Stafford Magazine | June/July

Stafford J U N E / J U LY

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MAGAZINE

More Than a Business

INSIDENOVA

Vernon Green Jr. has grown GCubed into a company with a multi-faceted mission

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EXPLORE IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD! Explore the hidden gems that make Stafford County unique. Take in all of the historical attractions, beautiful parks, art exhibits, excellent golf courses, wineries, breweries, and outdoor recreation in one of Virginia’s fastest growing counties. Visit www.TourStaffordVA.com for things to do, itineraries, and escaping to Stafford in your own backyard.

Stafford County Tourism has put together a website featuring Stafford's restaurants, bistros, bakeries, and other food services that are open during these challenging times. Check out the interactive map of where to eat on www.ToGoStafford.com. Many restaurants and businesses are offering additional services such as take-out, delivery, or both.

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F R O M T H E E D I TO R

I

f you asked my 17-year-old son about the pandemic, he’d probably note, with little amusement, that he’s seeing his dad a lot more.

For many of us, COVID-19 has completely reshaped how we work and where we work.

For others, the pandemic has made the same job they’ve quietly been doing for years or decades more important than ever.

On Garrisonville Road, a sign outside the post office lets passersby know who works there: heroes.

The same can be said for the doctors, nurses and staff at hospitals and clinics throughout the region. And for the grocery store workers stocking shelves again and again to make sure families have what they need. And first responders heading to 9-1-1 calls, sometimes unaware that the patient they’re helping has COVID-19.

As the weeks of living with the coronavirus have turned into months of living with the coronavirus, that sign still stands outside the post office. And it is still true. Just because we might feel a little safer getting out of the house, these neighbors helping neighbors will continue to deserve our praise.

In this issue, we speak to one community hero during the pandemic. Dan Singh put a tent outside his Garrisonville Road pharmacy and handed out hundreds of meals to people who lost their job or just needed a good meal for their family. He told us that he’s ready to do it again if things turn bad.

Similarly, I’m sure those first responders, grocery workers and postal workers are ready to tackle whatever comes next.

That’s what heroes do.

GREG HAMBRICK, EDITOR EDITOR@STAFFORDMAGAZINE.COM

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CONTENTS 18

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NEIGHBORS

The Right Medicine Pharmacist feeds hundreds during pandemic

BY GREG HAMBRICK

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BUSINESS

More Than a Business Vernon Green Jr.’s GCubed has a multifaceted mission

BY DAVE FAWCETT

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FEATURE

Get Outside Stafford’s beautiful trails and parks are ready for summer

BY GREG HAMBRICK

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Back in Time A day trip to beach 10 million years in the making

BY JILL DEVINE

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SPORTS

Willing to Wait Mountain View grad has extra year to prepare for Summer Olympics

BY DAVE FAWCETT

Races on the Move Changes for local MCM events due to COVID-19

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QUANTICO

Close Enough Proud father travels from New Jersey to just outside Quantico

BY EMILY SIDES

Marines Honor Fallen Battalion conducts Memorial Day Ceremony during pandemic

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Stafford Teachers Honored A look at some of the county’s top educators

High School Firefighter Program Launching Careers

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VOICES

Stafford’s Own ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’

BY DAVID S. KERR

Reality Feels Like TV Fiction

BY HARVEY S. GOLD

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COMMUNITY

Hurricane Season During COVID-19 Stafford County offers tips to prepare

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NEWS

Big Bridge Projects New lanes to be added to I-95; Chatham Bridge closed for 18 months; two bald eaglets rescued

ON THE COVER: Vernon Green Jr. of GCubed. Photo courtesy of GCubed.

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NEIGHBORS

The Right Medicine Meet the pharmacy owner who handed out hundreds of meals during the pandemic

BY G R E G H AM B R I CK

Dan Singh, owner of Dan’s Wellness Pharmacy, and his wife, Parminder Singh.

D

an’s Wellness Pharmacy has stood on Garrisonville Road for more than a decade, offering a convenient location for Stafford residents in need of medication or health and wellness supplies.

In addition, for six weeks during the pandemic, owner Dan Singh, his family and staff provided hundreds of free meals to community members in need.

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With masks on and 6 feet between us, Singh spoke with Stafford Magazine recently in what used to be the waiting area for pharmacy customers. It’s now roped off and customers are asked to wait in their car.

One of the new realities due to COVID-19.

STAFFORD MAGAZINE: Where did the idea come from to provide food for people in need?

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DAN SINGH: We saw a lot of restaurants giving free meals to first responders and health care workers, which is great, but I didn’t see much being done for the people who lost their jobs.

My wife and I were talking about that one day and we said, “Why don’t we do something for these people.”

So, that weekend we decided to start giving free meals to people who had lost their

jobs, and if someone couldn’t afford a meal, due to COVID or due to any reason, we’d provide them one good meal a day, so they would have a good meal for their family.

We talked about what we should do. We’re not a restaurant, so we were thinking, “What can we do that’s easy?” We had packaged snacks — granola bars and chips. My daughters wanted it to be healthy, too, so they would make salads every night. They’d chop up lettuce and put salads together for people so at least they had something healthy the next day.

Then we did a hot dog — we were going to Costco.

Costco has some really good beef hot dogs, so we used those.

So the main meal was a hot dog, salad, granola bar, chips or some other type of snack.

There were regulars who would come every day, every other day. A lot of walkers — they work nearby or live in the apartments behind us. They’d stop by and take food home for their family.

They’d have a decent meal and wouldn’t have to worry about where the money came from for that.

We did it for a total of six weeks. When things opened up, that’s when we decided to stop. Things had started opening up and our numbers were decreasing. At that point, it really slowed down to five people a day, at most.

SM: And how many did you give out over the six weeks?

