Stafford Magazine | June/July 2022

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MEET 5 AMAZING LOCAL GRADUATES TAXIS? HAIL, YES! CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION FOR HISTORIC VENUE

MAGAZINE

HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE North Stafford grad Joey Slye returns to his roots

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CONTENTS 6

AMAZING KIDS

10

Truly the Class of 2022 Local schools spotlight standout graduates

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BUSINESS

Taxi?

Hail, Yes! Local cab company survives by creating family feeling

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SPORTS COVER STORY

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North Stafford grad Joey Slye returns to his roots

Granting Special Wishes

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Make-A-Wish chapter grateful for volunteers to help critically-ill children

Home-Field Advantage

COMMUNITY

A Centennial Celebration George Washington Foundation marks anniversary with local events

NONPROFITS

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Winning artwork, new age-qualified community, and more

EVENTS

VOICES

Squirrels were once popular pets here

ON THE COVER:

North Stafford graduate Joey Slye appeared in six games for Washington’s NFL team last season and signed a two-year contract in the spring.

Photo by Bill Kamenjar

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AMAZING KIDS

Truly the Class of 2022 Local schools spotlight standout graduates

BY TR ACY BE LL

A

fter four years of hard work in high school, graduates of the Class of 2022 are joyously embarking on summer – their last hurrah as they teeter on official adulthood.

The big day was May 21, when graduating seniors from North Stafford, Mountain View, Colonial Forge, Brooke Point and Stafford high schools celebrated their success while proud parents, family and friends looked on.

More than 2,000 students in total graduated from Stafford County Public Schools this spring, according to Sandra Osborn, the school system’s director of public and community relations.

In celebration, Stafford Magazine asked school administrators to share a standout graduate from each of the schools. Get to know them below, and why they stood out:

Jade Rasberry NORTH STAFFORD HIGH SCHOOL

Jade Rasberry made North Stafford High School a better place, said the school’s principal, Daniel Hornick.

Since her freshman year, Rasberry has distinguished herself as a leader.

She was dedicated to the school’s renaissance program, which helped her use and develop her leadership skills, Hornick explained. The renaissance program encourages inclusiveness, excellence, positivity and connection within the school community, along with resilience, honesty, teamwork and other core values.

Rasberry was instrumental in creating and developing one of the school’s signature annual events, which celebrates Black History Month.

“Jade is also a phenomenal athlete, as evidenced by her success in track and field, cheerleading and gymnastics,” Hornick said. “We cannot thank her enough for her contributions to our school.”

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Madison Brewer COLONIAL FORGE HIGH SCHOOL

Madison Brewer served as a library student aide this school year and was chosen as a standout graduate by the administration at Colonial Forge based on her talent, kindhearted personality and positive attitude.

She was described by the school’s administration as “a singular asset to the team,” and “artistically gifted.”

Brewer helped create beautiful displays for the newly renovated school library, according to Gregory Daniel, Colonial Forge’s principal.

He also spoke of her understated yet vibrant personality that allowed other students to naturally gravitate toward her.

“She is kind, patient and low-key, calmly capable and proficient,” Daniel said. “She is a friend to all and has made more than one nervous student feel welcome and at home.

Madison Brewer is the type of friend we all hope to have and aspire to be.”

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Reginald Annor MOUNTAIN VIEW HIGH SCHOOL

Reginald Annor, the son of Ivan and Olivia Annor of Stafford, stands out at Mountain View in a variety of ways, according to the school’s counseling department. Not only does he succeed academically and as a “gifted and impactful student leader,” but he also serves his community and has big goals.

Annor has pursued an International Baccalaureate Program at the school and performs at the most elite academic level, said school counselor Tracy Williams.

He was the president of several of the school’s student organizations, including DECA and the French club. Annor also played varsity sports and was a varsity basketball team captain.

Annor is most proud, however, of serving the school community by leading clothing and food drives to help less fortunate families.

He has been accepted to several Ivy League universities, including Harvard, with career goals that include serving in the Air Force and becoming an international diplomat.

Ryan Murray STAFFORD HIGH SCHOOL

Kaycee Awuah BROOKE POINT HIGH SCHOOL

Brooke Point highlighted 2022 graduate Kaycee Awuah, with the school’s administration describing her as a well-rounded student who made a “tremendously positive impact” on the school.

Awuah excelled academically, maintaining a 4.4 grade-point average throughout high school.

She played varsity basketball and was a member of the yearbook staff, an officer in the Student Council Association for three years and vice president of the National Honor Society.

She also was president of The Youth of Africa and participated on the superintendent’s advisory board.

Tim Roberts, principal of Brooke Point, said of Awuah: “Her dedication to the BPHS school community through various clubs and sports has resulted in improved student culture and an increase in awareness of student needs post-pandemic. She will continue to be a positive force as she attends Georgia State University.”

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Ryan Murray is one of just 11 recipients in Virginia to receive the 2022 Harry F. Byrd Jr. Leadership Award. He was honored with the award and a $20,000 prize from Virginia Supreme Court Justice William Mims with Byrd family members in attendance on March 17 in Richmond.

Murray was selected as the recipient from the 1st Congressional District, which consists of the city of Fredericksburg and 19 surrounding counties, including Stafford. The award is named for former United States Sen. Harry F. Byrd Jr., who spent 36 years in elected public office – 18 in the Virginia state Senate and 18 in the U.S. Senate. It recognizes “Virginia’s high school students exhibiting excellence of character, leadership, devotion to duty and academic accomplishment.”

Allen Hicks, principal of Stafford High School, said Murray is a member of the Virginia Commonwealth Governor’s School at Stafford, president of the Future Business Leaders of America and DECA clubs, founder and president of Stafford’s Planting Shade club and a National Honor Society secretary.

