Monthly Archives: May 2014

Join the hunt!

The Free Lance-Star 10th Annual Itty Bitty

City Scavenger Hunt of Downtown

Fredericksburg.

HOW TO PLAY: Head to downtown Fredericksburg between May 25 and July 8 to find the 20 objects

or architectural elements pictured in The Free Lance-Star MAY 25. Missed the printed version? No worries!

Click HERE to download a PDF of photos, map, and details.

Submit your entry (fill out the electronic form below) and you could win one of the cash prizes.

PRIZES: First Place Winner $400, Second Place Winner $250, Seven Third Place Winners $50.

Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place with the correct answers.

Cash prizes generously donated by the Fredericksburg Department of Economic Development and Tourism

ENTRY DEADLINE: July 8 at 5 p.m. One entry per person.

HINTS: Follow us on facebook. We will post 6 unique hints on The Free Lance-Star and

fredericksburg.com facebook pages throughout the contest.

Plus, WIN BONUS PRIZES during the hunt on our facebook pages.

OFFICIAL RULES: No purchase necessary. Entry forms available at The Free Lance-Star front desk,

616 Amelia St., Fredericksburg and on fredericksburg.com/ittybittycity. One entry per person.

Prizes must be picked up by the winner within 30 days of first announcement in The Free Lance-Star.

Winner must show picture identification at pick up. All decisions made by The Free Lance-Star are final.

Employees of The Free Lance-Star Companies and our contest sponsor and their families are ineligible to win.

Entry deadline: July 8 at 5 p.m.

It’s Memorial Day Weekend!

File:Graves at Arlington on Memorial Day.JPG

MEMORIAL DAY is Monday, and a host of commemorative events are planned in the Fredericksburg area. Here is a sample of this weekend’s celebrations to honor our fallen soldiers:

FRIDAY

Thunder for the Cause, Fredericksburg Fairgrounds, 2400 Airport Ave. Bike show, bike rodeo, barrel race, waitress tray race, FMX stunt show, beer belly contest, bikini contest, motorcade to Washington (Sunday). 6–11 p.m. $10 each day or $20 for a three-day pass, ages 5 and younger free. Runs through May 25. thunderforthecause.com.

Rolling Thunder, Old Mine Ranch, 17504 Mine Road, Dumfries. Live music, bonfire, vendors, food. Weekend camping: $20 person/$30 couple; day passes $10. 540/628-0907; packitvnvmc@comcast.net.

SATURDAY

Memorial Day Activities, Historic Ellwood Manor. Friends of Wilderness Battlefield volunteer Dale Brown will give a talk on “Archeology at Ellwood” at noon; music by Evergreen Shade at 2 p.m.; “Last Days of Stonewall Jackson,” by the Fredericksburg Spotsylvania National Military Park Service at 3:30 p.m. House tours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free. 540/226-8378; fowb.org.

Fifth annual Fredericksburg City and Confederate Cemetery Tour, William Street and Washington Avenue. Walking tour led by local amateur historian Dan “BigFrench” Janzegers. The tour covers notables, military and local citizens’ burials. New research from the past year highlighted. 6:30–8 p.m. Donations to the Fredericksburg City Cemetery welcome. Rain date: May 25, 6:30 p.m. This is in conjunction with the annual luminaria within the Fredericksburg Confederate Cemetery hosted by the Fredericksburg United Daughters of the Confederacy.

Memorial Luminaria, Fredericksburg Confederate Cemetery, William Street and Washington Avenue. Period music, color and rifle guards, taps and the luminaries, which will be lit at dusk. Sponsored by the Fredericksburg Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. 6–10 p.m. Free. Rain date: May 25, 6 p.m.

Annual Lumination, Fredericksburg National Cemetery, Sunken Road and Lafayette Boulevard. Memorial tribute to the soldiers buried in the cemetery. 9 p.m.

Thunder for the Cause, Fredericksburg Fairgrounds. See Friday’s listing.

Rolling Thunder, Old Mine Ranch, Dumfries. See Friday’s listing.

