A taste of New York City mixed with a little Prohibition inspiration: Galvin's Deli will open soon at 216 William Street.

Owners Paul and Emma Stoddard are combining family history with culinary experience to offer a new Fredericksburg dining experience. Paul was a co-owner of Sunken Well Tavern for almost 20 years until he recently sold his stake in 2024. Emma grew up in New York City, raised on Jewish deli foods and worked in restaurants and bakeries. In the early 1900s, her great-grandfather owned Martin Galvin's Cafe in New Jersey. Emma said, "We married those ideas together to bring Galvin’s to life again."

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The Fredericksburg Symphony Orchestra (FSO) will bring its Lolli-Pops concert, an interactive program designed to introduce young audiences to the world of classical music, to James Monroe High School on March 15. The concert's theme is "A Salute to Mother Earth."

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Stafford County's Board of Supervisors and School Board will hold their respective meetings on Tuesday, February 25. Both meetings will be streamed live, with agendas available online. Board of Supervisors Meeting – 5 p.m. The Board of Supervisors will review the transportation biannual update, focusing on the Transportation Master Plan and various state and federal grant programs. Transportation Master Plan Overview

• Phase 1 ($225 million):
  • Four projects under construction: Berea Church Road, Route 1 at Telegraph/Woodstock, Staffordboro Boulevard sidewalk, and Route 1 at Courthouse Road ($57 million total).
  • The Courthouse Road project has a $3.2 million shortfall. However, Berea Church Road and Telegraph Road projects are under budget, with surplus funds moving into contingency.
  • Eight projects in the engineering phase totaling $168 million.
• Phase 2 ($600 million+):
  • Includes four projects in engineering and 12 roadway and 33 bike/pedestrian projects in planning.
  • Major areas of focus include Kings Highway, Chatham Heights, Mine Road, and Greenspring Drive.
• Phase 3 ($1 billion+):
  • Proposed projects include a new north-south corridor west of I-95, running parallel to Route 1, and widening Courthouse, Mountain View, and Shelton Shop roads.

The 2040 Strategic Plan aims to reduce congestion, improve safety, and enhance accessibility throughout Stafford County. School Board Meeting – 5 p.m. Work Session | 7 p.m. General Meeting The 5 p.m. work session will focus on the proposed 2025-2026 school year budget. Samples of the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Budget include:

State Funding: almost $292 million, an increase of $10.5 million from last year

Departmental Savings: $890,000 in savings from departmental budgets

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Stafford County’s Board of Supervisors will hold its next meeting today, Tuesday, February 18, at 5 p.m. The meeting will be streamed live, and the agenda will be posted online.

Here’s a sample of what’s on the agenda today:

Bylaws Change for Board Appointments 

The board will review proposed changes to the bylaws to formalize the appointment and removal process of members on Boards, Authorities, Committees, and Commissions (BACC). The proposed changes follow the recent controversial removal of a library board member and the board’s subsequent censure of Supervisor Monica Gary.

Data Centers

There are currently several data center rezoning applications for centers throughout Stafford. A few are listed below:

• Potomac Creek Campus: Falmouth District, near Potomac Creek Drive, south of Eskimo Hill Road
• Accocreek Center: Falmouth District, near Richmond Highway and Eskimo Hill Road
• GWV Data Center: Hartwood District, Ramoth Church Road across from Centreport Parkway
• Austin Ridge Logistics: Hartwood District, Cedar Lane near Courthouse Road
• Enon Road Tech: Hartwood District, Enon Road near Wyatt Lane
• Cranes Corner: Falmouth District, Richmond Highway near Centreport Parkway

In 2023, the Board amended the Zoning Ordinance and Comprehensive Plan to define data centers, establish development standards, and specify permitted zoning districts. Data centers were allowed by-right in the M-2 zoning district and the ICTP overlay district.

Now, the Board is considering a new amendment requiring a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for data centers in the M-2 district instead of allowing them by-right. CUPs allow for case-by-case review to assess factors such as traffic, environmental impact, noise, and infrastructure needs.

A new ordinance amendment (O25-08) has been proposed, and the Board has referred it to the Planning Commission. A joint public hearing is scheduled for March 18, 2025, to discuss the changes. Data centers would still be permitted by-right in the ICTP district, though no parcels currently have this designation.

Fredericksburg recently gathered attention for an aggressive timeline in pursuing data center development in the city.