An Eagle Scout in Boy Scout Troop 199, Murray partnered with the Friends of the Rappahannock to plant 300 trees in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. He is a member of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Virginia Student Leadership Council and an altar server master of ceremonies at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Fredericksburg.

The son of Dan and Kate Murray of Stafford County, Murray will attend the University of Notre Dame in the fall, where he plans to double major in finance and political science.

Tracy Bell is a freelancer living in Stafford County.

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BUSINESS

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Taxi?

Hail, Yes! Local cab company survives by creating family feeling

BY ERIC ALTH OFF

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t’s no secret that gas prices are through the roof, making it more difficult not only for consumers but also for vehiclebased businesses. This includes Yellow Cab of Prince William County, which also operates in Stafford County.

Owner and president Tammy Beard, who lives in Stafford, notes that Prince William regulations forbid surge pricing for taxi services – and that Stafford County enjoys a reciprocal arrangement with its neighbor to the north.

Prince William did approve an emergency gas surcharge ordinance for taxi companies until July 13 and is also considering deregulating the sector entirely.

But even with the surcharge, Yellow Cab’s rates remain the same, no matter the time of day, Beard said. This lack of extra tariffs not only gives Yellow Cab an advantage over the bigger firms but also helps to maintain customer loyalty, she added.

Yellow Cab of Prince William is a certified woman-owned small business that has been in Beard’s family for over a generation. Beard’s father, Ira C. “Corky” Cochran, bought two local companies, Radio Cab and Yellow Cab, and merged them under the latter’s name in 1978. At one point the family also owned the Greyhound Commission Agency in Triangle.

While still in her teens, Beard was put to work in the dispatch office during the summer and after school. She has also worked in the company’s payroll department and has changed oil and serviced cars in the years since.

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Yellow Cab participates in a number of community events in Stafford and the surrounding areas.

“You name it, we do it,” she said of the necessities of owning a small family business. “Scrub the floors – we do everything.”

During the 1980s, Cochran added to the family’s fleet by purchasing Dale City Taxi, and he moved the outfit’s home base to Woodbridge. Soon thereafter, Cochran decided to hand over the business to his newly married daughter, who by then had a family of her own to support.

Although Cochran died in 2004, Yellow Cab is now employing its third generation of Beard’s family.

“At one time or another, four of my five children have worked here,” Beard said. Her daughter, Monica Gomez, is now the operation’s general manager. “She’s my driver contact person, and she does a little bit of everything.” (Two of Beard’s other children work for the Stafford County school system.)

Yellow Cab does a banner business shuttling customers to Dulles International and Reagan National airports. Many of their other transports are down to Fredericksburg, as well as into Spotsylvania and King George counties. Beard said the operation also helps people get to and from work and school, to court appearances and to medical appointments.

One rather Odyssean customer even asked to be driven to Ontario, Canada – then back again.

“We’ve had several long ones, but that’s our longest,” said Beard of the cross-border, 1,200-mile round trip run that likely ran up a small fortune in interstate tolls alone.

Like most service businesses, Yellow Cab faced a tremendous challenge when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in the spring of 2020. The company’s human services contract kept it afloat during the scary initial phase of infections that seemed to extend until mass vaccinations became available.

Even though Beard’s Interstate 95 customers have since returned, she says the company is having a new problem not uncommon to many business sectors: a surfeit of unfilled jobs.

“The customers who have come back are coming back, and we need the drivers to come back now,” Beard said, adding that the firm is eager to hire more folks to chauffeur her customers around.

Yellow Cab has an app, which works much like the more familiar ride-hailing varieties. Riders can enter their destination

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www.rappahannockareacsb.org into the app as well as the time and place of pickup, or even schedule one for later in the day. All forms of payment, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, are accepted via the app. Yellow Cab also offers corporate accounts for business customers, as well as student and senior discount packages.

“We’ve had our own apps since before Uber came out,” Beard said. But she added that many cab companies shot themselves in the foot by not adopting a “universal” taxi-hailing app early on, thereby allowing Lyft and Uber a way to siphon away many customers.

“All cab companies are locally owned and operated. There’s no ‘franchise,’” she said.

And Uber and Lyft can’t compete on the personalized service that Yellow Cab provides to its many repeat customers, she added.

“If for some reason we don’t have a cab in the area, we will make sure somebody gets you,” Beard said. “We do not hesitate to call a competitor if it’s a trip that we can’t service” – whether within Stafford or as far as the Great White North.

Running a small business was difficult long before the pandemic, but Beard says that Yellow Cab will continue to press on in the best traditions of entrepreneurship.

“It’s been hard and we’re just trying to keep going,” she said, adding that her business participates in community events around Stafford to connect with neighbors both near and far. “We’re family-owned and operated, [and] we try to make everyone feel like family.”

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

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SPORTS

HOMEFIELD ADVANTAGE North Stafford grad Joey Slye returns to his roots

BY DAVID FAWCE TT

J

oey Slye told his mother, Laura, he would do his own laundry. But Laura insisted.

Savoring the moment, she picked up the pile of clothes and plopped them in the washer with a grateful smile on her face. Her son was home – even if for just a short while.

After a circuitous journey as an injuryreplacement for the Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers during the 2021 regular season, Slye had moved back to Stafford County to live with his parents when the Washington Commanders signed him in November as their latest kicker.

Slye had the option of living closer to the Commanders’ training facility in Ashburn, but it made more sense to stay with his mom and dad in a familiar place. He spent the night at an Ashburn hotel only if a workout ran late.

Otherwise, Slye happily made the hour-long commute each way to work, while eating dinner with his parents and reluctantly

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Joey Slye, accompanied by his fiancée, Brittaney Nealis, signed a two-year contract with the Washington Commanders in April.

letting his mom wash his clothes or even buy groceries.

A close-knit group, neither party knew how long this arrangement might last so they took advantage of it as much as possible.