DS: We gave out about 500 to 600; we were doing about 100 a week.

We set up a tent and one of my former employees, David, who had retired, called and asked if we needed help. I told him, “I’ve got the perfect thing for you.

If you could man the tent for a few hours a day and hand

out meals.” Every day for six weeks, he was out there.

SM: Did you know back at the beginning just how long you would be doing this?

DS: I didn’t know, I figured a couple of weeks. It was never definite about when it would be. If things go bad again, maybe we’ll do it again.

The amazing thing was the community support. There were so many comments on Facebook and so much positive that came from it.

People just rallied around it.

The second or third week, people were just coming by and dropping off stuff. One lady said, “I’m not going to move my car until you take this $20.”

SM: Talk a little big about the cost. How much did it cost you to do this?

DS: We didn’t tally it up, but probably about $1,000.

SM: Looking back on it, how do you feel about being able

to make this contribution to the community during the pandemic?

DS: I’m so glad I thought of it and thought of it early so it benefited a lot of people.

SM: Do you feel like there’s a lesson in this about the need for more resources like this in the community?

DS: I think there’s a need.

People don’t realize how much of a need, because a lot of it is hidden.

SM: Tell me about the business.

We’re a full-service pharmacy. We have specialty supplies and we do compounding, something that chains can’t do — special things that most of the larger chains don’t have the facilities to do.

SM: How long have you been here?

DS: We’ve been here for 13 years. We opened our doors

in the beginning of 2007.

Like any small business, the first year was super tough.

I remember standing here for six hours and not seeing a person walk through the front door. As time went on, we got busier and busier. I have 15 staff and two fulltime pharmacists.

SM: Other than a wider road since you first moved in, how have things changed?

DS: We’re doing great.

COVID has slowed our instore business. There’s not as many people in the store as there used to be, but our drive-through is non-stop now, which is what we want.

Things have changed, but our decrease in business isn’t as dramatic as some other businesses.

SM: There are immediate changes due to COVID, like having the waiting area roped off. How do you see the business

changing long term?

DS: I think things will open up. You’ll have waiting areas, though it might be different. Less people crowded together. The model might change a bit — we’ve implemented more texting and calling. It works even better now. It’s easier for people to wait in their car. It’s just as easy as if they were sitting here watching for their name on the board or for us to call their name out.

SM: Going back to February, can you imagine telling customers to go wait in their car?

DS: So many things have changed. You call a help desk and hear kids and dogs in the background. Now, that’s the way it is.

Greg Hambrick is editor of Stafford Magazine. He can be reached at editor@ staffordmagazine.com.

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// More Than a Business BUSINESS

Vernon Green Jr. has grown GCubed into a company with a multi-faceted mission

BY DAV ID FAWC ETT

After more than 20 years in the Army, Vernon Green Jr. started GCubed in North Stafford in 2014.

GCubed specializes in IT and cybersecurity at its office off Garrisonville Road.

O

nce he retired from the Army after 20-plus years, Vernon Green Jr. narrowed his next venture down to two choices.

The former chief warrant officer could start his own business or begin an IT job with the Pentagon. The first opportunity presented uncertainty; the other security.

“It was not a no-brainer,” Green said.

Although he never aspired to strike out on his own and be a CEO, Green felt he could fill a bigger need as an owner of a government contracting company that worked with the military rather than as someone who worked for the military. Green had good reason to think this way.

He had an excellent network of contacts from his Army days as well as experience and expertise to help him land contracts. Plus, the opportunity allowed him to implement beliefs he held dear from the Army — such as mission, selfless service and honor — while hiring those who shared his vision.

“All the values that I found important in the military were not the same going into the outside world,” said Green, who

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PHOTO CREDIT: GCUBED.

deployed three times to Iraq.

Timing factored into his decision as well.

On June 2, 2014, his company received its first contract. But also that day, Green heard from the federal government telling him he could start his job at the Pentagon five months after initially offering it to him.

Green checked first with the Department of Defense’s ethics department to see if he could do both.

They said he had to pick one or the other, so Green chose to stay with the

company he had formed April 24.

And he never looked back.

Green has transformed GCubed, based in North Stafford, into an awardwinning enterprise that was recently recognized by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce as the fifth fastest-growing company in the state. GCubed was also the winner of the Virginia Vanguard award for technology. That honor goes to a business that posts the “highest growth in the categories of service, technology, retail/wholesale and overall

growth in Virginia.”

“For me the awards go back to how we started,” Green said. “I look at what we’ve created. I'm so proud of our team and our partnerships. The awards make me think that we’ve created something special and we’re doing something right.”

Green sees his company working on a number of levels. There is the professional part of it, but also the charitable part. The company’s name, which stands for Giving God Glory, is rooted in selfless service.

Since moving to Stafford in 2009 from Hawaii and being assigned to Fort Belvoir, Green has developed deep roots within the community.

When he started GCubed, Green, who is married and has three daughters, made it a priority to use his company as a way to give back to others. Green said 78.6% of the company’s profit from 2019 went to help those in need as part of his partner nonprofit G3 Community Services.

G3 Community Services assists in many ways, including mentoring at-risk kids, providing housing for the

homeless and feeding the hungry.

“It’s gratifying to give back and have this type of influence,” Green said.

When he formed GCubed, Green said he was “blessed to take risks.”

“I had a military retirement so there was money coming in,” Green said. “It was not as risky.”

Still, Green said creating a company was a tough transition. He knew plenty about the military side of the business but knew nothing about other aspects of running a company, such as human resources.

He sought out those who could help him in those areas, while still maintaining his overall mission. One saying he liked to use in describing those early days was: “We are building the plane while we are flying it.”

