Front Porch

ON THE PORCHRob Groganart’s high wire actEditorPhotographerArcher Di PeppeContributing Writers & ArtistsA.E.BayneJamie CallLezlie C. CherylHugh DoarteMegan ByrnesC.Ruth CassellArch Di PeppeFrank FratoeJoAnna Cassidy FarrellWilliam GarnettJanet HahnRalph “Tuffy” HicksSara HuntKarl KarchPeter KnoxBlanton MasseySara MattinglyJo MiddletonVanessa MoncureSusan Carter MorganLisa OllsonAmy PearceMary Lynn PowersScott RichardsEva RigardoWendy SchmitzMerian StevensMatt ThomasRebecca ThomasChristine ThompsonRim ViningFront Porch Fredericksburg is afree circulation magazinepublished monthly byOlde Towne Publishing Co., Inc.Virginia Bigenwald Grogan, Publisher.The mission of Front PorchFredericksburg is to connect thediverse citizenry of Fredericksburgwith lively features and informativecolumns of interest to ourcommunity’s greatest resource,its people.Messages from our readers arewelcome. All submissions must bereceived by e-mail by the 19th of themonth preceding publication.Writers are welcome to requestWriter’s Guidelines and query theEditor by e-mail.Front PorchFredericksburgPO Box 9203Fredericksburg, VA 22403Phone: 540-220-1922E-Mail: frntprch@aol.comWeb Site:www.frontporchfredericksburg.comThe opinions expressed in Front PorchFredericksburg are those of thecontributing writers and do notnecessarily reflect the opinion ofFront Porch Fredericksburgor its advertisers.Copyright 2012Olde Towne Publishing Co., LLCAll rights reserved.indulging octoberPlunge a carving knife into aSnead’s Farm pumpkin. Slice and sautéfresh harvest vegetables. Stick your fingerin a trick or treat pie. Hide from yourchildren beneath a mountainous leaf pile.Indulge in the pleasures of this mostcolorful season.When you live for life’s smallpleasures, October has to excite you. It’sas though October exists for exactly that.Its harvest comes aplenty in many forms –nature’s bounty, painters’ palettes, thegreat outdoors, and crisp clear eveningair. There’s something about the air thebrain senses, as though a button is pushedto re-boot our lives and re-dream ourfutures. People make new plans, or adaptand update old ones. October might becalled “31 days of Carpe Diem” — amonth-long odyssey toward real andpersonal change.You can see it all around thecommunity -– art that takes risks,individual transformations, the neededhelping the needy, hopeful venturesunderway, and palate-pleasing flavorsserved with a smile. It’s October — acommunity cornucopia, a smorgasbord ofseasonal sensations. And that air I writeof carries the tones and notes ofsongwriters and performers as clear andexhilarating as the clang of the trolley andits driver’s proud narrative of the citycloaked in history.As the Virginia climate begins tocool for the coming winter, and leaves kissus with radiant colors, acontrast in behaviordistinguishesthespecies. Insects begin togo away and hide,squirrels prepare theirtree top nests orburrow through cracksand places in worn outsoffitsandfascias,inviting themselves intoour remote householdplaces. But we, the twoleggedstandingcreature, emerge fromour air conditioning,drape the appliance in awinter tarp, and openour windows in a rituallike welcoming of autumn’s chill. Whilewildlife flies off, nests high, or submergesfor the coming months, we emerge insweaters or fleeces, in corduroys andshawls, in colors that complementnature’s own autumn hues.We meet and mingle differentlynow with friends, switching from crispwhites to bold reds, from lagers toOctoberfests, and from clear cocktails tosmokey Scotches or brisk bourbons. Ourmenus carry game and hearty dishes. Werinse our slow cookers, dust off our breadmakers, and fill baking sheets with cookiedough. We indulge.We indulge in uplifting October— a 31-day romp of long bike rides andmessagesand Two Sisters Boutique. I think Austendid a stellar job and, as you alreadyknow, she is an amazing young lady. Iappreciate the exposure we received inyour extremely popular local publication.We all do love to sit down and read ourFront Porch as soon as it comes off thepress.Since the issue hit the streets, wehave closed Two Sisters Boutique. Eventshave taken place that