The Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy (RRCJA) will soon open a new indoor firearms training facility on Lee Hill Drive, a significant addition to its training capabilities. The 9,000-square-foot space in a renovated warehouse next door to the academy includes 14 shooting lanes, a classroom, a cleaning and storage area, and full indoor pistol training capabilities.

“It’ll give us the ability to send all recruits for firearms training more than just one week,” said Academy Director Michael Harvey. “Refreshers and support training will be easier to arrange.”

Harvey has worked in criminal justice for nearly three decades, beginning as a military police officer after enlisting in the Army in 1993. He attended the police academy in 1997 and later served with the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office. In 2013, he was appointed as the third director of the Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy, where he has spent years advancing officer training, instruction, and community engagement.

The academy has previously relied on borrowed ranges, including one in Stafford used by the Department of Corrections. That option ended due to nearby residential development, and classes had to travel farther. “Officers from Fauquier were having to go out to the Northern Neck or Spotsy. It’s not sustainable,” Harvey said.

The indoor range includes darkness training capabilities, allowing for more realistic and flexible scheduling. “They’ll have a lot more time to work with their firearms and become more competent and confident. We all want officers who are confident — the more confident they are, the less likely they are to use it,” Harvey said.

“Nationwide, 90% [of officers] never discharge their firearm in the line of duty,” he added. “That 10% tends to be in higher-risk units or areas.” The goal of the training, he explained, is not just accuracy — it’s judgment, confidence, and preparedness.

The academy also emphasizes driving as a critical officer skill. “Blue lights aren’t a license to go as fast as you can,” he said. “Line of duty deaths for officers — more car crash deaths than firearms.” The facility includes a safety track for officers to practice driving maneuvers.

The new site sits on just over two acres and caps classes at 35. “They’ll have everything they need to train an officer right there,” Harvey said. “Huge benefit.”

RRCJA is part of Virginia’s system of 11 regional criminal justice academies, established initially with federal support in 1966 to help small and midsize agencies provide standardized training. “Small and midsize police agencies can’t afford that on their own,” Harvey said.

The regional academy system now trains more than 18,000 officers across Virginia but has seen significant funding challenges. RRCJA serves 42 criminal justice agencies and more than 2,300 professionals across Central and Eastern Virginia. State studies have repeatedly found regional academies fiscally vulnerable. Since 2000, RRCJA has seen a 53% reduction in state funding.

While a $2 fee on traffic convictions helps support the system, Harvey said revenue dropped from $1.2–$1.5 million pre-pandemic to just $300,000 during the pandemic. “It’s impossible to keep up with everything that we need to keep up with,” he said. “It hasn’t caught up to inflation, and we can’t afford the new technologies that could help officers — like AI communication devices.”

He said more state support is critical. “The biggest thing is the facilities. The buildings are OK, but the newest one is 20 years old. They’re aging. We have to keep moving forward — even the air conditioning units.”

In 2023, both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly approved budget amendments to increase academy funding, but the increase was removed from the final budget. In 2024, the Department of Criminal Justice Services included more funding in its request to the Governor, but the proposal did not make it into the budget. Currently, Virginia invests an average of $125 per officer annually in training.

Harvey also leads the Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Foundation, a nonprofit he helped establish in 2016 to support the academy’s needs. The foundation has hosted community events, blood drives, and public forums on criminal justice reform. Current donors include local sheriff’s offices, individuals, and businesses.

“The academy is the heart of every Virginia police officer’s training — a five to six-month program — and it’s not fully funded by the state,” Harvey said.

The indoor firearms facility’s ribbon cutting is planned for August 13, but the first class may begin using the new space before the official opening. The academy runs new classes quarterly and uses a statewide online system, Tracer, to enroll recruits and track their progress through certification.

On Saturday, over 200 people stood in line to check out a new habit: Habit Burger launched its first of three soft openings before opening the new Chancellor’s Crossing store on Wednesday.

The California-based company’s char-grilled burgers are the star of a menu that also features chicken, sandwiches, and unusual side dishes. The new Spotsylvania location is the company’s fifth in Virginia, joining Richmond, Chantilly, Virginia Beach, and Ashburn.

During Saturday’s soft opening, the first 200 guests received a free burger, fries, and a drink. On Monday and Tuesday, the first 200 guests were treated to free meals with expanded menu choices as the kitchen staff practiced for full service.

