances. The primary difference is that Organic is regulated by the government, whereas CNG is a peer-regulated organization and has kept the cost and red tape of certification as minimal as effectively possible in order to make it more accessible to small farmers who meet their standards. Local is another popular term in both grocery stores and at the farmer’s markets lately, but can be rather vague in

produce over all other options (when I can’t have it all, that is!). Our belief is layered – we prefer to keep our money local, to support other small businesses and farmers. The more local it is, the more likely we are to be able to get to know the farmer and his practices to determine if they align with our personal standards for the food we buy. And, especially for items such as honey, there are greater potential health benefits in choosing food grown within your own immediate environment. If you can’t get in-season, local produce (a bit tricky in the winter season), then I’d suggest CNG or Organic – especially if you are shopping at a large chain such as Wegman’s or Aldi. But whenever possible? Local AND CNG/Organic is always a winning combination! Next month, I’ll be covering the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) options for Fredericksburg that cover the entire gamut of local, CNG, Organic, and beyond! And if you’d like to learn a bit more about what the “100% Organic” or “All Natural” labels you see in the grocery store are, stop by www.odomedicine.com/whats-label for more information. Meg is the practice manager at Old Dominion Osteopathic Medicine, member of the Fredericksburg Area CSA Project, a mom of 3kids, and an ardent lover of all foods local, natural, and un-messed-with.

front porch fredericksburg

March 2016

Cooking With Kyle Cornbread

agora coffee shop

March 2016

Etc.

by Dawn Whitmore

by james kyle snyder

Soup & Taco,

much more than coffee

Thanks Grandma! Simple, easy, delicious. Be well!

Kyle treats us to simple, easy & delicious recipes each month in this space. Photo by Kyle Snyder

Front porch fredericksburg

FOOD FIGHT ?

The

813 Caroline St.

So many labels for your lettuce, but what do they all mean By meg sneed

Fredericksburg, VA Buy Organic! Buy Local! Buy Natural!

Serving Traditional Mexican, Tex-Mex Food

We’re ready for the Leprechaun ! 24 on Tap

J. B rian’s Tap Room 200 Hanover Street

373-0738

and Something More!! Tuesday to Saturday 11am-9pm Sunday 11am-6pm

Phone: 540-899-0969

E-mail: soupntaco@yahoo.com

The Sunken Well Tavern

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

front porch fredericksburg

March 2016

march 2016…in like a lion, out like a lamb? Tuesday, March 1

Grateful Dead Night with The Brokedown Boys @ The Sunken Well Tavern, 720 Littlepage, @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Open Mic at the Bistro @ Bistro Bethem Your host for March is EP Jackson. Join us for food and drink specials starting at 8PM., Local Hero's Night at Adventure Brewing, 3:309pm. 20% off if you are a military, police, fire, emergency and teachers. (540) 242-8876 33 Perchwood Dr Unit 101 Fredericksburg, VA22405 Bluegrass Night @Colonial Tavern, 8pm Lafayette Blvd.

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Wednesday, March2

ComonWealth Slam Poetry Readings and Events presents a poetry workshop followed by a sharing session at Headquarters Library, downtown. Our workshop is at 7 and our open mic at 8. Hope to see you out! Trivia Night w/quizmaster Josh Cameli @Sunken Well Tavern. 7:30pm. Get there early to get a seat! 720 Littlepage St. Light Jazz @LaPetite Auberge, 311 William St, 8midnight. Light jazz and Latin piano guitar . Featuring Chris Phil Andy & Harry. No cover. lapetiteaubergefred.com

Thursday, March 3

Jonny Grave, blues, Live Music at 7:30 Kenmore Inn. featuring drink specials at the copper top bar

First Friday, March 4

810 Weekend Gallery will celebrate First Friday from 6-8:30 pm. Stop by to see new works by Beverley Coates (watercolors), Penny A Parrish (photography) and Lynn Abbott (acrylics and oils). The Gallery is located at 810 Caroline Street and open from 10-5 daily. An artist is on site every Saturday. Urban Art by Norma Woodward @Brush Strokes Galery, opening reception 6-9pm, 824 Caroline St. Show through March 27

CALENDAR of events

First Friday Open House @ The Miscellaneous Artist, 1011 Princess Anne St. @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Open house for small studio-shop offering handmade jewelry, art, home décor and other fun handmade items. Come meet the artists and do a little shopping. Light refreshments will be served First Friday Reception @ Ponshop Studio and Gallery, @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Join us in the gallery as we introduce new work as well as two new jewelry artists:Once Again Sam by Sarah Mandell (Greenville, SC) and Karen Smith (Charlotte, NC). March is "Do It Yourself" month at PONSHOP and we will be featuring a D.I.Y. terrarium building workshop Art First, 824 Caroline St, will feature the photography of Sheila R. Jones for the entire month of March. Proceeds from the show will be donated to Law Enforcement United, which provides support for the Officers Down Memorial Page and families of law enforcement officials. Opening Reception 6-9pm

Saturday, March 5

Book signing at Agora Downtown Coffee Shop 520 Caroline St.@ 8:30 am - 12:30 pm "You Don't Know Jack" is a book about local Frank Jackson Matthews, a skilled pianist who also fought the Battle of Iwo Jima and was the only member of his forty-man platoon to leave the island alive.

Sunday, March 6

Bluegrass Jam @ The Sunken Well Tavern, 7-9pm, 720 Littlepage a Sunday tradition with some of the best pickers around.

Monday, March 7

Open Mic w/Thom Schiff, Bring your instruments and play or just come to listen and enjoy some of Fredericksburg's best musicians. 21+. 9pmmidnight. Colonial Tavern. 406 Lafayette Blvd

Local Hero's Night at Adventure Brewing, 3:309pm. 20% off if you are a military, police, fire, emergency and teachers. (540) 242-8876 33 Perchwood Dr Unit 101 Fredericksburg, VA22405

Wednesday, March 9

A.Smith Bowman Distillery Open House Birthday Celebration, 6pm. 1 Bowmn Dr. Trivia Night w/quizmaster Josh Cameli @Sunken Well Tavern. 7:30pm. Get there early to get a seat! 720 Littlepage St. Light Jazz @LaPetite Auberge, 311 William St, 8midnight. Light jazz and Latin piano guitar . Featuring Chris Phil Andy & Harry. No cover. lapetiteaubergefred.com

Thursday, March 10

Davis Bradley, bluegrass, Live Music at 7:30 Kenmore Inn. featuring drink specials at the copper top bar Future Foster Parent Information Session @ Dorothy Hart Community Center, 6:30pm. Every child deserves a safe place to call home, wouldn't you agree? Unfortunately this is far from the case. Every night children in Virginia go to sleep hungry, abused, and neglected. When children are removed from these desperate circumstances they are placed in a foster home. For most children this home is the first time they will ever experience stability, trust, and love. Families who display these qualities are always in high demand. Please join us to learn more about foster care in this informal information session. Artist's Opening Reception with Sue Henderson @ The Sunken Well Tavern, 720 Littlepage, @ 7- 9pm

Saturday, March 12

Tuesday, March 8

Meet & Greet the New Director of Fredericksburg Parks and Recreation, plus 2016 Summer Camp Preview, Dorothy Hart Community Center, 5:50pm to 7:30pm Bluegrass Night @Colonial Tavern, 8pm Lafayette Blvd.

Smith, Party of 3 @ Bistro Bethem, 8-11pm, Join us for food and drink specials and live music featuring Smith, Party of 3 starting at 8PM. No cover!

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Karen Jonas with Tim Bray, Live Music at 7:30 Kenmore Inn. featuring drink specials at the copper top bar The Brubeck Brother Quartet presented by Fredericksburg Festival for the Performing Arts @ Mercedes-Benz of Fredericksburg.7pm

en Route! a Touring Dance Project @ UMW Hurley Convergence Center Digital Auditorium. en Route! is a touring dance project which facilitates performances for local artists in areas that Next Reflex Dance Collective selects each year. Audiences are not only exposed to the work of their own local artists but also from artists of other communities who are involved in en Route!

Sunday, March 13

Dinosaurs @ Belmont, 2-3pm, 224 Washington Ave Robert E. Weems, Calvert Marine Museum Research Associate, will give a presentation and lead a walking tour of dinosaur footprints found in Belmont's stonework.FREE Blue Grass Jam @ The Sunken Well Tavern, 720 Littlepage @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Monday, March 14

Women's History Month Keynote Speaker: Nancy Reed @ Lee Hall, room 411 University of Mary Washington @ 7:00 pm Nancy Redd is currently a host on "HuffPost Live", The Huffington Post's Webby Award-winning streaming network.

Tuesday, March 15

Adwela & Samanah @ Bistro Bethem You do NOT want to miss the debut of Adwela & Samanah! Join us for food and drink specials and this incredible live music debut starting at 8PM. No cover! Local Hero's Night at Adventure Brewing, 3:309pm. 20% off if you are a military, police, fire, emergency and teachers. (540) 242-8876 33 Perchwood Dr Unit 101 Fredericksburg, VA22405 Bluegrass Night @Colonial Tavern, 8pm Lafayette Blvd.

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Wednesday, March16

Thursday, March 17

The Transmitters, Reggae Live Music at 7:30 Kenmore Inn. featuring drink specials at the copper top bar

The 65th Annual Fredericksburg Art Show & Sale , presented by Fredericksburg Parks & Rec, Dorothhy Hart Community Centr, All Day

Fredericksburg-Este Association Presents an Evening of Religious and Political History @ St George Episcopal Church, Faulkner Hall, 6:30pm

Belmont's 5th Annual Beeping Egg Hunt, 2-4pm Our annual egg hunt for visually impaired or blind students with their families. Bring your basket and join us for an egg hunt, refreshments, minature animal petting zoo, crafts, and Touch a Tractor.

