Stafford Magazine | February/March 2023

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GERMANNA HAS BIG PLANS FOR STAFFORD

MEET COLONIAL FORGE’S MLB DRAFT PROSPECT

LOCAL GROUP HELPS HOMELESS CATS

POTOMAC KING OF THE

Veteran finds his calling fishing Stafford’s waters

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CONTRIBUTORS

Eric Althoff

Tracy Bell

David S. Kerr

Tavan Smith

Doug Stroud

PUBLISHED

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Carina Richard-Wheat cwheat@insidenova.com

A Big Boost for Germanna

Stafford expansion proceeds thanks to major donations

BY TRACY BELL

It was never unusual to see James Clapper, former director of national intelligence under President Barack Obama, chatting with students at Germanna Community College, where he’s an occasional lecturer.

Now, a cybersecurity center at Germanna will be named for him.

The James R. Clapper Center for Cybersecurity will be in the college’s Barbara J. Fried Center, which is moving from its current site on Old Potomac Church Road to two buildings the college has purchased on

Center Street in Stafford.

Clapper said he is “of course, honored, touched and humbled by this wonderful distinction — very proud.”

A $750,000 donation to Germanna, presented last fall from the Stafford Economic Development Authority, is expected to go a long way toward expanding the college’s presence in Stafford, as well as help to boost its growing IT, cybersecurity and nursing programs.

“It is absolutely crucial to attract IT-smart young people to the field of cybersecurity,” Clapper said. “The nation has literally millions of positions requiring cybersecurity skills and

expertise. And, it is especially vital to fill those critical positions in the government, where the nation’s safety and security are at stake. It’s hard to overstate the importance.”

Germanna welcomed 3,191 Staffordbased students this school year, with projected growth to 3,693 Stafford students by 2025. That’s not counting its non-credit workforce training students.

The donation will help Germanna establish a permanent site at the two new buildings along Center Street, including a $15 million Center of Educational Excellence at 25 Center St., with classes planned to begin by the fall of 2024. That building will also house the Kevin L. Dillard Health Sciences Center, devoted to nursing and allied health technology programs. The other new building, at 10 Center St., will, along with cybersecurity, house IT and dualenrollment programs.

The Stafford location will technically be a site in 2024, though campus status will come later, said Mike Zitz, Germanna’s special assistant to the president for media and communications.

The EDA’s donation is part of a total of $4.5 million in major donor gifts that made Germanna’s expansion possible, said Jack Rowley, president of the GCC Educational Foundation’s real estate foundation, touting the success of public-private partnerships. In addition, Virginia’s U.S. senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, visited the Stafford campus in late January to present a $900,000 check from the federal government to support the cybersecurity program.

Rowley said that Stafford has the largest population in Germanna’s service area. The Fried Center and Dillard Health Sciences Center, together at more than 74,000 square feet, will meet Germanna’s space

Left: James Clapper, former director of national intelligence, speaks at a Germanna event. The community college’s new cybersecurity center in Stafford is named after him. Top: One of two buildings on Center Street that Germanna has purchased for its Stafford expansion.

requirements in Stafford for years to come, he said. Modifications to the two buildings, designed by Fredericksburg architect John Burger, are expected to begin in March.

In 2018, Germanna leased an 18,921-square-foot building in Stafford that more than tripled the space available from the 5,000-square-foot Germanna center opened at Aquia in 2009.

Today’s new facilities will more than triple the current space – and Germanna will continue to offer classes at the Fried Center near Stafford Hospital until the Center Street site opens.

“With Germanna’s focus on allied health service and cybersecurity, students will be prepared for skills-gap careers in health care and government,” Rowley noted, referring to the mismatch often seen between actual and necessary candidate skills within certain careers.

Germanna President Janet Gullickson said that nearly 80% of Germanna graduates remain in the area.

The college’s cybersecurity interns are in great demand, especially from Stafford-based defense contractors, and the FBI and Marine Corps Base Quantico are also nearby.

As for nursing, Gullickson said Germanna has committed to doubling its nursing graduates over the next three years – from 200 a year to 400 – due to a critical shortage of health professionals.

While nurse shortages in Germanna’s service area are generally the same as those nationwide, the local shortages may increase when a 450,000-square-foot Veterans Administration clinic opens in late 2023 or early 2024.

A new community wellness center will be part of the college’s transformation, Gullickson said, with diabetes checks, blood pressure tests and dental exams planned.

Patti Lisk, Germanna’s dean of nursing, said the expansion will be a shot in the arm to the nursing and health sciences program because applicants from Stafford, who make up the bulk of the 1,000 applying each year, won’t have to travel to the Locust Grove campus for classes, she said.

Eileen Dohmann, senior vice president and chief nursing officer for Mary Washington Healthcare, said both Stafford Hospital and Mary Washington Hospital will benefit from the new site and more nursing and health-sciences graduates.

GET TO KNOW JAMES CLAPPER

KNOWN FOR: Serving as director of national intelligence under President Barack Obama

AGE: 81

RESIDES:

In Fairfax since he retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1995 as a lieutenant general

AUTHOR: His latest book (2018) - “Facts and Fears: Hard Truths from a Life in Intelligence”

LECTURES:

At various colleges and universities including Notre Dame; has a formal connection to Harvard, where he is entering emeritus status; locally at Germanna Community College.

STUDENTS USUALLY WANT TO KNOW:

The “Inside Baseball” on what it’s like to brief a president, what “really” happened during history-making world events like the Osama bin Laden takedown; why he became an intelligence officer and who influenced his career; the scoop on his visit to North Korea nearly a decade ago; and details about his books.

Stafford EDA Chairman Joel Griffin said that the foresight necessary for Germanna’s expansion was in place years ago and is now coming to fruition. He specifically credited Rowley along with Don Newlin, who has served the EDA for more than 40 years. The nursing and cybersecurity programs at Germanna are first class, not just in the region but in the nation, Griffin said.

