Front Porch Fredericksburg - May 2014
32
front porch YEAR 17 • ISSUE 202 • MAY 2014 Frontporchfredericksburg.com THE REGION 'S free COMMUNITY MAGAZINE z Local Good News Since 1997 YOUR GUIDE TO THE LOCAL GOOD LIFE
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Transcript of Front Porch Fredericksburg - May 2014
front porchYEAR 17 • ISSUE 202 • MAY 2014 Frontporchfredericksburg.com
T H E R E G I O N ' S free C O M M U N I T Y M A G A Z I N ELocal Good News Since 1997
Y O U R G U I D E T O T H E L O C A L G O O D L I F E
front porch fredericksburg May 2014 32 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg
Cover photo Bob martin
con
ten
ts closeups
6 Carol HueberEducator Advocate
11 My Home Girl G... Going Strong at 99
28 Missy Pixton... Mental ealth advocate
porch talk4 on the porch...life in fredericksburg
Messages
..5 Quiet Moments: what one person can doPeople & Cmmuity: Downtown Greens
.7 Wearable art Summer CampsA Graced Eye....Poetry
8 mindful living: bill brooks
9 VA Wineries... Playgrounds for grownups
10stafford 350: Land grab of’42 My own path
12 Vino: chardonnay, queen of summerCooking with kyle
13 season’s bounty: may day
15 will power: all about beer
16-17 Calendar of events
18 Our Heritage: religious revival of 1863history’s stories.: jane howison & braehead manor
20 companions: is your dog’s back out of whack?
21 autoknown better: april shower’s brings what?hollyburg: oscars live among us
22 Senior Care: safe today, healthy tomorrow
23 wellness: weighty problemsfxbg wellness wonderland
24 art in the burg: carol waite
25 scene & heard...in the ‘burg!
26 fxbg music scene
27 community link: community give
28 Renew Your Strength
31 protocols
...And more!3 Community Catch: simson & kirklighter
14 spotlight on kickshaw market
19 Little Burg, Big World: Sister Cities
30 A gardener’s delight
6
14
26
Fredericksburg is a great place tolive. We share a sense of community,family, and service. Richard Simpson, fromKing George and one of our greatestpersonalities, teamed up with SeanKirklighter, originally from Stafford, topromote the newest of our communityfocused programs not sponsored byanyone but our own community;Fredericksburg Community Catch.
Just out of the Army, Sean foundhimself at odds with civilian life.Permanently disabled, the less structurecivilian world presented manyopportunities for frustration. Sean’s bankmoving their location left Sean drivingaround for hours talking to a customerservice representative who suggested hedrive to the branch in Richmond. “It mademe angry. Their own people didn’t knowwhere the new location was!” He visited hiswife at her work. The end result was morefrustration and a wife whom bore thebrunt, for which he later apologized.
Eventually, Sean found the newlocation. He recounted, “I was still upset,even at the bank. The adjustment period ishard.” On the way out of the bank,Richard called Sean where Sean shared hisfrustrations and personal transgression. “Ican’t change (the way I feel). They are notbeing fast enough for me.” Richard keenlyadvised Sean to “get your glove and meetme at (the park).”
Sean and Richard spent the nexthour playing catch. The result was atransformation from the frustrations ofthe now, to the fond, familiar memories ofyester year. Sean said, “(catch) was likesunshine and hotdogs; Even like riding mybike to every game.” Within minutesRichard noted Sean’s change. “It was likehanding a man a coloring book withouttaking away his masculinity.” At the end ofthat day, they thought others couldbenefit.
From December till the first“Community Catch” day on April 6, theyhave been collecting gear. “Matt Matter,Eli Poole, B.K., and others have really stoodup,” smiled Richard. Sean added, “the goalis to get people outside and interactingwith others in the community.” They haveconnected with Big Brothers and BigSisters as well as other groups. “We will beplaying catch all summer, as long as theweather is not horrible, every Sunday atMaury park next to Maury stadium on thecorner of William street and KenmoreAvenue from 1-3p. Come join us!” As arecent participant, I second that motion!Come meet your neighbors and play catch.
Kyle Snyder is always on the lookout forcommunity gatherings.
Fredericksburg Community CatchGet your glove and meet me at the park
By Kyle Snyder
Spring On Down
Our Joe is Blooming!
Lexi Grogan’s Pet Sitting Service
“Your pet becomes my petwhile in my care, and I care alot!” - Lexi (540-903-0437;
[email protected]) On facebook as
“lexi grogan’s pet sitting service”
Prices:Dogs - $15 per canine per visitCats - $12 per feline per visit
Better value, more love for your pet than if you
kennel board him!
540.226.9937 praacctgtaxes.com
Accounting Solutions ALLYEAR ROUND
Quickbooks Pro AdvisorTax Services PayrollBusiness Start Ups
Non Profits
front porch fredericksburg May 2014 32 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg
Cover photo Bob martin
con
ten
ts closeups
6 Carol HueberEducator Advocate
11 My Home Girl G... Going Strong at 99
28 Missy Pixton... Mental ealth advocate
porch talk4 on the porch...life in fredericksburg
Messages
..5 Quiet Moments: what one person can doPeople & Cmmuity: Downtown Greens
.7 Wearable art Summer CampsA Graced Eye....Poetry
8 mindful living: bill brooks
9 VA Wineries... Playgrounds for grownups
10stafford 350: Land grab of’42 My own path
12 Vino: chardonnay, queen of summerCooking with kyle
13 season’s bounty: may day
15 will power: all about beer
16-17 Calendar of events
18 Our Heritage: religious revival of 1863history’s stories.: jane howison & braehead manor
20 companions: is your dog’s back out of whack?
21 autoknown better: april shower’s brings what?hollyburg: oscars live among us
22 Senior Care: safe today, healthy tomorrow
23 wellness: weighty problemsfxbg wellness wonderland
24 art in the burg: carol waite
25 scene & heard...in the ‘burg!
26 fxbg music scene
27 community link: community give
28 Renew Your Strength
31 protocols
...And more!3 Community Catch: simson & kirklighter
14 spotlight on kickshaw market
19 Little Burg, Big World: Sister Cities
30 A gardener’s delight
6
14
26
Fredericksburg is a great place tolive. We share a sense of community,family, and service. Richard Simpson, fromKing George and one of our greatestpersonalities, teamed up with SeanKirklighter, originally from Stafford, topromote the newest of our communityfocused programs not sponsored byanyone but our own community;Fredericksburg Community Catch.
Just out of the Army, Sean foundhimself at odds with civilian life.Permanently disabled, the less structurecivilian world presented manyopportunities for frustration. Sean’s bankmoving their location left Sean drivingaround for hours talking to a customerservice representative who suggested hedrive to the branch in Richmond. “It mademe angry. Their own people didn’t knowwhere the new location was!” He visited hiswife at her work. The end result was morefrustration and a wife whom bore thebrunt, for which he later apologized.
Eventually, Sean found the newlocation. He recounted, “I was still upset,even at the bank. The adjustment period ishard.” On the way out of the bank,Richard called Sean where Sean shared hisfrustrations and personal transgression. “Ican’t change (the way I feel). They are notbeing fast enough for me.” Richard keenlyadvised Sean to “get your glove and meetme at (the park).”
Sean and Richard spent the nexthour playing catch. The result was atransformation from the frustrations ofthe now, to the fond, familiar memories ofyester year. Sean said, “(catch) was likesunshine and hotdogs; Even like riding mybike to every game.” Within minutesRichard noted Sean’s change. “It was likehanding a man a coloring book withouttaking away his masculinity.” At the end ofthat day, they thought others couldbenefit.
From December till the first“Community Catch” day on April 6, theyhave been collecting gear. “Matt Matter,Eli Poole, B.K., and others have really stoodup,” smiled Richard. Sean added, “the goalis to get people outside and interactingwith others in the community.” They haveconnected with Big Brothers and BigSisters as well as other groups. “We will beplaying catch all summer, as long as theweather is not horrible, every Sunday atMaury park next to Maury stadium on thecorner of William street and KenmoreAvenue from 1-3p. Come join us!” As arecent participant, I second that motion!Come meet your neighbors and play catch.
Kyle Snyder is always on the lookout forcommunity gatherings.
Fredericksburg Community CatchGet your glove and meet me at the park
By Kyle Snyder
Spring On Down
Our Joe is Blooming!
Lexi Grogan’s Pet Sitting Service
“Your pet becomes my petwhile in my care, and I care alot!” - Lexi (540-903-0437;
[email protected]) On facebook as
“lexi grogan’s pet sitting service”
Prices:Dogs - $15 per canine per visitCats - $12 per feline per visit
Better value, more love for your pet than if you
kennel board him!
540.226.9937 praacctgtaxes.com
Accounting Solutions ALLYEAR ROUND
Quickbooks Pro AdvisorTax Services PayrollBusiness Start Ups
Non Profits
With spring finally makingserious inroads, it’s exciting to see somuch growth in the gardens at DowntownGreens, our local Community Greenspace.Located at the intersection where CharlesStreet meets Dixon Street in downtownFredericksburg, this local, non-profitorganization, founded in the 90s statesthat their mission is “...to fostercommunity involvement and growth byprotecting and nurturing urbangreenspace through collaborativeenvironmental stewardship andexperiential education.”
Spring is a time for both renewaland new growth and at DTG there aremany things sprouting. Led by SarahPerry, who took over as Director lastSeptember and with a new Office Manager,Katya Hvizdos, the organization has a fullprogram of activities and eventsgerminating for community gardeners,volunteers, and staff. Newly introducedthis year is their Youth Gardening Club,which meets every Tuesday from 4-5pm.Children return each week, from “seed toharvest” and share in the work, learningas they do to care for the flowers andproduce they grow themselves. DowntownGreens hopes that by “..bringing theminto the garden that is in theirbackyard...”, they will gain an appreciationfor “what is theirs.”It takes both volunteers and otherresources to keep this greenspaceblooming, and fundraising is a necessaryand fun part. Two great opportunities arecoming in May. First, plan on making apledge during the Community Give event,a day of online giving. Visitwww.bit.ly/downtowngreensGIVE14 onMay 6, 2014 and you can aid DowntownGreens and maximize your donation bygiving them a chance to win cash prizes!Then make sure that you attend their
17th annual Fork-It-Over Festival on May17th. This outdoor community event willinclude a garden rummage sale, a silentauction, a plant sale and more! Interactiveexhibition booths, a wading pool, cool
crafts, juggling, make-your-ownsmoothies, food and snacks and, of course,great live music all day! This event hasbecome a perennial favorite!
Realizing that it takes more thanplants and compost to grow a communityDowntown Greens has been hard at workcreating their own musical group.Members of the Marenje Marimba YouthEnsemble, which has been meeting forseveral years, are now working withZimbabwean musicians and writing theirown compositions. Reaping the benefits oftheir hard work, they’ve branched outwith their ‘Kids Teaching Kids’ initiative,which has members of Marenje teachingplayers from the Boys and Girls Club andpassing on their love for this music andtheir hard-earned skills. Keep an eye outfor their next amazing performance.
Another new program that hasthe gardeners buzzing is the UrbanBeekeeping Club, which plans to establishhives in the garden, educating members ofthe community on the importance ofthese natural pollinators and how to carefor them. Stay tuned for news of this andother projects.
If you want to get your handsdirty and help, visit the garden at 206Charles Street on Thursdays from 3-6pm and Saturdays from 9am-12 to assistwith general gardening tasks and share inthe beauty of this “urban oasis” thatDowntown Greens has created in ourcommunity. For more information, visitthem on the webat: www.downtowngreens.org, or like themon Facebook at Downtown Greens, Inc.Their email address [email protected].
Tending a garden is a relaxingand rewarding experience for young andold alike and builds a sense ofconnectedness often lacking in our worldtoday. Come and join in the fun...you justmight grow to like it...
John Sovitsky is never afraid of getting his hands dirty.
Jeremy Sutton Guest Editor
Associate EditorsRobin & Archer Di Peppe
Contributing Writers & Artists
Lynda Allen Kerri BarileNancy Bauer A.E.BayneMegan Byrnes Collette CapraraC.Ruth Cassell Ashleigh ChevalierRick Collier Pamela CoopwoodArch Di Peppe Frank FratoeJoan Geisler Ralph “Tuffy” HicksLori Izkowski Karl KarchDavid Kerr Wendy LaRueBob Martin Kristin MorrisLenora Kruk-MullanaphyVanessa MoncureGary Olsen M.L.PowersChris Repp Scott RichardsDru Sgarlato James Kyle SnyderEmily Taggart Scheickerjohn Sovitsky Jeremy SuttonChristine Thompson Rim ViningPeggy Wickham Julia Wolfe
SuzyWoollam
Front Porch Fredericksburg is afree circulation magazine
published monthly by Olde Towne Publishing Co., Inc.
Virginia Bigenwald Grogan, Publisher.
The mission of Front PorchFredericksburg is to connect the
diverse citizenry of Fredericksburgwith lively features and informative
columns of interest to our community’s greatest resource,
its people.
Messages from our readers arewelcome. All submissions must be
received by e-mail by the 19th of themonth preceding publication.
Writers are welcome to requestWriter’s Guidelines and query the
Editor by e-mail.
Front PorchFredericksburg
PO Box 9203Fredericksburg, VA 22403
Ad Sales: [email protected]: [email protected]
Web Site:www.frontporchfredericksburg.com
The opinions expressed in Front PorchFredericksburg are those of the contributing writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of
Front Porch Fredericksburg or its advertisers.
Copyright 2014 Olde Towne Publishing Co., LLC
All rights reserved.
front porch fredericksburg May 2014 54 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg
Most of the young adults gettingready to graduate from our manyinstitutues of higher learning in theCommonwealth this merry merry monthwere born in or around 1991. I know, Ihad to take an extra sip of bourbon whenI did that math, too. They are the firstbatch of humans to grow up with BFF theinternet by their side. Indeed, by the timethey were 16 in 2007 (that’s another sipof bourbon, right there), they didn’t reallyknow a time where it wasn’t in theirpocket. The whole world, or at least it’sinformation, has been there for themevery step of the way. They cancommunicate across time zones andlanguages and borders and oceans withonly the slightest effort, and don’t reallyknow what it would be like to have it anyother way. But I don’t want to go fullAndy Rooney, this is only the beginning ofwhat I’m getting at.
With this current era of accessthere’s a feeling we’ve finally crossed athreshold where maybe we’ve conqueredand it really is a small world after all.Humanity has been trying to shrink our
planet since well before we even knew thegeneral shape of the thing, it’s takenawhile but with each generation we feel alittle more successful. In 1299 or so wefirst learned about the wonders of eastAsia, in 1492 we shoved off and found 16million square miles of land that nobody(at least no white body) knew were there.
In 1926 we placed the first phone callacross that same ocean, something thatmust have been truly stunning at thetime. In 1971 we sent the first email, in1977 we put a humanities greatest hitsrecord into space, and in 2004 we birthedFacebook. That’s a few centuries worth ofendeavour all wrapped up in bringing usall together.
We feel like we have to virtuallyshrink this place because otherwise we’llget lost in the actual enormity of ourworld. It’s part vanity. We need to feellike It All Matters, like we’re all pushingtowards some Big Reveal where they pullthe bus back and humanity’s answer issitting there and the crowd says “SoTHAT’S why we’re here!” It’s partvalidation, the pale blue thumbs up of alifetime’s worth of other people withwhom you have at least some glancingblow of a relationship. It’s part denial ofour own frailty, there’s strength in theconcreteness of the past and now theinternet’s documentation of that past,while the future only offers things youcan’t know, can’t “like,” can’t share via.
But it’s all been a little misguided.In our attempt to shrink it all down, we’veincluded everyone, and it’s probably a fewtoo many for your apartment to handle.For all the access, communication,technology, transportation andwherewithal, for all our ability to shrinkhumanity down to the point where any
one of us could conceivably get in touchwith another one of us, the guest list hasgotten a little too big. Irony is funny likethat.
This new batch of humans (andall of us who knock around our rock) willdo well to remember this as they move onto the first initial steps of their own lives.It’s a blessing, in the right context. Whenviewed as so small, human travails andtragedies are also shrunk. Ourrelationships are pared down to thoseright next to us, often the only ones whoreally matter, anyway. Our physical worldis often reduced to a few miles and a fewminutes, and we’ve got pretty much all wereally need. Reducing your world down toyour current visibility is real shrink, goodshrink. You’ll find there’s as much (andoften more subustantial) communicationand access right around the corner than atthe other end of that @email. So slow itdown in May, and consider shrinking yourworld to just your view. Spring is one ofthe most magical times of year here inFredericksburg, and you won’t find a muchbetter view in the world, or much betterpassers-by, than the ones from on yourfront porch.
Jeremy Sutton, this month’s guest editoris the proud father of two boys and a
resident of Fredericksburg.
OONN TTHHEE PPOORRCCHHBY Jeremy Sutton
Robgwrites
ROXBURY FARM & GARDEN CENTERMAIN: (540) 373-9124
NURSERY: (540) 371-8802601 LAFAYETTE BLVD
roxburyfarmgarden.comSince 1929
May isSpring Planning Month !
Come Shop With Us
When Rob Grogan passed away,there was a universal feeling ofhelplessness. Time and time again hisfriends wanted to know what they coulddo to help. I have thought about it quite abit, and I think I know the answer.Everyone was glad to see the April issue ofFront Porch. Many people worried that themagazine would not continue. The Aprilissue proved it could. In fact, the issuelooked pretty much like all of itspredecessors. It flew off the shelves andcounters all over this area. Thedistributors had trouble keeping up withthe demand for the magazines.
We all want to make sure thatFront Porch continues. Here is what youcan do. Most of you are like me and readthe magazine cover to cover. I read all thearticles, and I like to look at all of theadvertising. The advertising is what paysthe bills. Here is what I hope you will do.At least once a month pick out oneadvertiser in Front Porch. If it is arestaurant, go eat a meal there. Better yet,get some friends to go with you. Here isthe most important part. Before youleave, ask to speak with the owner ormanager. Tell them how much you enjoyFront Porch magazine and that you knowthat they advertise with us. Take thepaper with you and show the vendor hisad. Tell them you want them to know thattheir advertising dollars are working forthem. Tell them that you are in therespending money in their establishmentbecause they make Front Porchhappen, and you are going to doeverything you can to make sure themagazine keeps happening. Most of youprobably eat out at least once a month,anyway. How hard would it be to pick outone of the restaurants that support us?
Likewise, you certainly frequentmany retail stores a month. Look throughthis magazine and find one that has thetypes of things you are likely to buy.Follow the same directions that I spokeabout above. Tell these people how much
you appreciate the fact that they makeFront Porch happen. There is anadditional benefit. You just may visitstores you have not been in before. Youmight make a few new friends. If nothingelse, you will be making sure that one ofyour favorite magazines has a future. Youwill also be shopping locally where yourdollars stay in the community and turnover in the community time andtime again. You will also be making surethat those local merchants have a future.It is all those local people and theirbusinesses that make our area unique.
You will also notice that manypeople advertise a variety of services inthis magazine. Look at those ads. Thereare realtors, hair stylists, massagespecialists, financial advisers, insuranceagents, yoga instructors, and many moreservices represented here. Use them andrecommend them to your friends andfamily. Tell them why you came to seethem.
I am asking you to join Rob’sArmy. There is still so much we can all doto make sure there are many more yearsof Front Porch. When my father passedaway many years ago, I was at a loss forthe best way to honor his memory. Idecided that the best way was to do thethings he would have done if he were stillhere. He loved his grandchildren, so everytime I do something for them, I am doingsomething for him.
Rob Grogan did more to promoteFront Porch than anyone else. Do youwant to do something meaningful? Lift upthe banner Rob carried so well and for solong. Will you do it? Pick out anadvertiser, support their business, and gettwice the bang for yourbuck because when you support them, yousupport us. Make sure you tell them whyyou are there. Thank you very much.
Arch DiPeppe supports all that makesFredericksburg great. He urges you to
support Front Porch Advertisers.
Quiet MomentsWhat one person can do
By archer Dipeppe
PEOPLE & COMMUNITYBlooming in Darbytown’s Backyard
By John Sovitsky
“Pillar of the Community Award”
The Historic FredericksbugFoundation selected Rob Grogan asthe 2014’s “Pillar of theCommunity”.. The award is inrecognition of his efforts, as editor ofFront Porch Magazine, to promoteawareness, appreciation, and thepreservation of the Fredericksburgcommmunity’s colorful past anddiverse historic places.
Alexis Mary Grogan receivedthe posthumous award on behalf ofher father at the HFFI PreservationAward Ceremony in March.
The Front Porch family ofadvertisers, writers, and readers aregrateful for the selection of RobGrogan for this honor.
VBG
With spring finally makingserious inroads, it’s exciting to see somuch growth in the gardens at DowntownGreens, our local Community Greenspace.Located at the intersection where CharlesStreet meets Dixon Street in downtownFredericksburg, this local, non-profitorganization, founded in the 90s statesthat their mission is “...to fostercommunity involvement and growth byprotecting and nurturing urbangreenspace through collaborativeenvironmental stewardship andexperiential education.”
Spring is a time for both renewaland new growth and at DTG there aremany things sprouting. Led by SarahPerry, who took over as Director lastSeptember and with a new Office Manager,Katya Hvizdos, the organization has a fullprogram of activities and eventsgerminating for community gardeners,volunteers, and staff. Newly introducedthis year is their Youth Gardening Club,which meets every Tuesday from 4-5pm.Children return each week, from “seed toharvest” and share in the work, learningas they do to care for the flowers andproduce they grow themselves. DowntownGreens hopes that by “..bringing theminto the garden that is in theirbackyard...”, they will gain an appreciationfor “what is theirs.”It takes both volunteers and otherresources to keep this greenspaceblooming, and fundraising is a necessaryand fun part. Two great opportunities arecoming in May. First, plan on making apledge during the Community Give event,a day of online giving. Visitwww.bit.ly/downtowngreensGIVE14 onMay 6, 2014 and you can aid DowntownGreens and maximize your donation bygiving them a chance to win cash prizes!Then make sure that you attend their
17th annual Fork-It-Over Festival on May17th. This outdoor community event willinclude a garden rummage sale, a silentauction, a plant sale and more! Interactiveexhibition booths, a wading pool, cool
crafts, juggling, make-your-ownsmoothies, food and snacks and, of course,great live music all day! This event hasbecome a perennial favorite!
Realizing that it takes more thanplants and compost to grow a communityDowntown Greens has been hard at workcreating their own musical group.Members of the Marenje Marimba YouthEnsemble, which has been meeting forseveral years, are now working withZimbabwean musicians and writing theirown compositions. Reaping the benefits oftheir hard work, they’ve branched outwith their ‘Kids Teaching Kids’ initiative,which has members of Marenje teachingplayers from the Boys and Girls Club andpassing on their love for this music andtheir hard-earned skills. Keep an eye outfor their next amazing performance.
Another new program that hasthe gardeners buzzing is the UrbanBeekeeping Club, which plans to establishhives in the garden, educating members ofthe community on the importance ofthese natural pollinators and how to carefor them. Stay tuned for news of this andother projects.
If you want to get your handsdirty and help, visit the garden at 206Charles Street on Thursdays from 3-6pm and Saturdays from 9am-12 to assistwith general gardening tasks and share inthe beauty of this “urban oasis” thatDowntown Greens has created in ourcommunity. For more information, visitthem on the webat: www.downtowngreens.org, or like themon Facebook at Downtown Greens, Inc.Their email address [email protected].
Tending a garden is a relaxingand rewarding experience for young andold alike and builds a sense ofconnectedness often lacking in our worldtoday. Come and join in the fun...you justmight grow to like it...
John Sovitsky is never afraid of getting his hands dirty.
Jeremy Sutton Guest Editor
Associate EditorsRobin & Archer Di Peppe
Contributing Writers & Artists
Lynda Allen Kerri BarileNancy Bauer A.E.BayneMegan Byrnes Collette CapraraC.Ruth Cassell Ashleigh ChevalierRick Collier Pamela CoopwoodArch Di Peppe Frank FratoeJoan Geisler Ralph “Tuffy” HicksLori Izkowski Karl KarchDavid Kerr Wendy LaRueBob Martin Kristin MorrisLenora Kruk-MullanaphyVanessa MoncureGary Olsen M.L.PowersChris Repp Scott RichardsDru Sgarlato James Kyle SnyderEmily Taggart Scheickerjohn Sovitsky Jeremy SuttonChristine Thompson Rim ViningPeggy Wickham Julia Wolfe
SuzyWoollam
Front Porch Fredericksburg is afree circulation magazine
published monthly by Olde Towne Publishing Co., Inc.
Virginia Bigenwald Grogan, Publisher.
The mission of Front PorchFredericksburg is to connect the
diverse citizenry of Fredericksburgwith lively features and informative
columns of interest to our community’s greatest resource,
its people.
Messages from our readers arewelcome. All submissions must be
received by e-mail by the 19th of themonth preceding publication.
Writers are welcome to requestWriter’s Guidelines and query the
Editor by e-mail.
Front PorchFredericksburg
PO Box 9203Fredericksburg, VA 22403
Ad Sales: [email protected]: [email protected]
Web Site:www.frontporchfredericksburg.com
The opinions expressed in Front PorchFredericksburg are those of the contributing writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of
Front Porch Fredericksburg or its advertisers.
Copyright 2014 Olde Towne Publishing Co., LLC
All rights reserved.
front porch fredericksburg May 2014 54 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg
Most of the young adults gettingready to graduate from our manyinstitutues of higher learning in theCommonwealth this merry merry monthwere born in or around 1991. I know, Ihad to take an extra sip of bourbon whenI did that math, too. They are the firstbatch of humans to grow up with BFF theinternet by their side. Indeed, by the timethey were 16 in 2007 (that’s another sipof bourbon, right there), they didn’t reallyknow a time where it wasn’t in theirpocket. The whole world, or at least it’sinformation, has been there for themevery step of the way. They cancommunicate across time zones andlanguages and borders and oceans withonly the slightest effort, and don’t reallyknow what it would be like to have it anyother way. But I don’t want to go fullAndy Rooney, this is only the beginning ofwhat I’m getting at.
With this current era of accessthere’s a feeling we’ve finally crossed athreshold where maybe we’ve conqueredand it really is a small world after all.Humanity has been trying to shrink our
planet since well before we even knew thegeneral shape of the thing, it’s takenawhile but with each generation we feel alittle more successful. In 1299 or so wefirst learned about the wonders of eastAsia, in 1492 we shoved off and found 16million square miles of land that nobody(at least no white body) knew were there.
In 1926 we placed the first phone callacross that same ocean, something thatmust have been truly stunning at thetime. In 1971 we sent the first email, in1977 we put a humanities greatest hitsrecord into space, and in 2004 we birthedFacebook. That’s a few centuries worth ofendeavour all wrapped up in bringing usall together.
We feel like we have to virtuallyshrink this place because otherwise we’llget lost in the actual enormity of ourworld. It’s part vanity. We need to feellike It All Matters, like we’re all pushingtowards some Big Reveal where they pullthe bus back and humanity’s answer issitting there and the crowd says “SoTHAT’S why we’re here!” It’s partvalidation, the pale blue thumbs up of alifetime’s worth of other people withwhom you have at least some glancingblow of a relationship. It’s part denial ofour own frailty, there’s strength in theconcreteness of the past and now theinternet’s documentation of that past,while the future only offers things youcan’t know, can’t “like,” can’t share via.
But it’s all been a little misguided.In our attempt to shrink it all down, we’veincluded everyone, and it’s probably a fewtoo many for your apartment to handle.For all the access, communication,technology, transportation andwherewithal, for all our ability to shrinkhumanity down to the point where any
one of us could conceivably get in touchwith another one of us, the guest list hasgotten a little too big. Irony is funny likethat.
This new batch of humans (andall of us who knock around our rock) willdo well to remember this as they move onto the first initial steps of their own lives.It’s a blessing, in the right context. Whenviewed as so small, human travails andtragedies are also shrunk. Ourrelationships are pared down to thoseright next to us, often the only ones whoreally matter, anyway. Our physical worldis often reduced to a few miles and a fewminutes, and we’ve got pretty much all wereally need. Reducing your world down toyour current visibility is real shrink, goodshrink. You’ll find there’s as much (andoften more subustantial) communicationand access right around the corner than atthe other end of that @email. So slow itdown in May, and consider shrinking yourworld to just your view. Spring is one ofthe most magical times of year here inFredericksburg, and you won’t find a muchbetter view in the world, or much betterpassers-by, than the ones from on yourfront porch.
Jeremy Sutton, this month’s guest editoris the proud father of two boys and a
resident of Fredericksburg.
OONN TTHHEE PPOORRCCHHBY Jeremy Sutton
Robgwrites
ROXBURY FARM & GARDEN CENTERMAIN: (540) 373-9124
NURSERY: (540) 371-8802601 LAFAYETTE BLVD
roxburyfarmgarden.comSince 1929
May isSpring Planning Month !
