SEPT 2026 CH by FXBG Neighbors

AN EXCLUSIVE MAGAZINE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF AUGUSTINE, AUSTIN RIDGE , COLONIAL FORGE, EMBREY MILL, LIBERTY KNOLLS, SHELTON KNOLLS & SHELTON WOODS.

SEPTEMBER 2026

NEIGHBORS OF

Courthouse

Triple-Step into Swing:

MEET JOEL WEBBER OF DANCE FXBG

Photo by Karen Presecan Photography

2 | NEIGHBORS OF COURTHOUSE

Welcome to the September issue of Neighbors of Courthouse! It’s time for football, bonfires, and crisp apple cider! September is here— and, hopefully, bringing cooler weather with it.

PUBLICATION TEAM

Publisher: Dori Stewart

Content Executive Assistant to the Publisher: Coordinator: Mallory Hardgrove Crissy Hall

This month, we’re proud to feature a staple in the dance community: Joel Webber and Dance FXBG. We also highlight the Greater Fredericksburg Habitat for Humanity, who have been doing more than just building houses, and spotlight an amazing art program for local children. As always, thank you to our fantastic sponsors who make each installment possible. Happy reading,

Mallory Hardgrove FXBGNeighbors

Publisher’s Assistant: Valynda Phifer

Photographer: Karen Presecan

Designer: Laura Anderson

Contributing Writer: Karie Owens

Contributing Writer: Cherice Taylor

Contributing Writer: Stephanie Cox

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Table of

CONTENTS

Home Improvement Corner Why DIY Flooring Fails: The Hidden Costs of Skipping Professional Installation

Charity Spotlight Building More Than Homes: Greater Fredericksburg Habitat for Humanity

Pet Corner Knee-Deep in Options: What to Do When Your Dog Tears Its CCL

Contact: Dori Stewart Email: doristewart@bestversionmedia.com Phone: (540)288-7928

FEEDBACK/IDEAS/SUBMISSIONS

Have feedback, ideas, or submissions? We are always happy to hear from you! Deadlines for submissions are the 10th of each month. Go to www.bestversionmedia.com and click “Submit Content.” You may also email your thoughts, ideas, and photos to: doristewart@bestversionmedia.com.

Content Due Edition December 10 ...............................................................................January January 10.................................................................................. February February 10.......................................................................................March March 10.................................................................................................April April 10......................................................................................................May May 10...................................................................................................... June June 10....................................................................................................... July July 10................................................................................................ August August 10................................................................................ September September 10..............................................................................October October 10............................................................................... November November 10......................................................................... December

Any content, resident submissions, guest columns, advertisements and advertorials are not necessarily endorsed by or represent the views of Best Version Media (BVM) or any municipality, homeowners associations, businesses or organizations that this publication serves. BVM is not responsible for the reliability, suitability or timeliness of any content submitted, inclusive of materials generated or composed through artificial intelligence (AI). All content submitted is done so at the sole discretion of the submitting party. © 2026 Best Version Media. All rights reserved.

FXBGNeighbors

Business Profile Art Cart Kids Enrichment Studio: Where Creativity Builds Confidence

Kids Corner Dazzle’s Leaf Rubbing Creatures

Parents Education Corner How Did They Land That Internship? Summer 2027 Is Loading—Are You Ready?

Feature Family Triple-Step into Swing: Meet Joel Webber of Dance FXBG

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PLUMBING

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HOME IMPROVEMENT CORNER

BY KARIE OWENS, PHOTOS COURTESY OF NK FLOORS

WHY DIY FLOORING FAILS: THE HIDDEN COSTS OF SKIPPING PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATION That weekend flooring project on YouTube makes it look easy: rip out the old floor, click the new planks into place, done by Sunday night. But flooring is one of the few home projects where the mistakes don’t show up right away; they show up six months later, when boards start cupping, seams separate, or a warranty claim gets denied. Here’s what DIY installation actually risks. Subfloor Prep Gets Skipped Every successful flooring job starts below the surface. A subfloor has to be level, clean, and structurally sound before a single plank goes down. DIYers often skip this step entirely, or don’t have the tools to catch a subfloor that’s out of level by more than the manufacturer’s tolerance. The result: floors that flex, squeak, or develop stress cracks within the first year. These

