Stafford Magazine | August/September 2023

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CINNAMON BUNS WITH A TWIST THE STORY BEHIND SCHOOL MURALS

Taking Flight

Ospreys help young runners build skills

COLONIAL FORGE GRAD A STAR ON STAGE

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VOLUME 4,

4 PUBLISHER

MAGAZINE

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STAFF REPORTER

Dave Fawcett CONTRIBUTORS

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Tracy Bell

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Life’s a Stage

Colonial Forge graduate making her mark in California

BY TRACY BELL

Even as a little girl, Monica Rose Slater was putting on a show.

“I’ve been performing ever since I could sing,” she said. “I started theater and chorus in elementary school and never stopped.”

The Stafford native and Colonial Forge High School graduate is now living her dream as a singer and actress and performed in a San Francisco musical, “She Loves Me,” earlier this summer.

Slater, 25, graduated from Colonial Forge in 2016 and from James Madison University in 2021. Her family lives in the Augustine neighborhood of North Stafford, but she’s based in San Francisco for now.

For most of June, she was part of an ensemble cast in a production of “She Loves Me” by 42nd Moon, a nonprofit theater company. The three-time Tony Awardwinning musical is based on a play by Miklós László.

“It would be hard to find a more perfectly romantic musical than ‘She Loves Me,’” said Daniel Thomas, executive artistic director for the theater. He noted that the plot was the inspiration for two romantic comedy movies: “The Shop Around the Corner” (1940) and “You’ve Got Mail” (1998).

From this “golden-age musical” to a “strange, fantastical French opera,” Slater said her most recent projects could not have been more different, but she loves all genres of performance and feels successful every time she has the honor of being involved.

“Every time I’m paid to perform, I feel like I’m living the dream,” she added. “I’ve always rather vaguely said that my dream is to perform big roles in small theaters – max fun with minimum audience pressure, but even this vague dream feels like it’s shifting as I redefine what ‘pressure’ is to me.”

That pressure is typically low-key, as she generally doesn’t get nervous for shows. “I’m occasionally nervous in situations when I’m under-prepared, but if I am truly prepared, I am very, very rarely nervous.”

Slater said that in high school, she was lucky to meet mentors such as Barbara Perry, Colonial Forge’s choral director, and Deborah Hansen, then a drama teacher.

“Both were incredibly formative people in my life. I keep in touch with them both and still thank them for the foundation they gave me when I was young,” Slater said. “So much of my artistry began in their classrooms, and I carry many lessons from those years. If I ever win an award and have to give a thank-you speech, they’ll be in it!”

Perry recalled that Slater joined the high school choir in ninth grade and took at least two choir classes every year because she was so motivated to learn and to do her very best.

“Her voice was always exceptional and she just got better every year,” Perry said. “Besides being an excellent vocalist and performer, she was such a great person. She was kind and compassionate, and she took the time to build relationships with you.”

“EVERY TIME I’M PAID TO PERFORM, I FEEL LIKE I’M LIVING THE DREAM.”

Above: Slater performed in “She Loves Me” in San Francisco this summer.

Right: Slater as Josephine in a production of “H.M.S. Pinafore” at James Madison University.

RICHARD FINKELSTEIN PHOTOGRAPHY

BEN KRANTZ PHOTOGRAPHY

For more information on Slater, visit monicaroseslater.com or on Instagram @monicaroseslater.

Perry added that she misses having Slater in her classes. “But I am so happy for her and all that she is accomplishing. She is just a beautiful person inside and out. I have no doubt that she will excel in this performing career.”

A self-described “person who needs a lot to stay entertained,” Slater spends her spare time cooking or on long walks with her partner, Glen. She also enjoys biking, rollerblading, hiking, thrifting, painting, reading and writing.

She imagines that one day she might move to New York, something her parents – Matthew and Denise Slater – would appreciate since it’s much closer to Virginia.

“My parents got over my choice of profession a decade ago and even flew a couple thousand miles to see my master’s of music final recital.

They are very supportive,” Slater said.

Even as a toddler, Slater seemed destined for a stage.

“My parents recall my 3-year-old one-woman ‘Little Mermaids’ and ‘Cinderellas,’” she said.

And the penchant for performing seems to run in the family. Slater counts her sister, Elisa – also a Colonial Forge graduate and now a JMU student – as part of her support system, calling her “a fantastic singer.”