Come Shop With Us
When Rob Grogan passed away,there was a universal feeling ofhelplessness. Time and time again hisfriends wanted to know what they coulddo to help. I have thought about it quite abit, and I think I know the answer.Everyone was glad to see the April issue ofFront Porch. Many people worried that themagazine would not continue. The Aprilissue proved it could. In fact, the issuelooked pretty much like all of itspredecessors. It flew off the shelves andcounters all over this area. Thedistributors had trouble keeping up withthe demand for the magazines.
We all want to make sure thatFront Porch continues. Here is what youcan do. Most of you are like me and readthe magazine cover to cover. I read all thearticles, and I like to look at all of theadvertising. The advertising is what paysthe bills. Here is what I hope you will do.At least once a month pick out oneadvertiser in Front Porch. If it is arestaurant, go eat a meal there. Better yet,get some friends to go with you. Here isthe most important part. Before youleave, ask to speak with the owner ormanager. Tell them how much you enjoyFront Porch magazine and that you knowthat they advertise with us. Take thepaper with you and show the vendor hisad. Tell them you want them to know thattheir advertising dollars are working forthem. Tell them that you are in therespending money in their establishmentbecause they make Front Porchhappen, and you are going to doeverything you can to make sure themagazine keeps happening. Most of youprobably eat out at least once a month,anyway. How hard would it be to pick outone of the restaurants that support us?
Likewise, you certainly frequentmany retail stores a month. Look throughthis magazine and find one that has thetypes of things you are likely to buy.Follow the same directions that I spokeabout above. Tell these people how much
you appreciate the fact that they makeFront Porch happen. There is anadditional benefit. You just may visitstores you have not been in before. Youmight make a few new friends. If nothingelse, you will be making sure that one ofyour favorite magazines has a future. Youwill also be shopping locally where yourdollars stay in the community and turnover in the community time andtime again. You will also be making surethat those local merchants have a future.It is all those local people and theirbusinesses that make our area unique.
You will also notice that manypeople advertise a variety of services inthis magazine. Look at those ads. Thereare realtors, hair stylists, massagespecialists, financial advisers, insuranceagents, yoga instructors, and many moreservices represented here. Use them andrecommend them to your friends andfamily. Tell them why you came to seethem.
I am asking you to join Rob’sArmy. There is still so much we can all doto make sure there are many more yearsof Front Porch. When my father passedaway many years ago, I was at a loss forthe best way to honor his memory. Idecided that the best way was to do thethings he would have done if he were stillhere. He loved his grandchildren, so everytime I do something for them, I am doingsomething for him.
Rob Grogan did more to promoteFront Porch than anyone else. Do youwant to do something meaningful? Lift upthe banner Rob carried so well and for solong. Will you do it? Pick out anadvertiser, support their business, and gettwice the bang for yourbuck because when you support them, yousupport us. Make sure you tell them whyyou are there. Thank you very much.
Arch DiPeppe supports all that makesFredericksburg great. He urges you to
support Front Porch Advertisers.
Quiet MomentsWhat one person can do
By archer Dipeppe
PEOPLE & COMMUNITYBlooming in Darbytown’s Backyard
By John Sovitsky
“Pillar of the Community Award”
The Historic FredericksbugFoundation selected Rob Grogan asthe 2014’s “Pillar of theCommunity”.. The award is inrecognition of his efforts, as editor ofFront Porch Magazine, to promoteawareness, appreciation, and thepreservation of the Fredericksburgcommmunity’s colorful past anddiverse historic places.
Alexis Mary Grogan receivedthe posthumous award on behalf ofher father at the HFFI PreservationAward Ceremony in March.
The Front Porch family ofadvertisers, writers, and readers aregrateful for the selection of RobGrogan for this honor.
VBG
Spring is in the air andparents’ thoughts are turning tosummer activities to keep kids engagedand learning during the holiday. Formany families, this means camp! Thisyear, the Fredericksburg Area Museum& Cultural Center is offering foursummer camps during the month ofJuly aimed at helping your childrenunderstand the intersection of art andhistory in the Rappahannock RiverRegion.
As part of our continuing slateof programming accompanying ouryear-long exhibit Woman Adorned:Transcending Time, TransformingCulture the theme of this year’s fourcamps is Wearable Art. During eachcamp, children will explore how theclothing and jewelry we put on ourbodies reflect and shape who we arewhile learning the techniques to createthese items.
During the IntroductoryCamp, campers will work with localartists to explore a different art form
each day. This camp will provide abroad overview of the theme andintroductory art experiences. TheFarm to Fashion camp will explore howclothes are made from natural fiberssuch as wool or cotton.. Campers willvisit a local Alpaca farm and learnabout raising fiber animals, spinningand weaving, and working with localartists, will create wearable art fromnatural fibers. Finally, during theCreating Couture Camp, campers willmeet Woman Adorned curator Dr.Lauranett Lee and work with UMWTheater and Costume Design ProfessorKevin J. McCluskey to design and build asmall scale model garment of their owninspired by the exhibit WomanAdorned: Transcending Time,Transforming Culture. Participants willalso have the chance to have theirgarments installed in the exhibit! Don’tmiss this wonderful summeropportunity. Register for a camp today!
Cost: $90 for members / $115for non-members
Includes all supplies and a snack. Time: 10am – 2pm dailyDates:Introductory Camp - ages 8 to 10: July 7-9Introductory Camp – ages 11 to 12:July 14-16Farm to Fashion – ages 13 to 15:July 21-23Creating Couture Camp – ages 16 to18: July 28-30Optional First Friday Reception toshowcase student artwork: August 1- 7-9pm
Participants may registeronline at www.famcc.org and in TheMuseum Store. For more informationabout the Summer Art Camps, pleasecontact the Anne Marie Paquette, [email protected] or 540-371-3037x 141.
6 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg front porch fredericksburg May 2014 7
Wearable Art Summer Camps to explore art and history
By Anne Marie PaquetteAt The Courtyard By Marriott
Brunch Buffet Service from 9 am - 2 pmCall for Reservations
620 CAROLINE STREET FREDERICKSBURG VA 22401
540.373.8300
Carol Huebner:Educator Advocate
By A.E. Bayne
Ever since her days as a studentat West Virginia University, Carol Huebnerhas believed in the power of advocacy. Herprofessors actively encouraged her to jointhe National Education Association, andthereafter she knew she would always beinvolved with the organization in somecapacity. Today, Huebner is a mathteacher, a site-based representative withthe Virginia Education Association for herschool in Stafford County, and a newlyelected board member for the MountainView UniServ district. Of her experienceworking with VEA and NEA, Huebner says,“Things have changed over the years, butonly because people chose to stand up andadvocate for them. That’s why thisorganization needs to exist. I don’t knowany other organization that is fighting sohard for people’s pay and contracts, butthe struggle is not solely political and thegoals are not simply to get people elected;the main goal is about fighting for ourmembers and our students.”
Huebner describes her time atVEA and NEA conventions as inspiring andempowering. Picture 10,000 educators,cafeteria workers, school nurses,administrative assistants, administrators,and higher education professionalscoming together in one place tocollaborate and set the tone for futurelegislative support and educationpolicy. Huebner says, “The NEA is thelargest labor union in the world, and whatI see when I attend is thousands ofeducators who truly care about publiceducation and all that it means for theirstudents. It’s powerful andenergizing. Sometimes teaching can bevery isolating. You’re in your roomteaching your kids not realizing the sameissues that you are experiencing areaffecting many teachers andstudents. When I’ve attended the VEAconventions here in Virginia, I’ve metpeople from across the state. I’vewitnessed rural educators talking withurban school representatives anddiscovering that many of the challenges ofteaching are universal. Such interaction
offers excellentperspective andhelps peoplebecome moreinclusive problemsolvers.”
Recently,H u e b n e rsupported VirginiaHouse DelegateJennifer McClellanand other VEAmembers who wereintegral in passingHB 720, legislationthat reinforced
one of theo r g a n i z a t i o n ’ sprimary goals:
teacher advocacy. A teacher in theMountain View UniServ district wasrefused the right to a safe and cleanenvironment to pump breast milk duringschool hours. The teacher contacted herUniServ representative, who thenintervened with her county on herbehalf. The county notified the VEA thatthere was no law on the books in supportof breastfeeding, thus the school systemwas not willing to interfere with theadministrator’s decision. The VEA actedand Delegate McClellan got involved,inciting a variety of opinions. In responseto negative press in a local Richmondpaper, Huebner and other VEArepresentatives acted by requestingsimilar experiences from other teachers toreinforce that this was aproblem. Teachers from across thedistrict and state came forward. Huebnerdescribes the scene at last year’s VEAconvention when the topic wasintroduced, “The number of delegates,both men and women, who got up atconvention and went to the microphonespeaking in favor of the legislation wasastonishing. For me, it was indicative of alarger truth: teachers sacrifice time andresources meant for their own families forothers’ needs because we chose aprofession that requires it of us. Peopledon’t understand how many things wegive up in support of our students simplybecause education is our passion.”
For Huebner, passage of HB 720regarding lactation support in local schooldistricts is a perfect example of why theVEA and NEA exist. She says, “It was asmall thing, but it will impact a lot ofpeople. I wish more people would getinvolved. Being educators, we don’tnecessarily have a lot of money, we can’tattend $800 per plate dinners withpoliticians; however, we have our voicesand our members and our votes, andtherein lies our power.”
A.E. Bayne is a teacher, writer, artist,and VEA member
living in Fredericksburg, VA.
Carol Huebner (center), with Delegate Jennifer McClellan &Governor Terry McAuliffe in honor of passage of HB 720
A Graced EyeLynda Allen
To look upon the worldwith John O’Donohue’s graced eye.To see the hidden beautyin everything.Surely this is the greatest gift I can give,the most lasting legacy I can leave.
To look upon youwith a graced eye.To see the beautynot just in your smile,or the tilt of your head,but in the lovely patternscreated by the contrastof shadow and light within you.
To find beauty in the lilt of your voice,or the way your heart sifts throughyour thoughts for grains of truth.
To see with a graced eyeyour actions and choices,as part of the mysteriously beautiful pathwayon your journey of remembering.
To find the hidden beauty in each moment senttogether,my birthright and my bequest.
Lynda Allen, a local poet, has publishedseveral books of her work. She says that this poem,
“reminds her o Rob’s (Grogan) beautiful spirit”.
606 Caroline Street Old Town Fredericksburg
373-7847 www.gemstonecreations.org
Where Fredericksburg Gets Engaged
Tuesday - Saturday 10-5 Wednesday 10-6:30
Vera Bradley Spring &Summer patterns in our upstairs boutique!
Spring is in the air andparents’ thoughts are turning tosummer activities to keep kids engagedand learning during the holiday. Formany families, this means camp! Thisyear, the Fredericksburg Area Museum& Cultural Center is offering foursummer camps during the month ofJuly aimed at helping your childrenunderstand the intersection of art andhistory in the Rappahannock RiverRegion.
As part of our continuing slateof programming accompanying ouryear-long exhibit Woman Adorned:Transcending Time, TransformingCulture the theme of this year’s fourcamps is Wearable Art. During eachcamp, children will explore how theclothing and jewelry we put on ourbodies reflect and shape who we arewhile learning the techniques to createthese items.
During the IntroductoryCamp, campers will work with localartists to explore a different art form
each day. This camp will provide abroad overview of the theme andintroductory art experiences. TheFarm to Fashion camp will explore howclothes are made from natural fiberssuch as wool or cotton.. Campers willvisit a local Alpaca farm and learnabout raising fiber animals, spinningand weaving, and working with localartists, will create wearable art fromnatural fibers. Finally, during theCreating Couture Camp, campers willmeet Woman Adorned curator Dr.Lauranett Lee and work with UMWTheater and Costume Design ProfessorKevin J. McCluskey to design and build asmall scale model garment of their owninspired by the exhibit WomanAdorned: Transcending Time,Transforming Culture. Participants willalso have the chance to have theirgarments installed in the exhibit! Don’tmiss this wonderful summeropportunity. Register for a camp today!
Cost: $90 for members / $115for non-members
Includes all supplies and a snack. Time: 10am – 2pm dailyDates:Introductory Camp - ages 8 to 10: July 7-9Introductory Camp – ages 11 to 12:July 14-16Farm to Fashion – ages 13 to 15:July 21-23Creating Couture Camp – ages 16 to18: July 28-30Optional First Friday Reception toshowcase student artwork: August 1- 7-9pm
Participants may registeronline at www.famcc.org and in TheMuseum Store. For more informationabout the Summer Art Camps, pleasecontact the Anne Marie Paquette, [email protected] or 540-371-3037x 141.
6 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg front porch fredericksburg May 2014 7
Wearable Art Summer Camps to explore art and history
By Anne Marie PaquetteAt The Courtyard By Marriott
Brunch Buffet Service from 9 am - 2 pmCall for Reservations
620 CAROLINE STREET FREDERICKSBURG VA 22401
540.373.8300
Carol Huebner:Educator Advocate
By A.E. Bayne
Ever since her days as a studentat West Virginia University, Carol Huebnerhas believed in the power of advocacy. Herprofessors actively encouraged her to jointhe National Education Association, andthereafter she knew she would always beinvolved with the organization in somecapacity. Today, Huebner is a mathteacher, a site-based representative withthe Virginia Education Association for herschool in Stafford County, and a newlyelected board member for the MountainView UniServ district. Of her experienceworking with VEA and NEA, Huebner says,“Things have changed over the years, butonly because people chose to stand up andadvocate for them. That’s why thisorganization needs to exist. I don’t knowany other organization that is fighting sohard for people’s pay and contracts, butthe struggle is not solely political and thegoals are not simply to get people elected;the main goal is about fighting for ourmembers and our students.”
Huebner describes her time atVEA and NEA conventions as inspiring andempowering. Picture 10,000 educators,cafeteria workers, school nurses,administrative assistants, administrators,and higher education professionalscoming together in one place tocollaborate and set the tone for futurelegislative support and educationpolicy. Huebner says, “The NEA is thelargest labor union in the world, and whatI see when I attend is thousands ofeducators who truly care about publiceducation and all that it means for theirstudents. It’s powerful andenergizing. Sometimes teaching can bevery isolating. You’re in your roomteaching your kids not realizing the sameissues that you are experiencing areaffecting many teachers andstudents. When I’ve attended the VEAconventions here in Virginia, I’ve metpeople from across the state. I’vewitnessed rural educators talking withurban school representatives anddiscovering that many of the challenges ofteaching are universal. Such interaction
offers excellentperspective andhelps peoplebecome moreinclusive problemsolvers.”
Recently,H u e b n e rsupported VirginiaHouse DelegateJennifer McClellanand other VEAmembers who wereintegral in passingHB 720, legislationthat reinforced
one of theo r g a n i z a t i o n ’ sprimary goals:
teacher advocacy. A teacher in theMountain View UniServ district wasrefused the right to a safe and cleanenvironment to pump breast milk duringschool hours. The teacher contacted herUniServ representative, who thenintervened with her county on herbehalf. The county notified the VEA thatthere was no law on the books in supportof breastfeeding, thus the school systemwas not willing to interfere with theadministrator’s decision. The VEA actedand Delegate McClellan got involved,inciting a variety of opinions. In responseto negative press in a local Richmondpaper, Huebner and other VEArepresentatives acted by requestingsimilar experiences from other teachers toreinforce that this was aproblem. Teachers from across thedistrict and state came forward. Huebnerdescribes the scene at last year’s VEAconvention when the topic wasintroduced, “The number of delegates,both men and women, who got up atconvention and went to the microphonespeaking in favor of the legislation wasastonishing. For me, it was indicative of alarger truth: teachers sacrifice time andresources meant for their own families forothers’ needs because we chose aprofession that requires it of us. Peopledon’t understand how many things wegive up in support of our students simplybecause education is our passion.”
For Huebner, passage of HB 720regarding lactation support in local schooldistricts is a perfect example of why theVEA and NEA exist. She says, “It was asmall thing, but it will impact a lot ofpeople. I wish more people would getinvolved. Being educators, we don’tnecessarily have a lot of money, we can’tattend $800 per plate dinners withpoliticians; however, we have our voicesand our members and our votes, andtherein lies our power.”
A.E. Bayne is a teacher, writer, artist,and VEA member
living in Fredericksburg, VA.
Carol Huebner (center), with Delegate Jennifer McClellan &Governor Terry McAuliffe in honor of passage of HB 720
A Graced EyeLynda Allen
To look upon the worldwith John O’Donohue’s graced eye.To see the hidden beautyin everything.Surely this is the greatest gift I can give,the most lasting legacy I can leave.
To look upon youwith a graced eye.To see the beautynot just in your smile,or the tilt of your head,but in the lovely patternscreated by the contrastof shadow and light within you.
To find beauty in the lilt of your voice,or the way your heart sifts throughyour thoughts for grains of truth.
To see with a graced eyeyour actions and choices,as part of the mysteriously beautiful pathwayon your journey of remembering.
To find the hidden beauty in each moment senttogether,my birthright and my bequest.
Lynda Allen, a local poet, has publishedseveral books of her work. She says that this poem,
“reminds her o Rob’s (Grogan) beautiful spirit”.
606 Caroline Street Old Town Fredericksburg
373-7847 www.gemstonecreations.org
Where Fredericksburg Gets Engaged
Tuesday - Saturday 10-5 Wednesday 10-6:30
Vera Bradley Spring &Summer patterns in our upstairs boutique!
Practicing mindfulness took on avery real meaning for Bill Brooks oneOctober day in 2007. A knock on the doorbrought news that his daughter Samanthahad been in a very serious car accident. AsBill drove north to Inova Fairfax Hospital,his mind was spinning stories, speculatingwhat had happened, what he wouldfind…and then he realized that theprevious three and a half years of practicehad truly prepared him for this moment.He managed to stop the stories and focuson what he knew: Sam was at the hospitaland had been unconscious at the accident.He knew he needed to be present for her,and by the time he arrived at the hospitalhe was focused and could be fullysupportive.
Mindfulness is described as amental state achieved by focusing one’sawareness on the present moment, whilecalmly acknowledging and accepting one’sfeelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations,used as a therapeutic technique.Specifically, mindfulness means payingattention on purpose. The practice isgaining popularity as a method for
managing stress, mental distress, andmedical conditions.
Bill’s mindfulness practice startedwith meditation, a more formal way ofbeing mindful. “I had consideredmeditation previously. As a runner I wouldoften use that time of solitude forreflection. The real catalyst, however,came with a marital crisis in 2004.” Alongwith other means of finding healing, Billdecided to finally explore formalmeditation. As a member of the UnitarianUniversalist Fellowship of Fredericksburg,Bill had friends who practiced meditationand was aware also of a meditation groupthat took place within the fellowship. Andthat is how the evolution of his personalpractice began: reading, discussing,meeting with the ‘sangha’ (spiritualcommunity), and daily practice. “Overtime, I developed a sharper awareness –deeper, richer – and connected more easilyto my inner peace. And I learned torecognize conditioned patterns ofbehavior in myself, without judgment.”
Life has a way of giving usopportunities to test what we learn. A few
years into his practice, Bill went through aperiod of unemployment. He haddeveloped the skills needed to be presentwith the situation, and used those skills toguide his decision on whether to continuein the corporate environment or take anindependent path…something he had beenconsidering. He had begun teachertraining at the Meditation TeacherTraining Institute in northern Virginia,but decided he wasn’t quite ready tosevere corporate ties. When a secondopportunity arose in 2012, however, Billsensed the time was right, and he left thecorporate world behind.
Today, Bill’s life and his livelihoodare centered round his passions: heteaches yoga, he works with theSpotsylvania Farmers’ Market, he is a co-leader for the Insight MeditationCommunity of Fredericksburg, and mostrecently he has been teaching mindfulnesscourses. An introduction to mindfulness,the course is designed to provideparticipants “with the tools andexperience to independently practicemindfulness.” The courses, begun in
January 2013, have been well-attended.Participants range in age from 17 to 70and include students, parent-child,couples, and retirees. “Most have comedue to stressors in life. It is my hope thatby the end of the course they are able tocontinue their own individual practice andgain benefits as I have.” To learn moreabout the mindfulness courses, you cancontact Bill at [email protected]. Thenext course will begin May 6.
Lori works full-time at UMW, part-timefor BIO, and is an occasional contributorto Front Porch Fredericksburg, which shehas been reading cover-to-cover for over
ten years.
8 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg front porch fredericksburg May 2014 9
Mindful Livingbill brooks
By Lori Izkowski
Back in the dark ages, circa 1990,when Virginia had only a few dozenwineries, a day in wine country tended tobe one-size-fits-all. You came, yousampled—usually for free—maybesplurging on a bottle to share on the lawn.And then, you left. If you wanted a yogaclass, you found it at a yoga studio, notyour local winery.
Now, free tastings are harder tofind at the state’s 250 tasting rooms, butyoga, and myriad other strategies toattract and retain visitors’ attention—andloyalty—are on the rise. The stakes arehigh, as many wineries rely almostexclusively on tasting room sales to paythe bills.
Never leave home without yourhound? Your Boxer can belly up to the bar(literally) at Barrel Oak Winery, StinsonVineyards in Crozet, or ChateauMorrisette in Floyd, where puppy lovecolors everything from the winery’swebsite—www.thedogs.com—to the wineclub (aka “Kennel Club”), to the wine itself(Frosty Dog, Star Dog, and the perennialfavorite, Our Dog Blue, a Riesling-Traminette blend).
Can’t shake the kids? No problem:130 wineries welcome young ones,including Potomac Point in Stafford,where a glass-walled “Little Buds” roomlets parents keep an eye on kids and wineat the same time. DeVault Vineyards inConcord boasts not only a swing set and aplayhouse, but also an indoor pool.
Ready to party? Stop byBluemont Vineyards or the Barns atHamilton Station in Hamilton on aSaturday and odds are good you’ll collidewith a bachelorette party. Down the roadin Purcellville, the 400-acre BreauxVineyards recently invested $1.5 millionto expand their wedding and private eventspace by 17,000 square feet, featuring a
pavilion with crystal chandeliers, woodfloors, a huge fireplace and panoramicviews of the vineyards.
If celebrities jazz you, headsouth: billionaires Steve and Jean Case, ofAOL fame, recently purchased and revivedEarly Mountain Vineyards in Madison, andDonald Trump’s son Eric heads up anotherrescued winery, now rebranded as—waitfor it!—Trump Winery. Across the road,groupies glance nonchalantly around airyBlenheim Vineyards, secretly hoping for aglimpse of owner/musician DaveMatthews.
Wine tourists can choose from 20lodgings to soak up the vineyard lifestyle24x7, ranging from rustic cabins at BelleMount Vineyards on the Northern Neck toopulent suites at Barboursville Vineyards,north of Charlottesville, where antiqueoriental carpets cover hand-hewn woodfloors. Barboursville’s white tableclothrestaurant, Palladio, is joined byWilliamsburg Winery’s Café Provencal,while at the more relaxed NarmadaWinery in Amissville, owners Pandit andSudha Patil pair vegetable samosas andButter Chicken with MOM, their semi-sweet Vidal Blanc/Chardonel blend.
And then there’s this: NotavivaVineyards in Purcellville even pairs winewith music (really).
What are you looking for in awinery?
Cigar bar? Kayaking? Star gazing?Sheep shearing?
Yeah, Virginia’s got that.
Nancy Bauer and Rick Collier are theauthors of VAWineInMyPocket.com, thewine country travel app and website.Rick’s photos asseen above, are at
RickCollierCreative.com
VA. WINERIESPlaygrounds for Grownups!
by nancy bauer & rick Collier
Practicing mindfulness took on avery real meaning for Bill Brooks oneOctober day in 2007. A knock on the doorbrought news that his daughter Samanthahad been in a very serious car accident. AsBill drove north to Inova Fairfax Hospital,his mind was spinning stories, speculatingwhat had happened, what he wouldfind…and then he realized that theprevious three and a half years of practicehad truly prepared him for this moment.He managed to stop the stories and focuson what he knew: Sam was at the hospitaland had been unconscious at the accident.He knew he needed to be present for her,and by the time he arrived at the hospitalhe was focused and could be fullysupportive.
Mindfulness is described as amental state achieved by focusing one’sawareness on the present moment, whilecalmly acknowledging and accepting one’sfeelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations,used as a therapeutic technique.Specifically, mindfulness means payingattention on purpose. The practice isgaining popularity as a method for
managing stress, mental distress, andmedical conditions.
Bill’s mindfulness practice startedwith meditation, a more formal way ofbeing mindful. “I had consideredmeditation previously. As a runner I wouldoften use that time of solitude forreflection. The real catalyst, however,came with a marital crisis in 2004.” Alongwith other means of finding healing, Billdecided to finally explore formalmeditation. As a member of the UnitarianUniversalist Fellowship of Fredericksburg,Bill had friends who practiced meditationand was aware also of a meditation groupthat took place within the fellowship. Andthat is how the evolution of his personalpractice began: reading, discussing,meeting with the ‘sangha’ (spiritualcommunity), and daily practice. “Overtime, I developed a sharper awareness –deeper, richer – and connected more easilyto my inner peace. And I learned torecognize conditioned patterns ofbehavior in myself, without judgment.”
Life has a way of giving usopportunities to test what we learn. A few
years into his practice, Bill went through aperiod of unemployment. He haddeveloped the skills needed to be presentwith the situation, and used those skills toguide his decision on whether to continuein the corporate environment or take anindependent path…something he had beenconsidering. He had begun teachertraining at the Meditation TeacherTraining Institute in northern Virginia,but decided he wasn’t quite ready tosevere corporate ties. When a secondopportunity arose in 2012, however, Billsensed the time was right, and he left thecorporate world behind.
Today, Bill’s life and his livelihoodare centered round his passions: heteaches yoga, he works with theSpotsylvania Farmers’ Market, he is a co-leader for the Insight MeditationCommunity of Fredericksburg, and mostrecently he has been teaching mindfulnesscourses. An introduction to mindfulness,the course is designed to provideparticipants “with the tools andexperience to independently practicemindfulness.” The courses, begun in
January 2013, have been well-attended.Participants range in age from 17 to 70and include students, parent-child,couples, and retirees. “Most have comedue to stressors in life. It is my hope thatby the end of the course they are able tocontinue their own individual practice andgain benefits as I have.” To learn moreabout the mindfulness courses, you cancontact Bill at [email protected]. Thenext course will begin May 6.
Lori works full-time at UMW, part-timefor BIO, and is an occasional contributorto Front Porch Fredericksburg, which shehas been reading cover-to-cover for over
ten years.
8 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg front porch fredericksburg May 2014 9
Mindful Livingbill brooks
By Lori Izkowski
Back in the dark ages, circa 1990,when Virginia had only a few dozenwineries, a day in wine country tended tobe one-size-fits-all. You came, yousampled—usually for free—maybesplurging on a bottle to share on the lawn.And then, you left. If you wanted a yogaclass, you found it at a yoga studio, notyour local winery.
Now, free tastings are harder tofind at the state’s 250 tasting rooms, butyoga, and myriad other strategies toattract and retain visitors’ attention—andloyalty—are on the rise. The stakes arehigh, as many wineries rely almostexclusively on tasting room sales to paythe bills.
Never leave home without yourhound? Your Boxer can belly up to the bar(literally) at Barrel Oak Winery, StinsonVineyards in Crozet, or ChateauMorrisette in Floyd, where puppy lovecolors everything from the winery’swebsite—www.thedogs.com—to the wineclub (aka “Kennel Club”), to the wine itself(Frosty Dog, Star Dog, and the perennialfavorite, Our Dog Blue, a Riesling-Traminette blend).
Can’t shake the kids? No problem:130 wineries welcome young ones,including Potomac Point in Stafford,where a glass-walled “Little Buds” roomlets parents keep an eye on kids and wineat the same time. DeVault Vineyards inConcord boasts not only a swing set and aplayhouse, but also an indoor pool.
Ready to party? Stop byBluemont Vineyards or the Barns atHamilton Station in Hamilton on aSaturday and odds are good you’ll collidewith a bachelorette party. Down the roadin Purcellville, the 400-acre BreauxVineyards recently invested $1.5 millionto expand their wedding and private eventspace by 17,000 square feet, featuring a
pavilion with crystal chandeliers, woodfloors, a huge fireplace and panoramicviews of the vineyards.
If celebrities jazz you, headsouth: billionaires Steve and Jean Case, ofAOL fame, recently purchased and revivedEarly Mountain Vineyards in Madison, andDonald Trump’s son Eric heads up anotherrescued winery, now rebranded as—waitfor it!—Trump Winery. Across the road,groupies glance nonchalantly around airyBlenheim Vineyards, secretly hoping for aglimpse of owner/musician DaveMatthews.