Local residents standing in line were grateful for cloud cover to offset the high humidity. Celine, one of the first to leave the restaurant holding her to-go bags, shared her excitement about having a Habit Burger nearby. Having been to other locations, she said the chain stands apart from others: “It’s less greasy, and it has more variety… they’re more creative with their burgers, and if you’re vegan, you can eat here too.” She also praised their selection of healthy options and recommended the tempura fried green beans.

Jim, who works at the nearby Publix and lives just minutes away, came to try out the new spot. He said he’d been priced out of other burger chains. “I went there one day and got cheeseburger, fries, and drink. It was 21 bucks. I’m like, not again. Never again.” Jim added that the growing development in Chancellor’s Crossing has helped bring more choices to the area, and residents appreciate having more options closer to their homes.

General Manager Morgan Libert greeted guests at the door, handing out flyers and keeping the line moving. “When I run out of flyers, we’re done,” he said. “We’ll repeat this on Monday and on Tuesday, and then the grand opening is Wednesday.”

David Gneckow, Habit Burger’s Opening Coordinator, said the company chose the Spotsylvania area based on several factors. “We don’t want to go in an area where people can’t afford us, because we’re not the cheapest one. But we are the one that’s cooking it fresh, that gives you the most diversity and the most variety.” He pointed out the kitchen’s lack of a freezer and emphasized the company’s commitment to freshness and service. “I can teach them fries, but I’ll never teach them to be a nice person.”

Habit Burger was recognized in the 2024 USA Today’s 10 Best awards. In addition to “Best Fast Food Burger,” the chain won “Best Fast Food Sides” for the tempura green beans.

Habit Burger’s grand opening was Wednesday, June 18. They are open from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 5916 Plank Road in Spotsylvania.

Stafford County Public Schools is moving ahead with plans to eliminate artificial food dyes from school meals, following the signing of a new state law that will ban certain synthetic color additives by 2027.

Governor Glenn Youngkin recently signed HB 1910 and SB 1289, legislation that “prohibit[s] public elementary and secondary schools from serving any food that contains specific color additives for school meals or competitive food.”

“I’m encouraged by this truly non-partisan effort that started with Parents stepping forward and saying let’s work together to provide healthier food choices for our kids during the school day,” Youngkin said. “HB1910 and SB1289 are grassroots bills at their best and provide Virginia families with healthier options for school meals.”

HB910 had patrons included Republican Delegates Paul Milde (Stafford), Ian Lovejoy (Prince William), and Robert Orrock and Phillip Scott (Spotsylvania). SB1289’s patrons included Senators Tara Durant (R – Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Stafford) and Danica Roem (D – City of Manassas, City of Manassas Park, Prince William County).

Durant recently visited Stafford’s Grafton Village Elementary School to speak with 5th-grade students on Career Day, which she has done for several years. She shared the bill with the students, who will be rising 8th-graders when the ban goes into effect. Durant said the fifth graders were surprised to see the number of ingredients in some of their favorite snacks, and asked questions about how manufacturers might change products to comply with the ban. Durant is seeing a shift towards healthier diets and lifestyles with the young adult generation, particularly as a mother of twenty-year-olds. She said they choose more holistic foods and lifestyle choices, avoiding processed foods, dyes, alcohol and smoking.

In Stafford, school nutrition staff have already begun preparations to comply with the law.

“We are working closely with our food vendors to remove and replace foods with the banned dyes,” said Brian Williams, Executive Director of Nutrition Services for Stafford County Public Schools. “Nutrition is in the process of updating product specifications in anticipation of the law,” he added, saying the nutrition services team is “currently working with our food manufacturers to identify and strategically replace food products containing the banned dyes going into the new school year.”

Williams confirmed that some products have already been removed: “In this school year, we found and removed several snacks that contained the Red Dye #3 and we are now in the process of conducting an in depth review of the new school year food specification list.”

New products are also being introduced: “Students will see more snack items produced without banned dyes as Frito Lay and other manufacturers have already begun to make their products compliant to the upcoming laws.” Dye-free Doritos were recently offered at elementary schools for “Walking Tacos,” a dish where chips are served with taco fixings.

Williams said the county had not received any feedback from students.

He also addressed broader efforts to reduce dyes through fresher menu items. “Stafford County Public Schools Nutrition Services has made tremendous strides in reducing highly processed entrees while increasing fresh, whole, and scratch cooked meals,” Williams said. “By offering more scratch prepared dishes, the department is able to reduce and eliminate the occurrences of many of these banned dyes from the student lunch menu.”

There are no current financial concerns or funding efforts tied to the transition. “No, not at this point,” Williams said when asked if there were financial obstacles. On the topic of funding, he added, “No,” the district has not received or applied for any.