Next up for Monica Rose Slater is a fall production of “The Sound of Music “with Cinnabar Theater in Petaluma, Calif., where she will play Maria/Sister Margaretta.

She will also be part of an ensemble and an understudy in the Enchanted version of “Cinderella” with Berkeley Playhouse this winter.

Tracy Bell is a writer who lives in Stafford County.

Many Buns in the Oven

Veteran bringing vegan-friendly desserts to Stafford

BY ERIC ALTHOFF

Ricardo Trevino and his wife, Nicole, moved to Stafford in 2016, knowing retirement from the Navy was nearing. The question then facing Trevino, as it does so many military veterans, was, “What now?”

“I was renting a house down in Stafford [but] we said, ‘We’re not retiring in Virginia.’ Our family is in California and Puerto Rico,” Trevino said. “But we had a couple kids and realized that this is a good family environment. We [even] got used to the traffic.”

The couple bought a house near Courthouse Road, and dreams of year-round warmer climates closer to family dissipated as they built a local social circle and community.

Trevino was working as a contractor at Marine Corps Base Quantico but knew he needed something more rewarding for his post-military life. He loves diving and contemplated opening such a business in Stafford, but it was his family’s decision to become vegan that offered a different path. After visiting a Cinnaholic outpost in Gaithersburg, Md., Trevino and his wife decided to become franchisees of the 100% plant-based eatery.

“I saw a market for the [Stafford] vegan community,” Trevino said. “I saw the Embrey Mill Town Center was building up, so this is a perfect location. It’s off I-95. Our kids play soccer

[locally], and we know a lot of families. You can’t go wrong.”

He signed a franchise agreement in the spring, and the Embrey Mill location is projected to open this fall. Although he has never owned a business, Trevino has Cinnaholic’s corporate machine backing him up.

LeAnne Cavallaro, vice president of operations at the company’s Atlanta headquarters, said Cinnaholic is excited to have the Trevinos as franchisees. “Their enthusiasm and attention to detail affirm they are a great fit as franchise partners.”

Embrey Mill Town Center has been under construction in one form or another since 2013. Despite the opening of the Publix supermarket in 2021, much of the planned community remains incomplete.

THE VEGAN EXPERIENCE

Trevino is maintaining his contracting work until the bakery is officially up and running. But he’s excited to open the doors – to vegans as well as non-vegans eager to try something new.

Ricardo and Nicole Trevino hope the cow bench in their new store will be a conversation-starter.

Ricardo and Nicole became vegans in 2014, partly as a result of watching the 2005 documentary “Earthlings,” narrated by Joaquin Phoenix. Although Nicole was already a vegetarian and loved animals, Trevino said the film truly opened the couple’s eyes to what he views as unnecessary pain and cruelty inflicted on fellow tenants of this planet.

“There’s a health aspect [for diet] and there’s a health aspect of the environment, too, but those are secondary to us,” he added.

So while it was important that his business not sell anything that comes from animal byproducts, Trevino says non-vegans and even nonvegetarians will be pleasantly surprised by the plant-based menu. Cinnaholic’s main offering is the cinnamon bun, which can be customized to nearly any palate thanks to 20 different frostings and several dozen choices of toppings. The shop will also sell cookies, brownies and cakes.

Trevino said that, unlike McDonald’s or Chick-fil-A, Cinnaholic allows franchisees some latitude in creating and naming desserts, as well as personalizing the store.

Cinnaholic’s logo, featuring a swallow bird, hearkens back to the tradition of mariners tattooing that bird on their arms because they were typically the first land-based creature they encountered after a long voyage. This also ties in neatly with Trevino’s naval career.

“It’s like a welcome,” Trevino said of the logo. “Welcome home, and we’re here for you.”

The Trevinos’ store will pay homage to farm animals and will even include a bench that looks like a cow, which Trevino describes as a “conversation starter.”

LEARNING THE BUSINESS

Although Trevino has never run his own business, part of his separation from the military entailed “boots to business” training.

And Trevino has been undertaking such tasks as preaching the gospel Cinnaholic, in person and online. It’s a constant hustle, including working with the county and the Virginia Department of Transportation to get his shop’s logo on one of those ubiquitous signs on I-95 touting eateries at certain exits.