“These are jobs that support our national security,” he said of cybersecurity. “And I think COVID has brought to the forefront nurses and what they do every single day.”

Bruce Davis, executive director of Germanna’s Educational Foundation and special assistant to Germanna’s president for institutional advancement, said that the effect of the expansion is far-reaching.

“This is the single biggest transaction and project ever undertaken by the foundation,” Davis said, “and will benefit the college and thousands of students over many years.”

Tracy Bell is a freelancer who lives in Stafford County.

For more information on Germanna Community College, visit germanna.edu.

grammar/spelling bad?

ADVICE ON CAREERS IN CYBERSECURITY:

“Acquire as many technical certifications as possible – that’s a real plus for an institution that offers an associate degree, like Germanna; computer skills, software experience; an understanding of cybersecurity vulnerabilities and how to address them.” A college degree is always good to have for professional advancement, he added, but the certifications are huge.

COMPUTER SECURITY TIPS:

Recognize phishing attacks. Is the wording inappropriate, or the

Be careful about opening attachments that are in suspicious emails. “People still fall for fairly simple techniques that hackers use – even after all these years.”

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE:

Served for 6½ years and wonders if he stayed too long; first declined the role due to his age; “But, when the President says, ‘I need you to do this job,’ it is pretty hard to turn it down.”

GOOD TIMES AND BAD:

A true honor, but highpressure, stressful and tiring, with some bad days –“most notably when I drew the short straw to inform [Obama] about Edward Snowden. That was not a good day for me.”

James Clapper poses with some Germanna students during a recent event.

Friend to Felines

Local organization works to help homeless cats

BY TRACY BELL PHOTOS BY TAVAN SMITH

For 22 years, cat rescuer Cari Bartz has been a guardian angel for local homeless felines. It all started two decades ago when she spotted a group of white kittens frolicking behind Burger King near Spotsylvania Mall. That led to her penchant for rescuing cats.

In 2005, Bartz and her then-husband, Vern, founded the nonprofit Shadow Cat Advocates to help feral cats. The longtime Stafford residents focused on Stafford, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania, although Cari Bartz later moved to Spotsylvania and kept the nonprofit going.

Shadow Cat Advocates’ goal is to trap feral cats, neuter or spay them and then find them homes.

The organization often showcases its adoptable cats at Petco on Route 610 in North Stafford.

Bartz said she recently contemplated retiring from cat rescuing, but decided against it.

“I’ve got to scale down, but it’s hard to quit totally,” she said about helping cats. “Once I see them it’s hard to walk away. You don’t get them off your mind.”

It’s not that Bartz has stopped loving cats, but her mission as of late has been a struggle.

Citing health and financial challenges, Bartz

Cari Bartz feeds some of the cats she has rescued.

said she’s short on the help and resources needed to address the overwhelming and heartbreaking conditions she finds when rescuing cats. Shadow Cat Advocates has no paid staff and relies on donations and occasional grants.

Over the years, the nonprofit has been a community resource, rescuing cats, loaning traps, educating and providing guidance about feral and stray cats and cat colonies.

Trap-neuter-release, or TNR, the heart of Bartz’s work, helps prevent feral colonies of cats from continuing to populate. It’s also sometimes known as trap-neuter, rehabilitate, release (TNRR).

Property at her home, which she calls “the sanctuary,” includes a barn and multiple outdoor enclosures for rescued cats – though they come in at night to avoid being prey for local wildlife. She is trying to raise money for another enclosure, which will cost $600.

Bartz’s own cats are 15 to 20 years old, and there isn’t a big line between those and her rescue cats.

“They’re all mine really,” she said. “I go through 16 pounds of cat food a day,” though years back, it was four times more.

Not all of the rescued cats live with her. Many shelter temporarily with volunteer foster families, where they are socialized and cared for until some can be found permanent homes.

Bartz said that sometimes she wishes she didn’t care so much.

On a recent mission to rescue a kitten in south Stafford, she found 100 more cats living in a colony. Just recently and locally, Bartz has witnessed sick kittens left in the woods; a cat colony near a convenience store, with rat poison scattered on the ground; and a homeless man living with a feral cat in a drainage sewer.

“I

through 16 pounds

cat food a day”

•

HOW TO HELP

VOLUNTEER to help, foster a cat or sponsor a medically-needy cat: Email info@shadowcatadvocates.org.

•

DONATE MONEY by mailing checks to Shadow Cat Advocates, P.O. Box 514, Garrisonville, VA 22463, or online through PayPal using info@ShadowCatAdvocates.org.

•

•

•

DONATE CAT FOOD OR LITTER by shipping it through Chewy or Walmart to Shadow Cat Advocates, 9901 Hidden Creek Lane, Spotsylvania, VA 22551, or purchase and leave at Petco in North Stafford for the group to pick up.

ADOPT A CAT by searching PetFinder. com for Shadow Cat Advocate pets or visiting shadowcatadvocates. org or Facebook. com/Shadow Cat Advocates.

Bartz works on both small and large cat-trapping projects, targeting one local area and moving onto another. She recently worked off U.S. 17 in south Stafford, discovering rampant cat colonies.

People aren’t always cooperative either, Bartz said, explaining the trouble she had at one apartment complex riddled with feral cats. In that case, she wasn’t particularly welcome and neither were the cats.

“We need volunteers and donations desperately,” Bartz said. “If we could get monetary donations or cat food, that would be wonderful.”

Shadow Cat Advocates volunteers are needed to foster cats, transport cats to and from veterinarian appointments, care for displayed cats at Petco in North Stafford, feed feral colonies, help run adoption events and fundraisers and assist in trapping cats.

