6 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • November 2024
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PUBLISHER & EDITOR Leigh Anne Van Doren
leighanne@fredericksburgparent.net
Tabitha & Jamie Nelle's mom
MEDIA & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
megan@fredericksburgparent.net
Megan Walsh: Mia, Noelle & Adelaide's mom
DESIGN & PRODUCTION
Cheryl Carter:
Alex, Kate & Jackie's mom
SALES REPRESENTATIVE
Jacky Martin: Richie, Chris & Adam's mom
WEBMASTER
caroline@fredericksburgparent.net
Caroline Murray:
Nate & Brendan's mom
CALENDAR & COOL THINGS TO DO ELETTER
amanda@fredericksburgparent.net
Amanda Danaher:
Emma, Wyatt,
Grant, Jack and Thea's mom
EDUCATION & INFANT ELETTERS
Debra Caffrey:
Aidan's mom
SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR
jessica@fredericksburgparent.net
Jessica Trask:
Cye, Asher & Ragan's mom
SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR
Laura Carter: Alison and Michael's daughter
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© Copyright 2024 Nurture, Inc. All rights reserved.
WRITTEN BY LEIGH ANNE VAN DOREN
letter to reader
Leigh Anne Van Doren,
Frederickburg Parent and
Family publisher
Hello
Holiday
Season
And hello, special needs moms! We see you and honor your journey. As a
fellow special needs mom, I know one of the biggest challenges is finding
the right resources for your child, fast.
In this issue, we've gathered recommendations from local moms' groups on
the best play spaces for families with special needs. Plus, thanks to sponsor-
ship from Compass Counseling, we've refreshed our Autism Resource list to
support you on your parenting path.
This month, we're excited to share an interview with the director of Sparks
Learning Academy, a newly opened childcare center for kids with special
needs. Read the full story about this valuable addition to our community on
FredericksburgParent.net.
Our Family Money columnist, Nikki Ducas, also shares her expert advice
on managing food costs when shopping for large family gatherings. True
to her style, she's both frugal and fun. And if you're considering catering
Thanksgiving this year, our moms' groups have come through with their top
recommendations and upvotes.
For quality time with family, we've included DIY ornament ideas to cre-
ate together over Thanksgiving break. Kick off the holiday magic with
the city's Rockefeller-sized Christmas tree lighting at Riverfront Park on
Nov. 9. Thanks to a new grant, Fredericksburg will display its largest and
most spectacular tree yet—we can't wait to see it!
I'm also grateful for the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board,
which has put together eight pages of mental health resources to help you
stay balanced and healthy through the holidays.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Leigh
Anne