He’s also traveled to Atlanta for training and continues to communicate with the corporate office.

“They want to know how the construction is going, and they help me with the marketing,” Trevino said. In addition to 5% of his bakery’s gross sales, the corporate office will get an extra 2% percent for marketing costs. Otherwise, he’s on his own to spread the word.

Cinnaholic will also send a team to train employees before the store opens, he added, although training is much simpler than at bigger operations such as McDonald’s.

Cinnaholic’s main offering is the cinnamon bun, which can be customized to nearly any palate thanks to 20 different frostings and several dozen choices of toppings.

since the beginning,” Rothwell said. “They have done an excellent job in establishing a business environment that emphasizes both delectable treats and a family-friendly atmosphere. Their presence will undoubtedly enhance the Stafford community.”

Trevino wants to offer Stafford residents the chance to enjoy similar food without traveling far.

“Our ingredients are very few. They’re fresh,” Trevino said. “We make our cinnamon rolls on the spot, so you have to wait a few minutes while we make it, but we don’t have any dairy or eggs that would spoil.” And, if you’re so inclined, you can even buy the cookie dough to take home – or eat it raw.

‘FAMILY-FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE’

Eufrasia Rothwell, an asset manager with Embrey Mill developer BM Smith & Associates Inc., expressed enthusiasm for the Trevinos opening at the Stafford property.

“[They] have been a pleasure to collaborate with

In addition to running the shop, Trevino remains a busy family man with two young children, ages 6 and 3. Trevino also serves as an assistant soccer coach and works with his son’s scouting group. He also has an older son, now 28, from a previous union who works as a travel nurse in Arizona and had a baby himself last year, making Trevino a grandfather.

The couple plans for Nicole to stay home with the children and help as needed at the store.

Although the Washington area and even Fredericksburg have vegan dining options,

“My hope is to bring some healthier options to Stafford, which we lack,” he said. “The fact that it’s vegan is not the primary reason why customers are going to come. I just want to provide people a great product that they will love and come back for.”

Trevino reiterates that nonvegans need not fear popping by Cinnaholic when it opens. Stop by and see for yourself, he urges – and have a chat.

“I’m a pretty open, mellow guy, so I love to talk to vegans, non-vegans, whoever,” he said. “We cater to anyone with a sweet tooth, with a dessert craving.”

Eric Althoff is a freelance writer who lives in Stafford County.

Taking Flight

Ospreys help young runners build skills

BY TRACY BELL

Having fun in the sun with the wind in her hair, 10-year-old Jeanette Larson spends many days jogging for the Rappahannock Ospreys – a nationally recognized youth running club.

For the North Stafford resident and homeschooler, it’s about more than the miles.

“I like running because it’s challenging and fun and I look forward to seeing my friends,” she said.

In mid-July, the Ospreys reconvened after a summer hiatus, uniting the team of 8- to 18-year-olds with a shared passion for the sport.

Jeanette’s older sister, Audrey, who aged out of being eligible to run, has returned to the Ospreys as a volunteer. That’s common, coaches said, and that speaks volumes.

The Rappahannock Ospreys, an outshoot of the Fredericksburg Area Running Club, got its start in 2015 and won recent praise from The Road Runners Club of America – which chose the co-ed Ospreys as its Outstanding Youth Running Club of 2022.

“We have an amazing group of kids who truly are kind and accepting of anyone new,” said Dana Mills, head coach of the Ospreys. “So many kids come once and

have instant friends.”

The club has about 200 runners on its roster, Mills said. About 40 to 50 of them meet regularly at Stafford’s John Lee Pratt Memorial Park for twice-weekly practices. Others pop in and out during off seasons of their other sports.

Fall, which is cross-country season, draws the biggest group and opportunity to compete – while in the spring, most of the middle-schoolers prep with the

Ospreys for their school seasons. There are also optional races that at least a quarter of the team participate in, added Mills, a North Stafford resident who ran at North Stafford High School.

The Ospreys train year-round, typically with a break from mid-May to mid-July and a winter break after the cross-country season. Mills became involved with the Ospreys in 2015 when her son, Landon, joined. With seven years on the Ospreys under his belt,

Coaches Mat Smith (left, black shirt) and Andrew Wood lead a group of Rappahannock Ospreys runners during practice. Lower left: Dana Mills, head coach, talks with the runners.