He credits two individuals in particular, chief operating officer Wendy Maurer and finance and contracts manager Kelly Shores, with filling in gaps where he lacked experience as GCubed developed into a successful operation specializing in IT and cybersecurity.

In ensuring GCubed stayed on a

healthy trajectory, Green kept raising the bar. Initially, he hired people who could do what was needed at the time.

But as the company quickly grew — receiving its first contract five weeks after it opened — Green wanted GCubed to keep growing. To do that meant accepting turnover as part of the tradeoff.

Green emphasized to all his employees that he sought individuals who wanted to step up to the next level. But the company needed to keep moving forward.

It’s all part of the overall mission that began when Green opted to pass up that financially secure job at the Pentagon to lead others in a way that honors his Army pedigree as well as his faith in God. “I feel like this has allowed me to leverage my success and my relationships to be more active in creating a platform for making change,” Green said.

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

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Get Off the trail near Stafford Civil War Park

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FEATURE

Outside STAFFORD’S BEAUTIFUL TRAILS, LANDSCAPES AND PARKS ARE READY FOR SUMMER

AQUIA LANDING PARK 2846 BROOKE ROAD

BY G R E G H AM B R ICK

I

n the midst of the state’s stay-at-home order, when there were very few places to go, Stafford residents discovered, or rediscovered, some of the region’s best public trails and parks.

Crows Nest Preserve warned guests of “extraordinary visitor numbers.” Prince William Forest Park closed to vehicles altogether.

On a recent weekend, we found Government Island packed with guests. After a short trip down the road, we were able to find a quiet corner of Stafford Civil War Park for a quick hike deep into the woods on well-maintained trails.

Now that more of the region is reopening, the crowds at these parks will start to “trail” off. Here are some of the spots where you can get your steps in.

Check online before

visiting any site for changes due to the pandemic.

GOVERNMENT ISLAND 191 COAL LANDING ROAD

This 17-acre park offers a unique connection to some of the famous buildings in Washington, D.C. Government Island was the 18th century quarry site that provided Aquia sandstone for the construction of the U.S. Capitol, the White House and more.

Guests can walk the boardwalk, observing plants, birds and wildlife. A 1.5-mile trail and interpretive signs help depict the site’s history.

Government Island is a scenic heritage trail, and on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register.

The public beach at Aquia Landing offers fishing, picnicking, kayaking and two large picnic shelters.

The site was the end of the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad line. It was the first place to see naval fire during the Civil War, making it a featured stop on the Civil War Trails. Aquia Landing is also an important stop on the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. Henry “Box” Brown, Ellen and William Craft, and John Washington were among the 10,000 enslaved people who traveled through Aquia Landing on their escape route to freedom.

Encampment in 1863.

More than 135,000 soldiers occupied Stafford County while Gen. Joseph Hooker rebuilt his army. This critical time has been referred to in soldiers’ letters as “The Union Army’s Valley Forge.”

The Stafford Civil War Park preserves three earthen artillery fortifications, many winter hut holes, a Colonial bridge abutment and a corduroy road, according to Tour Stafford.

Interpretive signs and maps provide insight into each spot.

STAFFORD CIVIL WAR PARK 400 MT. HOPE CHURCH ROAD

This 41-acre park tells the story of the Army of the Potomac’s Winter

Stafford Civil War Park

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Widewater State Park

Prince William Forest Park

Crow’s Nest Preserve

CROW’S NEST PRESERVE 81 RAVEN ROAD

Crow’s Nest Natural Area Preserve supports 895 acres of wetlands, 23 miles of stream, riparian and wetland buffer, and 2,310 acres of mature hardwood forest, including two forest types that are recognized as globally rare by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Natural Heritage Program The site has nesting bald eagles, habitat for the federally listed short-nose sturgeon and habitat for 22 plant species that are significant for the Coastal Plain of Virginia. There’s habitat for about 60 species of neotropical migratory songbirds, as well as 49 species of interjurisdictional fish and seven species of mussels and valuable shellfish.

And the lands and waters have played important roles in the Native American, Colonial and Civil War histories of Virginia, according to the state.

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Visitors to Crow's Nest Preserve have two access options. The Raven Road access point features parking for 18 cars and 8 miles of hiking trails within the forested interior of Crow's Nest via an improved 1.6mile long entrance road. The Raven Road access is open Thursday through Sunday.

The Brooke Road Access point offers parking for 20 cars, a shoreline birding/ nature trail to viewpoints of Accokeek Creek, and an ADA-accessible canoe/kayak launch facility serving as a trailhead for the Crow's Nest Water Trail. The Brooke Road Access is open all week.

ABEL RESERVOIR KELLOGG MILL ROAD, FALMOUTH

Visit Stafford calls Abel Reservoir “one of Stafford County’s most scenic parks and lakes.”

Abel Reservoir contains a stocked fishing area, boating, hiking and picnicking.

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a visitor center, picnic shelters, playgrounds, restrooms, canoe-kayak launches and a hiking trail.

PRINCE WILLIAM FOREST PARK 18170 PARK ENTRANCE ROAD, TRIANGLE

WIDEWATER STATE PARK 101 WIDEWATER STATE PARK ROAD

Since opening in 2018, Widewater State Park has offered a beautiful, if a bit too remote, view of the Stafford County shores.

On a peninsula where Aquia Creek and the Potomac River meet, Widewater provides access to both bodies of water.

The park lies on two parcels surrounded by private property. It has

As of June 5, the park was still closed to vehicles, so until it reopens, you’ll have to find a public place to park and walk or bike into the park. Once the park reopens, there is a lot to explore with a variety of trails for those looking for a quick, easy walk or a rough trek through the woods. Either way, you’re likely to find a natural wonder of a view.

We’ve visited several times and found different spots to enjoy with each visit.

