WRITTEN BY KIRA POHWALA

February isn’t just about Valentine’s Day. It’s also International Boost Self-Esteem Month, a meaningful moment in the school calendar to focus on confidence, resilience, and kindness towards ourselves and others. In the midst of winter’s routine and academic pressure, this month reminds students that self-worth matters just as much as grades, sports, or weekend plans.

WRITTEN BY MALLORY HARDGROVE

PHOTO BY KAREN PRESECAN

The couple, Michelle and Saeed Riddick, still remember that fateful day on the subway, where Michelle had "her discman playing and a book in her hands” after a day of errands and shopping. Saeed Riddick was heading home from work when their eyes met. "Something about her presence drew me in," Saeed recalls, and he started a conversation that neither of them could have imagined would change their lives forever. "That chance meeting turned into dates, laughter, and a love that only grew stronger with time," Michelle adds.

WRITTEN BY KAT HALSTEAD

How you feel about how you look affects how you feel about yourself. When your hair looks good, you feel more confident in social settings, more comfortable in photos, and more like the person you want to be. It's not shallow. It's not vain. It's self-care.
And the new year is the perfect time to reinvent yourself and try something new.  Maybe it's that bold color or cut you've been pinning on Instagram, the product you've been eyeing for months, or finally addressing growth concerns or styling struggles that have been frustrating you. Whatever it is, now is your moment.

WRITTEN BY BRIAN BECK

Picking the right contractor for your remodel can be daunting. Many start by looking for the lowest price or fastest start date; however, there is another aspect to consider: How well does your contractor communicate with you during the pre-construction phase?  This is the period when you and the contractor will develop your project plans, agree on your budget, and finalize all project details. While the pre-construction phase may feel uneventful, it is where many of the problems that occur during construction are avoided or identified and resolved.

WRITTEN BY LIYA ZEWDU

Riverbend High School is collaborating with Mary Washington Healthcare to support students who have experienced the loss of a loved one. They are introducing and launching a
peer-support grief group designed to help students better understand their emotions, develop healthy and efficient coping mechanisms and skills, and connect with others who are going through similar experiences. School counselors such as Veronica Powell emphasized that this opportunity is not therapy; it’s instead a guided support group focused on both understanding and processing grief.

WRITTEN BY ADIA SHANEE

February is recognized as Dog Education Month — a time meant to encourage learning, growth, and better understanding between dogs and the people who care for them. But here’s the reality many guardians are quietly discovering: we don’t lack dog education. We have a surplus of incomplete and outdated information. For decades, dog education has focused almost entirely on control. Sit. Stay. Heel. Don’t pull. Don’t bark. Don’t react. Behave.

WRITTEN BY MALLORY HARDGROVE

PHOTO BY KAREN PRESECAN

In the peaceful community of Fawn Lake, Gary and Toni Woods have found something more valuable than all the beautiful places they’ve lived throughout their 57-year marriage: proximity to family. After decades of moves—from San Francisco to San Diego, Hawaii to Hilton Head Island—the couple made their most meaningful relocation, or “permanent change in station (PCS),” in 2024, settling just minutes from their son, Peter; daughter-in-law, Lyndsay; and grandsons, Matty and Tyler.

WRITTEN BY MALLORY HARDGROVE

In a world where healthcare can feel impersonal, One Orthodontics stands apart as a locally owned practice built on relationships, expertise, and a shared dream that began on the first day of dental school.

WRITTEN BY CHERICE TAYLOR

We love our children and want the best for them, but sometimes we struggle to find the right balance—doing too much or not enough. Consider the first-grade homework signed in perfect, blue-ink penmanship, or the high school athlete who wouldn’t do extra credit to pass a class. These real-life examples show how well-meaning actions can inadvertently impede a child's growth.

WRITTEN BY DR. KATRINA SPIES, DVM

Your dog yelps while playing in the yard and comes up lame, or your cat suddenly stops jumping on the bed. You head to your family veterinarian, who performs the vital “detective work.” They conduct an exam, take X-rays, and run bloodwork to ensure your pet is healthy. You leave with a diagnosis—like a "torn ligament" (CCL) or a "slipped disk" (IVDD)—and a bottle of pain medication. Perhaps you are even referred to a specialist for surgery.

