COMMENTARY: Leaders Show Up
Chronic absenteeism is rising, alarming people across the political divide. Tamping it down requires sound policy, and leaders who model showing up. Talk to any adult who has had some success in life, and you’re likely to hear a version of this adage: “90% of life is just showing up.” Companies, governments, associations, civic groups, […]
Analysis: Crash Study Is Mixed Bag for Virginia
Somewhat better numbers recently belie a deadlier 10-year trend. Until computers take drivers out of the equation, improving drivers is the surest way to decreasing accidents and fatalities. We are living in an age of transportation paradox. The future is bright for electric vehicles, even as Americans stubbornly hold on to their gas-guzzlers. Cars have […]
Stafford Supervisors Adopt New Capital Improvement Plan Development Process
County and school division staff hope new policy will prevent the kind of tension that occurred between supervisors and the School Board this budget season. Stafford County school division and government staff hope a new policy for developing the county’s capital improvement plan will prevent the process from becoming “disjointed.” That was the word Meg […]
Spotsylvania School Board – July 8 Meeting Details
An overview of the topics to be discussed at the upcoming Board meeting. Monday’s Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors’ meeting includes a list of five items on the consent agenda, two information items, and five action items. Information Items The two information items include the monthly report on the district’s Head Start program, and the […]
Independent Mindset Is a Net Positive
Six-months into their four-year terms as Spotsylvania County School Board members, Megan Jackson and Belen Rodas talk about their frustrations, hopes, and the need to focus on educating children. The day after the School Board election in November, we wrote of the results: “At the end of the day, voters favored people over policies in […]
Clay Jones: Brother, Can You Spare a Couple Mill?
Editor’s Note: This past week, the Advance reported on a plan by the Economic Development Authority in Fredericksburg to address homelessness. Clay Jones was paying attention and was struck by the request for $2 million in funds. He tackles that issue in his own, distinctive way. Want this cartoon, are other creations by Jones, to […]
Interview with Ron Charles – Grand Poobah of Reviewers
In one fell swoop, Drew manages to insult the FXBG Advance, the city of Fredericksburg, the Card Cellar, and the best-selling author since Moses. See what we editors put up with? When they finally construct the pantheon of the world’s greatest book critics, the marble bust of Washington Post book reviewer Ron Charles will certainly […]
Sunday Books & Culture
This week’s reviews include enchanting descriptions and drawings in Amy Tan’s “The Backyard Bird Chronicles”; a trip to Positano for self discovery and healing in Rebecca Serle’s “One Italian Summer” Books and Culture is edited by Vanessa Sekinger THE BACKYARD BIRD CHRONICLES by Amy Tan Published by Knopf (April 23, 2024)Softcover $31.50Audiobook $14.99 Reviewed by […]
SUMMER GET-AWAY: Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
Rated one of America’s best botanical gardens, Lewis Ginter offers lots of activities for flower lovers, families, and children of all ages. It took almost 60 years for the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden to go from endowment to reality — but it was worth the wait. An easy 50-minute drive down I95 from Fredericksburg, this […]