By JULIA LeDOUX
Source: Stafford County Sun

AQUIA - Dozens of motorcycles converged on Aquia Towne Center in Stafford on Sunday as members of the Band of Brothers USMC Riding Club roared in to provide less fortunate children in Northern Virginia with a Christmas to remember.

Marines and other volunteers were on hand to greet about 20 members of the riding club as they pulled up to a Toys for Tots warehouse shortly before noon.

"This is what we're about," said John Palvarez, a member of the club. "Marines take care of Marines. Brothers forever."

The Band of Brothers USMC Motorcycle Riding Club is an organization dedicated to supporting veterans, Marine Corps-related functions, charitable organizations and to keeping POW/MIA awareness alive. Its purpose is to foster a brotherhood dedicated to veterans and the sport of motorcycle riding.

Cpl. Susan Smith, who serves as Quantico Marine Corps base's Toys for Tots volunteer coordinator, helped to organize the event.

"The Band of Brothers come in and support the Marines who are in the Marine Corps today," she said. "It just exemplifies what the Marine Corps is all about."

Toys for Tots began in 1947 when Maj. Bill Hendricks and members of his Los Angeles Marine Corps Reserve Unit collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children. The following year, the Marine Corps followed Hendricks' lead and expanded the effort nationwide as the United States Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. Since the program's inception, Marines have collected and distributed more than 350 million toys.

Collection boxes are located at various locations throughout Quantico Marine Corps base.

"It's a great thing. It helps so many children out," said Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan Broc, Toys for Tots coordinator for Northern Virginia.

The Toys for Tots warehouse in Aquia Towne Center isn't actually a warehouse at all. Instead, it is an empty storefront that is filled with stuffed animals, games, dolls, fire trucks - just about any toy that can be named. Volunteers and a group of Marines who are assigned to the site for the month can be found hard at work sorting toys and preparing them for distribution seven days a week.

"We have spent the whole year contacting civic organizations in the community to say, 'Hey, how about volunteering in the Toys for Tots warehouse?' " said Wilma Vaughn, community relations specialist for Quantico. "It goes beyond being a job. They love being here."

Broc said that all the toys will be distributed to impoverished children throughout Northern Virginia.

Last year, approximately 117,000 new, unwrapped toys were collected from dozens of local Toys for Tots collection sites, and 67,000 children received toys through Quantico's Toys for Tots distribution site alone.

"My goal, hopefully, this year, is to collect around 120,000 toys," he said.

Nationwide, Marines collected and distributed more than 19 million toys in 2005.

On Sunday, as Broc fielded calls on his cell phone, he gestured around the warehouse and at the toys that will brighten Christmas for thousands of children.

"There will not be a single toy in here by Dec. 22," he said. Broc is already looking for a space that can be used for a warehouse next year.

The Toys for Tots campaign in Northern Virginia is assisted by 450 sponsors, who collect new toys for the program, as well as 250 distributors, who screen the families who ask for assistance. More than 100 events also help to bring in toy donations to the program.

New toys can be dropped off at fire stations in Stafford and Prince William counties and the City of Fredericksburg. Bogey's Sports Bar & Grill in Fredericksburg is also a Toys for Tots drop-off and donation site. The grill is located in Central Park at 1380 Central Park Blvd., Suite 103.

By MEGHANN COTTER

An intimidating silence fills a classroom of 22 recently hired Stafford County fire and rescue employees.

It's Monday morning, Dec. 4, and still dark outside.

No one is whispering.

There's little movement, besides the occasional slurp from a coffee cup.

Everyone's eyes are focused on one uniformed man, sitting on a desk in the front of the room.

Chief Charlie Freeman wastes no time getting started when the clock strikes 6.

Stafford is growing fast, he tells the class. And the Fire and Rescue Department needs to keep up.

"We have a lot of holes we need to fill, and you guys are going to fill those holes," he tells them.

Until now, Stafford's emergency service professionals have taken necessary skill classes as individuals. But all future instruction will happen twice a year through the newly created Fire and Rescue Training Academy, which Freeman and Lt. Erick Kling are teaching.

Training schools are common nationwide in larger departments that hire a lot of new people each year. Many counties in Northern Virginia provide such programs to fill vacant positions and maintain skills among employees.

Most people coming through Stafford's first class are filling new positions being funded by ambulance fees that the county started collecting in October. The remaining students will fill existing vacancies.

Read more from the Free-Lance Star.

Source: Stafford County Sun

By JENNIFER BUSKE
Friday, November 24, 2006

An Oregon-based company submitted site plans to Stafford's planning department last month in order to build Stafford Regional Airport's first corporate hangar.