The 65th Annual Fredericksburg Art Show & Sale , presented by Fredericksburg Parks & Rec, Dorothhy Hart Community Centr, All Day

Bluegrass Jam @Sunken Well, 720 Littlepage, 79pm It's a Sunday tradition with some of the best pickers around.

Saturday, March 19

Tuesday, March 22

Friday, March18

Braehead Farm Easter Egg Hunt, 9:30am. annual Easter Egg Hunt with the Easter Bunny! Visit with the Easter Bunny in the Egg Patch and gather 12 Easter Eggs! Bring your cameras for photos with the Easter Bunny! Don't forget your baskets! $ Eggsplosion, Curtis Park, 11-3pm oin the excitement in this fun-filled day to celebrate Spring. Children will enjoy a day of activities including an egg hunt. $ 4th Annual Doggie Easter Hunt, 12:30pm Dogs on leash hunt for prizes, treats, and toys!! When the dog touches or sniffs one of the many treats, prizes or toys into your basket it goes. This year we will have a Doggie Fashion Show: Dress your dog up in their Easter finest! Book Signing at Agora Downtown Coffee Shop, 520 Caroline St, 9-1pm, Local writer Claire Cole Curcio is the author of "The Death Law," a novel about the social and economic repercussions of a government that puts an age cap on life.

Trivia Night w/quizmaster Josh Cameli @Sunken Well Tavern. 7:30pm. Get there early to get a seat! 720 Littlepage St.

The 65th Annual Fredericksburg Art Show & Sale , presented by Fredericksburg Parks & Rec, Dorothhy Hart Community Centr, All Day

Light Jazz @LaPetite Auberge, 311 William St, 8midnight. Light jazz and Latin piano guitar . Featuring Chris Phil Andy & Harry. No cover. lapetiteaubergefred.com

Sunday, March 20

Colonial Seafood @ Bistro Bethem, 7-9pm Join us for food and drink specials and live music. No Cover Local Hero's Night at Adventure Brewing, 3:309pm. 20% off if you are a military, police, fire, emergency and teachers. (540) 242-8876 33 Perchwood Dr Unit 101 Fredericksburg, VA22405 Bluegrass Night @Colonial Tavern, 8pm Lafayette Blvd.

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Wednesday, March 23

Trivia Night w/quizmaster Josh Cameli @Sunken Well Tavern. 7:30pm. Get there early to get a seat! 720 Littlepage St. Light Jazz @LaPetite Auberge, 311 William St, 8midnight. Light jazz and Latin piano guitar . Featuring Chris Phil Andy & Harry. No cover. lapetiteaubergefred.com

Sunday, March 27 Easter

Bluegrass Jam @Sunken Well, 720 Littlepage, 79pm It's a Sunday tradition with some of the best pickers around.

Tuesday, March 29

Dangerous Kitchen @ Bistro Bethem. Join us for the triumphant return of The Dangerous Kitchen to the Bistro Bethem "stage" along with food and drink specials starting at 8PM. No cover! Local Hero's Night at Adventure Brewing, 3:309pm. 20% off if you are a military, police, fire, emergency and teachers. (540) 242-8876 33 Perchwood Dr Unit 101 Fredericksburg, VA22405 Bluegrass Night @Colonial Tavern, 8pm Lafayette Blvd.

Wedneday, March 30

Thursday, March 31

Bary Wilson, vibraphone extraordinaire, Live Music at 7:30 Kenmore Inn. featuring drink specials at the copper top bar

Thursday, March 24

Brandon Snellings & Jon Wiley, Live Music at 7:30 Kenmore Inn. featuring drink specials at the copper top bar

Saturday, March 26

University of Mary Washington Philharmonic Celebrity Concert @ Dodd Auditorium, George Washington Hall, University of Mary Washington Celebrated violinist Joshua Bell will perform in concert

If you are reading this 224 th issue of FP, thank an advertiser as we celebrate our 19 th year of continuous publication! If you are an advertiser, list your events. Deadline for April 2016 issue is March 20th. To submit events go to frontporchfredericksburg.com/submit

Lexi Grogan’s Pet Sitting Service

2790 Fans (& Growing) Want You to Join

“Your pet becomes my pet while in my care, and I care a lot!”

540-8 899-6 6787 16

March 2016

fortemusicstudios.com Front porch fredericksburg

(540-903-0437; lexig0892@gmail.com) On facebook as “lexi grogan’s pet sitting service”

406

Front Porch on

front porch fredericksburg

March 2016

march 2016…in like a lion, out like a lamb? Tuesday, March 1

406

Wednesday, March2

Thursday, March 3

Jonny Grave, blues, Live Music at 7:30 Kenmore Inn. featuring drink specials at the copper top bar

First Friday, March 4

CALENDAR of events

Saturday, March 5

Sunday, March 6

Bluegrass Jam @ The Sunken Well Tavern, 7-9pm, 720 Littlepage a Sunday tradition with some of the best pickers around.

Monday, March 7

Open Mic w/Thom Schiff, Bring your instruments and play or just come to listen and enjoy some of Fredericksburg's best musicians. 21+. 9pmmidnight. Colonial Tavern. 406 Lafayette Blvd

Local Hero's Night at Adventure Brewing, 3:309pm. 20% off if you are a military, police, fire, emergency and teachers. (540) 242-8876 33 Perchwood Dr Unit 101 Fredericksburg, VA22405

Wednesday, March 9

Thursday, March 10

Saturday, March 12

Tuesday, March 8

Smith, Party of 3 @ Bistro Bethem, 8-11pm, Join us for food and drink specials and live music featuring Smith, Party of 3 starting at 8PM. No cover!

406

Sunday, March 13

Monday, March 14

Tuesday, March 15

406

Wednesday, March16

Thursday, March 17

The Transmitters, Reggae Live Music at 7:30 Kenmore Inn. featuring drink specials at the copper top bar

The 65th Annual Fredericksburg Art Show & Sale , presented by Fredericksburg Parks & Rec, Dorothhy Hart Community Centr, All Day

Fredericksburg-Este Association Presents an Evening of Religious and Political History @ St George Episcopal Church, Faulkner Hall, 6:30pm

The 65th Annual Fredericksburg Art Show & Sale , presented by Fredericksburg Parks & Rec, Dorothhy Hart Community Centr, All Day

Bluegrass Jam @Sunken Well, 720 Littlepage, 79pm It's a Sunday tradition with some of the best pickers around.

Saturday, March 19

Tuesday, March 22

Friday, March18

Trivia Night w/quizmaster Josh Cameli @Sunken Well Tavern. 7:30pm. Get there early to get a seat! 720 Littlepage St.

The 65th Annual Fredericksburg Art Show & Sale , presented by Fredericksburg Parks & Rec, Dorothhy Hart Community Centr, All Day

Light Jazz @LaPetite Auberge, 311 William St, 8midnight. Light jazz and Latin piano guitar . Featuring Chris Phil Andy & Harry. No cover. lapetiteaubergefred.com

Sunday, March 20

406

Wednesday, March 23

Sunday, March 27 Easter

Bluegrass Jam @Sunken Well, 720 Littlepage, 79pm It's a Sunday tradition with some of the best pickers around.

Tuesday, March 29

Wedneday, March 30

Thursday, March 31

Bary Wilson, vibraphone extraordinaire, Live Music at 7:30 Kenmore Inn. featuring drink specials at the copper top bar

Thursday, March 24

Brandon Snellings & Jon Wiley, Live Music at 7:30 Kenmore Inn. featuring drink specials at the copper top bar

Saturday, March 26

University of Mary Washington Philharmonic Celebrity Concert @ Dodd Auditorium, George Washington Hall, University of Mary Washington Celebrated violinist Joshua Bell will perform in concert

Lexi Grogan’s Pet Sitting Service

2790 Fans (& Growing) Want You to Join

“Your pet becomes my pet while in my care, and I care a lot!”

540-8 899-6 6787 16

March 2016

fortemusicstudios.com Front porch fredericksburg

(540-903-0437; lexig0892@gmail.com) On facebook as “lexi grogan’s pet sitting service”

406

Front Porch on

front porch fredericksburg

March 2016

history’s stories

FIRE OF 1807 By Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks

Today we have few worries when it comes to home fires. We are taught in school at an early age about the dangers of fire. Our homes have fire safety systems, such as heat and smoke detectors. Many newer homes have fire sprinkler systems. All communities have well trained and equipped Fire Departments. This was not the case in the colonial era. In the 1700’s there were several disastrous fires such as in New Orleans in 1788 on Good Friday when a fire destroyed over 850 homes and businesses. Charleston South Carolina had a fire in 1798 that destroyed over 300 buildings. We must remember that in those days each business and home had the potential for a major fire with lighting that was candle power and a heating system of several fire places and all cooking was done with open fires. This was the situation even into the mid 1900’s, when many homes still used woodstoves for heating and cooking. The local Fire Department consisted of a group of citizens that would be called to duty by the ringing of the church bells. They would bring their buckets and go to a source of water and form a line to the fire and hope for the best. This was known as the bucket brigade. The Virginia Herald printed by Timothy Green, makes mention on March 1, 1799, of the Fredericksburg Fire Company, that a meeting will take place on March 29, 1799. Two days after the meeting on April 3, a large fire broke out on Charlotte Street destroying the home of Timothy Green and other buildings in that block before crossing onto the east side of Caroline St and burning seven building before it was put out. By 1805 there were two Fire Companies organized in the Town with meetings taking place at the Market House (old town hall) on a monthly basis. The membership into the organization was considered to be an honor as you had to be voted in. The Firemen enjoyed fellowship, dinners,parades and instruction in methods of fighting fires. Unknown to them they would soon be tested in the disastrous fire of 1807. It was noon on October 19, 1807, “I was sitting with the corpse of William Stanard when the alarm of fire was given”. These were the words of William Taylor. The Stanard home was located at the corner of Lewis and Princess Anne Streets that we still refer to as the Shepherd house (Wheeler home today). Stanard who had just died and his body was lying in the parlor for viewing. It is believed that the fire began in the chimney and caught the roof on fire. A strong wind was blowing from the northwest and the home across the street caught fire and soon the warehouse behind it. The flames moved rapidly down Caroline Street to George and Sophia Streets. Many of the residents were not at home due to being at “Willis’s Field” for the horse races which today is the area near the National Cemetery. Within a few hours all of the tobacco warehouses were in flames and the sparks flew over the river and caught buildings on fire at Ferry Farm. Over 200 homes were entirely destroyed. For unknown reasons the fire did not destroy the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop which today is one of the most visited attractions in Fredericksburg. The fire was long forgotten until 1980 when Edward Alvey found the records in the Court House where they had been stored for 172 years. He published his book in 1988 on The Fredericksburg Fire of 1807 and gave me a signed copy as a gift when I was a Member of City Council.