TAVAN SMITH

Youth running series brings smiles

By TRACY BELL

Running will forever be a metaphor for life: Just keep going and never give up – because you get out of it what you put into it.

Martin Luther King Jr. said: “If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”

Stafford County’s Healthy Kids Running Series, a five-week program to get kids moving, just lets kids be kids – content that the greater lessons will come in time.

Children ages 2-14 participate in weekly running races appropriate to their age levels. Along the way they are exercising, picking up running tips and making friends.

Moncure Elementary School students Trey Brooks, 10, and his brother, Josiah, 7, are members.

Want to Join?

RACE DATES: Sept. 10, 17 and 24 and Oct. 1 and 8

LOCATION: Colonial Forge High School

Sara Nearman

MORE INFORMATION: healthykidsrunningseries.org

The running series occurs twice annually — once in the spring from late April to mid-June and the other in the fall. It stems from a nonprofit and community-based parent organization with locations nationally and a goal to promote health and keep kids active.

Sara Nearman, an avid local runner who lives in the Colonial Forge section of North Stafford, took over in March as the community coordinator for the Stafford series. The biggest benefit, Nearman said, is “giving kids a positive, early introduction to running and living a healthy, active lifestyle.”

a chapter of Virginia Moms RUN this Town – Stafford Sole Sisters, and notes that running groups have made a difference because they bring a social aspect to a shared love of running. With running, consistency is key, said Nearman, as is slowing down to a mostly conversational pace and not giving up.

The Healthy Kids Running Series doesn’t have practices – just the races – but the group’s online resources offer guidance, tips and even a training plan.

Sylvia Palombo runs during a Rappahannock Ospreys practice. Below: The Healthy Kids Running Series returns for five Sundays this fall.

Visit

Landon now runs for Colonial Forge High School and often assists the Ospreys, along with other volunteers and members of the Fredericksburg club.

The Ospreys spun off from the Fredericksburg group after local runners Jon Dachos, Chris Ernandes and John Lavin kicked off a team dedicated to youth runners.

“Even though I no longer have kids on the team, I see the value in what this program is doing to help build up youth running in this area,” Mills said. “The middle and high schools are now benefitting from the kids being exposed to running at a young age.”

Sara Nearman, an Ospreys volunteer who runs Stafford’s Healthy Kids Running Series, said the Ospreys runners range from beginners to kids running a five-minute mile. Her own children, Bryce, 16, Gunnar, 13, and Tegan, 11, who are homeschooled, have shown “tremendous improvement” while being coached by Mills, Nearman said.

Gunnar Nearman said he likes competing. “I’ve met some great people,” he added. “I look forward to practices and being rewarded for my hard work.”

As for Tegan: “My favorite part of running is racing, because I’m competitive,” she said.

Like Nearman’s children, some Ospreys also participate in the Healthy Kids Running Series.

“Running is hard,” Trey said, “but when I meet people who are faster than me, it pushes me to try harder.”

“Running is a great exercise to be healthy,” added Josiah. “I get to make new friends that make me laugh.”

The group, with 160 registered runners, meets Sunday afternoons at a new location, Colonial Forge High School, this fall. Previously the group met at Willowmere Park.

On race days, 2- and 3-year-olds run the 50-yard dash; 4- and 5-year olds run a 75-yard dash, along with specialneeds runners when applicable; kindergarteners and first-graders run a quarter-mile, and fourth- through eighth-graders run a mile.

“These are habits that, hopefully, will stay with them for life,” she said. Registration for each running series costs $45 per child, or if registering for a single week on race day, $20. Although some runners are motivated by competition and wanting to win, others show up for fun, according to Nearman.

“I love that running can accommodate both, and really gives the opportunity to compete with yourself by trying to improve your times from one race to the next,” she said. “There’s always an opportunity to win, even if you don’t come in first.”

A six-time marathoner, Nearman attributed her love of running to her husband, Richard. She leads

For Mills, who used to help coach cross-country and track at Forest Park High School in Prince William County, heading the Ospreys was a natural fit.

“We definitely have a mixture of goals and backgrounds with our kids,” she said. “Some are there because their parents want them to be, while others really love to run or want to see if it’s a good fit.”