The construction of the hangar, which will be owned and used by Vertol Systems Co., will be just one of the many changes that will occur at the airport in the next several years as airport officials work to expand the facility.

"We're right on the verge of a large expansion," said Stafford airport manager Edward Wallis. "We want to expand so we become self-sufficient and return revenue to the surrounding municipalities."

Vertol plans to build a two-story, roughly 30,480-square-foot aircraft hangar. The building, which will sit on about 2.5 acres, will be used for storage as well as office space, according to county documents.

According to Vertol's Web site, the company provides aircraft equipment and services to various customers, including the United States government. Vertol's James Montgomerie, who submitted the site plans for the company, said he would not comment about the company's specific plans for the property or why Vertol is building in Stafford.

Vertol plans to sign a 40-year ground lease with the airport and pay for the construction of the hangar. The company will pay about $22,860 a year to operate in Stafford, Wallis said, noting all that money goes back to the airport to help it grow and expand.

The new hangar will also bring more traffic to the airport and more fuel sales, Willis said, adding that the airport currently sells about 24,000 gallons of fuel a month.

Stafford Regional Airport opened Dec. 13, 2001 with "37 acres of asphalt and that was it," Wallis said. Now, the airport includes one T-hangar as well as one large building to house aircraft.

The Stafford Regional Airport Authority owns and operates the airport, which is used by about 850 aircraft a month. According to the airport's Web site, this independent authority - which includes representatives from Stafford and Prince William counties as well as the City of Fredericksburg - along with the Federal Aviation Administration, have worked since 1989 to develop the facility.

Wallis said airport officials are continuously working to expand the airport and several new developments are under way. The airport is undergoing a $1.5 million apron expansion, Wallis said. The project, which is mainly funded through state and federal dollars, includes the addition of 90,000 square feet of pavement that will allow those who come in and build new hangars to access the runway.

Airport officials are also working with Dominion Virginia Power to develop a three-phase power infrastructure, Wallis said. This system, which will be funded by the airport authority, is needed for corporate hangar buildings to "efficiently" function. Wallis said once the power system is in place, the airport will become "very marketable."

Wallis said right now the airport has contractors ready to build two more T-hangars and possibly a third.
"There's a demand," Wallis said about the need for more hangar space. "We have 34 people on the hangar waiting list. The area is growing. More people are moving here with aircraft, and also there are just more people who can afford aircraft."

As of now, there are no plans to bring commercial aircraft to the facility, Wallis said. The authority, however wants to see more corporate hangars built as well as a terminal building. Wallis said officials will start designing a terminal building next year and begin construction around the year 2009.

By JENNIFER BUSKE
jbuske@staffordcountysun.com
Friday, November 3, 2006
Source: Stafford County Sun

More freedom and new opportunities are the two reasons entrepreneur Martha Rodriguez moved from Peru to the United States just over two decades ago.

And, as she sat inside her business Tuesday, Rodriguez said that is exactly what she found.

"There are so many more opportunities here," Rodriguez said. "I feel grateful and lucky to be here. I came from a poor family, but I am able to strive here with hard work and support from my family."

On Oct. 6, Rodriguez, along with her sister Gloti Rodriguez, opened Marcela's Chicken in Stafford's Foreston Crossing - offering area residents a place to have traditional Peruvian-style food.

"I enjoy the fact that I am a Spanish woman and was able to accomplish this," Martha Rodriguez said. "This shows that anyone can do something as long as they set goals."

Rodriguez and her sister opened a physician's office in Alexandria 12 years ago, she said. But, wanting to do something outside the medical field, Rodriguez said she turned to the restaurant business because it "only seemed fit," based on her family's background.

"My mother owned a restaurant in Peru so we grew up with this kind of business," Rodriguez said, noting she was one of six girls in the family. "A restaurant just made sense because it was my childhood and it's in my blood."

Rodriguez's restaurant focuses on various chicken and steak dishes, she said. The Peruvian-style chicken is prepared like rotisserie chicken except it is cooked over charcoal instead of gas.

The food also contains different seasonings, Rodriguez said, adding that getting the needed spices can be a challenge because it is expensive to bring them here from Peru.

The restaurant also offers flan, plantains and yucca - a food similar to a French fry that is then dipped in a special sauce.

"Many people don't know about Peruvian food, so I try to explain and people are then willing to try it," Rodriguez said. "Others who have traveled, they know about it and are happy we are here."

Compared to many American foods, Rodriguez said her dishes are healthier because the rotisserie allows the grease to drain from the chicken, leaving it juicy.

Rodriguez said this type of restaurant is very popular in Peru and is found "everywhere," similar to how McDonald's is present in the United States.

