Opinion

This Thanksgiving, all of us at Potomac Local News want to extend our heartfelt thanks to you — our readers, supporters, and members — for being part of this community and for trusting us to tell the stories that matter in Prince William, Stafford, Fredericksburg, Manassas, and the surrounding region.

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Prince William

“A special visitor showed up at Neabsco Regional Park, a wild turkey wandering through its natural habitat,” PWCParks announced. “With a rich diversity of bird species, the park is always full of life.” “Reminder: Enjoy from a distance and don’t feed the wildlife, they thrive best on their natural diets.”

Neabsco Regional Park, located at 15125 Blackburn Road in Woodbridge, is known for its wetlands, boardwalk, and abundant birdlife, making wildlife sightings like this a common treat for visitors.


Fredericksburg

Spotsylvania Towne Centre is getting into the holiday spirit early this year, opening its doors at 6 a.m. on Black Friday, November 28, with giveaways, entertainment, and cheerful surprises for shoppers. The first 200 people through the door will receive free swag bags filled with goodies—including a chocolate bar that could win one lucky visitor a $500 gift card.

Shoppers can also stop by the mall’s holiday gift wrapping station, located near Pandora and hosted by the Chancellor High School Lightning Regiment Marching Band, to have their purchases wrapped for the season.


Event

Celebrate the season with the New Dominion Choraliers as they present Celebrate Hope and Joy, a vibrant holiday program filled with sacred works, beloved carols, and familiar favorites from The Grinch and Irving Berlin. Under the artistic direction of Katherine Nelson-Tracey, the concerts feature string accompaniment by the founders of The Onyx Project—champions of diversity and inclusivity in the arts—along with the energetic musicians of Legacy Brass. Dancers from Dance Etc. School of the Arts add visual beauty to select musical pieces.

Performances take place Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 7 at 3:30 p.m. at First United Presbyterian Church of Dale City. Tickets: $10 per individual or $25 per family of three or more at newdominionchoraliers.org or at the door.


Stafford

“I have also prepared a letter in opposition of the proposed project with suggestions to mitigate impacts,” Rock Hill District Supervisor Crystal Vanuch said in a recent social-media post. She added that Darrell English, Hartwood District Supervisor, will sign the letter and that she plans to invite other Board colleagues to join after the upcoming meeting.

Vanuch noted that the county’s options are limited, urging concerned residents to engage their state delegate and senator as the county learns more about the plans. She also said she copied all of Stafford’s state representation on the letter she will send after the Board’s Dec. 2 meeting.


Stafford

 

“Just after midnight on Thursday, November 27, SCFR units were dispatched for a reported structure fire in the 200 block of Sandy Ridge Road (in the White Oak area),” Stafford County Fire and Rescue reported. “Units arrived six minutes later to find two, connected outbuildings well involved with fire.”


Weather

A pair of cold fronts is sweeping through the region, bringing in a much colder and breezier air mass just in time for Thanksgiving.

Winds will ease a bit compared to Wednesday night but will still be noticeable through the day. Clouds early Thursday will give way to bright sunshine, but temperatures will stay on the chilly side. High pressure settles in Thursday night and Friday, keeping the weather quiet but brisk.


Stafford

Stafford County is bracing for a battle that residents say could define the county’s future for generations.

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Fredericksburg

The Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization voted Monday to adopt the long-awaited Rappahannock River Crossing Parkway Alternatives Study, advancing “Option C,” a proposed new bridge and roadway linking Stafford County to the City of Fredericksburg west of Interstate 95.

The decision places the corridor into the region’s long-range transportation plan and moves the project toward the costly federal environmental review process needed before any construction can be approved.


Manassas

If approved, the development would offer one- and two-bedroom apartments priced for households earning 40–70% of the area’s median income—currently about $114,750 for one person and $131,150 for two. Rents would range from $1,200 to $2,200 monthly, and leasing would prioritize essential workers. The three-acre site is city-owned, and Good Housing has offered to purchase it for $3 million.

City officials say the project would generate over $250,000 in new annual tax revenue and help replenish Manassas’ Housing Investment Fund if the city approves low-interest financing. No tax abatements or grants have been requested, but financial details would be reviewed during the FY 2027 budget process.