Cats are trapped, spayed or neutered and eartipped to show that they’ve been through the process. So, if rescuers see a cat with one ear tipping downward, it’s typically a sign that it has been spayed or neutered.

Bartz has male cats neutered for $40 and females for $50, so finding a lot of cats at once can add up, and the funding isn’t always there. Cat food to feed the cat colonies during spay-neuter projects also puts a big dent in the nonprofit’s budget, along with building shelters near feral colonies or where needed, and insulating them from the cold.

Injured or unhealthy cats receive further veterinarian care as needed; for instance, some may have infections or need surgeries, Bartz said. If deemed adoptable, some cats head to foster homes for care and socialization after a veterinarian sees them, provides necessary shots and a microchip.

The cats also receive other care for fleas or any

other conditions before they’re ready to be adopted. Anyone interested in adopting a cat from the organization can browse photos online, apply to adopt and, if approved, set up a cat meet-and-greet. But not all cats are so lucky. Homeless cats face

an uphill battle due to overpopulation and a lack of spaying and neutering, with breeders playing a part.

One unspayed female cat and her litter can lead to 370,000 kittens in seven years, according to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Only a small fraction of homeless animals make it to animal shelters, and instead live outdoors. Some end up at shelters, avoid euthanasia and are luckily adopted.

But millions of others live stray or feral, and often succumb to the elements – freezing, starving, suffering health problems they receive no treatment for, attacked by other animals or hit by cars. Bartz said that other cat rescues in the area address the problem, too, like Purrs & Whiskers and Meow Stories. Each group has its own niche, but the problem remains widespread.

About 73 million cats are feral or unowned in the United States alone, according to the ASPCA. A Shadow Cat Advocates social media post summed up the issue. It pictured a cat next to the following words: “The answer is not to pretend we are not here. The answer is to educate, feed, shelter, trap, neuter, return and manage. The answer is simple really. It’s called compassion.”

Tracy Bell is a freelancer who lives in Stafford County.

king

of the

lunker or two. “Cold weather is when the big fish bite. … They gotta feed harder than all summer [when] they’re laying on the bottom with their mouths open waiting for the crabs to walk in.”

Veteran finds his calling fishing

Stafford’s waters

BY ERIC ALTHOFF PHOTOS BY DOUG STROUD

Much like Chief Brody in “Jaws” and his sharkhunting trio, Anthony Cubbage quite literally needed a bigger boat. After all, the proprietor of Atomic Fishing Charters could “comfortably” fit only three fishermen on his 2015 Excel 1860 VSC, a flatbottom, side console 18-foot boat.

“And you had to be pretty chummy,” Cubbage said of his former vessel, erupting into a hearty laugh.

Now pushing off the docks at Aquia Harbour on a larger Excel Bay Pro 230, Cubbage can hit the fishing waters of the Potomac with up to seven passengers. He also is available for excursions on Lake Anna, Mattawoman Creek and the Rappahannock – pretty much anywhere the gaping mouths of our local aquatic life are biting.

“I’ll fish as long as the water’s wet,” Cubbage said, adding that he’s available for hire even during the winter, which can actually be beneficial for hauling up a

He added that guests on his boats have hauled in 70-pound catfish during those chilly months.

Cubbage’s excursions include bow-andarrow angling for those seeking a new kind of water-based challenge. For that highadrenaline quest, guests first test their aim on inanimate targets in the water before moving on to live snakeheads nipping at the surface.

“And then once we pull up the targets and start fishing, they forget what they were doing,” Cubbage said of his crash course. “With the bowfishing, every snakehead that is shot is cleaned and goes home with the customer. Or, if they don’t want it, I’ll make fish tacos out of it.’

With his angling spirit at the ready, Cubbage takes passengers for partial or full-day fishing trips, where, with a little bit of luck and the required patience, they might pull in snakehead, catfish, gar, carp and goldfish – all of which are considered invasive to the Potomac watershed. The goldfish especially are problematic given

potomac

they used to be dumped into the river as baitfish; Cubbage says he regularly sees 3-pounders yanked out of the Potomac.

From the Air to the Water

It’s all in a day’s work for this retired airman, who grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and learned to fish alongside his grandfather in Missouri’s Ozarks. He joined the U.S. Air Force at age 17 and met his wife, Amanda Crisman, a fellow airman who happened to be from Virginia. Cubbage medically retired from the service in 2016, and then followed Amanda to her various military postings.

During their time living in Tucson, Ariz., Cubbage experienced a self-described identity crisis.

“I was no longer the outdoorsman that I was in the Midwest. When I rolled on base, I wasn’t recognized as retired Sgt. Cubbage. I was pretty well lost,” he said. “I had no idea what I was going to do with my life. Depression-wise, it was pretty awful.”

Shortly before being ordered to Arizona, Cubbage and Amanda were based in Missouri, where he had spent so much of his young life fishing with his granddad. While there, Cubbage worked for the Missouri Department of Conservation as project coordinator for outreach and education. He was also a supplemental worker for the state’s wildlife and fisheries division, which got him back on the water.

Even after Amanda was transferred to Arizona, Cubbage returned frequently to Missouri to fish and duck-hunt. He seemed to be happiest whenever on or near the water.

Amanda was eventually relocated from Arizona to the Pentagon, and the couple settled in Stafford in 2019.

“It has that rural feeling that I prefer,” Cubbage said of the couple’s new home in Virginia. But he added, in his good-natured way, “Unless it’s 2 in the afternoon and you’re driving on [Route] 610. For some odd reason the whole state is there.”

Started as a Volunteer

Cubbage soon found a way to marry his love of fishing and the outdoors with his status as a veteran by volunteering with Fallen Outdoors, an organization that provides outdoor excursions for military

veterans. Cubbage took veterans on fishing trips several times a month, shouldering the cost out of his own pocket.

