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.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

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%.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

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.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

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.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

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.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

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.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

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.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

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.