Williams said the district plans to keep families informed. “Nutrition Services will work with the division’s communication department to best target our banned dye communications with families.”

California passed a ban on six artificial food dyes in school foods in September 2024, effective in December 2027. West Virginia passed a ban on seven artifical food dyes in January 2025, effective August 2025; the state will have a retail ban beginning in January 2028.

On the last weekend in May, most Stafford families were abuzz with the excitement of summer’s arrival. The Allwine family was abuzz with excitement over the annual AA Farm Honey harvest.

AA Farm Honey Co., founded by Kenny Allwine, is in its third year of honey farming. Allwine, who works in software technology, started with two hives, which grew to 15 the next year, and jumped up to 25 this year. Allwine, a Stafford resident, got into beekeeping because he was curious. He reached out to local beekeeping groups to learn more, taking classes and working with a mentor from King George’s Gateway Beekeepers Association. Allwine said the classes are a valuable resource, and having a great mentor is the key to success.

Allwine keeps hives at his father’s farm in King George, just over the Stafford County line, where the colorful boxes line the gravel driveway beneath the trees. Allwine’s son and nephew have enjoyed helping paint the boxes over the years: one is inspired by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, while another boasts the blue and grey of the University of Mary Washington (UMW).  Allwine, his wife Stephanie, and his brother Kyle are all UMW alumni; Allwine also serves as an adjunct professor at the campus. Kyle was Stafford’s Economic Development Director before taking a role at Northern Neck Cooperative.

Allwine visits the hives every week, checking whether they need new layers of boxes to keep growing and making sure they seem healthy. Some of his hives have come from calls for honeybee relocation, and some just showed up on his father’s farm, swarming on nearby trees.  Honeybees can travel up to five miles to visit flowers, their main food source.

After monitoring the bees throughout the year, adding sugar water during leaner months when nectar is scarce, the annual honey harvest is the biggest event for the farm.

On harvest weekend, three generations pitch in: Allwine’s father and son, both named Kenny; and his brother Kyle with his own son, also named Kyle. After removing frames of honey from the hives, the group spends the weekend in Kenny Senior’s workshop slicing the thick wax coating off of the honeycombs before inserting the comb trays into a centrifuge. The machine spins out the honey, which then flows out of a spigot at the bottom like liquid gold.

The honey is then filtered several times before being jarred. This year, they harvested 250 pounds of honey; last year, they pulled 60 pounds. Allwine sells the honey online, notifying subscribers by email when they are available for purchase. Last year’s offering sold out in days.

Allwine’s father, Kenny Senior, said the bees have not attracted any bears so far, but they are popular with the local skunks. He said the skunks will “knock” on the house to make bees fly out, then catch the bees for a quick snack.

Allwine said the most rewarding part of beekeeping has been spending time outside sharing the buzz with his kids — and passing down a love of nature, one hive at a time.

With its pastel earrings, woodland-themed accessories, and shelves full of colorful handmade creations, To Bee is more than just Occoquan’s new gift shop — it’s a deeply personal tribute to love, loss, and artistic resilience.

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Every Tuesday, hundreds of people gather in a Fredericksburg park for one reason: lunch, music, and community. What started in the early 1990s as “Lunch at Hurkamp Park” has become a regular community event known today as Picnic in the Park. Organized by Fredericksburg Parks and Recreation, the event is held on Tuesdays in May and June at Memorial (Kenmore) Park. The event was originally created by a former Parks and Recreation Director as a way for downtown employees to take a lunch break outside. Over time, it grew into a weekly event for families, drawing larger crowds and offering a wider range of activities.

When Sammy Walker took over the event planning in 2018, attendance had already outgrown Hurkamp Park. The event was relocated to Memorial Park to accommodate more people. Walker said an average of 300 to 500 people attend in May. Once school ends for the summer, attendance rises to 500 to 800 each week.

Picnic in the Park now includes themed Tuesdays, such as May 20’s Farm Day featuring a petting zoo provided by The Good Steward Farm, and the upcoming Community Day on June 10 featuring hot dog grilling by the Fredericksburg Sheriff’s Department. Beach Day, scheduled for June 24, will feature sprinklers, baby pools, and other water-related activities. Themes are selected through public voting or sponsor input.

Whimsical Faces, a local face painting business run by Opheilia Gualtieri, was added as a new vendor this year. Walker called Gualtieri “the best face painter in the burg.”

Planning for the series begins in December, following the city’s annual Christmas Parade. Fredericksburg Parks and Recreation manages the event, with financial and media support from several sponsors. B101.5 and Fred Parent Magazine have been media sponsors since the event’s early years. Monetary sponsors include Riverside Center for the Performing Arts, Brompton Community School, Weecycled Wardrobe, Wilderness Resort, and Fredericksburg Christian School. New sponsors in 2025 include Urban Air, Funland, and Healthy Minds Therapy.

While the City of Fredericksburg allocates funding for the series each year, the event also depends on sponsor contributions to cover costs.

Accessibility features include ADA parking, accessible restrooms, a playground, and seating close to the stage. The event is held in a residential area to allow access for attendees from nearby neighborhoods. There is no shuttle service, as the event runs for only two hours, but transportation remains a long-term goal.

The event currently takes place in May and June. A fall concert series was previously held, and organizers say it could return depending on interest and resources.

Fredericksburg Parks and Recreation plans to continue the series as long as there is community demand.

Colonial Forge High School’s Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program is more than just a class—it’s a commitment to saving lives, a fast track to high-demand careers, and a transformation of ordinary students into certified first responders before they don graduation robes. Stafford County Public Schools offers an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program as part of their Career and Technical Education (CTE) offerings.

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As Memorial Day approaches, local officials are ramping up safety efforts at Lake Anna in response to last summer’s E. coli outbreak that left two dozen people sick—most of them children.

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For the first time, Stafford County will host a Relay for Life event, bringing the community together for a day of remembrance, celebration, and action in the fight against cancer.

The May 10 event is the result of months of work by organizer Tracey Phillips, a longtime supporter of the American Cancer Society. Phillips was inspired to bring Relay for Life to Stafford after years of participating in events in neighboring counties, including an unforgettable first experience in 2009 in Loudoun County.

“It was such an overwhelmingly awesome experience,” Phillips said. “I made a commitment then that I’d always be a part of Relay. It’s become one of my family’s favorite things to do together.”

Phillips has a deep personal connection to the cause. She honors the memory of her uncle, who passed away from cancer 20 years ago. More recently, her husband was diagnosed with Stage 4 esophageal cancer last fall. These personal experiences, combined with a desire to raise awareness and strengthen community ties, pushed her to bring a Relay event to Stafford.

“There’s never really been a Stafford Relay—at least not in the last 30 years,” she said. “So we wanted to start something here to bring people together and let survivors and families know they’re not alone.”

The event, titled “Night of Hope,” will take a scaled-down approach to the traditional 12–18-hour Relay model but will carry the same spirit: honoring survivors, supporting caregivers, remembering those lost, and raising money for cancer research. The goal this year is to raise $15,000 and draw around 200 participants, with plans to grow the event annually.

Highlights of the evening will include:

• A Survivor Lap and Survivor Dinner to celebrate those who have battled cancer

• A Luminaria Ceremony, where the track will be lit by donated luminary bags in memory and honor of loved ones;

• Family-friendly entertainment, including music, a silent auction, and demonstrations by the Stafford Sheriff’s Department, McGruff the Crime Dog, a drone team, K-9 unit, and local taekwondo and gymnastics teams;

• Activities for kids, photo opportunities, and lap-tracking beads to help participants beat their own records year over year; and

• Food Trucks like Taco Tuesday and The Dog House.

Planning officially began in late April, and as with many new grassroots efforts, the road hasn’t been without obstacles. “Funding’s not guaranteed when you’re just starting out,” Phillips said. “But we’ve got 12 teams so far and incredible support from the sheriff’s office and local businesses.” Stafford businesses like Paddy’s Public House, The Bearded Monkey, Jersey Mike’s (Windsor Road location), Cinnaholic, and more all hosted fundraising events for the new relay.

The Relay for Life of Stafford is part of the American Cancer Society’s 40th anniversary of Relay events nationwide. The goal is not only to raise money, but also to ignite a new tradition in Stafford that brings together families, schools, businesses, and service members in a shared mission.

Anyone interested in participating—whether as part of a team, as an individual, or as a volunteer—can find registration links and donation information through the event’s Facebook page or by contacting the organizing team via email.

“We’re hoping this is just the beginning,” Phillips said. “This is a chance for Stafford to stand together for hope, for healing, and for the future.”

Stafford’s Relay for Life will be help Saturday, May 10 at Kate Waller Barrett Elementary, 150 Duffey Drive. The 12-hour event begins at noon.

Fredericksburg welcomed a new novelty to its downtown business scene last week: Novel, an independent bookstore and plant shop has opened its doors at 212 William Street. 

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