Mike Salmon was on hand Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, for the ribbon-cutting at historic Goolrick’s in downtown Fredericksburg.
The long-awaited reopening of the landmark soda fountain and lunch counter brought neighbors together at 901 Caroline Street. Watch the video below for the sights and sounds of the celebration.
Sgt. Jeremy Hurt of the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office was indicted Monday in Prince William County on a felony charge of involuntary manslaughter from a deadly August 2025 crash on Interstate 95 near the Quantico exit, 7News reported. A source told the outlet the crash followed a chase that began in the Fredericksburg area in which Hurt allegedly rammed the suspect’s vehicle, killing Josue Enoc Martinez of Spotsylvania; Hurt also faces a misdemeanor reckless driving charge.
The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office said it stands strongly behind Hurt, who has been placed on administrative assignment, while Virginia State Police investigated and the Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office is handling the case. Hurt was arrested Tuesday, released on bail, and has a hearing set for Aug. 14.
Residents and visitors across Northern Virginia have two downtown First Friday celebrations to choose from this evening, Aug. 7, 2026.
“It’s shaping up to be an awesome First Friday (8/7/26) here in Historic Downtown Manassas” with a “Dog Days of Summer” theme, live music, vendors, and dog-friendly amenities including misting tents and water bowls, the City of Manassas reported on Facebook.
“Stafford County is pleased to announce the hiring of Thomas “Tom” Ellsworth as the County’s new Planning and Zoning Director,” Stafford County reported. Ellsworth joins from Maricopa County, Arizona, where he served as Director of Planning and Development in one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions and a major data center hub, bringing more than 25 years of experience in development review, zoning policy and organizational leadership.
In Stafford, Ellsworth will oversee development review, the Planning Commission, long-range planning, zoning, land conservation and data centers. County Administrator Bill Ashton said his background will allow him to contribute immediately to strengthening processes and guiding growth in the Northern Virginia locality.
“Virginia’s 3-Day Sales Tax Holiday runs August 7-9, 2026, starting at 12:01 a.m. Friday and ending at 11:59 p.m. Sunday,” Virginia Tax reported. Shoppers can buy qualifying school supplies ($20 or less), clothing and footwear ($100 or less), certain hurricane and emergency preparedness items, and Energy Star or WaterSense products ($2,500 or less) without paying state sales tax.
The holiday offers Northern Virginia families a timely chance to save on back-to-school essentials and preparedness gear as the new school year approaches. Full lists of eligible items are available in the official Sales Tax Holiday Guidelines on the Virginia Tax website.
Virginia’s delayed primaries finally delivered nominees, and the story is less about who won than how few people bothered to vote. Bert Mizusawa, the retired Army major general, secured the Republican Senate nomination with just over half the vote and will now face Mark Warner.
In the closely watched 7th District, Doug Ollivant posted a commanding win and sets up a November rematch of sorts against incumbent Eugene Vindman in one of the Commonwealth’s true purple seats. Dave Beckwith ran away with the 10th District Republican primary and will challenge first-term Democrat Suhas Subramanyam.
“The majority of Fredericksburg’s City Council members have announced opposition to Penzance Development’s proposed million-square-foot data center at 1500 Gateway Boulevard in the Hylton Tract,” FXBG Advance reported. Ward 1 Council Member Matt Rowe cited the site’s proximity to residential areas and required power lines near Hugh Mercer Elementary and Cowan Boulevard, while Ward 3 Member Susanna Finn, At-Large Member Will Mackintosh, and At-Large Member Jannan Holmes pointed to the project’s location outside the city’s Technology Overlay District and prior council decisions limiting data centers in the city.
Penzance has proposed financial proffers totaling tens of millions for city capital projects, schools, and public safety plus tax revenue estimates, yet the four members maintain the site remains unsuitable. The Advance is awaiting responses from Mayor Kerry Devine, Vice Mayor Chuck Frye, and Ward 2 Member Joy Crump.
Stafford County Government announced a free event for disposing of unwanted, expired or old pesticides, Stafford County Government reported. The 2026 Fredericksburg Area Pesticide Collection Event, organized with Virginia Cooperative Extension-Stafford and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, will be held September 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Greenline Service Corp., 11417 Tidewater Trail, Fredericksburg. It is open at no charge to commercial applicators, farmers and homeowners, and accepts large-volume and commercial-scale pesticides.
Pre-registration is encouraged and required for large quantities, unknown pesticides, or more than 5 gallons or 50 pounds. Residents can learn more and pre-register at vdacs.virginia.gov/pesticide-collection.shtml or contact local agent Grace Kunkel at [email protected] or 540-658-8000 during business hours.
The City of Fredericksburg and Fredericksburg Main Street will host the first Quacktoberfest on Oct. 17, 2026, from 2 to 6 p.m. as a free community festival featuring fall activities, vendors, carnival rides, live music, the rescheduled Rubber Ducky Derby and a Movie in the Park screening.
The derby, postponed from the Fourth of July due to extreme heat, starts at 3 p.m., followed by a 25-minute episode of Darkwing Duck and a dusk showing of Hocus Pocus. Residents can still adopt rubber ducks for the race at riverfriends.org/product/fxbg-rubber-ducky-2026, with prizes listed on a related Facebook post; the release notes ducks are selling quickly.
