We’ve had a great summer. One of the benefits of working for Fredericksburg Parent is that there is almost unlimited flexibility in the summer to spend time with our families. For my staff, there have been trips to France, trips to Florida, summer camps, family reunions, swim team, axe throwing and just time hanging out with siblings.

But when the kids go back to school, I can’t pretend that I don’t love having my staff back, just like I’m sure parents love having their fall routines back. In this issue, we tackle a few perennial fall issues: What the heck are we going to pack in all those school lunches? (pg. 15) What’s the status of our public schools? What supplies, besides teachers, are still needed in schools and where can we donate? 

We also look at fall family fun. The annual downtown Scarecrow Fest, which we’ve sponsored for eight years now, is adding a Kazoo Band to our Treats on the Streets costume stroll on Saturday, October 28 at 9:30 a.m. If playing in a kazoo band sounds like a blast, show up for our first kazoo band rehearsal on Friday, October 6 at 6 p.m. at the downtown first Friday Scarecrow Fest event in the parking lot of the Visitor’s Center on Caroline Street. Or you can show up on the day of the parade and join in right then. Kazoos and Kazoo band leader will be provided by Fredericksburg Parent.  We also are adding a Thriller flash mob at our annual Halloween movie night featuring “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” and “Hocus Pocus” at Riverfront Park, and a costumed kayak paddle down the Rappahannock River.

Beloved contributor Emily Freehling put together articles on how to enjoy a day at the iconic, locally-owned Sneads Farm, and a deep dive on eight ways to kickstart your family's wellness in our Ask the Expert piece from Hopestarter on page 16.

As always, we have additional great content coming online. Growing Up on Historic Ground columnist Alexis McNeil will be writing on the new Gladys West (of Hidden Figures fame) exhibit opening at the Fredericksburg Area Museum this month.  West and her husband worked at Dahlgren for many years and admission is free at FAM in September.

On a final note, in addition to donating the lunch boxes from our cover shoot to the Fredericksburg City Schools, we will also be giving away two school bus lunchboxes on our Win Wednesday Facebook posts. Be sure to enter! Many thanks to the Shook family and Sprelly for the lunchbox photo shoot. Check out the “behind the scenes” Instagram reel Mr. Shook made of the cover shoot shenanigans.