Black Bear Ambassadors will be at the Cherrydale Farmers Market April 19, April 26, May 3, and May 10. Come out to learn more about living and exploring in areas where black bears live! Black Bear Ambassadors are Arlington Regional Master Naturalists (ARMN) volunteers who have trained with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources to provide the community with information about living with black bears.

Rick Franklin was born in Alexandria, Virginia in 1952 to a military family. The family traveled the US and England until 1968 when the family returned to Virginia and his father retired from military service. Since 1981, the Arlington, Virginia resident has been playing acoustic guitar and singing the Blues at community events, local festivals, international festivals, as well as various clubs, cafes and other venues. Rick’s musical style of blues is known as the “Piedmont” style identified with such legendary players as Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller and William Moore along with players and friends like “Bowling Green” John Cephas, John Jackson, and Archie Edwards.