required we vacatethe space. We now lease 721 Carolineand are already making that space “ourown.” Thank you again for the exposureand for publishing such a qualityproduct.Sincerely,Heather (and Jim) StapletonHeather BoutiqueExcellent September issue!Ilearned a lot. Did Wade Truong used towork at Bistro Bethem? Also I had nevereven heard of Doug’s Grocery before.Very cool. Well done.Thanks,Bill FreehlingBusiness Writer, The Free LanceStar/Fredericksburg.comRob,I am speechless. I just saw the(Sept.) FP this morning and my PAGE(article/ad) is spectacular. Thank you somuch. I really can’t express how it mademe feel. A little sad and always gratefulto you and your constant support.PaulaNOTE: Paula Rose has her home andgallery up for sale at 709 Caroline. Seeback cover of this issue.Robgwrites4October 2012DANCING ON THE RIMDear Mr. Grogan:Thank you for giving Austen Dunn theopportunity to do an article about meFront porch fredericksburgMr. Grogan,I just wanted to thank you again forletting me write for the Front Porch. Itwas certainly a great experience and aprivilege to be published in Front Porch.Thank you again for everything.Sincerely,Austen Dunnby hugh doarteleisurely jogs on endless, color-lined roads;slow-going, down-river paddles; geesewatching and woodpecker listening;pumpkin patch pickings, and personalplanning.October is as much aboutripeness and harvest as it is aboutpreparing for the cold to come. It is boldand inviting, like the pages we offer youthis month. So go on out and indulge, butupon your return, come on in to ourstories, and enjoy October cover to cover.For local artists Barbara TaylorHall and Patricia Thalman, the process ofcreating compelling abstract art is a highwire act aptly described as “Dancing onthe Rim.”In a new show debuting at ArtFirst Gallery this month, the artists’offerings reflect the drama and motion ofthe dance along with the exhilaratingbalancing act and the element of riskregularly experienced in the pursuit of amemorable painting. The gallery membersare collaborating on a two-personexhibition for the second time, following ahighly-successful debut effort in April2010.The opening reception is FirstFriday, Oct. 5, from 6 to 9P at the gallerylocated at 824 Caroline.“I am willing to explore newdirections in my work wherever they maylead,” Hall said. “My painting evolves as Iimprovise with one stroke leading toanother.Sometimes I scrape backthrough layers of paint to create a surfacethat reveals some of what lies beneath it.One of the fruits of my intuitive approachis that my paintings convey an unusualvariety of mood and appearance.”Hall’s striking “Copse at Sunset”depicts the time of day when the sky glowsobvious, it requires some thought, somerumination; it encourages introspection.Each painting is a thing of its own andtherein lies the satisfaction.”Thalman’s signature fluid acrylicstylings are familiar to patrons of theFredericksburg art scene. This summer,she showed her distinctive work at one ofthe East Coast’s largest art exhibitions,Artomatic 2012, in Arlington, Va. Morethan 1,500 visual and performance artiststook part in the eclectic showcase.“Artomatic was a major jolt to the creativeprocess,” Thalman said. “To see so manydiverse artists in one setting wasgratifying and inspirational.”Hall has Signature MemberStatus in the National Watercolor Society,the Southern Watercolor Society and theVirginia Watercolor Society.She isrepresented in many private collectionsand has an extensive list of awards.Thalman, whose paintings havegarnered a number of local citations forexcellence, is a former President of ArtFirst and was one of the initial appointeesto the Fredericksburg Arts Commission.She has a Master’s degree in Art Educationfrom Penn State University.