For more, visit tourstaffordva.com, dcr. virginia.gov and nps.gov/prwi.

Greg Hambrick is editor of Stafford Magazine. He can be reached at editor@ staffordmagazine.com.

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FEATURE

BACK IN TIME

A day trip to beach 10 million years in the making

BY J I L L DE VI NE

S

eeing a 10-million-year-old shark’s tooth in a museum is cool, but who wouldn’t rather find one at the beach? Look no further than Calvert Cliffs State Park in Lusby, Md., where finding such fossils is an everyday occurrence. About five miles north of Solomons Island, the park entrance is less than a two-hour drive from Ashburn.

Our family started visiting Calvert Cliffs years ago in an effort to find an activity that would make all four of our kids — two boys and two girls — happy at the same time. We weren’t disappointed.

The 1,400-acre park delivered — with a quarter-mile natural beach rich in shells and fossils where we all enjoyed the sun and swimming, 13 miles of hiking trails, a pond for fishing, a network of freshwater and tidal marshlands, an expansive playground, and clean bathrooms and picnic facilities.

The first time we visited Calvert Cliffs State Park, we weren’t sure what to expect. My husband wisely brought

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a backpack to tote our baby girl as we began our 1.8-mile hike along the designated path to the shore. The terrain was unlike any we had ever experienced together, twisting through pine and hardwood forests before giving way to swamps, wetlands, and then finally a small beach brightly lighted beneath blue skies. My oldest son, Charlie, who at the time was obsessed with “Jurassic Park” movies, convinced his siblings that we were trekking through a movie set, with prehistoric danger lurking behind every tangle of vines.

Instead of dinosaurs, we have been amazed over the years to spot modernday creatures up close in their natural setting, including frogs, turtles, crabs, bald eagles and all kinds of waterfowl and even beavers building a dam.

The reward at the end of the hike is always, of course, the fossil-rich beach, where so many family memories have been made.

Charlie, who grew up to be an environmental scientist and Ph.D.

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research assistant at the University of Arizona, says our Calvert Cliffs visits had a big impact in helping him choose his career path of environmental science and hydrometeorology. He once told me that Calvert Cliffs was his first exposure to a beach shoreline that wasn’t along an open ocean, where he noticed the diversity of plants and animals. Of course, the lure of fossils added to the experience.

“You’re guaranteed to find a fossil when you visit the Calvert Cliffs beach,” said Zakary Lellis-Petrie. He’s a seasonal ranger for Friends of Calvert Cliffs State Park, a group dedicated to maintaining and improving the park.

“It might not be a shark’s tooth, but just about every scallop shell you find, and many of the oyster and clam shells, will be more than 10 million years old,” said Lellis-Petrie.

On our first trip, Charlie discovered the first fossil – a chunk of rock about the size of a volleyball heavily embedded with ancient shells, much to the delight of younger sister Michelle

IF YOU GO CALVERT CLIFFS STATE PARK 10540 H. G. TRUEMAN ROAD LUSBY, MD 20657 CONTACT: 301-743-7613 REGULAR HOURS: OPEN DAILY, SUNRISE TO SUNSET, YEAR ROUND* COST: $7 PER VEHICLE OUT-OF-STATE ENTRANCE FREE * DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS, CHECK ON THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE PARK BEFORE MAKING A TRIP TO CALVERT CLIFFS.

and brother Philip. Baby sister Beth returned many times over the years with us to find her own sharks’ teeth and shell fossils as well.

As a mother, nothing compares to seeing siblings laugh and work together while they hunt for treasure and build the occasional sandcastle. Skateboards, cell phones, video games and Barbie dolls forgotten, it was a joy to see them focused on the beauty of nature and

each other’s company.

Our kids are grown now, but my husband and I still visit Calvert Cliffs.

It’s a great spot for everyone — solo hikers, couples on a date, families and — most of all — fossil hunters.

Jill Devine is a freelance writer. When not writing, she enjoys her job as a kindergarten teaching assistant for Loudoun County Public Schools.

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SPORTS

Willing to Wait

Mountain View High School graduate Olu Olamigoke finished 32nd in the triple jump at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Mountain View graduate Olu Olamigoke has extra year to prepare for Summer Olympics

BY DAV ID FAWC E TT

A

fter tearing two ligaments in his ankle during a January training session, Olu Olamigoke figured he had no shot to compete in the 2020 Olympics. There wasn’t enough time for the Mountain View High School graduate to fully recover before trying to qualify for the Tokyo Games, which were scheduled to begin July 24.

But Olamigoke’s outlook changed when the Summer Games were postponed for a year because of the coronavirus pandemic. All of a sudden, with the games now scheduled for July 23Aug. 8, 2021, Olamigoke’s plans are back on track.

“For me, it opened up things in the best way possible,” Olamigoke said.

The 29-year-old, who has dual U.S./Nigerian citizenship, competed in the 2016 Games for Nigeria and finished 32nd in the men’s triple jump.

To represent Nigeria again in 2021, Olamigoke needs only to reach the Olympic standard in his

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event. He injured himself four days before the start of the season, but once he’s healthy, Olamigoke will try to reach the qualifying mark.

Olamigoke called his injury a “freak accident.” It happened during a training exercise when his foot slipped off a box. Based on how he felt, Olamigoke assumed his mishap might be an issue. But he didn’t realize the severity of the injury until a doctor evaluated it and told him about the ligament tears.

Upon hearing the news, Olamigoke experienced a series of emotions.

“I had a little flipout moment, but I accepted it and moved from there,” Olamigoke said.

The momentary setback raised questions about Olamigoke’s future.

He had moved to Atlanta in November 2018 when he connected with Dwight Phillips. Phillips, a four-time world champion in the long jump and the 2004 Olympic gold medalist in the event, trained Olamigoke and

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everything was on schedule until the injury.

“They told me a full recovery would take six months,” Olamigoke said “That ruled me out of the Olympics.”

But now he’s grateful for one more opportunity before he retires. Olamigoke has no

desire to compete beyond 2022.

“There’s no rush now,” Olamigoke said. “It’s one day at a time.”

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

Races on the move

Changes due to pandemic

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utdoor exercise has been important during the COVID-19 pandemic, but limits on gathering have affected Marine Corps Marathon events.

Originally scheduled for June 20, the Belleau Wood 8K and Recon Ruck will occur alongside the Quantico 12K on Aug. 22 with corresponding virtual options.

Also new, the Aug. 22 event start lines will be at Lejeune Field on Marine Corps Base Quantico.

Participants may run a 4.97-mile course in the Belleau Wood 8K, a 7.46-mile run in the Quantico 12K, or trek through Marine Corps Base Quantico for the same 12K distance while wearing a weighted pack of 10 pounds or more in Recon Ruck.

The popular Run Amuck will become a virtual-only, choose-your-own-adventure event with a checklist of fitness challenges, scavenger hunt adventures and do-ityourself possibilities.

Participants can still complete the Crossroads Challenge by running the live or virtual Belleau Wood 8K or the Recon Ruck and participating in the DIY Run Amuck.

Replacing the Quantico Triathlon is the virtual inaugural Marine Corps Duathlon. This new dual skilled event will feature a 5K run, followed by a 20.4K bike ride, and end with a 5K run.

“Marines know about accomplishing the mission in every clime and place and that’s the opportunity presented to our runners,” said Rick Nealis, director of the Marine Corps Marathon organization. “Whether they’re running with the Marines in August or being their own race director, it’s inspiring to see their results.

I am proud that we are able to bring the spirit of the United States Marine Corps right to their doorsteps.”

Participants in both the virtual and in-person events will receive the official event shirt. Belleau Wood 8K, Quantico 12K, Crossroads Challenge and Duathlon finishers will earn an originally designed medal. Recon Ruck finishers receive a patch and those who complete the DIY Run Amuck will be awarded a special coin.

The 2020 Marine Corps Marathon weekend is proceeding as planned for October with new safety measures. In addition to the planned live version, the MCM10K scheduled for Oct. 25 will be offered as a virtual event, according to a news release. Virtual participants in the 6.2-mile run will receive a bib, technical shirt, digital finisher certificate and an impressive finisher medal.

“The safety of our runners and supporters remains our main concern as we plan for the return of live events,” Nealis said.

For more, www.marinemarathon.com

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QUANTICO

Close Enough Proud father travels from New Jersey to the Quantico gates STORY A N D PHOTOS BY EMI LY SI D E S

C

hris Cole left his home in Sicklerville, N.J., at 5 a.m. on May 15 for a three-hour drive to the gates of Marine Corps Base Quantico so he could cheer on his Marine son from afar.

“I’m a ham,” he said. “I’m a dad.”

“I thought today I wouldn’t get to see him.”

C H R I S CO L E , P RO U D FATH E R O F CO R P. AU ST I N CO L E , W H O G R A D UAT E D M AY 15 F RO M M A R IN E S E C U R ITY G UA R D SC HO O L

His son, Corp. Austin Cole, 22, graduated from Marine Security Guard school to be an embassy guard. Chris Cole, like other parents and loved ones, couldn’t attend the graduation ceremony due

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to COVID-19 restrictions on base.

Chris Cole thought he would take a chance to show how proud he is of his son even if he couldn’t see the graduation. Just outside the Quantico gates, he set up U.S. and Marine Corps flags and a banner that read “Congratulations Austin T. Cole & Bryan Carr, Marine Security Guard” Austin Cole said he was glad his dad made the trip.

“I was surprised, but I was also not surprised at the same time.”

For Chris Cole, 54, this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“They’re never going to graduate again,” he said. “Austin was third in his class out of like 175 guys. We just wanted to see their name in lights.”

He made a video for his son, because he thought he wouldn’t be able to see him while he was in Quantico.

“I miss you,” he said.

“There’s no way I can tell you other than the world’s been full of joy since you came into it and nothing I can really say to you,

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TOP: Chris Cole, at left, with Col. Austin Cole and his classmates.

Chris Cole traveled to the gates at Marine Corps Base Quantico to celebrate his son’s graduation from Marine Security Guard school. BOTTOM: Chris Cole posted signs celebrating his son’s graduation on the side of the road outside of the Quantico gates. kid; you’ve accomplished everything a man can dream of already."

Luckily, Chris Cole was able to visit and catch up with his son and his son’s classmates, Corp. Bryan Carr, 22, and Corp. Chandler Marshall, 21. None of the three Marines could have family attend their graduation ceremonies.

Chris Cole is proud that his son is carrying on his grandfather’s legacy — Austin’s grandfather, Robert Wozniak, 96, served in World War II.

Chris Cole said he doesn’t know when he’ll see his son again.

“I thought today I wouldn’t get to see him,” he said.

The new graduates will be stationed at U.S. embassies around the world for up to two years.

“We sleep good at night because of these men,” Chris Cole said.

Emily Sides is a reporter with InsideNoVa. She can be reached at esides@ insidenova.com.

Marines Honor Fallen

PHOTOS BY L ANC E C PL. D’ANGE LO YA N E Z

U.S. Marines with Headquarters and Service Battalion conducted a Memorial Day Ceremony at the Quantico National Cemetery on May 25. It was a familiar service, except for face masks in the new era of COVID-19.

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EDUCATION

Stafford teachers honored A look at top educators

A

t the end of an unusual school year, several Stafford County teachers celebrated special honors.