“I didn’t have a job. I was just in love with taking people fishing and getting to be outdoorsy again,” he said.

But something unmistakable had clicked with his guests, who kept telling Cubbage he should be paid for his efforts. Among those who said so was Morinda Williams, who met Cubbage through her husband’s veterans organization.

“I was so excited to learn that he was starting his own business,” Williams recalled,

“and remember seeing his impressive setup in his garage as he prepared to launch Atomic Fishing Charters.”

Cubbage admits he didn’t know the first thing about starting a business, but if he was going to make the leap, he first needed to obtain his captain’s license. He even attended a pitch session in Salt Lake City for new businesses in the model of “Shark Tank,” walking away with a $2,000 consolation prize.

With his captain’s license and some money in hand, Cubbage was ready. However, he relates that the Veterans

Administration told him what he did was “a hobby,” so he sought help elsewhere. Eventually he connected with Warrior Rising, a group that was able to parse all of that complicated business-speak and nurture Cubbage in such concepts as amortization.

Jason Van Camp, a Virginia native and West Point graduate who serves on Warrior Rising’s board of directors, said Cubbage is one of the group’s favorite “vetrepreneurs.”

“His confident vulnerability and authentic humility make him stand out,” Van Camp said. “He continues to find solutions to problems and is determined to succeed in business no matter what.”

That includes the COVID-19 pandemic, which began just as Cubbage was getting Atomic Fishing Charters up and rolling. The application process for his business license, which would normally have taken only weeks, took six months. Nonetheless, he laughed it off and pressed on, with more

captain’s top-notch gear, knowledge and professionalism.

“When I went fishing with him, I was amazed how organized and clean and efficient the operation ran,” Stauch said, adding he has seen firsthand how personable Cubbage is with his clients. “He takes a lot of pride in what he does in his craft – and it shows.”

Customers can book year-round for a “half” day trip of five hours or a longer 10hour excursion. Cubbage even provides the rods and reels.

“I decided to take some girlfriends out on our first bowfishing experience, and Anthony was the perfect captain for this trip,” Williams said. Cubbage began the voyage with a fishing lesson and practice casts before heading to fishing waters.

“I believe that the success of a bow fisher relies heavily on the guide,” Williams said. “He was able to teach us what we needed to be successful, and we were.”

and more veterans soon setting sail with him for fishing spots on the Potomac.

Business became so good that the recently minted captain required that bigger boat to handle both demand and some hefty Potomac waves. On the larger Excel Bay Pro 230, Cubbage now embarks for the fishing grounds with veterans and nonveterans alike. And, by his own admission, he has no issue staying on the water long past the allotted time.

“I have a really bad habit of saying, ‘Are you guys having fun? Let’s keep going, I won’t charge extra,’” he said, again chuckling amiably.

A Solid Reputation

Unsurprisingly, given his rather upbeat nature, Cubbage has endeared himself to other riverboat anglers. Travis Stauch, who runs RamRod Bowfishing out of Woodbridge, praised his fellow

Cubbage says booking has been solid for the winter, and he will reopen for bowand-arrow fishing come the spring. Atomic will soon offer outings to fish for Spanish mackerel near Reedville, and it’s not too soon to inquire about July 4 fireworks cruises.

“There’s only one ‘Cubby,’” Stauch said, adding that Atomic’s customers can look forward to returning with up to 200 pounds of fish. “You can’t go wrong with all of his stories and his friendly banter.”

They say if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. After some time lost in the woods – er, waters –Cubbage has indeed found his calling.

“I’m excited to be in Stafford and getting to do what I love to do here on a fishery that does everything I love it to do,” he said. “Basically I’m just Mr. Good Time on the river.”

Eric Althoff is a freelance writer who lives in Stafford.

For more information or booking inquiries visit AtomicFishingCharters.com

The Gift of Gab

Stafford teen advances to regional oratorical contest

BY TRACY BELL

a deeper knowledge and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution among high school students. It teaches leadership, to think and speak clearly, the history of the nation’s laws and an understanding of the responsibilities of American citizenship, according to the organization.

Erin Fox, chair for the American Legion’s oratorical contests at local Post 290 and District 16 – which includes Stafford, Prince William, Culpeper, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William and Rappahannock counties – said the American Legion prides itself in reaching out to the community to teach patriotism and an understanding of government.

Young people may have read the U.S. Constitution, she said, but it’s important they understand it.

“The contests have become a way for them to engage and understand the world around them,” Fox said, and the speeches are an effective way to show what they know.

considering the time limit.”

Hatzis, a member of Boy Scout Troop 317, also just completed his Eagle Scout project – a raised garden for SERVE in Stafford County. The garden will help SERVE educate those who visit its food bank on how to grow fresh fruits and vegetables, Hatzis said.

He was appreciative of the American Legion, thanking the organization for its generous support.

“They have provided invaluable training during this process,” Hatzis said. “I encourage all civic-minded students to consider competing.”

The pressure of public speaking and fast thinking could easily be intimidating, especially for shy personalities or the illprepared. Hatzis acknowledged that he gets nervous competing, but noted that even if he gets his speech out of order, “the audience can’t tell unless I make it obvious.”

The January district contest was three days before the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, with King’s iconic speech, “I Have a Dream,” long inspiring oratorical contests.

The regional American Legion winner will advance to the state competition in Portsmouth on March 3. Then, one state competitor from Virginia will earn $2,000 for participating in the first round of the national competition.

Pretend you’re a teenager.

Now, let’s discuss the United States Constitution. You should not only understand its articles, but also be able to prepare and deliver an eightto 10-minute speech about it in front of a crowd as part of a competition. You’ll emphasize a citizen’s duties and obligations to the country’s government – oh, and once on stage, you can’t use any notes.