Although it represents a fast-food business in her home country, Rodriguez said she did not want that atmosphere here. Instead, with the help of an architect from Peru, she was able to design a family-oriented facility that falls somewhere between a fast-food place and a sit-down restaurant.

Looking back at her younger years, Rodriguez said she never saw herself as an entrepreneur.

"I've always been very shy, so I even shocked myself when I opened a business," she said. "Even my friends were surprised because I was such a quiet girl."

Rodriguez said it was with the help of her family that she was able to pursue the challenge of opening her own business.

"I had wonderful support from my father before he passed away last year," she said. "He helped me and pushed me to do what I wanted. He was my mentor and I feel he is still by my side today."

Rodriguez said her mother, Marcela Rodriguez - the woman she named the restaurant after - has also provided moral support and will return from Peru in March to help run the business.

"She is excited to help manage," Rodriguez said, noting that her mom is also anxious to share what she learned while working in the business.

While her sister still works full time at the Alexandria facility, Rodriguez said she is moving to Stafford to focus on the new restaurant.

Although she only has four employees now, Rodriguez said she would like to bring more of her sisters on board in the future as well as eventually expand the menu "little by little."

Rodriguez said she also plans to hold an official grand opening celebration later this month, offering food samples and coupons to those who visit the facility.

"I love this business and every day I learn something new," she said. "I enjoy sharing my culture and being able to offer original, quality Peruvian food to the community."

By JENNIFER BUSKE
jbuske@staffordcountysun.com
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Stafford County Sun

Chinese-born entrepreneur Jimmy Yang left home more than a decade ago to begin business in the United States.

Now, after successfully opening two supply companies in Stafford, Yang works to entice others to move to and invest in the greater Fredericksburg region.

"Jimmy is exceptionally well connected with the senior leadership at the very highest levels of Chinese government," Fredericksburg Regional Alliance President Gene Bailey said. "He is not only a trade representative, but is an excellent ambassador from China to the people of our region."

Yang, along with Bailey and about a dozen other business entrepreneurs from the greater Washington, D.C. area, traveled to the Changzhou region of China last month to network with leaders from across the world and promote the Fredericksburg region.

"It was a highly successful conference," Bailey said. "I think we have established a strong presence and positive image of our region in the Changzhou region of China."

Yang was selected in March to act as director of the Changzhou economic and trade liaison office in Washington, D.C., and as senior economic adviser to the Changzhou municipal government in China.

As the liaison, Yang's job is to build relationships between Changzhou and the Washington, D.C. area. Because of his location in Stafford, Yang said he is particularly interested in having international businesses relocate to the Fredericksburg region.

"We strongly recommend people come to the Stafford and Fredericksburg area," Yang said. "And, since I represent the Chinese government, I really want to establish a win-win situation for both regions. Through my efforts, Gene Bailey's and other officials', I think that will be accomplished."

The international forum Yang and other officials attended last month was sponsored by the Changzhou Municipal People's Government and focused on science, technology, foreign trade and economic cooperation among businesses across the world, Yang said.

"I've gone to this conference four or five times before but I believe this one was the best," Yang said, adding that the Changzhou government invested $6 million in the event. "It was very impressive and I got to do a lot of networking."

More than 2,000 business leaders from around the world attended the conference, Yang said, noting about 40 of those represented the United States. The conference, which ran Sept. 28-30 was filled with meetings, seminars and speeches, including one given by Bailey.

"I recommended him to speak because I knew it would be a good opportunity to get more exposure for the Fredericksburg region," Yang said. "Gene is always very professional and I brought him because I knew he could speak highly of the region and part of our mission on this trip was to continue to market our region."

During his speech, Bailey said he established that the Fredericksburg region is a part of the greater Washington D.C. area and is one of the fastest growing places in the country, he said.

"Not everyone had the chance to promote a region in front of the delegation, but they afforded me an opportunity you cannot buy," Bailey said. "We got excellent exposure and a lot of things happened that were truly phenomenal."

Bailey said it was also important he let people know this region offers a business-friendly environment.

"It's not only about facts and figures, but it's also about establishing a friendship," Bailey said. "It's important to extend a smile and a handshake and let people know they can set up a business here among friends."

Besides promoting the region to worldwide business leaders, Yang said he also worked on establishing a sister city relationship with Changzhou. Although nothing is finalized, he said Changzhou's government is "very positive" about the relationship.

"There will be a lot of follow-up and we will have to do a lot of homework, but I think the sister-city program is very important," Yang said. "I'm really going to push for this region to become a sister city with Changzhou."

Changzhou already has nine sister cities around the world, Yang said. If this region becomes No. 10, it would promote trading, bring more international business to the area and also allow for student-exchange programs to be set up between regions.