Then came the news this spring Slye and his parents hoped for. On April 11, Washington announced it had signed Slye to a two-year contract reportedly worth up to about $5 million, including $2 million in guarantees that makes him the Commanders’ starting kicker going into the preseason.

The multi-year deal, the first of Slye’s NFL career, gives him job security. The deal also keeps him with the team he prefers playing for. But as an added bonus, the deal allows him to remain close to his roots.

For all his travels as a kicker, first at Virginia Tech, followed by the NFL, Stafford was still his base.

It’s where Slye’s family moved in 2007 when the Air Force transferred his father, Dave, into the area. It’s where Slye gave up his dreams of playing linebacker in college based on

his undersized 5-foot-11 frame to become a kicker at North Stafford when his predecessor, Austin Grebe, told him he was next man up.

It’s where friends, teammates and coaches knew him as Joey, the kid who valued relationships and worked hard to maintain them no matter how long he’d been away.

His best friend is Myles Kennedy, a former North Stafford teammate. His second dad is Allan Henshaw, North Stafford’s strength and body teacher who coached football when Slye attended the school. And his fiancée, Brittaney Nealis, is a Colonial Forge graduate.

Slye will remain less than an hour away when he and Brittaney move back into the area. And when they do, prepare for some more dinners and more game-nights, a Slye staple.

It’s just who they are and what they do.

“As a military family, we always loved being together as a family,” said Laura, who has been a math teacher at North S TA F F O R D M AG A Z I N E

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Joey Slye played six games for Washington last season. He previously starred at Virginia Tech, where parents Dave and Laura joined him for a game (bottom photo).

THE JOEY SLYE FILE BORN:

April 10, 1996, in Albuquerque, N.M. HIGH SCHOOL:

North Stafford

COLLEGE:

Virginia Tech.

Made 78 of 108 field-goal attempts (72.2%) and 169 of 172 extra-point attempts (98.3%).

NFL CAREER:

2019: Carolina Panthers, 16 games, 25 of 32 in fieldgoal attempts 2020: Carolina Panthers, 16 games, 29 of 36 in fieldgoal attempts 2021: Houston Texans, 3 games, 4 of 5 in field-goal attempts San Francisco 49ers, 3 games, 7 of 8 in field-goal attempts Washington, 6 games, 12 of 12 in fieldgoal attempts

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Stafford since the family moved here. “We really like each other. Family is the most important thing to all of us.”

STAYING PATIENT

Slye first heard about his new Commanders’ contract right before he attended a rehearsal dinner near Staunton.

Slye was a member of the wedding party for Justin Field, one of his former North Stafford football teammates.

Slye couldn’t talk long when he called his parents to tell them the news. But he mentioned enough for everyone to breathe a collective sigh.

Slye established himself as a reliable kicker for

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Washington last fall after the team cut Dustin Hopkins and then Chris Blewitt. In six games, Slye converted all 12 of his field-goal attempts and was 9 for 10 in extra points. He missed three games with a hamstring injury suffered when he tried to tackle Seattle’s Rasheem Green after Green blocked a field goal. Call it a lesson learned.

“I tried to be an athlete when I’m not an athlete,” Slye said.

After the season, Slye had the option of going somewhere else when the Commanders initially tendered him a qualifying offer of $2.43 million that allowed them to match any offer from another NFL team.

Slye understood. This is still a business. Despite his success, the Commanders made no promises about bringing him back as their starting kicker. But Slye stayed patient, believing his body of work with Washington warranted not only an opportunity, but a long-term one.

He left the negotiations to his agent, Glenn Schwartzman, whom he credits with keeping him employed during the ups-and-downs of his NFL career.

Slye was used to one-year deals with no guarantees when he entered the NFL as the Carolina Panthers’ kicker in 2019 as an undrafted player out of college.

The New York Giants had already signed and then released him. So, too, had the San Diego Chargers, the Cleveland Browns and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Slye spent two seasons with the Panthers before they released him Aug. 28, 2021.

But Slye trusted Schwartzman to find the best situation for him.

“He has a great reputation around the league,” Slye said.

“One of the first things I noticed about him is how respected he is.”

When the contract came together, Slye saw it as a win-win. He received some things he wanted, as did the

Commanders.

“I wanted to have some security financially, but Washington’s investing in me,” Slye said. “It’s nice for both sides. We both benefit.”

Slye liked working with punter and holder Tress Way and long-snapper Camaron Cheeseman. He also had a good rapport with members of the Commanders’ organization, including head coach Ron Rivera, with whom he first crossed paths while playing for the Panthers.

But beyond football, Slye and Rivera have connected on other fronts. Both are from military families and have been impacted by cancer.

Rivera announced in August 2020 he had been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, a cancer in his neck. He underwent treatments during the 2020 season, and in January 2021 said he was cancer-free.

Slye lost his older brother, A.J., to leukemia. A.J., an all-state football player at North Stafford, was diagnosed in December 2012 and died Feb. 27, 2014. North Stafford’s football stadium is named in A.J.’s honor. Slye honors A.J. a number of ways, including with a tattoo on his right shoulder that shows a picture of he and A.J. holding hands the last time they played football together at North Stafford.

“I felt a little bit I could relate more,” Slye said of Rivera.

“To do what he did and show his face around the facility, it’s incredible. I have a lot of respect for him.”

NEXT STEPS

Slye and Brittaney first crossed paths in seventh grade.

They attended different schools, but stayed friends until they started dating after attending Virginia Tech together.

They plan to marry next April.

The Commanders’ decision to retain Slye will require some short-term adjusting for the couple. Brittaney moved a year ago to join Slye in Charlotte after she received her doctorate in physical therapy from Marymount University.

But it’s worth it. She’s now closer to her parents, who are Commanders’ season ticket holders and have a garage filled with Washington football mementoes.

