October has arrived, and with it, at six-feet-apart, the Friends of the Occoquan conducted their fall cleanup.

A total of 132 masked volunteers arrived on October 10 at Occoquan and the Lake Ridge Park and Marina in Lake Ridge.

Then, on October 17 at the Occoquan Regional Park and the Fountainhead Park and Marina.

Volunteers filled up 35 recyclable and 41 trash bags.

Boy and Girl Scouts came out in full force including Bear Den 1353, Pack 1373 with 22 members, Troop 1369, and Kristin Saul with her 4H Club. High School students from different schools also came to fulfill their community service hours, as well as the Young Professionals. Many couples came and parents with their children to make a difference.

Since boats were not permitted at the Lake Ridge Marina, a few larger items could not be reached and were left behind.

The Friends of the Occoquan wanted to thank all of the volunteers that came out, as well as their supporters: the Fairfax County Water Authority, American Water, the Chesapeake Bay conservation Fund, Clean Virginia Waterways, the Northern Virginia Park Authority, and Occoquan.

Tuesday will be cloudy with fog in the morning.

Tuesday
Areas of fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. North wind 3 to 6 mph.

Tuesday Night
A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Wednesday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. Light and variable wind.

Wednesday Night
Showers likely, mainly after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Thursday
Showers. High near 67. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Saturday will be partly sunny with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Saturday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 78. Southwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Saturday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then a slight chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 48. North wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday
Areas of drizzle. Cloudy, with a high near 55. North wind around 7 mph.

Sunday Night
Areas of drizzle. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49.

Monday
Partly sunny, with a high near 71.

Friday will be foggy into the afternoon before clearing up to mostly sunny.

Friday
Areas of dense fog before 2pm. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 75. Southeast wind 3 to 6 mph.

Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind 3 to 6 mph.

Saturday
A slight chance of showers after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Light and variable wind becoming northwest around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Saturday Night
A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Sunday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59.

Thursday morning fog will clear into partly sunny skies and warm temperatures.

Thursday
Areas of fog before 11am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 79. Light and variable wind.

Thursday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind 3 to 5 mph.

Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Calm wind becoming southeast around 6 mph in the afternoon.

Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 56.

Saturday
A chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday morning will be foggy before clearing into partly sunny skies.

Wednesday
Areas of fog before 11am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 79. South wind 5 to 7 mph.

Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Thursday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Light and variable wind.

Thursday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 58.

Friday
Partly sunny, with a high near 75.

Realtor Association of Prince William has gathered Prince William County’s most recent housing market statistics which reflect increases in the county’s homes listed and sold.

These statistics were generated by SmartCharts, an affiliate website of Showing Time.

The market statistics are gathered through data provided by Bright MLS, which serves as the multiple listing service for Prince William County.

• A total of 793 homes were sold in September of 2020, a notable increase of 40.6 percent compared to September 2019.
• The number of contracts pending also saw a notable increase at 31.7 percent year-over-year, from 773 to 1,018.
• New listings showed an increase year-over-year, with 909 new listings, as opposed to 708 in September 2019.
• There were also fewer active listings available this year with 383 active listings in September 2020, compared to 954 in 2019.
• The median sold price of homes saw a rise in September, increasing 10.2 percent to $420,000 as compared to $381,000 last year.

To review September’s market statistics, visit the Realtor Association of Prince William website.

On October 7, Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center unveiled a space in the Buckhall Community Cemetery for those who have lost children to miscarriages.

This project was a collaborative effort with Grace United Methodist Church.

Marked with a headstone, the interfaith site is a place for scattering fetal ashes. Families can sit and visit or reflect and grieve the loss of their children that died in utero.

It’s estimated one out of eight pregnancies ends in a miscarriage or loss. The result is hurt and devastation for the families left behind. Now those families have a place to grieve and reflect.

The idea for this project started four years ago.

“A mother came to me and asked where she could go and grieve the loss of her stillborn baby. I found out where the ashes went, it wasn’t a place I could send families. From there, I had an idea and started talking to community leaders about my vision,” remembers Cindy Hardy, Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center Chaplain and developer of this project.

Hardy says chaplaincy and decedent affairs will notify families of their options when choosing a disposition.

Otherwise, a letter will be sent out quarterly inviting all those who have a fetal loss in that quarter to come to a formal memorial service.

Hardy says this is an inclusive site, “It is open for everyone. No matter how many years have passed. Grief hurts. The space is open from dawn to dusk for reflection. The infant memorial is open to everyone. All are welcome.”

This is a joint project between Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center and Grace United Methodist Church. The church donated the land. The project was funded by donations to the Chaplain’s Special Project Fund and through the Grace United Methodist Church’s Cemetery Fund.

The University of Mary Washington and Fredericksburg, long-time partners, have teamed up again in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus in the local community.

In-person classes resumed at the University of Mary Washington on September 14, after a three-week delay prompted by the pandemic.

As the University re-opened its doors, it created a strict “MMDC” – monitor, mask, distance and clean – policy, with reminders and precautionary measures set up across campus.

With large numbers of college students back in the Fredericksburg area, a Joint Task Force to combat the coronavirus began meeting weekly in August, even before the students’ return, to ensure guideline compliance both on and off-campus.

This task force is comprised of city officials and university administrators.

“The open dialogue of this task force between the City and UMW is very helpful for tracking the efforts and effects of COVID-19 both on campus and elsewhere in the City,” said Fredericksburg Fire Chief Michael Jones.

In addition to Jones, the group includes Fredericksburg Police Chief Brian Layton and Director of Economic Development Bill Freehling, along with the University of Mary Washington Chief of Police Mike Hall, Assistant Director of Athletics Caitlin Moore and Director of Transfer and Off-Campus Student Services Chris Porter.

“We are working together to make sure our students are doing what they should be doing,” Porter said. “We are not turning a blind eye.”

Seen as a bridge between the City and the University, the task force pools personnel in an effort to share community observances and stave off issues before they arise.

The University of Mary Washington has asked students to be diligent in wearing masks and social-distancing, with gatherings limited to groups of no more than 10.

An intricate system of checks and balances – including an Eagle Care Ambassadors program that asks students to monitor each other’s behavior – helps keep them accountable, and administrators have made it clear that the guidelines apply beyond campus boundaries.

While Fredericksburg Police are not in a position to enforce the University of Mary Washington policy, officers are charged with monitoring activity within city limits according to public safety recommendations issued by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, and can issue reminders of University protocol.

“Our goal,” Jones said, “is to publicize this ongoing effort as a means to help reinforce positive behaviors for COVID-19 safety downtown.”

For more information about the City of Fredericksburg’s coronavirus safety efforts, please visit Fredericksburg’s website or call 540-372-1010.