FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – At one time, the Fredericksburg Visitors’ Center at the corner of Charlotte and Caroline Streets and the little parking lot next door were an adequate place for visitors to park. Last year, the Visitor’s Center relocated to a larger space a block away. The parking lot is now under new ownership, and access to the lot has been restricted. However, not everyone received the notice, so parking enforcement rolls in, which some see as unwarranted.

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The Charleston RiverDogs scored four late runs to top the Fredericksburg Nationals 6-2 on Education Day at Virginia Credit Union Stadium. Over 3,000 students attended the early game, where FredNats starter Bryan Polanco allowed just one run in four innings. Cristhian Vaquero went 3-for-5 with an RBI, but Charleston broke a 2-2 tie with a strong finish against Fredericksburg’s bullpen. Robert Cranz (1-2) took the loss.

Next Game: Thursday, 6:35 p.m. — Alexander Meckley (1-1, 5.56) vs. Trevor Harrison (1-1, 4.50)

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RIVERDOGS BITE BACK, TAKE GAME TWO 6-2 OVER FREDNATS

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FREDERICKSBURG, VA – The Fredericksburg Nationals (9-8) saw their usually-dominant bullpen allow four late runs to the Charleston RiverDogs (7-10) in a 6-2 loss on an Education Day at Virginia Credit Union Stadium.

The first pitch was thrown at the bright and early time of 11:05 a.m. by Bryan Polanco with a crowd of over 3,000 local students in attendance on field trips from school. Polanco, the FredNats Opening Day starter, gave them a good showing in his fourth start of the year.

The Fredericksburg righty fought through some early traffic to finish four full innings, giving up just one run. He stranded the bases loaded in both of the first two innings, with the only run against him scoring on an RBI walk with two outs in the second inning.

His offense got the run back quickly in the bottom of the second when Nick Peoples tripled and his fellow outfielder, Nate Ochoa, brought him in when his single up the middle split the drawn-in defense. At the end of four innings, the game was tied at one apiece.

The FredNat bullpen, which entered the day with a 2.99 ERA, struggled through the next five innings. Kevin Dowdell allowed a run in his two innings of work, while Robert Cranz and Ryan Minckler each allowed two in an inning apiece. In total, five of the six Charleston runs were scraped across against the Fredericksburg relievers.

After the second inning, the only run the FredNats scored came when Cristhian Vaquero hooked a triple off the right field wall to score Carlos Tavares in the fifth. Despite the loss, Vaquero had a strong day at the plate, going 3/5 with an RBI.

Cranz (1-2) got the loss, with Charleston reliever Owen Stevenson (1-0) walking into the win after facing just one batter.

In game three on Thursday, the FredNats pit Alexander Meckley (1-1, 5.56) against Trevor Harrison (1-1, 4.50) for a 6:35 start.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — A citizen advisory group has endorsed a new route for a long-proposed bridge crossing over the Rappahannock River, recommending an alternative that avoids sensitive environmental areas and leverages existing road infrastructure.

The Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC), a panel advising the Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (FAMPO), voted 9-4 in favor of a new option, informally dubbed “CTAC Option C.” The route would use Celebrate Virginia Parkway in Stafford County and cross the river where one of the previously studied alternatives—Option D—was proposed.

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Virginia health officials have confirmed the first measles case of 2025, reported in a child from the Northwest Region who had recently traveled internationally. Health officials are now working to identify anyone who may have been exposed to the disease, including individuals who visited two medical centers in Woodbridge and Fredericksburg.

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) urges residents, particularly those in these areas, to check their vaccination status and seek the MMR vaccine if needed. Measles is highly contagious, but vaccination remains the best defense against the disease.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 19, 2025

Virginia Health Officials Confirm First 2025 Measles Case in the State

Virginia Department of Health is Working to Identify People Who Are at Risk

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is reporting the state’s first measles case of the year. The patient is a child (0-4 years) in the Northwest Region who recently traveled internationally. To protect the family’s privacy, VDH will not provide any additional information about the patient. Health officials are coordinating efforts to identify anyone who might have been exposed.

“This first case of measles in Virginia this year is a reminder of how easily this highly contagious disease can spread, particularly with international travel,” said VDH State Epidemiologist Laurie Forlano, D.O., M.P.H. “Vaccination remains our best defense against measles and is safe and highly effective at protecting people and preventing outbreaks. We urge Virginians, especially those planning to travel, to check their vaccination status, talk to their health care provider, and get the MMR vaccine if needed.”

Listed below are the dates, times, and locations of potential exposure sites in Virginia:

Kaiser Permanente Caton Hill Medical Center, Advanced Urgent Care, located at 13285 Minnieville Road in Woodbridge on Tuesday, April 15 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Kaiser Permanente Fredericksburg Medical Center, Pediatrics Department, located at 1201 Hospital Drive in Fredericksburg on Wednesday, April 16 from noon to 5 p.m.
What should you do if you were at the above locations on the day and time specified?