And after bouncing around last year without any guarantees about the future, Slye is settled in familiar surroundings both professionally and personally.

“I wanted to stay with [Washington] and start a good career here and build on what I started,” Slye said.

David Fawcett is sports editor of InsideNoVa. You can reach him at dfawcett@insidenova.com.

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COMMUNITY

A Centennial T Celebration George Washington Foundation marks anniversary with local events

BY TR ACY BE LL

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he George Washington Foundation, which pays tribute to the legacy of America’s first president, is celebrating its centennial with a party that will continue all year long.

The 100th-year bash kicked off April 29 at George Washington’s Ferry Farm in south Stafford, with an event sponsored by the Schoonmaker Foundation that included patriotic, swing and jazz music from the Lester Lanin Orchestra as well as fireworks.

Lori Pikkaart, marketing and communications manager for the George Washington Foundation, said over 700 people attended the community gala. “It was great seeing people mingling, dancing, frequenting the food and beverage vendors,

Kenmore (left photo) was the home of George Washington’s sister and her husband, while Ferry Farm (bottom) features a replica of Washington’s boyhood home.

The centennial celebration included fireworks that were visible from Fredericksburg.

and just relaxing and enjoying themselves in a family-friendly setting.”

Residents across the river in Fredericksburg also set up lawn chairs to catch the fireworks, she added. The orchestra, renowned for playing at presidential inaugurations, was appropriate, as it played “in honor of our first president on the grounds of his boyhood home.”

Some guests had so much fun that they suggested the event become annual, said Pikkaart.

The George Washington Foundation, a nonprofit organization, strives to enhance the public’s understanding and appreciation of George Washington, his family and legacy. The foundation achieves this, in

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part, by maintaining local Washington family landmarks, including Ferry Farm, George Washington’s boyhood home – and Kenmore, where his sister, Betty Washington Lewis, and her husband, Fielding Lewis, lived.

Kenmore and Ferry Farm take in over 90,000 visitors a year, said Pikkaart – “more now that we have the reconstructed Washington House,” a replica that opened in 2018. Ferry Farm and Historic Kenmore are open daily from March through December.

The George Washington Foundation will continue to hold centennial activities and programs, including a Fourth of July celebration.

“We plan to bring back fan favorites in activities, as well as add new ones,” Pikkaart said.

Robert Johnson, director of advancement for the foundation, said visitors to Kenmore may want to check out a new exhibit in the Bissell Gallery: “Here’s to the Ladies: A Century of Preservation at Historic Kenmore.”

At Ferry Farm, in addition to tours of the Washington House, there is an archaeology camp, he said, and Camp George vs. George – two summer activities popular for children.

Over the years, Ferry Farm and Kenmore have been the focus of extensive archaeological research and preservation projects. Visitors to the grounds can, at times, see archaeological digs, tour the grounds, gardens and properties, take in an artifact conservation laboratory and visit exhibits.

Right now, there’s an archaeological dig going on through July 29, Pikkaart said.

One exhibit explores how Kenmore was saved by the Kenmore Association, which later became the George Washington

Ferry Farm offers a number of summer activities, including an archaeology camp.

Celebrate the foundation’s 100th year Visit Ferry Farm, 268 King’s Highway, Stafford Visit Kenmore, 1201 Washington Ave., Fredericksburg

Independence Day celebration: Colonial games, tours of the Washington House, crafts, food trucks – including local favorite Juan More Taco – educational tables, a macaroni selfie station (think “Yankee Doodle Dandy”), archaeologists, dig sites, re-enactors, a day-long encampment and a look at military units in history.

Foundation. In fact, 100 years ago, a group of women led the effort to preserve and save Kenmore from commercial development and instead used the historical site to foster education and retain a bit of history.

In 1996, the same group helped save

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from the history books because of his time at Ferry Farm, Pikkaart said.

“He spent his formative years here, and while some might think he sprouted fully formed at Mount Vernon, he worked hard to learn and hone the skills he applied to the formation of the United States,” she said.

One visitor commented that one of the foundation’s movies on the lawn was reminiscent of being at a drive-in movie theater. The film, related to American history, was viewed on the grounds of an 18th century historic site.

“That’s a win for us in education,” Pikkaart said.

Ferry Farm from the same fate, preserving the place along the Rappahannock River where George Washington grew up.

Over the years the properties have gone through restoration, archaeological excavations and discoveries, including in 2003, remnants of the Washington House at Ferry Farm.

People who visit the two sites will leave armed with new information. For example, according to Pikkaart, George Washington’s favorite subject was math. And while the tale about Washington chopping down the cherry tree is commonly known, there are other misconceptions, she noted.

Many visitors don’t realize that Washington became the figure we all know

Tracy Bell is a freelancer living in Stafford County.

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NONPROFITS

Granting Special Wishes Make-A-Wish chapter grateful for volunteers to help critically-ill children

BY TR ACY BE LL

A

swing set, a golf cart, a puppy, a celebrity greeting, a Super Bowl trip – even a flight in a fighter jet.

They’re all dreams that have helped brighten life for seriously ill children, and the local chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation hopes more people will help make such wishes come true. Sometimes small wishes make all the difference, and other times the dreams are big.

Make-A-Wish grants wishes for children who have been diagnosed with a critical illness and are between 2½ and 18 years old.

Make-A-Wish was founded in 1980 in Phoenix, Ariz., and its Greater Virginia chapter was started in 1987. Since then, the chapter has granted more than 5,300 wishes to local children. The chapter is based in Richmond, but its service area includes Stafford.

Caroline Browell, marketing and communications director for Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia, said that the chapter is still building its long-term volunteer team in the Stafford and Fredericksburg areas, and could use more people willing to help.