OUR HERITAGE i brake for barns! By danae peckler Old barns are truly iconic in our culture—as American as apple pie, baseball, and even George Washington. They embody our rich agricultural history and a significant part of our national identity. Corporations use historic barns in logos and commercials to evoke a sense of trust and reliability; their pieces and parts lend a sense of rugged craftsmanship and durability to trendy furniture and home décor; and you still hear of barn dances, despite the fact that they’re rarely held inside one. Luckily, we don’t have to travel far to find historic barns and farms around Fredericksburg. One great example of a working farm with historic barns is located within the city limits at the Snead family’s Braehead Farm on Tyler Street. This farm was established in the late 1930s and specialized in dairying. Dairy barns are often the most recognizable barn types of the twentieth century because they tend to have gambrel or gothic arched roofs and are generally accompanied by a silo or two. However, they weren’t always like this. Two dairy barns at Braehead Farm illustrate changes in technology and production. The first barn dates from the early years of the farm and features a slipform, poured-concrete silo. During the post-WWII period, shed additions and expansions of this building no longer met the needs of production, so a second, larger, gambrel roof barn—the one that now serves as the farm’s market shop— was built in the 1950s.

In memory of Nancy Dawson, Sarah Wood, Danny Dagg, Huffy Gallahan, Carlton Onderdonk, and Ken Snyder

Finding a way to reuse these barns that modern agriculture has moved beyond is the key to preserving the historic character and enchantment of America’s rural landscape. The National Barn Alliance is one organization working to bring attention to matters of barn preservation, including issues of repair and adaptive reuse Old barns alone cannot tell the complete story of life on the farm throughout American history, but they visually link us to nature, farmland, and the hard work of countless individuals— past, present, and future—nourishing us all in more ways than one. This year, as we celebrate National Agricultural Day, let us be mindful of this historic connection. Hug a farmer and be sure to give the ones with an old barn an extra squeeze!

Danae Peckler is Past President of the National Barn Alliance (find them on Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, and at www.barnalliance.org) and she invites you to join her in celebrating the 43rd National Agriculture Day on March 15, 2016.

Central Rappahannock

HERITAGE CENTER Volunteers needed to process historical documents and aid researchers. Training provided. Phone 540-373-3704 or email crhc@verizon.net Open to the public for scholarly research

The Heritage Center 18

March 2016

Front porch fredericksburg

Maury Commons

900 Barton St

Fredericksburg

Abstract Paintings of Light Carolyn Goodridge By patricia smith

Born in Trinidad, West Indies, Carolyn Goodridge immigrated to New York in 1963. Her Grandmother introduced her to a spiritual way of life, to the power of healing through inner power. As a young adult she began to study yoga, read widely in Eastern religious philosophies of India, and embraced the Korean Zen Buddhist tradition. This spiritual practice has informed her art journey. In 1993, Goodridge received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting from the University of Florida, and in 1997 a Masters of Fine Arts from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She currently resides in Colonial Beach VA. Encaustic comes from the Greek word which means 'burn in'. It is an ancient medium of melted beeswax mixed with pigment, used in the Fayum mummy portraits from Egypt around 100-300 AD, and in many other cultural traditions. Goodridge was drawn to the encaustic process for many reasons. Some of the 20th century artists she loves, like Jasper Johns, experimented with it. She was increasingly drawn to abstract art, inspired by the mystical works of color field painters like Mark Tobey, Mark Rothko, the master colorist Hans Hofman, the work on dreams by Paul Klee. She loved the musician John Cage. She reconnected to her West Indian culture in her love of color and music. Her background in Zen meditation, where "spontaneity is key to understanding oneself", lends itself to the fluidity of the medium. Her paintings are "emotional attunements" to the elements of nature, to the sun's fire, the wind, water and earth. The artist states that each work

"whispers a glimpse of an intelligent and relentlessly churning life". The process is a dance between the conscious and the subconscious. She is consciously aware of the influence of Eastern philosophy as well as theoretical physics on her work. Goodridge has exhibited her work across the globe. She is equally interested in supporting other artists, helping to build their careers by curating exhibitions. She has an international mission to benefit all artists, creating an enriched world-wide community through support of multi-cultural, mult-national artists. She hopes to cultivate a better understanding among nations. To that end she has created a non-profit organization, Art Impact USA. One of her current projects is curating the exhibit "Carnaval: Celebrations of the African Diaspora" at the Pepco Edison Place Gallery in Washington DC. The diaspora

refers to the dispersion of an originally homogeneous people. "Amidst horror there must be light, somewhere. Even amidst tribulation, the undaunting celebration of the human spirit must be given light." Goodridge will teach two encaustic workshops at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fredericksburg, on Friday March 18, and Saturday, March 19. The cost is $150 per workshop, including all supplies to create an encaustic painting, and an instructional DVD to keep. Enrollment is limited. Please contact the artist for information and enrollment. (202-297-3040) The only thing more luminous than a Goodridge painting is her face when she talks about art. Luminous encaustic paintings by Carolyn Goodridge will be exhibited at the UUFF Gallery, 25 Chalice Circle, in March and April. The opening reception is on Sunday, March 6, at 11:30 AM, with an Artist Talk at noon. The event is free and open to the public. Patricia Smith is a member of the Visual Arts Committee at UUFF, and a painter. front porch fredericksburg

March 2016

history’s stories

FIRE OF 1807 By Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks

In memory of Nancy Dawson, Sarah Wood, Danny Dagg, Huffy Gallahan, Carlton Onderdonk, and Ken Snyder

Central Rappahannock

HERITAGE CENTER Volunteers needed to process historical documents and aid researchers. Training provided. Phone 540-373-3704 or email crhc@verizon.net Open to the public for scholarly research

The Heritage Center 18

March 2016

Front porch fredericksburg

Maury Commons

900 Barton St

Fredericksburg

Abstract Paintings of Light Carolyn Goodridge By patricia smith

March 2016

Companions

ANIMAL RITES, USA Pet Cremation Service

Therapy Dogs: easing pain & anxiety

As we all know we can use some therapy at some point in our lives, why not have that therapy come from a little furry friend that is always happy to see you? Who wouldn’t want that? I would. Therapy Dogs are great companions for anyone. They have the desire to want to work and help people feel better. Therapy Dogs come in such a variety, anything from Labradors to Mastiffs and sheep dogs. Rescue dogs can also make great therapy dogs with the friendly demeanor to strangers and the desire to work. therapy dogs have been known to lower blood pressure, reduce stress and provide social support, “I have witnessed some amazing connections between Sage and patients” says Bridget Seitzinger a trainer and owner of therapy dog Miss Ellie Rose. Daily routines for therapy dogs really don’t differ much from a normal dog schedule, wake up, go outside and have breakfast, the days a therapy dog has to work they put their work vest on and hop in the car to greet the world with their kind loving presence. If there is an all day event to be worked they pack a dinner for owner and dog and head on out.

Therapy dogs have days off too, on those days some obedience training is thrown into the daily routine to keep things on point. Each dog is very different and to become a therapy dog a complete obediencetraining program is recommended. Pup N Iron in Stafford offers a great obedience program, evaluations are done every two years after the initial evaluation, “these can be pretty intense” s a y s therapy dog trainer Bridget, “anything Miss Ellie Rose. from loud noises, stumbling gestures, large crowds and a large part is obedience.” To represent you and your dog as a Pet Therapy Team you need to be registered. There are a few types of places that can do this registration such as Pet Partners. Most of us remember the wonderful loving chocolate Labrador Retriever, Sage. Sage was Bridget Seitzingers very first therapy dog. After Bridget’s family went through a rough spot Bridget wanted to give back to the community. “It started with the hospital then grew to supporting our veterans” , comments Bridget. Sage was 12 weeks old when she entered Bridget’s life and ever since she was dedicated and ready to

impact the lives of so many, “she wasn’t just there for others in theirs time of need while visiting the hospitals, she helped me through some of the toughest times in my life…Sage was my one in a million soul mate dog.” Sage was just 9 years old when she went in for a routine surgery but unfortunately, her heart could not hold on any longer. “When I got that phone call I was numb. I lost my baby”. As anyone would do she made a phone call “I called my mom” they made their way to the vet to say their devastating goodbyes, the best way to make a heart feel better is puppy love. They drove to the pet store to see some puppies “I asked to see Ellie because she was looking at me through the glass” the connection was made “I was sobbing as she came out and laid her head on my lap and her paw as to say its ok” Welcome Miss Eleanor Rose Seitzinger. May the legacy of Sage always live on in you and may you always impact the lives of many.

by Joan M. Geisler

When it’s time to say “Good-bye”

Private, Individual Cremation Personal Pick Up & Delivery Respect for all “Best Friends”

Do you have back or hip pain? Do your legs feel tired and heavy? It may not be those areas. It may be a weak gluteus or more commonly known as buttock. The buttock is for more than to just make you look good in your jeans. The glutes, like the biceps, are often the 'glamor' muscles. Big arms show a person to be strong and a tight butt shows a person to be sexy. But the glutes are so much more than just...a pretty face.