“Dancing on the Rim” will be ondisplay at Art First through Oct. 29. Thegallery is open daily 11 to 5.Hugh Doarte asks, “Do you do art, ay?”Elizabeth HowardCertified Nutritional TherapyPractitioner (NTP) & RawFood Nutrition SpecialistOwner/Operator ofLizz Creative Juices and DeepRooted NutritionNOTE: Austen, who wrote two features forus this summer, is a student at William &Mary, Class of 2015.Good afternon! I picked up Front Porchthis past weekend.It is absolutelydelightful! It’s a wonderful communitymagazine that isn’t at all kitschy ormundane. I was really impressed.Sincerely,Casey Phersonand backlights the trees, creating theeffect of light coming through stainedglass windows. Another of the pieces shewill show, “Renewal,” suggests a cuprunning over with many blessings,constantly renewed. The intense colorsand bursts of light reinforce theinspirational theme.Pat Thalman is stimulated by thephysical act of painting.“With boldstrokes and heavy texture my worksreflect drama and motion,” she says.“Sometimes I convey my emotionalresponse to an occurrence or I may try torecord my feelings about a specific eventor place.”The recent Olympic Games inLondon served as inspiration for several ofThalman’s entries in this show. She hasreflectedhersensationfortheinspirational aspect of the Games in “Gofor the Gold” and “The OpeningCeremonies.”In two other paintings,Thalman portrayed her emotive responseto popular music with “Art of the Dance”and “Dance to the Rhythm.”Hall explains that she “leanstoward the abstract because of itssubtlety, its ambiguity, its complexity andits highly-personal nature.Far from915 Lafayette Blvd. (541) @yahoo.comNOTE: Read about Casey in this issue, inRacing for the Good Fight.Hi Rob:Thanks to you and Amy Pearcefor the “Art All Over” article.Iappreciated the note about my exhibit“FALLing in Place” at Brush StrokesGallery.I am sure your readers willfollow your lead and stop by.Thanks againMerian C. StevensIdentification:The photo on p. 11 in September wasMelissa Terlizzi wearing earrings madeby artist Dee Antil.front porch fredericksburgOctober 20125

Welcome to the Hotel Eagle Village(such a lovely place)Over the Barrel?always represented the very essence ofurban renewal and economic revitalizationand how a university and a community cancome together to initiate positive changein a neighborhood,” says Jeff Rountree,CEO of the UMW Foundation.“Theaddition of this connector drive and afirst-class hotel are just the latest pieces inthisratherlargeandcomplexdevelopment puzzle.”Personally a fan of ABC, SaladCreations and Blackstone Coffee in EagleVillage, I am enamored by the classydevelopment of EV. “Roses” is gone andupscale is in, thanks to Ever Sew English,Jennifer Church’s awesome shop a stone’sthrow from the anticipated Hyatt Place.Pamela J. White, rector for theUMW Board of Visitors, told guests thenew hotel and the EV complex provide adramatic example of the university’sexpanding regional partnerships andcommitment to regional economicengagement.“The foundation’s leadership onthese projects yields significant benefitsfor both the university and the greaterFredericksburg community,” said White.Center for Sustainability,Green Technologies Coming!by sara mattinglydownspoutstocapturerunoff from the roof Byinstalling a rain barrel orcistern at your home youwill:Reduce flooding in yardor your basement!Provide your plants withwater they will love!Save money and water!Protect the ChesapeakeBay!”By rob groganThe Eagles, with front man DonHenley, sang the tale of The HotelCalifornia:Welcome to the Hotel CaliforniaSuch a lovely place (Such a lovelyplace)Plenty of room at the Hotel CaliforniaAny time of year (Any time of year)You can find it saggressive development of Eagle Village(sans Henley), is now hailing the tale ofThe Hotel Eagle Village as the beginningof construction on the five-story HyattPlace is underway.A groundbreakingceremony in the mixed-use developmentaffirmedtheshovel-readyprojectfollowing the completion of the EagleVillage Drive connection to and from MWHospital.The more they dig at the village,the more apparent it becomes that EagleVillage is Such a lovely place (Such alovely place), with plenty of room andplaces to shop Any time of year (Any timeof year).