There’s a think-on-your-feet portion, too, where you’ll have five minutes to ponder an assigned topic related to the Constitution and three to five minutes to show what you know. For some people, adults included, that would be a long 15 or 20 minutes. But Mountain View High School senior John Hatzis succeeded in all of that.

The 17-year-old Rock Hill District resident prevailed over four other

competitors in an oratorical contest at Stafford’s American Legion Post 290 in December. Then on Jan. 14, he prepared and presented his speech to judges for the district competition, though no one was challenging him.

The American Legion held the ceremony just the same.

Now, Hatzis will move on to the regional American Legion oratorical competition Feb. 25 at Stafford Post 290.

“The easiest part is being passionate about what you are speaking about, as the American Legion lets you be in the driver’s seat for the topic,” Hatzis said. “The hardest part is the assigned topic, as you have no idea what it will be, have little time to prepare and must speak from memory.”

The American Legion Oratorical Contest, held since 1938, seeks to develop

“These kids deliver them with zero notes, no prompts,” said Fox, noting that this was the second year Hatzis competed. The contest was certainly in his wheelhouse, considering his extracurricular interests at Mountain View, including his role as captain of the debate team, lead actor in the high school musical and member of honors band and chorus.

Hatzis is the son of Anthony and Kai Hatzis of Stafford, where they’ve lived since he was in kindergarten.

He earned $900 in scholarship money for winning the local Post 290 competition and received another $500 for the district contest.

“I love scripts, and can easily commit them to memory – part of the reason I enjoy theater and debate – which has been especially helpful in this competition,” Hatzis said. “I am not as good at thinking quickly on my feet. I take some time to think before I speak, obviously not ideal

The national winner receives $25,000; second place is $22,500 and third place is $20,000.

Along with the oratorical contests, the American Legion has other programs geared toward young people, Fox said, including an American flag program for elementaryschool students, and Boys and Girls State, where students travel to Radford University to learn about all things government.

As for Hatzis, he plans to study liberal arts in college, with a focus on law and policy. He hasn’t decided on scholarships yet, but is racking up offers from some of his top college picks.

Tracy Bell is a freelancer who lives in Stafford County.

For more information on the American Legion, including videos of the oratorical contest, visit legion.org and staffordpost290.org.

John Hatzis after winning the American Legion’s district oratorical competition in January with his parents, Anthony and Kai Hatzis, and James Grenier (District Commander).

Everlasting Hope

Colonial Forge baseball star and MLB draft prospect loves to lift people’s spirits

BY DAVID FAWCETT

Zyhir Hope is under strict orders from his mother, Tiffany: No goofy grins.

Tiffany instituted the mandate after Hope intentionally closed his eyes on a whim for pictures over the summer and stretched his smile as vertical or horizontal as possible.

Those poses were for fun, but this time is different. Hope is having his photo taken for a local publication and Tiffany takes no chances.

So on this early December afternoon, the 18-year-old senior respects his mother’s wishes as he walks inside Colonial Forge High School’s baseball locker room. Whether standing against a wall or sitting on a bench and holding a bat, Hope keeps his smile in check. Nothing is enhanced.

But as he settles in, it’s clear Hope still struggles to contain himself.  It’s who he is, a bundle of energy who loves to make others laugh and feel good about themselves.

“He’s so endearing,” said Colonial Forge head baseball coach David Colangelo. “He’s open to everybody. It’s his personality. He loves talking to people. It’s infectious.”

Keeping the goofy grin under wraps, Hope finds other ways to express his enthusiasm. He compliments the locker room’s interior, acting as though it’s brand new, even though it opened in 2019. He notices a plastic cup of iced tea on a shelf and asks the person next to him if he wants a drink. Then he stops, remembering the iced tea has been there since last season.

On it goes, Hope’s mood exuding brightness no matter the topic.

Transitioning to Colonial Forge as

a first-year student and late enrollee in the fall of 2021. Developing into a major Division I college prospect who signed with powerhouse North Carolina in November.

Dealing with droves of Major League Baseball scouts as the possibility of turning pro out of high school beckons. Baseball. School. Life. Family. Friends.

Faith. All of it easily flows together for Hope. The only time he stumbles is when he’s asked what a bad day looks like to him. He pauses for a moment before answering. He wants to think about this one. Then comes his reply.

“Knowing I could have made the world a better place,” Hope said. “Even a little bit.”

LEVEL-HEADED

If Hope has a bad day, he hides it well, especially on the baseball field.

Last March, in Colonial Forge’s 2022 season opener against Woodbridge, Hope struck out three straight times after hitting

a double in his first at-bat. Watching this unfold, a Mount St. Mary’s University assistant baseball coach assured Colangelo afterward he liked how Hope reacted to struggling at the plate. In the face of failure, Hope stayed composed.

Hope did the same thing last fall against Forest Park. Questioning whether Hope was worthy of playing at North Carolina, students from the opposing team heckled him as he kept fouling the ball off. Hope then hit a triple and silenced the fans without saying a word.

“He heard [the heckles],” Colangelo said. “He just nodded after the triple. That was his tactful way of handling it.”

Hope passed perhaps his biggest test last spring when Mike Covington came to see him play. Covington, a no-nonsense coach who won 469 games in 28 seasons at Potomac High School in Prince William County before retiring after the 2021

season, does not suffer fools lightly.

Upon Colangelo’s recommendation, Covington attended Colonial Forge’s May 3 game against Mountain View to see whether Hope was a legitimate candidate for Covington’s team at the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

With a discerning eye, Covington is particular about who he takes to the competitive event. Certainly talent factors in. But so does attitude. Do they have the maturity to compete at that level?