problems are far more expensive to fix after the new floor is installed than before. Moisture Testing Is the Step Nobody Thinks About Wood and moisture don’t mix, and neither do many types of engineered flooring. Professional installers test subfloor moisture content before installation because even a small amount of excess moisture can cause warping, buckling, or mold growth under the new floor. Without a moisture meter and the knowledge to interpret it, a DIY installer has no way of knowing whether the subfloor is safe to build on until the damage is visible. Warranties Only Protect Professional Work Here’s the part most homeowners don’t find out until it’s too late: most manufacturer warranties explicitly require professional installation. If a

floor fails and the installation wasn’t done or documented by a certified installer, that warranty claim can be denied outright. A $6,000 flooring investment with a “lifetime” warranty on paper can become a $6,000 loss in practice, simply because of who put it down. The Real Cost Comparison DIY installation seems to save money upfront. But factor in tool rental, wasted material from cutting errors, the cost of fixing subfloor issues after the fact, and a voided warranty, and professional installation is often the cheaper option in the long run. At NK Floors, every installation starts with subfloor inspection and moisture testing, and every job is backed by both our workmanship and the manufacturer’s warranty. Quality flooring deserves a foundation that protects it.

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CHARIT Y SPOTLIGHT

BY MALLORY HARDGROVE

BUILDING MORE THAN HOMES: GREATER FREDERICKSBURG HABITAT FOR HUMANITY For Maerine “Mimi” Mitchell, the moment a family receives the keys to their new home never gets old. “Seeing their smiles—and often tears—as they walk through the front door for the first time is incredibly powerful,” she says. “At that moment, they’re not just entering a house—they’re stepping into a future filled with possibility for themselves and their children.” Mimi officially stepped into the role of Executive Director of Greater Fredericksburg Habitat for Humanity on February 1, 2026, after transitioning into the position over the summer of 2025. But her connection to Habitat’s mission runs much deeper than her start date. She spent nearly a decade with another Habitat affiliate before coming to Fredericksburg—long enough, she jokes, to catch what she and her colleagues call “Habitat-itis.” “Once you have it, it stays with you,” she says. Her path into affordable housing work began during a stint as an AmeriCorps VISTA, where she first volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. The experience resonated on a personal level: she was navigating her own housing struggles after graduating college into the 2008 economic crisis. That collision of professional discovery and personal hardship set the course for her career.

A Mission Rooted in Stability Greater Fredericksburg Habitat for Humanity serves the Fredericksburg region, including Stafford, King George, and Spotsylvania, building and rehabilitating homes for families in need of safe, affordable housing. Since its founding in 1995, the organization has built more than 32 homes and completed hundreds of critical home repairs. The need is real and growing. Across Virginia, 1 in 8 households spends more than half their income on housing, forcing families to choose between shelter and other essentials like food or healthcare. “Our philosophy is rooted in the belief that stable, affordable housing is the foundation for a better life,” Mimi explains. Importantly, Habitat’s model isn’t charity in the traditional sense. “At Habitat, we don’t give homes away—we partner with families,” Mimi says. Homeowners invest sweat equity, contribute financially, and commit to their family’s future. “It’s a hand-up, not a handout, and that’s what makes the impact so lasting.” A New Development Taking Shape Currently, the organization is deep into one of its most ambitious efforts yet: a new construction development of six homes in the Mayfield area of Fredericksburg. “This project has been years in the making, and we are thrilled to bring it to life finally,” Mimi says. The organization is inviting the community to follow the build’s progress and is actively seeking sponsors, in-kind service providers, and volunteers to help cross the finish line. Those interested can learn more at fredhab.org/services/builds/davies-street. Community, Connection, and a Mechanical Bull Beyond the build sites, Mimi has embraced Fredericksburg’s tight-knit community spirit. At a recent fundraiser at Stockyards Restaurant & Bar, she even climbed aboard a mechanical bull in exchange for donations. “It was definitely a memorable

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She’s quick to point out that there are many ways for community members to get involved, whether it be by swinging a hammer, sponsoring a build, donating materials, or simply spreading the word. “It takes all of us working together to truly make a difference,” Mimi says. “Everyone deserves a decent place to live—and together, we can make that a reality right here in our community.”

