Quantico Live!

As part of the continued commemoration of the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War, Spotsylvania County will host the 2010 Civil War Reenactment in the heart of Spotsylvania County’s Historic Courthouse Area. This historic location is within minutes of the Spotsylvania Courthouse (Bloody Angle), Chancellorsville and Wilderness Battlefields.
The reenactment which will include events for the entire family, will be held on May 22 & May 23, 2010. In addition, a Bluegrass Concert to benefit Battlefield Preservation will be held on Saturday, May 22 at 6:00 p.m. Mark your calendar to step back into history.

The wonderful Virginia fall weather really extends the lives of both our personal gardens and those colorful farmers markets.  I’ve been watching my favorite neighbor, aka Farmer MacGregor, still harvesting from his fabulous tomato plants even this late in the season…  not to mention the fabulous fall squashes and winter veggies coming in by the basketful. 

If you have black thumbs, like myself, and don’t have a generous neighbor to pick from, I would highly suggest you hit one of the local farmer’s markets that are winding down their season as October grows to a close. 

 There is a great search engine page that helps you get information about 46 different farmers markets… just in Northern Virginia! I don’t think my Farmer MacGregor is on there yet… trying to keep those crunchy veggies just for me!  Try searching for a market near you here.. Virginia Farmer’s Markets

No Tom Tom or Garmin. Just you, your wits and 8-11 acres of corn stalks. 

Fall in Virginia isn’t complete without a trip through these Byzantine Kernel Labrynths - “corn maze” just seems to elementary for some of these complex creations. The good ones can really challenge you, if you don’t just follow the guy that got out of his Range Rover and slipped the farmer an extra $50 for the key so he wouldn’t look foolish in the maze.  

If you wait until the sun goes down and hit a moonlight maze, the spooky factor cranks up the fun.  Add in a shaky home video, your teenagers, and you may have the framework for your own Blair Witch Project. baahaaaa….. Look out Spielberg.

 Some of the best Mazes, pumpkin patches and farms are just a short drive from Dc suburbs.  And ….your going against traffic!!! Yeah!

 Some of the best around: 

Midland - Thru Nov 7 - Cows-N-Corn Corn Maze Adventure and Dairy Farm is a working 300 cow, 1800 acre dairy farm. October features a corn maze adventure and family haunted hayride!

Leesburg - Sep 25 - Nov 1 - MAiZE - Get lost in this elaborate 11-acre cornfield maze.When you find your way out, pick-your-own pumpkin right out of the patch, shoot the corn cannon, ride on the cow train, bounce on the cow belly bounce, take a hayride and enjoy great food.

The Plains - Weekends Sep 26 - Nov 8 - The Corn Maze in The Plains - Great for younger kids! Come get lost in the maze, hear “Swift” The Rooster crow, go for a hayride, see the fall colors, play in the huge barnyard of fun with giant slides, mini mazes, corn tires, and tire swings; have a local burger and some roasted sweet corn, and choose from thousands of pumpkins!

Fredericksburg - Oct 2-4 - Belvedere Plantation Fall Festival - Escape to the countryside with friends and family, and create special memories! Experience the Cornfield Maze, Fun Barn, Zip Lines, Pumpkin Mountain Slide, Moon Bounce, pig races, and Little Farmer’s Coral, hayrides and roaring bonfires and animals at the Olde Barnyard.

Winchester - The Pumpkin Patch at Hill High Farm features the We Remember patriotic corn maze, straw mazes for the kids, hayrides to the pumpkin patch, bluegrass music, homemade foods, farm animals and antique farm equipment displays. Pick-your-own apples and pumpkins galore.

Got another great maze? Where is it?

Come join Stafford Parks and Recreation at the annual Eggsplosion.  Join the excitement in this fun-filled day to celebrate spring.  Children will enjoy a day of activities including an egg hunt.  If you’re looking for a fun Easter egg hunt, this is it. The Stafford Parks & Rec Dept does a great job of making sure children of all ages have fun. For the littlest kiddies, the eggs are really easy to find. For the older kids, they’re hidden pretty well.

Don’t be late! The early events start right on time. Try not to be late or the kids will miss the best fun. And don’t worry about getting here too early. There’s plenty of stuff to do to keep the kids entertained. Come early and join us for some fun.

Price includes all activities.  No charge for adults.  Advance Tickets: $7, at the gate $9.

Satureday April 4

11 am - 3 pm at Curtis park

Ages 10 & under

Schedule

11-3 Food Vendors , Amuesements

11:30 - Egg hunt, Ages 2 and under

Noon - Egg Hunt, Ages 3-4

12:30 The Jonathan Austin Show

1:30 Egg Hunt, Ages 6-7

2:00 Egg Hunt, Ages 8-10

FOR SALE -

Manassas, VA  ~ Websters, WAY

To view this beautiful home go to http://www.militarybyowner.com/search.asp?

Gorgeous home with all of the upgrades! Just 1yr old.  Beautifully decorated w/exquisite hardwood floors.  Custom paint,frize carpet, crown molding throughout, custom blinds w/remotes.  Gourmet kitchen w/granite, 42″ maple cabinets and island.  Butlers Pantry, Jack-n-Jill bath, en-suite 4th bedroom, formal living room and additional office,audio system w/CD & intercom.  Huge finished w/o basement with room to expand. Deck and fully finished yard with playset.  Shows like a model.

To view other wonderful homes in the Quantico area visit the Quantico home page.

FOR RENT 

Stafford, VA ~ St. Mary’s Lane MBO6599

See Militarybyowner.com for more wonderful homes just like this one! For Sale and Rent.