As the Ospreys return to flight this summer, so to speak, Mills said her advice to new runners is to remain patient. After all, running is a cumulative sport – the more it’s done, the better and faster a runner will become. Improvement and stamina will follow.

“My goal for all of our runners is for them to stay healthy and enjoy running as they get older,” Mills said, “because it truly can be a lifetime sport.”

Tracy Bell is a freelancer who lives in Stafford County.

TAVAN SMITH

CECILIA TUEROS OF CHASKI AGENCY

Picturing the Past

Stafford public schools create murals to highlight local history

BY DAVID FAWCETT

Brenda Edwards loved the idea of telling lesser-known, but still important, stories about Stafford County history.

In particular, she wanted to let people know there was more to Stafford’s history than being George Washington’s boyhood home.

“All we hear about is Ferry Farm,” Edwards said.

A three-way partnership among the Stafford Museum and Cultural Center, Stafford County Public Schools and the Stafford Education Foundation allowed Edwards to highlight those stories at Rodney Thompson Middle School.

After receiving a grant through the education foundation, Edwards, Rodney Thompson’s art teacher at the time, spent a

week and a half during the summer of 2021 painting a 17-by-7-foot mural that captures local history. She hoped it would compel students and parents to learn more about their surroundings.

Edwards talked to local historians and did research to make the mural as accurate as possible. The mural is on display in the school’s main hallway so people can see it as soon as they enter.

The result, titled “Unsung Songs of Stafford,” features a number of scenes, including enslaved African American ship captain Robinson Daggs, the desegregation of schools, the Patawomeck Indian tribe and the building of the Interstate 95 bridge over the Rappahannock River.

“Historically speaking, well-to-do people are represented in history,” said Edwards,

Left: The mural at Anthony Burns Elementary School showcases historical figures connected to Stafford County. Below: Colonial Forge High School art students work on their mural.

who is doing a similar project now at Stafford High School, where she is an art and photo teacher. “Sometimes a lot more of the smaller stories need to be told.”

Educating others, especially the students, about their school or county is the impetus behind this project.

In the program’s first year, 11 schools applied for 10 grants, and extra money was provided so all the schools could be accommodated. Overall, 13 county public schools have participated in the program, now in its third year, which awards up to $4,000 grants each to paint similar types of murals.

“What I like about the project is that it empowers kids to investigate and think about school history, their community or Stafford history,” said Eric Powell, the K-12 history and social sciences coordinator for Stafford County Public Schools.

Powell said the project began after students at Anthony Burns Elementary wanted to paint a mural at the school to honor its namesake. Burns was born a slave in Stafford County who escaped to Boston.

Under the Fugitive Slave Act, Burns was ordered to return to Virginia. His story generated headlines, and Boston

sympathizers ended up buying Burns’ freedom.

To pay for the grants, the education foundation stepped in since it is a nonprofit organization.

With everything in place, the school system then sent out emails to each school’s principal telling them about the program and how to apply for the grants.

Usually, the emails found their way to each school’s art teacher. The art teachers submit a proposal, including a sketch, that is reviewed by a six-person committee consisting of two people each from the three partners. If needed, committee members offer suggestions to make sure everything is historically accurate and is tied to Stafford.

Typically, students at the high schools paint the murals. At middle and elementary schools, either the art teacher or a contracted professional artist paints the mural.

Leslie Orton, an art teacher at Colonial Forge High School, said about 20 of her students from the National Art Honor Society helped create the mural on the school’s second-floor history wing.

There were other murals already at Colonial Forge, but the students wanted to

do one themselves.

“I like opening their minds to what happened here before them and thinking about something broader than everyday life,” Orton said.

Aided by Colonial Forge history teachers Byron Spicer and Matt Skjoldal, Orton designed the mural. The students started painting it during the winter of 2022 and

finished most of it by that spring. The mural has received touch-up work and additional words since.

Orton wanted the mural to emphasize who had been on the property before Colonial Forge was built.

Titled “Who Shaped the Land on Which We Stand,” the mural highlights Augustine Washington’s Iron Forge, including the

The Colonial Forge High School mural, completed last year, highlights an iron forge, a woodcutter and an eagle, the school’s mascot.

enslaved people who worked there.