Wetlands Board

Resolution R25-49 proposes restructuring the Wetlands Board/Coastal Primary Sand Dunes Board and Chesapeake Bay Board to include seven members with election district designations and up to three alternates. The resolution also establishes staggered initial terms, with subsequent terms set at five years. This change aligns with state law, which requires the county to maintain these boards for regulatory oversight. The Wetlands Board also serves as the Coastal Primary Sand Dunes Board, and its members make up the Chesapeake Bay Board. The modifications aim to ensure compliance with state membership and term-staggering requirements.

Lake Carroll Dam Update

Due to lack of maintenance over the last 20 years, the Kennedy Dam at Lake Carroll is in need of maintenance before regulatory improvements can be done. Legislation was passed 10 years ago that required modification to many dams throughout the state. The board previously approved a loan that was designated towards regulatory improvements and did not include the maintenance needs.

The project also faces constraints on when trees can be cleared due to regulations around an endangered long-eared bat which resides in the area. Trees can only be cleared between November and April, which will create additional hurdles with construction bids and the duration of the work. There is also concern that the project will exceed the funds available if there are any delays or unexpected developments.

Campgrounds

Currently, campgrounds are permitted by-right in the A-1, Agricultural zoning district on at least 10 acres, with no special county regulations. However, state regulations govern campgrounds through the Virginia Department of Health, covering permits, density, utilities, and construction standards.

Staff reviewed campground regulations in other localities and found that most require a special exception or use permit. Only Fauquier County has adopted specific campground regulations. A regional analysis was conducted to assess campground facilities, amenities, and potential impacts.

Based on this analysis, staff recommends requiring a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for campgrounds in the A-1 district, updating campground-related definitions in the Zoning Ordinance, and considering whether to allow campgrounds as a CUP use in other zoning districts. A draft ordinance amendment (O25-07) has been prepared for review.

The proposed Belle Plains Campground generated significant opposition from neighbors, but was allowed by right.

Although the area has already braved several winter storms in 2025, Fredericksburg’s Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) is still eight days away. 

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Metro Nova Creative is adding a creative twist to fundraising in downtown Fredericksburg: Business owner Dan Craddock announced that his team will surprise a different non-profit organization each quarter with unique designs on t-shirts, stickers, and merchandise. 

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A journey from DC’s Capitol Hill to the Shenandoah mountains led Emily Woodhull to Fredericksburg’s music scene. The 23-year-old singer and songwriter just released her first single, “Virginia, I’m Home.”

Woodhull grew up in Washington, D.C., and learned to play piano, guitar, ukulele, and drums by the time she was sixteen. Woodhull became the opening act for her father’s band, “The NativeMakers,” as they toured DC.

A visit to James Madison University (JMU) in the Shenandoah Valley #musicalley helped her fall in love with Virginia. After attending JMU, Woodhull took a gap year and moved to Fredericksburg in 2021, planning to enroll in Germanna Community College. A fan of true crime, Woodhull was interested in the criminal justice program.

She’s fallen in love with the area, saying, “I love Fredericksburg with all my heart. It has had such an important role in my career, and I’m so blessed to call it my home.”

Woodhull’s connection to Fredericksburg deepened as she became involved with the local music scene. “There are so many talented bands in our city, ranging from soft rock to Americana to country to metal to bluegrass,” she explained. Performances with local artists like Jerry Wade, Rob Ralston, and JD Roberts helped build Woodhull’s musical career. 

Woodhull credited Roberts with helping her musical career develop. She said, “By inviting me to sing with him during his shows, he helped me get my name out there and booked me at venues when I didn’t have any shows. He’s been a big help with helping me learn the ropes of the industry and teaching me tricks, and he has given me great advice. I’m grateful to know him and to call him my friend.”

Woodhull’s debut single, “Virginia I’m Home,” was born from her experiences in Virginia. “The song starts, ‘I was 18 when I came rolling in. You opened up your doors and took me in just like a friend,’ which is about my start at JMU and when I first lived in Virginia,” she said. The song serves as her “love letter to the state.”

Woodhull described her musical style as rooted in Americana, though she brings elements from her past interest in hard rock. “I used to be a drummer and into hard rock, so I’d love to make country music with heavy drums and bass,” she said. A small sampling of her influences includes Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Turnpike Troubadours, and Ella Langley.

Although she has been surrounded by music for much of her life, Woodhull didn’t realize until she was 20 that she could make a career out of it. “I got a direct message on Instagram from a scout for a development firm in Nashville and it all got started from there,” she recalled.

The process of recording “Virginia I’m Home” took her to Nashville, where she worked with music producer Joshua David Cockerham in his home studio. “We had a Zoom call before meeting about what I wanted the song to sound like,” she shared. “I got to choose which instruments got to be in and I felt listened to.” Woodhull recorded two songs in the studio in 2023.