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If you need someone tocare for your pets while you are away call or emial Alexis Grogan at: Lexi0892@gmail.com, 540-903-0437

Step-U Up

Full Service Hospital featuring: Grooming Salon Canine & Feline Boarding Dog Training with Play Time Alternative Therapies: Therapy Laser: Helps with Pain Relief, Decreases Inflammation & Enhances Healing Chiropractic Adjustments: Provides Comfort & Restores Motion & Function to many patients

Old Town’s Greatest Tour

The glutes are made up of 3 muscles; gluteus maximus, medius and minimus. Latin words for big, medium, small. Gluteus Function The importance of this muscle group is often overlooked and can be the sneaky cause of many aches and pains in our body. The muscle is mainly involved with sideways movement of the upper leg as in getting into

AND the Fredericksburg Battlefields Weddings Reunions Shuttles Parties Group Outings

March 2016

540-898-0737

Front porch fredericksburg

Stacy L. Horner-Dunn, DVM Gary B. Dunn, DVM Melanie M. Bell, DVM Sandi L. Pepper, DVM Melissa A. DeLauter, DVM Jennifer V. Skarbek, DVM Sheree M. Corbin, DVM

540/374-0462 www.woahvets.com

10 Walsh Lane

Bridge This is considered to be the main anti-g gravity muscle. The glutes allow a person to perform various daily activities like: Running/Jumping/Walking/Cycling Standing for long periods of time Squatting to pick up something from the floor or to stand up from a chair/toilet. Stepping over mud puddles or snow banks Unless you are lying in a bed, the glutes are involved in everything you do. Gluteus Injury An injury of this muscle is highly

Sit & Stand deceiving in nature. Gluteus Maximus injury usually gives rise to dull pain in the initial stages which gets worse with time. When injured, this muscle can affect different parts of the body such as; Hips Lower back Pelvic pain Front and back of upper leg (quadriceps and hamstring)

35 Monuments, Markers, & Attractions

Fredericksburgtrolley.com

uncertainty & relationships

how imporant is our butt?

By alexis grogan

Bridget Seitzinger with Sage

Renew

Mind Your Mind

Bird Dog your car or stepping sideways to get past someone. It helps lift up your thigh so you can climb the stairs. This large muscle lends support to the torso and allows us to stand and walk in an erect posture.

By Barbara Deal Ok. So we made it through the weirdest, ‘hard -winter’ months in memory. Something about the zig-zag of temps from 70 to near-zero that unsettles the body, mind, and spirit. Maybe you’re wondering this: Do you dare hope that this weather will settle into a predictable reasonable early spring stability? Wait! Isn’t there yet one more daring ice or snowstorm planned by Mother Earth to show us who is Boss? What about those poor recklessly optimistic Dutch Iris, pushing up the soil anticipating steady warming light, only to be pummeled with that February avalanching snow drifts? This mimics the situation that we find in ourselves and our lives. And thus, that tension and dance of uncertaintyà riskà, outcomeà, reconsiderà, decision pointà repeat . Isn’t it always the straining, yearning question? where to be open, where to be tender, where to be buoyant with trust*. With whom can you really be yourself? With whom can you confide with your secrets safely? Where can you expose your fears, your dreams, fulfilled and lost? Finding this works out, how far to take it, how vulnerable do you dare? Or, making that mistake, how do react? Continue or discontinue contact? Give another chance or forgive 70 times 7? Is it time to call it quits? These are places we all are and all have been. Sometimes, writing this, I struggle, of course, with the purpose of being informative but not banal. Over my lifetime in RuralAmericaTennessee, life was concrete, words were few, feeling words, rare or never. No one went to a therapist. Psychiatrists were for “crazies”. Longsuffering and endurance were staples. Happiness, the dreams of fools. Community mental health was barely federally mandated in the early 1970’s. Nowadays, even the cultural atmosphere is fertile with emotional phrasing and conceptualizing. Nowadays, probably

most of the FrontPorch readership has either had a c o u n s e l i n g session or knows someone who has. T h a t said, we all know about making lists of positive and negative v a l e n c e assignment for a sort of decision making strategy. Often it is not as simple as 4 points on one side and 8 on another. Some factors carry more weight. Or you can flip a coin, just as easily. See how you feel. List A is longer, go that way. Heads? You said tails, ok. But, maybe not. These external measures do not have to be directives. Instead, how about a litmus test of your real inclination. Wow. Did you really want to continue despite the outcome of the coin-toss? So, not surprising, I will say, have faith in yourself. Put your intuition in charge here. Listen to your instincts. Listen to your fear. Listen to your aspiring self, your embryonic or aging strivings …That seeker, however dormant, awaits. If something went terribly wrong, look closely at the path that led you to here. Sometimes there are patterns, inexplicable repetitive patterns, satisfying and then not. That might be a reason to talk about it somewhere. Still and all, maybe just delay . Wait it out til you can get clearer. You will, maybe sooner, maybe slower. Just stretch out into the temporariness of this beckoning sun-drenched spot, realizing that even this uncertainty is transient, replaceable and returning yet again. Barbara Deal MA, LCSW is a psychotherapist at Mental Health Resources, ( 540 ) 899-9826

Here are 4 exercises to strengthen your behind.: Bridge, step ups, sit and stand, bird dog These are simple and safe exercises to perform everyday in your home. Be strong, grow strong, and live a life of no regrets. Joan Geisler is a personal trainer and nutrition counselor at Gold's Gym Fredericksburg. You can contact her atjoangeisler@gmail.com front porch fredericksburg

March 2016

Companions

ANIMAL RITES, USA Pet Cremation Service

Therapy Dogs: easing pain & anxiety

by Joan M. Geisler

When it’s time to say “Good-bye”

Private, Individual Cremation Personal Pick Up & Delivery Respect for all “Best Friends”

Serving the Area since 2003 Visit Us at Our Website: www.animalritesusa.com Call Us At: 540-361-7487

If you need someone tocare for your pets while you are away call or emial Alexis Grogan at: Lexi0892@gmail.com, 540-903-0437

Step-U Up

Old Town’s Greatest Tour

AND the Fredericksburg Battlefields Weddings Reunions Shuttles Parties Group Outings

March 2016

540-898-0737

Front porch fredericksburg

Stacy L. Horner-Dunn, DVM Gary B. Dunn, DVM Melanie M. Bell, DVM Sandi L. Pepper, DVM Melissa A. DeLauter, DVM Jennifer V. Skarbek, DVM Sheree M. Corbin, DVM

540/374-0462 www.woahvets.com

10 Walsh Lane

35 Monuments, Markers, & Attractions

Fredericksburgtrolley.com

uncertainty & relationships

how imporant is our butt?

By alexis grogan

Bridget Seitzinger with Sage

Renew

Mind Your Mind

March 2016

Senior Care it’s never too late By Karl Karch

National Nutrition Month was created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) and observed in March beginning in 1980 to promote public awareness of the importance of good nutrition. This year’s theme is “Savor the Flavor of Eating Right”, a campaign designed to encourage everyone to “take time to enjoy food traditions and appreciate the pleasures, great flavors and social experiences food can bring to our lives.” I was particularly attracted to the “social experience” part of the campaign, because as the AD said: “how, when, why, and where we eat are just as important as what we eat.” Everyone knows the importance of healthy eating. But, we often overlook the power of the social experience associated with eating. When alone at mealtime, I lack the desire and initiative to prepare healthy meals. And, when I’m alone for a couple of days or more, I must admit I get tired of peanut butter or cheese and crackers every evening. As an older adult, if I were single and eating alone most or all of the time, I’m certain my eating habits would be detrimental to my health. This is a reminder for those who have single elder loved ones to share a healthy meal with them as your and their health depends on nutritious meals and socialization. Studies show that a good diet in your later years reduces your risk of osteoporosis, high blood pressure, heart diseases and certain cancers. As we age and become less physically active, fewer calories are needed to stay at the same weight. But we still need as many nutrients. Eating well isn’t just a shortterm diet, but an important part of a longterm healthy lifestyle that can begin at any age by taking small steps. Make one

March 2016

Lexi Grogan’s Pet Sitting Service “Your pet becomes my pet while in my care, and I care a lot!” - Lexi (540-903-0437; lexig0892@gmail.com) On facebook as “lexi grogan’s pet sitting service” Prices: Dogs - $15 per canine per visit Cats - $12 per feline per visit

change at a time such as decreasing salt intake, switching to whole grain breads, seafood, or more vegetables and fruits. Studies are also finding that eating a small amount of dark chocolate daily can increase blood flow to the heart and brain. Dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants that can also help rid the body of free radicals that cause cell damage as we age. Speaking of taking small steps, exercise is also an important part of a healthy lifestyle. My wife gave me an anniversary gift of a “Fitbit”, an exercise tracker that I wear on my wrist. I refer to it as the gift that keeps giving, albeit grudgingly as I wake each morning to walk. Being goal minded, I find this tracker gives me that extra incentive to get up and walk to reach my daily step goal. One thing I discovered is that the Fitbit registers steps by arm movement. So, when I need a few extra steps to reach my goal but don’t want to go outside in the freezing weather, I go to the cabinet, take out my single malt scotch, and let my arm do the walking as I sip away the steps. It’s never too late to improve your health. Being proactive can go a long way toward achieving better health. Make a positive lifestyle change by taking steps to improve your nutrition and physical exercise. In fact, now that I finished this article, I’m going to grab a Dove dark chocolate square (or two) and take my morning mile walk.

