The Manassas Park Governing Body approved a project to edge, mill, and overlay the Signal Hill Trail.
After over 25 years of use and exposure to the elements, many trail segments have come under decline with large fractures and exposed root systems penetrating the asphalt. In particular, the looped back trails had been identified as a potential hazard that could cause injury to anyone using the trails.
The Governing Body has approved a contract offer made by the Virginia-based Finley Asphalt and Concrete, a company that has improved public and private trails in Prince William and Fairfax counties.
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Fredericksburg's longtime tradition of First Friday celebrations in the downtown area will see a few changes when it returns this week.
As part of the new rebranding of the First Friday events, a new component called "Sip and Stroll" will be added to the festivities. The concept will allow revelers to enjoy alcoholic beverages in a specially designated area of Downtown Fredericksburg.
The Sip and Stroll will occur on First Friday, between 5 and 9 p.m., when adults aged 21 or older can buy an alcoholic beverage from a participating restaurant. The restaurants will sell cups printed with their logos on them.
No outside beverages will be allowed.
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Despite school bus transportation issues, students, teachers, and parents are happy to go back to in-person learning, Stafford County school officials say.
A presentation made to the Stafford County School Board outlined the status of local schools after the first four weeks of the 2021-22 school year. According to Robert Bingham, principal of H.H. Poole Middle School, student morale is higher than last year with virtual learning.
Bingham recounted how the students were more social and communicative with each other in person than they had been the previous year during the pandemic.
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Occoquan is looking within the town limits to set a historical marker commemorating the contributions made to the town by Valentine Peyton.
The town council was approached by the Peyton Society of Virginia, a non-profit organization dedicated to collecting and preserving information regarding the Peyton family and their contributions to Virginia. The Peytons were among the first families to arrive in the North American continent from England during the 17th century.
The honoree, Valentine Peyton, was born in Westmoreland County in 1687 and worked as a planter, land speculator, and public servant. He served four years in Virginia's House of Burgesses from 1736 to 1740, as a captain of the Virginia Militia and as sheriff of Prince William County in 1749.
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The Manassas City Fire Marshal wants to know why foam filled a hangar at the Manassas Regional Airport.
According to the airport's operations manager Richard Allabaugh, about 11:25 p.m. on August 27, there was an accidental discharge of fire retardant foam at the Leidos Hangar facility on Frank Marshall Lane. There had been no fire in the hanger, which is when such a system would have gone off as designed.
Allabaugh recently briefed the Manassas Regional Airport Commission about the incident. The photos used in this post were taken from his presentation to the governing body.
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Stafford County Public School's search for a new permanent superintendent continues.
When asked about what strengths the new Superintendent should have, county residents said the candidate should have both teaching and administrative experience, excellent communication, and collaborative skills.Â
The new chief should also have savvy management ability and personal qualities such as integrity, transparency, and a long-term commitment to the community, said residents who responded to a community survey sent by the school division over the summer.Â
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The Stafford County School Board has voted to create an ad-hoc transportation advisory committee for one year.
On August 9, Stafford County was the first school division in the region to return students to the classroom for the 2021-21 school year. Shortly after that, the school division was taking heat from parents when buses failed to pick up children and take them to and from school.
Many parents were forced to drive their children to school. As surrounding school divisions returned to class during the following weeks, they, too, experienced bus-driver shortages that plagued Stafford schools.
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The Stafford County Board of Supervisors has passed a resolution regarding their stance on the teaching or usage of Critical Race Theory, The 1619 Project, and teachers asking students for their preferred personal pronouns.
They're against all of it.
Furthermore, the Board resolved to review all funding requests from the School Board and deny anything remotely linked to teaching CRT. The motion harkens back to when the Board of Supervisors -- the taxing authority that provides most of the school divisions' budget -- categorically fund items like new classrooms, which it deems essential.
"There's nothing on this resolution that says we are going to defund schools," said Hartwood District Supervisor Gary Snellings. "This resolution does not eliminate anything."Â
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It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a superhero with an accordion?
That satirical songwriting superhero Captain Ambivalent has left his fortress of nerditude in Valparaiso, Indiana to bring his brand of silly songs to Fredericksburg.
The good captain is coming off the release of his fourth album “Songs for Short Attention Spans” and will be playing at the Fredericksburg Recreation Center on William Street on September 28.
The captain, whose real name is, Dan Biemer, began his quest by trading in a 20-year career as a paralegal for a golden cape, a pair of sparkling boots, and an accordion which took him to such strange new worlds such as the Dr. Demento Radio Show, GenCon, and America’s Got Talent.
After receiving word about his upcoming appearance, Potomac Local News spoke with the good captain about his alter ego and what inspired him to be a comedy singing accordionist.
PLN: So what made you decide to go out on tour?
CA: This year I decided to branch out and do a tour, granted this was back in January when it was much safer but I’m still looking forward to it. It’s a great opportunity and there’s some risk associated but I think it’s worth it.
PLN: Like any good superhero you must have an origin story, could you tell us that story?
CA: I needed to deal with a load of childhood trauma and I enjoyed writing funny songs but I couldn’t get a band. I had an accordion that I got from my great aunt and not everyone was doing it. I took on the identity of Captain Ambivalent and became your everyday, average superhero with an accordion.
PLN: What attracted you to the world of comedy music?
CA: From a pretty young age, I have liked musical comedians like Spike Jones which I got from my parents. So I leaned in that direction. I’ve tried to write other songs but my talents lay in funny songs.
PLN: What is it about the accordion that is attractive to not just comedy music, but people who write happy songs as well?
CA: The accordion is very common in French music, it produces very melancholy music, it’s portable, it’s easy to sing with, and the structure lends itself to an upbeat feel. It sounds bouncy which to me means happy. I have some slow songs but when I play it's pretty upbeat.
PLN: With the recent pandemic many musicians had to adapt to the situation when it comes to their performances, did you have to go through anything similar at that time?
CA: I quickly found out that my internet service was not good for live-streaming so I went hog wild on a one-man recorded show. I will also perform at the Keybank Rochester Fringe Festival in New York which will be from September 14 to October 9. The festival has both live and virtual performances. Aside from that, I tried to increase my skills, I got some online coaching on booking, social media, and just leveled up just leveling up my abilities.
PLN: What should people expect to see when they come to see you play?
CA: Be prepared to see a very imposing figure in sparkling gold boots and a cape with a shiny gold accordion, unlike anything you’ve experienced. Be prepared to have fun, hear some over-the-top, nerdy songs, and forget what’s going on in the world for a few minutes.
Captain Ambivalent will perform at the Fredericksburg Recreation Center at 213 William Street in Downtown Fredericksburg on Sept. 28 from 7 pm to 9 pm.