“Eagle Village, from day one, hasWith LUCK, Spotsy Goes GreenTheHyattPlace at Eagle Villageis scheduled to openby the fall of 2013. Itwill include 93 studioroomsorsuites,several meeting andconference rooms forpublic rent and 24hourfoodandbeverage service forguests. The 66,500square-footfacilityalso will include anindoor pool and afitness center. In addition, the buildingwill house approximately 1,400 squarefeet of retail space.In her remarks, Mayor MaryKatherine Greenlaw commended theFoundation for its promotion of economicgrowthandpositiverealestatedevelopment.She congratulated theHyatt Place hotel project as the first inVirginia to qualify for the VirginiaTourism Development financing.“The hotel will create somewherein the neighborhood of 55 new jobs andwill add significant new tax revenue to thecity,” said Greenlaw. “It will contribute tothe resources of our staff in Tourism andEconomic Development as they promotethe City as a first-class tourist and meetingdestination.”With plenty going on in EagleVillage and Plenty of room at the HyattPlace, it won’t be long before You can findit here.Rob Grogan keeps his eye on EagleVillage from a favorite table at Miso.It began with a harmless pressrelease:“Fredericksburg Area Museumand Cultural Center is pleased toannounce a partnership with the Friendsof the Rappahannock to raise funds tohelp both organizations achieve theirgoals of education and outreach. FromSeptember 24st thru October 21nd, theMuseum Store will host a silent auctionfor two of three hand-painted rain barrelscreated by young campers ”Then I thought, “Hmm, I haveone of those. Do they really work? Dothey really make a difference? A treehugger I am, but I don’t like to be duped.(I didn’t buy a solar panel because of thejunk that goes into making them, andwhere would I put it anyway?). I rolled upmy sleeves (figuratively; I was in a tanktop) and took off for the virtual world foranswers, like a super-babe in pursuit oftruth. “Do they? Really? Work?”I found the City of Arlington,whose Environmental Services find nofault in the trend toward rain barrels.Arlington comments: “Rain barrels arecontainers that are connected to yourAndtheesteemedBetter Homes and Gardenscalculates: “ For each inchof rain that falls on 500 sq.ft. of roof, you can collect300 gallons of water.”None of that dampensthe spirit, but when Ivirtually ran into Owen E.Dell, he put the damper on rain barrels n-barrels. Sticking to his facts,Owen’s sarcastic yet compelling argumentcites this harrowing stat: “one barrel willsupply .00043 of the annual water need,or as landscape professionals say, a dropin the bucket.” He also muses on the costof making and shipping barrels versus thevalue of the water saved.And, hequestions the environmental impact ofmanufacturing rain barrels from heavyduty plastics.But I’m not one to pour water ona fundraiser or anything green, so here’smy pitch for both the auction and the useof barrels:Who would not want tosupport a museum or a conservationgroup? Who would not want a work of artfrom a camper? If the rain barrel catcheswater that would normally splash away,why not water a few plants? That’s mypolicy and I approve this message. So ha!Go to the auction, dear reader! I’ll gowater my lawn.Sara Mattingly drinks triple-filteredwater and eats at a table made fromrecycled milk cartons.Roxbury Farm & Garden CenterBy Sara huntDid you know thatSpotsylvania County is poised tobecome the premier destinationfor everything related to theresearch, discipline and practiceof sustainability, environmentaldesign and green technologies? Anew Center for Sustainability andGreen Technologies is an excitingcollaborative initiative among theNationalAcademyofEnvironmental Design (NAED),Luck Development Partners (LDP)and the University of MaryWashington (UMW).Spotsylvania’sBoardofSupervisors, through its EconomicDevelopment Authority (EDA), approvedthe plan to attract world-class research,product design and manufacturing, policydevelopment, and related educationalactivities, while positioning the County asa leader in sustainability initiatives. InJanuary 2013, NAED will move its primaryoffice to Ni Village, LDP’s mixed-use, fullysustainable community.NAED willbecome its first tenant and anchor of theCenter in Ni Village (nivillage.com).Spotsylvania’s Vice Chair PaulTrampe notes, “NAED’s move lines upperfectly with our goal of attractingleading companies and educationalinstitutions