Local News

Firing Ranges Get Environmentally Friendly At A. P. Hill • Fort A.P. Hill among military posts switching to environmentally friendly targets

Fuel Costs May Drive Up Fares On Vre Vre Hearings • VRE fares could increase 15 percent in January; public hearings scheduled this month

Ordinary Marines, Extraordinary Valor The 'Fighting Fourth' Iwo Jima Fighting Exacted Deadly Toll • 4th Marines, heroes in the Pacific in World War II, gather in Fredericksburg

Bus Mix-Up Scares Parents • Stafford County kindergarten student dropped off about a mile from home

Windy, Rainy Mess Coming Events Changes To Be Prepared • Terrible weather to sweep Fredericksburg

Correction • Correction

Police Briefs • Police Briefs

Micah Offers Hospitality To Growing Population New Hospitality Center Brings New Programs • Homeless get new center in Fredericksburg

Celebrating Labor Day Tough For Many This Year • Pastor Charlie Chilton's Thought for the Week column: Revisiting Labor Day

Singing For The Sabbath • Area man records CD of Hebrew prayers

Faith And Presidential Politics • Religious profiles of presidential candidates

Stafford Needs Poll Workers • Stafford County experiencing a shortage of poll workers

Spotsylvania Charges Two With Drug Dealing • Men sent to jail following Spotsy drug bust

Five Faithful Lessons--For People Of Any Faith-- From Ramadan • Five faithful lessons--for people of any faith-- from Ramadan

Sports

Eagles Take Advantage Of Foxes' Mistakes Nondistrict Game • High school football: Washington & Lee 26, King George 6

Cougars On Solid Ground Nondistrict Game • High school football: Courtland 41, Courtland 6

Cougars On Solid Ground • High school football: Courtland 41, Riverbend 6

Colonial Forge Falls To Osbourn Park • High school sports roundup

Threat Of Hanna Plays Havoc With Area Events • Weather forces postponements, cancellations

Neylon Key Contributor In Chancellor'S Victory •  Field hockey: Chancellor at James Monroe

Hokies Defenders Go Back To Basics Today'S Game • Furman at Virginia Tech preview

London Calling On Cavs Today'S Game • Richmond at Virginia preview

Gentlemen, Cool Your Engines Sprint Cup • NASCAR pole qualifying

Stewart Chooses Grubb • NASCAR notebook

No Offense: Redskins Sputtered Nfl Schedule • Redskins

Hornets Overpower Blue Devils, 40-0 • High school football: Culpeper at Orange

High School Football Standings, Schedule • High school football standings, schedule

Wallace Does It All • Massaponax vs. Chancellor, 6-35

Composite Area Schedule • High school football season scores, schedule

Composite Area Schedule • High school football season scores, schedule

Town and County

English Tradition Stratford Hall Plantation'S Genteel Garden Style Is Entwined With The Customs Of The Old Country Getting There Learn About Stratford • By Jed Duvall

Aunt Emma'S Storm Rules Jamestown Exhibit: "A New World: England'S First View Of America," Jamestown Settlement, Williamsburg, Through Oct. 15. A British Museum Exhibition Of The 16Th-Century Watercolor Drawings Of John White. These Drawings Are The Earliest Visual Record Of The Flora, Fauna And People Of The New World. A Companion Lecture Will Be Given Sept. 20 At 7 P.M. By Karen Hearn, Curator Of 16Th- And 17Th-Century British Art At Tate Britain In London. 888/593-4682; 757/253-5299 • Whenever there was a thunderstorm, Aunt Emma would gather everyone in the parlor and wait it out silently and reverently--or else. By Donnie Johnston

Rethinking Garden Worth Trying: Large Containers, Especially Plastic Ones, Which Are Lightweight And Help Retain Moisture, Are Particularly Useful For Growing Perennial Plants And Shrubs For Which There Is No Suitable Garden Site. Hydrangea Can Be Easily Grown In A Large Container, As Can Ferns. Both Require Shade And Water, Which Can Be Easily Provided For The Container Plant. Containers Have The Added Benefit Of Being Movable As Sun, Wind Or Other Changes Make A New Site Desirable. • Planning a new garden requires a look at the lay of the land. by Tony P. Wrenn