Gorgeous 5 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath, 4 year old home on partially wooded 3 acre lot in exclusive Magnolia Woods.  7/10 mile to brand new Elementary School and High School.  LESS THAN 5 MILES FROM TWO COMMUTER LOTS WITH SLUG LINES AND VAN POOLS TO PENTAGON, CRYSTAL CITY, AND DOWNTOWN DC.  Over 3400 square feet of living space including finished, walk-out basement with spare bedroom/office and full bath.  Master bedroom includes three walk-in closets and spacious bath.  Gas fireplace, alarm system, sprinkler system, upstairs washer/dryer, and dual zone heating/airconditioning.  Less than five miles to new shopping centers and restaraunts.  15 MINUTES TO QUANTICO MARINE CORPS BASE (commissary, exchange, and clinic).

Brush Everard Court - Stafford, VA

RENTAL - MBO72577 (Click here to view this home).  Go to Militarybyowner.com to view other listings.

Beautiful home in Austin Ridge! Customized SONA home offers 3300 total SF of living space including: 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, living, dining, family rooms and gourmet kitchen with corian counters.  Large master with garden tub, double vanity and walk in closet.  Professionally finished walk-out basement offers bedroom, bathroom with custom travertine tile, rec room with built in cabinets, workshop, laundry with sink and storage. Wood flooring throughout first level. Crown molding, custom paint and new carpet.  Two tier deck with nice view of wooded area. Easy to care for yard with sprinkler system.  Large, finished two car garage with metal door.  Great schools.  Quick access to I-95, commuter lots and shopping.   Community pool and tennis courts. You’ll love this home!

Just moving or have moved?  TOO Much “Stuff” ?  Why not turn your High Quality gently used items into cash for you?  Weecycled Wardrobe is a semi-annual Children’s Consignment Sale in Fredericksburg, VA  and a Second Sale in North Stafford.  This year they are combinging the sales to make one BIG SPRING SALE.  Shoppers come from all over Virginia and surrounding states to purchase high quality used children’s clothing.  There are over 600 Consignors and thousands of shoppers.

Interested in Being a consignor?  Get together all of your nursery furniture and bedding, cradles, strollers, high chairs, exer-saucers, walkers, Children pre-teen clothing and Maternity clothing and you can earn 55% of the sale price (which is determined by YOU). 

The spring 2009 Sale is just around the corner.  The deadline to enter your items is Thursday, March 19th at 12:01 PM

Drop off ends the next day, Friday, the 20th of March at 7:00 PM.  For more information on how to become a consignor click here.

Turn your items into CASH!!!  Plus if you are a consignor you will get Pre Sale Dates to enter the sale early

The Stafford Hospital Center will be open on February 27, 2009 at 9 a.m. for patients.  At this time Stafford Medical Center will immediately begin treating Emergency Care and patients that have the following insurance companies : Medicare, Medicaid, Aetna, Va Premier, VHM, PHCS, and ECN.  The hospital is working with private insurance companies to add Stafford Hospital to their lists of participating providers.  If you do not see your insurance company please contact them directly to figure out when they will cover Stafford Hospital Center.

Stafford Hospital Center is a full service hospital that operates with a staff of 350 and a medical Staff with physicians in 18 specialty areas.  Stafford Medical Center is a state of the art hospital with services that include 100 private inpatient rooms, a full service ER department, a dedicated birthing unit, a pharmacy, Inpatient and Outpatient Surgery and a full range of advanced diagnostic capabilities including MRI and CT scans.

The Stafford Medical Campus is located on a 72-Acre campus at the corner of Route 630 (Courthouse Road). and Route 1.  It is easy to access from I-95.

As a member of the MediCorp Health System family of services, Stafford Hospital Center is backed by this comprehensive, sophisticated health system, which includes Mary Washington Hospital and outpatient centers throughout the region.

The dreaded time of the year.  Everyone anxiously awaiting for April 15 to arrive for it to be over.  When you are relocating and are new to the area a good tax person that is going to work hard for you, is not easy to find. 

Banks & Associates PLC provides tax and consulting services to both individuals and businesses. They give the same attention to all clients, no matter how large or small. The services they provide are tailored to the unique needs of each client, ensuring the best possible results and maximized returns. This firm remains on the cutting edge of tax law and technology. They are well-informed and continually adapt to the ever-changing world.

Jason C Banks, CPA
Principal

Jason is the sole owner of Banks & Associates PLC.  He started the business in January of 2003 after five years of working for other Certified Public Accounting firms.  Jason has been working in public accounting since January of 1997. 

Jason also assists in the development of tax software during the off season.  His responsibilities in the development of tax software keeps him on the forefront of change within the area of taxation.

Jason has experience in tax planning and preparation as well as consulting for individuals and closely held family businesses.

Jason earned a Bachelors in Accounting from Mount Union College.  He then went on to become a Certified Public Accountant. He has been a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants.  Jason is a past president of the Fredericksburg Jaycees, the Spotsylvania Jaycees and the Strikeforce Chapter of Business Network International.  He is currently the Chairman of the Board of the Spotsylvania Jaycees.

Our consistent track record of uncompromising ethics instills confidence and trust. We use cutting edge technologies to ensure up to the minute information from the financial world. This allows us to respond quickly, and give you the most relevant information and perspectives.

Tax PlanningPayroll Services

Call Banks And Associates today to schedule your tax consultation.  You will not be sorry.

Banks & Associates PLC
13108 Willow Point Drive
Fredericksburg, VA 22408
Office (540) 891-2708
Mobile (540) 379-5491
Fax (540) 301-0241
jbanks@banks-cpa.com