Town Talk

Dave Muraca of The George Washington Foundation and Denise Milner of Gari Melchers Home and Studio to preview the opening events of the Slave Dwelling Project's "Voices of the Past" weekend, September 11-13. Together, they'll share how the community-wide program brings overlooked stories of enslaved people to life through music, conversation, living history, and historic places. The weekend begins Friday evening with the Kuumba Dance & Drum Ensemble Workshop at Gari Melchers Home and Studio—a free, interactive celebration of West African music, dance, and culture that's open to everyone. Then on Saturday morning, the official kickoff at George Washington's Ferry Farm features Slave Dwelling Project founder Joseph McGill Jr., setting the tone for a weekend dedicated to remembrance, education, and community. Learn more and see the full schedule at fxbg.com/slave-dwelling-project.

Teachers are back this week in Spotsylvania, and that means the first day of school is just around the corner! As students prepare to return next week, Chief of Communications and Community Engagement René Daniels joins us to walk families through everything they need to know before the school year begins. From Open Houses and Transition Day to the first day of school, we'll cover the key dates and what parents and students can expect. We'll also answer some of the biggest questions about bus transportation and share helpful tips to make the start of the school year as smooth as possible.

Juanita Shanks joined us to discuss fundraising efforts for a new playground at Olde Greenwich, a project she says is important for giving neighborhood children a safe and welcoming place to play and connect. If you'd like to support the effort, please contact FailSafe to learn how you can help. We also talked about FailSafe-ERA's upcoming Preventing Generational Incarceration Conference this fall, which will bring together community members and leaders to address the impact of incarceration on families and explore ways to break the cycle. Looking ahead to the holiday season, FailSafe has set a goal of providing 200 bicycles to children with incarcerated parents, helping make Christmas brighter for families facing difficult circumstances. To learn more about FailSafe-ERA, the conference, or how you can support these initiatives, visit failsafe-era.org.

Jeff Black of the Caroline County Board of Supervisors and Jason Tickle of Central Rappahannock River Habitat for Humanity talk about the latest progress on nine new homes taking shape in Ladysmith. We also look at the many ways the community can help, from swinging a hammer to simply bringing volunteers a cold bottle of water. Plus, learn about First Saturdays for Housing and how Caroline County families can find out if they qualify for a Habitat home. And we talk about life in a growing Caroline County and the active role the Ruritan Club is playing in the community.  crrhfh.org

The Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Foundation supports the Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy through private fundraising and community partnerships. Kirstin Purcell, Traci Purches, and Candi Stewart preview the free Bridge to Brighter Futures event on July 31 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy, 3630 Lee Hill Drive in Fredericksburg, where families can receive school supplies, haircuts, SNAP enrollment assistance, food, and other back-to-school resources. For more information, visit rrcjf.org.

Rich Larochelle and Stacey Churchill share the latest from the nonprofit farm in White Oak, where fresh produce is helping stock the Food Bank and local pantries across the region. They discuss the farm's growing impact, lessons learned from this season's vegetable crops, the surprising success of two hardworking scarecrows, and how volunteers and supporters can help continue the mission.   rappahannockfarm.org

Michael Dunn, Director of the Center for Career and Professional Development, and Teresa Segelken, Director of Continuing and Professional Studies, discussed preparing for life after the University of Mary Washington. We talk about career readiness, continuing education, and professional development opportunities that support career advancement. They highlighted resources and programs available to help students and alumni build skills and achieve their professional goals.

Executive Director Tricia Wolfrey discusses the urgent need for blood donations as communities face a critical blood shortage at the local, state, and national levels. She also explains the vital role volunteers play in disaster response, whether helping after local fires or deploying to assist with hurricanes and other weather-related emergencies across the country. redcrossblood.org redcross.org

A Fredericksburg idea is now Virginia law. HB 702, the voluntary firearm give-back bill, was signed by the governor after originating with Fredericksburg City Council member Chuck Frye and being championed in the General Assembly by Delegate Josh Cole. They discuss how the legislation came together and what it means for communities across the Commonwealth.

From painting a new mural at Goolricks to weighing in on AI and the future of creativity,  we talk with LibertyTown artist Bill Harris.  We explore how his classes welcome artists of all ages and abilities, the power of creating together, and what's in store for this fall's Art Attack.  billharrisart.com