SUNDAY

“Battle of Falling Waters 1863: Custer, Pettigrew and the End of the Gettysburg Campaign,” Graffiti House, 19484 Brandy Road, Brandy Station, Culpeper. Light refreshments. 2 p.m. Donations accepted. brandystationfoundation.com.

Band of America’s Few, National Museum of the Marine Corps, 18900 Jefferson Davis Highway, Triangle. Traditional and patriotic music. 10:30 a.m. to noon. 703/784-6116; usmcmuseum.org.

Thunder for the Cause, Fredericksburg Fairgrounds. Motorcade to Washington. See Friday’s listing.

Rolling Thunder, Old Mine Ranch, Dumfries. See Friday’s listing.

MONDAY

Memorial Day Ceremony: “Honoring the Fallen Through Our Actions,” Fredericksburg Area War Memorial Park, George, Barton and Liberty streets. Speakers, flyover by the Experimental Aircraft Association. Hosted by Fredericksburg Area Veterans Council. 2:30–3:30 p.m.

Rappahannock POPS Orchestra, Mary Washington Hospital, Ambulatory Care Entrance, 1001 Sam Perry Blvd. Bring a chair and picnic. 6 p.m. Free. Rain location: Grace Center of the Arts, 1141 Heatherstone Drive, Spotsylvania.

Ladies Memorial Association’s 148th Observance of Memorial Day, Fredericksburg Confederate Cemetery. Speaker will be J. Terry Dougherty, director of the Spotsylvania County Museum. 10 a.m. Rain location: Historic Kenmore, 1201 Washington Ave.

Memorial Day Ceremony, Fredericksburg National Cemetery at noon. Ed Bearss, a Marine Corps veteran of World War II and military historian, will be keynote speaker. The ceremony will be preceded by a procession through the streets, led by the re-created 23rd United States Colored Troops. The procession will depart from Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site), 801 Sophia St., at 11:15 a.m. 540/373-6122.

Memorial Day March. Beginning at 9 a.m. at the Fredericksburg Masonic Cemetery, George and Charles streets, Fredericksburg Masonic Lodge members will honor their members from Fredericksburg’s past. At 9:15 a.m., a public procession, led by the Masons, will march to the Hugh Mercer statue on Washington Street (trolley provided for those who cannot march), where J. Robert DuBois will offer an oration recognizing those who sacrificed everything.

Rolling Thunder, Old Mine Ranch, Dumfries. See Friday’s listing.

Memorial Day Service,  11 a.m. at Shiloh Cemetery,  Littlepage Street and Monument Ave. Minister Julian Ferguson of Shiloh Baptist Church will be speaker. Inclement weather: Shiloh Baptist Church (new site), 525 Princess Anne St.

Meet an au pair –

Mariana used to be an Au Pair in America! Now she works for our partner agent in Brazil helping other applicants achieve their dreams! Here’s her story:

“My experience as an Au Pair in America was one of the best things I ever did in my life. I was able to meet lots of people from all over the world, improve my English, learn more about how to live with different people and travel to several places in the USA.

My Host Family was so amazing to me! I traveled a lot with them. The kids were nice to me too – they taught me how to ski, to play lacrosse and to pronounce words correctly. I celebrated all the American holidays – on 4th July 2011 I was in NYC, I would say it was a wonderful celebration, with lot of fireworks and good food.

I have good memories of all the moments that I spent in the US. This program gave me an opportunity to see places and meet people that I will never forget. I still miss them all and I hope to see them soon.

Here’s a photo of me with my Host Family!

“

Photo: Mariana used to be an Au Pair in America! Now she works for our partner agent in Brazil helping other applicants achieve their dreams! Here's her story: "My experience as an Au Pair in America was one of the best things I ever did in my life. I was able to meet lots of people from all over the world, improve my English, learn more about how to live with different people and travel to several places in the USA. My Host Family was so amazing to me! I traveled a lot with them. The kids were nice to me too - they taught me how to ski, to play lacrosse and to pronounce words correctly. I celebrated all the American holidays - on 4th July 2011 I was in NYC, I would say it was a wonderful celebration, with lot of fireworks and good food. I have good memories of all the moments that I spent in the US. This program gave me an opportunity to see places and meet people that I will never forget. I still miss them all and I hope to see them soon. Here's a photo of me with my Host Family! :)"

Come to the new Children’s Museum in Fredericksburg!