in sustainable design and withour vision of becoming a nationallyrecognized community known for havingan environmental ethic.”NAED’s purpose is to help publicagencies, private companies, and citizensaddress pressing needs related to thedesign, construction, and stewardship ofbuilt and natural environments.Frederick Steiner, president ofNAED and dean of the School ofArchitecture at the University of Texas atAustin, says, “We are extremely gratefulfor all the support and leadership ofSpotsylvania County (it) allows theNAED to fulfill a critical need to providethe necessary expertise and leadership increating more sustainable and livableenvironments.”The overarching vision for theCenter is to serve as a pioneering “Thinkand-Do Tank” where breakthroughsolutions in environmental design andsustainability transform society andcommunity living.Studies indicate anenormous need for a central place in theU.S. that is designed to meet thechallenges and opportunities of asustainable future and to provide bold,creative leadership about environmentalstewardship during the 21st Century.EileenDahlstedt,generalmanager of LDP, shares, “NAED will serveas the core think tank for the Center forSustainability and Green Technologies atNi Village and the impetus for an industrycluster for the County surrounding greentechnologies, environmental innovationand research and development.”TheUniversityofMaryWashington, a partner since 2010, hasagreed to help further the educational,research and professional goals of thisproject.“We believe NAED’s support ofcommunities, governments and privatecompanies wishing to develop innovativesolutions to current and future problemsis compatible with the strategic vision ofUMW in the area of sustainability,” saidPresident Richard V. Hurley.Sara Hunt, Senior Public RelationsManager at Touch Points PublicRelations, is a FP contributing writer.Knowledgeable Staff & Quality ProductsEstablished in 1929Celebrating Our 83rdYearwww.roxburyfarmgarden.com601 Lafayette Blvd.6October 2012Front porch fredericksburg540.373.9124front porch fredericksburgOctober 20127

Porch Peoplespam i amFXBG ArtFinds its Centervolunteers harvest a bounty of eventsBy archer dipeppeFair warning, anyone I talk tomight show up in a Front Porch story. Ijust passed my fifteenth anniversary as awriter with this magazine, and the storieshave to come from somewhere. Mostly,they come from you.I have always been a talker.Despite what my wife will tell you, I dolisten sometimes. I listen to the day today stories of regular people. One place Igo often is the Post Office in Earl’sHardware.The three clerks, Lindsey,Carol, and Karen, are the nicest and mosthelpful people you will ever meet. Theysmile and are fast and efficient. You haveconfidence that they will take good care ofyour letters and packages.No long ago I was talking toKaren Daigneau Summers, and somehow Ifound out that her great-uncle was thefellow who came up with the name forSpam.Spam is an iconic Americanproduct developed by Jay Hormel duringthe Depression. It was an inexpensivemeat product with a forever shelf life.Jay’s boyhood friend Ralph Daigneau wasKaren’s grandfather and also Hormel’svice president. When Spam was inventedin 1937, they wanted a catchy name.There was a company-wide competitionwith a 100 prize. Many suggestions weremade, and for a brief time the companyconsidered calling the new product Spic.Thankfully, that name was not the finalchoice.At a New Year’s Eve party, thecompetition continued when Jay offered amixed drink to the partygoers for each8October 2012By lezlie c. cherylentry.Ralph Daigneau’sbrother Kenneth, a Broadwayactor and radio personality inNew York, was in town and atthe party. He suggested Spamas in spiced ham. The fact thatthe product was made frompork shoulders and didn’tactually have any ham in it atthe time did not deter theselection.Later, ham wasadded.Spam got a big boostduring WW II because it wasused in K Rations. It was eatenso often that the military menhad to come up with a varietyof recipes or go crazy. Thetroops shared the Spam withthe local population, and atremendous amount was sentto our allies