“When people think of Make-A-Wish, they often think of us granting wishes for children with pediatric cancer, which we certainly do, but we serve children with a range of medical diagnoses, including critical cardiac, pulmonary, genetic conditions and much more,” Browell said.

Around half of the children eligible to be recipients from Make-A-Wish have

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Ben is a University of Virginia fan, and his wish was for a basketball court.

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pediatric cancer, according to the national group. While some wish recipients are terminally ill, others are not; however, they have typically been in and out of hospitals during their lifetimes or face extremely difficult medical challenges.

“COVID-19 caused a lot of isolation and differences because of the pandemic, but children facing tough medical roads have been going through it for much longer,” Browell said.

The chapter’s most critical need is for wish-granter volunteers, as well as bilingual volunteers.

“Wish-granter volunteers work in pairs directly with wish families and then with our office as we work on the details and logistics of the wish,” Browell said. “A really vital part of the volunteer role is to stay in touch with the wish child and family and help build the anticipation and hope throughout the wish journey.”

One Stafford resident volunteered to be a wish-granter because her daughter, facing severe epilepsy, once received her own wish in the form of a trip to Walt Disney World.

Wish recipients from this area have included Ben, a 5-year-old in fragile health, and a teenager named Mark who’s battling

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lymphoma. (Make-A-Wish does not provide the last names of wish recipients for privacy reasons.)

Ben, a fan of University of Virginia basketball, saw his wish for a sport court come true. It came along with a car parade and visits from well-wishers, volunteers, a fire and police crew and his medical team. Meanwhile, Mark, who is interested in aviation, flew in a fighter jet, with the same dips, flips and turns that any pilot would experience.

One wish-granter volunteer, Iris Radom of Chesapeake, said her children are grown so she wanted to give back to other children facing difficulties. She signed up for training with a few of her work colleagues, and the group has volunteered together since 2016.

“I have been a part of 12 amazing wishes and each one has impacted me in a profound way. From a wish to be a mermaid to a wish to go to the Super Bowl and many in between,” she said, “It’s been so fun to see what creative things kids wish for.”

Radom said she can’t think of a better way to spend her free time, and it’s a rewarding way to volunteer. She especially loves hearing from the families and seeing photos after wishes are granted.

“Being a part of a child’s wish from

start to finish is something I never take for granted,” she said. “Seeing the joy of the child from the moment they first share their wish to the day the wish is granted and beyond is an incredible experience.”

Training sessions for wish-granter volunteers are held throughout the year and are currently virtual.

Wish-granters conduct an interview to help discover the child’s wish, then stay in touch with the family through phone calls, texts, postcards and their own creative ways. Later, the volunteer’s role will depend on the wish, as he or she sometimes helps with the logistics.

Wish-granter volunteers are not required to donate money, Browell said, although they sometimes help by soliciting in-kind donations of items for wish celebrations.

Browell said the pandemic has made travel more difficult for wish recipients, especially because of their often-fragile immune systems, so Make-A-Wish has found other ways to grant wishes.

Other volunteers help with fundraising, office work or at events. On May 21, Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia held its eighth Walk For Wishes in Richmond to raise money. The event’s registration page

Wish-granters can facilitate a variety of wishes for recipients. featured 7-year-old Diego, who has a brain tumor but wants to be a web designer.

Medical eligibility for wish recipients is established by Make-A-Wish’s national office, and the local chapter works with the child’s medical team to provide information.

Referrals over who receives wishes are often made by medical professionals, but parents or guardians are also encouraged to begin a referral process by visiting Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia’s website under “refer.”

Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia encourages more wish-granters to join them so they can help more children.

“The most important thing is to have a love of our mission,” Browell said, “and a willingness to be a part of the wish journey all the way through.”

Tracy Bell is a freelancer living in Stafford County.

To become a volunteer wish-granter with the foundation, learn about volunteering in other ways or facilitate a potential wish, visit wish.org/va.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

North Stafford student honored for artwork

Barley Naked named state’s best craft brewery

A

North Stafford High School student received a $1,000 scholarship for her artwork at the Stafford Education Foundation’s spring gala in May. The event, titled “An Evening with the Stafford Stars,” showcased fine and performing arts student talent from across Stafford County schools.

Sophomore Mayte Vasquez Acosta (photo at left) received the scholarship for her artworks titled “Soldier

Hug” and “JFK.” Education foundation board member Vernon Green Jr. said, “This evening was a wonderful showcase of talent. Mayte’s artworks are a representation of the talent within Stafford County Public Schools and we look forward to seeing her continue to develop her craft.”

About 150 people attended the event, which featured nine student artists and more than 30 student vocal, dance, monologue, or instrumental performances. The Mountain View High School Jazz Band and Stafford Awkward Pause Improv Team also performed.

S

tafford-based Barley Naked Brewing Company has been named the Best Craft Brewery in Virginia, based on an analysis by NewsNation Now of all craft brewery Yelp reviews across the nation.

The list took into consideration not only the beer of each establishment, but also the ambiance and service of each brewery, according to a news release. Barley Naked was listed among craft beer giants like Allagash Brewing Company, Samuel Adams Brewery, and Dogfish Head Craft Brewery.

Barley Naked’s other accolades include a bronze medal from the Great American Beer Festival, winning the title of Best Brewery in Northern Virginia from Northern Virginia Magazine, as well as being voted Best Bar and Best Happy Hour in Stafford Magazine.

Embrey Mill introduces new age-qualified community

E

mbrey Mill, an 819-acre master-planned community in North Stafford, has introduced an active-adult community called Cascades at Embrey Mill.

The community for residents aged 55 and older features townhouse and elevator flats from builders Miller & Smith and Drees Homes.

Miller & Smith is building 78 units with prices starting at $469,990. The two-level townhomes have 2,028 to 2,756 square feet of living space, including three bedrooms, 2½ baths and an optional walkout basement.