"I think this was my most successful trip yet because there was more talk and we are closer to establishing the sister-city relationship," Yang said. "This would be a huge investment on the Chinese's side and would bring a lot of international business to our region."

Although working on this partnership was a large part of the trip, Yang said he also formed several other business contacts during the conference and has one construction company "looking very seriously" at moving to the Fredericksburg region.

Stafford entrepreneur Nike Ladeji also attended the conference and said she was able to successfully network with companies to further her new business. Ladeji's company acts as a business alliance, helping to connect companies from around the world together.

"I was speechless when I got there," Ladeji said. "I'm a black woman and when I got there I was not discriminated against. In China, if you respect their culture, they will fully respect you. It was really an eye-opener. I'm going to preach to people to reach out to them because they are beautiful people."

Ladeji said she does a lot of work in the energy field as well as with copper - two commodities of interest to the people of China.

"I'd heard a lot about China's interest in Ethanol in order to clean air pollution," she said. "I have a plantation in Africa that grows the crop they are going to be using to manufacture Ethanol, which is why I really wanted to go - to make the connection."

Although the next Changzhou conference is a year from now, Yang and Bailey said they will continuously work to build relationships and bring international businesses to the region.

Yang said he also plans to host two delegations from Changzhou sometime in the next few months.

"This friendship certainly holds great promise for promoting economic development now and in the future. This is a long-term process and Jimmy will play, in my opinion, a vital role in this development," Bailey said. "I think there will be many more exchanges between these two regions in 2007."

By JEFF BRANSCOME
Source: The Free-Lance Star

Lori Chaney said her fifth-grade teacher called her stupid.

But her sixth-grade teacher, Gloria Risley, recognized a learning disability and helped Chaney overcome it.

Risley's patience and faith in her student not only helped Chaney in school, it inspired her career.

Now a technology resource teacher at Winding Creek Elementary School in Stafford County, Chaney was honored yesterday as one of Virginia's best.

She earned Teacher of the Year honors for Region 3 of Virginia, making her the third educator from Winding Creek to do so. One of those teachers, Cari DelFratte, went on to win teacher of the year for the state.

As the school's technology guru, Chaney helps teachers integrate computers and other technology into their lesson plans.

She also visits classes and runs a program to train older students to troubleshoot equipment and mentor their peers.

While the subject matter can be complex, Chaney's teaching philosophy is simple.

"I just give them the belief that they can do anything," she said. "We just don't accept the word 'can't.'"

Chaney, 42, dedicated her teacher of the year portfolio to Risley, who died in 2002.

"My hope is that one day I will be able to impact the life of a child the way Gloria did mine," she wrote.

Actually, she may already have reached that goal.

In describing one of her most memorable moments, Chaney mentioned an economically disadvantaged student who struggled to pass the Standards of Learning tests.

She and another teacher, "really had a heart for him," Chaney said. "He just meant the world to us."

Chaney tutored him and instilled the belief that "you can achieve anything."

The next year, the student passed the SOL exams.

"That's the way she is," said Jeff Chaney, her husband. "She'll cheer for the underdog."

And when it comes to persistence, Chaney seems to take her own advice.

The Indiana native has undergone five knee surgeries but still tries to run competitively every month. In fact, she hyperextended her knee during the sixth mile of a 26-mile race.

She still finished.

"I was ashamed to come to school because I felt like I let my kids down," she said.

The next day, however, parents, teachers and students showered her with praise.

"These 10-year-olds taught me so much about perseverance," Chaney said.

Students and staff at Winding Creek yesterday displayed this same support with three collective cheers.

They hollered at thSe direction of Principal Elliot Bolles, who announced the news of her achievement over the loudspeaker. Afterward, Chaney's hands shook and her eyes welled up.

"Things like this, the recognition, lets you know you're where God wants you," she said.

Before accepting a job with Stafford in 2002, Chaney taught fifth grade at Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan.

During the interview process in Stafford, she called Andre Nougaret, then director of human resources, several times and peppered him with questions about the school division.

"Before it was all over, I kind of felt like Lori was interviewing me rather than me interviewing her," said Nougaret, now interim superintendent.

Winding Creek Elementary opened in 1999 with Bill Kennedy as principal. That's who Bolles, the current principal, credits with producing so many teacher-of-the-year winners.

"I know he is a charismatic leader and managed to recruit these great teachers," he said.

Kennedy, now a public information officer for the Stafford Sheriff's Office, said Chaney has a "can-do attitude" and makes every student feel "wanted."

"When I'm hiring people, I'm looking for heart, first and foremost," he said.

That's what he got with Chaney.

"If you don't have that heart for kids, then you shouldn't be in the classroom," she said.