There are two zip codes, 22405 and 22406, that USPS has attached to Fredericksburg’s location despite lying within Stafford County lines. This affects 25,713 residences and businesses across three magisterial: George Washington, Falmouth, and Hartwood.
George Washington District Supervisor Tom Coen is pushing for the change, citing a new tax on plastic shopping bags charged by neighboring Fredericksburg City on January 1, 2022. Businesses in Stafford County also began improperly charging the tax despite not being located within the city’s boundaries.
Stafford County has no such tax on plastic bags that it imposes on local businesses.
“I’ve been pushing this since I was on the board because I have pride in Stafford, ” said Coen. “We write White Oak or Falmouth because we’re not the city of Fredericksburg. We shouldn’t be considered a community that we’re not.”
Falmouth District Supervisor Meg Bohmke agreed with Coen, citing problems residents within those zip codes have had in finding their voting precincts. Bohmke said that Fredericksburg Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw had asked the county to inform residents of their proper voting locations.
“Mayor Greenlaw of Fredericksburg has sent me numerous notes saying these people are in your county, and they don’t know where to vote, and they think they’re voting in the city,” said Bohmke.
Rockhill District Supervisor and Board Chairman Crystal Vanuch commented that the zip code name issue had had an effect of confusion when calling local law enforcement to handle a situation that turned out to be out of its jurisdiction.
“People do get confused,” said Vanuch. “I’ve heard stories of people calling the police for help, having called the Fredericksburg police when the call is actually in Stafford County. I think this would create a little more transparency.”
Vanuch also stated her belief that the zip code name issue is why Fredericksburg was getting the economic development that Stafford should be getting. Bohmke had mentioned the economic development issue as well.
English asked the board to consider getting public input on the matter. English said that he had gotten emails from constituents asking the board not to ask for the change.
If residents’ feedback favors the change, the county would approach the postal service and request the name change for those zip codes. The county will soon have that input posted on its website and a poll for feedback.
The Board of Supervisors discusses the matter again at its meeting at the end of May.
Sheetz held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open its third location in Stafford County. The Pennsylvania-based fuel and convenience station is the first business to open at Wyche and Courthouse roads.
Hartwood District Supervisor Darrell English touted Sheetz as one of the fastest-growing family-owned businesses in the U.S. The elected supervisor also touted the station as an achievement in Stafford's growing economy.
- If you rely on us for local news and haven’t already, please support us by becoming a member!
- Join our Locals Only Membership Today! In a world filled with everyday heroes and extraordinary tales, Potomac Local is your trusted source for news and stories that matter in our community.
- Our Local Spotlight Membership is perfect for businesses and non-profits to increase sales, donations, and branding awareness in the community.
- Sign in here if you're already a member, and Thank You!
When the Coronavirus pandemic hit the world, schools and universities had to increase their online presence to allow their students to attend classes virtually.
Germanna Community College's online program, College Everywhere, has produced surprising success rates, especially among male students. The program has also attracted many African-American men. Both cohorts claim a higher percentage online than in the general population of the school's student body.
- If you rely on us for local news and haven’t already, please support us by becoming a member!
- Join our Locals Only Membership Today! In a world filled with everyday heroes and extraordinary tales, Potomac Local is your trusted source for news and stories that matter in our community.
- Our Local Spotlight Membership is perfect for businesses and non-profits to increase sales, donations, and branding awareness in the community.
- Sign in here if you're already a member, and Thank You!
The Central Rappahannock Regional Library partnered with the Library of Virginia to launch a virtual collection on the history of deaf culture.
The Deaf Culture Digital Library offers resources that include books, eBooks, magazines, websites, media, and other digital materials found online. Residents with Virginia library cards can access both the Library of Virginia’s collection and search the collections of their local library with no additional charges.
According to CRRL’s Community Engagement Manager Sean Bonney, the program’s genesis started with a suggestion made to CRRL Access Services librarian Babak Zarin by ReBecca Bennett. At the time of the proposal, Bennett was the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Outreach Coordinator at the disAbility Resource Center of the Rappahannock Area.
This article is free to read but delivering Honest, Local News isn’t.
- CLICK HERE use code ANY22 and SAVE 20% on ANY monthly plan.
- Drop the paywall and see fewer ads.
- Please support your local news, and thank you for being a member!
“Deaf culture digital libraries allow for vital community resources and Deaf culture to be shared with relative ease, and can help foster greater connection between public libraries and members of the Deaf and hard of hearing community,” stated Zarin in a press release.
Working alongside Nan Carmack, the Library of Virginia’s Director of Library Development and Networking, Zarin and CRRL spent two years researching deaf culture libraries in Maryland and Tennessee. Before the Library of Virginia developed the website, consultations with community partners were made.
Materials on American Sign Language were also reviewed for use in the virtual library. According to a 2019 article in Forbes magazine, ASL is the third most studied language in colleges and universities and the third-most frequently requested language for court interpretation.
After going through reviews for accessibility, the Deaf Culture Virtual Library had a soft launch in October 2021. The website launched in December 2021.
“The initial response was very positive,” says Bonney. “Librarians appreciate being able to offer customers this centralized resource, and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities have been very eager to help further develop the library.”
The Deaf Culture Virtual Library can be accessed at deaflibva.org.
Nearly a dozen contracted janitors that work in Stafford County Schools testified to the school board about unfair treatment by their company.
Employees of the national cleaning company ABM described low pay and no benefits, a lack of workforce, and a lack of proper cleaning equipment.
