The Fredericksburg Symphony Orchestra (FSO) will bring its Lolli-Pops concert, an interactive program designed to introduce young audiences to the world of classical music, to James Monroe High School on March 15. The concert's theme is "A Salute to Mother Earth."
The Lolli-Pops concert is aimed at children from toddler age and up, offering a kid-friendly format that features well-known tunes such as "America the Beautiful," "Over the Rainbow," and selections from Disneyâs Moana. More mature audiences can look forward to hearing "Variations on a Shaker Melody" from Appalachian Spring and The Moldau, among other pieces.
This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!
Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.
The Town of Dumfries is considering relocating its Farmers Market to a more high-traffic area in an effort to boost accessibility and attract more vendors. This discussion comes as part of the townâs broader push for economic growth, which includes new housing developments, business expansions, and infrastructure improvements.
Farmers Market Relocation Considered to Improve Access and Participation
This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!
Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.
At the February 18, 2025, Board of Supervisors meeting, the members discussed Resolution R25-43, which proposes amending Stafford County Code Section 28-35 and modifying the Table of Uses and Standards to introduce additional oversight for data center developments. To gather public feedback, a joint public hearing with the Planning Commission is scheduled for March 18, 2025.
Reasons for the Change
This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!
Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.
Stafford County Public Schools are ushering in a new era of leadership, announcing the appointment of several new principals, including the founding principals of two new elementary schools. Additionally, the district has hired a new Executive Director of Transportation, John Wilcots, who brings experience from one of the nation's largest school districts to tackle local transportation challenges.
New Principals to Lead Staffordâs Expanding Schools
This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!
Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.
Keen said the total budget for FY26 was $327.8 million, a 1.7% decrease from the adopted budget in fiscal year 2025, which was $333.6 million.
"This decrease is due to the large use of one-time funds for capital projects in the previous year, primarily the purchase of Marstellar [Middle School] and the Manassas Shopping Center," Keen said.
This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!
Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.
Stafford County's Board of Supervisors and School Board will hold their respective meetings on Tuesday, February 25. Both meetings will be streamed live, with agendas available online.
Board of Supervisors Meeting â 5 p.m.
The Board of Supervisors will review the transportation biannual update, focusing on the Transportation Master Plan and various state and federal grant programs.
Transportation Master Plan Overview
- Phase 1 ($225 million):
- Four projects under construction: Berea Church Road, Route 1 at Telegraph/Woodstock, Staffordboro Boulevard sidewalk, and Route 1 at Courthouse Road ($57 million total).
- The Courthouse Road project has a $3.2 million shortfall. However, Berea Church Road and Telegraph Road projects are under budget, with surplus funds moving into contingency.
- Eight projects in the engineering phase totaling $168 million.
- Phase 2 ($600 million+):
- Includes four projects in engineering and 12 roadway and 33 bike/pedestrian projects in planning.
- Major areas of focus include Kings Highway, Chatham Heights, Mine Road, and Greenspring Drive.
- Phase 3 ($1 billion+):
- Proposed projects include a new north-south corridor west of I-95, running parallel to Route 1, and widening Courthouse, Mountain View, and Shelton Shop roads.
State Funding: almost $292 million, an increase of $10.5 million from last year
Departmental Savings: $890,000 in savings from departmental budgets
New School Staffing: $914,000 to staff new schools being built in the county
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
"Itâs been a while since weâve had Restaurant Week here in Historic Downtown," said Kristen Kiefer, Executive Director of Historic Manassas Inc. "Given that February is a slow month for restaurants, we saw this as a great opportunity to bring people downtown, support our local eateries, and introduce the community to new dining experiences."
New Restaurants Spotlight
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or create a FREE account today. Make the smart choice for staying informed about your community. Thank you!
A group of Belmont Bay homeowners has filed a complaint with the Virginia Office of the Common Interest Community Ombudsman, accusing their homeowners association (HOA) board of violating transparency regulations. The complaint, submitted by KP Lau, president of Concerned Citizens United for Belmont Bay (CCUBB), alleges that the HOA board conducted business behind closed doors, failed to notify residents about key meetings, and did not follow its own communication protocols regarding land deals and rezoning discussions.
Allegations of Secret Meetings and Lack of Communication
This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!
Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.
Williams acknowledged the race of other black school board members but purposefully left out Brentsville representative Erica Tredinnick, a black Republican. Her efforts had the unintended consequence of displaying why identity politics is so divisive. Prince William GOP posted on X after the meeting, âGuess [Tredinnick] isnât âBlack enoughâ in [Williamsâ] mind. This is the leftâs identity politics at work: itâs not about representation, itâs about control.â
Williams touted the divisionâs Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts over the years, and vowed to push a DEI agenda within the school system. Her words come as the U.S. Department of Education has ordered an end to DEI practices, stating, âpervasive and repugnant race-based preferences and other forms of racial discrimination have emanated throughout every facet of academiaâ on February 1, 2025.
