We straddle the line between the Eastern megalopolis and the Old South in everything from culture to politics. Capturing that diversity is a challenge we at The Free Lance Star face every day. Our goal is not just to be accurate, but to be authentic to produce a daily reflection of the community that rings true. We particu-larly try to capture the spirit of history that pervades this area more than most. If there was a section of The Free Lance Star named Roots, it would probably be our Saturday magazine.
Regular fare includes tales of black history and the Civil War.
For example, take a look at today s Civil War Corner by Mac Wyckoff, in which he quotes an eyewitness to the evacuation of Freder-icksburg 137 years ago today. I saw little children tugging along with their doll babies some bigger than they were but holding their feet up carefully above the snow, and women so old and feeble that they could carry nothing and could barely hobble themselves. Crossroads Every Sunday on the front of the Region section, we offer articles serious and not so serious about issues and events that affect the quality of life in the region from Washington to Richmond, from the Blue Ridge to the Chesapeake. Recently, we reported on anti-sprawl initiatives at the state and local levels. Tomorrow, columnist Rob Hedelt ventures into the wonderland of Christmas lights.