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An Increase in Accidents Prompts Reminder to Take a Virginia Boating Safety Course

By Tammy Sapp

A 19 percent increase in boating accidents in Virginia from 2010 to 2011 is a reminder of the importance of taking an official Virginia boating safety course. With boating season and 2013 National Safe Boating Week just around the corner, now is the perfect time to complete a course.
  
"We monitor the boating industry year round and with warmer weather comes the increased potential for boating accidents. Education and awareness are key factors in preventing accidents. The purpose of any boating safety course or training material is to prepare boaters for a variety of scenarios in and out of the water," said Kurt Kalkomey, president of Kalkomey Enterprises, Inc.

Virginia boating safety courses are available year round, however, spikes in course registrants are typically observed in early spring and summer. In Virginia, personal watercraft operators age 14 and older and motorboat operators 30 and younger must complete a boating safety course. Beginning July 1, 2013, all motorboat operators ages 40 and younger need to take a boating safety course. Safety officials encourage everyone to complete a course, regardless of age, before hitting the water.

Most recent national data from the United States Coast Guard details 4,588 accidents in 2011, including 758 fatalities and 3,081 injuries. The majority of these accidents occurred from May to September, with 77 percent of the reportable incidents for the year. In Virginia, there were 121 boating accidents in 2011, resulting in 21 deaths and 96 injuries.

From a national perspective, not wearing a life jacket was reported as a factor in more than 80 percent of victims who drowned in 2011. The National Council for Safe Boating is among several organizations leading initiatives to promote boating safety education and reduce boating accidents. National Safe Boating Week will be held May 18-24, 2013, with events coordinated across the country. One of the highlights of the week is "Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day," The purpose of the campaign is to remind boaters about basic safety measures. For more information about Safe Boating Week, visit www.safeboatingcampaign.com.

In Virginia, all vessels must be equipped with U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets. The quantity and type depend on the length of the boat and the number of people on board. In addition, each life jacket must be readily accessible, though safety experts recommend that everyone wear their life jacket whenever they are on the water. The online boating safety course offered at boat-ed.com/virginia provides more details about life jacket requirements.

To take an official Virginia boating safety course, visit http://www.boat-ed.com/virginia/

About Kalkomey:

Kalkomey, parent company of Boat Ed and boat-ed.com, is an official provider of recreational safety education products for all 50 states. An American company based in Dallas, Texas, Kalkomey produces print and Internet courses that have provided official safety certification since 1995. Kalkomey offers safety courses in boating, hunting, bowhunting, safe handgun use, and off-road vehicle and snowmobile operation. For more information, visit http://www.kalkomey.com.



Historical Tompkins Cottage Reopens

By Mary Hunley

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The Tompkins Cottage, located on Brickbat Road adjacent to Mathews County's old courthouse area, reopens April 6.  Christopher Tompkins, a prominent planter, merchant, sea captain, ship owner and ship builder is the earliest known owner.  The building was used in his mercantile business.  Tompkins was the father of  Captain Sally Tompkins, the first woman commissioned an officer in the Confederate Army.

The Tompkins Cottage is now a furnished three room museum displaying the typical small dwelling of the 1800's.  There is also a small gift shop with books, post cards, and other items relating to the history of Mathews County.

The Mathews County Historical Society opens the Tompkins Cottage to the public on Fridays and Saturdays, April through October from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m..  For more information on the Tompkins Cottage, or the Mathews Historical Society visit their website!



Fredericksburg Springs Alive with New Offerings For Visitors

By Julie Perry

Visit This Spring to Enjoy a New Children’s Walking Tour, a Reenactment of the Battle of Chancellorsville and a New Route in the Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon

As flowers begin to bloom, leaves turn to green and the sun shines warm on your skin, visitors can step outside and see the Fredericksburg area bloom into vibrancy once again. Immerse yourself in the past as you stroll through the 40-block historic district in downtown Fredericksburg. Take your family on the new Children’s Walking Tour or explore colorful grounds during Virginia’s Historic Garden Week Tour. Test your endurance as you race to meet U. S. Marines at the finish line or stand witness to a reenactment of the Civil War’s Battle of Chancellorsville. The following story ideas are centered on the Fredericksburg area’s spring events. For more information, visit www.visitfred.com.