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FEATURE RESIDENT

Triple-Step into Swing: MEET JOEL WEBBER OF DANCE FXBG

BY MALLORY HARDGROVE • PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAREN PRESECAN PHOTOGRAPHY & BLUUBOLTZZ LENZ

Every Saturday night in downtown Fredericksburg, a door in a back alley off George Street opens onto a staircase that most passersby never notice. Climb it, and you’ll find yourself in a room with a stone wall on one side, a brick wall on the other, and original oak floorboards worn smooth by decades of footsteps — and, these days, by the shuffle-ball-changes of jitterbugs and Lindy Hoppers. This is Dance FXBG, and the man who built it, Joel Webber, wants you to feel like you’ve stumbled onto something secret. “I like to call this the Speakeasy entrance,” Webber says, describing the route dancers take through the rear alley, up the back stairs, and into the hall. “You come in the rear alley door, then come up the rear stairs, and into the dance hall.”

It’s a fitting description for a place that runs on old-fashioned charm but has become one of the region’s liveliest weekend traditions. Every Saturday, the floor fills from 7:30 to 11 p.m., preceded by a half-hour beginner lesson to get newcomers ready to dance. On Sundays, group lessons split beginners and intermediate/advanced dancers into backto-back sessions at 6 and 7 p.m., running in a seven-week series that rolls one into the next all year long. Students learn the jitterbug, Lindy Hop, and three styles of Charleston — the vocabulary of East Coast Swing, the dance form Webber has built his entire studio around. But walk in on any given Saturday, and you won’t just hear swing standards. Webber has stitched together a soundtrack that ranges far beyond the genre’s roots. “Even though it is a swing dance, we play big band hits, the Beatles, Chuck Berry, Elvis, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and more,” he says. “You can dance to country, Latin, and Hustle as well.” There are line dances woven through the night and dance jams that pull everyone onto the floor at once. A DJ usually runs the dances, though Webber makes a point of bringing in a live band at least once a month. What keeps people coming back, though, isn’t just the music but rather the welcome. Webber has heard it from dancers so many times that he’s stopped being surprised by it. “Every week someone will come up to me and thank me for hosting this dance and giving everyone such a fun place to come hang out and dance,” he says. He’s built the studio so that no one is left standing at the edge of the floor. “Not a problem if you

8 | NEIGHBORS OF COURTHOUSE

cannot dance, or you do not have a partner, because everyone helps each other out and you get a chance to dance with everyone throughout the night.” That sense of camaraderie doesn’t happen by accident. Webber runs Dance FXBG with a small team of co-instructors, Jackie Kimbrell, Cindy Patishnock, and Logan Hooks, who share the teaching load across the studio’s Sunday lesson series. Together they’ve built something dancers describe, in Webber’s words, as simply “the best dances around,” a phrase he says gets repeated to him often enough that he’s come to believe it himself. Dance FXBG is almost 15 years old now, but it’s really just the latest chapter in a life that’s had several. Webber spent 20 years in the Navy, earning his degree from St. Leo University while still in uniform. After the Navy, he didn’t slow down; instead, he built a 26-year career as a home inspector and a 27-year career as a general contractor, often running both alongside the dance studio. That decades-long career recently found its way onto the page: Webber published “Memoirs of a Home Inspector,” a book chronicling his years walking through other people’s houses, now available on Amazon and other retailers. He’s already at work on a second book, one he expects will eventually stretch into a third. “I am currently writing a second book, which will eventually turn into a third, and probably my final book,” Webber says, “but we’ll see.”

It’s a line that captures something essential about him — a restless curiosity that refuses to settle into any one identity. When he’s not teaching a lesson or spinning records for a Saturday night crowd, Webber is likely singing karaoke, picking up one of his guitars, or hunting for hidden gems in artisan shops. He and his family are avid travelers, with cruises a favorite way to see the world. And there’s plenty of family to travel for: Webber has five children and sixteen grandchildren, a sprawling crew involved in what he calls “way too many activities” for him to keep up with, though he tries. That same instinct for gathering people together, whether it’s family or strangers who’ve never done a Lindy Hop turn in their life, is what has made Dance FXBG feel less like a business and more like a standing invitation. Beginners who show up not knowing a single step are folded into the half-hour lesson before the music starts, and by the time the DJ or live band gets going, most of them are already out on the floor, trading turns with strangers who’ll be friends by the end of the night. For Webber, that’s really the whole point. Twenty years in the Navy, decades in home inspection and contracting, a book on the shelves and another on the way, and still, it’s the sound of feet on old oak floors, framed by stone and brick, that seems to matter most. Fredericksburg has plenty of downtown nightlife, but few can say they have the tra-

dition Dance FXBG maintains. And for the regulars who’ve made the climb up the secret staircase and shared music, laughs, and countless dances, the speakeasy entrance symbolizes a special community, built by Webber and his passion for music and dance, one Saturday night at a time. SE PTEMBER 2026 | 9

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10 | N E I G H B O R S O F C O U R T H O U S E

PET CORNER

BY DR. KATRINA SPIES, DVM, CHPV, CCRV, CVA, CVPP

KNEE-DEEP IN OPTIONS: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR DOG TEARS ITS CCL Summer is winding down, which means a steady stream of dogs limping into the clinic after one too many enthusiastic games of fetch. If your pup suddenly came up lame on a back leg, the culprit is often a torn cranial cruciate ligament (CCL), the canine version of our ACL tear. It’s a leading cause of hind-leg lameness, leaving owners facing a big decision fast: surgery or a conservative path? Here’s what both options involve, and why integrative medicine belongs in either plan. What’s Actually Happening in the Knee The CCL is a small but mighty ligament that keeps the knee joint stable. When it tears, the shin bone slides forward from under the thigh bone every time your dog puts weight on that leg. That instability is what causes the pain, the swelling, and the telltale toe-touch limp. Surgery or Conservative Care? For young, large, or high-energy dogs, surgical repair (most often a TPLO, or tibial plateau leveling osteotomy) is generally considered the gold standard. It mechanically stabilizes the joint, gets dogs back on their feet faster, and slows down the arthritis that follows a CCL tear. Locally, a TPLO typically runs somewhere between $5,500 and $7,500 per knee, depending on your dog’s size and whether additional procedures like arthroscopy or joint injections happen at the same time. That price usually covers pre-op diagnostics, anesthesia, the implants themselves, hospitalization, and follow-up X-rays. It does not usually include rehab afterward, which I consider essential, not optional, for a smooth recovery. Conservative management is worth a serious conversation for senior dogs, dogs with health issues that make anesthesia riskier, smaller breeds, partial tears, or when the cost of surgery simply isn’t feasible right now. Partial tears and sprains can sometimes heal on their own with the right support. Full tears cannot. And “conservative” doesn’t mean “do nothing and hope.” Without real pain control and carefully managed activity, that unstable knee will keep breaking down muscle and cartilage, and the strain is felt throughout the body. Where Integrative Medicine Comes In Whichever path you choose, pain medication from your regular vet is the starting point,

not the finish line. This is where integrative therapies earn their keep, whether your dog undergoes surgery or not: • Weight management. This might be the single most underrated tool in the whole toolbox. Even a 6% reduction in body weight measurably eases the load on an injured joint and slows arthritis. • Acupuncture. Dogs compensate for a bad leg by shifting weight elsewhere, and that shows up as tight, sore muscles along the back and opposite limbs. Acupuncture helps release that tension and triggers the body’s own pain relief response. • Laser therapy and PEMF. Both use energy (light in one case, electromagnetic pulses in the other) to calm inflammation inside the joint and speed up tissue repair at the cellular level. • Regenerative medicine. Joint injections like hyaluronic acid or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) restore joint fluid quality and reduce inflammation in the joint capsule. • Rehabilitation. Underwater treadmill work and guided exercise rebuild muscle and improve balance without putting excess strain on the healing joint. • Shockwave therapy. Sound waves stimulate the body’s own tissue repair process at the injury site. • Supplements. Fish oil (omega-3s like EPA and DHA), anti-inflammatory herbal blends, and injectable joint supplements like Adequan can quietly round out a recovery plan. None of these replace surgery or rehab, but they support the rest of the plan, and it’s worth running any supplement by your vet first. The Bottom Line There is no one-size-fits-all answer when a dog tears their CCL. Deciding between the operating room and conservative management comes down to your dog’s unique needs, lifestyle, health, as well as your family’s unique circumstances. What matters most is knowing you don’t have to choose between “surgery or nothing.” Regardless of the primary path you take, adding integrative modalities ensures your