for civilianconsumption.One of thecountries that ate a lot of itwas England. Many years laterin 1970, Monty Python did acafé sketch where everythingon the menu had Spam in it.The Internet latched on to it to designateall of that unsolicited email. Just like thecafé menu, it seems that all email hasSpam in it.Hawaii, Guam, and the NorthernMarianas eat more of it than anyone elsein the world. It has been incorporated ina native dish called Musubi with rice andseaweed. McDonald’s and Burger Kinghave it on their menus in Hawaii. Hormelhas sold over seven billion cans of itworldwide over the years. Internet Spamproduces seven trillion emails a year.Karen has great stories to tellabout working in the Post Office.Someone once mailed a tire, one personmailed live tropical fish, and one personmailed a phone that started ringing.During the anthrax scare, one elderlywoman mailed a package that startedleaking a fine white powder. It wasn’tanything harmful, but they told her sheneeded to repackage it before she shippedit, so all the postal employees along theline wouldn’t freak out.Even though the Fredericksburgarea isn’t too far from 250,000 residents,we still hold on to that small townatmosphere. Our people are our greatestresource. Southern charm is alive and wellin these parts. Let’s all make sure wenever lose it.Archer Di Peppe writes all-beef in everyone of his 600 words.Front porch fredericksburgThe Fredericksburg Centerfor the Creative Arts (FCCA) is “ARTCENTRAL” for the FXBG area,presenting new monthly exhibits,creative workshops, activities, trips,and community-focused events yearround.FCCA President RachaelCarroll (right) leads a volunteer teamthat, she says, enables“ the FCCA tohost a wide array of events this Fall.There really is something foreveryone in the family to enjoy!”Located in the HistoricSilversmith House (circa 1785), theFCCA is the oldest art gallery in theregion, home to the Frederick Galleryand Members’ Gallery since 1963.On display through Oct. 26 are two newexhibits: “Exit the Edge” by Spotsylvaniaartist Maura Harrison (featured paintingis “In the Pear tree”), and the “OctoberRegional Juried Exhibit” which drew 90entries from 37 artists representingVirginia, Maryland and West Virginia. AFirst Friday opening reception is Oct. 5from 6P-8:30P; winning artists announcedat 6 by juror Caroline Cobb Wright.On Oct. 7, Caledon State Parkhosts FCCA’s “Seurat Sunday,” a specialoutdoor event for artists, musicians andart lovers. Artists participate to paint,draw, photograph, and model or performon the Caledon grounds, a NationalNatural Landmark in King George popularfor its lush forestry, scenic trails, beachesand large population of American baldeagles. The 10A event concludes at 4Pwith a viewing of the day’s creations and areception in the Caledon Visitor Center.A ‘novel’ workshop series,“Altered Book Class Techniques,” teachesunconventional methods of re-purposingbooks into objects of art, fromembellishment to transformation withchanged form and function. This fourclass workshop by Darlene Wilkinsonbegins Oct. 2 at 10A. The series is a partof the FCCA’s Fall and Winter celebrationof book-related arts to culminate inFebruary 2013 with its Regional JuriedExhibit, “Books & Words” in collaborationwith UMW Galleries to draw attention tothe interest in handmade books and bookart. Ridderhoff Gallery will present aninvitational book art exhibit in 2013.A unique two-day workshop onNov 3 & 4 - “Mosaic Workshop - SteppingStones” - by Cathy Ambrose will cover thefoundation for creating outdoor mosaics.The FCCA also hosts monthly PoetryGroup meetings, Multi-Media Guildmeetings, and sponsors SAVE.As, a specialonline opportunity for students toshowcase their artwork as nominated bylocal art teachers of public, private andhome-schooled students.More about the Center is writtenat www.fccava.or

Oct 02, 2013 · Olde Towne Publishing Co., Inc. Virginia Bigenwald Grogan, Publisher. The mission of Front Porch Fredericksburg is to connect the diverse citizenry of Fredericksburg with lively features and informative columns of interest to our community’s greatest resource, its people. Messa