The checkerboard tower next to the train station in downtown Fredericksburg is getting a makeover that will say less “Purina,” and more “upgrade,” as officials go with a blue checkerboard pattern and “Welcome to Fredericksburg.”

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In 1892, K.N. Goolrick opened the Goolrick pharmacy on Caroline Street in Fredericksburg, specializing in things people wanted, like milkshakes and medicine.

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At Fredericksburg, three bridges cross the Rappahannock River to keep traffic flowing at Interstate 95 and points east. West of I-95, the closest bridge is over 40 miles away, increasing congestion and stress for many drivers.

This fueled much discussion at the “Rappahannock River Crossing Parkway Alternatives Study,” a Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting.

On the first map of several set out for the audience to view, an oval line was drawn around an area that took a chunk out of Central Park and a more significant chunk out of Stafford County near the Celebrate Virginia Parkway in Stafford County. “That’s where the data is telling us the traffic is going,” said Brad Shelton, an urban planner with Michael Baker Engineering in Richmond.

FAMPO is studying the potential of a new bridge that would link drivers on Route 17 in Stafford County to Central Park, near the Fredericksburg National’s Virginia Credit Union Stadium on Gordon Shelton Boulevard.

There were lots of opinions, though. “I’m just here to see if it will impact where we are,” said Erica Wright, who lives further west than the oval area of interest. “I’m not sure this is the sweet spot,” said another who lives in England Run Lane in Stafford. “It would be a much wiser choice to use that,” added Bill Scaife, pointing at Celebrate Virignia Parkway on the map.

On the maps, planners identified several bridge locations for a future bridge, labeling them A, B, C, D, and F so attendees could see where their house was in relation to the proposed bridge. A map showing the placements is in the slideshow above.

Options B and C were a little further from I-95. Still, a developer recently unleashed housing plans that almost eliminated B and C. Then there was D, which got plenty of attention, too, and option F, which had the crossing closer to Spotsylvania, near Cannon Ridge.

FAMPO officials said their study comparing and contrasting a range of alternatives for a new bridge over the Rappahannock River west of I-95 between Stafford County and Fredericksburg is the first step in the construction process. They add that a bridge will not be built soon, and the study findings must first be presented to the FAMPO Policy Board.

The Virginia Department of Transportation will eventually be included in the discussion over the new bridge. However, no one from the juggernaut state agency was present at the March 20 meeting, despite the agency allowing the meeting to be held in a conference room at its regional compound in Stafford County.

Although transportation, the flow of traffic, and access to destination points west of I-95 were the main themes of the meeting, some also looked at the environment and wildlife that the construction could impact. Deer, bears, foxes, coyotes, Bald Eagles, and turtles were mentioned, as well as history involving a small cemetery near England Run Lane where Reverend Greaves and his nephew Nathaniel Sanford who are buried, were all decision items.

“Right by the waterfall, there’s four more graves,” said one woman.

A voice came out of the crowd. “They were talking about ‘Tysons Cornering’ this area they were looking at,” one of the Option A Group members said.

Officials collected comments at the comment table, and the comment period will be open through April 19, 2024. There is a survey at fampo.gwregion.org/riverstudy or email comments to [email protected]. Another public meeting will be scheduled for late this summer or early Fall 2024.

Mike Salmon is a freelance reporter for Potomac Local News.

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Fredericksburg and the Rappahannock River have a rich history, and this bond was prominent at the recent Wild & Scenic Film Festival at the University of Mary Washington. River enthusiasts and filmmakers highlighted the positive effects that rivers bring to an area.

Ten films were selected to show the needs of various rivers, and each approached an environmental theme or message. Amongst the first films viewed, a theme surrounded the idea that the well-being of a fish upstream could predict the well-being of other fish hundreds of miles away downstream. The brook trout and the striped bass were used as one example. “As those fish go, so go our stripers down in Kent Island,” said a Maryland fisherman in a film called “A Journey Upstream.” Water quality is an issue here, too. “The biggest threat to the Chesapeake Bay is water quality,” said one of the narrators.

In the Rappahannock River, the salamanders “let you know how clean the water is,” said a representative from the Master Naturalists, who were there along with the Downtown Greenspace, the Sierra Club Rappahannock Group, Sustainability at the University of Mary Washington, and the Friends of the Rappahannock, which also sponsored the film festival.

In another film, the sport of fly fishing is linked to mental health. A man teaching his son to fly fish brings happiness even though the father was impacted by his upbringing in a rough neighborhood and the George Floyd murder more recently. “Fly fishing allowed me to reconnect with my sensitive side,” he said.

Other topics included migratory birds and dust storms, surfing the Kampar River in Indonesia, freshwater mussels, and an abandoned coal mine’s toxic runoff. Many of these films showcase a group or an individual grappling with a problem and working to find solutions.

A panel chose the films to cover community science, litter, outdoor recreation, ecotourism, wildlife, and more. While the films are meant to inspire and encourage conservation on a local level, they bring up topics that uncover other topics that go on and on. It’s like a game of “Whack-a-Mole” from an earlier era.