WRITTEN BY MALLORY HARDGROVE

PHOTO BY KAREN PRESECAN

Some families collect postcards or tiny souvenirs from their travels. Not the D'Amico family, though; Michael, Jacquelene, and their three daughters collect adventure stories. And, now, thanks to Jacquelene’s newly published children's book, they're sharing those adventures with young readers across the Fredericksburg area.

WRITTEN BY ABIGAIL NYINAKU

In an era where gun violence has risen at an alarming rate in American schools, one student decided to take a stand. Motivated by the frightening rise in school shootings and a personal desire to ensure that schools remain safe havens, Colonial Forge High School senior Naa Ankrah devoted her research project to a simple but powerful idea: improving communication through a student-crafted school safety protocol pamphlet.

WRITTEN BY MALLORY HARDGROVE

In a world where families often feel stretched thin and isolated, The Meadow Church offers something increasingly rare: a place where they can be fully supported, both spiritually and practically. Founded by Ebonee Davis, this nonprofit church has grown from a calling that began years before it had a name, evolving from Vaughn's Meadow LLC into an organization that now serves as the spiritual heart of comprehensive family support.

WRITTEN BY KARIE OWENS

One of the most impactful updates for a homeowner is new floors! They can transform the atmosphere while adding value and charm. However, the cost of materials and labor can add up quickly. How can you finally afford your flooring upgrade without breaking the bank? Fortunately, beautiful flooring renovations can be executed with careful planning, informed material selection, and knowledgeable installation.

WRITTEN BY MORA SOAN

This activity is brought to you by the author of the children's book, Jacob in Japan! Jacob is a gnome who lives in New York. He owns a beautiful garden on the rooftop of a skyscraper. He is a picky eater and he only eats ordinary bland food. One windy night, Jacob falls into a magic flower pot. He wakes up in Japan. What will he do next? Will Jacob starve himself or will he find a way to enjoy and experience Japan? With an open mind, he may discover new and delicious foods that he never knew existed.

WRITTEN BY MALLORY HARDGROVE

Fredericksburg author Malanna Henderson didn't always take her writing seriously. As a child who devoured Nancy Drew books and stayed awake inventing stories to lull herself to sleep, she viewed writing as a personal hobby—something to entertain herself during lunch breaks at work. But after years of starting and stopping a novel, Henderson made a pivotal decision. "Once I realized how many years I put into it, I decided to give it a real shot," she recalls.

WRITTEN BY MALLORY HARDGROVE

At the heart of the exhibition is a remarkable story of historical detective work by volunteer Steve Morin, whose passion for primary sources led to an extraordinary discovery. While digitizing materials from Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park's bound volume collection, Steve uncovered the diary of Lieutenant Horace Hill, a young officer killed during the Battle of the Wilderness in 1864. But Steve didn't stop at transcription. His curiosity drove him deeper into the story, ultimately leading him to connect the dots and “complete a puzzle.”

WRITTEN BY ADIA SHANEE

January is traditionally known as National Train Your Dog Month, a time when many guardians feel pressure to correct behaviors, sign up for obedience classes, or search for the perfect training program. But as someone who has spent years studying canine behavior through a trauma-informed lens, I offer a gentle but necessary shift:

WRITTEN BY MIKE MCCLANAHAN AND KIRSTIN PURCELL

Fredericksburg is entering 2026 with powerful momentum as the region welcomes the inaugural Live2Lead FXBG event on February 10 at the Fredericksburg Convention Center. This premiere leadership experience, created by John Maxwell Leadership, is set to bring world-class professional development directly to one of Virginia’s most dynamic, growth-minded regions.

WRITTEN BY LIYA ZEWDU

Riverbend High School's fall sports season featured major accomplishments across two programs, highlighted by successful regular seasons, postseason appearances, and growing team cultures.
Riverbend football put together one of its strongest seasons in years, finishing the regular season undefeated at 10-0. The Bears faced two of their biggest rivals, beating both Colonial Forge 41-27 and North Stafford 28-21.