Susan Weiderhold, an assistant principal at Dixon-Smith Middle School, is one of only 10 educators in the nation to earn a Rebecca Burnette DuFour Scholarship.

This award, now in its second year, celebrates and supports women educators who demonstrate exceptional leadership in their school communities, according to a Stafford County Public Schools release.

Weiderhold has 26 years of experience in education as a teacher, instructional coach, and administrator.

Her dedication to educational research and learning led Weiderhold to find the Professional Learning Community practice, founded by the DuFours, that resulted in immeasurable gains for student learning and confidence, according to the release. As a result, she now leads a staff that continues to build their own capacity in the PLC process.

The Washington Post Educational Foundation’s annual honors included two local finalists from Stafford: • Rebecca Wardlow, principal at Winding Creek Elementary School, demonstrates impressive instructional leadership at the school level and at the county level through her involvement in Professional Learning Communities,

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professional learning opportunities, and county-wide committees that lead and support the Stafford public schools vision and mission.

Her commitment to community helped her school earn designation as a Virginia Purple Star school.

This distinction is awarded to military-friendly schools that have demonstrated a major commitment to students and families.

• Kim Cannon is a sixth-grade U.S. history teacher at Stafford Middle School who approaches engaging and effective instruction through the lens of a child sitting in a classroom.

Cannon’s lessons incorporate exciting activities that reinforce learning, such as simulations.

As the sixth-grade lead teacher, she ensures her colleagues are moving forward with a clear understanding of school procedures and communicates her ideas with ease and confidence. Cannon has presented at the Leadership Learning Exchange and the Response to Intervention (RTI) Convention. She participated in the Social Studies Assessment Consortium and the RTI Coalition, and was awarded the Initiatives in Education Grant.

“Stafford County Public Schools truly has some of the greatest educators in the country,” said Superintendent Scott Kizner. “These three leaders demonstrate that a passion for studentfirst, collaborative education is a significant key in student success. Truly great schools do not exist without great leaders, and I am extremely proud of these three educators.”

In addition, the Virginia Education Association recognized Allen Watkins with the Award for Teaching Excellence.

A spring award ceremony was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Watkins is a career and technology education teacher, chairs his department at Colonial Forge High School and serves on the school’s leadership team. He has taught in Stafford since 2004 and is in his 44th year in the classroom, according to a news release. He has become known for his ability to tailor instruction to the individual needs of young people.

“Some of my fondest memories are of students who have succeeded despite their challenges,” Watkins said in the release, mentioning one whose disabilities prevented communication by speaking or gesturing. Despite this, Watkins was able to establish rapport and create success in class with this student. “Teaching is such a rewarding profession,” he said.

Colonial Forge Principal Greg Daniel said Watkins represents the best of the school and Stafford educators. “He selflessly gives of his time, even after the official workday has come to an end. He is passionate about the success and growth of all students.”

The VEA also honored Matthew Lentz with the Robley S. Jones Political Activist Award.

Lentz is a member of the Stafford Education Association and was instrumental in helping the association “mobilize members in ways and numbers never seen before,” according to the VEA release.

A part of virtually every campaign for public officials in the district over the past several years, Lentz also helped secure the right for SEA members to wear red shirts and jeans every Tuesday to support budget talks, and helped members have the opportunity to attend this year’s Lobby Day without losing any leave.

High School Firefighter Program launching careers

S

tafford’s High School Firefighter Program recently completed its inaugural year and officials are pleased with the success and considering expanding it in the future with emergency medical technician (EMT) training.

The program, a partnership between the fire department and county schools, is designed to prepare students for a career in the fire service and to encourage them to volunteer with Stafford Fire and Rescue, according to a news release. Twelve students participated this year from Stafford’s five high schools and two have already applied to Stafford’s next Career Recruit Academy class.

“Recruiting and retaining career firefighters and volunteers is something we are very committed to in Stafford

County. This program is one of the tools we are using to accomplish that goal,” said Fire Chief Joseph Cardello. “The students who participated this year have been an outstanding first class and we are very pleased with their progress as well as the progress of the program.”

Cardello said he hopes the program will provide interested graduates with a pipeline to a career with Stafford County Fire and Rescue. For graduates who choose a different career path, he hopes the program will encourage them to become lifelong volunteer firefighters.

The program trained students in all phases of firefighting including live burns, search and rescue and hazardous

materials training. Students spend about 20 hours in class each week developing firefighting skills.

They also must join one of Stafford County’s volunteer companies, a move designed to help them hone their skills and feel more a part of the firefighter family. This year, the students put in more than 4,000 hours of training in class and volunteering.

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VOICES

Stafford’s own ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’

BY DAV ID S . K E R R

A

s a former Stafford County sheriff told me, most criminals aren’t that bright and their crimes don’t tend to be that original. However, there are some crimes in Stafford’s history that might surprise you. One of them is the Great Aquia Train Robbery.

It was 125 years ago and the story is worthy of a movie script. Back in those days, trains of all sorts ran through Stafford. There were passenger trains, mail trains and freight trains.

Regularly, these trains included cars carrying cash and gold.

The latter got the attention of two criminals, Charles Searcey and Charles Morgan. One was a former cowboy and the other a gambler.

They got wind of a train passing through Stafford that included an American Express car with a safe full of cash and gold.

The plot was complex. The two men

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waited for the train to slow near the Brooke Station and climbed on the tender. When the train crossed the Aquia Creek, they made their move. They hijacked the train at gunpoint and told the engineer to stop. They then uncoupled the engine and the coal tender from the rest of the train.

While one watched over the train personnel and the passengers, the other made his way to the Express car. Using a stick of dynamite, he blew open the door of the car and ordered the shaken clerk inside to

an ingenious distraction and gave them time to get away. The RF&P manager at Widewater Station, watching the train zoom by, telegraphed Quantico that they had a runaway.