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

Front porch fredericksburg

Emancipated Patients Doctor Quirks

Hard to resist

by patrick neustatter, MD Better value, more love for your pet than if you kennel board him!

When I was a member of the Pratt Medical Center I was often amazed at what doozies the new doctors were. This may sound unkind – and unlikely. You’ve got to be pretty good to make it all the way through school, medical school and residency. You would think anyone having achieved all that would be a real ace. But don’t be fooled. The brilliant mind of a doctor can be sadly lacking in common sense and subject to some strange quirks – and this is a particular problem when it comes to diagnosing what’s wrong with you. And the claim is up to 40% of patients are wrongly diagnosed – which is not good as diagnosis is the very foundation. Maybe you’ve never stopped to think about what the inside of your doctor’s mind is like? Or maybe you have fantastic visions of cobwebs, cogwheels, light bulbs and dusty recesses? Something Roald Dahl might envisage. It’s more the way it works that is the problem. Making a diagnosis requires objective, computer like properties of your doctor. Computers themselves show promise – and maybe one day your doctor will not just be using a computer, but will be one. But for now, the emancipated patient needs to know about things like “anchoring,” blind spots – even how the doctor is paid. Needs to know their doctor is prone to: Anchoring - which is a form of confirmation bias, where you take note of the factors that confirms a preconceived notion and ignore the symptoms and signs that don’t. Blind spots – which are diagnoses that doctors never think about. Pulmonary embolus (blood clot in the lungs) and abdominal aortic aneurism as a

Wellness

cause of abdominal pain (a “blow-out” of the aorta that can tear or burst) are two examples of two notorious blind spots. Prejudice from past disasters. – like I must have ordered a whole lot of unnecessary stress tests and cardiac work ups after an incident where I was on call one night and the nurse called about a pre-op’ patient that was having “dyspepsia” and I told her, rather irritably, to “just give him some Mylanta.” But of course he was having a heart attack. Saving Face – where your doctor will “behave with poise and an aura of competence, with denial of uncertainty” even if he hasn’t a clue what’s wrong with you, notes author/doctor Jerome Groopman in his great book . How Doctors Think. Blind acceptance – not reconsidering the diagnosis made by another doctor. Even the way your doctor gets paid can make a difference. The first person to be diagnosed with Lyme Disease (Polly Murray) was only figured out when she went to a doctor who was on a salary rather than being paid fee-for-service. He was the only doctor who would take the time. So it’s good to be aware of these foibles, and not be scared to question your doctor – as well as do everything you can to help. In particular, make sure he or she has all your records, bring all your medicines in their original containers and make a list of issues to discuss before your appointment. Then go visit your quirky doctor. Patrick Neustatter is the Medical Director of the Moss Free Clinic. He is interested in stories of emancipated patients/people and would like to hear any stories of this kind from any readers. Contact him at pneustatter@aol.com

The early 1900's marked the advent of the "Antimicrobial Era" in developed nations, leading to the production and prescription of antimicrobial medications on a scale previously thought impossible. These medications enabled the medical community to effectively treat a broad spectrum of infectious diseases stemming from bacteria, parasites, and viruses. As a result, life-expectancy and quality of life measures increased dramatically in the following decades, paralleling the creation of new antimicrobials and their expanded application. Unfortunately, the era of antimicrobials as we know it may be coming to a close. While antimicrobials have served as a catalyst for increasing health and ameliorating infection, their use has also provided selective pressures for antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Medical researcher A.M. Aziz states the extensive use, misuse, and improper prescription of these medications have created the perfect storm to select for drug resistant microbes. Unsurprisingly, AMR has been on the rise in many nations, including the United States. Resistance to antimicrobials diminishes their effectiveness at treating infection and can lead to the proliferation of untreatable microbes. A 2013 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that more than two million cases and over twenty thousand deaths result from antibiotic resistant infections annually in the U.S. Resistant microbes can be transmitted in a number of ways, including consumption of antibiotic laden food animals, poor adherence or overuse of antibiotics, antibiotic treated crops, or poor hygiene practices. Although the selective pressures that are induced by antimicrobial applications cannot be eliminated, the development of AMR can be curbed. According to the National

By Dan Czajka

Institutes of Health, proper use of antimicrobials helps to slow drug resistance. Prescribed antimicrobials should be taken as instructed, with the frequency and duration noted on the bottle, unless negative side effects are experienced. Adherence refers to the degree to which a patient follows drug prescription instructions, including the frequency and duration of administration. A research article by Jessica Rinsky and colleagues found that poor adherence led to low therapeutic doses of antimicrobials, killing the weakest microbes and allowing for the proliferation of resistant strains. Limiting the use of antibiotics is another step to reduce AMR. The CDC recommends the use of antimicrobials for persistent infections which the body cannot manage without assistance. The responsibility to restrict this use is shared by the patient and clinician. Patients should refrain from requesting antimicrobial treatments before their bodies have had time to expel an infection. Similarly, clinicians should prescribe antimicrobials as needed, rather than as a first line of defense. Overuse of antimicrobials extends beyond the treatment human illness. Livestock frequently receive antimicrobials, providing a constant selective pressure for AMR. These microbes can remain in the meat consumed by humans, as well as in the feces excreted by livestock, which may be used as manure and passed on to crops. The expanded use of antimicrobials has increased the risks and exposures associated with AMR. As effective treatment options dwindle, it is imperative to curtail AMR through the proper management of antimicrobials in all applications. Dan Czajka is the Community Development Manager for the Fredericksburg Area HIV & AIDS Support Services (540) 371-7532 or www.fahass.org.

The Natural Path Holistic Health Center

~Nature’s Sunshine Products ~Quantitative Fluid Analysis ~VoiceBio Analysis ~ionSpa Foot Detox ~Zyto Bioscan Compass Natural Products for Health & Wellness

online: www.save7lives.org

Barbara Bergquist, CTN Board Certified Traditional Naturopath

891-6200

www.thenaturalpath.us

4413 Lafayette Blvd. Fredericksburg

in person: Dept. of Motor Vehicles front porch fredericksburg

March 2016

Senior Care it’s never too late By Karl Karch

March 2016

Front porch fredericksburg

Emancipated Patients Doctor Quirks

Hard to resist

by patrick neustatter, MD Better value, more love for your pet than if you kennel board him!

Wellness

By Dan Czajka

The Natural Path Holistic Health Center

~Nature’s Sunshine Products ~Quantitative Fluid Analysis ~VoiceBio Analysis ~ionSpa Foot Detox ~Zyto Bioscan Compass Natural Products for Health & Wellness

online: www.save7lives.org

Barbara Bergquist, CTN Board Certified Traditional Naturopath

891-6200

www.thenaturalpath.us

4413 Lafayette Blvd. Fredericksburg

in person: Dept. of Motor Vehicles front porch fredericksburg

March 2016

Art in the Burg

Stories

of fredericksburg

"Themeless" - The Photography of Sheila R. Jones

by ryan poe

By Suzanne Scherr

“Nightlights”

Art, etc

... more and more WATERCOLORS BY

Beverley Coates

810 WEEKEND GALLERY 810 Caroline Street 24

March 2016

Front porch fredericksburg

Throughout the month of March, Art First Gallery will feature the work of Sheila R. Jones. Proceeds from her show will be donated to Law Enforcement United, which provides support for the Officers Down Memorial Page and for families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Sheila is a Fredericksburg area native in partial retirement from a full-time law enforcement career. It was doing crime scene photography, while working as a supervisor in the detective division of the Fredericksburg Police Department, that got Sheila hooked on photography She's also an active participant in the broader Fredericksburg art community: She is on the board of the Fredericksburg Center for Creative Arts, and her work has been shown in the Fredericksburg Visitor Center, the Fredericksburg Police Department and the Dorothy Hart Community Center.

Music at the opening reception on First Friday, March 4, will be provided by Luke Gray on the Chapman Stick. Art First Gallery is located at 824 Caroline Street Sheila's work can be previewed at www.photosbywinky.com F Opening Reception: First Friday, March 4, 2016, 6 pm to 9 pm. Exhibit on View: Wednesday, through Monday, March 28 Suzanne Scherr is an artist and a member of Art First I’ve been hoping to visit Catalyst Media (catalyst-center.com) since I heard about them. I finally got a chance to stop by and was treated to a tour led by Bryce Kinsey, who is passionate about their facility and services. After the overview I sat down for a few minutes to speak with Tanyah Cotton, (above) Catalyst’s Account Services Manager. “I actually didn’t know that Fredericksburg existed until 2009 when I met Gaye Adegbalola. That was my introduction to this place. She came out to California a couple times to see my roommate, Dr. Gloria Jackson. We got to talking and she found out what I did and she said, ‘You know, if you were in Fredericksburg, I could really use you.’ I said, ‘Yeah, when am I going to get to Fredericksburg?’” “In 2011, I was working for the Foundation for the Healing Arts, that is Dr. Jackson’s non-profit, and she told me that she was going to move to Fredericksburg and she asked me to come with her. So I said, ‘Okay, well, let me see,’ and I talked to Gaye some more. There was some music business going on, and musically I was kind of dormant, so the prospect of being active again musically, is why I came. Of course when I got here that’s not what happened! I had to really piece together how I was going to stay here. So I pulled out my paralegal tools and went to some law firms and got a part-time job.”