Drees Homes will offer six elevator flat options ranging from 1,428 to 1,613 square feet. The 168 singlestory apartments will feature two- and three-bedroom options, two baths and a one-car garage.

The clubhouse, Cascade Club, is slated to open this summer and will include an event kitchen, yoga and weight room, game room and sundeck. Additional features include pickleball and bocce ball courts, fire pits and oversized chess boards.

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Stafford

Visit InsideNoVa.com for more news from around the region.

2021 MAGAZINE

School system honors top employees

S

s@hotmail. s.com • rockiemaid 7 • rockiemaid 540-497-153

culpepert imes.com

Local News. Region

High school football players can buy their own helmet

Halloween events fill fun weekend

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VOL. 7 | NUM. 44

142nd Year •

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ay concer CRI hosts 3rd Thursd t! 12 downtown tonigh

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FREE!

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Changes in store for county board

th th June 20 - 26 2019 newspaper in Culpeper.

The most widely

WWW.INSIDENOVA.COM

OCTOBER 25-31, 2019

distributed

With several open seats and uncontested races, there will already be several new faces on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors after November’s elections. Here are the candidates on the ballot. (i) indicates an incumbent

Pete Candland, Republican (i) Danny Funderburk, Democrat Ruth Anderson, Republican (i) Kenny Allen Boddye, Democrat Victor Angry, Democrat (i)

Jeanine Lawson, Republican (i) Maggie Hansford, Democrat Yesli Vega, Republican Raheel Sheikh, Democrat Douglas Taggart, Republican Andrea Bailey, Democrat

Margaret Franklin, Democrat

EMILY SIDES

esides@insidenova.com

he Prince William Board of County Supervisors is guaranteed to have at least four new members following the Nov. 5 election. But the decision that voters make at the ballot box will still have major re» Dumfries voters percussions. to weigh region’s They’ll deterfirst gaming parlor mine whether PAGE 20 three incum» NOV. 1: Next week’s bents are able to paper will include a keep their seats. complete election They’ll decide guide whether Democrats flip a 6-2 Republican majority. And the decision at the ballot box could change the gender and racial makeup of the board, potentially ushering in a majority of women supervisors and a majority of minority members for a board that was all white and mostly men just nine months ago.

Supervisors serve four-year terms, set

INSIDE:

HHT Awareness month

Area

D

PAGE 4

evelopers have plans for a large mixed-use development on U.S. 1 with the $19.1 million purchase of the Station Plaza shopping center at the

PHOTO BY JEFF SAY

corner18with Va. 123 in Woodbridge. mobile Earlier this month, Grace Street Prop10 | Martin's goes

erties bought the shopping center on 13 acres anchored by Food Lion and BThrifty and across the busy highway from

IL 2019

SUPER PARKS

premiere !

issue

the VRE and Amtrak station, said George Boosalis, the president of Boosalis Properties, which represented Grace Street Properties in the purchase.

Boosalis said developing the site plan will take anywhere from three to five years with construction starting after that. The development will still have to go through the process of getting permits from the county.

The owners want to work with the cur-

SUPERVISORS

By John McCaslin

Rappahannock

Homeschooli

(703) 494-2000

www.mountcastle.net

PRINCE WILLIAM TODAY

4143 Dale Blvd., Dale City, VA 22193

News staff

when you have to

WOODBRIDGE

MYSTERY OF CLOVER HILL Child’s remains

continuously hit rural districts at inequitable proportions.

See SCHOOLS,

Page 9

found in attic

By John McCaslin

Rappahannock

ttics are like graveyards, where sentimental treasures are placed in boxes and plastic and shoved into bags of parting to be dark corners, allowing the pain postponed for Photo albums another day. and love letters, cowboy boots, comic books and tea forgotten for futuresets and violins — all better the dust and deal generations to brush aside with.

Most attic stashes consist of the

is very hard

make cuts enrollment PAGE 3 while the state based on formulas funding

The county’s plan for North Woodbridge calls for increased density in the area near the VRE. The Prince William Board of County Supervisors voted 7-0 on Oct. 8 to approve the North Woodbridge plan, which outlines future land use and plans for a town center and urban neighborhoods that will have walkability and access to mass transit, according to

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rent tenants to see if they want to lease space in the new development or another shopping center the company owns, Boosalis said.

Grace Street Properties plans to build 2 million square feet for a mixed-used development, which will include retail space for lease. The developer wants to work with the county to consider a pedestrian bridge from the development to the VRE and Amtrak station across U.S. 1.

$1

Meanwhile, of the students attend who do

GAINESVILLE DISTRICT

Stafford esides@insidenova.com

BY JEFF SAY ON

Melvin Jones winners

M A R C H

MARCH-APR

‘Your heart rate

of historic home News staff

typical family clutter. Some prove valuable historic. Then if not there are those the rafters and rare finds beneath cobwebs that are downright shocking and creepy. As was the case this past year in the musty attic of Sperryville Pike, Clover Hill on herdsman Rich where Eldon Farms’ longtime Bradley stumbled upon the See

MYSTERY, Page 12 goes up, and you immediately start why is this here? thinking What happened?’

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Celebrating 20 years, Kid Pan Alley looks to a bright future

SUBSCRIBE@INSIDENOVA.COM CALL: 703-318-1386

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Founder Paul Reisler has a plan: “We decided we wanted to keep it going past what I can do.” 6

INTRODUCING ASHBURN MAGAZINE

This week

COURTHOUS E ROW ................8 EVENTS .........................

LETTERS ..................................16 ........14 MEETINGS & NOTICES SCHOOLS ............................... 17 .......10

SIX KEYS

to Winning the War for Talent

See the unique features planned for two sites in our backyard.