Wine tourists can choose from 20lodgings to soak up the vineyard lifestyle24x7, ranging from rustic cabins at BelleMount Vineyards on the Northern Neck toopulent suites at Barboursville Vineyards,north of Charlottesville, where antiqueoriental carpets cover hand-hewn woodfloors. Barboursville’s white tableclothrestaurant, Palladio, is joined byWilliamsburg Winery’s Café Provencal,while at the more relaxed NarmadaWinery in Amissville, owners Pandit andSudha Patil pair vegetable samosas andButter Chicken with MOM, their semi-sweet Vidal Blanc/Chardonel blend.
And then there’s this: NotavivaVineyards in Purcellville even pairs winewith music (really).
What are you looking for in awinery?
Cigar bar? Kayaking? Star gazing?Sheep shearing?
Yeah, Virginia’s got that.
Nancy Bauer and Rick Collier are theauthors of VAWineInMyPocket.com, thewine country travel app and website.Rick’s photos asseen above, are at
RickCollierCreative.com
VA. WINERIESPlaygrounds for Grownups!
by nancy bauer & rick Collier
front porch fredericksburg May 2014 11
Driving along with windowsdown, warm spring air rushes into ourears and lungs. From the back seat,“Where does wind come from?”
The question stumps me. Incessant questions stream from
the back seat while he and I are runningerrands, driving to preschool, and truth betold anytime we’re in the car and he’s notasleep. Let me tell you, it’s exhausting. Iknow you fellow parents understand.
A child’s curiosity doesn’tautomatically guarantee a parent’spatience to quench the thirst forinformation. Being a living encyclopediawhile also mentally making a grocery list,(not so) happily playing block house forthe umpteenth time, or carefully dodgingcars in the pedestrian walkway in front ofTarget holding a squirming toddler’s handdoes not come naturally.
To meet a child’s needs, you mustfirst meet your own needs. In the case ofdeveloping the patience to respond to achild coherently when all you really wantto say is “uh huh” or “hmmmmm,” beginsby living in the moment and being patientwith yourself.
No one has all the answers, evenparents. If you act patiently with yourselfthroughout the day, as you complete oneproject before moving onto another orremain calm in a traffic jam making youlate to after school pick up, then you willbe more able to be patient with yourchild’s questions. Remember, the questionsyou get will be tougher and more importantas the child grows older. You want him toknow he can ask you anything.
First, allow yourself to considerthe inquiry. Rather than pushing aside agenuine request from your child to thinkabout what’s for dinner, repeat thequestion and ask the child to answer. Thisgives you time to get in the moment andthink of a reply.
If the child is too young or isn’tlikely to know the answer then follow upwith an age-appropriate, rationalexplanation. I attempt to answer my son’sconstant curiosity with vigilant andintelligent responses.
“Because I said so” and “BecauseGod made it that way” don’t seem likeadequate replies to serious queries.
Even before a child starts talking,everyday is a new chance to explore and
discover the people, places and thingsmaking up the world. For my son and I,the age of questions began right aboutthree-years-old and picked up steam afterhis fifth birthday.
My adherence to scientificexplanations lasted several rounds. Ihandled “what makes a rainbow?” and“where does the sun go at night?” Forsome reason, the wind question took thewind out of my sails. I rigged up an answersomewhere between “I’ll have to look thatup, buddy,” and “Let’s ask Popeye if heknows.” Luckily, granddad knows.
We finished our drive thatafternoon with my identity as the all-knowing mommy intact. Honestly, it’simpossible to keep that façade going forlong. By being patient with myself first, Irealize I don’t have to, and that’s okay.
C. Ruth Cassell intends to write My OwnPath in 2014 as a way to share lessonsin parenting with the many readers of
The Front Porch who desire to raise well-adjusted, respectful and respectable
children, but who are also on acontinual path of personal healing.
Please share comments, suggestions andcolumn ideas with Ruth at
10 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg
Jewel Box Since 1940
Your Hometown Jeweler
On-Premise Jewelry Repair
Watch Batteries
Gold Buying
Engraving
212 William Street,Fredericksburg540-373-5513
Mon-Fri 9-5:30; Sat 9-5
Stafford 350the great land grab of ‘42
By david s. kerr
Seventy years ago StaffordCounty’s population was approximately10,000. While many people, particularly insouth Stafford, worked at the variousfactories in Fredericksburg. The county’seconomic base was still agricultural, andthere were dozens of farms. AquiaHarbour, now home to more than 6,000people was Woodstock Farm. The Staffordof 1942 had only a few paved roads. therewas the only stop light, and it only flashedred to warn of a four-way stop was at theat the corner of U.S. 1 and CourthouseRoad. Most people had never been in atraffic jam before.
By the middle of 1942, the warthat had begun unexpectedly in the Pacificthe year before was now a world war.Many of Stafford’s young men had alreadyvolunteered for service. Others had waitedto finish high school before joining. Manyothers would follow in the years to come.
1942 is noteworthy for anotherreason. The U.S. Marine Corps hadoccupied a base at Quantico since 1912,but with the start of the war felt itessential that the base be expanded. Theyneeded room for individual training, smallunit training, maneuvers, joint air andground training, and ranges. And so in asweeping move, the Navy (which handledthe purchase for the Marines) announcedthat it was forcing the sale of 50,000 acresof land in Fauquier, Prince William andStafford counties. 30,000 of that total
would come from Stafford. That’s nearly47 square miles out of a county whosetotal was 270 square miles. The 350families who lived in this far northerlypart of Stafford were given six weeks tomove out. In those days, and particularlyduring the war, there were no such thingsas public hearings, public comments, orany of the other niceties that are usuallyinvolved in a condemnation. For thatmatter there wasn’t any relocationassistance either. The government toldthe owners how much their land wasworth and moving was their problem.There are still a few in Stafford whoremember the event. Former CountySupervisor Lindbergh Fritter was one.Surprisingly, they don’t seem that angryabout what happened. After all, there wasa war on but many still feel their familieswere roughly handled just the same.
Some of the displaced familiesstayed in Stafford, while others left andnever came back. Familiar locations, toinclude two churches, three stores andtwo post offices — places that had been onthe map for a century or more — ceasedto exist. Stafford Store, a functioninggeneral store, which was also a votingprecinct, was no more. All of the stores,homes, barns, and outbuildings, weredemolished or left to decay. However, foryears there was a remnant of a fence witha gate that still carried the name,“Stafford Store.”
It would take years for the Navyto settle on the properties they had taken,but the move, and the relocation, wereswift and complete. It was allaccomplished on schedule and Stafford,now missing an entire segment of itscommunity, would never be the same.
David Kerr regularly writes for two localpapers and his writing and interest inour local history is a welcome addition
to Front Porch.
You may see her shopping inWegman’s, blinged out in funky jewelryand fashionably dressed, walking the mall,attending canasta and Knitty Bittiesweekly, or zipping around in her sportyyellow Volkswagen Bug. What you won’tsee is my Home Girl G sitting still. Who isshe and why do I call her my Home Girl G?Her name is Helen Wildish Sgarlato, age99, and she’s my grandmother. Shedoesn’t fit the mold of your stereotypicalgrandmother, and our kids call her GiGi(Great Grandmother) for short. I thinkit’s funny to give her a gangsta title andrefer to her as my Home Girl G.
So what makes GiGi so unique?She’s as colorful and full of movement asa kaleidoscope. Born in 1914, she wasdelivered at home by her physician father.The story goes that when Dr. Wildish bentto deliver GiGi, he heard her tiny voice say,“Get Away! I want to do this myself!” Shedescribed a loving childhood where herparents, “Let me find my own way mywhole life.” Independence is the essence ofGiGi.
She began school at age four,earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s
degree. She taught first grade for twenty-two years. She went to the University ofIowa and was friends with Ronald Reagan,whom they called “Dutch”. She is quick topoint out that she never voted for him.
She moved to New York at theage of twenty-four, knowing no one. Herbus arrived at 5 pm, and she met mygrandfather Charlie at 7 pm that eveningat a social. Soul mates, and she describedtheir symbiotic relationship as, “We wereone person.” They were together until hepassed away at age eighty-four.
Together they explored everycorner of the world, often hiking yearly inGstaadt, Switzerland. GiGi has hiked mostmountains and been from Mexico toKathmandu. As a child, GiGi’s house wasone of the most magical places for me toexplore. She had an eclectic style ofdecorating, including a stuffed mallardsitting on a log, tribal masks on the wall,an enamel scarab beetle, fertility statues,and a political cartoon in a frame in thebathroom. What has always hung on thewall is a watercolor painting of mygrandparents’ hiking in Switzerland.
Having been “as one person”, I
imagined it was difficult to press onwithout my grandfather. A week after hepassed, she went to Mexico with a friend.She just kept moving. She referencedsomething her seventy year old son withan intellectual disability once said, “If youlive, you have to die!”
GiGi shared her personalphilosophies: “Do unto others as youwould have them do unto you.” and“Think positively. Most times things getbetter.” Blue eyes sparkling withmerriment, she remarked, “Life iswonderful! Life is interesting! I am alwaysinquiring.” She added, “Even now when Ican see the light at the end of the tunnel,I’m not depressed.” When asked how shewould like to be remembered, she summedit up with a joke: Three friends go to afuneral. Standing by the casket, the firstfriend says, “He was a good husband”. Thesecond says, “He was honest”. The thirdfriend says, “Look, he’s moving!”
And move she does! She doesn’tsit still waiting for life to happen butrushes to meet it! Recently her beloveddog ChiWa died. Though heartbroken,GiGi shared having a companion to rely on
her gives her purpose. She adoptedPrincess Foxy, a Chihuahua.
Take a page from My Home Girl,G’s book: Life is beautiful. Don’t contentyourself with small, measured sips of itsnectar. Grab that manna and suck it dry!
Dru-Ann Sgarlato spends way too muchtime preparing for the zombie
apocalypse, loves camping in her RV,and is perfecting her skills as an
artificial pancreas.Her life philosophy is to find at least one
thing to laugh at each day, and if it’sherself, that’s even better!
MMyy HHoommee GGiirrll,, GGhelen widish sgarlato
By dru-ann sgarlato
My Own PathFirst Be Patient with Yourself
By c. ruth cassell
415
front porch fredericksburg May 2014 11
Driving along with windowsdown, warm spring air rushes into ourears and lungs. From the back seat,“Where does wind come from?”
The question stumps me. Incessant questions stream from
the back seat while he and I are runningerrands, driving to preschool, and truth betold anytime we’re in the car and he’s notasleep. Let me tell you, it’s exhausting. Iknow you fellow parents understand.
A child’s curiosity doesn’tautomatically guarantee a parent’spatience to quench the thirst forinformation. Being a living encyclopediawhile also mentally making a grocery list,(not so) happily playing block house forthe umpteenth time, or carefully dodgingcars in the pedestrian walkway in front ofTarget holding a squirming toddler’s handdoes not come naturally.
To meet a child’s needs, you mustfirst meet your own needs. In the case ofdeveloping the patience to respond to achild coherently when all you really wantto say is “uh huh” or “hmmmmm,” beginsby living in the moment and being patientwith yourself.
No one has all the answers, evenparents. If you act patiently with yourselfthroughout the day, as you complete oneproject before moving onto another orremain calm in a traffic jam making youlate to after school pick up, then you willbe more able to be patient with yourchild’s questions. Remember, the questionsyou get will be tougher and more importantas the child grows older. You want him toknow he can ask you anything.
First, allow yourself to considerthe inquiry. Rather than pushing aside agenuine request from your child to thinkabout what’s for dinner, repeat thequestion and ask the child to answer. Thisgives you time to get in the moment andthink of a reply.
If the child is too young or isn’tlikely to know the answer then follow upwith an age-appropriate, rationalexplanation. I attempt to answer my son’sconstant curiosity with vigilant andintelligent responses.
“Because I said so” and “BecauseGod made it that way” don’t seem likeadequate replies to serious queries.
Even before a child starts talking,everyday is a new chance to explore and
discover the people, places and thingsmaking up the world. For my son and I,the age of questions began right aboutthree-years-old and picked up steam afterhis fifth birthday.
My adherence to scientificexplanations lasted several rounds. Ihandled “what makes a rainbow?” and“where does the sun go at night?” Forsome reason, the wind question took thewind out of my sails. I rigged up an answersomewhere between “I’ll have to look thatup, buddy,” and “Let’s ask Popeye if heknows.” Luckily, granddad knows.
We finished our drive thatafternoon with my identity as the all-knowing mommy intact. Honestly, it’simpossible to keep that façade going forlong. By being patient with myself first, Irealize I don’t have to, and that’s okay.
C. Ruth Cassell intends to write My OwnPath in 2014 as a way to share lessonsin parenting with the many readers of
The Front Porch who desire to raise well-adjusted, respectful and respectable
children, but who are also on acontinual path of personal healing.
Please share comments, suggestions andcolumn ideas with Ruth at
10 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg
Jewel Box Since 1940
Your Hometown Jeweler
On-Premise Jewelry Repair
Watch Batteries
Gold Buying
Engraving
212 William Street,Fredericksburg540-373-5513
Mon-Fri 9-5:30; Sat 9-5
Stafford 350the great land grab of ‘42
By david s. kerr
Seventy years ago StaffordCounty’s population was approximately10,000. While many people, particularly insouth Stafford, worked at the variousfactories in Fredericksburg. The county’seconomic base was still agricultural, andthere were dozens of farms. AquiaHarbour, now home to more than 6,000people was Woodstock Farm. The Staffordof 1942 had only a few paved roads. therewas the only stop light, and it only flashedred to warn of a four-way stop was at theat the corner of U.S. 1 and CourthouseRoad. Most people had never been in atraffic jam before.
By the middle of 1942, the warthat had begun unexpectedly in the Pacificthe year before was now a world war.Many of Stafford’s young men had alreadyvolunteered for service. Others had waitedto finish high school before joining. Manyothers would follow in the years to come.
1942 is noteworthy for anotherreason. The U.S. Marine Corps hadoccupied a base at Quantico since 1912,but with the start of the war felt itessential that the base be expanded. Theyneeded room for individual training, smallunit training, maneuvers, joint air andground training, and ranges. And so in asweeping move, the Navy (which handledthe purchase for the Marines) announcedthat it was forcing the sale of 50,000 acresof land in Fauquier, Prince William andStafford counties. 30,000 of that total
would come from Stafford. That’s nearly47 square miles out of a county whosetotal was 270 square miles. The 350families who lived in this far northerlypart of Stafford were given six weeks tomove out. In those days, and particularlyduring the war, there were no such thingsas public hearings, public comments, orany of the other niceties that are usuallyinvolved in a condemnation. For thatmatter there wasn’t any relocationassistance either. The government toldthe owners how much their land wasworth and moving was their problem.There are still a few in Stafford whoremember the event. Former CountySupervisor Lindbergh Fritter was one.Surprisingly, they don’t seem that angryabout what happened. After all, there wasa war on but many still feel their familieswere roughly handled just the same.
Some of the displaced familiesstayed in Stafford, while others left andnever came back. Familiar locations, toinclude two churches, three stores andtwo post offices — places that had been onthe map for a century or more — ceasedto exist. Stafford Store, a functioninggeneral store, which was also a votingprecinct, was no more. All of the stores,homes, barns, and outbuildings, weredemolished or left to decay. However, foryears there was a remnant of a fence witha gate that still carried the name,“Stafford Store.”
It would take years for the Navyto settle on the properties they had taken,but the move, and the relocation, wereswift and complete. It was allaccomplished on schedule and Stafford,now missing an entire segment of itscommunity, would never be the same.
David Kerr regularly writes for two localpapers and his writing and interest inour local history is a welcome addition
to Front Porch.
You may see her shopping inWegman’s, blinged out in funky jewelryand fashionably dressed, walking the mall,attending canasta and Knitty Bittiesweekly, or zipping around in her sportyyellow Volkswagen Bug. What you won’tsee is my Home Girl G sitting still. Who isshe and why do I call her my Home Girl G?Her name is Helen Wildish Sgarlato, age99, and she’s my grandmother. Shedoesn’t fit the mold of your stereotypicalgrandmother, and our kids call her GiGi(Great Grandmother) for short. I thinkit’s funny to give her a gangsta title andrefer to her as my Home Girl G.
So what makes GiGi so unique?She’s as colorful and full of movement asa kaleidoscope. Born in 1914, she wasdelivered at home by her physician father.The story goes that when Dr. Wildish bentto deliver GiGi, he heard her tiny voice say,“Get Away! I want to do this myself!” Shedescribed a loving childhood where herparents, “Let me find my own way mywhole life.” Independence is the essence ofGiGi.
She began school at age four,earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s
degree. She taught first grade for twenty-two years. She went to the University ofIowa and was friends with Ronald Reagan,whom they called “Dutch”. She is quick topoint out that she never voted for him.
She moved to New York at theage of twenty-four, knowing no one. Herbus arrived at 5 pm, and she met mygrandfather Charlie at 7 pm that eveningat a social. Soul mates, and she describedtheir symbiotic relationship as, “We wereone person.” They were together until hepassed away at age eighty-four.
Together they explored everycorner of the world, often hiking yearly inGstaadt, Switzerland. GiGi has hiked mostmountains and been from Mexico toKathmandu. As a child, GiGi’s house wasone of the most magical places for me toexplore. She had an eclectic style ofdecorating, including a stuffed mallardsitting on a log, tribal masks on the wall,an enamel scarab beetle, fertility statues,and a political cartoon in a frame in thebathroom. What has always hung on thewall is a watercolor painting of mygrandparents’ hiking in Switzerland.
Having been “as one person”, I
imagined it was difficult to press onwithout my grandfather. A week after hepassed, she went to Mexico with a friend.She just kept moving. She referencedsomething her seventy year old son withan intellectual disability once said, “If youlive, you have to die!”
GiGi shared her personalphilosophies: “Do unto others as youwould have them do unto you.” and“Think positively. Most times things getbetter.” Blue eyes sparkling withmerriment, she remarked, “Life iswonderful! Life is interesting! I am alwaysinquiring.” She added, “Even now when Ican see the light at the end of the tunnel,I’m not depressed.” When asked how shewould like to be remembered, she summedit up with a joke: Three friends go to afuneral. Standing by the casket, the firstfriend says, “He was a good husband”. Thesecond says, “He was honest”. The thirdfriend says, “Look, he’s moving!”
And move she does! She doesn’tsit still waiting for life to happen butrushes to meet it! Recently her beloveddog ChiWa died. Though heartbroken,GiGi shared having a companion to rely on
her gives her purpose. She adoptedPrincess Foxy, a Chihuahua.
Take a page from My Home Girl,G’s book: Life is beautiful. Don’t contentyourself with small, measured sips of itsnectar. Grab that manna and suck it dry!
Dru-Ann Sgarlato spends way too muchtime preparing for the zombie
apocalypse, loves camping in her RV,and is perfecting her skills as an
artificial pancreas.Her life philosophy is to find at least one
thing to laugh at each day, and if it’sherself, that’s even better!
MMyy HHoommee GGiirrll,, GGhelen widish sgarlato
By dru-ann sgarlato
My Own PathFirst Be Patient with Yourself
By c. ruth cassell
415
The weather hasfinally broken and despitea few scares withpotential frosts we saw inApril, hopefully we canput away our wintersweaters and coats andenjoy a glass of wine onthe back deck.
Although I am ayear round red winedrinker, I do enjoy a nicewhite. In Virginia,Chardonnay still seems tobe the white wine ofchoice. However, Virginians are startingto drink it with a new twist. Unoaked.
It has been often stated thatoaking can cover a plethora of mistakesdespite the fact that it adds a mellownessto the wine. Aging in stainless steel, onthe other hand, brings out the crisp fruitflavor of the Chardonnay grape, while stillmaintaining the body that so manyappreciate. On the backend, just after thetaste of citrus hits the palette, there is stilla slight butteriness that surprises many,because we all thought it only had to dowith the oak aging. Roger’s Ford FarmWinery in Summerduck has a lovelyunoaked Chardonnay they JacobChristopher Chardonnay, which displaysaromatics as well as a touch of sweetnesson the end.
For those who enjoy the oakaging (and there are many), the GrayGhost Winery in Amissville (above) offerstheir 2011 Reserve Chardonnay which isaged in French oak just the right amountso that the crisp taste of the fruit ismaintained and the faintly sweetsmokiness of the oak can be enjoyedwithout overpowering the wine. InSpotsylvania, Lake Anna Winery hasalways produced a lovely ReserveChardonnay that is aged in oak for ten totwelve months. In the past, the wine,
because of this process, not to mentionthe care Lake Anna Winery uses ineverything from the raising of the vines tothe wine making itself, has presented theslightest English toffee and caramel flavorthat tends to give the wine a certainwarmth in addition to the depth of flavorand finish.
An up and coming wine inVirginia is the Sauvignon Blanc. Althougha white, Sauvignon Blanc is one of theparents of Cabernet Sauvignon along withCabernet Franc. Somewhat lighter thanChardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc is a winethat is normally served unoaked unless itis used in a blend. The bright, fruity tasteof this wine is very refreshing and is oftenthought of as a summer wine, but manyare finding this wine is always refreshingin winters liked we just experienced alongthe Mid Atlantic Seaboard.
While Sauvignon Blanc is growingin popularity, Chardonnay remains thetop white wine, in particular, the unoakedChardonnays. Oaked or unoaked, red orwhite, drink what you like and enjoy thewarmer weather!
Scott owns a vineyard in Sparta,Virginia and does free lance writing for
the Front Porch and the Caroline Progress.
12 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg front porch fredericksburg May 2014 13
VinoChardonnay, queen of summer
By scott richards
Season’s Bountymay day, may pole, may queen
By vanessa moncureIt’s been some years since I
moved my parents to Virginia, but I’m stillsorting through, trying to date andorganise many old family photographs,albums, slides, genealogic papers - so manyof them dry and dusty, unnamed Victorianphotographs and autograph albums. Justin time for this May issue, in a lovely fadedvelvet-covered album, I found a groupingof late 19th century young girls, dressedin white gowns, floral and ivy crowningtheir flowing hair. Another photo of thesame girls, same studio poses, this timeholding long ribbons tied to a May pole -last photo of the May Queen standingwhile the others were grouped aroundher. I haven’t identified the girls yet, butthe fading penmanship on the reverseidentifies the group date as May Day 96.Slightly before my grandmother’s time,but I remember her stories of celebratingMay Day in the schoolyard, winding longstrands of colored ribbon around adecorated pole - a celebration of youth,spring and Earth’s annual rebirth. When Ithink of spring foods, eggs first come tomind, probably because of their Eastersymbolism. Also because I have to think ofsomething to do with a bowl of lovingly(read messily) colored and decoratedhard-boiled eggs. If you can purchasefresh eggs at the farmer’s market, makesure you use a large-graded egg for allbaked recipes. Extra-large and jumbo-graded are larger and heavier and oftenhave a double yolk. Most cookbook recipescall for large size in baking - size is not ascritical in an omelet or frittata.
BROILED BREAKFASTPreheat oven broiler and place toprack nearest to heat. Toast two Englishmuffins and place on baking sheet.Heat four slices of Canadian bacon andplace on muffin, then a slice of tomato,slices of hard-boiled egg, ¼ c. eachprepared Bearnaise sauce, then slice ofswiss cheese. Broil until cheese isbrowned and bubbly, turn off broilerand place baking sheet on bottom rack- close oven door and allow them toheat through about five minutes -sprinkle with finely chopped chives andserve along with a fruit cup - great fora Mother’s Day breakfast tray!
ANGEL FOOD CAKEOnce you have made this delicious,light cake at home, I doubt that thegrocery variety will ever taste as good.This is great to cut in layers, spreadingeach layer with strawberry ice cream,then keeping frozen until serving witha juicy spring strawberry sauce (swirlfresh strawberries in blender with a bitof frozen strawberry daiquiri mix(non-alcoholic) until smooth). Use
almond extract in place or in additionto the vanilla for a different flavor -even coconut or lemon extracts aregreat if you are pairing with tropicalfruit sauces.For the cake: Separate one dozen largeeggs and let come to roomtemperature. HINT: even a tiny speckof fat(yolk) from the egg will preventthe whites from beating. Also, nevertry to beat egg whites in a plastic bowl.Must have glass or stainless steel orbest, as any pastry chef will tell you, acopper bowl. Preheat the oven to375F. Whip the egg whites (should beabout one cup) in a mixer with whiskattachment or a hand-held whisk untilfoamy. Beat in 1 tsp. cream of tartarand ½ tsp. salt. Without stopping,gradually add 1 ½ c. sugar until softpeaks form - then sift 1 c. cake flourand fold into the egg mixture alongwith 1 tsp. flavoring. Lightly spoonthe mixture into an ungreased 10”tube pan. Bake until lightly browned,about 50-55 minutes. Cool the cake byinverting over the top of a bottle.(Thiswill help keep its height.) Don’t try toremove from pan until the cake comesto room temperature. Run a knifearound the edges to loosen from thepan, then knock pan sharply oncounter covered with wax paper. Turnover and sprinkle with confectioner’ssugar if desired. You can freeze theyolks individually, tightly covered, forabout a month. Great for sauces,some casseroles (like chicken a la king),or thickening homemade custard orcooked ice cream bases.
LEMON CURDFor this recipe you’ll need a doubleboiler - or make your own with abottom saucepan and smaller topround mixing bowl. This is great withthe angel food cake or traditionallywith scones for tea.Whisk together in top mixing bowl 4eggs and 1 c. sugar until very light.Whisk in ? c. lemon juice and 1 T.
freshly grated lemon zest. Place themixing bowl over bottom pan withabout one inch of simmering water.Cook, whisking frequently, until themixture is custardy and will coat aspoon. Stir in ¼ c. butter (nosubstitute) until melted. Refrigerateuntil completely cooled. Beat 1 c.heavy cream and fold in the lemonmixture. Cover and refrigerate untilready to serve. Love to the oeuf!
Vanessa treats us each month towonderful recipes and downhome stories
in this space. 801 Caroline Street (540) 371-2008
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are two-for-one.
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Cooking With KyleSimple, easy, delicious
by james kyle snyder
Continuing to cook by the seasonis fun! May gives us our first fresh harvestafter the long winter. Preparing for thenext season is not very hard once you getused to it.
First is knowing when to plantwhat. There are blogs and web sites aboutthis skill; most of the decisions revolvearound the “average last frost” (ALF).Fredericksburg city sits squarely on theline between the Piedmont area (ALF April20-30) and the Mountain area (ALF May10-15). To further emphasize the point,Spotsylvania is firmly located in theMountain area, while Stafford is snug inthe Piedmont area. Remember, thesedates are averages. There are noguarantees that you won’t experience akilling frost after your area’s ALF date. Beprepared to cover your plantings in theearly spring if you try to get the plants inthe ground early. Here are some generalguidelines I follow:
Start peppers and tomatoesinside on Valentines’ day. After theysprout, make sure they have plenty of sunor they will get “leggy.” Plant them late
April. I gamble on no-frostmost years. In late March, sewspring peas, lettuce and leafygreens, spinach, bitter greens,radishes, and cabbage directlyin the garden. The rest of thedirect sew plants, like corn,cucumbers, squashes, and mostother garden vegetables, mustwait until the ALF date haspassed. Asparagus is greatbecause once you have it in theground; it will produce for youonce a year for the next 25years. Roxbury Mills, onLafayette Blvd, has a greatvariety of asparagus rootstocks available andinstructions on how to plant.Experiment and have fun! Plant
a few things early, and then more later. Afew minutes of planting will produce fresh,available vegetables all season.
May is salad season! Asparagus isup. Radishes are in. Rhubarb is full.Thegreens are thick like a carpet, and the firstof the strawberries are on the vine. Havingtaken the time in late March to plant, it istime to start the harvest season that willextend late into October.
We love simple salads. Take anyor all of the garden’s gifts, add a quickvinaigrette, and you have lunch. Getslightly creative with a piece of fresh tunaand you will have a picture perfect mealthat looks harder to make than it actuallyis. Many times, I will pick a coupleingredients, like tuna and radish, andsearch the internet. There are so manyideas out there that drive you in adifferent creative direction. This month’srecipe is an adaptation of a salad I saw indiffering forms and presentation. Usingthose as a guideline, I came up with thismonth’s “simple, easy, and delicious.”
In a small bowl, combine 3 TBSwasabi powder, 3 TBS silken tofu, 1 TBSrice vinegar, 1 TBS fresh lemon juice, 1TBS mirin, and a pinch of S&P. Wisk untilsmooth and set aside in the refrigerator.
Thinly slice 1 cup radishes (shredif you prefer). Add 2 TBS fresh choppedmint leaves, 2 TBS fresh chopped cilantro,1 TBS of grated carrots, and 2 TBS of anyspicy sprout, like radish. Dress these with2 TBS lemon juice and TBS mirin then tossto mix well. Put all of the salad in acolander to drain in the refrigerator for20 minutes.
Serve on chilled plates layeringwith the salad first then thinly sliced tuna.Finish with flake salt, or lemon flake salt ifyou have it. Use the wasabi dressing todecorate the plate. All done! Simple, easyand delicious. Be well.