“In the meantime, I tried to revamp a Worldbeat band I had in California. We had one gig! I realized, ‘This is not a place for a Worldbeat band.’ We were rehearsing and Gaye heard us. We did a lot of drum and voice kind of stuff and she said she was interested in doing that too. So we started the group Gaye and the Wild Rutz. It has become a very significant part of my life.” “This is my first time in the South, well kind of in the South, with the whole Civil War thing and the confederate flags and this and that. It’s really opened my mind to a broader sense of the American experience. I kind of pride myself on being a person that can see all sides of situations. Being here, I have a better understanding about that period of time in our history, the different nuances, and some assumptions I had made that were not correct. When I first moved here my sister-inlaw said, ‘Well, how do you like it?’ I said, ‘You know, I feel more like I’m in the U.S. than I did. I feel more like a citizen here than I did in California.’” “I’ve been here four years, so I was like 58, and it seems like I was starting a whole different existence. I had the history of who I was and what I’d done but this was like, I’m not going to say a rebirth, but I guess like going away to college. You kind of start again in a new place with new horizons. And surprisingly I’ve been able to revitalize my musical career. That’s really a blessing for me, to live as an artist again. It’s not easy, I’m not saying that, but at least I’m doing it here. I was not doing that in California because circumstances did not allow me. There’s a lot of agism in the Bay Area and California. Here it’s a place where age is honored, maybe because of the historical thing. As a musician coming here, it really didn’t matter how old I was. In California it really did, but here I haven’t found that. I’ve been able to use my skills and my talents here. Age has not been a factor. That has been refreshing too. You’re not throwing away people and that’s very cool.” If you have a Story of Fredericksburg, email storyfburg@gmail.com.

flashback Mary Washington Hospital, 1910, corner of Sophia & Fauquier Street

The Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, Virginia had its cornerstone laid on April 14, 1899, (which was a piece of the old Mary Washington monument.) It was an eight room facility. After two additions, by 1910, the hospital could care for 14 people. The original structure, seen above, was demolished in 1928 when the “new” Mary Washington hospital was built with the ability to care for 75 patients.

Ryan Poe is a father, husband, son, and brother living in Fredericksburg. He brings us "snippets" of real 'Burg folks each month in FP. Photo by Ryan Poe

front porch fredericksburg

March 2016

Art in the Burg

Stories

of fredericksburg

"Themeless" - The Photography of Sheila R. Jones

by ryan poe

By Suzanne Scherr

“Nightlights”

Art, etc

... more and more WATERCOLORS BY

Beverley Coates

810 WEEKEND GALLERY 810 Caroline Street 24

March 2016

Front porch fredericksburg

flashback Mary Washington Hospital, 1910, corner of Sophia & Fauquier Street

Ryan Poe is a father, husband, son, and brother living in Fredericksburg. He brings us "snippets" of real 'Burg folks each month in FP. Photo by Ryan Poe

front porch fredericksburg

March 2016

The Death Law

FXBG Music Scene 606 Caroline Street Old Town Fredericksburg

new book by claire cole curcio

at the songwriters’ showcase

373-7847

By mary lynn powers Once again, I have met another talented individual living in Fredericksburg. I was in the library, and noticed a woman siting at a table with what looked like flyers and a stack of books. We struck up a conversation, and she described the book she had just published. The Death Law is fiction, set somewhere in the not too distant future, and some of the talking points really struck a chord with me. The premise is a law has been pushed through Congress, authorizing euthanasia for anyone over seventy who is not able to care for themselves. I bought the book, and literally read through it over a weekend. The main character’s mother is suffering with Alzheimer’s Disease, and we walk through the devastating effects this has on her and all of the loved ones surrounding her. Dr. Curcio does a beautiful job of explaining many of the intricacies involved in caring for someone with an advanced stage of the disease. Though it sounds a little depressing, she intersperses the story with real life situations that are going on outside of the home of the parents. Julia is a congressional chief of staff, so her job is stressful, adding to the fact that she is part of the system that initiated the new law. There are some fun love stories, quite a bit of tomfoolery, and, of course, the absurdity of a law such as this being quietly passed through Congress. Or is it absurd? The book (available on Amazon and at Agora in F’burg) began to form about a year ago. When I asked her how she started a fiction piece, she explained that she had a first hand experience with a friend she met at her condo. His wife was in an assisted care facility nearby and she helped drive him to the facility when he was having eye problems. During the visits, she would sit and talk to patients and caregivers getting a feel for the

Own The Movie A 40-minute film with aerial and underwater photography that tells the story of the Rappahannock River from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay.

DVD $14.95; Members $11.96 www.riverfriends.org 540-373-3448 3219 Fall Hill Ave.

March 2016

Front porch fredericksburg

hopelessness and fear of all involved with this as yet incurable disease. Prior to this experience, Dr. Curcio’s ideas leaned towards death with dignity. She believes that a patient and a doctor should be able to make legal decisions about death in hopeless situations. Claire stated there is much to talk about. She would be happy to meet with book groups to further these discussions. This is Claire’s first attempt at fiction, but she is not new to the publishing world. She holds the title of Professor Emerita at Virginia Tech, and has written text books, journal articles

by lou gramann

Tuesday - Saturday 10-5 Wednesdays until 6:30 and by appointment

impressed him and made the Native American creation myths feel real. “My brother-in-law Jack, a Maidu Indian, grew up in the mountains and knows all the back roads. There’s a rock face on one side [of the road], about a 4,000 foot drop on the other side, and the most beautiful view you’ve ever seen.” Kelly calls his solo style low-key, although the rock group The Gheckos has recorded “What’s Your Heart Say?” Among his other love songs is the tune “Who Found Who?” It poses a question that may get many people thinking: “Did you find me, or did I find you?” For the audience, a fun aspect of the Showcase is when the artists try out

Where Fredericksburg Gets Engaged

school, worked as a counselor, and an administrator. Though officially retired, her professional counselor’s license is still active. Besides writing, her time is spent volunteering, doing work in charities with Trinity Episcopal Church and services to the Armed Forces with the Red Cross.

Mary Lynn Powers loves reading as much as she loves visiting restaurants

Price Match Parking Garage Christian Collectibles Gift shop Jewelry Kitchen Ware Books Crafts Supplies Antiques 611 Caroline Street 540.371.1333 LordAndLillys@gmail.com facebook.com/lordlillys www.lordlilly.com

rs avo g l F 30 untin o &C

Lem

ona

NOTE: The Death Law is available at Agora Coffee Shop, 520 Caroline Street

and much more. She has a colorful history; originally from Missouri, she later attended Radford University because she wanted to play the bagpipes. Her first teaching gig was in a rural Tennessee school. She taught high school, middle

www.gemstonecreations.org

Mon-Sat: 10a-6p; Sun: 1-5p 810 Caroline Sr. #104 ~ 540.899.3714 www.juspopn.com

Michael Kelly (above) is looking forward to his first appearance in Fredericksburg. He will be in concert with the ever-popular Susan Greenbaum (right), plus Steve Warner and Bob Gramann, at the Fredericksburg Songwriters’ Showcase on March 25. In addition, Kelly will meet the Rappahannock River for the first time during its Spring surge. Like many in Fredericksburg, Kelly loves fly fishing “when I have the time.” He has a fascination with rivers and spends a lot of time in rivers, and this comes out in his songs. “They are one of Nature’s most beautiful representations, and all of life seems to come to their shores. Stand in a river long enough and you’ll see pretty much every critter in the area at one time or another,” he says in an email interview. Based in Maryland, Kelly empathizes with the generations of watermen who make a living from the rivers and from the Bay. His song “Waterman” comes directly from meeting and talking with men and women whose lives depend on the fishing and the oysters, he says. “I’ve been fortunate to work at several Waterman Festivals in the Chesapeake [Bay] region through the years. You can’t help but admire the work ethic on display. It’s sad that this way of life is very much endangered with the decline of the Bay’s ecosystem.” On his CD, Cross the River Home, Kelly includes songs from his travels out West, too. “Cowboy” recently won honorable mention in the Mid-Atlantic Songwriters’ Contest. If you visit California, he might suggest that you detour through the Sierra Nevada Mountains as he did. “Feather River Canyon” shows how the beauty of the area

newer or unrecorded songs. Michael Kelly plans to bring “Pounding Nails in Virginia.” Bob Gramann, a local canoeist, promises to sing “My Cypress Canoe,” a nostalgic waltz along the Potomac with a true Gramann twist to the story. Steve Warner of West Virginia has been to the Showcase many times and frequently has something new to share. This time it will be his new song “Journey,” which he says is about “deity, hereafter, and what we accomplish here on earth.” Susan Greenbaum of Richmond always brightens the stage with her energy and friendliness. Her current project is a performance of the entire Tapestry Album by Carol King, a show worth seeking out. As a thoughtful singersongwriter, Greenbaum has 5 albums of originals to choose from for the show. So put Fredericksburg Songwriters’ Showcase on your calendar for March 25 at 8pm at Picker’s Supply. You’ll be glad you did.

Lou Gramann is a volunteer for the Fredericksburg Songwriters’ Showcase and (full disclosure) is married to songwriter & guitar maker Bob Gramann.

front porch fredericksburg

March 2016

The Death Law

FXBG Music Scene 606 Caroline Street Old Town Fredericksburg

new book by claire cole curcio

at the songwriters’ showcase

373-7847

Own The Movie A 40-minute film with aerial and underwater photography that tells the story of the Rappahannock River from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay.

DVD $14.95; Members $11.96 www.riverfriends.org 540-373-3448 3219 Fall Hill Ave.

