News

My recent days have been more of an uphill climb than I was anticipating.

I am not placing blame as my world is exactly as I created it.  Some details went astray such as being a single parent, being allergic to cooking and having checkbook dyslexia.

Dumfries, Va. –– Have you ever heard the one about the civil war soldier in Dumfries who didn’t know his way to Potomac Mills? How about the janitor who’s been dead for years but can still be seen at Dumfries Elementary School?

Those who attended the ghost walk at the Weems-Botts Museum Friday night got an earful of these haunted tales, and got to hear the voices of what are said to be the ghosts of two little girls who live in the Weems-Botts house, captured on audio tape.

Many of you reading this are familiar with my day to day adventures with my 13-year-old son.  As most kids his age, he has many sides and layers to the person he is becoming. It is both very exciting and scary to witness.

Just recently we were talking about the growing number of teen suicides.  Many of these suicides are teens who were being bullied for being gay.  As my son finds his own voice and morals in this world, this matter in particular bothered me a great deal – the fact of any child feeling so broken that they resort to taking their own life immediately pulls at my heartstrings. (more…)

Triangle, Va. –– Officials at the National Museum of the Marine Corps celebrated a silent victory late this summer, as they welcomed its 20 millionth visitor.

That visitor was a Fairfax County school administrator who brought her two grandchildren, museum curators told the Washington Post.

I am in fear that my son is going to be a ‘cool kid’.  Mind you before he was born I figured I wanted a popular child who had great social skills, personality and walked on water whenever he chose.

But now that he’s here and exploring all that comes with being a 13-year-old “man boy” – I just want him to be as non-cool as possible. (more…)

Woodbridge, Va. – Autocross is how some people wish Drivers Education was taught in schools.

The sport dates back to the 1970s and beyond, participants say. And at C.D. Hylton High School in Woodbridge on Saturday about 50 drivers signed up to take a spin around a track designed to test their driving skills, turning ability and control, and to see how well they could avoid hitting orange cones. (more…)

In this week’s Friday Finds: A walk in historic Fredericksburg, a wildlife refuge opens its gates to the public for the first time, and how Fairfax County is making it easier to get rid of that old computer.

The sounds of the country

Blake Shelton has been singing country tunes since he graduated from high school in 1994. Now he’ll be singing them for you tonight at 9 p.m. at Celebrate Virginia Live, at Central Park in Fredericksburg. There are a limited number of special tickets available, so those who haven’t already gotten their seat should head over the venue’s Web site.

The ACTS Food Pantry no longer has to store perishable food outdoors.

The Dumfries charity was awarded a $10,000 grant from BJ’s Wholesale Club for the purchase of a new walk-in refrigerator and freezer last month.