Do YourKnives Make
the Cut?Sharpening
Servicesat
374-0443
www.shopwhittingham.com
1021 Caroline Street
The weather hasfinally broken and despitea few scares withpotential frosts we saw inApril, hopefully we canput away our wintersweaters and coats andenjoy a glass of wine onthe back deck.
Although I am ayear round red winedrinker, I do enjoy a nicewhite. In Virginia,Chardonnay still seems tobe the white wine ofchoice. However, Virginians are startingto drink it with a new twist. Unoaked.
It has been often stated thatoaking can cover a plethora of mistakesdespite the fact that it adds a mellownessto the wine. Aging in stainless steel, onthe other hand, brings out the crisp fruitflavor of the Chardonnay grape, while stillmaintaining the body that so manyappreciate. On the backend, just after thetaste of citrus hits the palette, there is stilla slight butteriness that surprises many,because we all thought it only had to dowith the oak aging. Roger’s Ford FarmWinery in Summerduck has a lovelyunoaked Chardonnay they JacobChristopher Chardonnay, which displaysaromatics as well as a touch of sweetnesson the end.
For those who enjoy the oakaging (and there are many), the GrayGhost Winery in Amissville (above) offerstheir 2011 Reserve Chardonnay which isaged in French oak just the right amountso that the crisp taste of the fruit ismaintained and the faintly sweetsmokiness of the oak can be enjoyedwithout overpowering the wine. InSpotsylvania, Lake Anna Winery hasalways produced a lovely ReserveChardonnay that is aged in oak for ten totwelve months. In the past, the wine,
because of this process, not to mentionthe care Lake Anna Winery uses ineverything from the raising of the vines tothe wine making itself, has presented theslightest English toffee and caramel flavorthat tends to give the wine a certainwarmth in addition to the depth of flavorand finish.
An up and coming wine inVirginia is the Sauvignon Blanc. Althougha white, Sauvignon Blanc is one of theparents of Cabernet Sauvignon along withCabernet Franc. Somewhat lighter thanChardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc is a winethat is normally served unoaked unless itis used in a blend. The bright, fruity tasteof this wine is very refreshing and is oftenthought of as a summer wine, but manyare finding this wine is always refreshingin winters liked we just experienced alongthe Mid Atlantic Seaboard.
While Sauvignon Blanc is growingin popularity, Chardonnay remains thetop white wine, in particular, the unoakedChardonnays. Oaked or unoaked, red orwhite, drink what you like and enjoy thewarmer weather!
Scott owns a vineyard in Sparta,Virginia and does free lance writing for
the Front Porch and the Caroline Progress.
12 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg front porch fredericksburg May 2014 13
VinoChardonnay, queen of summer
By scott richards
Season’s Bountymay day, may pole, may queen
By vanessa moncureIt’s been some years since I
moved my parents to Virginia, but I’m stillsorting through, trying to date andorganise many old family photographs,albums, slides, genealogic papers - so manyof them dry and dusty, unnamed Victorianphotographs and autograph albums. Justin time for this May issue, in a lovely fadedvelvet-covered album, I found a groupingof late 19th century young girls, dressedin white gowns, floral and ivy crowningtheir flowing hair. Another photo of thesame girls, same studio poses, this timeholding long ribbons tied to a May pole -last photo of the May Queen standingwhile the others were grouped aroundher. I haven’t identified the girls yet, butthe fading penmanship on the reverseidentifies the group date as May Day 96.Slightly before my grandmother’s time,but I remember her stories of celebratingMay Day in the schoolyard, winding longstrands of colored ribbon around adecorated pole - a celebration of youth,spring and Earth’s annual rebirth. When Ithink of spring foods, eggs first come tomind, probably because of their Eastersymbolism. Also because I have to think ofsomething to do with a bowl of lovingly(read messily) colored and decoratedhard-boiled eggs. If you can purchasefresh eggs at the farmer’s market, makesure you use a large-graded egg for allbaked recipes. Extra-large and jumbo-graded are larger and heavier and oftenhave a double yolk. Most cookbook recipescall for large size in baking - size is not ascritical in an omelet or frittata.
BROILED BREAKFASTPreheat oven broiler and place toprack nearest to heat. Toast two Englishmuffins and place on baking sheet.Heat four slices of Canadian bacon andplace on muffin, then a slice of tomato,slices of hard-boiled egg, ¼ c. eachprepared Bearnaise sauce, then slice ofswiss cheese. Broil until cheese isbrowned and bubbly, turn off broilerand place baking sheet on bottom rack- close oven door and allow them toheat through about five minutes -sprinkle with finely chopped chives andserve along with a fruit cup - great fora Mother’s Day breakfast tray!
ANGEL FOOD CAKEOnce you have made this delicious,light cake at home, I doubt that thegrocery variety will ever taste as good.This is great to cut in layers, spreadingeach layer with strawberry ice cream,then keeping frozen until serving witha juicy spring strawberry sauce (swirlfresh strawberries in blender with a bitof frozen strawberry daiquiri mix(non-alcoholic) until smooth). Use
almond extract in place or in additionto the vanilla for a different flavor -even coconut or lemon extracts aregreat if you are pairing with tropicalfruit sauces.For the cake: Separate one dozen largeeggs and let come to roomtemperature. HINT: even a tiny speckof fat(yolk) from the egg will preventthe whites from beating. Also, nevertry to beat egg whites in a plastic bowl.Must have glass or stainless steel orbest, as any pastry chef will tell you, acopper bowl. Preheat the oven to375F. Whip the egg whites (should beabout one cup) in a mixer with whiskattachment or a hand-held whisk untilfoamy. Beat in 1 tsp. cream of tartarand ½ tsp. salt. Without stopping,gradually add 1 ½ c. sugar until softpeaks form - then sift 1 c. cake flourand fold into the egg mixture alongwith 1 tsp. flavoring. Lightly spoonthe mixture into an ungreased 10”tube pan. Bake until lightly browned,about 50-55 minutes. Cool the cake byinverting over the top of a bottle.(Thiswill help keep its height.) Don’t try toremove from pan until the cake comesto room temperature. Run a knifearound the edges to loosen from thepan, then knock pan sharply oncounter covered with wax paper. Turnover and sprinkle with confectioner’ssugar if desired. You can freeze theyolks individually, tightly covered, forabout a month. Great for sauces,some casseroles (like chicken a la king),or thickening homemade custard orcooked ice cream bases.
LEMON CURDFor this recipe you’ll need a doubleboiler - or make your own with abottom saucepan and smaller topround mixing bowl. This is great withthe angel food cake or traditionallywith scones for tea.Whisk together in top mixing bowl 4eggs and 1 c. sugar until very light.Whisk in ? c. lemon juice and 1 T.
freshly grated lemon zest. Place themixing bowl over bottom pan withabout one inch of simmering water.Cook, whisking frequently, until themixture is custardy and will coat aspoon. Stir in ¼ c. butter (nosubstitute) until melted. Refrigerateuntil completely cooled. Beat 1 c.heavy cream and fold in the lemonmixture. Cover and refrigerate untilready to serve. Love to the oeuf!
Vanessa treats us each month towonderful recipes and downhome stories
in this space. 801 Caroline Street (540) 371-2008
~ Daily Specials ~
Mom’s Mondays: Free dessert for all moms
Two For One Tuesdays: All beverages & appetizers
are two-for-one.
Washington Wednesdays: All food 50% off with
Mary Washington University id
Throwback Thursdays: Burgers any way $5.00.
Dine in Only ~ Limited Time ~ Subject to Change
Cooking With KyleSimple, easy, delicious
by james kyle snyder
Continuing to cook by the seasonis fun! May gives us our first fresh harvestafter the long winter. Preparing for thenext season is not very hard once you getused to it.
First is knowing when to plantwhat. There are blogs and web sites aboutthis skill; most of the decisions revolvearound the “average last frost” (ALF).Fredericksburg city sits squarely on theline between the Piedmont area (ALF April20-30) and the Mountain area (ALF May10-15). To further emphasize the point,Spotsylvania is firmly located in theMountain area, while Stafford is snug inthe Piedmont area. Remember, thesedates are averages. There are noguarantees that you won’t experience akilling frost after your area’s ALF date. Beprepared to cover your plantings in theearly spring if you try to get the plants inthe ground early. Here are some generalguidelines I follow:
Start peppers and tomatoesinside on Valentines’ day. After theysprout, make sure they have plenty of sunor they will get “leggy.” Plant them late
April. I gamble on no-frostmost years. In late March, sewspring peas, lettuce and leafygreens, spinach, bitter greens,radishes, and cabbage directlyin the garden. The rest of thedirect sew plants, like corn,cucumbers, squashes, and mostother garden vegetables, mustwait until the ALF date haspassed. Asparagus is greatbecause once you have it in theground; it will produce for youonce a year for the next 25years. Roxbury Mills, onLafayette Blvd, has a greatvariety of asparagus rootstocks available andinstructions on how to plant.Experiment and have fun! Plant
a few things early, and then more later. Afew minutes of planting will produce fresh,available vegetables all season.
May is salad season! Asparagus isup. Radishes are in. Rhubarb is full.Thegreens are thick like a carpet, and the firstof the strawberries are on the vine. Havingtaken the time in late March to plant, it istime to start the harvest season that willextend late into October.
We love simple salads. Take anyor all of the garden’s gifts, add a quickvinaigrette, and you have lunch. Getslightly creative with a piece of fresh tunaand you will have a picture perfect mealthat looks harder to make than it actuallyis. Many times, I will pick a coupleingredients, like tuna and radish, andsearch the internet. There are so manyideas out there that drive you in adifferent creative direction. This month’srecipe is an adaptation of a salad I saw indiffering forms and presentation. Usingthose as a guideline, I came up with thismonth’s “simple, easy, and delicious.”
In a small bowl, combine 3 TBSwasabi powder, 3 TBS silken tofu, 1 TBSrice vinegar, 1 TBS fresh lemon juice, 1TBS mirin, and a pinch of S&P. Wisk untilsmooth and set aside in the refrigerator.
Thinly slice 1 cup radishes (shredif you prefer). Add 2 TBS fresh choppedmint leaves, 2 TBS fresh chopped cilantro,1 TBS of grated carrots, and 2 TBS of anyspicy sprout, like radish. Dress these with2 TBS lemon juice and TBS mirin then tossto mix well. Put all of the salad in acolander to drain in the refrigerator for20 minutes.
Serve on chilled plates layeringwith the salad first then thinly sliced tuna.Finish with flake salt, or lemon flake salt ifyou have it. Use the wasabi dressing todecorate the plate. All done! Simple, easyand delicious. Be well.
Do YourKnives Make
the Cut?Sharpening
Servicesat
374-0443
www.shopwhittingham.com
1021 Caroline Street
front porch fredericksburg May 2014 1514 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg
As many of you know (dozens?),the Craft Brewers Conference was held inDenver this past April the 8th through the11th. To open the event, Paul Gatza,President of the Brewers Associationtalked about a problem facing many newbreweries: Quality Control. “With so manybrewery openings, the potential is therefor things to start to degrade on thequality side, and we wouldn’t want that tocolor the willingness of the beer drinker totry new brands. If a beer drinker has a badexperience, they are just going to go backto companies they know and trust.” Whileat the higher end of the brewing spectrum(Sierra Nevada, Dogfish Head, Victory,New Belgium), the quality and consistencyof these beers has never been better, butthere are plenty of new breweries openingevery day with very little equipment toproperly test their product to ensure aconsistent uninfected brew. While thetypical lay person may not be able to spota DMS infection vs. oxidation, many willknow that something is not quite right.
Now, these infections are notalways the fault of the brewer, and thatshould be noted, especially with plenty ofnew venues exploring the craft side ofbeer. Clean draft lines, proper storage,timely tappings, etc, can all affect thetaste of a beer. Are you checking out a newbeer/brewery at your local bottleshop/neighborhood bar? Do you knowwhen the beer was bottled/kegged? Has itbeen exposed to numerous temperaturesin transit from brewery to distributor toretailer? Are they using brown bottles orcans instead of clear or green glass toprotect the beer from being light struck?For a very few beer styles, some of thoseconditions and changes will not affect thetaste that much, but for most it will. Thegeneral rule of thumb is that beer startsto deteriorate from its intended flavorprofile after 90 days from packaging.Some brewers insist on an even shorter
lifespan for especially hoppy beers. StoneEnjoy By Double IPA comes to mind. It isbottled with an “expiration” date printedon the front. 35 days from bottling iswhen it should be consumed. Buy the timeyou are reading this, there should not beany Enjoy By 4/20/14 still sitting on theshelves. Should.
Ok, on to happier news, and astory I have been following for quite awhile. Adventure Brewing Company,located just up Route 1 across from theStafford Airport at 33 Perchwood Drive,will be opening their tasting room on May15th! After months (years?) of sloggingthrough red tape and bureaucraticmumbo jumbo, they will be the firstbrewery to open in Stafford county. Whilemy previous paragraphs were aboutyoung upstarts keeping an eye on qualitycontrol, I have no fear of that happeningwith these guys. I have been tastingvarious batches and recipes of their beersfor over a year and a half, and I amgenuinely excited for them to open. Whilethey will not be distributing at first, onlyselling what they can produce from theirtasting room, they have plenty of space toexpand as necessary. So, swing on by, trysome Expedition IPA, Grapefruit Wheat orone of their experimental one off brewsand say hi to Tim, Stan and John!
William Loring is the resident beer nerdat The Olde Towne Butcher and
constant lurker on BeerAdvocate.
TheSoup & Taco,
Etc.
813 Caroline St.Fredericksburg, VA
Serving TraditionalMexican, Tex-Mex Foodand Something More!!
Tuesday to Saturday11am-9pm
Sunday 11am-6pm
Phone: 540-899-0969E-mail: [email protected]
720 Littlepage sunkenwelltavern.com 540-370-0911Eat Well Drink Well Live Well
The Sunken Well Tavern
The General StoreRestaurant
Italian/American FoodMonday-Saturday 11 am-10 pm
371-40752018 College Ave.
Fredericksburg
Since 1978
Will PowerQuality over quantity
By william loring Come on Over and See Us
in our New Location at Eagle Village!
GET 25% OFF ANY 6 BOTTLES OF WINE WITH THIS COUPON
VALID IN STORE ONLY. ONE COUPON PER PERSON. EXPIRES 2/28/2014
To learn about our tastings andother special events: Join our email list atEJosephWines.com
&Facebook.com/hop.wine
540-373-8878
1223 Jefferson Davis HwyFredericksburg, VA 22401
Serving Up Local “Good” News
Since 1997
Front PorchFredericksburg
WELCOME TO OUR
GREAT OUTDOORS
It’s Beautiful ~Night and Day!
Spotlighton kickshaw downtown market
By mary lynn powers
If you were wondering what typeof shop would open in the Virginia Delispace at 101 William St, wonder no more.There is a new food market opening soon,hopefully in May. Kathy Craddock andBrandi Fishback are the proud owners ofKickshaw Downtown Market. They plan tospecialize in organic and natural products,using as much locally produced goods aspossible. The idea is to provide downtownwith healthy, locally-sourced options thatare also affordable, and can be obtainedall under one roof. Their goals stretchfurther to include workshops to educatepeople on the differences in organic andnatural foods, methods for preservingfoods, the different levels of certification,and understanding ways diet can improvetheir lives.
Kathy and Brandi have beenfriends for a while. They met at an UglyChristmas Sweater benefit that Kathy wassponsoring. Both owners have interestingbackgrounds, Brandi was a police officer,
and Kathy was a marine. Brandiworked in sales for eleven years,and Kathy ran a bakery. They haveboth done work in non-profits andplan to be involved in communityefforts such as community gardensand children’s activities. Branditold me that they have veggiecostumes they use whenentertaining and educating littleones. They want to make naturaleating more understandable anddown to earth.
Their decision to open the shopcame about when Kathy wasdriving home from the localfarmer’s market, and thought hownice it would be to be able to pickup other essentials without havingto travel to Richmond or NorthernVA. Passing by the openstorefront, the lightbulb came on,and she knew this was the nextpath in the road. She called Brandiwho immediately agreed to the
idea. Prior to this though, Kathy had
started working on her family’s nutritionand diet. She had serious medical issueswhich after overhauling her diet and thatof her family, she made a nearly fullrecovery. Brandi had a big interest innutrition and it’s effects on the body,especially after seeing Kathy’s recovery.Kathy also blogs about her experience, andis in the process of writing and critiquingsome food related material.
If all goes as planned, the marketwill have a soft opening, a kind of meetand greet on 1st Friday, and other festivalevents are in the works for the nearfuture. For information about theopening and upcoming events, check outtheir Facebook or Twitter page atKickshaw’s Downtown Market, or go to thewebsite atkickshawsdowntownmarket.com.
Mary Lynn Powers gets the inside storyon businessin Fredericksburg.
front porch fredericksburg May 2014 1514 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg
As many of you know (dozens?),the Craft Brewers Conference was held inDenver this past April the 8th through the11th. To open the event, Paul Gatza,President of the Brewers Associationtalked about a problem facing many newbreweries: Quality Control. “With so manybrewery openings, the potential is therefor things to start to degrade on thequality side, and we wouldn’t want that tocolor the willingness of the beer drinker totry new brands. If a beer drinker has a badexperience, they are just going to go backto companies they know and trust.” Whileat the higher end of the brewing spectrum(Sierra Nevada, Dogfish Head, Victory,New Belgium), the quality and consistencyof these beers has never been better, butthere are plenty of new breweries openingevery day with very little equipment toproperly test their product to ensure aconsistent uninfected brew. While thetypical lay person may not be able to spota DMS infection vs. oxidation, many willknow that something is not quite right.
Now, these infections are notalways the fault of the brewer, and thatshould be noted, especially with plenty ofnew venues exploring the craft side ofbeer. Clean draft lines, proper storage,timely tappings, etc, can all affect thetaste of a beer. Are you checking out a newbeer/brewery at your local bottleshop/neighborhood bar? Do you knowwhen the beer was bottled/kegged? Has itbeen exposed to numerous temperaturesin transit from brewery to distributor toretailer? Are they using brown bottles orcans instead of clear or green glass toprotect the beer from being light struck?For a very few beer styles, some of thoseconditions and changes will not affect thetaste that much, but for most it will. Thegeneral rule of thumb is that beer startsto deteriorate from its intended flavorprofile after 90 days from packaging.Some brewers insist on an even shorter
lifespan for especially hoppy beers. StoneEnjoy By Double IPA comes to mind. It isbottled with an “expiration” date printedon the front. 35 days from bottling iswhen it should be consumed. Buy the timeyou are reading this, there should not beany Enjoy By 4/20/14 still sitting on theshelves. Should.
Ok, on to happier news, and astory I have been following for quite awhile. Adventure Brewing Company,located just up Route 1 across from theStafford Airport at 33 Perchwood Drive,will be opening their tasting room on May15th! After months (years?) of sloggingthrough red tape and bureaucraticmumbo jumbo, they will be the firstbrewery to open in Stafford county. Whilemy previous paragraphs were aboutyoung upstarts keeping an eye on qualitycontrol, I have no fear of that happeningwith these guys. I have been tastingvarious batches and recipes of their beersfor over a year and a half, and I amgenuinely excited for them to open. Whilethey will not be distributing at first, onlyselling what they can produce from theirtasting room, they have plenty of space toexpand as necessary. So, swing on by, trysome Expedition IPA, Grapefruit Wheat orone of their experimental one off brewsand say hi to Tim, Stan and John!
William Loring is the resident beer nerdat The Olde Towne Butcher and
constant lurker on BeerAdvocate.
TheSoup & Taco,
Etc.
813 Caroline St.Fredericksburg, VA
Serving TraditionalMexican, Tex-Mex Foodand Something More!!
Tuesday to Saturday11am-9pm
Sunday 11am-6pm
Phone: 540-899-0969E-mail: [email protected]
720 Littlepage sunkenwelltavern.com 540-370-0911Eat Well Drink Well Live Well
The Sunken Well Tavern
The General StoreRestaurant
Italian/American FoodMonday-Saturday 11 am-10 pm
371-40752018 College Ave.
Fredericksburg
Since 1978
Will PowerQuality over quantity
By william loring Come on Over and See Us
in our New Location at Eagle Village!
GET 25% OFF ANY 6 BOTTLES OF WINE WITH THIS COUPON
VALID IN STORE ONLY. ONE COUPON PER PERSON. EXPIRES 2/28/2014
To learn about our tastings andother special events: Join our email list atEJosephWines.com
&Facebook.com/hop.wine
540-373-8878
1223 Jefferson Davis HwyFredericksburg, VA 22401
Serving Up Local “Good” News
Since 1997
Front PorchFredericksburg
WELCOME TO OUR
GREAT OUTDOORS
It’s Beautiful ~Night and Day!
Spotlighton kickshaw downtown market
By mary lynn powers
If you were wondering what typeof shop would open in the Virginia Delispace at 101 William St, wonder no more.There is a new food market opening soon,hopefully in May. Kathy Craddock andBrandi Fishback are the proud owners ofKickshaw Downtown Market. They plan tospecialize in organic and natural products,using as much locally produced goods aspossible. The idea is to provide downtownwith healthy, locally-sourced options thatare also affordable, and can be obtainedall under one roof. Their goals stretchfurther to include workshops to educatepeople on the differences in organic andnatural foods, methods for preservingfoods, the different levels of certification,and understanding ways diet can improvetheir lives.
Kathy and Brandi have beenfriends for a while. They met at an UglyChristmas Sweater benefit that Kathy wassponsoring. Both owners have interestingbackgrounds, Brandi was a police officer,
and Kathy was a marine. Brandiworked in sales for eleven years,and Kathy ran a bakery. They haveboth done work in non-profits andplan to be involved in communityefforts such as community gardensand children’s activities. Branditold me that they have veggiecostumes they use whenentertaining and educating littleones. They want to make naturaleating more understandable anddown to earth.
Their decision to open the shopcame about when Kathy wasdriving home from the localfarmer’s market, and thought hownice it would be to be able to pickup other essentials without havingto travel to Richmond or NorthernVA. Passing by the openstorefront, the lightbulb came on,and she knew this was the nextpath in the road. She called Brandiwho immediately agreed to the
idea. Prior to this though, Kathy had
started working on her family’s nutritionand diet. She had serious medical issueswhich after overhauling her diet and thatof her family, she made a nearly fullrecovery. Brandi had a big interest innutrition and it’s effects on the body,especially after seeing Kathy’s recovery.Kathy also blogs about her experience, andis in the process of writing and critiquingsome food related material.
If all goes as planned, the marketwill have a soft opening, a kind of meetand greet on 1st Friday, and other festivalevents are in the works for the nearfuture. For information about theopening and upcoming events, check outtheir Facebook or Twitter page atKickshaw’s Downtown Market, or go to thewebsite atkickshawsdowntownmarket.com.
Mary Lynn Powers gets the inside storyon businessin Fredericksburg.
May 1, 2014 The award-winning Stafford High School Fine ArtsDepartment presents the Fredericksburg areapremiere of Mel Brooks’ musical YoungFrankenstein, based on his 1974 hit movie.@staffford high school auditorium @ 7:00 pm –9:30 pm. May 2 7-9pm
A unique “Evening with the Generals” — whichincorporates great food, authentic period music,
graceful, historic Civil War dancingand exciting appearances by GeneralsGrant and Lee — is being offered by
Spotsylvania County beginning at 6:30 p.m., atStevenson Ridge, Spotsylvania. Infowww.150spotsylvania.com
May 2 Please join us…for a special First Friday openingreception: May 2, 5-9pm. It’s LibertyTown’spopular annual Patrons’ Show. Come see awonderful show of original art. LTAW 5-9pm.
Women Adorned Workshop “The Local Paper” @Fredericksburg Area Museum & Culture Center1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
This workshop will explore clothing and fashionfrom the local level. Where we come from is partof who we are, what we wear, and who we areas artists.
History Triva Night at the James MonroeMuseum 7-9pm Match wits with friends andfamily (or total strangers) in history triviacompetitions while enjoying light refreshmentsand relaxing music.
“Glissando” at Artful Dimensions 6:00 pm aunique 3-dimensional music experience. Comejoin us on 1st Friday and experience acompletely new perspective of the violin familyof instruments
Stage Door Presents “Willy Wonka”, 7pm RoaldDahl’s timeless story of the world-famous candyman and his quest to find an heir comes to lifein this stage adaptation. Massaponax HighSchool May 3 at 2pm and 7pm.
“She Stoops to Conquer”, The Rude Mechanicalswill present this play in partnership with FFPA atGeorge Washington’s Ferry Farm. It takesplace under a pavilion. Picnic baskets are welcome.May 2, 3 shows at 7 pm, May 4 at 6 pm.
May 3The Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault(RCASA) Roaring 20?s themed celebration at theBowman’s Distillery! 6pm. Fredericksburg Big Band
plaing tunes from the ‘20’s, tours of the distillery,silent auction.
3rd Annual Spring Fling Dance. YMCA, MassadFamily Branch,Falmouth. 7-9pm Contact the YMCAat 540/371-9622 or www.family-ymca.org
Rappahannock AreaCommunity ServicesBoard (RACSB) andRappahannock AdultActivities (RAAI) inviteyou to join them at the
28th Annual MayfestCelebration from 10:00a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 750Kings Highway,F r e d e r i c k s b u r g(approximately 3 milesEast of the ChathamBridge). a.family fun daywith live entertainment,plant sales, raffle prizes,silent auction, barreltrain, moon bounce, bakesale, food, .
May 4Downtown
Fredericksburg Spa and
Wellness Week May 4th –
10th More than two dozen businesses and wellnesspractitioners in and around downtownFredericksburg will offer deals priced at $25 and$50, giving customers an opportunity to sampleeverything from yoga and fitness classes, tovarious styles of massage, to beauty and nailtreatments, to nutritional counseling, personaltraining and holistic practices such as Reiki andFeng Shui at reduced rates.
May 5Art of Recovery Exhibit Opening, 5-9pm @PonshopStudio & Gallery,Caroline St.Exhibit runs thru May31
May 6Zumba for Moms & Babies, 9:45 – 10:30, Zumbini
is a remarkable musical & movement experiencefor ages 0-3 with their parent/caregiver.Fredericksburg Parks & Recreation, Canal Street.
The Community Give Day….support your localnon-profits
May 8North Stafford MOPS Moms Club @ HorizonsChurch, Flatford road, Stafford.10:30 pm . We areopen to all moms of children birth – Kindergarten.Please join us for fellowship, food, friendship, andencouragement from other moms, mentors, andlocal speakers. We offer childcare during themeetings.
May 10Fredericksburg Community Coffee House “OpenMic Night” @ Unity of Fredericksburg,U.S. 1Business & Princess Anne Street 6-9pm. Join us forsome food, fellowship and fun. Feel free to bringyour piano, guitar, harmonica, drum, a shortreading or whatever!
Annual Iris Show and Design CompetitionFredericksburg Area Iris Society. 12:00 pm - 4:00pm @ Chancellor Ruritan Club. See dozens oflocally grown irises fill the room as Fredericksburg
Area Iris Society holds its annualiris show and design competition.Members pick the best irises fromtheir gardens to show in thiscompetition that allows thegeneral public to see the best ofthe best. A can't miss experiencefor flower lovers! Public is invitedto this free event!
Rappahannock Choral Society, Inc.Spring Concert present an arrayof great choral music and exceptsfrom West Side Story.at 8:00 p.m.Chancellor HS.
May 11Rappahannock Choral Society,
Inc. Spring Concert present anarray of great choral music andexcepts from West SideStory.at 8:00 p.m.. at 3:00p.m. at Chancellor High School,located at 6300 HarrisonRd in Fredericksburg,VA. Visit ourwebsite at www.rappahannock-
choral-society.org for more information and a mapto the school.
May 13Zumba for Moms & Babies, 9:45 – 10:30, Zumbiniis a remarkable musical & movement experiencefor ages 0-3 with their parent/caregiver.Fredericksburg Parks & Recreation, Canal Street.
Fredericksburg Area Museum & CulturalCenter’s Breakfast with the Curator Series – Gen.Ron Christmas Former President/CEO of theMarine Corps Heritage Foundation, will discuss thefounding of the National Museum of the MarineCorps.9am For more information on additionalprogramming information, please either contactthe Museum at 540-371-3037 or famcc.org
May 16Fredericksburg Greek Festival @ Nativity ofTheotokos Greek Orthodox Church. All Day.Festival continues through May 18. Join us forfood, dancing & fun…Greek Style.
May 17Fork it Over Festival@Downtown Greens, 1-5pm.In our Gardens at the Corner of Charles and DixonStreets a free garden fair for all ages! Attractionsinclude a plant sale and garden rummage sale,environmental education stands and booths andlive music! Lemonade and refreshments will beavailable.
Roller Derby: Five 40 Roller Girls vs SouthernMaryland Roller Derby. Golden Skate World12220 5 Mile Road Fredericksburg, VA . 6-9pmThis is a fast action family friendly sportingevent.