Cuttings • Garden calendar for Sept. 6

School Days For Dogs 'Fidos After 5': Thursday, Sept. 11, 5-9 P.M., Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Ave., Richmond. The Richmond Spca Hosts Owners And Their Leashed Pets To Stroll The Gardens And Enjoy Wine-Tasting, Music, Dining And Shopping; 804/262-9887, Lewisginter.Org. • Obedience school students learn straight from the dog's mouth. By Sarah A. Ferrell;

Homeless Pets • Pets up for Adoption

Pet Notes • Pet notes for Sept. 6

Adventuring On The Mall 'Heads & Tails' Exhibit: Virginia Historical Society, 428 North Blvd., Richmond, Through 2009. This New Exhibit Showcases Rarely Or Never-Before Seen Oil-On-Canvas Portraits Featuring Individuals With Compelling Personal Stories. A Group Of Portraits Is Being Rotated During The Exhibit. Adults, $5; Senior Citizens, $4; Under 18, Free. 804/342-9665, Vahistorical.Org. •  A visit to the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum has pluses and minuses. By Paul Sullivan

They'Re Ready To Play Ball Submit Photos: Town & County Invites Readers To Submit Flashback Photos. Photos, Which Will Be Returned, Should Be At Least 15 Years Old And Of General Interest. Include Identifications And Other Helpful Information, As Well As Contact Numbers. Mail Pictures To Gwen Woolf, The Free Lance-Star, 616 Amelia St., Or Drop Off At The Newspaper'S Office; E-Mail Photos To Gwoolf@Freelancestar.Com. Questions? Call 540/374-5432. • The gang's all here: Spotsylvania kids gather at the Strickler homeplace

Civil War Calendar • Civil War calendar for Sept. 6

Early Memories Of Area 'Touch Box' Program: Washington'S Ferry Farm, 268 Kings Highway (State Route 3 East), Stafford County. This New Program Enables The Blind And Visually Impaired To Explore The History Of Washington'S Boyhood Home. Braille And Large-Print Maps Also Available. Open 10 A.M.-4 P.M.; Adults, $5; Ages 6-17, $3; Under Age 6, Free. 540/370-0732; Ferryfarm.Org. Public Invited • A nostalgic look at life in the Fredericksburg area after World War II for Mary Wickouski and her family

Stormy Freedom Path 'Civil War In The Cinema': Tomorrow, 7:30-9:30 P.M., Tredegar Iron Works, 500 Tredegar St., Richmond. Two Free Films Set During The Civil War Will Be Shown In The Courtyard. Concert Of Period Music Performed By Carson Hudson Of Williamsburg At 6:30 P.M. Bring A Picnic Meal. 804/780-1865, Ext. 23; Tredegar.Org. • Tony Williams' "Hurricane of Independence" tells the story of the American Revolution in an inviting way. By Erik Nelson

Louisa County Ramps It Up Go Skateboarding: The Louisa Skate Park Is Now Open Seven Days A Week During Daylight Hours. There Is No Fee To Use The Facility But You Need Your Own Equipment. Participants Are Urged To Wear Appropriate Safety Equipment, Including Helmet With Chinstrap, Elbow And Knee Protection Plus A Mouthpiece. • Louisa Skateboard Park offers fun, exercise and something for young people to do. By Jim Kundreskas

Business

What Makes Us The Best? • Forbes.com has named Virginia as the country's best state for business for the past three years

Do you make an effort to eat foods from local sources? It's easy to do when farm stands are bursting with fresh, colorful summer produce, but what about when the weather gets colder? What do you do to keep your cupboard local throughout the year? Do you can and freeze summer produce? Have you found good local sources for year-round staples like flour? We'd like to hear your ideas for an upcoming Food story.

Please contact Emily Battle at ebattle@freelancestar.com (phone: 540-374-5413)