By CINDY BROOKSHIRE
For PotomacLocal.com
Haymarket author June Pair Kilpatrick is celebrating her 80th birthday this spring with the best present ever – the debut of her first published book.
“Now my granddaughter, who wants to show the book to her classmates, can do that before she graduates from high school,” she said.
June is the author of “Wasps in the Bedroom, Butter in the Well: Growing Up in the Great Depression,” (Inkwater Press, Portland, Oregon). The book is available in print, 318 pages with 40 photographs, $16.95 or Kindle eBook, $5.99, through Inkwater Press, Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com.
A lifelong Virginian who earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Richmond’s Westhampton College, June spent much of her career as a writer and editor for nonprofits in Richmond and Northern Virginia. For eight years she was consulting writer for the Business Council, a Washington, DC-based association of 150 CEOs of the world’s top business enterprises. Historically, the Council assisted in the nation’s recovery from the Great Depression.
But it wasn’t until after June and her husband Fritz retired to the Evergreen Farm community at the foot of Bull Run Mountain that she began to think of writing her own family’s Depression-era experiences. In 1934, living in the industrial town of Hopewell, Virginia, her parents lost everything when unionizers caused a violent confrontation at the rayon mill. After a night raid that destroyed the machinery, 1,858 jobs were gone.
“We moved from house to house and town to town, out in the country where we lit lamps with matches and used an outhouse,” June recalls. “We had a roof over our heads, unlike many, but one of my vivid memories of childhood was the wasps that squeezed in through the gaps in the siding… and sometimes, the butter had to be kept cold in a bucket dropped in the well.”
Two years ago, June took her manuscript to the Memoir Writers group at Bull Run Regional Library for feedback and support. Over time, they quelled her doubts:
“And so as I write…a question occurs to me: Who but my daughter, Rebecca, would be interested in my ordinary life?…in Granny June Bug’s early life?…most likely my story, my memories, will be only for myself.”
On Sunday, May 6, June Kilpatrick debuts her book in a big way at Arts Alive! 2012, a free, family-friendly, festival celebrating the local arts from noon to 6 p.m. at the Hylton Performing Arts Center on the Prince William Campus of George Mason University in Manassas. The event, presented by the Hylton Center and the Prince William County Arts Council, features 18 live performances on three stages, indoors and out, with visual art on display and for sale, as well as presentation of the 2012 Kathleen K. Seefeldt Awards for Arts Excellence at 2:30 p.m. Event sponsors include United Bank and Discover Prince William & Manassas. A complete schedule of performers is at pwcartscouncil.org.
There, June will join seven other local members of the Facebook networking group, Write by the Rails, in the Lovey Hammel Lounge: Dan Verner, Sheila Lamb and Cindy Brookshire of Manassas, Katherine Gotthardt and Carol Covin of Bristow and Marvin Josaitis and Leigh Giza of Gainesville. Besides readings and book signings, event-goers are welcome to participate in writing exercises and bring their own poetry and prose to share at open mic times throughout the afternoon.
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Join us on Friday, January 10, 2025, from noon to 4 p.m., with a special Ribbon Cutting at 2 p.m. Be inspired by keynote speaker Rita McClenny, President & CEO of Virginia Tourism Corporation while enjoying a light reception featuring classic Fredericksburg favorites.
Location: 601 Caroline Street, 1st Floor, Fredericksburg
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Planet Fitness opened its first location in Stafford. The new 30,900-square-foot facility, located at 1455 Stafford Market Place in the Stafford Market Place shopping center, is designed to provide a welcoming, judgment-free environment for individuals at all fitness levels.
The building used to house a Best Buy that announced its closure one year ago after 16 years in business. Our coverage of the closure was some of the most-read content on Potomac Local News in 2024.
The Stafford location features state-of-the-art equipment, including strength machines, free weights, a dedicated area for high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and a functional training room with turf for agility exercises. Members can also access amenities such as fully equipped locker rooms with showers, a mobility and stretching space, and free WiFi.
A highlight of the facility is the Black Card Spa, available to those who pay for a higher membership tier. The spa includes Hydro Massage Loungers, massage chairs, recovery loungers, and salon-grade tanning beds, offering members an opportunity to relax and recover post-workout.
Called to Jail
A 44-year-old man found himself back at Rappahannock Regional Jail after making a false report and harassing a jail officer with obscene phone calls. Initially, deputies responded to a call about a death and gunshot outside the jail, which turned out to be false. The suspect, located at a local motel, was arrested and charged with using obscene language and filing a false report.
Assault
– Marion Manor Nursing Home: A staff member assaulted another during a disagreement. The suspect was charged with assault and battery and held without bond.
– Shasta Place: A male suspect bit the victim during a verbal altercation. He was charged with assault and battery but released on personal recognizance.
DUI
Deputies discovered a car in a ditch on Courthouse Road. The driver admitted to drinking beer, with three empty cans found in her vehicle. She was charged with DUI, drinking while driving, and refusal, and held on a $3,000 bond.
Hit and Run
A vehicle struck a VDOT sign and two unoccupied trucks at EZ Auto Sales before the driver fled. Deputies identified the suspect using evidence left in the vehicle, and warrants for hit and run and property destruction were issued.
Start 2024 on the right foot by prioritizing your mental health and well-being. At Peaceful Mind Solutions, we understand how challenging life can be—whether it’s managing stress from work, family dynamics, or navigating the complexities of the world around us. Our team is here to help you create balance and find the peace you deserve.
We’re offering a free 15-minute consultation to help you explore how therapy can work for you. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, looking for support, or just want to talk things through, this is the perfect opportunity to take that first step toward a healthier, happier you.
Scheduling is simple and convenient. Choose the option that works best for you:
Experience the passion and drama of Puccini’s “The Girl from the Golden West”.
Featuring special guest musicians from The Chesapeake Youth Orchestra, this performance brings Puccini’s masterpiece to life with an extraordinary cast.
Featuring:
