Parents, mark your calendars: Stafford’s Duff McDuff Green Park's new playground will open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 26, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. The event is open to the public.
The existing playground was wholly removed, having reached the end of its lifespan after being installed in August 2001. Shannon Eubanks, Stafford’s Community Engagement Program Manager, said the new playground was designed with inclusivity and accessibility in mind, incorporating features that cater to children of all abilities.Â
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What sound do 1,455 cereal boxes make when they fall? Light thuds, and big cheers. Stafford's Grafton Village Elementary School students filled the hallways on Friday, March 14 to cheer as cereal boxes toppled like dominoes through the school.
The breakfast, which was tumbled, wrapped up a two-week cereal donation drive. Students brought in unopened cereal boxes to their classrooms. The classroom with the highest total number won a Domino's pizza and popsicle party. The winning 5th grade class brought in 162 boxes.
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Stafford County Public Schools offers high school programs that teach students vocational skills in several fields. The Culinary Arts program, offered at Stafford, Brooke Point, and Mountainview High Schools, provides students the opportunity to learn basic cooking techniques, work in a real-world setting, and gain valuable industry certifications.Â
Stafford High School’s Chef Josh Raven said the program aims to educate students not only in cooking, but also in the essential skills required for a successful career in the food industry. Raven, who took on the role of Culinary Arts instructor during the COVID-19 pandemic, has over 25 years of experience in fine dining, corporate kitchens, catering, and fast food. He said the only challenge of leading the program is simply having enough space for the number of students who want to join.Â
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Entrepreneurs, non-profit directors, business leaders, ministers, life coaches, and more: Fredericksburg’s Most Influential Women Awards will once again recognize women who have made meaningful and lasting impacts on their communities.
The idea for the awards event originated four years ago when Gary Holland, one of the co-founders, came up with the concept while on vacation. He had an idea to “have an event to celebrate the accomplishments of women in the local region,” Holland said. He shared the thought with his friend Vernon Green, and the two decided to make it a reality. Their nonprofit organizations, ACT Enough, Inc. and G3 Community Services, Inc., have since served as the title sponsors and primary coordinators of the event.
What began as an event focused on Stafford County has since expanded to include King George, Caroline, and Spotslyvania, as well as Central Virginia, with nominees coming from areas ranging from Fairfax to Richmond. The goal of the event remains the same: to highlight women who may not receive the recognition they deserve for their accomplishments in a variety of fields.
“The objective is to solicit nominations via social media and word-of-mouth from across the region of women that are accomplishing amazing things, but typically don’t receive the recognition that they truly deserve,” Holland explained.
- The 2023 awards were attended by several elected officials. Co-founders Green (far right) and Holland (center, plaid) posed with several of Stafford’s elected officials, including Sheriff Decatur, Commissioner Mayausky, Supervisors Gary and Yeung, former Supervisor Coen, and now Senator Durant.
The awards program has seen significant growth since its inception. The first banquet attracted around 120 attendees, and each year the attendance has grown, with this year’s event expected to surpass 200 attendees. Past banquets have been held at various venues, including the Fredericksburg Expo Center, and this year, the event will take place at the A&B Creative Events Center in Spotsylvania.
Each year, a diverse selection committee is assembled to review nominations and select the honorees. The committee, made up of individuals with various backgrounds, ensures that the selection process is inclusive and representative of the community.
“We ensure diversity and representation in the Honorees and the honorable mentions by making sure that the selection committee itself is diverse and has representation across various sectors,” Holland said.
The awards ceremony, which will take place on March 29, 2025, includes a networking hour before a catered meal and awards ceremony. The event will feature live music from Brencore Entertainment and be emceed by Sharvette Mitchell, a Richmond-based social media personality.
The keynote speaker for the evening is Dalmyra Caesar, a former White House executive who served as Director of White House personnel and as the Biden-Harris campaign’s Human Resources director, and Coach Tee, an inspirational speaker, will also address the attendees.
- Then-Senator Abigail Spanberger visited in 2023 and 2024.
The event also features a silent auction, with proceeds benefiting Empowerhouse VA and Loisann’s Hope House, two local organizations that support survivors of domestic violence and homelessness. Hammond credited the support of local businesses and organizations across the region for the growth of the annual awards program.
Looking ahead, the founders of the awards program have plans to expand the event even further. “Our goal is to cover the entire state and have multiple banquets in different parts of the state,” Holland said.
For now, the focus remains on celebrating the women of Central Virginia and inspiring future generations of women to continue making a difference in their communities. “We recognize young women during the banquet… to inspire the young women to pursue their goals to pursue their dreams,” said Holland.
The black-tie event will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. on March 29 at the A&B Creative Event Center. While nominations have closed, tickets and sponsorships are available online.
Maria Martin’s journey from catering her sister's wedding to opening Juan More Taco in Fredericksburg began with a small food truck in 2016.  Juan More Taco visited community events and local businesses, serving Latin American food with a twist - the dishes incorporate Honduran flavors.
Martin said the community support of their food truck was a driving factor in opening a restaurant. “We couldn’t keep up with the demand on our tiny little food trailer,” she said. They moved into 826 Caroline Street in March 2019. A second restaurant opened in Richmond in January 2024.
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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."
Galvin's focuses on homemade foods, including "from-scratch" proteins like pastrami, corned beef brisket, and roasted turkey, as well as hand-made bagels and baked goods. Paul said part of what makes Galvin's unique is making their own, in-house meats instead of buying mass-produced products. The deli will be a grab-and-go sandwich shop with hot soups available daily. The deli counter offers classic deli foods like potato salad, smoked salmon, pimento cheese, deli salads, and latkes.
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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."
The Lolli-Pops concert is aimed at children from toddler age and up, offering a kid-friendly format that features well-known tunes such as "America the Beautiful," "Over the Rainbow," and selections from Disney’s Moana. More mature audiences can look forward to hearing "Variations on a Shaker Melody" from Appalachian Spring and The Moldau, among other pieces.
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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.
State Funding: almost $292 million, an increase of $10.5 million from last year
Departmental Savings: $890,000 in savings from departmental budgets
New School Staffing: $914,000 to staff new schools being built in the county
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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 AppointmentsÂ
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.