Now open in Eagle Village! Click below for more information:

http://www.c-mor.org/fredericksburg-more-information

Read the latest article in the FreeLance Star about the opening.

http://news.fredericksburg.com/newsdesk/2014/05/10/childrens-museum-in-fredericksburg-opens-to-rave-reviews/

Bug crafts for fun!

bee-easter-egg-craft-photo-260-FF0302EGGA03

Bee Egg

With this project, kids blow an egg, then turn it into a flying wonder. All you need is a raw egg, paint, craft supplies, and fishing line for hanging the egg. The best part? This blown-egg creature will keep indefinitely.

Materials

  • eggs
  • newsprint
  • egg dye
  • paper towels
  • birthday candles or crayons
  • red and black acrylic or tempera paint
  • brushes
  • white tissue
  • glue

Instructions
  1. Blow the Egg: Wash and dry the raw egg. Cover your table with newsprint and set out bowls, pushpins, and paper towels. Shake the egg to break the yolk. Next, pierce the top and bottom with a pushpin, making the hole on the wider end a bit larger. Position the egg over the bowl and blow through the small hole, allowing the inside of the egg to seep into the bowl. Set the empty egg, with the large hole down, in an egg carton to dry. Be sure children wash their hands after handling raw egg.
  2. Degg-orate the Egg: Let the kids paint half of the egg, stand it atop a bottle cap to dry (use a hair dryer to speed things up), then paint the other half. Centering the face on either hole, paint on features with contrasting colors. Paint your bee bright yellow, then paint on a red smile, black eyes, and black stripes. Glue on white tissue paper wings.
  3. Take Flight: Tape a long length of fishing line to the end of an unfolded paper clip. Starting at the small hole, thread the line through the decorated egg and out the large hole. To keep your flying critter upright, tape the fishing line just above the hole in the critter’s back. Hang it from the ceiling or an egg tree.

Grow a Grassapillar

Grassapillar Celebrate the arrival of spring by bringing this fuzzy critter to life.

Begin by mixing 3/4 cup of potting soil and 2 tablespoons of grass seed in a bowl. Add water to moisten the mixture, then set it aside.

Cut away a three-cup section of an egg carton, then trim the section along the longer edges so that your grassapillar will look the same from both sides. With a permanent marker, draw a face on one end as shown. Gently spoon the seed mixture into the cups.

Set your creation on a dish in a brightly lit spot and keep the soil moist. The grass should sprout in about a week.

origami-butterfly-craft-photo-260-FF0399KDCOTA02Origami Butterfly

Origami, Japan’s traditional craft of paper-folding, has been used since the 10th century to sculpt animals and wrap gifts. Animals, birds, fish and insects are favorite origami subjects. After folding the butterfly featured here, you can make it flutter by pressing on its back with the tip of your finger.

Materials
  • 6 x 6-inch sheet of origami paper
  • Glue
  • 1 x 4-inch strips of origami paper or curling ribbon
  • Scissors
  • 2 googly eyes
  • Markers

X

Instructions
  1. Origami Butterfly Step 1 This colorful creature is created not by metamorphosis but by folding the origami paper in half to form a triangle.
  2. Origami Butterfly Step 2 Fold the triangle in half again.
  3. Origami Butterfly Step 3 Unfold the second triangle, then fold each side so that it crosses the center crease at a right angle.
  4. Origami Butterfly Step 4 (Continuation of above directions.)
  5. Origami Butterfly Step 5 Unfold. Glue on the strips for antennae and curl them using the edge of a scissor. Glue on the googly eyes and decorate with markers.

Have some chocolate chips today!

National Chocolate Chip Day

Try this delicious recipe. Be sure to let the children pour and stir ingredients but don’t let them near the hot oven!

Traditional Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
  • 1 cup chopped nuts (optional – ask about allergies)

Directions:

  • Heat oven to 375°F.
  • Stir together flour, baking soda and salt. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until creamy. Add eggs; beat well. Gradually add flour mixture, beating well. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts, if desired. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet.
  • Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.