That day against Mountain View, Hope showcased his abilities, hitting a double and a home run in the 10-1 victory. He also pitched as Colonial Forge’s closer, striking out six over the final two innings and allowing no hits or runs. He did so well that a scout in attendance let Covington know Hope unknowingly threw back-to-back fastballs that cut a different way each time, with one hitting 89 mph and the other 91.

Dave Fawcett

Entering his senior season at Colonial Forge, Zyhir Hope has drawn the attention of Major League Baseball scouts and has signed with the University of North Carolina.

Clearly, Hope had a feel for the game. It was raw, but filled with potential. The same principle applied to him as a hitter. The ball blasted off the bat so fast with a flick of his wrists.

“Everything for him is effortless,” Covington said.

How Hope conducted himself also caught Covington’s eye. His efforts were less about himself and more about others. For example, without prompting, he picked up bats in the on-deck circle and took them back to the dugout. He also greeted teammates with a constant outpouring of support.

Colangelo was right. Hope was ready for the Commonwealth Games, and he ended up helping the North team win its fifth straight gold medal.

“There were a lot of good things to like,” Covington said of Hope.

RIGHT ON TIME

When Hope arrived at Colonial Forge Aug. 31, 2021, he planned to ease in without drawing attention to himself.

A junior at the time, Hope had spent his freshman and sophomore years at Mount Vernon High School. But Hope’s stepfather, Joshua, retired from the Navy after living at Fort Belvoir in Fairfax County, and the family moved south in search of more affordable housing.

Hope started at Colonial Forge a month late because his mother mistakenly thought Stafford students began the school year the same time those in Fairfax did. The family also was closing on their house.

With all the last-second changes, Hope knew no one at Colonial Forge and expected no one to know him.

But during a math class Hope’s first day, a teacher said Hope’s name during roll call and something clicked for Ethan

Renshaw.  A Colonial Forge baseball player, Renshaw asked Hope if he was the same kid who clobbered a home run that made the rounds on Twitter?

Hope humbly confirmed he was that person, confused how one play during the summer between his sophomore and junior year from a travel ball game could still resonate with others. But staying true to himself, he had no desire to announce his presence, even to Colangelo.

Instead, Colangelo first learned Hope was at Colonial Forge after Prep Baseball Report, a high school scouting service, kept tagging him in reports about Hope. At first, Colangelo figured it was a mistake.

But to be safe, Colangelo, who does not teach at the school, asked his son, Zach, to see if in fact Hope was enrolled at Colonial Forge. Zach validated Hope’s arrival. Then on Hope’s first at-bat during an intrasquad scrimmage, Hope validated his talent by hitting a home run.

“Oh, OK,” Colangelo remembers telling himself. “He’s pretty good.”

As word quickly spread about Hope, Colangelo constantly found himself answering the same questions from other teams’ players, all wondering the same thing: Who is this Zyhir Hope they keep hearing about?

Hope didn’t disappoint. He finished his junior season hitting .418 with 20 stolen bases and a school-record 15 doubles, while going 3-1 with 50 strikeouts and four saves in 23.2 innings on the mound. He also teamed with Zach Colangelo to form a potent one-two punch at the top of the batting order, aptly dubbed ZZ Top in honor of the rock band. The Eagles went 18-6 before losing to Battlefield 5-4 in eight innings in the Class 6, Region B quarterfinals.

“It’s fun,” said Zach, a Longwood signee and .405 hitter last spring with a schoolrecord 24 stolen bases. “I get on base and he hits me in. Anything can happen. We help each other out.”

BRIGHT FUTURE

Near the end of 2022, Major League Baseball scouts began streaming through the Hope home as they started doing due diligence on prospects in preparation for the July draft.

The conversations were informal. The scouts got to know Hope better and vice versa. Things picked up early this year as Hope attended at least two pro days in front of scouts before high school baseball practice begins Feb. 20. Colonial Forge opens its regular season March 13 at Woodbridge. Baseball experts such as Colangelo and Covington fervently believe Hope has what scouts like in pro prospects. At 6-feet tall and 202 pounds, Hope melds power with speed, running a 6.55 60-yard dash and recording 105 mph exit velocity off the bat. And although he does everything else righthanded, he has the rare benefit of throwing and hitting left-handed.

A year ago, Hope was still a relative unknown to Division I programs. But he evolved into a prospect who eventually drew attention from Power 5 schools, including North Carolina. He committed to the Tar Heels Sept. 4 and is a member of a 2023 recruiting class ranked No. 9 in the country by Baseball America.

“He’s a five-tool athlete,” Colangelo said. “He has speed and arm strength and power.”

At this point, Hope remains noncommittal about his pro baseball plans. A lot will depend on what round he’s selected in and whether the associated bonus money would be enough to forgo college. He has an advisor named Jake Rosner of Octagon. In talking about the process, Hope only says a few scouts have come through initially. Even though it’s certainly more, Hope would rather downplay it. It’s his nature to remain ego-less.

Instead, he looks forward to one more high school season with his teammates and finding ways to contribute with his personality and ability. That’s his nature as well.

“I respect it, but I don’t want to make it as big as it sounds,” Hope said in reference to the attention he receives. “I’m a regular person and I want to be known as a happy person. I understand people know me for baseball, but I also want to be known outside of baseball.”

David Fawcett is sports editor of InsideNoVa. He can be reached at dfawcett@insidenova.com.

Zyhir Hope (left) with teammate Zach Colangelo at last summer’s Commonwealth Games.

Yeung chosen as first Black chair in county history

Dr. Pamela Yeung, the Garrisonville District representative on the Stafford County Board of Supervisors, was selected by her fellow board members last month to serve as chair for 2023.

Yeung becomes the first Black person voted as chair in Stafford’s history. The vice chair is Tom Coen of the George Washington District.

“I have a background in transformational leadership, and I look forward to using my skills to unite the board and staff in moving forward with shared goals,” Yeung said. “At the end of the day, we are here to serve. I want to ensure we are providing the best levels of service to our residents.”