If you have never received a measles-containing vaccine (either the measles, mumps and rubella [MMR] vaccine or a measles-only vaccine which is available in other countries), you may be at risk of developing measles. Anyone who might have been exposed and is considered to be at risk of developing measles should contact their healthcare provider immediately.

Watch for symptoms for 21 days after the date of your potential exposure. If you notice symptoms of measles, immediately isolate yourself by staying home. Contact your healthcare provider right away. If you need to seek healthcare, call ahead before going to your healthcare provider’s office or the emergency room to notify them that you may have been exposed to measles and ask them to call the local health department. This call will help protect other patients and staff.

Anyone with an immunocompromising condition should consult with their healthcare provider if they have questions or develop symptoms.

If you have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, or were born before 1957, you are protected and do not need to take any action.

If you have received only one dose of a measles-containing vaccine, you are very likely to be protected and your risk of being infected with measles from any of these exposures is very low. However, to achieve the highest level of protection, contact your healthcare provider about getting a second vaccine dose.

Measles is a highly contagious illness that can spread easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Measles symptoms usually appear in two stages. In the first stage, most people have a fever of greater than 101 degrees, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a cough. These symptoms usually start seven to fourteen days after being exposed. The second stage starts three to five days after symptoms start, when a rash begins to appear on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. People with measles are contagious from four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appeared.

Measles is preventable through a safe and effective MMR vaccine. Two doses of the vaccine are given to provide lifetime protection. Virginia has high measles vaccination rates, with approximately 95% of kindergarteners fully vaccinated against measles. However, infants who are too young to be vaccinated, and others who are not vaccinated, are very susceptible to infection if they are exposed to measles. Infants six months through 11 months of age who will be traveling internationally, or to an outbreak setting, should receive one dose of MMR vaccine prior to travel. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions about the MMR vaccine.

To check your immunization status, call your healthcare provider or request your vaccination records using the VDH Immunization Record Request Form. Virginia residents with additional questions about their potential exposure can email [email protected] or contact your local health department.

For more information about measles visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/measles

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The second annual Fredericksburg Film Festival kicked off last night with a reception at the Courtyard Marriott, where filmmakers, judges, and festival organizers gathered in an informal atmosphere to meet one another. The event was followed by a preview of a few of the entries in a conference room off to the side. Event organizer Dalton Okolo sported two high-powered cameras as he mingled with the crowd. “This is our second year, we have to figure ourselves out,” he said. The festival is supported by the Fredericksburg Office of Economic Development and Tourism, as well as several local businesses. At the opening reception, it was too early to predict the outcome, but Okolo was optimistic. “There are large amounts of enthusiasm online,” he said. Okolo is joined on the management side by Executive Producer & Experience Designer Wa’ad Adam, and producers Carlos Naranjo, Antonella Membreno, and John Heyn. Okolo is a director, writer, and producer based in Fredericksburg, known for his Virginia-based short films, including “She’s Mine Now” (2022) and “Missing You” (2021). He is with 1108 Media, where he encourages Virginia-based filmmakers, strengthening the local film community. After the reception, there was a “Shorts Block,” with films “Dirty Towel,” “How to Feel Fullfilled at Work,” and “Waiting for April,” a film by a couple of Alexandria filmmakers Timothy Parsons and Kyle Schick. In "Waiting for April," they crafted a story that focuses on the challenges of a first date later in life. April is a senior that didn’t date growing up, so now she’s elderly and navigates getting asked out on a date. Parsons has another film called "Memory Project," which will also be featured at this festival on Sunday. The following day, Thursday, films are scheduled at various venues around town. Each session begins with a workshop, and often, the filmmakers attend the showings as well and answer questions afterward. Some of the more interesting films include "Skategoat," where a young boy dreams of being a professional skateboarder while escaping the world of gangs in which he grew up in Venice Beach. Another is "500 Fireflies," which deals with a single father who relocates with his daughter, and then there's "Beacon," which features a shipwrecked survivor and a lighthouse keeper. There are several documentary films as well, including "Calamity and Mercy," about Ukrainian refugees, "Escape from Extinction: Rewilding," about rebuilding ecosystems, and "All Things Metal," which focuses on a family-run iron forge, heavy metal music and a shared disability. Local filmmaker Robert Kendzie has a film in the festival, "The Wychwood Cycle," that explores a fantasy character who lives in the woods. He had to travel to far western Maryland to film in the snow, but was surprised this year when Fredericksburg had several inches of snow, which came in handy in his film. Kendzie supports local filmmakers with various programs and filmed part of his film at Loriella Park in Spotsylvania County.

The Fredericksburg Film Festival runs through Sunday, with screenings and workshops taking place at various venues across the city. Each film block typically begins with a hands-on workshop, followed by a Q&A session with the filmmaker, offering audiences a deeper look into the creative process.

Highlights of this year’s lineup include:

• Skategoat – A young boy dreams of becoming a professional skateboarder while escaping the grip of gang life in Venice Beach.

• 500 Fireflies – A single father and his daughter relocate and rebuild their lives in a new town.