In August 2023, Woodhull quit her job in fine dining to pursue music full-time. “I was scared of burning myself out and falling out of love with music,” she admitted. “But from that day on, I have been doing everything I can for my career.”

Woodhull said her family has been an unwavering support system. “My parents have always had my back and I am so blessed to have them,” she said. “The biggest thing for them is that their children are happy, healthy, and loved.” Woodhull, who has a twin brother, has four brothers and one sister.

Looking ahead, Woodhull aims to continue growing her audience, with her song now played on several radio stations across the country. Stations in Michigan, Texas and Wisconsin have played ‘Virginia, I’m home.’

“I’d love to have my song played on a station in Virginia, especially in Fredericksburg like 93.3 WFLS or Thunder 104.5,” Woodhull said.

Woodhull will play at Fredericksburg’s Sky Bar on February 8. Her full show schedule is available online.

The North Stafford High School (NSHS) Band is hosting its annual fundraiser dinner February 7, featuring live music, homemade pasta, and a silent auction. The event will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will feature the North Stafford Jazz Ensemble, made up of 24 student musicians from the school’s band program.

The fundraiser is organized by the NSHS Band Booster Organization, which is made of parents of band members. It aims to raise essential funds that will directly support the band program and be used to support purchasing music, equipment, and providing instruction.

140 students participate in NSHS’s band program across various ensembles. Students can participate in the Big Blue Marching Band, three concert bands, a percussion ensemble and the jazz ensemble.

The highlight of the evening will be a performance by the North Stafford Jazz Ensemble, a group known for its dynamic mix of musical genres. From smooth jazz to upbeat rock and roll, the  ensemble will showcase their talents with a wide range of musical styles to keep the audience entertained throughout the evening.

In addition to pasta dishes made and served by students, a silent auction will also be held, featuring a variety of items donated to support the cause.

Tickets for the event are $15, with free admission for children under 4 years old. Discounts are available for seniors, staff, military personnel, and small businesses through email.

 

Stafford County’s Board of Supervisors will hold its next meeting today, Tuesday, February 4, at 5 p.m. The meeting will be streamed live, and the agenda will be posted online.

Here’s a sample of what’s on the agenda today:

Transportation

A petition to have VDOT accept several roads into the state highway system: Decatur Road, Quarry Road, and Winding Creek’s Rotunda Way, Elmsley Lane, Driscoll Lane, Mountain Path Lane, Grisham Road, and Pima Court. These roads have been reviewed by VDOT and County staff and determined to be eligible for the State Highway System.

In Stafford County, public streets are usually built as part of an approved subdivision or development plan. Both VDOT and County staff monitor the construction, with VDOT having more control. The developer is responsible for building and maintaining the streets until they meet all VDOT requirements. Once the streets meet those standards and there are enough homes on them, VDOT will take over responsibility for maintenance and add the streets to the public highway system.

Planning Commission

The board will vote on approving the Planning Commissions annual report for activities in 2024.  The planning commission held 12 regular meetings and 31 public hearings in 2024. In 2023, they met 27 times.

11 public hearings were held for zoning reclassifications. This included changes for properties like Belmont Park, Clift Farm, Jackson Historic District, Stafford Technology Campus, and several others. 10 public hearings were held for Conditional Use Permits, with some applications also involving zoning reclassifications. The projects included Sheetz at Warrenton Road, Aquia Town Center Starbucks, two new elementary schools, Vulcan Concrete, and more.

Planning Commissioners also serve as members or liaisons to other boards and commissions. They are part of the Technical Review Committee (TRC), which meets when needed by the applicant or the County. This year, two TRC meetings were held, including projects for Belle Plains Campground and Cool Spring Self Storage Revision, attended by Commissioner Caudill.

The report also says the Planning Commission reviewed one residential subdivision, the Mainline subdivision, which was approved for 114 townhouse lots. They also approved a preliminary site plan for the Rocky Run Village subdivision with 107 single-family lots and the Melrod commercial site plan for 4 data center buildings, totaling 948,200 square feet.

Elections

A proposal to authorize the County Administrator to purchase electronic pollbooks at an initial cost of $226,420, with $25,800 annual fees for license, maintenance and support. The current pollbooks are ending their lifetime use, and the company no longer supports the operating system.

Sheriff’s Office

The sheriff’s office received a $12,500 grant from Virginia State Police’s Help Eliminate Auto Theft (HEAT) program. The sheriff is requesting the board approve the use of that grant for an automated license plate reader software. The proposal states the automated license reader will integrate with public safety programs like AMBER alerts and missing person investigations, in addition to improving the process of identifying stolen vehicles and apprehending suspects. The software would decrease the frequency of auto thefts in the county, according to the report.