Motherhood Celebrated @Porter Library, 2:30-4:30pm A Tribute: To the Nurturers, Caregivers,Advisors, Listeners, Correctors, Confindants andVirtuous Role Models. Featuring, Live Poetry,Live Performances, Light Fare, Variety of Teas,Dessert
May 20Fredericksburg Festival for the Performing Arts
27th Annual Chamber Music Festival @TrinityEpiscopal Church. Pm. Three Nights, May 20,22,& 23. Each evening will feature uniqueprogramming with world class chambermusicians. Tickets available at fredfest.org, or atthe Fredericksburg Visitor Center, or call 540-374-5040 or e-mail us at [email protected] information.
May 24The Whole Shebang! A Multi-craft event@Nativity of the Theotokos Greek OrthodoxChurch 9-3pm.
May 31Fredericksburg Rescue Squdapalooza 8AM-NOONHURKAMP PARK, Join us
for live music, fun on the inflatable moon bounceand obstacle course, barrel train rides, 911 education, ambulance and fire truck tours,and so much more!!! Info@ fxbgrescue.org
Music and Spirits concert series will bring veteranblues and jazz guitarist Walter Parks to the stagefor what promises to be an electrifying [email protected] Bowman Distillery, 7:30. info
If you are reading this 202th issue of FP, thank an advertiser.
If you are an advertiser, list your event.
Deadline for our June 2014 issue is May 20.
To submit events, follow link:http://frontporchfredericksburg.com/how-tto-
submit-oonline/
front porch fredericksburg May 2014 1716 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg
Each HomeInstead Franchise Office is Independently Owned & Operated homeinstead.com
CompanionshipMeal PreparationMedication RemindersLaundry
Light HousekeepingShopping/ErrandsPersonal CareFlexible Hours
Call for a free, no-obligation appointment
540.899.1422
2155 Fans (& Growing)Want You to Join
FFrroonntt PPoorrcchh on
Accounting SolutionsALL YEAR ROUND
Quickbooks ProAdvisor
Tax ServicesBusiness Start Ups
PayrollNon Profits
540.226.9937praacctgtaxes.com
CALENDARof events
Lexi Grogan’s Pet Sitting Service
“Your pet becomes my petwhile in my care, and I care a lot!”
(540-903-0437;[email protected])
On facebook as “lexi grogan’s pet
sitting service”
may 2014… in full bloom
photo by bob martin
photo by bob martin
May 1, 2014 The award-winning Stafford High School Fine ArtsDepartment presents the Fredericksburg areapremiere of Mel Brooks’ musical YoungFrankenstein, based on his 1974 hit movie.@staffford high school auditorium @ 7:00 pm –9:30 pm. May 2 7-9pm
A unique “Evening with the Generals” — whichincorporates great food, authentic period music,
graceful, historic Civil War dancingand exciting appearances by GeneralsGrant and Lee — is being offered by
Spotsylvania County beginning at 6:30 p.m., atStevenson Ridge, Spotsylvania. Infowww.150spotsylvania.com
May 2 Please join us…for a special First Friday openingreception: May 2, 5-9pm. It’s LibertyTown’spopular annual Patrons’ Show. Come see awonderful show of original art. LTAW 5-9pm.
Women Adorned Workshop “The Local Paper” @Fredericksburg Area Museum & Culture Center1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
This workshop will explore clothing and fashionfrom the local level. Where we come from is partof who we are, what we wear, and who we areas artists.
History Triva Night at the James MonroeMuseum 7-9pm Match wits with friends andfamily (or total strangers) in history triviacompetitions while enjoying light refreshmentsand relaxing music.
“Glissando” at Artful Dimensions 6:00 pm aunique 3-dimensional music experience. Comejoin us on 1st Friday and experience acompletely new perspective of the violin familyof instruments
Stage Door Presents “Willy Wonka”, 7pm RoaldDahl’s timeless story of the world-famous candyman and his quest to find an heir comes to lifein this stage adaptation. Massaponax HighSchool May 3 at 2pm and 7pm.
“She Stoops to Conquer”, The Rude Mechanicalswill present this play in partnership with FFPA atGeorge Washington’s Ferry Farm. It takesplace under a pavilion. Picnic baskets are welcome.May 2, 3 shows at 7 pm, May 4 at 6 pm.
May 3The Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault(RCASA) Roaring 20?s themed celebration at theBowman’s Distillery! 6pm. Fredericksburg Big Band
plaing tunes from the ‘20’s, tours of the distillery,silent auction.
3rd Annual Spring Fling Dance. YMCA, MassadFamily Branch,Falmouth. 7-9pm Contact the YMCAat 540/371-9622 or www.family-ymca.org
Rappahannock AreaCommunity ServicesBoard (RACSB) andRappahannock AdultActivities (RAAI) inviteyou to join them at the
28th Annual MayfestCelebration from 10:00a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 750Kings Highway,F r e d e r i c k s b u r g(approximately 3 milesEast of the ChathamBridge). a.family fun daywith live entertainment,plant sales, raffle prizes,silent auction, barreltrain, moon bounce, bakesale, food, .
May 4Downtown
Fredericksburg Spa and
Wellness Week May 4th –
10th More than two dozen businesses and wellnesspractitioners in and around downtownFredericksburg will offer deals priced at $25 and$50, giving customers an opportunity to sampleeverything from yoga and fitness classes, tovarious styles of massage, to beauty and nailtreatments, to nutritional counseling, personaltraining and holistic practices such as Reiki andFeng Shui at reduced rates.
May 5Art of Recovery Exhibit Opening, 5-9pm @PonshopStudio & Gallery,Caroline St.Exhibit runs thru May31
May 6Zumba for Moms & Babies, 9:45 – 10:30, Zumbini
is a remarkable musical & movement experiencefor ages 0-3 with their parent/caregiver.Fredericksburg Parks & Recreation, Canal Street.
The Community Give Day….support your localnon-profits
May 8North Stafford MOPS Moms Club @ HorizonsChurch, Flatford road, Stafford.10:30 pm . We areopen to all moms of children birth – Kindergarten.Please join us for fellowship, food, friendship, andencouragement from other moms, mentors, andlocal speakers. We offer childcare during themeetings.
May 10Fredericksburg Community Coffee House “OpenMic Night” @ Unity of Fredericksburg,U.S. 1Business & Princess Anne Street 6-9pm. Join us forsome food, fellowship and fun. Feel free to bringyour piano, guitar, harmonica, drum, a shortreading or whatever!
Annual Iris Show and Design CompetitionFredericksburg Area Iris Society. 12:00 pm - 4:00pm @ Chancellor Ruritan Club. See dozens oflocally grown irises fill the room as Fredericksburg
Area Iris Society holds its annualiris show and design competition.Members pick the best irises fromtheir gardens to show in thiscompetition that allows thegeneral public to see the best ofthe best. A can't miss experiencefor flower lovers! Public is invitedto this free event!
Rappahannock Choral Society, Inc.Spring Concert present an arrayof great choral music and exceptsfrom West Side Story.at 8:00 p.m.Chancellor HS.
May 11Rappahannock Choral Society,
Inc. Spring Concert present anarray of great choral music andexcepts from West SideStory.at 8:00 p.m.. at 3:00p.m. at Chancellor High School,located at 6300 HarrisonRd in Fredericksburg,VA. Visit ourwebsite at www.rappahannock-
choral-society.org for more information and a mapto the school.
May 13Zumba for Moms & Babies, 9:45 – 10:30, Zumbiniis a remarkable musical & movement experiencefor ages 0-3 with their parent/caregiver.Fredericksburg Parks & Recreation, Canal Street.
Fredericksburg Area Museum & CulturalCenter’s Breakfast with the Curator Series – Gen.Ron Christmas Former President/CEO of theMarine Corps Heritage Foundation, will discuss thefounding of the National Museum of the MarineCorps.9am For more information on additionalprogramming information, please either contactthe Museum at 540-371-3037 or famcc.org
May 16Fredericksburg Greek Festival @ Nativity ofTheotokos Greek Orthodox Church. All Day.Festival continues through May 18. Join us forfood, dancing & fun…Greek Style.
May 17Fork it Over Festival@Downtown Greens, 1-5pm.In our Gardens at the Corner of Charles and DixonStreets a free garden fair for all ages! Attractionsinclude a plant sale and garden rummage sale,environmental education stands and booths andlive music! Lemonade and refreshments will beavailable.
Roller Derby: Five 40 Roller Girls vs SouthernMaryland Roller Derby. Golden Skate World12220 5 Mile Road Fredericksburg, VA . 6-9pmThis is a fast action family friendly sportingevent.
Motherhood Celebrated @Porter Library, 2:30-4:30pm A Tribute: To the Nurturers, Caregivers,Advisors, Listeners, Correctors, Confindants andVirtuous Role Models. Featuring, Live Poetry,Live Performances, Light Fare, Variety of Teas,Dessert
May 20Fredericksburg Festival for the Performing Arts
27th Annual Chamber Music Festival @TrinityEpiscopal Church. Pm. Three Nights, May 20,22,& 23. Each evening will feature uniqueprogramming with world class chambermusicians. Tickets available at fredfest.org, or atthe Fredericksburg Visitor Center, or call 540-374-5040 or e-mail us at [email protected] information.
May 24The Whole Shebang! A Multi-craft event@Nativity of the Theotokos Greek OrthodoxChurch 9-3pm.
May 31Fredericksburg Rescue Squdapalooza 8AM-NOONHURKAMP PARK, Join us
for live music, fun on the inflatable moon bounceand obstacle course, barrel train rides, 911 education, ambulance and fire truck tours,and so much more!!! Info@ fxbgrescue.org
Music and Spirits concert series will bring veteranblues and jazz guitarist Walter Parks to the stagefor what promises to be an electrifying [email protected] Bowman Distillery, 7:30. info
If you are reading this 202th issue of FP, thank an advertiser.
If you are an advertiser, list your event.
Deadline for our June 2014 issue is May 20.
To submit events, follow link:http://frontporchfredericksburg.com/how-tto-
submit-oonline/
front porch fredericksburg May 2014 1716 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg
Each HomeInstead Franchise Office is Independently Owned & Operated homeinstead.com
CompanionshipMeal PreparationMedication RemindersLaundry
Light HousekeepingShopping/ErrandsPersonal CareFlexible Hours
Call for a free, no-obligation appointment
540.899.1422
2155 Fans (& Growing)Want You to Join
FFrroonntt PPoorrcchh on
Accounting SolutionsALL YEAR ROUND
Quickbooks ProAdvisor
Tax ServicesBusiness Start Ups
PayrollNon Profits
540.226.9937praacctgtaxes.com
CALENDARof events
Lexi Grogan’s Pet Sitting Service
“Your pet becomes my petwhile in my care, and I care a lot!”
(540-903-0437;[email protected])
On facebook as “lexi grogan’s pet
sitting service”
may 2014… in full bloom
photo by bob martin
photo by bob martin
I could fill a bookshelf with thehistory of all the Fredericks that havetraveled the world and set up Burgs forthemselves- or had someone else claim onefor them. We are naturally part of thislarger network of peoples, but did youknow that the ‘burg has formally madesome far-off connections? That’s right,we’ve got three “sister cities.” Take aglimpse into the first of these towns withme and let your mind wander that way,while the farthest you wander is back upto the Hyperion counter for another cupof coffee.
Fréjus (that’s “fray-zeus”),ictured above, is a sprawling, yet small,coastal town in France, along the Riviera.It was founded by Julius Caesar himself forstrategic Roman use in the B.C. days, andthe town gets attention for its existingRoman ruins of an aqueduct, theater, andampitheater. Fodor’s describes it:
“Don’t be turned off with a strollalong the over-commercialized Fréjus-Plage (Beach). Turn your back on moderntimes and head uphill to Fréjus-Centre,the maze of narrow streets lined withsmall shops. The (bi-weekly) farmers’market is as real and lively as any inProvence, and the cafés encircling thefountains and squares nourish aneasygoing social scene.”
We’ve had a warm relationshipwith Fréjus since Sister CitiesInternational made it official in 1980.We’ve exchanged products (Provencal winewith Virginia peanuts?), students, workers,
and culture. And to celebrate our 30th
anniversary in 2010, we adopted Frejus’syearly tradition of making a giantomelette for the town. Over 5,000 eggsand 60 lbs. of vegetables and Virginia hamparaded through downtown and werethen cooked on a specially-made outdoorgrill.
Currently, the FredericksburgSister City Association is gearing up forthe annual summer student exchange. It’sour turn to host, so come July,Fredericksburg families will be welcoming15-20 French students for two weeks. Thestudents spend time acquainting with thefamily, their lifestyle, D.C., Mount Vernon,Old Mill Park Bastille Day Picnic, and ofcourse, Carl’s. Check their website forother local events,www.fredericksburgfrejus.org.
We’re connected to so manydifferent walks of life, in more ways thanwe realize. This is just a first peek at thoseconnections that grace us withunderstanding, tolerance, andunforgettable experiences; they make ourburg feel a little bigger, and the world feela little smaller.
Kristin Morris grew up in Stafford,performing for 10 years at the Riverside
Dinner Theater and working inDowntown Fredericksburg. A performerand writer with a love for travel and
exploration, she graduated fromSyracuse University and currently
resides in Los Angeles. Email her yourown international story, [email protected].
Manyhistorians enjoywriting aboutunusual eventsthat occurredduring the CivilWar. One of themost overlookedand memorableevents that tookplace not only inthe Town ofFredericksburg,but the entirenation duringthat period took place here beginning in April 1863. I cannot find anymention of the event in recent discussions as it would be an event thatthe local religious community could recognize and celebrate on a yearlybasis.
The Southern army had been in the area since January until thebattle on December 13, 1862. After the battle several thousandSouthern troops were quartered in the town and camped in the areawest of Fredericksburg. Several chaplains who were members of the
Mississippi brigade decided that they would have a revival within the town. ReverendWilliam Owens who was a member of the Thirteenth Mississippi infantry was placed incharge of the revival. The meetings were to be held at the Southern Methodist Church,which at that time was on the corner of Charles and George Streets and had the capacityfor less than two hundred people. The news of the meeting soon spread to the campsand the soldiers converged on the church in such large numbers that the services weremoved to Saint George’s Church where the revivals were conducted. The meetingswhich were held weekly lasted until May 1863. Nearly all denominations of religiousleaders conducted the meetings under the leadership of Reverend Owens. Many of thesoldiers that attended the revival would be killed in the upcoming battles at SalemChurch, Chancellorsville, Wilderness or Spotsylvania
What was also unique about the revival was that according to the records overfive hundred soldiers were converted to various Christian denominations. Most of thesesoldiers that were converted were not only from Virginia and Mississippi, but severalsouthern states as far south as Louisiana and Texas. Many of these soldiers who woulddie in the surrounding battles are interred in the Confederate Cemetery on WashingtonAvenue.
Dr. William Hoge wrote in the Southern Presbyterian Magazine: “We found oursoldiers at Fredericksburg all alive with animation. As I was to stay but one night, Dr.Burrows insisted on my preaching. So we had a Presbyterian sermon introduced byBaptist services, under the direction of a Methodist chaplain, in an Episcopal Church.Was not that a beautiful solution of the vexed problem of Christian union?”
Reverend William Owens of the 13th Mississippi brigade who was responsiblefor the revival returned to his home in Mississippi after the war and became a travellingminister. He drowned in a stream while trying to cross and reach a preachingdestination.
Dedicated to the memory of Judge Joseph Savage.
Tuffy continues to amaze us with his knowledge of Fredericksburg History each month in this space
front porch fredericksburg May 2014 19 18 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg
OUR HERITAGEJane Howison &
Historic Braehead Manor
By kerri S. Barile
Religious Revival 1863By Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks
his
tory
’s s
tori
es
Stately. Historic. Elegant. Theseare the words used today to describeBraehead, the only Civil War-era dwellingleft in the southern segment of theFredericksburg National Battlefield. Lostwithin our modern rhetoric is anunderstanding of this significant buildingas a family home and a haven full of loveand memories. Built in 1858 Braehead wasconstructed for John Howison and hisfamily. Named after the family’s ancestralhome in Scotland, members of theHowison family occupied the dwelling foralmost 150 years. Generations grew up inthe building’s chambers and dined at thefamily table—the same table used byGeneral Robert E. Lee when he hadbreakfast at Braehead before the Battle ofFredericksburg in December of 1862.
Although Civil War historianshave recounted the importance of thisnotable repast, this meal was but one inthe annals of the dwelling’s history. Manyof these seemingly mundane but veryimportant events were recounted in thediary of John’s sister, Jane HowisonBeale. Jane meticulously kept her diarythrough the 1850s and 1860s ending witha powerful and poetic narrative on herpersonal experiences during the 1862Battle of Fredericksburg. In her diary,published by the Historic FredericksburgFoundation, Inc. (HFFI) in 2011, Janereminds us that history is not onlycomprised of the monumental events butthe everyday actions that made us who weare today.
Jane’s words on Braehead revealthat visits to her brother’s home werecherished, and the beautiful house was fullof love and laughter. On a trying day inthe summer of 1862, Jane eloquentlydescribes the joy she experienced uponarriving at the Howison home, “Thesituation of the house commands such afine view that I was refreshed by the sight.The house is situated on a natural terracethe hill falling before it to an extensiveand perfect level reaching to the river.”
This is the same home where Jane sent allof her family valuables in the fall of 1862for their safe keeping, only to find thehouse and grounds in the center of thefighting. Despite the war-time trials, Janeoften visited her brother John and hisfamily after the war, and the Howisonhousehold was a visual symbol of thefortitude and fearlessness ofFredericksburg residents for many years.
On May 31, 2014, HistoricFredericksburg Foundation, Inc. ishonored to celebrate the legacy of theHowison family by hosting a mid-day teaat Braehead. Tea was a significant part ofthe lives of John and his sister, Jane, as itrepresented comfort, warmth and family.As Jane herself describes in September of1850, “Brother John arrived…to tea, wet& weary and I was busy for a time makinghim comfortable, and after teamy three brothers and myself sat down toa pleasant family chat.” HFFI is proud torekindle this Howison family tradition. Weinvite you to join us for tea and a newgeneration of pleasant chats.
The HFFI Jane Beale Tea is opento the public. Representations of JaneBeale herself, as well as other Civil War eraladies, will hostess the tea and be seatedwith guests. Admission includes a full tea,entertainment, which will include anoratory display of quotes from JaneBeale’s diary, and a tour of historicBraehead. There will be two seatings,11am and 2pm. Tickets are on sale nowand are $35/$40 (HFFI members/ non-members). Pleasecontact [email protected] or 540-371-4504for tickets.
This event is being presented incollaboration with the Civil War Civiliansof Spottsylvania.
Kerri Barile is a member of HFFI, author and UMW faculty member in the Historic Preservation Dept.
Central RappahannockHERITAGE CENTER
Volunteers neededto process historical documents
and aid researchers. Training provided.
Phone 540-373-3704 or email [email protected]
The Heritage Center Maury Commons 900 Barton St Fredericksburg
Open to the public for scholarly research
Little Burg, Big Worldfredericksburg & frÈjus
By kristin morris
I could fill a bookshelf with thehistory of all the Fredericks that havetraveled the world and set up Burgs forthemselves- or had someone else claim onefor them. We are naturally part of thislarger network of peoples, but did youknow that the ‘burg has formally madesome far-off connections? That’s right,we’ve got three “sister cities.” Take aglimpse into the first of these towns withme and let your mind wander that way,while the farthest you wander is back upto the Hyperion counter for another cupof coffee.
Fréjus (that’s “fray-zeus”),ictured above, is a sprawling, yet small,coastal town in France, along the Riviera.It was founded by Julius Caesar himself forstrategic Roman use in the B.C. days, andthe town gets attention for its existingRoman ruins of an aqueduct, theater, andampitheater. Fodor’s describes it:
“Don’t be turned off with a strollalong the over-commercialized Fréjus-Plage (Beach). Turn your back on moderntimes and head uphill to Fréjus-Centre,the maze of narrow streets lined withsmall shops. The (bi-weekly) farmers’market is as real and lively as any inProvence, and the cafés encircling thefountains and squares nourish aneasygoing social scene.”
We’ve had a warm relationshipwith Fréjus since Sister CitiesInternational made it official in 1980.We’ve exchanged products (Provencal winewith Virginia peanuts?), students, workers,
and culture. And to celebrate our 30th
anniversary in 2010, we adopted Frejus’syearly tradition of making a giantomelette for the town. Over 5,000 eggsand 60 lbs. of vegetables and Virginia hamparaded through downtown and werethen cooked on a specially-made outdoorgrill.
Currently, the FredericksburgSister City Association is gearing up forthe annual summer student exchange. It’sour turn to host, so come July,Fredericksburg families will be welcoming15-20 French students for two weeks. Thestudents spend time acquainting with thefamily, their lifestyle, D.C., Mount Vernon,Old Mill Park Bastille Day Picnic, and ofcourse, Carl’s. Check their website forother local events,www.fredericksburgfrejus.org.
We’re connected to so manydifferent walks of life, in more ways thanwe realize. This is just a first peek at thoseconnections that grace us withunderstanding, tolerance, andunforgettable experiences; they make ourburg feel a little bigger, and the world feela little smaller.
Kristin Morris grew up in Stafford,performing for 10 years at the Riverside
Dinner Theater and working inDowntown Fredericksburg. A performerand writer with a love for travel and
exploration, she graduated fromSyracuse University and currently
resides in Los Angeles. Email her yourown international story, [email protected].
Manyhistorians enjoywriting aboutunusual eventsthat occurredduring the CivilWar. One of themost overlookedand memorableevents that tookplace not only inthe Town ofFredericksburg,but the entirenation duringthat period took place here beginning in April 1863. I cannot find anymention of the event in recent discussions as it would be an event thatthe local religious community could recognize and celebrate on a yearlybasis.
The Southern army had been in the area since January until thebattle on December 13, 1862. After the battle several thousandSouthern troops were quartered in the town and camped in the areawest of Fredericksburg. Several chaplains who were members of the
Mississippi brigade decided that they would have a revival within the town. ReverendWilliam Owens who was a member of the Thirteenth Mississippi infantry was placed incharge of the revival. The meetings were to be held at the Southern Methodist Church,which at that time was on the corner of Charles and George Streets and had the capacityfor less than two hundred people. The news of the meeting soon spread to the campsand the soldiers converged on the church in such large numbers that the services weremoved to Saint George’s Church where the revivals were conducted. The meetingswhich were held weekly lasted until May 1863. Nearly all denominations of religiousleaders conducted the meetings under the leadership of Reverend Owens. Many of thesoldiers that attended the revival would be killed in the upcoming battles at SalemChurch, Chancellorsville, Wilderness or Spotsylvania
What was also unique about the revival was that according to the records overfive hundred soldiers were converted to various Christian denominations. Most of thesesoldiers that were converted were not only from Virginia and Mississippi, but severalsouthern states as far south as Louisiana and Texas. Many of these soldiers who woulddie in the surrounding battles are interred in the Confederate Cemetery on WashingtonAvenue.
Dr. William Hoge wrote in the Southern Presbyterian Magazine: “We found oursoldiers at Fredericksburg all alive with animation. As I was to stay but one night, Dr.Burrows insisted on my preaching. So we had a Presbyterian sermon introduced byBaptist services, under the direction of a Methodist chaplain, in an Episcopal Church.Was not that a beautiful solution of the vexed problem of Christian union?”
Reverend William Owens of the 13th Mississippi brigade who was responsiblefor the revival returned to his home in Mississippi after the war and became a travellingminister. He drowned in a stream while trying to cross and reach a preachingdestination.
Dedicated to the memory of Judge Joseph Savage.
Tuffy continues to amaze us with his knowledge of Fredericksburg History each month in this space
front porch fredericksburg May 2014 19 18 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg
OUR HERITAGEJane Howison &
Historic Braehead Manor
By kerri S. Barile
Religious Revival 1863By Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks
his
tory
’s s
tori
es
Stately. Historic. Elegant. Theseare the words used today to describeBraehead, the only Civil War-era dwellingleft in the southern segment of theFredericksburg National Battlefield. Lostwithin our modern rhetoric is anunderstanding of this significant buildingas a family home and a haven full of loveand memories. Built in 1858 Braehead wasconstructed for John Howison and hisfamily. Named after the family’s ancestralhome in Scotland, members of theHowison family occupied the dwelling foralmost 150 years. Generations grew up inthe building’s chambers and dined at thefamily table—the same table used byGeneral Robert E. Lee when he hadbreakfast at Braehead before the Battle ofFredericksburg in December of 1862.
Although Civil War historianshave recounted the importance of thisnotable repast, this meal was but one inthe annals of the dwelling’s history. Manyof these seemingly mundane but veryimportant events were recounted in thediary of John’s sister, Jane HowisonBeale. Jane meticulously kept her diarythrough the 1850s and 1860s ending witha powerful and poetic narrative on herpersonal experiences during the 1862Battle of Fredericksburg. In her diary,published by the Historic FredericksburgFoundation, Inc. (HFFI) in 2011, Janereminds us that history is not onlycomprised of the monumental events butthe everyday actions that made us who weare today.
Jane’s words on Braehead revealthat visits to her brother’s home werecherished, and the beautiful house was fullof love and laughter. On a trying day inthe summer of 1862, Jane eloquentlydescribes the joy she experienced uponarriving at the Howison home, “Thesituation of the house commands such afine view that I was refreshed by the sight.The house is situated on a natural terracethe hill falling before it to an extensiveand perfect level reaching to the river.”
This is the same home where Jane sent allof her family valuables in the fall of 1862for their safe keeping, only to find thehouse and grounds in the center of thefighting. Despite the war-time trials, Janeoften visited her brother John and hisfamily after the war, and the Howisonhousehold was a visual symbol of thefortitude and fearlessness ofFredericksburg residents for many years.
On May 31, 2014, HistoricFredericksburg Foundation, Inc. ishonored to celebrate the legacy of theHowison family by hosting a mid-day teaat Braehead. Tea was a significant part ofthe lives of John and his sister, Jane, as itrepresented comfort, warmth and family.As Jane herself describes in September of1850, “Brother John arrived…to tea, wet& weary and I was busy for a time makinghim comfortable, and after teamy three brothers and myself sat down toa pleasant family chat.” HFFI is proud torekindle this Howison family tradition. Weinvite you to join us for tea and a newgeneration of pleasant chats.
The HFFI Jane Beale Tea is opento the public. Representations of JaneBeale herself, as well as other Civil War eraladies, will hostess the tea and be seatedwith guests. Admission includes a full tea,entertainment, which will include anoratory display of quotes from JaneBeale’s diary, and a tour of historicBraehead. There will be two seatings,11am and 2pm. Tickets are on sale nowand are $35/$40 (HFFI members/ non-members). Pleasecontact [email protected] or 540-371-4504for tickets.
This event is being presented incollaboration with the Civil War Civiliansof Spottsylvania.
Kerri Barile is a member of HFFI, author and UMW faculty member in the Historic Preservation Dept.
Central RappahannockHERITAGE CENTER
Volunteers neededto process historical documents
and aid researchers. Training provided.
Phone 540-373-3704 or email [email protected]
The Heritage Center Maury Commons 900 Barton St Fredericksburg
Open to the public for scholarly research
Little Burg, Big Worldfredericksburg & frÈjus
By kristin morris
front porch fredericksburg May 2014 21 20 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg
The joy of owning a pet is anemotionally fulfilling and fun experience.While we all may adopt or purchase afamily pet for many different reasons, inthe long run, they become a lovingmember of our family. As our pets growand age, they can often developmusculoskeletal and orthopedic problems.It can be very hard to see your lifelongfriend go from running a mile a day tohaving trouble getting up and down thestairs or even getting around the house.Not only can movement be difficult in ourolder pets, but even in younger animalsthat work hard, play hard, and exercisefull throttle at all times. Younger animalscan benefit from chiropractic therapy tohelp keep their bodies in proper alignmentand delay or prevent problems in the longrun that older pets face as they age.
While chiropractic care isconsidered an additional therapy tocompliment traditional medicine, thereare still times when adjustments alonemay be just what your dog needs. The goalfor all pets is to keep them happy andhealthy as long as we can. This includeskeeping your pets moving freely withoutpain or discomfort. As they age orincrease their exercise, this can becomedifficult to do without the help ofmedications such as anti-inflammatories,joint supplements, and even strong painrelievers. While we all want “Mr. Fluffy” tobe comfortable, we also don’t want tohave any side effects, such as liver orkidney problems, from the use of long-term medications.
I know firsthand the struggles ofthe lame, stiff, old dog. My own “Mr.Fluffy”, yes, that is his nickname, haschronic arthritis. He fell out of a pickuptruck, as a puppy, fracturing both frontlegs and his mandible. In vet school at thetime, this is how I wound up adopting him.For years he has been on jointsupplements, anti-inflammatories, andpain relievers. Sometimes it is a realchallenge to find treats to hide all of thatin!