Immerse Your Kids Into Fredericksburg History With a New Children’s Walking Tour: 

The Fredericksburg area is now featuring a new Children’s Walking Tour created for children by children. The self-guided tour takes you on an exploration of various museums and historic homes throughout the area such as Kenmore Plantation, Rising Sun Tavern, Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop, Mary Washington House, the James Monroe Museum and the Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center. Clues on the tour brochure steer children to locate items at each specific site to collect stamps. The brochure was produced by eight scholarship recipients, ages 10-16, from the Fredericksburg area that participated in the “Mapping History” workshop facilitated by PONSHOP Studio and Gallery. The students visited six historic sites and studied the character of each site, documenting the architecture, history, and practices and created the brochure from their observations. The Children’s Walking Tour brochure can be found at the Fredericksburg Visitor Center or on www.VisitFred.com.  

Spotsylvania County Remembers the Heroes and Sacrifices of the Civil War during the Battle of Chancellorsville Reenactment: 


150 years ago, America was in turmoil while the North and South were at war. The Civil War is now considered the country’s greatest tragedy and no region suffered more than the Fredericksburg, Virginia area. Spotsylvania County is known as the “Crossroads of the Civil War” with over 30,000 causalities the Confederates encountered during the Battle of Chancellorsville. During the Battle, General Robert E. Lee won his greatest victory for the Confederate Army, but lost his famous commander, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, in May 1863. On May 3-5, 2013 at the Spotsylvania County Courthouse, the county will commemorate the Sesquicentennial with two full-scale reenactments and living history events, a craft fair, period music, a commemoration dinner and additional activities designed to enhance the awareness of this significant milestone in American history. The National Park Service also will host a series of events within the battlefield park. For more information on the Battle of Chancellorsville or other Sesquicentennial events, visit www.battleofchancellorsville.com or www.visitfred.com.

New in 2013, a 10K and Challenging New Course During the Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon: 

On May 19th, test your endurance and race through the Sunken Road where Union soldiers fought the Confederates in 1862 during the 6th Annual Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon, the Semper Fred 5K, and new this year, the Historic 10K. The half marathon begins at 7 a.m., and will challenge racers at every level during a grueling test of physical strength and endurance. Runners will journey from Central Park through the historic downtown streets, up the challenging 200-foot incline of Mary Washington Healthcare’s famous hospital hill to the awaiting Marines cheering you on at the finish line. Historic landmarks and sites along the course include Sunken Road, Kenmore Plantation and the General Hugh Mercer Memorial Statue. The Semper Fred 5K and the Historic 10K begin just minutes after the start of the half marathon and also include the trek up hospital hill. The race weekend kicks off at the Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center during the Healthy Lifestyle Expo from May 17-18. The registration fee for the Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon is $75. For additional information or to register for the race, please visi twww.marinecorpshistorichalf.com.

Take in the abundance of colorful blooms during Historic Garden Week: 

On April 23, 2013, Virginia’s Historic Garden Week Tour will feature several historic homes including Belmont, Chatham, Brompton and Fall Hill. Also included in the tour is Snowden House, an imposing Greek Revival home that dates back to 1815 and has a spectacular view of the Rappahannock River. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 the day of the tour and can be purchased at the Fredericksburg and Stafford Visitor Centers. Tickets also include admission into Kenmore, George Washington’s Ferry Farm and The James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library. 100% of ticket proceeds are used to enhance Virginia’s historical landscape. For more information on Historic Garden Week, visit www.vagardenweek.org. 

The Full Monty Opens at the Riverside Dinner Theater with Sally Struthers This Spring:


 From March 15 – April 28, Sally Struthers will be returning to Riverside for The Full Monty, the multiple award-winning musical stage version of the 1997 British film. Struthers performed at the theater from May – July 2011 for the showing of Hello Dolly. Riverside Center opened in 1998 with the dinner theater’s inaugural performance of Oklahoma! and since then has been the site of over 60 mainstage Broadway musical productions. For more information visit www.riversidedt.com.

The Fredericksburg Area, which includes the city of Fredericksburg and the counties of Spotsylvania and Stafford, is a classic blend of modern life with small town charm. Conveniently located along I-95, between Washington and Richmond, the area features a variety of chef-owned restaurants, numerous art galleries, a wide range of specialty shops, and one of America’s most authentic, historic downtowns. Stafford is home to George Washington’s boyhood home, Ferry Farm and Belmont, the residence of 20th Century American impressionist painter Gari Melchers. Spotsylvania is not only the site of 4,400 acres of Civil War battlefields; it also boasts the beautiful Lake Anna Winery. The Fredericksburg Area rests on the banks of the picturesque, pristine Rappahannock River. For visitor information, visit www.VisitFred.com. For online trip planning, visit www.FredericksburgVAcations.com. For media information and digital images, click on www.fredpressroom.com.Visit us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/visitfred.
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