March 2016

Front porch fredericksburg

by lou gramann

Tuesday - Saturday 10-5 Wednesdays until 6:30 and by appointment

Where Fredericksburg Gets Engaged

Mary Lynn Powers loves reading as much as she loves visiting restaurants

rs avo g l F 30 untin o &C

Lem

ona

NOTE: The Death Law is available at Agora Coffee Shop, 520 Caroline Street

www.gemstonecreations.org

Mon-Sat: 10a-6p; Sun: 1-5p 810 Caroline Sr. #104 ~ 540.899.3714 www.juspopn.com

Lou Gramann is a volunteer for the Fredericksburg Songwriters’ Showcase and (full disclosure) is married to songwriter & guitar maker Bob Gramann.

front porch fredericksburg

March 2016

COMMONW EALTH S LAM

- By Frank Fratoe

He found himself .by loving her because he heard in her thought what dreams occupied the past with a future they could share.

By A.E. Bayne

Robert Owens might be the person who is most surprised by his development as a poet. In school, he’d thought of poetry as dry and academic, structured and somehow designed to make the reader feel less intelligent than the poet. He felt no connection. It wasn’t until he was 22 years old that he began to consider himself a writer. The advent of Def Jam Poetry changed his outlook. Finally, he heard something that sounded like his writing. With his own practice evolving and his confidence bolstered by acceptance and positive feedback, Owens wanted to create a space where other poets could feel the same; however, he didn’t want to create further competition for his friends in Richmond who ran the slam circuit there. Fredericksburg was a logical choice to Owens to start CommonWealth Slam for a number of reasons. The city is halfway between the capital of the country and the capital of the state, making it a convenient place for touring artists to stop between the larger cities. Owens says that’s crucial in a business that pays $50 to $150 per performance, noting, “Some venues try to market the events as free; we never do free because it’s a hard enough business without expecting people to come through and perform for free. It’s tough, but it’s really worthwhile.”

Owens says the most difficult thing about slam poetry is probably the thing most people would imagine: reading. He elaborates, “I know a lot of poets, myself included, who feel like they read terribly. It’s a learned skill, just like writing. It can be tough.” He suggests listening to other slam poets on sites like iTunes and SoundCloud for inspiration.

Roscoe Burnems performing after he led a workshop at Commonwealth Slam Owens also suggests that poets wishing to break into the slam scene analyze their goals for what they want to get out of being a slam poet. He says, “Do you really just want to take your work, is it a competition aspect. Do you want to tour different places so you can see different styles of writing? Do you want to be a writer? Then consider that there are different places with different styles. At

how writers can be good salespeople

An Exchange

Competitive Catharsis

Where: Central Rappahannock Regional Library (Fredericksburg City Branch) When: First Wednesday of each month, 7 p.m. workshop / 8 p.m. open mic Cost: Free Next Touring Poet: Wil Gibson at Art Mart on Wednesday, April 13, 2016 ($ for workshop/performance) Visit: www.commonwealthslam.com and Facebook at CommonWealth Slam

The 95 Percent

THE POETRY MAN

CommonWealth Slam, we’re going to have a workshop every month. We’re going to work on the writing; we believe in the writing. There are places that don’t have workshops that are strictly performance, places that only slam, places that compete nationally, places that only go locally and do workshops with schools. Then realize that in the end, there’s no such thing as a slam poet; there’s just a poet who shares out loud.” The workshops at CommonWealth Slam usually follow some structure, including some prompt writing or work on technique, such as rhyme. If a featured performer is coming through town, they will lead the workshop before doing a 30-minute set. Owens describes the group’s dynamic as diverse, with both younger and older poets attending. The poets who attend CommonWealth Slam’s workshop seem to get different things from the experience. Owens believes they enjoy the writing, but also the freedom of the space. He says, “I’ve found that the freedom to speak here in Fredericksburg with this group is its most critical aspect. Our participants are actually excited to write their experiences and not worried about sharing whatever it is they’ve had on their mind. I think that is just helpful in life. It’s a way to knock everything else behind you, a way to get over. This group, everyone who comes back is pretty clear minded at that point.” Owens thinks that people leave the workshops feeling what they are doing is important. He says, “You have to believe what you are writing down. Everything else falls into place.” A.E. Bayne is a writer, visual artist and editor in chief of Fredericksburg Literary and Art Review. A longer version of this article can be found in the fall 2015 edition of FLAR online.

By embracing and kissing her he felt the secret that would sustain him through her warmth continually for a life together. And perhaps he gave back to her something both needed so much across the eventful years when she found herself by loving him.

A response to A.E.Bayne’s fine editorial, January 2016 Frank Fratoe lives & writes in the city. He wrote this poem as a tribute to the artists of Fredericksburg

Front Porch Fredericksburg

Supporting Local Artists Since 1997

by chris jones Writers write. That’s what they’re supposed to do. The greatest challenge facing writers isn’t the writing; it’s the marketing of the work they’re written. So how do writers market their work? That’s the business of writing. Best writing vs. Bestselling Whether you recognize it it or not, as a writer, you’re in the sales and marketing of writing from the moment you publicly declare your work for sale. This is why it is important to become acquainted with books and blogs on sales, marketing and public relations. I was once told that bestselling author Robert Kiyosaki of Rich Dad Poor Dad fame noted that the most coveted prize for writers isn’t best writing author, it’s bestselling author. What does that tell us? JV Crum III of Conscious Millionaire says it best when he says that writing is 5 percent and marketing is 95 percent. Know Your Audience From the time a writer has a firm idea as to the direction of their work, be it a novel, a book of poetry, a memoire, or a nonfiction work, knowing your target audience and how to get your work in front of them is paramount. Often the misjudgment is made that promoting the book can’t be done until the work is completed. I would argue the opposite. Promoting the work while you write it ensures that the work gets done. You’re leveraging audience expectation to guarantee your own success. To do this, take the time to know who you’re writing to. An exercise as simple as creating an avatar, a fictional character on paper based on who your ideal reader is, helps you to stay on target with your message and your marketing. Answer questions like “What do they look like?”, “What are their book buying habits?”, “What do they most like to read about?”, “Where do they like to find information on their favorite authors within your genre?” These and

other audience-specific questions can help you to flesh out a profile that you can keep with you as you write. Brand & Promote The journey to bestselling author involves three key steps: promoting, marketing and selling. The best first step is to build your brand. Your brand is what you want to put before the public. It’s how you want to be perceived by your audience. Take the time to create a good logo, business card and website to represent you. Your business card will primarily serve as a way to guide potential readers to your website where you can learn more about you and your work, but where you can offer them perks in exchange for their email address. When they sign up to receive marketing from you, perhaps you can send them a sample chapter from your book (a great way to sell it!), a video tutorial, a chance to win a book, or some other offer with perceived value. You can also hold contests on your website for those who read your book and leave ratings on Amazon. Mobile technology has made it easier that ever to stay connected to your audience through social media. Apps like Typorama and Word Swag allow you to take images and overlay type on them to create inspirational messages, share

excerpts from your work, and create quick hit ads to use on any of the major social networks. In a podcast interview I did with New York Times bestselling author john David Mann, he points out that writers who want to move the needle with agents and publishers need to master social networking. It is in their best interest to build their online audiences as social proof that they can draw crowds, sell books, and expand their influence. Lewis Howes, a bestselling author and top influencer created a street team to get the word out about his new book. He gave away copies of his book in exchange for readers signing up for his email list and agreeing to read his book within two weeks, review it on Amazon on launch day, and then promote it on social media. Go Public The challenge facing any authors is the natural inclination to just want to write, press send and hope that the book sells. It’s this introverted nature that keeps some of the best books unread. The way to combat it is through targeted public relations and networking. Using PR can be as simple as sending out press releases related to your book, and not just one. Become a newshound. Use Google Alerts to notify you of activity that may warrant a press release. After sending your initial press

release for your launched book, look to send others. If you have written a book on climate change, sign up Google alerts that specifically address climate change. When one comes to you, and if your book addresses the topic, then contact the writer of the story, the show producer, or the editor and send a press release about your book, how it addresses those newsworthy topics, and offer to share your expertise. Other forms of PR include book launch parties, public book signings and book readings. You can also offer a free copy to your local library and in most cases they will invite your local media to cover the event. That’s free press. Shake Hands & Kiss Babies Finally, face-to-face networking is among your best strategy for effectively promoting your book. Attending book fairs puts you in front of your audience, but also exposes you to new connections. Tasha Fuller, a children’s book author based in Woodbridge, Virginia, says she found her illustrator by attending a book fair. You never know who may be floating around in chamber of commerce events, networking functions and at open houses. If there is one thing to learn about the old Kevin Bacon game most of us played as children is that we are all closer to an influence than we think. It’s a matter of finding the people who know them. Says Sara Bolme, co-founder of Christian Small Publishers Association, “Marketing is not a one-time thing. It is an ongoing process that you must keep doing to continue selling books.”

Chris Jones is an award-winning writer and the author, of “The Art & Business of Writing: A Practical Guide to the Writing Life.” He hosts the weekly podcast “The Art & Business of Writing” where he interviews writers, authors, and professionals who influence the writing profession.

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COMMONW EALTH S LAM

- By Frank Fratoe

He found himself .by loving her because he heard in her thought what dreams occupied the past with a future they could share.