Makes about 5 dozen cookies.

photo from suppersanityclub.blogspot.com

Tips for host families expecting their second au pair

You probably remember all this, but just in case…here are a few reminders to help you get started with your next au pair… Let me know if you need anything else.

You make flight arrangements for your AP from any one of the 3 big NY airports. Any flight that leaves at 6 p.m. or later on the day she is coming to you (usually Thursday). Send flight info to the orientation staff.  You may also email the info to your AP, but orientation gets what she needs to her.  Then they take them to the proper airport.

  • Did the office send you a fresh copy of “Guidelines…for a successful year”?  Please be sure you have one and review it before you AP comes. When your AP questions you, the answer will be in print to show her. Let me know if you don’t have one.
  • In making her room “hers”, some families have copied a photo from the au pair’s application and framed it and put it in her bedroom with some flowers or a small plant.
  • Mark her birthday on your calendar.  This is a big day for homesickness; make it good.
  • Ask her to mark her country’s special occasions (like our Thanksgiving and Fourth of July) on the calendar- then let her cook and teach you about it on that day. It will be emotionally helpful to her, and a great cultural learning experience for your family.
  • I suggest you send a welcome package to her at orientation. (Include a picture of your family so she will recognize you at the airport). If you need ideas, give me a call or shoot me an email.  Some people like calling Laura Blersch at Orientation and buying her the NYC Tour ($65) the au pairs can take on Wednesday night of their orientation.  Her direct line is 203-399-5042.  The address at their orientation is: Her Name, c/o APIA, c/o Sheraton Hotel, 700 E. Main St., Stamford, CT 06901. Put her NY arrival date on the bottom left corner of the envelope.
  • BE SURE SHE KNOWS YOUR CELL PHONE NUMBER and that she knows that to use a pay phone, you must dial a “1” before the area code and number.  Sometimes flights are delayed or they have gotten lost at the airport (one rematch missed her flight) and they need to know how to contact you if you aren’t at home.
  • Don’t talk about work the first night- just about her and her family and you and your family and how was your flight and how was orientation and all that…
  • Let her sleep late the first day.
  • Remember she cannot be alone with your children for the first 3 days.
  • Inside your orientation folder, there is a Child Care Questionnaire.  Please go through this with your new au pair during the three day training period.  It will help her a lot and remind you of things she need to know.
  • Remember she doesn’t know America. She might not know how to use the shower or toilet or stove or the alarm clock or anything… make no assumptions.  In France, they keep the milk on the shelf. If your current au pair is still there, let her show her these things.  Dish detergent doesn’t go in the dishwasher.  Teach her to turn the water off if the toilet is leaking or overflowing. (and tell her how important it is to tell you if it is)
  • Remember she might be very homesick at first… or she might not be homesick for 3 months.
  • Take her for a drive the first weekend and show her around town.  Later, let her drive you somewhere and see how she does.  If she is drives well enough, let her start driving with you in the car or by herself (but not with kids yet) to the store or school or other places.  She needs to know her way around somewhat before she drives with your kids. (FYI- APs love GPSes for obvious reasons)
  • Make some rules.  Car rules. Your gas plan. House rules. Company rules. Family rules. Tell her these rules will be in effect for the first two months, and then the two or three of you will sit down and talk about them and adjust as needed (like 2 or 3 months) RULES ARE EASIER TO TAKE AWAY THAN TO ADD.
  • Remember you are responsible for allowing time and gas money to cluster meetings and school.
  • She has to have been in the US for two weeks before she can apply for a social security card (so that APIA will have let the Department of State know she’s here).  Whether or not your AP gets a license is up to you and/or your insurance company.
  • Speaking of SS, the US is now keeping a closer watch on having au pairs pay income tax (not SS). This is their responsibility, not yours
  • If you just really loved and are losing ‘the perfect au pair’, remember, this new au pair won’t be perfect- she’s new- it’s all strange- she has to learn it all.  The ‘old’ girl wasn’t perfect at first either. Give it a couple of months. (It’s hard to follow up a really great au pair).