In addition, there is an image of a female Patawomeck Indian tending to a fire, as well as a man cutting wood, a reference to nearby Woodcutters Road. The mural also includes an Eagle, a tribute to Colonial Forge’s mascot.

In addition to murals, some schools, including Anthony Burns, provide interactive videos visitors can access through a QR code.

Burns’ mural is titled “Soaring to Success” and showcases people connected to Stafford, including Samuel Langley, who oversaw the first unmanned flight, educator H.H. Poole, artist Palmer Hayden, doctor and suffragist Kate Waller Barrett and American Red Cross founder Clara Barton. Sue Henderson, director of the Stafford Museum and Cultural Center, is thrilled by the program’s benefits.

“It’s a way to look for educational value by creating an appreciation for Stafford history,” Henderson said. “This is a win-win. We’re delighted to engage people more in history.”

David Fawcett is sports editor of InsideNoVa and a resident of Stafford County. He can be reached at dfawcett@insidenova.com.

Falkenberg M.D. Steven J. Hudson M.D. Shelly R. Hayes O.D.

Higher Learning

Colonial Forge grad Clara Robbins adjusts to life in pro soccer

BY DAVID FAWCETT

The Clara Robbins File

season-ending injury list with a left Achilles tear.

The limited playing time was a change for someone used to starting consistently. But Robbins understood why the Courage are bringing her along slowly.

“It’s nothing that’s shocking,” Robbins said. “I’m handling it as I go. I’m really learning to embrace the process.”

HIGH SCHOOL: Colonial Forge (2016 graduate)

COLLEGE: Florida State

POSITION: Midfielder

COLLEGE

Clara Robbins felt the difference right away.

The speed. The intensity. The overall level of play. It all took a toll on the 2016 Colonial High School graduate as she adjusted to life as a rookie in the National Women’s Soccer League.

“It was a shock to my body,” Robbins said.

After a stellar career at Florida State, Robbins faced a steep learning curve when she arrived in the NWSL as the ninth overall pick by the North Carolina Courage in the league’s 2023 draft in January.

In particular, Robbins needed to play the ball quicker to keep up with the pace. Robbins played in three games with one start before the Courage announced July 14 they had placed her on the

In some ways, Robbins is accustomed to learning as she goes.

She had an up-and-down career at Florida State. Due to a season-ending injury in 2018 and the pandemic, Robbins played seven seasons of college soccer. Her 110 played games are the most in school history and the second most in women’s college soccer history.

“I had lots of different experiences, so I was able to wear a few different hats,” Robbins said.

Robbins said she had moments when she wondered whether she wanted to keep playing soccer after college. Would she be healthy enough to compete after her injury? Would she want to?

In the end, though,

Robbins stayed the course to fulfill her plan of playing professional soccer.

When Robbins was on the field, she had an impact. She was a member of two national championship teams (2018 and 2021) and was a two-time ACC Tournament MVP (2020, 2021).

Robbins received no clear indication the Courage would select her, but she’s glad they did. North Carolina plays a possession-style game that suits Robbins’ skills.

She enjoys the challenge of finding ways to improve her game.

“It’s something new,” Robbins said. “It’s something to work toward every day. I love the training sessions we have. There is something to be

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Robbins is Florida State’s all-time leader in games played (110) … She was a two-time ACC Tournament MVP and part of two national championships teams

DID YOU KNOW? Robbins was the ninth overall pick in the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League Draft

said for raising the ceiling. If you put yourself in a box, you will stay within the confines of that box.”

David Fawcett is sports editor of InsideNoVa and a resident of Stafford County. He can be reached at dfawcett@ insidenova.com.

Summer Fun

As summer winds down and students return to classrooms, the usual lineup of fall festivals begins. Here are a few events over the next couple of months across the Stafford region. For even more events, visit InsideNoVa.com/calendar

GARI

Aug. 11, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Gari Melchers Home & Studio, Falmouth garimelchers.org

CLEAR THE SHELTERS (CLEARTHESHELTERS. COM)

Aug. 12 (nationally, all of August)

Stafford Animal Shelter/ Stafford SPCA staffordcountyanimalcontrol. com and staffordspca.org

SPORTS

ESCAPE ROOM IN A BOX

Aug. 19, 10 a.m. or 12:30 p.m.