By A.E. Bayne

how writers can be good salespeople

An Exchange

Competitive Catharsis

The 95 Percent

THE POETRY MAN

A response to A.E.Bayne’s fine editorial, January 2016 Frank Fratoe lives & writes in the city. He wrote this poem as a tribute to the artists of Fredericksburg

Front Porch Fredericksburg

Supporting Local Artists Since 1997

Give a Child Something to Wills and Trusts Provide for Incapacity Trusts for Minor Children Wealth Preservation Trusts Avoid Probate AhearnEstateLaw.com 28

March 2016

540/371-9890

Front porch fredericksburg

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

810 Caroline Street (540) 371-5684 front porch fredericksburg

March 2016

UMW PHILHARMONIC celebrity series features joshua bell

Fredericksburg Sketches A visual Celebration of our community

By Casey Alan Shaw

By Kevin Bartram

Yoga Foundation of FXBG Spreading Peace through the Community One Pose at a Time

With the UMW Philharmonic, Bell has chosen to perform the magnificent Bruch Violin Concerto. Also on the program is Polovtsian Dances by Borodin and Russian Easter Overture by Rimsky-Korsakov. The Celebrity Series, created by Bartram here for the UMW Philharmonic, is celebrating its 13th Dr.

This year’s Celebrity Series concert will feature superstar violinist Joshua Bell. The concert will be held in Dodd Auditorium on Saturday, March 26 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are still available. Bell is one of the most celebrated violinists of his era, and his restless curiosity, passion, and multi-faceted musical interests are almost unparalleled in the world of classical music. Bell has been embraced by a wide television audience with appearances ranging from The Tonight Show, Tavis Smiley, Charlie Rose, and CBS Sunday Morning to Sesame Street. He has twice performed on the Grammy Awards telecast, performing music from Short Trip Home and West Side Story Suite. He was one of the first classical artists to have a music video on VH1 and he was the subject of a BBC Omnibus documentary.

Dr. Kevin P. Bartram has been director of the University of Mary Washington Philharmonic Orchestra since 2002. He and his wife Connie have two sons, Nicholas and William. Photo by Lisa Marie Mazzucco

SKETCH #17: Summer Trellis at Belmont. I've got a great idea for you … As soon as the sun starts to share its warmth and the earth reawakens, you should take a trip and discover the estate and studio of American impressionist Gari Melchers at Belmont, just across the bridge in Falmouth. Through mid-April you'll get a bonus: In addition to Melcher's masterpieces, Belmont is also currently celebrating 40 years of art inspired by this special place. It's really one of the most incredible art exhibits I've seen in Fredericksburg . . . and that's not just because I managed to get one piece juried into the show. I hope you'll take a morning or afternoon to see the show. If so, you'll find that my "sketch" above is actually a sort of 3-D piece done on acrylic layers. But more so, you'll see an incredible show by many of Fredericksburg's talented artists and many pieces that were sent here by artists from elsewhere who have also been inspired by this local gem. Casey Alan Shaw is a local artist. He exhibits his original artwork and limited-edition prints at Art First Gallery and at www.caseyshaw.com.

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virginia ~My Adoptive Mother~ By Jo Loving

By A.E.Bayne

Bell has appeared in publications ranging from The Strad and Gramophone to Time, The New York Times, People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, GQ, Vogue and Reader’s Digest among many. Bell performs on the 1713 Huberman Stradivarius violin and uses a late 18th century French bow by François Tourte.

year. The series received an anonymous sponsor this year, and has been renamed The UMW Philharmonic Celebrity Series. Past performers in the series include: 2004-Marvin Hamlisch 2005- The Canadian Brass 2006- Judy Collins 2007-Ramsey Lewis Trio 2008-The Kingston Trio 2009-Keith Lockhart 2010-Lynda Carter 2011- Miss America Caressa Cameron 2012-Kenny Rogers 2013-Sir James Galway 2014-Itzhak Perlman 2015-Michael Feinstein, José Carreras (special concert) 2016-Joshua Bell

From My Porch

The Yoga Foundation of Fredericksburg will open its doors to the public at 1403 Franklin Street on February 29, 2016. YFF currently seeks nonprofit status and will use funds raised through the new studio to reach community members in most need of health and wellness assistance, but who might not have the means to obtain it. Founded offsite in October of 2013, YFF is the brainchild of local yoga instructors Steve Watkins (above) and Stacey Strentz McLaughlin (both formerly of Dragonfly Yoga Studio). Joining John them is McLaughlin, a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction teacher and co-founder of Insight Meditation Community of Fredericksburg. Through the McLaughlins’ financial support, YFF has already brought yoga classes to area preschools; to teachers after school hours; to the community through parent-child and prenatal yoga classes; and to veterans through a weekly At Ease Warrior yoga class for military families. This last class is now under the auspice of Dragonfly as part of their community outreach. Watkins served as director of YFF while he was managing Dragonfly, and through YFF he and Stacey McLaughlin organized and continue to provide hundreds of free and donation-based classes in the community. Watkins has taught many of them himself, including twice-weekly classes at the juvenile detention center, and weekly classes at the Gladys Oberle School, which serves teens

with emotional and developmental challenges. Watkins says, “We believe yoga should be accessible for everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. I worry that yoga in America has come to be perceived as something only available to people who have a lot of disposable income, maybe even as something elitist, and it shouldn't be that way. Yoga is so beneficial in so many ways--physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I think it's our job--not just us yoga teachers, but everyone who practices--to share it with as many people as possible, and especially with people who are struggling in various ways." In line with YFF’s mission, John McLaughlin notes, “Some of the very people who could benefit from yoga the most, those with financial, emotional and physical distress and dis-ease, are often the same ones who have the least access to yoga. YFF is our attempt to "level the playing field" by making this ancient practice of yoga available to everyone in our community." YFF’s Franklin Street studio will offer a mix of hot and regular yoga classes Mondays through Saturdays. On Saturday afternoons, Blue Heron Wellness will be renting studio space to offer yoga and wellness workshops, yoga teacher training classes, and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction workshops and seminars. The studio will be closed on Sundays. All YFF classes will be offered on a sliding scale, based on ability to pay (from $5 to $10), with revenue going to support 40 to 50 free monthly classes in the community, including classes currently being developed for special needs children and their families, for women coping with trauma, and for people recovering from addictions. Stacey McLaughlin concludes, “YFF will mean access for people who may never have had the resources to a tool in life which may, if given the chance, reduce their stress level in life and allow them to build a skill set to living with more ease in their body and mind.” For more information and schedules, visit YFF’s Facebook page or website at www.yogafredericksburgva.com.

Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees. ~ Stonewall Jackson, on his deathbed, referring to the Rappahannock River and Virginia I wasn’t the kind of mother who enjoyed taking her children to King’s Dominion. There, I’ve said it. As a Florida native, I grew up on sandy white beaches, spent my summers mostly barefoot, and learned how to camp and fish and enjoy nature. My parents took us camping frequently, and were big believers in using the state parks throughout Florida and Alabama. My father, ever the history buff, never passed by a historic marker without stopping, reading it, and asking us questions about that particular piece of history. Growing up in a beautiful beach town, I was the child who liked nature and quiet pursuits, and eschewed crowds, neon lights, haunted houses, theme parks and arcades. We had a local amusement park, with Ferris wheels, tilt-a-whirls, a roller coaster, a “wild west” type of show, and many other activities. Although I confess that I was a mean arcade skee-ball player, I spent the majority of my childhood outdoors, gardening with my father and grandmother, writing poetry in our tree house, hiking the woods, spending time swimming in the Gulf of Mexico and local rivers, and camping. The things I did not like about living in Florida had much to do with heat, humidity, and mosquitoes. I’m an oddball. Most people would want to live in an area with gorgeous beaches and resorts, where the climate is semi-tropical. Surprisingly, when this Florida gal moved with my small children to Virginia in my late twenties, I immediately, fully, and unconditionally fell

in love with its natural beauty – the very smell of the place embedded itself in my soul and refused to release me from its hold. Its location is perfect. It is an hour to hour-and-a-half from beaches or mountains or the history and culture of the nation’s capitol. In Fredericksburg and throughout Virginia, canoeing, kayaking, tubing, fly-fishing, and camping are activities that are enjoyable for at least three seasons. Fredericksburg has a plethora of arts and artists, parks, and outdoor activities. Nature looms large here, which is why Virginia is my adoptive earth mother. With all of its beauty to explore, the mere thought of taking the kids to an amusement or water park did not appeal to me – why go to a water park, when you can kayak or canoe the confluence of the Rapidan and Rappahannock? What is more thrilling than the “wheeee” feeling of making it through those waters? So my children grew up swimming in the river, hiking, camping in state parks, and taking in nature, culture, and the outdoors. They visited international festivals held in Virginia and learned about other cultures – which fostered in them a love of learning and a sense of adventure. Were they deprived, by my not taking them to the theme park? Not at all – they went with their grandparents and on school trips. What do they talk about when reminiscing about their childhood? The street festivals, the picnics in parks and natural areas, or the holidays in State Parks. So, as the long winter is nearly over, and you consider what to do, take the time to appreciate the parks, the river, and check out the area’s natural beauty. Take a moment to “cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees.” Slow down, take your time, breathe in the beauty, and embrace Mother Earth. Jo Loving will leave her Florida porch this Spring – to once again drink in her beloved Virginia, and its sights, scents, and silences, and to spoil her granddaughter, who lives there.

Every Child Deserves A Family

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March 2016

UMW PHILHARMONIC celebrity series features joshua bell

Fredericksburg Sketches A visual Celebration of our community

By Casey Alan Shaw

By Kevin Bartram

Yoga Foundation of FXBG Spreading Peace through the Community One Pose at a Time

Dr. Kevin P. Bartram has been director of the University of Mary Washington Philharmonic Orchestra since 2002. He and his wife Connie have two sons, Nicholas and William. Photo by Lisa Marie Mazzucco

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virginia ~My Adoptive Mother~ By Jo Loving

By A.E.Bayne

From My Porch

Every Child Deserves A Family

Learn about our adoption opportunities Domestic & International

301-587-4400 Cradle of Hope Adoption Center front porch fredericksburg

March 2016