Yeung began serving on the board last year and was also its vice chairman. Before being elected to the board, she served on the Stafford County School Board and the Stafford County Telecommunications Commission. Coen began serving on the board in 2018 and also served as vice chair in 2020. In addition to Yeung and Coen, other members are Tinesha Allen, Griffis-Widewater District; Meg Bohmke, Falmouth District; Monica Gary, Aquia District; Darrell English, Hartwood District; and Crystal Vanuch, Rock Hill District.

Dr. George Hummer leaves for Frederick County schools

Stafford educator Dr. George Hummer began work Jan. 30 as the new superintendent of Frederick County Public Schools, in the Winchester area of Virginia.

Hummer has been an educator for 18 years, beginning as a special education teacher, athletic director, and coach before taking on the assistant principal role at Rodney E. Thompson Middle School. He then became the school system’s chief student support services officer. In that role, Hummer introduced initiatives that led to student academic performance improvements, narrowed gaps in student access and opportunity, and increased student support services, according to a news release.

“Dr. Hummer has demonstrated a passion for serving students and standardizing practices for students with disabilities,” said Stafford Schools Superintendent Dr. Thomas W. Taylor. “Frederick County is gaining a student-focused leader that will affect incredible change in his new role.”

A New Jersey native and graduate of Chancellor High School, Hummer received Virginia’s Mary Lou Wall Award of Excellence for Early Career Special Education leaders in 2021.

School budget public hearing set

Stafford County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor has presented a proposed fiscal year 2023-2024 operating budget of $416.5 million. The funding request calls for $161 million from Stafford County, an increase of $20 million, which represents a slight increase to 38.66% of the total school system’s budget.

Highlights of the budget include:

• An average pay increase for licensed staff of 8.5%

• An average pay increase for service staff of 7.7%

• A net increase of 59 new full-time (converted from part-time) employees to support the implementation of staffing standards, with particular focus on teachers to support English Language Learners and students with disabilities;

A public hearing on the budget will be held Tuesday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m. in the School Board chambers. The School Board is scheduled to vote on the budget Feb. 28.

New 55+ community opens

Atlantic Builders has announced the opening of its model home at Afton Villas, a new 55+ community.

Located at 10501 Afton Grove Court in Fredericksburg, the Quinn model will be open for tours on Thursdays through Mondays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The community features attached villa homes with prices starting at $399,900 for to-bebuilt homes and quick move-in homes from $429,900. Homes range from 1,900 to 2,650 square feet and include an owner’s suite, kitchen, great room and dining room all on the first floor. The upper level includes a loft area, two additional bedrooms and a full bath, while the basement provides room for storage or extra living space.

A grand opening event will be held Saturday, Feb. 25, from 1-3 p.m.

Stafford Hospital welcomes first 33-week baby to Level II NICU

Stafford Hospital welcomed its first 33-week gestation baby to the newly expanded Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in December.

Halfway through Casey and Brett Perlier’s drive from North Carolina to Pennsylvania to visit family for the holidays, Casey began having contractions at just 33 weeks pregnant. Brett pulled off the interstate when contractions were two minutes apart. After an online search, they found Stafford Hospital nearby.

The clinical team at the hospital tried to stop her labor, but ultimately, Casey needed an emergency C-section, according to a news release. On Dec. 23, Bellamy Scotlyn was born, weighing 4 pounds, 5 ounces. Bellamy was admitted to Stafford Hospital’s newly expanded Level II NICU, where she received advanced specialized care, and is doing well.

Last April, Stafford Hospital expanded its Intermediate Level Nursery to become a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, partnering with Children’s National and Mary Washington Hospital to provide such care to premature infants in the Stafford community and beyond.

Stafford schools join UMW to earn Lab School grant

The University of Mary Washington, in partnership with Stafford County Public Schools, has been awarded a College Partnership Laboratory School (Lab School) Planning Grant from the Virginia Department of Education.

The $200,000 grant will provide the initial funding for stakeholder engagement and planning, hiring an executive director, building organizational capacity and developing the curriculum for the proposed lab school, which will focus on computer and data sciences.

“One of our goals is to provide meaningful postsecondary outcomes for every student, ensuring that each is prepared for life after high school,” said Stafford County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Thomas W. Taylor. “The award of this grant aligns perfectly with the desired outcome for our students.”

Initial ideas for the lab school include locating it in existing space at UMW’s Stafford Campus. As a regional lab school, it would seek to serve students from five school divisions, beginning with grades 9-12.

Future steps may include an implementation grant proposal to follow this spring, with the school anticipated to open in fall 2024, beginning with about 400 students selected via a lottery.

Almost Spring

From Valentine’s Day dances to the first spring festivals, a variety of events are scheduled over the next two months in the Stafford and Fredericksburg area, as well as around Northern Virginia. For complete local event listings, visit insidenova.com/calendar.

JIMMY BUFFET’S “ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE”

Through March 5 (Wednesday matinees, Thursday-Saturday evening shows, Sunday matinees) Riverside Center for the Performing Arts, Fredericksburg riversidedt.com

FAMILY SWEETHEARTS DANCE

Feb. 10, 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Garrisonville Elementary School, Stafford staffordschools.net

FXBG SNOWBALL FIGHT

Feb. 11, 1 to 3 p.m.

FredNats Stadium, 601 Caroline St., Fredericksburg fxbgparks.com

REPTILE EXPO

Feb. 11, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fredericksburg Fairgrounds

2400 Airport Ave., Fredericksburg

SWEETHEART SWING

Feb. 11, 5 to 9:30 p.m.