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Sea M

BUSINESS PROFILE

BY MALLORY HARDGROVE

ART CART KIDS ENRICHMENT STUDIO: WHERE CREATIVITY BUILDS CONFIDENCE Tucked inside a cozy 1957 home in Stafford County, Art Cart Kids Enrichment Studio has become a beloved creative haven for children ages 4–12 throughout Stafford and the greater Fredericksburg area. Founded by Stephanie Cox, the studio offers daytime and after-school art sessions built around imagination, child-choice, and open-ended exploration rather than step-by-step projects. What began in the summer of 2019 as a mobile art school bringing painting classes to neighborhood children has grown into something much bigger. In July 2023, Stephanie purchased the building families know today, and the program has continued to evolve into what she calls “a children’s creative membership centered on imagination, child-choice, and open-ended exploration.” Stephanie’s connection to children’s development runs deep. Her passion for working with kids began at age 17 while working at the YMCA, and by the time she founded Art Cart Kids, she had already spent 31 years as an educator working with children. That experience shaped her belief that art is much more than the finished product. “Art could become much more than a creative activity,” she explains. “It could become a way for children to practice making choices, solving problems, communicating their ideas, and discovering that there isn’t just one right answer.” That philosophy sits at the heart of everything the studio does. As Stephanie puts it, “The focus isn’t on creating perfect artwork. It’s on helping children trust themselves, think creatively, and grow in their decision-making and independence.” Ask Stephanie what inspires her most, and the answer is simple: the kids themselves. “Every day they bring joy to the studio with their funny stories, constant jokes, imaginative ideas, and some of the best questions I’ve ever been asked,” she says. Watching students grow more confident and self-assured, she adds, is the most rewarding part of her work. Stephanie is quick to remind families that the real value of Art Cart Kids goes beyond the artwork sent home. “Every creative choice a child makes is an opportunity to practice problem-solving, independent thinking, perseverance, and confidence,” she says. “The artwork goes home, but confidence, independence, and critical thinking are gifts children carry with them for a lifetime.” 12 | N E I G H B O R S O F C O U R T H O U S E

Beyond the studio, Stephanie stays active in the local community, volunteering with the Daughters of the American Revolution, Betties in the Burg, and the Rappahannock Education Farm. She’s especially proud of the studio’s partnership with Stafford Junction, where Art Cart Kids provides free Friday evening art sessions for local children. Art Cart Kids also hosts seasonal camps and creative birthday parties, and partners with Stafford County Public Schools to offer after-school enrichment, including a convenient bus stop for Crow’s Nest Elementary students right at the studio’s driveway. For Stephanie, it all comes back to one goal: giving every child a place where they feel welcomed, valued, and free to create on their own terms. To learn more about Stephanie or Art Cart Kids, check out artcartkids.com or send an email to hello@artcartkids.com.

KIDS CORNER

BY STEPHANIE COX, OWNER, ART CART KIDS ENRICHMENT STUDIO

Dazzle’s

LEAF RUBBING CREATURES

Hi, artists! It’s Dazzle the Zebra. September is a wonderful time to look closely at the leaves around you. Every leaf has its own shape, edges and tiny lines. Today, you’ll use those hidden textures to create creatures that have never existed before!

Gather Your Supplies • A few fallen leaves

• Crayons with the wrappers removed

• Plain paper

• Tape, if needed

Create Your Leaf Creatures 1. Take a short walk and collect a few fallen leaves. Look for different shapes, sizes and textures. 2. Place a leaf under your paper with its bumpy vein side facing up. Add a small piece of tape if it moves.

5. Turn your paper in different directions. 6. Bonus: Use your crayons to transform the leaf shapes into creatures by adding eyes, legs, wings, tails or other imaginative details.

3. Turn a crayon on its side and gently rub it across the paper. Watch the leaf’s shape and tiny veins appear.

UNLEASH YOUR CHILD’S CREATIVE SUPERPOWERS!