Dorothy Hart Community Center, Fredericksburg

$20/team

Pre-register at FXGB.com

ROLLER DERBY

Aug. 19, 6 to 9 p.m.

Fredericksburg Field House

3411 Shannon Park Drive, Fredericksburg

NORTHERN VIRGINIA REPTILE EXPO

Aug. 26, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Prince William County Fairgrounds

10624 Dumfries Road, Manassas

DOG

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: THE PRESIDENT’S OWN U.S. MARINE BAND

Aug. 31, 7 to 8 p.m. Free

National Museum of the Marine Corps, Triangle usmcmuseum.com

2023 GLOWSTICK 5K, 10K & 1-MILER

Sept. 2, 2:30 p.m. John Lee Pratt Memorial Park staffordparks.com

DROOL IN THE POOL IN STAFFORD

Sept. 9: Woodlands Pool

Sept. 10: Mark Lenzi Pool

0:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each day

Must provide proof of rabies vaccination

$5 per dog + donation of 3.5-pound bag of dog food, paper towels or unscented laundry detergent Register at staffordparks.com

STEPFAMILY BLENDED WITH LOVE CONFERENCE

Sept. 16, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Northern Virginia Community College, Woodbridge

$15-$20

VIRGINIA

Aug. 19, 4 to 9 p.m.

Fredericksburg Fairgrounds

2400 Airport Drive, Fredericksburg

DISABILITY RESOURCE

CENTER’S FAMILY FALL FESTIVAL

Sept. 23, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fredericksburg Fairgrounds 2400 Airport Drive, Fredericksburg

VIA COLORI STAFFORD

Sept. 23-24, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Stafford Regional Airport staffordairport.com

OCCOQUAN FALL ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW

Sept. 23-24, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Occoquan Historic District Occoquanva.gov

“PETS 4 LIFE”

1K & 5K WALK/RUN

Sept. 30, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Prince William Forest Park, Triangle humanesocietynv.org/events

STAFFORD COUNTY FAIR

Oct. 5-8, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg staffordfair.com

STAFFORD FALL FAMILY FESTIVAL

Oct. 7, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

John Lee Pratt Memorial Park staffordparks.com

FALL FAIRY AND DRAGON FESTIVAL

Oct. 7, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Revatone Farm, Spotsylvania Fxbgfallfairydragonfestival.com

// COMMUNITY NEWS

Schools honored for Kids Heart Challenge

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Because of donations received during the challenge, the association, along with their partner company, US Games, awarded $7,600 to Stafford schools for the purchase of new physical education equipment and wellness supplies.

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Chicago Cubs snag Hopeyhir Hope signed with the Chicago Cubs on July 21.

The Cubs selected the 2023 Colonial Forge High School graduate in the 11th round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft on July 11. Hope is the first player directly drafted out of Colonial Forge and the first from any Stafford high school since 1996, when North Stafford graduate Juan Piniella went to the Texas Rangers in the seventh round.

Martial arts academy opens

By signing with Chicago, Hope passed up a baseball scholarship from North Carolina. He will begin his pro career at the Cubs’ spring training facility in Mesa, Ariz.A

new martial arts academy, Process Over Prize Academy, officially opened July 8 at 11 Hope Road, Suite 207, in Stafford.

Stafford schools adjust start times

Stafford Schools Superintendent Dr. Thomas W. Taylor accepts the Gold School District award from Marjorie ChurchBourne, school engagement director for the American Heart Association.

The Cubs had followed Hope heavily this spring. The speedy and powerful outfielder recorded nine home runs, 38 RBI, 35 runs, 29 stolen bases, a .663 on-base percentage and a .530 batting average this season in 24 games. He also drew attention this season from MLB teams for his pitching. Used primarily as the Eagles’ closer, Hope had three saves, 23 strikeouts, a 1-1 record and a 1.25 ERA in 14 innings.

Scan

the QR code to read our profile of Zyhir Hope from the February/March edition of Stafford Magazine.

Crimson Coward Nashville Hot Chicken to open at Embrey Mill

rimson Coward Nashville Hot Chicken has announced it will open its second Virginia location this fall at Embrey Mill Town Center in Stafford County.

Owner Restaurant Management Group-Mid Atlantic opened its first Crimson Coward in Virginia in Woodbridge.