Brent Hunsinger, from the Friends of the Rappahannock group, noted the issues with water quality, for example. There are surface water intake regulations to consider, the Potomac River aquifer, the chemicals in the water, and the draught in 2023 were all considerations as a tidal program manager. It seems like an uphill battle all the way, but a film festival with upbeat messages presented positively is a good way to get these messages out.

“Our festival allows people to be hopeful,” he said.

The audience was a mixture of the Friends group, concerned environmentalists, students, and residents from the area.

Christine Thompson is a past member of the Friends group, which attended this festival years before. “I love thinking and learning what other organizations are doing,” she said.

She lives close to Old Mill Park and sees the trash left behind after a good park day. “I think it would be simple to just educate people,” she said. The Master Naturalists have a trash pickup day at Old Mill Park on their calendar.

As the Veterans Affairs Clinic enters the final year of construction, there are several transportation improvements north of Exit 126 in Fredericksburg to improve access to this needed facility for area veterans.

This May, the ribbon will be cut on one of those improvements: the Route 17 bridge over Interstate 95 at Mills Drive, just south of the clinic. The $23.5 million project includes a four-lane bridge with pedestrian accommodations. The old bridge was “structurally deficient,” VDOT said.

Hood Drive is being improved just north of the clinic. A modified turn lane and a raised median will separate north and southbound traffic between Courthouse Road and McGowan Drive. This will also provide a second clinic entrance off Hood Drive.

At Patriot Highway (Route 1), VDOT is constructing an interchange with traffic signals and turn lanes right in front of the clinic. Officials said this will improve access to the new clinic, which is expected to open in early 2025.

The clinic is in Spotsylvania County, which provided significant funding for road improvements. All the upgrades were on state roads, so VDOT was involved.

Once The Ribbon Is Cut

The new 470,000-square-foot clinic will be named Fredericksburg Health Care Center and is expected to serve more than 29,000 Veterans annually in various areas, including primary care, mental health care, specialty care, diagnostic imaging, physical therapy, and more.

It is on a 48-acre parcel of land located southeast of Fredericksburg city, east of I-95. Harvey-Cleary Builders is constructing the facility, which incorporates a Georgian and neoclassical style of architecture in tune with many structures in Fredericksburg. Inside, there’s a concentration on green spaces and a healing garden.

Currently, depending on what kind of treatment area veterans need, they can go to the Washington, D.C. VA Medical Center or choose to go to the VA clinics in Fredericksburg. The Fredericksburg clinics are at 10401 Spotsylvania Ave. and 130 Executive Center Parkway.

d David Hodge, a VA Health Care System spokesman, said the current VA clinics in Fredericksburg will likely close when the new facility opens next year.

Construction on this new building began when officials gathered to break ground on November 4, 2021. Participants holding the golden shovels included Capt. Drew Bigby, with the Navy’s National Capital Region, Congressman Rob Wittman (R-Va, 1), Virginia State Senator Bryce Reeves (R), Lisa Gregory from Disabled American Veterans, and other VA officials.

The five levels of spicy chicken is a feature at Crimson Coward, so at the recent opening of this area’s first restaurant, they put it out there that the “Burrrrn Baby, Burn” variety is only for the super spicey palettes.

Their description is “our hottest level,” but Crimson chef Nabil Asad isn’t sugar-coating it. “It’s very, very hot,” he said, pointing at the spices they use. You really have to have a high tolerance,” he said. It’s a variety of “Nashville Hot,” with an extra kick that’s Crimson Coward’s specialty.

Even the “Hot” chicken description at the next level down described the taste as “feel the burn.” Down the list, medium is the next, followed by mild and then “country,” which is chicken with no heat, it said.

These were all highlighted on opening day, March 8, where they cut the ribbon at the Stafford location in the Embrey Mill Town Center, around the corner from Colonial Forge High School. After the football game, the Colonial Forge Eagles will flock to the Crimson if it’s open late enough, said a group of Eagle cheerleaders were on the scene to help with the ribbon cutting.

Some noted that they can’t handle hot food, but there’s always the “country” selection.

The cheerleaders were on spring break, but taking time off from their vacation was part of the deal. When the time came, they ate some free chicken while yelling out a revelation. “We’ve done these ceremonies before,” one added.

Others at the ribbon cutting included Raymond Bell and Wendy Zelazny of the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce, Stafford County Board of Supervisors Chair Dr. Pamela Yeung, John Filipiak of Crimson Coward, Asad’s business partner.

The restaurant’s secret is its fresh ingredients, made-to-order menu, and open kitchen, which customers can watch. “We make everything in-house except the French fries,” Filipiak said.

Also on the menu are macaroni and cheese, desserts, and drinks to soothe the burning mouth after some spicey varieties.

