Town Talk

Executive Director Kathy Anderson shares how Empowerhouse stands beside survivors of domestic violence—offering safety, support, and a path forward when people need it most. We talk about the 24-hour hotline, 540-373-9373, and an important message: you don’t have to be in an emergency to call. Whether you need immediate help, information or resources, the hotline is there around the clock. We...

Tonia Garnett is an advocate for second chances, criminal justice reform, and pretrial reform. Through her book Enough Is Enough: I Won’t Be a Statistic, she talks about her personal journey to help others break cycles and reclaim their lives. She is preparing to release Built to Rise: The LifeBoard Method, designed to help people move from surviving to building empowered lives. toniatalksnow.com

Chantelle Lippold of King George is sharing her family’s deeply personal journey since her son, Jack, was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. She’s now working to raise money for a track chair that would give Jack greater freedom to get outside and experience the outdoors with his family. But Chantelle’s mission goes beyond raising money. She wants to help other families understand the...

The region’s housing challenges are the focus of a conversation with Sam Shoukas of the George Washington Regional Commission, Regional Housing Assembly Chair Jeh Hicks and Vice Chair Dr. Pamela Yeung. We discuss the Assembly’s work to address housing needs across the region and preview the fourth annual Regional Housing Summit, October 15 at the Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center....

Curator of Collections Kylie Thomson previews the next installment of the What Remains series, taking place at the Masonic Lodge on August 29. These programs usually sell out, so plan ahead. We also talk about the upcoming Virginia and the Vietnam War exhibit, which opens September 1, as well as Kylie’s work as a curator—including the research, travel, and behind-the-scenes work that goes into...

Patrick Catullo, UMW’s director of athletics, looks back on the Eagles’ NCAA Division III men’s basketball championship this spring—and fans can relive the excitement with free admission to all regular-season home games. He also highlights the energy around UMW Athletics and the opportunity for the community to experience it firsthand. Behind the scenes, UMW is continuing to upgrade its...

Pat Holland with Healthy Generations talks about resources for older adults and caregivers. She says social isolation and loneliness can have serious effects on seniors’ health. One statistic she shared was that loneliness has been compared to the health impact of smoking 15 cigarettes a day. We also talked about senior cafes, where older adults can enjoy meals, socialize, and build connections...

It’s more than a building — it’s a place designed around the needs of children. Safe Harbor Executive Director Elizabeth McNally explains how specially trained interviewers and carefully designed forensic interview rooms help children feel safe enough to tell their stories while minimizing the trauma of the investigative process. safeharborva.org

Spotsylvania Supervisor Chris Yakabouski (Battlefield) talks about his support for a moratorium on new data centers. Yakabouski says the state needs to develop a plan their massive energy demands. He said data centers place a significant strain on the power grid while offering local officials limited control over how much electricity they consume.

Dr. Kevin Handley, John Stroffolino, Beverly Lemmons, and Dr. Misty Mesimer join us to talk about Germanna Community College’s Behavioral Health pathway through Workforce Development, and how it’s helping address a critical shortage of behavioral health professionals. The program gives students a faster path to the training and credentials they need to enter the workforce, without spending years...