A switch was set to push the train onto a siding, where it turned over and rammed several passenger cars. In the meantime, the robbers rode west.

These two almost got away with it. They were on the lam for several weeks. But they were being followed by the famous Pinkerton detectives who weren’t

“Using a stick of dynamite, he blew open the door of the car and ordered the shaken clerk inside to open the safe.” open the safe. The size of the haul was about $180,000.

Their escape was brilliantly planned.

After collecting their haul and persuading the passengers that there were many more than just two robbers, they boarded the decoupled engine and headed down the line. They went just a few miles to where they had horses waiting. They then set the train to full throttle and jumped off. It was • A P R I L / M AY 2 O 2 0 • J U N E /J U LY 2 O 2 0

about to let them get away. Both were eventually captured.

They were tried and convicted in Stafford Circuit Court. Most of the money was returned and by 1910 both had been released from jail.

It was a robbery worthy of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and it happened right here, in 1895, on the very same train line that those of us who ride the VRE or Amtrak use every day.

Reality feels like TV fiction

BY HARV EY S . GO L D

I

t seems to me…real life is becoming more like TV, a video, or movie. The plots thicken every day.

But it is not fiction; it is the real world.

If you had been out of touch with the news for a period of time and turned your TV on you might think it was just another show. You expect to see Charlton Heston in the role of a president battling mobs in the streets of cities across the country.

Bottles are thrown at the lines of police; cars are turned over, and buildings are set on fire. The police use tear gas. There are troops lined up with shields.

Suddenly, you realize that what you are seeing is in real time, and what’s more, that is not Charlton Heston, it’s President Donald Trump.

Shockingly, it becomes clear that this is not some third-world country that has demonstrations every other week filled

with violence, looting and burning. It is the good old USA. There are even protests on Garrisonville Road and the Falmouth Bridge.

With network reports from city after city, you recognize familiar landmarks and you realize your city is one of them. Then the violence stops and there is an ad with a woman selling cars. You try to comprehend if the images you saw before the woman and the cars were real.

Changing the channel, you see a show that looks like it could be a science fiction movie about a pandemic.

The characters in this melodrama are

struggling to find a vaccine. Many are dressed like astronauts to protect them from contaminated air. The hospitals have the sick and dying in corridors because ICUs are overflowing. Nurses and doctors are shouting commands; everyone is wearing a mask.

You wonder about the doctor in charge.

Could that be Denzel Washington?

Suddenly, you are struck by the realization that this is a hospital just a few miles from where you live. The turmoil stops and a smiling older gentleman tells you that you need to keep the leaves out of your gutters. You wonder, does he know

about the virus and the street protests? No, it’s just a commercial.

You find another channel where a huge crowd at Cape Canaveral is looking skyward. A private company’s spaceship roars into space heading to an orbiting space station. One of the astronauts transfers to the space station. Is it Harrison Ford? No, it is a real NASA astronaut, not a Hollywood actor.

The picture changes, and a stern-looking lawyer wants to know if you were harmed by this or that. If so, you better call.

The scene shifts to a spokesperson for NASA with pictures of a weird looking vehicle with

“Suddenly, you realize what you are seeing is in real time.” robotic arms that will soon be delivered by an unmanned spaceship to Mars. Sounds like an ad for a new movie, but it becomes clear this is real and we are expanding our exploration of Mars.

Could it be we are looking for a place to escape to? Break away for a toothpaste commercial.

It feels like chaos is everywhere. Despite all of this, after filling our oceans with plastic and other garbage, we fill

outer space with space stations, satellites and debris. But it doesn’t stop there. We are headed to Mars. Will we take our hate there? Will we pollute that planet like we have ours? Will we infect Mars with viruses that didn’t exist before we landed on its soil? Tune in tomorrow and try to figure out what’s real and what’s fiction -- and have we become numb to it because it has become indistinguishable from entertainment?

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COMMUNITY

HURRICANE SEASON DURING COVID-19 Stafford County offers tips to prepare

ACCESS TO INFORMATION The first step to being prepared is making sure you have access to official sources of information.

To receive severe weather alerts, road closure information, evacuation notifications and other emergency information, residents can sign up for Stafford Alert at www. staffordcountyva.gov/alert.

Residents also can access emergency information on the Stafford County website www.staffordcountyva.gov and follow Stafford County Government on Facebook, Twitter and Nextdoor.

Emergency updates and information are also available at InsideNoVa.com and its social media channels.

SHELTER IN PLACE

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urricane season started early this year, with tropical storms Arthur and Bertha arriving in May. The season runs from June 1 through November.

And the season is arriving as many Stafford residents are just getting back to work during the pandemic.

Stafford officials are emphasizing the importance of being prepared. Commonly, residents are asked to make a family emergency plan, stock up on supplies and make sure they have the correct amount of home and flood insurance.

This year, residents are asked to make these preparations with the coronavirus in mind, considering how COVID-19 guidance will affect your efforts to plan for protecting your family, according to a news release.

“In a disaster situation, there is sometimes a need for shelters, and social distancing will make that more of a challenge,” said Chief Virgil Gray with the county’s emergency management division. “But I want to reassure the public that local, state and federal governments are working on modifying plans and policies to respond to any disaster during this pandemic.”

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It is recommended that you have at least three days of food, water and emergency supplies on hand.

In the event of an emergency, first responders may receive a large volume of calls, and it may take some time before they can get to you.

Consider what you would need for a power outage or if you needed to evacuate from your home for a few days.

It is essential to plan for your family’s specific needs.

Some recommended items include non-perishable food items such as bottled water, prescriptions, batteries and other items to help you during the emergency. Do not forget to plan for your pet’s needs. A weather radio can also be valuable as it gives instant updates for

your location during severe weather. Visit www.Ready. gov for a complete list of recommended items to include in an emergency kit.