The name “Crimson Coward” comes from the color of the various spice levels up to the most crimson red in the “Burrrrn Baby Burn,” and the coward is another term for chicken, said Molly Link, a spokesperson for the company. Crimson Coward is based in Los Angeles and plans to open 50 additional stores in the Washington, D.C. area.

The Stafford store is the second on the East Coast, following the opening of a Woodbridge location last year. Fredericksburg is next, with a new restaurant planned across from Mary Washington University.

Imagine being with the late Colin Powell, who was Secretary of State and a U.S. Army general, traveling around the world looking out for U.S. interests while maintaining diplomacy at nearly all costs. It’s tough to imagine everything he faced that shaped the 1990s and beyond.

Another set of eyes was on the scene, and that was Leslie Lautenslager, the executive assistant who captured it all in her book “My Time with General Colin Powell, Stories of Kindness, Diplomacy, & Protocol.” She will be in Fredericksburg on March 12 to talk about her experience.

Lautenslager was Powell’s executive assistant for 25 years before his death, and as an honor supported by him, she put it all in a book that hit the stands in late October.

Amidst the world chaos and the weighty responsibilities, there was also Powell the person, a side that often gets overshadowed. The lighthearted stories in the book, the ones that brought a smile to Lautenslager’s face as she wrote them, are a testament to the warmth and humor that was a part of their relationship.

One time, they were on the crowded streets of Trinidad and Tobago, and she was chasing the limousine in high heels or in a crowd in Nigeria next to men with machine guns, which caused some tension. When not globetrotting, they mapped out their duties at their Old Town Alexandria office. After Powell died in October 2021, she grieved like many others around the globe and then realized it was history, so she decided to capture it all in a book.

As her friends and a publisher urged her on, Lautenslager sat down to write and didn’t come up for air until she had a draft. With the uneasy political situation in this country and the instability in some parts of the world, “people are eager for enthusiasm,” she said, and she has seen her life get a jolt when it hit the stands.

For the past few months, she highlighted her book at a speaking event in Old Town, Alexandria, a book party in Annapolis, an event with THIS Hospitality Group, and the Women’s Club of Richmond later this year.

On March 12, she’ll be at the Historic Mary Washington House, 1200 Charles Street, Fredericksburg, giving a talk and signing books from 11 to 4 p.m. On April 16, she will host an event at Hayfield Secondary School in Fairfax County, where she graduated in 1981.

Mike Salmon is a freelance reporter for Potomac Local News.

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Three Fredericksburg parks were under the microscope at a recent public meeting where planners were there to hear suggestions for the future of these parks in the wake of floods, funding shortfall, and changing outdoor trends.

“You’ve got to live with the flooding,” said environmental engineer Elizabeth Lardner, who went between the three displays talking to the residents and city staff at the Dorothy Hart Community Center. “We’re working with Mother Nature,” she said, referring partially to a recent flood that put Old Mill Park underwater when the Rappahannock River overflowed its banks in early January.

Old Mill Park, on Caroline Street, was one of the parks under review, along with Alum Spring Park and Ficklen Island. Each park had a station with diagrams, specifications, and statistics that allowed the onlookers to see what could be in store for the parks. They were asked to put suggestions down on a Post-It note on the park information board, and these were collected at the end of the night.

This meeting was their winter meeting, where park officials can make an assessment based on public input. The spring-summer meeting is where they will examine the concept alternatives and in the fall they will come up with a plan for improvements over the next 20 years. Lardner summed up this process as “not really sexy but it really matters,” she said.

Fredericksburg Park Director Todd Brown could tell by the number of participants that the parks mattered to many in the city.

Hector C. is a kayaker who was interested in the plans for Ficklen Island, the pedestrian park just off Riverside Drive. One Post-It had to do with the dam that was built years ago and Hector wants the river to stay as it is. “This whole river is a great river for kayaking,” he said.

Some of the parks are possible because of the river floods, said Lardner. The space Old Mill is on is a flood area that is not built up because the river overflows its banks every once in a while, and would destroy houses and buildings.

At Alum Spring, bordered by Routes 1, Blue and Gray Parkway, and Lafayette Boulevard, there is a path that goes right past the back of the bathroom structure, and this is not in tune with the outdoor theme of the park. “It’s time for a mural on that building,” said Lardner.

As the night wore on, the Post-It’s came out with suggestions of every type. “Establish a maintenance plan” was posted more than once, followed by suggestions to preserve historic resources, maintain access, put in campsites, remove poison ivy, and put in a canoe launch. This is only a start for the parks.

“We want to build on the investments we already made,” said Lardner.

Mike Salmon is a freelance reporter for Potomac Local News.

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Suppose the latest idea on the Interstate 95 E-ZPass Lanes comes to fruition. In that case, drivers can access lanes in both directions during rush hours, creating a busier highway transportation system while offering more choices to drivers.

In the plan, there will be two lanes heading in the rush hour direction and one the opposite way. The details for this more accessible travel plan, as are many other factors, including construction, are still in the works.

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