4. Make several leaf rubbings. Let them touch, overlap or float around the page.

A ONE-OF-A-KIND ART EXPERIENCE!

Questions for Grown-Ups to Ask: • “What did you notice about your leaves?” • “How did you decide what each shape would become?”

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• “Which part of your creature surprised you?”

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• “Where do you imagine your creature lives?”

Art Cart Kids SE PTE MBER 2026 | 13

PARENTS EDUCATION CORNER

BY CHERICE TAYLOR

HOW DID THEY LAND THAT INTERNSHIP? SUMMER 2027 IS LOADING— ARE YOU READY? Cherice Taylor, M.A. Education Administration, is a Part-Time Career Advisor for Germanna Community College. She is the 2022-2023 Past President of the Rotary Club of Stafford and a Charter Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Psi Psi Omega Chapter. She is a relationship builder, poet and a former educator with over 10 years experience at the preschool through high school levels. Cherice earned her Bachelor’s degree from UCLA and her Masters in Education Administration from California State University- Dominguez Hills. She is married to LCDR Eric Taylor (retired) and a mother of four sons. A positive attitude and the belief that sharing pearls of wisdom along with the Golden Rule allows for everyone to improve and reach their personal goals. This is demonstrated in the podcast show that she hosts, Time Matters Podcast! Cherice believes that if we all do better, then we all do better, and that is why Cherice is involved in the community.

Ever wonder how local students manage to land those competitive summer internships? It’s rarely by accident. While it is only September—and the school year is just kicking into gear with fall sports and the first grading periods—the time to start thinking about Summer 2027 is already here. It isn’t too early; in fact, for many highly sought-after positions, the recruitment cycle is already turning. To get a head start, I used AI to identify opportunities right here in Stafford, Fredericksburg, and Spotsylvania. Whether your student is looking for STEM experience, government exposure, or a chance to build their resume, the window of opportunity is opening now. Where to Start Looking While large defense and tech firms are just beginning to post, the following local entities have strong histories of offering internship programs. Proactively monitoring these organizations now will put you ahead of the curve. Local Government & Public Institutions • Stafford County Government: Frequently lists internships in fields like GIS (Geographic Information Systems), environmental programs, and recruitment. Check their career page regularly. • University of Mary Washington (Fredericksburg): Look into their career and workforce programs, as well as opportunities within their advancement and alumni relations departments.

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• Commonwealth of Virginia: Many state agencies operate programs that combine academic credit with professional work experience. Check their official jobs portal periodically. Historical & Cultural Organizations • Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park: Through their partnership with William & Mary’s National Institute of American History and Democracy (NIAHD), they host summer internships focusing on public history, tour development, and visitor engagement. Private & Regional Opportunities • Matern Staffing: A recognized leader in local hiring, they frequently coordinate internships in marketing, communications, engineering, and environmental science. They are an excellent contact for finding local roles that may not appear on major national boards. • Kaeser Compressor, Inc. (Fredericksburg): This firm has a history of offering flexible, project-based internship roles, such as system design. • Broader Regional Options: For specialized roles—like microelectronics engineering—defense and tech contractors in Northern Virginia often open their summer cohorts as early as late 2026. Your Strategic Action Plan For most of these organizations, the primary recruitment window runs from September 2026 through January 2027. 1. Bookmark the Pages: Make a list of the career pages for Stafford County, the University of Mary Washington, and reach out to local agencies like Matern Staffing this fall. 2. Ask Early: By reaching out in September, you can ask when they anticipate opening their Summer 2027 applications. A quick email now can keep you on their radar. 3. Use Local Resources: Keep an eye out for free resume and interview workshops hosted in Stafford. These are invaluable for students preparing to make their first professional impression. 4. Explore Beyond the Region: For students interested in a wider range of industries—from healthcare and arts to finance and law—there are many resources online. A quick search for “High School Internships 2027” will reveal dozens of programs, some offering stipends and others focused on academic credit. The information is out there, and the opportunities are real. I encourage you to sit down with your student, look at what’s available locally, and start dreaming big. As Zig Ziglar once said, “If you can dream it, then you can achieve it.” Let the planning begin!

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