- If you rely on us for local news and haven’t already, please support us by becoming a member!
- Join our Locals Only Membership Today! In a world filled with everyday heroes and extraordinary tales, Potomac Local is your trusted source for news and stories that matter in our community.
- Our Local Spotlight Membership is perfect for businesses and non-profits to increase sales, donations, and branding awareness in the community.
- Sign in here if you're already a member, and Thank You!
A Stafford-based hot sauce maker held a ribbon-cutting event to celebrate its products hitting the shelves at the Fredericksburg Food Cooperative.
Since its operations began 14 months ago, Always Flavored has made its freshly made hot sauces, spices, and marinades available at events and farmers’ markets in Stafford and Spotsylvania counties. Founder and owner Rita Witte and her family celebrated their achievement of taking their products from the garden to the shelves of the food cooperative.
“When we went from having a garden to getting on store shelves, I couldn’t believe it,” said Witte during the ceremony. “We don’t understand how this is happening and that’s what we’re all here for because this is the business that I have. I want to be a community business.”
Along with food and music, Always Flavored made available its line of hot sauces for a taste test. Their hottest signature sauce, called Wrath of Rita, brought the heat that the woman named for the sauce promised it would bring.
” I’m a very satisfied customer,” said Charles Thomas, an Always Flavored customer. ” I was at a Mardi Gras event in downtown Fredericksburg, and I sampled the sauces, and it had a very balanced flavor and burn. I went home, ordered the full basket online, and tried it with my son, who enjoyed it.”
The event was organized by the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce, which encouraged the development of new local businesses. Many local businesses in Fredericksburg and Stafford County have closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic, with several unable to reopen their doors.
“It’s absolutely essential to the success of our community and to see entrepreneurs come together and partner with local businesses as well. It’s exciting to see and it’s essential to our community to continue to see growth,” said Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce Director Janel Donohue. “People want to see growth from a local entrepreneur and from a woman as well, they want that.”
Also present at the event were Stafford County Board of Supervisors Chairman Crystal Vanuch, who spoke briefly about the occasion and remarked about Always Flavored and its status as a woman-owned business.
“It’s always exciting to see a new local business pop up in the area, especially when it’s a business owned by a woman,” said Vanuch.
Always Flavored products can be found on the shelves of the Fredericksburg Food Cooperative located at 320 Emancipation Highway (Route 1) in Fredericksburg.
Beverly Hess, who served as the executive director for six years of the ARTfactory, has resigned.
Hess began as executive director in August 2015, when it was still known as the Center for the Arts of Greater Manassas at the Candy Factory.
Hess had previously spent nine years as part of the administration for the Youth Orchestras of Prince William, her first two years spent as financial director and then the rest of her time as executive director.
“I have enjoyed my years at the factory. The people are exceptional, and it has been a joy to work in such a creative space. I wish the best for the ARTfactory and its creative community,” said Hess to Potomac Local News.
The ARTfactory was originally founded in 1984 as the Center for the Arts of Greater Manassas by a cadre of artists and art lovers in the Northern Virginia area. In 2002, the factory relocated to the Hopkins Candy Factory building in Manassas, where they have since become a cornerstone of its downtown arts community.
Since its inception, ARTfactory has grown to include classes in various arts, including painting, dance, theater, and more. ARTfactory is home to The Caton Merchant Family Gallery, which exhibits local and regional artists. The gallery has gone on to host an annual high school art competition that includes poetry and wearable art.
Three local theater groups also call ARTfactory home. This includes the youth-oriented Pied Piper Theater, Rooftop Productions, and the seniors-oriented Past Time Prime Time Players.
ARTfactory sits at 9419 Battle Street in downtown Manassas.
The Manassas City Public School Board has approved a proposal to give most of its employees a 5 percent increase as a part of its proposed budget for the fiscal year 2023, starting July 1.
School support staff, licensed teachers, and administrative staff would all see an increase in their salaries based on a step scale. Instead of a step scale, administrative staff raises will be based on a percentage of their salary during the 2021-2022 school year.
The administrative pay scale is divided into seven tiers labeled from A-1 to A-7, all for 12-month contracts. The A-1 tier would start with the elementary school assistant principal position with minimum pay of $94,592 to a maximum of $141,887.
- If you rely on us for local news and haven’t already, please support us by becoming a member!
- Join our Locals Only Membership Today! In a world filled with everyday heroes and extraordinary tales, Potomac Local is your trusted source for news and stories that matter in our community.
- Our Local Spotlight Membership is perfect for businesses and non-profits to increase sales, donations, and branding awareness in the community.
- Sign in here if you're already a member, and Thank You!
Marc Broklawski was re-elected as second vice-chair of the Virginia Democratic Party's steering committee. Brokowski's duty as the second chair includes oversight of the rules for the party and its membership.
Broklawski was part of the Virginia Forward ticket, which included all members of the state party's central committee; all the members on that ticket were re-elected to their positions in the committee.
"I will continue to be a fierce advocate in providing local committees with the resources they need to succeed while building on recent efforts of growing programming and hiring diverse voices," said Broklawski on his Facebook page.
- If you rely on us for local news and haven’t already, please support us by becoming a member!
- Join our Locals Only Membership Today! In a world filled with everyday heroes and extraordinary tales, Potomac Local is your trusted source for news and stories that matter in our community.
- Our Local Spotlight Membership is perfect for businesses and non-profits to increase sales, donations, and branding awareness in the community.
- Sign in here if you're already a member, and Thank You!