A f t e rfinishing AnimalC h i r o p r a c t i cSchool at ParkerUniversity, I beganapplying my newskills on my ownpet. After 2-3adjustments I sawa real difference. Inow usec h i r o p r a c t i cadjustments inconjunction withhis medications tokeep himcomfortable. By
keeping him well aligned I can reduce hispain-relievers and have even taken him offof his anti-inflammatory. It has beenheartening to see such dramatic changesin him as well as so many of my othercanine clients.
In chiropractic medicine ourmotto is “Motion is the Lotion for Life”.Owners of pets that are mal-aligned mostcommonly notice reduced motion,reduced flexibility, and stiffness. Usingchiropractic treatments we can help keepyour pet’s body and joints in properalignment and help your pet stay inmotion.
I have seen numerous patientsthat have drastically improved in comfortwith chiropractic adjustments. In mypractice, I see dogs recovering fromorthopedic surgeries, show dogs,hunting/sporting dogs, younger animalswith developmental problems, and olderpets that have started to slow down. I alsosee horses with various jobs ranging fromhigh-level jumping horses to the backyardhorse that stays in the paddock. Acrossboth large and small animal fieldschiropractic care provides comfort andpain relief and restores motion andfunction.
If you have a pet that is havingdifficulty getting around, seems sore orstiff, can’t walk up or down stairs, is notmoving the way they used to, or justseems off, please consider having themevaluated by your veterinarian and aveterinarian licensed in animalchiropractic.
Dr. Julia Wolfe DVM, DABVP, certifiedAVCA is a veterinarian, owner of Willow Tree Veterinary Wellness
providing chiropractic services at White Oak Animal Hospital.
Contact Dr. Wolfe at , (540) 709-1151,[email protected], or White Oak
Animal Hospital (540) 374-0462.
Talk about a really slow startingspring car show season. Mother Nature isnot playing fair this year. Cars arebacking up at the starting gate like three-year olds at Churchill Downs. They areraring to go but the track is wet and theydo not want to get their hooves muddy.
I do get it. Have you ever been toa car show and seen how perfectly some ofthe vehicles are detailed? There are 50year old automobiles at cruise-ins that arecleaner than the new Surgi-Center. I workon these things for a living and don’t seehow some of the owners find the time toclean their cars to the nth degree and stillhave a life. In reality most car lovers dohave spouses and jobs and children yetthey somehow manage to make the timeto keep these rolling restorations on theroad.
Who wants to devote 40 hours togetting things just right and then take itout on a wet road covered with lastwinter’s salt and sand just to get in 20miles of driving followed by another 40hours of cleaning? Some of the car nuts Iknow do this as a ritual orpenitence... anything to be able to drivethem.
There were a few patches of bluebetween the snow storms and monsoonrains in April and it definitely brought outthe automotive spring pallet. I am nowwondering what motorized madmen comeout first? Like jonquils and crocus, whatorder do they follow after the firstblossoms are spotted?
Nature lays it out pretty well:jonquils & daffodils, pears & fruit trees,redbuds, crabapples, forsythia, dogwoodsand maples. You have to wait forhydrangeas and roses. So..? If I were toequate mechanized displays of color to thelaws of nature, spring on the highwaylooks something like this:
Jonquils and Daffodils – definitelymotor cycles and MG’s. Bikes can bestarted up and driven at the drop of a hatwhenever the sun comes out andtemperatures get above 50degrees. Likewise MG’s hit the road at thefirst sign of warmth. Their owner’s aren’tafraid of a little sand and salt; what’s alittle more rust? Most don’t have topsthat go up easily in cold weather so theyare still down from last fall and now is thetime to warm them, soften them, and putthem up in time for the spring rains.
Fruit trees and Redbuds –Mustangs and muscle. These things havebeen sitting too long. Their owners havebought all manner of new bling andperformance parts over the winter andthey are dying to try them out. There is alot of, “Hey Mike, what do you think ofthis?” and “Check this out!” Car nuts whohave been in hibernation too long get alittle squirrely by spring.
Hydrangeas and Roses – Packardsand Jaguars, Rolls Royce and dual cowlphaetons… they come later. Those arethe cars of summer; the big guns. Peopledote on their roses like owners dote ontheir Bentleys. Everything has to be justso. Too much of the wrong fertilizer forthe roses and the flowers are ruined foranother season. Neglect the junebugtraps and they will eat your prizewinners. Likewise, not enough zinc in theoil and the valve seats get soft on theBentley. You don’t want the bill for therebuild.
It is May. Life is good and gettingbetter and there is talk of actual warmweather before the first frost in thefall. [email protected]
Rim embarks on life living momentseach month in this spot.
AutoKnown BetterApril showers bring what?
By Rim Vining
540/374-0462www.woahvets.com 10 Walsh Lane
Stacy L. Horner, DVM; Gary B. Dunn, DVM; Melanie Bell, DVM; Sandi L. Pepper, DVM; Melissa A. DeLauter, DVM ;
Arlene Evans, DVM; Jennnifer Skarbek, DVM
Full Service Hospitalfeaturing:
Grooming Salon Canine Boarding
in Our Indoor/Outdoor RunsDog Training &
Behavioral Consults with certified dog trainer
Feline Boarding in OurSpacious Multi-room Condos
Serving you & your companion animals for 16 years
Companionsis your pet’s back out of whack???
by Julia Wolfe, DVM, DABVP, certified AVCA
Home of great Food& great Art!
EAT WELL DRINK WELL LIVE WELL
720 Littlepage Sunkenwelltavern.com
HollyBurgOscars Live Among Us
By gary olsenYou might as well transport
Beverly Hills with all its famous stars tothe Fredericksburg area as far as thisyear’s Academy Awards Best Pictures andthe Nominations, 1980-1984, film lecturethat I’ll give at the Rappahanock Regional
Library’s Headquarters on May 8th goes,since several Oscar winners from thattimeframe have called this region home.
Robert Duvall, who lives on a360-acre farm just north of Warrentonand whose career we have beenhighlighting for the past several lecturesbeginning with his screen debut in1962’s To Kill A Mockingbird, earned hisfirst of six Academy acting nominationsin The Godfather (1972). Since then hehas played prominent rolesin MASH, Network and ApocalypseNow (“I love the smell of napalm.”).
But it was his role as an ex-country-western singer in 1983’s TenderMercies that earned him his treasuredAcademy Award Oscar. He even did hisown singing in the film. Duvall is stillacting in movies well into his 80’s. But it’shis visibility in the area that triumphs hisfilm persona, with his latest presenceagainst Wal-Mart’s proposed buildingadjacent to the Wilderness Battlefield.Duvall is a familiar face in these parts withfrequent visits to the Red Truck RuralBakery in Warrenton. He’s quoted assaying “My wife says for her, Virginia isthe last station before heaven.”
Another iconic performerresiding in this area won a Best ActressOscar for her portrayal of Loretta Lynnin Coal Miner’s Daughter. Sissy Spacek,who lives just outside of Charlottesville inKeswick, has been nominated for sixAcademy Awards, but it’s her role assinger Lynn that is a career standout.Lynn picked Spacek for the role, andSpacek didn’t disappoint. Like Duvall,Spacek did her own singing and wasnominated by the Grammies for the film’ssoundtrack.
Spacek moved to Virginia in 1982with her husband, Jack Fisk, fromHollywood after several visits confirmedtheir love for the region. Spacek, althoughkeeping a low profile, still makes publicappearances by lobbying the state tosupport the film-making industry here aswell as giving occasional talks in the areaabout her life in movies. But it’s her farmthat preoccupies her, that and raising twodaughters, one of whom went to VCU inRichmond.
Two other Academy notables,Jessica Lange, an Oscar winner in1982’s Tootsie, and her boyfriend, SamShepard, nominated for his role as ChuckYeager in 1983’s The Right Stuff, lived inthe Charlottesville area for nine yearsfrom the mid-80’s before moving to herhome state Minnesota.
Lange had just played a gruelingrole in the film Frances and wanted to playsomething light: hence the role of JulieNichols, a co-star to Tootsie, played by DustinHoffman. With the two roles, she became thefirst actress in 40 years to get twoperformance nominations in one year. Shetestified before the US Congress onagriculture alongside Spacek, whom she laterbefriended and became Virginian neighbors.
Virginia gets an extra close-upin The Right Stuff. The seven selectedastronauts for the Mercury program firsttrained at Langley Air Force Base inHampton, Virginia, a short jaunt fromFredericksburg. The film shows theirinitial training at Langley undergoingstrenuous simulator flight rigors, physicalexercise and scuba-diving drills toduplicate weightlessness in outer space.
Fredericksburg indeed took thespotlight during the early PresidentReagan years. This free film lecture beginsat 6:30 p.m. on May 8th at theHeadquarters Theatre.
Gary Olsen presents film lectures to getto know the stars and starlets living
around the Fredericksburg area.
Old Town’sGreatest Tour35 Monuments, Markers, &
AttractionsAND the
Fredericksburg Battlefields
Weddings ReunionsShuttles Parties
Group Outings
540-898-0737Fredericksburgtrolley.com
front porch fredericksburg May 2014 21 20 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg
The joy of owning a pet is anemotionally fulfilling and fun experience.While we all may adopt or purchase afamily pet for many different reasons, inthe long run, they become a lovingmember of our family. As our pets growand age, they can often developmusculoskeletal and orthopedic problems.It can be very hard to see your lifelongfriend go from running a mile a day tohaving trouble getting up and down thestairs or even getting around the house.Not only can movement be difficult in ourolder pets, but even in younger animalsthat work hard, play hard, and exercisefull throttle at all times. Younger animalscan benefit from chiropractic therapy tohelp keep their bodies in proper alignmentand delay or prevent problems in the longrun that older pets face as they age.
While chiropractic care isconsidered an additional therapy tocompliment traditional medicine, thereare still times when adjustments alonemay be just what your dog needs. The goalfor all pets is to keep them happy andhealthy as long as we can. This includeskeeping your pets moving freely withoutpain or discomfort. As they age orincrease their exercise, this can becomedifficult to do without the help ofmedications such as anti-inflammatories,joint supplements, and even strong painrelievers. While we all want “Mr. Fluffy” tobe comfortable, we also don’t want tohave any side effects, such as liver orkidney problems, from the use of long-term medications.
I know firsthand the struggles ofthe lame, stiff, old dog. My own “Mr.Fluffy”, yes, that is his nickname, haschronic arthritis. He fell out of a pickuptruck, as a puppy, fracturing both frontlegs and his mandible. In vet school at thetime, this is how I wound up adopting him.For years he has been on jointsupplements, anti-inflammatories, andpain relievers. Sometimes it is a realchallenge to find treats to hide all of thatin!
A f t e rfinishing AnimalC h i r o p r a c t i cSchool at ParkerUniversity, I beganapplying my newskills on my ownpet. After 2-3adjustments I sawa real difference. Inow usec h i r o p r a c t i cadjustments inconjunction withhis medications tokeep himcomfortable. By
keeping him well aligned I can reduce hispain-relievers and have even taken him offof his anti-inflammatory. It has beenheartening to see such dramatic changesin him as well as so many of my othercanine clients.
In chiropractic medicine ourmotto is “Motion is the Lotion for Life”.Owners of pets that are mal-aligned mostcommonly notice reduced motion,reduced flexibility, and stiffness. Usingchiropractic treatments we can help keepyour pet’s body and joints in properalignment and help your pet stay inmotion.
I have seen numerous patientsthat have drastically improved in comfortwith chiropractic adjustments. In mypractice, I see dogs recovering fromorthopedic surgeries, show dogs,hunting/sporting dogs, younger animalswith developmental problems, and olderpets that have started to slow down. I alsosee horses with various jobs ranging fromhigh-level jumping horses to the backyardhorse that stays in the paddock. Acrossboth large and small animal fieldschiropractic care provides comfort andpain relief and restores motion andfunction.
If you have a pet that is havingdifficulty getting around, seems sore orstiff, can’t walk up or down stairs, is notmoving the way they used to, or justseems off, please consider having themevaluated by your veterinarian and aveterinarian licensed in animalchiropractic.
Dr. Julia Wolfe DVM, DABVP, certifiedAVCA is a veterinarian, owner of Willow Tree Veterinary Wellness
providing chiropractic services at White Oak Animal Hospital.
Contact Dr. Wolfe at , (540) 709-1151,[email protected], or White Oak
Animal Hospital (540) 374-0462.
Talk about a really slow startingspring car show season. Mother Nature isnot playing fair this year. Cars arebacking up at the starting gate like three-year olds at Churchill Downs. They areraring to go but the track is wet and theydo not want to get their hooves muddy.
I do get it. Have you ever been toa car show and seen how perfectly some ofthe vehicles are detailed? There are 50year old automobiles at cruise-ins that arecleaner than the new Surgi-Center. I workon these things for a living and don’t seehow some of the owners find the time toclean their cars to the nth degree and stillhave a life. In reality most car lovers dohave spouses and jobs and children yetthey somehow manage to make the timeto keep these rolling restorations on theroad.
Who wants to devote 40 hours togetting things just right and then take itout on a wet road covered with lastwinter’s salt and sand just to get in 20miles of driving followed by another 40hours of cleaning? Some of the car nuts Iknow do this as a ritual orpenitence... anything to be able to drivethem.
There were a few patches of bluebetween the snow storms and monsoonrains in April and it definitely brought outthe automotive spring pallet. I am nowwondering what motorized madmen comeout first? Like jonquils and crocus, whatorder do they follow after the firstblossoms are spotted?
Nature lays it out pretty well:jonquils & daffodils, pears & fruit trees,redbuds, crabapples, forsythia, dogwoodsand maples. You have to wait forhydrangeas and roses. So..? If I were toequate mechanized displays of color to thelaws of nature, spring on the highwaylooks something like this:
Jonquils and Daffodils – definitelymotor cycles and MG’s. Bikes can bestarted up and driven at the drop of a hatwhenever the sun comes out andtemperatures get above 50degrees. Likewise MG’s hit the road at thefirst sign of warmth. Their owner’s aren’tafraid of a little sand and salt; what’s alittle more rust? Most don’t have topsthat go up easily in cold weather so theyare still down from last fall and now is thetime to warm them, soften them, and putthem up in time for the spring rains.
Fruit trees and Redbuds –Mustangs and muscle. These things havebeen sitting too long. Their owners havebought all manner of new bling andperformance parts over the winter andthey are dying to try them out. There is alot of, “Hey Mike, what do you think ofthis?” and “Check this out!” Car nuts whohave been in hibernation too long get alittle squirrely by spring.
Hydrangeas and Roses – Packardsand Jaguars, Rolls Royce and dual cowlphaetons… they come later. Those arethe cars of summer; the big guns. Peopledote on their roses like owners dote ontheir Bentleys. Everything has to be justso. Too much of the wrong fertilizer forthe roses and the flowers are ruined foranother season. Neglect the junebugtraps and they will eat your prizewinners. Likewise, not enough zinc in theoil and the valve seats get soft on theBentley. You don’t want the bill for therebuild.
It is May. Life is good and gettingbetter and there is talk of actual warmweather before the first frost in thefall. [email protected]
Rim embarks on life living momentseach month in this spot.
AutoKnown BetterApril showers bring what?
By Rim Vining
540/374-0462www.woahvets.com 10 Walsh Lane
Stacy L. Horner, DVM; Gary B. Dunn, DVM; Melanie Bell, DVM; Sandi L. Pepper, DVM; Melissa A. DeLauter, DVM ;
Arlene Evans, DVM; Jennnifer Skarbek, DVM
Full Service Hospitalfeaturing:
Grooming Salon Canine Boarding
in Our Indoor/Outdoor RunsDog Training &
Behavioral Consults with certified dog trainer
Feline Boarding in OurSpacious Multi-room Condos
Serving you & your companion animals for 16 years
Companionsis your pet’s back out of whack???
by Julia Wolfe, DVM, DABVP, certified AVCA
Home of great Food& great Art!
EAT WELL DRINK WELL LIVE WELL
720 Littlepage Sunkenwelltavern.com
HollyBurgOscars Live Among Us
By gary olsenYou might as well transport
Beverly Hills with all its famous stars tothe Fredericksburg area as far as thisyear’s Academy Awards Best Pictures andthe Nominations, 1980-1984, film lecturethat I’ll give at the Rappahanock Regional
Library’s Headquarters on May 8th goes,since several Oscar winners from thattimeframe have called this region home.
Robert Duvall, who lives on a360-acre farm just north of Warrentonand whose career we have beenhighlighting for the past several lecturesbeginning with his screen debut in1962’s To Kill A Mockingbird, earned hisfirst of six Academy acting nominationsin The Godfather (1972). Since then hehas played prominent rolesin MASH, Network and ApocalypseNow (“I love the smell of napalm.”).
But it was his role as an ex-country-western singer in 1983’s TenderMercies that earned him his treasuredAcademy Award Oscar. He even did hisown singing in the film. Duvall is stillacting in movies well into his 80’s. But it’shis visibility in the area that triumphs hisfilm persona, with his latest presenceagainst Wal-Mart’s proposed buildingadjacent to the Wilderness Battlefield.Duvall is a familiar face in these parts withfrequent visits to the Red Truck RuralBakery in Warrenton. He’s quoted assaying “My wife says for her, Virginia isthe last station before heaven.”
Another iconic performerresiding in this area won a Best ActressOscar for her portrayal of Loretta Lynnin Coal Miner’s Daughter. Sissy Spacek,who lives just outside of Charlottesville inKeswick, has been nominated for sixAcademy Awards, but it’s her role assinger Lynn that is a career standout.Lynn picked Spacek for the role, andSpacek didn’t disappoint. Like Duvall,Spacek did her own singing and wasnominated by the Grammies for the film’ssoundtrack.
Spacek moved to Virginia in 1982with her husband, Jack Fisk, fromHollywood after several visits confirmedtheir love for the region. Spacek, althoughkeeping a low profile, still makes publicappearances by lobbying the state tosupport the film-making industry here aswell as giving occasional talks in the areaabout her life in movies. But it’s her farmthat preoccupies her, that and raising twodaughters, one of whom went to VCU inRichmond.
Two other Academy notables,Jessica Lange, an Oscar winner in1982’s Tootsie, and her boyfriend, SamShepard, nominated for his role as ChuckYeager in 1983’s The Right Stuff, lived inthe Charlottesville area for nine yearsfrom the mid-80’s before moving to herhome state Minnesota.
Lange had just played a gruelingrole in the film Frances and wanted to playsomething light: hence the role of JulieNichols, a co-star to Tootsie, played by DustinHoffman. With the two roles, she became thefirst actress in 40 years to get twoperformance nominations in one year. Shetestified before the US Congress onagriculture alongside Spacek, whom she laterbefriended and became Virginian neighbors.
Virginia gets an extra close-upin The Right Stuff. The seven selectedastronauts for the Mercury program firsttrained at Langley Air Force Base inHampton, Virginia, a short jaunt fromFredericksburg. The film shows theirinitial training at Langley undergoingstrenuous simulator flight rigors, physicalexercise and scuba-diving drills toduplicate weightlessness in outer space.
Fredericksburg indeed took thespotlight during the early PresidentReagan years. This free film lecture beginsat 6:30 p.m. on May 8th at theHeadquarters Theatre.
Gary Olsen presents film lectures to getto know the stars and starlets living
around the Fredericksburg area.
Old Town’sGreatest Tour35 Monuments, Markers, &
AttractionsAND the
Fredericksburg Battlefields
Weddings ReunionsShuttles Parties
Group Outings
540-898-0737Fredericksburgtrolley.com
Obesity is a major health issuetoday and a risk factor in the majority ofcommon health problems anddegenerative diseases affecting the healthand well-being of Americans. According toour government’s Centers for DiseaseControl (cdc.gov) statistics, the top eightleading causes of death in the US in 2011were heart disease, cancer,chronic respiratory diseases, stroke,accidents, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetesand kidney disease. The intimateconnection of these statistics to obesity orpoor dietary habits is tragically apparentto me.
According to the World HealthOrganization (who.int), worldwide obesityhas nearly doubled since 1980. Obesity isdefined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) ofgreater than 30. For a BMI chart (aheight/weight chart) in US measurementsgo to:www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/.Although height/weight charts are not mypreferred way to determine ideal weight,once you get up near 30 BMI, it is nearlyassured you are detrimentally affectingyour health and well-being.
Neurobiologist Stephan Guyenet,PhD has extensively researched thehistorical relationship of obesity anddietary habits over the past couple ofcenturies. Comparing data collected in1892 for men over 40 to statistics for theyear 2000, Guyenet found obesity rosefrom 4% to over 25% of the population(according to the current definition ofobesity.)
All this said, the point of myarticle is to disagree with conventionalwisdom on the cause of this increase inobesity. The WHO web site lists two causesfor the increase in obesity worldwide:A) Increased intake of energy-dense, highfat foodsB) Decreased physical activity due to theincreasingly sedentary nature of manyforms of work, changing modes oftransportation, and increasingurbanization
Just so you know I’m notcompletely crazy, I absolutely agreedecreased physical activity is a majorfactor in weight gain. However, I believethe first bullet is not only incorrect, butthe perpetuation of this idea is one of themain causes of the increase in obesitysince 1980, when saturated fat becamethe enemy. Dr. Guyenet’s illuminatingresearch points out a conspicuous changein our consumption of fats over the pastcentury. The amount of saturated animalfat in the diet has remained fairly steady,
but polyunsaturated oil consumption hasincreased by 200% in the past century.
Even more alarming, and Ibelieve a bigger contributor to ourcountry’s weight gain, is the increase inrefined sugar. Dr. Guyenet’s statisticsreveal our refined sugar consumptionis 17 times higher since 1820. Scanningthe US Department of Agriculture’s(usda.gov) handy little Agriculture FactBook revealed two startling facts: the useof corn sweeteners in the averageAmerican diet is eight times higher, anduse of “salad and cooking oils” over threetimes higher from 1950 to 2000. I find ithighly unlikely these significant dietarychanges are not related to our currentobesity crisis.
I believe the five leading causes ofweight gain today are:1) Increased refined sugar intake2.) Food alterations - processing,refinement, chemical additives and GMO’s3) Stress and increased circulating stresshormones4) Hormone imbalance due tomedications, food and environmentalhormone disruption5) Decreased activity and sedentarylifestyle
Increased caloric intake anddecreased energy expenditure will lead toweight gain, yes. But that is not the wholepicture, as many of you who have stepped upyour exercise and decreased your caloricintake will attest. Many of my patientscomplain of not being able to lose weightdespite real and determined effort. I believethem. There is more happening than meetsthe eye. In the next Front Porch issue I willexplore this in more depth.
Dr. Christine Thompson, is the owner ofWhole Health Chiropractic, Inc., 434Bridgewater Street (540) 899-9421
www.whole-health.net
May is Older Americans Month, atime to celebrate those 65 and older. Maywas designated as Senior Citizens Monthin 1963 by President Kennedy andsubsequently renamed in 1980 byPresident Carter to Older AmericansMonth. This year’s theme is “SafeToday. Healthy Tomorrow.” The themefocuses on injury prevention and safetywith a special emphasis on preventing fallsamong seniors.
Falls are not a normal part ofaging, yet they are the major reason forinjury-related death and hospitaladmissions for seniors 65 andolder. According to the U.S.Administration for Community Living(ACL), more than 30,000 deaths resultfrom unintentional injuries for those 65+,and 21,700 of those deaths are fallrelated. Every 15 seconds an older adultis seen in an Emergency Department for afall-related injury. The direct medical costof falls is currently estimated at $36billion annually and is expected to grow tonearly $62 billion by 2020 (NationalCouncil on Aging). These numbers arestaggering for something that can beprevented in large measure through acombination of interventions. Factorsthat contribute to falls include: balanceand flexibility, vision problems,medications, chronic conditions, and theenvironment.
The National Council on Agingidentified “6 Steps to Prevent Falls” ontheir websitewww.ncoa.org/FallsPrevention:
1) Find a good balance andexercise program.
2) Talk to your health careprovider about a fall risk assessment.
3) Regularly review youmedications with your doctor orpharmacist and specifically reviewpotential side effects like dizziness that
can relate tofalling.
4) Get yourvision andhearing checkedannually andupdate youreyeglasses. Youreyes and ears arekey to keepingyou on your feet.
5) Keep yourh o m esafe. Removetripping hazards,increase lighting
(especially night lights in hallways), makestairs and railings safe, and install grabbars in key areas like showers and toilets.
6) Talk to your familymembers. Don’t fear the risk of losingindependence by discussing concerns. Fallprevention will keep you independentlonger.
For an excellent room-by-roomHome Fall Prevention Checklist for OlderAdults as well as some additional tips,contact me or go to this website:
http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/pubs/English/booklet_Eng_desktop-a.pdf
If you are concerned about anelder loved one falling, take the initiativeto start the conversation. Go to the listedwebsites for ideas. If you or your lovedone are alone most of the time, considerwearing a medical alert button. Irecommend the Auto Alert from PhilipsLifeline that will automatically send analert if you fall and are disoriented orunconscious. Call me at 540-899-1422. One woman who lives alonerecently fell, fractured her hip, was unableto reach the phone and waited over 24hours until her daughter stopped by tovisit. After her release from the hospital,she is now wearing an alert button.
So, take the necessary steps toprevent falls and maintain your and yourloved ones independence and quality oflife. You will also help control healthcarecosts, a win-win for everyone. And, forthose mothers out there, have a wonderand SAFE Mother’s Day.
Karl Karch is a local franchise owner ofHome Instead Senior Care, a licensed
home care organization providingpersonal care, companionship and home
helper services. Please goto www.homeinstead.com/614.
front porch fredericksburg May 2014 2322 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg
WellnessWeighty Health problems
By christine h. thompson,
Senior Care safe today -
healthy tomorrow
By Karl Karch
Healthcare For the Whole Person
SPECIALIZING IN:
Gentle, Individualized Chiropractic CareCranio-Sacral Balancing (Sacro
Occipital Technique - SOT)Addressing Your Total Health Needs
with Natural, Holistic Treatment MethodsDetoxification/Weight
Loss Nutritional Programs
Dr. ChristineThompson
Barbara Bergquist, CTN Board Certified Traditional Naturopath
891-6200 www.thenaturalpath.us4413 Lafayette Blvd. Fredericksburg
~Nature’s Sunshine Products
~ Biological Terrain Assessment
~VoiceBio Analysis
~Aura Photography
~Body Cleanse Foot Detox
We CarryHome Brewing Supplies !
The Natural Path Holistic Health Center
Wellness Wonderland Fredericksburg home to vast arrayof wellness practioners
By Suzy Woollam
Fredericksburg is such a uniqueand wonderful city. And the recentWellness Expo helped to highlight the vastand talented array of wellnesspractitioners we have right here in ourcommunity. From Reiki Practitioners andNaturopaths to Massagetherapists andAromatherapists ,Fredericksburg truly has awellness wonderland rightin our back yard!
Events such asthese also show how we arefinally moving away fromthe “us or them”a l ternat i ve/a l lopath i cattitude and movingtoward an attitude ofadjunct therapy, where weall work together for thebetterment of ourcommunity.
In the past, therapies such asReiki, Aromatherapy or Reflexology havebeen thought of as alternative medicine.But in recent years, treatments likeAromatherapy, Reiki and Hypnotherapy
have been adopted by many major medicalinstitutions, including Johns Hopkins andour own Mary Washington Hospital, asadjunct therapy to assist thoseundergoing allopathic treatment forthings like Cancer. More and more major
medical is realizing thebenefits of Holistichealth, tying mind andbody together to assistin the healing process.Of course, as naturalhealth practitioners, wehave realized thisbenefit for years, and Iknow we all standtogether and applaudDoctors and Hospitalsystems that have begunto realize this as well.
Reiki is awonderful adjunct to
cancer treatment, as well as work inphysical therapy, talk therapy andtreatment for conditions like manicdepression, ADHD and bi-polar disorder.Massage Therapy is a well known adjunctto Chiropractic and Physical therapy, aswell as a comforting for those undergoingCancer treatment. Many recent studieshave shown the benefits of Aromatherapytreatment not only for patientsundergoing medical treatment, but alsofor health care workers such as nurses andemergency response personnel.
This month, Fredericksburg ishosting the first Downtown Spa andWellness week. Take the time to get toknow some of the amazing therapists andtherapies that our town has to offer,support a local business, and find yourown adjunct therapy.
Visit Suzy and learn about her Naturaltherapy at The Scenter of Town on
Charles Street
Obesity is a major health issuetoday and a risk factor in the majority ofcommon health problems anddegenerative diseases affecting the healthand well-being of Americans. According toour government’s Centers for DiseaseControl (cdc.gov) statistics, the top eightleading causes of death in the US in 2011were heart disease, cancer,chronic respiratory diseases, stroke,accidents, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetesand kidney disease. The intimateconnection of these statistics to obesity orpoor dietary habits is tragically apparentto me.