Meet Chalk The Trace It Ashburn / orley K E TMcS M A R Up H A Y Pub V I L L E

M

anhattan Pizza planned to open its newest location in the Publix shopping center near Embrey Mill in late May. The regional chain’s 16th location is at 1610 Publix Way, Suite 101.

“We are so excited to be open for business in the great county of Stafford,” said Jack Azar, CEO of Manhattan Pizza. “We have been working long and hard on this project, and it is awesome to see it come to fruition.”

The location will have a streamlined operation geared toward dine-in, carry-out, online ordering and call-in orders, according to a news release. The menu will feature all the classic favorites, as well as the chain’s handmade gelato.

2 | Results of Piedmont

EMILY SIDES

➤ SEE STORY

| Lions Club honors Soap Box Derby 6

RY F E B R U A

Dusty work of an amazing local artist

S G A I N E Y L E L I F E S T Where everybody knows your name

2 0 2 2

WATER

INSIDENOVA

Manhattan Pizza opens new location

➤ Health: June is

LEADING THE WAY

KO N M A R I S • C LO S E T

O C T O B E R 17, 2019

ng in Rappahanno county policies, plan the county’s budget County has nearly ck and serve on local and regional boards. to 2019 — from doubled from 2014 34 to 62 students, jump of 82 percent.

Here’s a look at each race: a

public schools Supervisor Pete Candland, R-Gaines- nock very in Rappahanfew ville, said he doesn’t support the road to new figures.are drop outs, according bond referendum, which will ask voters An estimated 7 percent of the counto approve or deny allowing the county to ty’s student-age population are now borrow up to $355 million for transporta-learning their lessons in a home settion projects, including $200 million forting, according to new statistics the from either a bypass or to widen Va. Route 28. Virginia Department of Education.

Given the uniqueness Candland said the process was politicallytion of educain Rappahanno ck County, motivated, proposed without analysis of unlike much of Virginia the where which projects would help the most peopopulation is declining, how student a concern is ple and how the real estate property tax it to the school much of which relies district, rate will be affected. heavily that more students on state funds, “I’ve asked several times about what are being chooled? We put that questionhomesthis will mean for tax bills,” Candland cent days to in reDr. Shannon said. superintende Grimsley, nt of Rappahanno The Prince William Board of County County Public ck Schools.

Supervisors has a policy to not increase“Am I concerned about declining enrollment? its operating budget more than 3.5% each Of course,” she “We've come year while also planning revenue increasa long way with replied. increases for capital projects, such as the ing $43 services and dents and familiesprograms to our stumillion for the expansion of the Adult and that

Station Plaza to become mixed-use development after $19.1M sale

N A DA L D E N E M PA S TA R S • G O T E E N R U G BY

T H U R S DAY ,

State figures released: Very few RCPS students are drop outs

Elections will result in at least four new supervisors

T

rappnews.com

No. 43

Homeschooling nearly doubles since 2014

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tafford County Public Schools has named its 20212022 Persons of the Year in instructional and service positions. At a dinner held in their honor, the following individuals were recognized as a division-wide Persons of the Year: • TIFFANI BROWN, Administrative Support Person of the Year, Stafford High School • CAROLINA HALL, Instructional Support Person of the Year, Kate Waller Barrett Elementary School • KEVIN LYNCH, Teacher of the Year, Shirley C. Heim Middle School • MELISSA RIVERA, Professional & Technical Support Person of the Year, Widewater Elementary School • SARAH SCHROEDER, Bandy Service Person of the Year, Alvin York Bandy Administrative Complex • KAYLA SLOAN, First Class Teacher of the Year, Mountain View High School • DIANA SMITHEY, Counselor of the Year, Rodney E. Thompson Middle School • DR. JAMES STEMPLE, Principal of the Year, Mountain View High School • STEFANIE SULLIVAN, Assistant Principal of the Year, Mountain View High School • JEAN WATTS, Service Support Person of the Year, Stafford High School

Briar Woods grad football talks life outside

FAITHFUL FRIENDS: Meet Our Pet Community’s Power Trio LOCAL HERO: Renee Small and Hope and Serenity Farm Sanctuary; loving and caring for 2017 rescues since OUR NEIGHBORS: and Erin DeSalvo Acorns to Oaks Childcare offers education, fun, to and lots of love our little ones

Meet Duke

WORLDS 10 great places to explore

+

FEBRUARY

Embracin Apprenticg eshi The time is now ps

2022

W A R R E N T O N L I F E S T Y L E

on a spring weekend

JOHNNY MAC SOLDIER S FUND Honoring the fallen one scholarship at a time ROADMA P TO RESKILL ING WORKER S Retooling educational and training programs to meet the demands the technologof y industry

FALL 2021 |

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CIDER IS HOT º PICK YOUR OWN FARMS º SPRING RECIPES

Annual Pet Issue!

Meet Pet Contest winner Jackson, K9s of Fauquier County, out of the ordinary pets, and Fauquier Health’s Pet Therapy program volunteers

Valentines Day is coming: Where to eat and what to cook Musical Tour de Force: Local performer and teacher Peyton Tochterman From Zimbabwe to Warrenton: Author Lynn Brooke

for Cutest Pet! Your Choice

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

For more information, please call 703-318-1386

S TA F F O R D M AG A Z I N E

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EVENTS

Summer Events

Here are some events planned in and around Stafford over the next couple of months. For a complete listing of regional events, visit InsideNoVa.com/calendar.

FLAGS FOR HEROES Through June 15 U.S. 1 in front of Stafford courthouse northstaffordrotary.org

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STAFFORD HOSPITAL FARMERS MARKET Through September First Wednesday of each month, 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

101 Hospital Center Blvd., Stafford

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STAFFORD SCHOOLS’ MOBILE ENROLLMENT Staples, 295 Worth Ave., Stafford June 11, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. staffordschools.net

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ADOPTION EVENT Petsmart, Stafford Marketplace June 11, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. petsmart.com

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COLONIAL FAIR

FREDNATS VS. LYNCHBURG HILLCATS AND FIREWORKS

Historic Kenmore June 11, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

1205 Washington Ave., Fredericksburg

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KIDS’ ROCKNOCEROS CONCERT

Potomac Point Winery, Stafford June 18, noon to 6 p.m.

Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center, Woodbridge (near Orvis) June 22, July 6 (Rocknoceros), June 29, July 20 (Oh Susannah), 10 a.m.

POTOMAC POINT WINERY: 15-YEAR CELEBRATION potomacpointwinery.com

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stoneridgeptc.com

ARCHAEOLOGY CAMP Ages 7-12 George Washington’s Ferry Farm July 18-22, 9 a.m. to noon 268 Kings Hwy., Stafford 540-370-0732; simpletix.com

8K BELLEAU WOOD RACE marinemarathon.com

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Mark Lenzi Pool at Curtis Memorial Park June 24, 6:30 to 8 p.m.

George Washington’s Ferry Farm, Stafford July 4, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

RED, WHITE & POOL

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kenmore.org

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John Lee Pratt Memorial Park July 4, 6 to 10 p.m.

July 4, 7:30 a.m.

Fredericksburg Visitor Center 706 Caroline St., Fredericksburg

// S TA F F O R D M AG A Z I N E

FABULOUS 4TH AT FERRY FARM

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staffordparks.com

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4thFXGBcraftshow@gmail.com or 540-369-3592

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4TH OF JULY SPECTACULAR

Marine Corps Base Quantico June 22, 7:45 a.m.

Sophia Street, Fredericksburg July 4, 2 to 8 p.m.

5-mile run, parade, festival, music

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staffordparks.com

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FOURTH IN FREDERICKSBURG ARTS & CRAFTS

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FALLEN HEROES 5-MILER

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July 4, 4:30 p.m. with fireworks after the game Fredericksburg Nationals Ballpark milb.com/fredericksburg

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WINSHAPE CAMP Mount Ararat Church, Stafford July 11-15, all day Mtararat.org or camps.winshape.org

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VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL July 18-22, 9 a.m. to noon Rock Hill Baptist Church 12 Van Horn Lane, Stafford rockhillbaptistchurch.org

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JEFF DUNHAM’S “SERIOUSLY?” TOUR Aug. 7, 3 p.m.

Virginia Credit Union Stadium, Fredericksburg frednatsconcerts.com

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VOTING BEGINS SOON!

Stafford

2022 MAGAZINE

Watch InsideNoVa’s Facebook page and InsideNoVa.com for details Want to give your business a leg up?

Contact us at cfields@insidenova.com.

//

VOICES

Squirrels were once popular pets here

BY DAVID S. KE RR

I

must confess, while many of my neighbors and friends consider squirrels a nuisance and a bother, I like them – a lot. Some people see them as little thieves who rob their bird feeder. I understand.

My solution, being fond of squirrels, is to buy plenty of bird seed for the birds and plenty of peanuts, the industrial quality, for the squirrels. That way everyone is happy.

I enjoy squirrels’ antics, can’t believe their acrobatics and have always felt a special connection to them. Yeah, I know – a little weird.

However, I have a few examples. One morning, years ago, when I lived in Aquia Harbour, I was running for School Board. Midmorning on a Saturday I was leaving the house to go door-knocking. That’s when a squirrel blocked my path on my sidewalk and, standing on his hind legs, began a fearless chatter directed solely at me. I had no idea that squirrels took local politics or educational policy so seriously. I have never had an experience like it before or since.

When I was little, I was warned that squirrels are wild animals and

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should be treated as such. I have always taken that advice to heart.

They are wild, and because they can’t see what’s immediately in front of them (their eyes are positioned to focus on threats from their periphery) they tend to bite very easily. So feeding squirrels by hand is not a good idea.

However, here’s something you probably didn’t know: In colonial Stafford, our local gray squirrels were frequently kept as pets. Squirrels being squirrels, I suppose their owners were bitten from time to time. But, other than dogs and cats, squirrels were among the most popular pets of colonial times. People took them for walks, kept them in cages, let them roam around the house, and even had harnesses and leashes made for them. While never domesticated, like dogs and cats, they were considered tame.

This trend, to some degree, continues to this day. One of my old friends, a retired Stafford farmer in Hartwood, had a pet squirrel. In the morning, my friend would sit on his front porch, drink coffee and read the paper, all while his faithful squirrel companion sat or slept beside him. It was charming.

One of my favorite squirrel stories concerned my old Toyota Highlander.

I was convinced the transmission was broken. I could barely move the shifting lever, and it made a grinding noise. But it wasn’t metallic. I took it to the dealer, and they figured it out.

When I came to pick up the car, they gave me a bill for $10 – for vacuuming out the gearbox – and a plastic bag full of broken acorns. To this day we

J U N E /J U LY 2 0 2 2

“I enjoy squirrels’ antics, can’t believe their acrobatics and have always felt a special connection to them. Yeah, I know – a little weird.” can’t imagine how my furry little friends managed to get into such an inaccessible spot.

In Stafford we’re used to gray squirrels. But did you know we have black squirrels in the region, too?

Though I am not necessarily sure we have them in Stafford yet. Way back in 1909, 12 black squirrels were brought from their native habitat in Canada for observation by the Smithsonian Institution. When the wildlife biologists were done studying their Canadian friends, they let them go in Rock Creek Park. I don’t know how many there are now.

I guess they’re not an ambitious subspecies and by my estimation are migrating south at an incredibly slow rate. There are a lot in Northern Virginia, including some in Prince William, but I have yet to see one in Stafford. But they’ll be here someday.

If anyone has seen a black squirrel in Stafford, let me know. That would be big news.

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.

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