SEEKING SHELTER Do not be afraid to go to a shelter because of COVID-19. Officials are adapting shelter operations to include social distancing and additional disinfecting policies in compliance with the CDC’s guidelines. If you need accommodations, shelters will be available, according to the county. If you will be evacuating with pets, the animal shelter has a mobile shelter that can accommodate a small number of pets.

FLOOD INSURANCE One of the most important steps residents can take to prepare is to obtain flood insurance. Flood insurance, whether through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private carrier, allows individuals, businesses and communities to quickly and sufficiently recover after a flood.

Most homeowners and renters insurance policies do not cover damage caused by floods. Just an inch of water in a home can produce up to $25,000 in damages, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Flood insurance can mean the difference between recovering and becoming devastated financially. Be advised that it takes 30 days to go into effect. For more, visit staffordcountyva.gov.

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NEWS

STATE MOVES AHEAD WITH RAPPAHANNOCK CROSSING The Commonwealth Transportation Board has awarded a $107.5 million contract to add northbound travel lanes to Interstate 95 in the Fredericksburg area, including a new bridge span over the Rappahannock River.

The I-95 Northbound Rappahannock River Crossing project will add three lanes from exit 130 at Va. 3 in Fredericksburg to exit 133 at U.S. 17 in Stafford County, Expected to be completed by spring 2024, the new lanes will be built parallel to the existing northbound lanes in the median, according to a news release.

The project contract was awarded to Wagman Heavy Civil of York, Penn.

With nearly 150,000 vehicles a day traveling on I-95 near the Rappahannock River, the new lanes will allow local traffic to be separated from regional and interstate traffic traveling through the Fredericksburg area.

The northbound crossing will complement a similar project under construction on I-95 southbound, the release noted. The I-95 Southbound Rappahannock River Crossing will open to traffic in spring 2022.

Both Rappahannock bridge projects will connect with 95 Express Lanes, which are being extended 10 miles through Stafford to the Route 17 area. The Express Lanes extension is expected to open to traffic in late 2022.

In addition to the new lanes, the northbound crossing project will also include: • A fourth I-95 northbound auxiliary lane from exit 133 at U.S. 17 to exit 136 at Centreport Parkway in Stafford • A sidewalk underneath the I-95 overpasses of Route 17, which will link residential neighborhoods east of I-95 with commercial destinations west of I-95 • Replacement of the I-95 northbound collectordistributor bridge that carries traffic to and from the exit 133 (Route 17) interchange, which will eliminate a lower-clearance bridge frequently struck by tractor-trailers and oversized vehicles • Two new traffic signals at Route 17 which will be installed to improve traffic flow and enhance safety through the interchange by reducing vehicle merging and weaving.

The new interchange pattern will operate similarly to recent safety improvements at exit 130 (Route 3).

EAGLETS RESCUED IN STAFFORD COUNTY The Wildlife Center of Virginia is currently caring for two young bald eaglets rescued from Stafford County.

The two male eaglets were found on the ground near their nest and were admitted to the center in late May. Both seem to be in good shape, although one was treated for lead poisoning.

The young birds have been housed in an enclosed tower area so they can watch an adult bald eagle and start their introduction with the other two young bald eagles at the center.

CHATHAM BRIDGE CLOSED UNTIL FALL 2021 After closing in June, Stafford’s Chatham Bridge is expected to remain closed for up to 18 months as the Virginia Department of Transportation completes major improvements to the bridge structure.

Built in 1974, the Chatham Bridge sees an average of 16,000 cars per day and is a connector between Stafford County and Fredericksburg, according to a news release.

The $23.4 million rehabilitation project, funded by Virginia’s State of Good Repair program, will make it safer and more accessible for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists to cross the structure. The new bridge structure will also allow for the removal of the weight restriction that currently prevents heavier-weight emergency service vehicles and some commercial delivery trucks from crossing the river.

As the Falmouth Bridge will be handling more traffic during the closure, officials will closely monitor congestion throughout the project. They will adjust traffic signals to improve the flow of traffic, the release noted.

Access to John Lee Pratt Memorial Park will remain open.

Residents exiting the park will be able to turn right or left onto River Road.

After this project, residents will be able to enjoy a safer and smoother bridge surface with a 10-foot-wide shared-use path separated from vehicle traffic by a barrier. The bridge path will feature a scenic overlook and will connect with the fully paved Belmont-Ferry Farm Trail that runs from the Historic Port of Falmouth through Brooke Park to Pratt Park in southern Stafford County.

For more, visit virginiadot.org/chathambridge.

For more news from Stafford and around the region, visit InsideNoVa.com, follow InsideNoVa on Facebook, and sign up for our daily email newsletters.

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30+ yrs of experience, same client centered approach. Offering personalized service to meet your Commercial, Residential, Land and Property Management needs.

*Illustrated rendering of proposed elevations

600 KENMORE AVE Offered at $1,275,000 FOR SALE / FOR LEASE Phase I & II studies complete. Potential to build a 4 story, 35,250 Sqft mixed use building, with a net rentable area of 27,341 Sqft.

Site plan provides for 31 Parking Spaces.

Call for Lease information.

Offering a full range of services in property management, we currently manage approximately 100 properties and our portfolio includes a mix of commercial and residential properties. In geographic area of representation, we have properties throughout the greater Northern Virginia area, and as far south as Caroline County, VA. If you are looking for property management services, either residential or commercial, we would be delighted to meet with you and discuss your needs.

Cell: 540-840-2921 Office: 540-288-8882 471 Garrisonville Road, Ste. 103 Stafford, VA 22554 www.rochonrealtyinc.com rob4sold@aol.com

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