According to the World HealthOrganization (who.int), worldwide obesityhas nearly doubled since 1980. Obesity isdefined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) ofgreater than 30. For a BMI chart (aheight/weight chart) in US measurementsgo to:www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/.Although height/weight charts are not mypreferred way to determine ideal weight,once you get up near 30 BMI, it is nearlyassured you are detrimentally affectingyour health and well-being.
Neurobiologist Stephan Guyenet,PhD has extensively researched thehistorical relationship of obesity anddietary habits over the past couple ofcenturies. Comparing data collected in1892 for men over 40 to statistics for theyear 2000, Guyenet found obesity rosefrom 4% to over 25% of the population(according to the current definition ofobesity.)
All this said, the point of myarticle is to disagree with conventionalwisdom on the cause of this increase inobesity. The WHO web site lists two causesfor the increase in obesity worldwide:A) Increased intake of energy-dense, highfat foodsB) Decreased physical activity due to theincreasingly sedentary nature of manyforms of work, changing modes oftransportation, and increasingurbanization
Just so you know I’m notcompletely crazy, I absolutely agreedecreased physical activity is a majorfactor in weight gain. However, I believethe first bullet is not only incorrect, butthe perpetuation of this idea is one of themain causes of the increase in obesitysince 1980, when saturated fat becamethe enemy. Dr. Guyenet’s illuminatingresearch points out a conspicuous changein our consumption of fats over the pastcentury. The amount of saturated animalfat in the diet has remained fairly steady,
but polyunsaturated oil consumption hasincreased by 200% in the past century.
Even more alarming, and Ibelieve a bigger contributor to ourcountry’s weight gain, is the increase inrefined sugar. Dr. Guyenet’s statisticsreveal our refined sugar consumptionis 17 times higher since 1820. Scanningthe US Department of Agriculture’s(usda.gov) handy little Agriculture FactBook revealed two startling facts: the useof corn sweeteners in the averageAmerican diet is eight times higher, anduse of “salad and cooking oils” over threetimes higher from 1950 to 2000. I find ithighly unlikely these significant dietarychanges are not related to our currentobesity crisis.
I believe the five leading causes ofweight gain today are:1) Increased refined sugar intake2.) Food alterations - processing,refinement, chemical additives and GMO’s3) Stress and increased circulating stresshormones4) Hormone imbalance due tomedications, food and environmentalhormone disruption5) Decreased activity and sedentarylifestyle
Increased caloric intake anddecreased energy expenditure will lead toweight gain, yes. But that is not the wholepicture, as many of you who have stepped upyour exercise and decreased your caloricintake will attest. Many of my patientscomplain of not being able to lose weightdespite real and determined effort. I believethem. There is more happening than meetsthe eye. In the next Front Porch issue I willexplore this in more depth.
Dr. Christine Thompson, is the owner ofWhole Health Chiropractic, Inc., 434Bridgewater Street (540) 899-9421
www.whole-health.net
May is Older Americans Month, atime to celebrate those 65 and older. Maywas designated as Senior Citizens Monthin 1963 by President Kennedy andsubsequently renamed in 1980 byPresident Carter to Older AmericansMonth. This year’s theme is “SafeToday. Healthy Tomorrow.” The themefocuses on injury prevention and safetywith a special emphasis on preventing fallsamong seniors.
Falls are not a normal part ofaging, yet they are the major reason forinjury-related death and hospitaladmissions for seniors 65 andolder. According to the U.S.Administration for Community Living(ACL), more than 30,000 deaths resultfrom unintentional injuries for those 65+,and 21,700 of those deaths are fallrelated. Every 15 seconds an older adultis seen in an Emergency Department for afall-related injury. The direct medical costof falls is currently estimated at $36billion annually and is expected to grow tonearly $62 billion by 2020 (NationalCouncil on Aging). These numbers arestaggering for something that can beprevented in large measure through acombination of interventions. Factorsthat contribute to falls include: balanceand flexibility, vision problems,medications, chronic conditions, and theenvironment.
The National Council on Agingidentified “6 Steps to Prevent Falls” ontheir websitewww.ncoa.org/FallsPrevention:
1) Find a good balance andexercise program.
2) Talk to your health careprovider about a fall risk assessment.
3) Regularly review youmedications with your doctor orpharmacist and specifically reviewpotential side effects like dizziness that
can relate tofalling.
4) Get yourvision andhearing checkedannually andupdate youreyeglasses. Youreyes and ears arekey to keepingyou on your feet.
5) Keep yourh o m esafe. Removetripping hazards,increase lighting
(especially night lights in hallways), makestairs and railings safe, and install grabbars in key areas like showers and toilets.
6) Talk to your familymembers. Don’t fear the risk of losingindependence by discussing concerns. Fallprevention will keep you independentlonger.
For an excellent room-by-roomHome Fall Prevention Checklist for OlderAdults as well as some additional tips,contact me or go to this website:
http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/pubs/English/booklet_Eng_desktop-a.pdf
If you are concerned about anelder loved one falling, take the initiativeto start the conversation. Go to the listedwebsites for ideas. If you or your lovedone are alone most of the time, considerwearing a medical alert button. Irecommend the Auto Alert from PhilipsLifeline that will automatically send analert if you fall and are disoriented orunconscious. Call me at 540-899-1422. One woman who lives alonerecently fell, fractured her hip, was unableto reach the phone and waited over 24hours until her daughter stopped by tovisit. After her release from the hospital,she is now wearing an alert button.
So, take the necessary steps toprevent falls and maintain your and yourloved ones independence and quality oflife. You will also help control healthcarecosts, a win-win for everyone. And, forthose mothers out there, have a wonderand SAFE Mother’s Day.
Karl Karch is a local franchise owner ofHome Instead Senior Care, a licensed
home care organization providingpersonal care, companionship and home
helper services. Please goto www.homeinstead.com/614.
front porch fredericksburg May 2014 2322 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg
WellnessWeighty Health problems
By christine h. thompson,
Senior Care safe today -
healthy tomorrow
By Karl Karch
Healthcare For the Whole Person
SPECIALIZING IN:
Gentle, Individualized Chiropractic CareCranio-Sacral Balancing (Sacro
Occipital Technique - SOT)Addressing Your Total Health Needs
with Natural, Holistic Treatment MethodsDetoxification/Weight
Loss Nutritional Programs
Dr. ChristineThompson
Barbara Bergquist, CTN Board Certified Traditional Naturopath
891-6200 www.thenaturalpath.us4413 Lafayette Blvd. Fredericksburg
~Nature’s Sunshine Products
~ Biological Terrain Assessment
~VoiceBio Analysis
~Aura Photography
~Body Cleanse Foot Detox
We CarryHome Brewing Supplies !
The Natural Path Holistic Health Center
Wellness Wonderland Fredericksburg home to vast arrayof wellness practioners
By Suzy Woollam
Fredericksburg is such a uniqueand wonderful city. And the recentWellness Expo helped to highlight the vastand talented array of wellnesspractitioners we have right here in ourcommunity. From Reiki Practitioners andNaturopaths to Massagetherapists andAromatherapists ,Fredericksburg truly has awellness wonderland rightin our back yard!
Events such asthese also show how we arefinally moving away fromthe “us or them”a l ternat i ve/a l lopath i cattitude and movingtoward an attitude ofadjunct therapy, where weall work together for thebetterment of ourcommunity.
In the past, therapies such asReiki, Aromatherapy or Reflexology havebeen thought of as alternative medicine.But in recent years, treatments likeAromatherapy, Reiki and Hypnotherapy
have been adopted by many major medicalinstitutions, including Johns Hopkins andour own Mary Washington Hospital, asadjunct therapy to assist thoseundergoing allopathic treatment forthings like Cancer. More and more major
medical is realizing thebenefits of Holistichealth, tying mind andbody together to assistin the healing process.Of course, as naturalhealth practitioners, wehave realized thisbenefit for years, and Iknow we all standtogether and applaudDoctors and Hospitalsystems that have begunto realize this as well.
Reiki is awonderful adjunct to
cancer treatment, as well as work inphysical therapy, talk therapy andtreatment for conditions like manicdepression, ADHD and bi-polar disorder.Massage Therapy is a well known adjunctto Chiropractic and Physical therapy, aswell as a comforting for those undergoingCancer treatment. Many recent studieshave shown the benefits of Aromatherapytreatment not only for patientsundergoing medical treatment, but alsofor health care workers such as nurses andemergency response personnel.
This month, Fredericksburg ishosting the first Downtown Spa andWellness week. Take the time to get toknow some of the amazing therapists andtherapies that our town has to offer,support a local business, and find yourown adjunct therapy.
Visit Suzy and learn about her Naturaltherapy at The Scenter of Town on
Charles Street
Carol Waite is Brush StrokesGallery’s featured artist throughoutMay. Her exhibit will feature orientalbrush paintings in the unique sumimedium—an ink-like substance madeby mixing the soot obtained byburning such plants as bull rush, gluefrom deer horn, and water. The sumiis applied with special brushes,sometimes mixed with watercolor, torice paper. Sumi-e is an artisticinterpretation of various aspects ofnature and life.
After returning several yearsago from a trip to Japan, Ms. Waitestudied Sumi-e at the Torpedo Factoryin Old Town Alexandria, VA., winningplaudits at an Art League show there.
Sumi-e paintings by Ms. Waitehave been shown in a one-personshow at the Ramp Gallery inMcLean, Virginia and are ondisplay at several restaurants inArlington and Fredericksburg.Her paintings have been acceptedby the National Sumi-e Society atfive juried shows in NY, FL, VA,MN, and Washington, DC.
Ms. Waite chose to depictmany of Virginia’s wildflowerswith the strong strokes of ink andcolor, employing the use of whitespace as well as strokes that gooff the page. Many of thewildflowers she painted were alsoused by our Native Americans formedical purposes. Her show willalso celebrate the Year of theHorse with her unique horsepaintings.
One could say the Waite’stalent and attraction to oriental brushpainting lies in her genes. Hergrandparents served as missionaries inJapan in the late 1880s; her mother wasborn and raised there and met herhusband there when he was working as anoil executive. California-born Carol spenther childhood in Kobe and Yokohama.
Carol developed an interest in artduring private lessons as a young woman.She majored in Fine Arts at the GeorgeWashington University and studiedpainting and drawing at the CorcoranGallery. At the Corcoran she workedmostly in oils and pastels, as well as inkand pencil, and enjoyed painting figuresand portraits.
“I hope that those who view mywork will experience the beauty andpeacefulness of nature,” said Waite. “Thenative Virginia wildflowers depict ourbeautiful state, and the horses celebratethe year.”
Ms. Waite also publisheda book, "Taken in HongKong, December 8, 1941,"describing the ordeal ofher father who wascaught there during WWIIas a civilian where hewitnessed the Japaneseinvasion and was internedin Stanley Prison beforebeing repatriated. Youmay contract Ms. Waite ororder from Amazon.com.
Peggy Wickham is a localartist and member ofBrushstrokes Gallery
Scene: Springtime inFredericksburg is my favorite time of year.The downtown streets are overflowingwith blooms, everyone is sitting outside ofall the William Street restaurants andeveryone just seems, you know, happy.Which brings me to the Happy video (nicesegue there, huh?) that Melvin Brown(below) of VideoMann Productions puttogether last month with the help ofOddbox Studio, Fxbg.tv, CVTV and justabout the entire population of downtownFredericksburg. The video is set to PharrellWilliams’ hit, Happy, and is literally just abunch of happy Fredericksburgers dancingin the streets. It’s basically the cutest. Rollcall includes: Powell Sale, Dave Minkler,Brian Lam (in what may be the best cameoever), Mike Skinner, Scarlett Pons,Ashleigh Chevalier, Melissa Okrasinski andGaye Adegbalola. The list goes on, but myword count does not. If you haven’t seenthe video, check it out on YouTube,Facebook or Fredericksburg.com. Melvindedicated the film to Rob Grogan…watchthe ENTIRE video to the end, great pic ofRob and dedication by Melvin.
Scene: The actual humansbehind the famed eveningwear designlabel Badgley Mischka (Mark and James,respectively) dining at a corner table atBistro Bethem while in town to pick uptheir newly adopted puppy. Theyrounded out their sehr-Fredericksburgtrip by staying at the Richard JohnstonInn.
Congratulations toMegan Mason on her new gig at theCorridor Mortgage Group and on hergood friend Stephen Colbert’s new gigas Dave Letterman’s replacement forthe Late Show.
Heard: beloved hidden gemMason Dixon Café will be moving from itstucked away Bowman Center spot tocenter stage: right next to Carl’s IceCream. The café is active on Instagramand posts daily chalkboard specials thatmake me swoon (red velvet French toast,par exemple).
Scene: Brian Lam (above)hosted artist Kelly Morgan Penick at hisFirst Friday event at his new Skin + TouchTherapy space on Caroline Street (neighbswith Ponshop). The event also served as aGrand Opening with Kybecca co-hostingthe soiree. Rebecca Thomas, Pam Kuper,Stephen Graham and Johnna Hetrick werejust some of Brian’s well-wishers! PIC
Heard (food news edition):Chef Peter Chang, of Peter Chang’s,getting mad props in the New York Times;Foode and the Barvarian Chef holdingtheir own in the Virginia.org CulinaryMadness online competition (they’re bothstill winners in our hearts, obvi); Kybecca’sChef Wade Truong and Rachel Owens(below) on a gastronomic adventure downin Florida; Kenmore Inn is re-instituting itsdelish Sunday brunch menu in the warmmonths (where famed classical guitarist
Pete Fields (below) will be serenadingdiners).
Scene: Ryanand Ashley Poe totingtheir little ones downWilliam for a pit stop atHyperion Espresso, KennyEllinger spending aSaturday evening withfriends HeatherHagerman, Debby Girvan,Ross Girvan and Thomas
Falkenberg (below) at Kybecca Karen Jonasand Tim Bray breaking in the Vivifyrooftop patio music season on a gloriouslyspringy Thursday evening; Matt Paxsonand Paul Quinn lunching at Cowboy Jack’s;Jen Rowe doing some multicultural fairshopping
Happy March and April
birthdays to Elliot Currie, RebeccaKlopp, Alex Capshaw-TTaylor, Joan BellefieldDavis, Kellie Walsh, Jeremiah Lazenby,Dawn Darby, Claire Ellinger, Adam Bray,Andrew Hellier, Bill Harris, Alicia Morgan,Ashley Carpenter and Sarah Lapp
front porch fredericksburg May 2014 2524 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg
by megan byrnes
NEW WORK
BISTRO BETHEM309 William St.April1 - June 1
BETSYGLASSIE.COM
540-899-6556
B e t s y G l a s s i e
Always From Life
Original Oils
brucedaystudio.comthefigureblog.blogspot.com
540 376-1676
Bruce Day Fine ArtCarol Waite
a delicate balance of east and west
By Peggy Wickham
Carol Waite is Brush StrokesGallery’s featured artist throughoutMay. Her exhibit will feature orientalbrush paintings in the unique sumimedium—an ink-like substance madeby mixing the soot obtained byburning such plants as bull rush, gluefrom deer horn, and water. The sumiis applied with special brushes,sometimes mixed with watercolor, torice paper. Sumi-e is an artisticinterpretation of various aspects ofnature and life.
After returning several yearsago from a trip to Japan, Ms. Waitestudied Sumi-e at the Torpedo Factoryin Old Town Alexandria, VA., winningplaudits at an Art League show there.
Sumi-e paintings by Ms. Waitehave been shown in a one-personshow at the Ramp Gallery inMcLean, Virginia and are ondisplay at several restaurants inArlington and Fredericksburg.Her paintings have been acceptedby the National Sumi-e Society atfive juried shows in NY, FL, VA,MN, and Washington, DC.
Ms. Waite chose to depictmany of Virginia’s wildflowerswith the strong strokes of ink andcolor, employing the use of whitespace as well as strokes that gooff the page. Many of thewildflowers she painted were alsoused by our Native Americans formedical purposes. Her show willalso celebrate the Year of theHorse with her unique horsepaintings.
One could say the Waite’stalent and attraction to oriental brushpainting lies in her genes. Hergrandparents served as missionaries inJapan in the late 1880s; her mother wasborn and raised there and met herhusband there when he was working as anoil executive. California-born Carol spenther childhood in Kobe and Yokohama.
Carol developed an interest in artduring private lessons as a young woman.She majored in Fine Arts at the GeorgeWashington University and studiedpainting and drawing at the CorcoranGallery. At the Corcoran she workedmostly in oils and pastels, as well as inkand pencil, and enjoyed painting figuresand portraits.
“I hope that those who view mywork will experience the beauty andpeacefulness of nature,” said Waite. “Thenative Virginia wildflowers depict ourbeautiful state, and the horses celebratethe year.”
Ms. Waite also publisheda book, "Taken in HongKong, December 8, 1941,"describing the ordeal ofher father who wascaught there during WWIIas a civilian where hewitnessed the Japaneseinvasion and was internedin Stanley Prison beforebeing repatriated. Youmay contract Ms. Waite ororder from Amazon.com.
Peggy Wickham is a localartist and member ofBrushstrokes Gallery
Scene: Springtime inFredericksburg is my favorite time of year.The downtown streets are overflowingwith blooms, everyone is sitting outside ofall the William Street restaurants andeveryone just seems, you know, happy.Which brings me to the Happy video (nicesegue there, huh?) that Melvin Brown(below) of VideoMann Productions puttogether last month with the help ofOddbox Studio, Fxbg.tv, CVTV and justabout the entire population of downtownFredericksburg. The video is set to PharrellWilliams’ hit, Happy, and is literally just abunch of happy Fredericksburgers dancingin the streets. It’s basically the cutest. Rollcall includes: Powell Sale, Dave Minkler,Brian Lam (in what may be the best cameoever), Mike Skinner, Scarlett Pons,Ashleigh Chevalier, Melissa Okrasinski andGaye Adegbalola. The list goes on, but myword count does not. If you haven’t seenthe video, check it out on YouTube,Facebook or Fredericksburg.com. Melvindedicated the film to Rob Grogan…watchthe ENTIRE video to the end, great pic ofRob and dedication by Melvin.
Scene: The actual humansbehind the famed eveningwear designlabel Badgley Mischka (Mark and James,respectively) dining at a corner table atBistro Bethem while in town to pick uptheir newly adopted puppy. Theyrounded out their sehr-Fredericksburgtrip by staying at the Richard JohnstonInn.
Congratulations toMegan Mason on her new gig at theCorridor Mortgage Group and on hergood friend Stephen Colbert’s new gigas Dave Letterman’s replacement forthe Late Show.
Heard: beloved hidden gemMason Dixon Café will be moving from itstucked away Bowman Center spot tocenter stage: right next to Carl’s IceCream. The café is active on Instagramand posts daily chalkboard specials thatmake me swoon (red velvet French toast,par exemple).
Scene: Brian Lam (above)hosted artist Kelly Morgan Penick at hisFirst Friday event at his new Skin + TouchTherapy space on Caroline Street (neighbswith Ponshop). The event also served as aGrand Opening with Kybecca co-hostingthe soiree. Rebecca Thomas, Pam Kuper,Stephen Graham and Johnna Hetrick werejust some of Brian’s well-wishers! PIC
Heard (food news edition):Chef Peter Chang, of Peter Chang’s,getting mad props in the New York Times;Foode and the Barvarian Chef holdingtheir own in the Virginia.org CulinaryMadness online competition (they’re bothstill winners in our hearts, obvi); Kybecca’sChef Wade Truong and Rachel Owens(below) on a gastronomic adventure downin Florida; Kenmore Inn is re-instituting itsdelish Sunday brunch menu in the warmmonths (where famed classical guitarist
Pete Fields (below) will be serenadingdiners).
Scene: Ryanand Ashley Poe totingtheir little ones downWilliam for a pit stop atHyperion Espresso, KennyEllinger spending aSaturday evening withfriends HeatherHagerman, Debby Girvan,Ross Girvan and Thomas
Falkenberg (below) at Kybecca Karen Jonasand Tim Bray breaking in the Vivifyrooftop patio music season on a gloriouslyspringy Thursday evening; Matt Paxsonand Paul Quinn lunching at Cowboy Jack’s;Jen Rowe doing some multicultural fairshopping
Happy March and April
birthdays to Elliot Currie, RebeccaKlopp, Alex Capshaw-TTaylor, Joan BellefieldDavis, Kellie Walsh, Jeremiah Lazenby,Dawn Darby, Claire Ellinger, Adam Bray,Andrew Hellier, Bill Harris, Alicia Morgan,Ashley Carpenter and Sarah Lapp
front porch fredericksburg May 2014 2524 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg
by megan byrnes
NEW WORK
BISTRO BETHEM309 William St.April1 - June 1
BETSYGLASSIE.COM
540-899-6556
B e t s y G l a s s i e
Always From Life
Original Oils
brucedaystudio.comthefigureblog.blogspot.com
540 376-1676
Bruce Day Fine ArtCarol Waite
a delicate balance of east and west
By Peggy Wickham
After a sell-out inaugural concertfeaturing Joe Newberry of Prairie HomeCompanion fame, the Music & Spiritsconcert series will bring veteran blues andjazz guitarist Walter Parks (right) to thestage May 31 for what promises to be anelectrifying show.
With more than four decades ofperformance experience, Florida nativeParks blends his southern roots, and big-city NYC experience, into a uniquestyle. Parks, compared to the likes of JackWhite and Leonard Cohen, built aninternational career as lead guitarist forWoodstock legend Richie Havens. His solotour offers a “re-presenting” of severalmusical heritages—jazz, blues, andAppalachian—in a classical fashion onelectric and acoustic guitars.
The venue, historic A. SmithBowman Distillery, is a perfect backdropfor Parks, who said American music wasborn in the south. “There is a place in myheart for a town that maintains its
historical anchoringlike Fredericksburgdoes,” Parks said.
This show is areturn visit for Parks,who likes to get toknow towns where heplays and liked what hesaw here. “I came uponMarket Square behindRaven Hi-FFi when I lastplayed in town. Thesimilarity to old Europewas inspiring andbreathtaking,” Parksrecalled. “I vowed toreturn; I’m honored tobe back in ‘The Burg’.”
P a r k s ’
compositions present a soundtrack to hislife, but have universal appeal. “Of course,we find emotions and path essentiallyinterchangeable amongst all of us,” heobserved.
Ashleigh Chevalier and BruceMiddle (left) will open the show. Knownfor her soulful voice and sinceresongwriting, Chevalier was recentlynominated for a Washington Area MusicAssociation (WAMMIE) award for herdebut album “From the Soles.” Middle, isan 11-time WAMMIE nominee with over25 years’ experience playing andcomposing music in classical, jazz, LatinAmerican/Brazilian, rock to blues,bluegrass and country genres.
Local husband and wife teamBryan Blakemore and Laura Cooperstarted the Music & Spirits concert serieswith the goal of creating a listening roomfor concert-goers to hear some of thecountry’s most talented bluegrass, blues,jazz, folk, and Americana artists.
Those who want to play alongsideParks, can join him in a master classbeginning at 11 a.m., May 31. Tuition is$50 (concert included). Tickets for theconcert, which starts at 7:30 p.m., are $18online, $20 at the door. Find moreinformation, purchase tickets, or sign upto receive email updatesat musicandspirts.com.
June 28, five-string banjo masterRyan Cavanaugh will take the stage. Forq u e s t i o n s ,email [email protected].
Wendy LaRue, is a local free-lance writer and editor who has
lived in the Fredericksburg areafor over 25 years.
The local nonprofit community isbuzzing with excitement over the region’sfirst ever 24-hour giving marathon onTuesday, May 6th., from 12:00 a.m. untilmidnight. The Community Give will enablelocal residents to donate thousands ofdollars—the most raised in a single day—to support issues and charities they arepassionate about. Gifts will be maximizedthrough cash prizes to participatingnonprofits. Every participating areanonprofit will be eligible for $100,000 inincentive prizes from The CommunityFoundation (cfrrr.org) and its sponsors.
“Participating in The CommunityGive is a way for us to tell what we do toeven more community members. TheRappahannock River is such an integralpart of our community…the more peoplewho know about us, the better,” saidRachel Poor, Development Director forFriends of the Rappahannock (FOR).
“The fact that it all occurs on oneday will really bring people together.We’re excited about it.” “Any nonprofit inthe region is eligible to participate, fromschool PTAs to 501 c (3) charities. Therehas never been such an opportunity forthe whole community to support thenonprofits that mean the most to them,”said Lisa Biever, who is coordinatingnonprofits for the event.
Participating nonprofits can earncash prizes in addition to the donationsgiven online by individual donors.Examples of the incentive prizes includethe following: a $10,000 grand prize tothe nonprofit with the highest amount ofgiving overall, five “No Place Like Home”prizes, award $5,000 to the nonprofitwith the highest number of unique donorsfrom Caroline, Fredericksburg, Stafford,King George, and Spotsylvania, and also
$1,000 each hour will be awarded atrandom to participating nonprofits.
The Community Foundation doesnot charge donors or nonprofits toparticipate. The company processing theonline donations charges an industrystandard transaction fee.
All participating nonprofits willreceive free training and tools from TheCommunity Foundation. Nonprofitsshould register as early as possible to takefull advantage of training and technicalsupport.
“The online aspect of the givingis intriguing for us because we haven’ttapped into that very much,” FOR’s Poorsaid. “We’re looking forward to the specialtraining that we’ll get as participants inThe Community Give. Our online presenceon Facebook is strong, and we hope thetraining and giving event will help us buildour followers on Twitter.”
Similar one-day events have beenheld in Richmond, Charlottesville,Warrenton, Newport News, and othercities across the country. Richmond’s2013 Amazing Raise resulted in 18,107gifts and $1.5 million dollars, inclusive ofincentive prizes, which was a 25 percentincrease over the prior year.
The Community Foundationensures that all donors will receive animmediate thank you and a receipt for100% of their donation.
“This is as exciting for us as it isfor participating local nonprofitorganizations! Nonprofit organizationskeep our community thriving and ourmission is to grow communityphilanthropy – connecting donors.”
Chris Repp is the Chair of theCommunity Give
front porch fredericksburg May 2014 2726 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg
C O M M U N I T Y L I N KCourtesy of WFVA and Front Porch
The Community Give bringsLocal Charities Together
By Chris Repp
Advanced Dental Careof Fredericksburg
540-891-9911
Because we care for you!10524 Spotsylvania Ave. Ste #104 Fredericksburg, VA
$79New Patient Special
Includes Exam, X-Rays and Cleaning
With this Coupon only for non-insuredpatients. Not valid with other offers or
prior services. Offer Expires 6/1/14A $239.0000 Value
$650 Per Arch Full
AcrylicDentureor Partial
With this Coupon only for non-insuredpatients. Not valid with other offers or
prior services. Offer Expires 6/1/14A $1100.00 Value
FXBG Music Scenemusic & spirits @ A. Smith Bowmwn Distillery
by wendy Larue
Come Play With Us !Key Board Classes ~ Ages 3-4: Tues. 1:30pm; Wed. 10am
ages 4-6: Wed. 7pm; Teens & Adults: Tues. 7:30pm
540-371-4526 207 William Street www.ymsfred.comCertified Experienced Staff
YAMAHA MUSIC SCHOOL OF FREDERICKBURGLocated in Downtown Fredericksburg for Over 40 Years
Schedule Posted on Website
FREEINTRODUCTORY
LESSONS
Residents enjoying a day in the Rappahannock River.Friends of the Rappahannock is one of the participating organizations
After a sell-out inaugural concertfeaturing Joe Newberry of Prairie HomeCompanion fame, the Music & Spiritsconcert series will bring veteran blues andjazz guitarist Walter Parks (right) to thestage May 31 for what promises to be anelectrifying show.
With more than four decades ofperformance experience, Florida nativeParks blends his southern roots, and big-city NYC experience, into a uniquestyle. Parks, compared to the likes of JackWhite and Leonard Cohen, built aninternational career as lead guitarist forWoodstock legend Richie Havens. His solotour offers a “re-presenting” of severalmusical heritages—jazz, blues, andAppalachian—in a classical fashion onelectric and acoustic guitars.
The venue, historic A. SmithBowman Distillery, is a perfect backdropfor Parks, who said American music wasborn in the south. “There is a place in myheart for a town that maintains its
historical anchoringlike Fredericksburgdoes,” Parks said.
This show is areturn visit for Parks,who likes to get toknow towns where heplays and liked what hesaw here. “I came uponMarket Square behindRaven Hi-FFi when I lastplayed in town. Thesimilarity to old Europewas inspiring andbreathtaking,” Parksrecalled. “I vowed toreturn; I’m honored tobe back in ‘The Burg’.”
P a r k s ’
compositions present a soundtrack to hislife, but have universal appeal. “Of course,we find emotions and path essentiallyinterchangeable amongst all of us,” heobserved.
Ashleigh Chevalier and BruceMiddle (left) will open the show. Knownfor her soulful voice and sinceresongwriting, Chevalier was recentlynominated for a Washington Area MusicAssociation (WAMMIE) award for herdebut album “From the Soles.” Middle, isan 11-time WAMMIE nominee with over25 years’ experience playing andcomposing music in classical, jazz, LatinAmerican/Brazilian, rock to blues,bluegrass and country genres.