Fraternal Order of Eagles

21 Cool Springs Road, Fredericksburg

FREDERICKSBURG KID FEST

Feb. 11, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Feb. 12, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center tixr.com and fredericksburgexpocenter.com

KISS MY ASPHALT 5K, 10K AND 1-MILER

Benefits Bobbie’s Pit Bull Rescue & Sanctuary

Feb. 11, 7:30 to 11 a.m.

Old Mill Park, Fredericksburg

LOVE IS FUNNY COMEDY DINNER/JAM

Feb. 11, 7 to 9:30 p.m.

Globe & Laurel Restaurant, Stafford 3987 Richmond Highway

BE MY VALENTINE DESSERT & DANCE

Feb. 12, 6 p.m.

Bella Joy Ballroom

101 Washington Square Plaza, Suite 102A, Fredericksburg

PRESCHOOL PALETTE

Feb. 14, 10 to 11 a.m.

Gari Melchers Home and Studio, Falmouth garimelchers.org

BLOOD DRIVE

Feb. 16, 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. Porter Library, Stafford

Sign up at redcrossblood.org; ages 17+

THE JUDDS IN CONCERT

Feb. 17, 7:30 p.m.

EagleBank Arena, Fairfax ticketmaster.com\

90S ROCK BAND WAKING NAPSTER

Feb. 18, 6 to 9 p.m.

Adventure Brewing Company 33 Perchwood Dr., Suite 101, Stafford

PRINCE WILLIAM PLUNGE

Feb. 18, 11 a.m.

Leesylvania State Park, Woodbridge polarplunge.com

WEDDING EXPO

Feb. 19, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center

fredericksburgexpocenter.com

WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

Feb. 20 • Ferry Farm, Stafford kenmore.org

BLACK HISTORY MONTH FAMILY TRIVIA

Feb. 21, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Rowser Building, Stafford staffordparks.com (Free; pre-registration required)

SPIRITS FESTIVAL

Feb. 25, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fredericksburg Fairgrounds

2400 Airport Ave., Fredericksburg

BOWL FOR KIDS’ SAKE 2023

Feb. 25, 1 to 5 p.m.

AMF Lanes, Fredericksburg allevents.in

KIDS’ CONSIGNMENT SALE

March 3, Noon to 7 p.m.

Prince William Fairgrounds 10624 Dumfries Road, Manassas

PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW TRIP

March 7, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Depart Rowser Building, Stafford staffordparks.com ($125; pre-registration required)

DUELING PIANOS

March 17 and 18, 7:30 p.m. Potomac Point Winery, Stafford potomacpointwinery.com

GRAND SLAM 5K, 1-MILER AND ½-MILER

March 18, 8 a.m.

FredNats Stadium, Fredericksburg runsignup.com

CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL

March 20-April 16, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tidal Basin, Maine Avenue SW, Washington nationalcherryblossomfestival.org

BRICKFAIR LEGO FAN EXPO

March 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and March 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fredericksburg Expo Center brickfair.com

FXGB BREW FEST

April 1, 11 a.m.

Fredericksburg Fairgrounds 2400 Airport Ave., Fredericksburg

SPRING FEVER 5K AND KIDS’ HALF-MILE FUN RUN

April 15, 8 a.m.

Stafford Hospital Medical Pavilion marywashingtonhealthcare.org

Spotlighting people, places and businesses that make our community special.

For more information, please call 703-318-1386 or email cfields@insidenova.com

A new way to help our county schools

has succeeded on a substantial scale. Johnson is a local entrepreneur, a voiceover artist and a former member of the county School Board.

The foundation supports programs that are creative but difficult for the county to fund.

BY DAVID S. KERR

The Stafford Education Foundation isn’t necessarily a part of the Stafford County Public School system. It’s sponsored by the school system and works closely with the schools, but it is in many respects an independent entity.

One of those ways is that the educational foundation relies on funds it generates and the work of volunteers. It’s made up of average citizens, businesspeople, retirees, moms and dads and community activists – all working together to improve and support Stafford public schools.

Stephanie Johnson, president of the Stafford Education Foundation, said the foundation “meets the needs of the schools that aren’t being met or that the schools are unable to meet.” So far, the foundation

An example is the Innovative Teacher Grant. These are small grant requests (sometimes as low as $50) from individual teachers that augment the teaching curriculum. The grants are sometimes directed at a single class, grade or department. The energy to make the grants successful, of course, comes from the teachers and the students.

Another program, still in the conceptual stages, is to help alleviate the county’s teacher shortage by reaching out to veterans who are transitioning from their service careers to civilian careers. The foundation is looking at ways to reach this group and interest them in teaching. Transitioning veterans represent a large group in the Stafford area.

The foundation is also looking at ways to fund “scholarships” to

support the training necessary for new provisionally certified educators to become fully certified teachers.

Also, the foundation has provided matching grants and awards to schools for their anti-bullying initiatives, a major initiative of the county school system. However, these weighty issues aren’t the only concerns of the foundation. When I went to school – a long time ago –buildings were almost always

murals and plans to sponsor more – most, but not all, with a historical theme – which helps to build the school’s identity.

Stafford Schools Superintendent Thomas Taylor has high praise for the foundation. “The Stafford Education Foundation has been an instrumental partner in our progress,” he added.

“Supporting our ‘Chart Your Future’ series, sponsoring the school system’s anti-bullying campaign, teacher innovation

painted a slightly off-green color with as little creativity (or art) as possible.

For years Stafford has been trying to make the color schemes of its schools less monotonous and to add a little art – especially art with a lesson or a message. The education foundation has sponsored several school

grants, leadership development, and the visual and performing arts, we could not provide the high level of service to our community without the SEF.”

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.

WANT TO HELP?

If you’re interested in volunteering for or donating to the foundation, visit thestaffordeducationfoundation.com

“We could not provide the high level of service to our community without the SEF.”

Stephanie Johnson