Every Crimson Coward Nashville Hot Chicken offers hand cut, marinated chicken meals and homemade side dishes and has an open kitchen design.

The Stafford and Woodbridge locations are just the beginning of the restaurant’s expansion plans, according to a news release. Crimson Coward will open 25 total locations in Virginia and more than 200 locations by 2027 across the country.

“Our goal is to create a positive and inclusive space where individuals can develop their skills, enhance their fitness and gain the confidence to overcome challenges both on and off the mats,” said owner Martin Thomas, an active-duty Marine.

Process Over Prize Academy offers a range of Jiu-jitsu programs for all ages and skill levels.

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tafford County Public Schools have made minor adjustments in the start time for elementary and middle school students beginning with the start of the 2023-2024 school year in August. There is no change to the high school schedule.

The new times are as follows:

• High schools and Rockhill Elementary School: 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m.• Elementary schools: 8:25 a.m.-2:55 p.m.

The grand opening event included meet-and-greets with academy instructors, trial classes and activities showcasing Jiu-jitsu.• Middle schools: 9:20 a.m.-3:50 p.m. The adjustment allows for increased transportation efficiency and support of middle school extracurricular activities and also assists with teacher recruitment and retention, according to a news release. The change comes after a School Board-directed study of school bus route efficiency.

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The RF&P and Stafford’s railroading past

BY DAVID S. KERR

When it comes to rail in Stafford, we think of the Virginia Railway Express and some limited Amtrak service.

However, long before these more modern services, when Stafford’s population was just a fraction of what it is now, the RF&P was the local railroad. The company, whose full name was the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad – or, as it was known to its regular patrons, “the run fast and push” – provided extensive local train service.

The RF&P made most of its money by being a trunk line. In other words, other rail service providers paid a fee for using the company’s rails. However, for much of its existence, the RF&P ran passenger lines between Richmond and Washington, along with extensive local services.

RF&P trains stopped at six stations in Stafford. At various times, some of these were regular stops and other times request stops. They included Dahlgren Junction in Falmouth, Waller, Daffan, Brooke Station, Arkendale and Widewater. Most of these names are now lost to history. But, in their day, they were the hub of our local transport system. Along with the heavy rail

service between Richmond and Washington, an extensive gasolinepowered rail coach service served the local markets. These were single railcars with an operator and a conductor that ran both in the Richmond area and the Fredericksburg region. I remember talking to one old time Stafford resident who rode a gas-powered RF&P train car to and from school in Fredericksburg each day.

Several of the Stafford stations were surprisingly busy. At one time, the Widewater Station was a full-service station complete with a station master. Before air-conditioning, visitors from the Washington and Richmond areas considered a day in Widewater a welcome break from the summertime heat.

During World War II, when gas was rationed, this respite from wartime Washington became even more popular. For years after the war it was also a destination for hunters who took advantage of the area’s rich game population.

RF&P service in Stafford, in one variation or another, lasted well over a century, but it just couldn’t compete with the automobile. In 1923 the state began extensive improvements to Jefferson Davis Highway, and in 1925 the road was officially designated Route 1.

Almost immediately, the RF&P began losing ridership as its former passengers decided to drive instead. The rail line did its best to hang on to riders and held its own until well after World War II. But, by the early 1950’s the RF&P was forced to curtail its service. All its stations became “flag stops.” Other than Quantico and Fredericksburg, there were no more station masters.

In 1957 the RF&P, facing the stark realities of declining ridership, reluctantly ended local passenger rail service. In 1991 its rail lines were sold to CSX Corp. After 155 years of operation, the company, and the stations, passed into history.

However, while the RF&P

and our myriad of local stops have become icons of the past, the Virginia Railway Express carries more passengers than the old RF&P could have imagined –even with the drop in ridership following the pandemic.

Still, there are times when I am waiting for the train at Brooke or exploring in Widewater that I imagine what it would have been like to wait for an RF&P train in a bygone era – a time when there were station masters, mail stops, express service and, yes, my favorite, steam locomotives.

That era may be long gone, but sometimes, if I close my eyes and I can hear the rattle of the train in the distance, I find it not hard to imagine that long-ago steam whistle, followed by that still familiar call, “All aboard!”

David Kerr is a Stafford resident and an adjunct professor of political science at VCU. He worked on Capitol Hill and for various federal agencies for many years.