Local husband and wife teamBryan Blakemore and Laura Cooperstarted the Music & Spirits concert serieswith the goal of creating a listening roomfor concert-goers to hear some of thecountry’s most talented bluegrass, blues,jazz, folk, and Americana artists.
Those who want to play alongsideParks, can join him in a master classbeginning at 11 a.m., May 31. Tuition is$50 (concert included). Tickets for theconcert, which starts at 7:30 p.m., are $18online, $20 at the door. Find moreinformation, purchase tickets, or sign upto receive email updatesat musicandspirts.com.
June 28, five-string banjo masterRyan Cavanaugh will take the stage. Forq u e s t i o n s ,email [email protected].
Wendy LaRue, is a local free-lance writer and editor who has
lived in the Fredericksburg areafor over 25 years.
The local nonprofit community isbuzzing with excitement over the region’sfirst ever 24-hour giving marathon onTuesday, May 6th., from 12:00 a.m. untilmidnight. The Community Give will enablelocal residents to donate thousands ofdollars—the most raised in a single day—to support issues and charities they arepassionate about. Gifts will be maximizedthrough cash prizes to participatingnonprofits. Every participating areanonprofit will be eligible for $100,000 inincentive prizes from The CommunityFoundation (cfrrr.org) and its sponsors.
“Participating in The CommunityGive is a way for us to tell what we do toeven more community members. TheRappahannock River is such an integralpart of our community…the more peoplewho know about us, the better,” saidRachel Poor, Development Director forFriends of the Rappahannock (FOR).
“The fact that it all occurs on oneday will really bring people together.We’re excited about it.” “Any nonprofit inthe region is eligible to participate, fromschool PTAs to 501 c (3) charities. Therehas never been such an opportunity forthe whole community to support thenonprofits that mean the most to them,”said Lisa Biever, who is coordinatingnonprofits for the event.
Participating nonprofits can earncash prizes in addition to the donationsgiven online by individual donors.Examples of the incentive prizes includethe following: a $10,000 grand prize tothe nonprofit with the highest amount ofgiving overall, five “No Place Like Home”prizes, award $5,000 to the nonprofitwith the highest number of unique donorsfrom Caroline, Fredericksburg, Stafford,King George, and Spotsylvania, and also
$1,000 each hour will be awarded atrandom to participating nonprofits.
The Community Foundation doesnot charge donors or nonprofits toparticipate. The company processing theonline donations charges an industrystandard transaction fee.
All participating nonprofits willreceive free training and tools from TheCommunity Foundation. Nonprofitsshould register as early as possible to takefull advantage of training and technicalsupport.
“The online aspect of the givingis intriguing for us because we haven’ttapped into that very much,” FOR’s Poorsaid. “We’re looking forward to the specialtraining that we’ll get as participants inThe Community Give. Our online presenceon Facebook is strong, and we hope thetraining and giving event will help us buildour followers on Twitter.”
Similar one-day events have beenheld in Richmond, Charlottesville,Warrenton, Newport News, and othercities across the country. Richmond’s2013 Amazing Raise resulted in 18,107gifts and $1.5 million dollars, inclusive ofincentive prizes, which was a 25 percentincrease over the prior year.
The Community Foundationensures that all donors will receive animmediate thank you and a receipt for100% of their donation.
“This is as exciting for us as it isfor participating local nonprofitorganizations! Nonprofit organizationskeep our community thriving and ourmission is to grow communityphilanthropy – connecting donors.”
Chris Repp is the Chair of theCommunity Give
front porch fredericksburg May 2014 2726 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg
C O M M U N I T Y L I N KCourtesy of WFVA and Front Porch
The Community Give bringsLocal Charities Together
By Chris Repp
Advanced Dental Careof Fredericksburg
540-891-9911
Because we care for you!10524 Spotsylvania Ave. Ste #104 Fredericksburg, VA
$79New Patient Special
Includes Exam, X-Rays and Cleaning
With this Coupon only for non-insuredpatients. Not valid with other offers or
prior services. Offer Expires 6/1/14A $239.0000 Value
$650 Per Arch Full
AcrylicDentureor Partial
With this Coupon only for non-insuredpatients. Not valid with other offers or
prior services. Offer Expires 6/1/14A $1100.00 Value
FXBG Music Scenemusic & spirits @ A. Smith Bowmwn Distillery
by wendy Larue
Come Play With Us !Key Board Classes ~ Ages 3-4: Tues. 1:30pm; Wed. 10am
ages 4-6: Wed. 7pm; Teens & Adults: Tues. 7:30pm
540-371-4526 207 William Street www.ymsfred.comCertified Experienced Staff
YAMAHA MUSIC SCHOOL OF FREDERICKBURGLocated in Downtown Fredericksburg for Over 40 Years
Schedule Posted on Website
FREEINTRODUCTORY
LESSONS
Residents enjoying a day in the Rappahannock River.Friends of the Rappahannock is one of the participating organizations
front porch fredericksburg May 2014 2928 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg
810 Caroline Street(540) 371-5684
Give a Child Something to Think About
Books, Games, Amusing Novelties
M-Sat. 10am-6pm; Sun. 1pm-4pm
. Take a deep breath. Do you smellit? AHHH, spring is in the air! Anothergreat time to re-access your health andfitness goals. Rethink your goals in termsof your strength and not just the numberon the scale.
Strength comes in CANS notCAN’TS!
“I CAN be strong and not beruled by my emotional eating. I CAN reduce/eliminate mymedicines, I CAN have energy to last allday long.”
Here are 5 simple tips that willstart you on your way to your goals.
1 Drink water, drink water, drink water!Aim to drink half your body weight inounces. Our bodies are 75% water.2. Eat clean. If you cannot pronouncethe ingredients… do not eat it. Eatnatural foods not chemicals. If you eatbutter, eat butter, not margarine. If youdo cream and sugar, drink cream andsugar and not powder creamer andartificial sweetener. Our bodies do notknow what to do with chemicals. Ibelieve this is the beginning of some ofour health issues. READ LABELS.
3 Limit your sugar intake. 4 grams ofsugar = 1 teaspoon. That “healthy”protein bar might have 18 grams ofsugar. That is 4 teaspoons of sugar!!4 ELIMINATE wheat from your diet.Wheat causes inflammation in ourbodies. Our joints, tissues, organs are allinflamed. This too, is the underlyingcause of most of our health problemsCheck out http://glutenfreeeasily.comBegin to eliminate wheat and see adifference.5. Eat as if you are a diabetic. Learnwhat is high glycemic and low glycemicfoods. High glycemic are white, refinedfoods that digest quickly, spike yourblood sugar. Low glycemic foods digestslowly, keep you feeling satiated (fuller)longer, keeps your blood sugars even.
Pick 2 tips from the list andimplement them START. TODAY. NOW.
Joan Geisler has been a resident ofFredericksburg for 25 years and a
personal trainer for 18. She is currently making women strong
at Gold’s Gym Fredericksburg
RenewYour Mind, Your Strength
By Joan GeislerHelen “Missy” Pixton, ofSpotsylvania, is passionate abouteducating people about mental health.She became involved with Mental HealthAmerica of Fredericksburg (MHAF) when amember of Christ Episcopal Church inSpotsylvania and a MHAF Board member,who knew she had a daughter withschizophrenia, recruited her to serve onthe Board in 2006. Pixton served as BoardSecretary, but mainly worked to raisefunds for MHAF. (www.mhafred.org)
One in four Americans areaffected by mental illness during theirlifetime, according to the World HealthOrganization. Pixton dealt with itfirsthand when herdaughter, Kim, had apsychotic break as acollege freshman in1995. Hospitalized fornearly six weeks whileshe was beingdiagnosed and treatedfor the illness, Kim’sdoctors determinedthe best medicationsfor her, which was alengthy ordeal.
“We’re 19years down a road Inever expected to travel,” said Pixton.“The good news is that Kim has only beenhospitalized once since her originaldiagnosis when she stopped taking hermedicines. That meant another six-weekstay to get her medications squaredaway.”
Pixton said countless agenciesaffect and support the mentalhealth/illness community, and it can be anoverwhelming task to find help for a lovedone. Mental illness is very important todiscuss — the more it’s discussed, thestigma is diminished. “Certainly, no oneasks for cancer, heart disease or mentalillness, yet they’re looked upon in suchdifferent lights,” she said. “I’d like to seethat changed.”
Pixton said MHAF is important to
the community and, founded in 1955, isthe oldest non-profit organization in thecommunity that deals with mental healthissues and provides information andservices.
In her quest to help with MHAF’smission, Pixton devoted much of her timeduring the MHAF’s “Mile Run” and thefirst annual “Walk for Mental Wellness” in2008. She is proud to have watched theannual Walk grow from a small number ofwalkers who raised $7,000 the first yearto become a consistently expanding eventthat includes teams of walkers competingfor prizes and individuals vying to raisethe most money; live entertainment; a
dogs-in-costume parade; asilent auction; andrefreshments.
“I’m proud tohave raised the mostmoney every year since2008,” said Pixton.“Each year I try to beatmy own record.”
Pixton grew upin St. Louis, MO, andgraduated from theUniversity of Colorado inBoulder She is currently
a partner in Pixton Bridalpixtonbridal.com a couture bridal designbusiness with her stepdaughter.
A designated Master Gardener,Pixton is a member of the ChancellorGarden Club. She enjoys traveling,needlepoint, the St. Louis Cardinalsbaseball team and spoiling her Irish WaterSpaniel, Cocoa. An important part of herlife is volunteering, and Pixton has done sothrough Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women,the Junior League, the Juvenile DiabetesFoundation and church.
Lenora Kruk-Mullanaphy is a freelancewriter, pubic relations professional anda frequent contributor to Front Porch
Helen “Missy” PixtonMental Health Advocate
By Lenora Kruk-Mullanaphy
front porch fredericksburg May 2014 2928 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg
810 Caroline Street(540) 371-5684
Give a Child Something to Think About
Books, Games, Amusing Novelties
M-Sat. 10am-6pm; Sun. 1pm-4pm
. Take a deep breath. Do you smellit? AHHH, spring is in the air! Anothergreat time to re-access your health andfitness goals. Rethink your goals in termsof your strength and not just the numberon the scale.
Strength comes in CANS notCAN’TS!
“I CAN be strong and not beruled by my emotional eating. I CAN reduce/eliminate mymedicines, I CAN have energy to last allday long.”
Here are 5 simple tips that willstart you on your way to your goals.
1 Drink water, drink water, drink water!Aim to drink half your body weight inounces. Our bodies are 75% water.2. Eat clean. If you cannot pronouncethe ingredients… do not eat it. Eatnatural foods not chemicals. If you eatbutter, eat butter, not margarine. If youdo cream and sugar, drink cream andsugar and not powder creamer andartificial sweetener. Our bodies do notknow what to do with chemicals. Ibelieve this is the beginning of some ofour health issues. READ LABELS.
3 Limit your sugar intake. 4 grams ofsugar = 1 teaspoon. That “healthy”protein bar might have 18 grams ofsugar. That is 4 teaspoons of sugar!!4 ELIMINATE wheat from your diet.Wheat causes inflammation in ourbodies. Our joints, tissues, organs are allinflamed. This too, is the underlyingcause of most of our health problemsCheck out http://glutenfreeeasily.comBegin to eliminate wheat and see adifference.5. Eat as if you are a diabetic. Learnwhat is high glycemic and low glycemicfoods. High glycemic are white, refinedfoods that digest quickly, spike yourblood sugar. Low glycemic foods digestslowly, keep you feeling satiated (fuller)longer, keeps your blood sugars even.
Pick 2 tips from the list andimplement them START. TODAY. NOW.
Joan Geisler has been a resident ofFredericksburg for 25 years and a
personal trainer for 18. She is currently making women strong
at Gold’s Gym Fredericksburg
RenewYour Mind, Your Strength
By Joan GeislerHelen “Missy” Pixton, ofSpotsylvania, is passionate abouteducating people about mental health.She became involved with Mental HealthAmerica of Fredericksburg (MHAF) when amember of Christ Episcopal Church inSpotsylvania and a MHAF Board member,who knew she had a daughter withschizophrenia, recruited her to serve onthe Board in 2006. Pixton served as BoardSecretary, but mainly worked to raisefunds for MHAF. (www.mhafred.org)
One in four Americans areaffected by mental illness during theirlifetime, according to the World HealthOrganization. Pixton dealt with itfirsthand when herdaughter, Kim, had apsychotic break as acollege freshman in1995. Hospitalized fornearly six weeks whileshe was beingdiagnosed and treatedfor the illness, Kim’sdoctors determinedthe best medicationsfor her, which was alengthy ordeal.
“We’re 19years down a road Inever expected to travel,” said Pixton.“The good news is that Kim has only beenhospitalized once since her originaldiagnosis when she stopped taking hermedicines. That meant another six-weekstay to get her medications squaredaway.”
Pixton said countless agenciesaffect and support the mentalhealth/illness community, and it can be anoverwhelming task to find help for a lovedone. Mental illness is very important todiscuss — the more it’s discussed, thestigma is diminished. “Certainly, no oneasks for cancer, heart disease or mentalillness, yet they’re looked upon in suchdifferent lights,” she said. “I’d like to seethat changed.”
Pixton said MHAF is important to
the community and, founded in 1955, isthe oldest non-profit organization in thecommunity that deals with mental healthissues and provides information andservices.
In her quest to help with MHAF’smission, Pixton devoted much of her timeduring the MHAF’s “Mile Run” and thefirst annual “Walk for Mental Wellness” in2008. She is proud to have watched theannual Walk grow from a small number ofwalkers who raised $7,000 the first yearto become a consistently expanding eventthat includes teams of walkers competingfor prizes and individuals vying to raisethe most money; live entertainment; a
dogs-in-costume parade; asilent auction; andrefreshments.
“I’m proud tohave raised the mostmoney every year since2008,” said Pixton.“Each year I try to beatmy own record.”
Pixton grew upin St. Louis, MO, andgraduated from theUniversity of Colorado inBoulder She is currently
a partner in Pixton Bridalpixtonbridal.com a couture bridal designbusiness with her stepdaughter.
A designated Master Gardener,Pixton is a member of the ChancellorGarden Club. She enjoys traveling,needlepoint, the St. Louis Cardinalsbaseball team and spoiling her Irish WaterSpaniel, Cocoa. An important part of herlife is volunteering, and Pixton has done sothrough Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women,the Junior League, the Juvenile DiabetesFoundation and church.
Lenora Kruk-Mullanaphy is a freelancewriter, pubic relations professional anda frequent contributor to Front Porch
Helen “Missy” PixtonMental Health Advocate
By Lenora Kruk-Mullanaphy
All local gardeners are in for aspecial treat on Saturday, May 17, 2014when the Second Annual “Living in ourGardens: A Plant Lover’s Symposium” willbe presented by the Virginia CooperativeExtension and Master GardenerAssociation of the Central RappahannockArea. The symposium will be conductedfrom 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM at Lee Hall atthe University of Mary Washington,1301 College Avenue, Fredericksburg,Virginia. Tickets are $40.00 and include abox lunch with pre-registration. The eventis open to the public, but you mustregister by May10, 2014. Contact GuyMussey, Extension Agent, ANR, UnitCoordinator, at the Stafford CountyExtension Office at 540/658-8000or [email protected], or visit their websiteat www.offices.ext.vt.edu/stafford.
The symposium will bring severalnoted speakers to our area. Nancy RossHugo, renowned author and lecturer, willgive a talk on, “Seeing Trees: Discover theExtraordinary Secrets of EverydayTrees”. Nancy Hugo has written fourbooks and hundreds of articles aboutnature and the outdoors. She has traveled
the world to study treehabitats. She was the formergarden columnist for theRichmond Times Dispatchand the education manager atthe Lewis Ginter BotanicalGarden. She is currently thedirector of Flower Camp anoutdoor center in centralVirginia. Shetravels throughout thecountry speaking about hertwo favorite passions:observing trees carefully andcelebrating the seasonsthrough simple flowerarranging. She lives inAshland, Virginia.
Marion Lobstein,Professor Emeritus ofNorthern VirginiaCommunity College where shetaught general biology,microbiology and othercourses will share the insidestory behind the “Flora ofVirginia” project and howmodern DNA techniques arechanging how we classifyplants. For twenty-six yearsshe conducted tours andtaught classes for theSmithsonian ResidentAssociates Program. Marion serves on theBoard of Directors Foundation of the Floraof Virginia Project. She is coauthor ofFinding Wildflowers in the Washington-Baltimore Area.
Did you know there are 4,000Master Gardners in Virginia? DenisePalmer, Master Gardener and popularspeaker, will share her knowledge andpassion for gardening in her talk,“Revolution of the Kitchen Garden-Past toPresent”. Denise was awarded the Aboveand Beyond Award in 2013 by The VirginiaCooperative Extension andMaster
Gardener Association. She has extensiveknowledge with sustainable kitchengardening and techniques for gardening insmall places.
Whether you are an expert or anovice gardener, you won’t want to missthis opportunity to hear and meetgardeners and experts of this caliber. Markyour calenders today!
-AD
30 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg front porch fredericksburg May 2014 31
ARCHER DI PEPPECAGA
CERTIFIED APPRAISER
Insurance Riders Estate SettlementsDivorce Cases Damage Claims
Oral or Written AppraisalsSPECIALIZING IN ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES
Certified AppraiserCertified Appraiser’s Guild of America
[email protected] (540) 373-9636
Wills and TrustsProvide for Incapacity
Trusts for Minor ChildrenWealth Preservation Trusts
Avoid Probate
AhearnEstateLaw.com 540/371-9890
FREDERICKSBURGCOLLABORATIVE
AA GGaarrddeenneerr’’ss DDeelliigghhttA plant lover’s symposium May 17
ProtocolsI “Will power”by Pamela Coopwood
Within any personalimprovement plan is a list called the “I willor I will not” - or the self-improvementsection. Each year, in review, I comparewhat should have been accomplished andwhat is a carry over for the next year.This year, my major carryovers all pertainto Professional Presence, a skill that islearned rather than intuited. Now thatcompanies are recognizing that etiquetteand protocol intelligence are a form ofbusiness intelligence, I made a consciousdecision to outline five steps to the idealprofessional me!
1. Dress appropriately every day. Thisentails a fresh look at my wardrobe andprobably a trip to the store to update afew things. As my goal is not to just looknice, but appropriate, I think I may haveto rid my professional wardrobe of anyblouses with plunging necklines, that aretoo tight, too revealing andmisrepresent who I am. Of course,anything that is just plain gaudy andtorn, no matter how much I paid for itor what is the latest style, has to go.While I am in said closet, I will actuallycheck the hemlines that match saidblouses to deter any comments bestreferred to Human Resources. Shoes arenext! What to do with the ten dozen orso 6-in stiletto heels in every shade andanimal skin made? Well, maybe while Iam at the store, I will pick up a few pairsof “sensible” heels in basis colors likeblack, navy, grey or red. I will still looknice, but more like a professionalbusiness person than an overzealouspartygoer. I chuckle to think that evenmy male colleagues who abhor thethought of power dressing, have to dothis dreaded but oh-so necessary task!Yes, appropriate this year will meandressing with professionalism at alltimes because I may never get a chanceto make a first impression.
2. Avoid hasty judgments. Does roadrage count!? What if the person aheadactually is having an emergency? Whatif they just spilled the coffee into theirlap or dropped their contact? What doesit cost me to be a bit more courteousand become part of their solution byletting them in front, moving to themiddle lane, or slowing down when theyare attempting to pass. What if, thisyear, I change my behavior not only inmy car, but on the job? I can act
differently if I choose, I can lower myvoice in my cubicle, and I can avoidleaving my leftovers in the commonfridge or using someone else’s coffeecreamer, or check the table for crumbsbefore I depart. I can learn toremember names, be cheerful and smile!I can become a force for change bymodeling Professional Presence asdescribed by John Kuypers in his book,“Who’s The Driver Anyway?” when hestates that professional presence is “selfawareness and the foundation togrowing your presence with others. It isthe polish inside of a person.” I canshine by not only knowing the rightthing, but doing it!
3. Be aware of bias or prejudice. Sad buttrue, that this has to be a part of a list!Intolerance is not just toward people,but ideas, cultures, foods, environments,social status, and even personal habits.When I continue to respond to others,situations and/or circumstances withpre-conceived notion, I limit my abilityfor growth. A narrow mind stunts myability to interact with people and yieldsa poor professional presence. What I amwill speak so loud, that no one will hearwhat I am saying! Instead, I willremember that assertive conversationmay mean compromise. I will vow tolisten carefully and communicate clearlywhile keeping an open mind and givecredit where and when it is due.
4. Learn professionalism: Professionalpresence is not part of my jobapplication, job title or functionbecause, it was an assumed skill. It is notmeasured by my highest level ofeducation or by tests of my intelligenceor technical expertise. It is that invisiblecloak that identifies me to everyone Imeet; it is exuded in all my encounters –every time, everywhere. Professionalpresence is the very essence of who I am.Arming myself with this knowledge willenable me to facilitate a positivepersonal rapport and build thefoundation for solid business andpersonal relationships.
Pamela Coopwood is a Certified Trainerof professional Protocol and Etiquette.Her company, The Planned Event, LLC,offers seminars, classes and corporate
trainings to enhance the soft skills to be successful in today’s businessarena. www.theplannedevent.com
703-615-9525
Lexi Grogan’s Pet Sitting Service
“Your pet becomes my petwhile in my care, and I care alot!” - Lexi (540-903-0437;
[email protected]) On facebook as
“lexi grogan’s pet sitting service”
Prices:Dogs - $15 per canine per visitCats - $12 per feline per visit
Better value, more love for your pet than if you
kennel board him!
photo by bob martin
All local gardeners are in for aspecial treat on Saturday, May 17, 2014when the Second Annual “Living in ourGardens: A Plant Lover’s Symposium” willbe presented by the Virginia CooperativeExtension and Master GardenerAssociation of the Central RappahannockArea. The symposium will be conductedfrom 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM at Lee Hall atthe University of Mary Washington,1301 College Avenue, Fredericksburg,Virginia. Tickets are $40.00 and include abox lunch with pre-registration. The eventis open to the public, but you mustregister by May10, 2014. Contact GuyMussey, Extension Agent, ANR, UnitCoordinator, at the Stafford CountyExtension Office at 540/658-8000or [email protected], or visit their websiteat www.offices.ext.vt.edu/stafford.
The symposium will bring severalnoted speakers to our area. Nancy RossHugo, renowned author and lecturer, willgive a talk on, “Seeing Trees: Discover theExtraordinary Secrets of EverydayTrees”. Nancy Hugo has written fourbooks and hundreds of articles aboutnature and the outdoors. She has traveled
the world to study treehabitats. She was the formergarden columnist for theRichmond Times Dispatchand the education manager atthe Lewis Ginter BotanicalGarden. She is currently thedirector of Flower Camp anoutdoor center in centralVirginia. Shetravels throughout thecountry speaking about hertwo favorite passions:observing trees carefully andcelebrating the seasonsthrough simple flowerarranging. She lives inAshland, Virginia.
Marion Lobstein,Professor Emeritus ofNorthern VirginiaCommunity College where shetaught general biology,microbiology and othercourses will share the insidestory behind the “Flora ofVirginia” project and howmodern DNA techniques arechanging how we classifyplants. For twenty-six yearsshe conducted tours andtaught classes for theSmithsonian ResidentAssociates Program. Marion serves on theBoard of Directors Foundation of the Floraof Virginia Project. She is coauthor ofFinding Wildflowers in the Washington-Baltimore Area.
Did you know there are 4,000Master Gardners in Virginia? DenisePalmer, Master Gardener and popularspeaker, will share her knowledge andpassion for gardening in her talk,“Revolution of the Kitchen Garden-Past toPresent”. Denise was awarded the Aboveand Beyond Award in 2013 by The VirginiaCooperative Extension andMaster
Gardener Association. She has extensiveknowledge with sustainable kitchengardening and techniques for gardening insmall places.
Whether you are an expert or anovice gardener, you won’t want to missthis opportunity to hear and meetgardeners and experts of this caliber. Markyour calenders today!
-AD
30 May 2014 Front porch fredericksburg front porch fredericksburg May 2014 31
ARCHER DI PEPPECAGA
CERTIFIED APPRAISER
Insurance Riders Estate SettlementsDivorce Cases Damage Claims
Oral or Written AppraisalsSPECIALIZING IN ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES
Certified AppraiserCertified Appraiser’s Guild of America
[email protected] (540) 373-9636
Wills and TrustsProvide for Incapacity
Trusts for Minor ChildrenWealth Preservation Trusts
Avoid Probate
AhearnEstateLaw.com 540/371-9890
FREDERICKSBURGCOLLABORATIVE
AA GGaarrddeenneerr’’ss DDeelliigghhttA plant lover’s symposium May 17
ProtocolsI “Will power”by Pamela Coopwood
Within any personalimprovement plan is a list called the “I willor I will not” - or the self-improvementsection. Each year, in review, I comparewhat should have been accomplished andwhat is a carry over for the next year.This year, my major carryovers all pertainto Professional Presence, a skill that islearned rather than intuited. Now thatcompanies are recognizing that etiquetteand protocol intelligence are a form ofbusiness intelligence, I made a consciousdecision to outline five steps to the idealprofessional me!
1. Dress appropriately every day. Thisentails a fresh look at my wardrobe andprobably a trip to the store to update afew things. As my goal is not to just looknice, but appropriate, I think I may haveto rid my professional wardrobe of anyblouses with plunging necklines, that aretoo tight, too revealing andmisrepresent who I am. Of course,anything that is just plain gaudy andtorn, no matter how much I paid for itor what is the latest style, has to go.While I am in said closet, I will actuallycheck the hemlines that match saidblouses to deter any comments bestreferred to Human Resources. Shoes arenext! What to do with the ten dozen orso 6-in stiletto heels in every shade andanimal skin made? Well, maybe while Iam at the store, I will pick up a few pairsof “sensible” heels in basis colors likeblack, navy, grey or red. I will still looknice, but more like a professionalbusiness person than an overzealouspartygoer. I chuckle to think that evenmy male colleagues who abhor thethought of power dressing, have to dothis dreaded but oh-so necessary task!Yes, appropriate this year will meandressing with professionalism at alltimes because I may never get a chanceto make a first impression.
2. Avoid hasty judgments. Does roadrage count!? What if the person aheadactually is having an emergency? Whatif they just spilled the coffee into theirlap or dropped their contact? What doesit cost me to be a bit more courteousand become part of their solution byletting them in front, moving to themiddle lane, or slowing down when theyare attempting to pass. What if, thisyear, I change my behavior not only inmy car, but on the job? I can act
differently if I choose, I can lower myvoice in my cubicle, and I can avoidleaving my leftovers in the commonfridge or using someone else’s coffeecreamer, or check the table for crumbsbefore I depart. I can learn toremember names, be cheerful and smile!I can become a force for change bymodeling Professional Presence asdescribed by John Kuypers in his book,“Who’s The Driver Anyway?” when hestates that professional presence is “selfawareness and the foundation togrowing your presence with others. It isthe polish inside of a person.” I canshine by not only knowing the rightthing, but doing it!
3. Be aware of bias or prejudice. Sad buttrue, that this has to be a part of a list!Intolerance is not just toward people,but ideas, cultures, foods, environments,social status, and even personal habits.When I continue to respond to others,situations and/or circumstances withpre-conceived notion, I limit my abilityfor growth. A narrow mind stunts myability to interact with people and yieldsa poor professional presence. What I amwill speak so loud, that no one will hearwhat I am saying! Instead, I willremember that assertive conversationmay mean compromise. I will vow tolisten carefully and communicate clearlywhile keeping an open mind and givecredit where and when it is due.
4. Learn professionalism: Professionalpresence is not part of my jobapplication, job title or functionbecause, it was an assumed skill. It is notmeasured by my highest level ofeducation or by tests of my intelligenceor technical expertise. It is that invisiblecloak that identifies me to everyone Imeet; it is exuded in all my encounters –every time, everywhere. Professionalpresence is the very essence of who I am.Arming myself with this knowledge willenable me to facilitate a positivepersonal rapport and build thefoundation for solid business andpersonal relationships.
Pamela Coopwood is a Certified Trainerof professional Protocol and Etiquette.Her company, The Planned Event, LLC,offers seminars, classes and corporate
trainings to enhance the soft skills to be successful in today’s businessarena. www.theplannedevent.com
703-615-9525
Lexi Grogan’s Pet Sitting Service
“Your pet becomes my petwhile in my care, and I care alot!” - Lexi (540-903-0437;
[email protected]) On facebook as
“lexi grogan’s pet sitting service”
Prices:Dogs - $15 per canine per visitCats - $12 per feline per visit
Better value, more love for your pet than if you
kennel board him!
photo by bob martin
