Red Dragon, 6 Bears & A Goat, Highmark, and Strangeways – Fredericksburg’s local breweries have helped the city earn a nomination for USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Small Town Beer Scenes. Staunton is the only other Virginia city on the list.

The city said the nomination celebrates the area’s craft beer culture and recognizes the community of brewers and craft beer enthusiasts. Josh Summits, Director of Economic Development and Tourism for the city, said, “This nomination is a testament to the hard work of our local breweries and the support of our community. We invite everyone to cast their votes daily and help us showcase Fredericksburg’s exceptional beer culture to the nation.”

The Fredericksburg area, including Stafford and Spotsylvania, is home to 12 breweries and a new dog park with a taphouse expected to open this year. Stafford is home to World Beer Cup winner Barley Naked and the newly opened Laudenbach Brewing.  The Fredericksburg Area Beer Trail marks the breweries located in Spotsylvania, Fredericksburg, and Stafford, and offers a Passport visitors can have stamped at each participating brewery.

The nomination also noted Fredericksburg’s annual beer festivals at the Fairgrounds and the city’s Oktoberfest celebration, which began in downtown Fredericksburg before moving to the FredNats stadium.

The Brewer’s Association estimates the brewing industry contributed over $1.6 billion to Virginia’s economy in 2023 and over 11,000 jobs.

Fans can visit USA Today daily and cast their vote for Fredericksburg, VA.

Voting ends on February 24 at noon, and the top 10 winners will be announced on March 5.

Skip Causey of Stafford’s Potomac Point Winery, has received the Virginia Wineries Association’s (VWA) David King Advocate of the Year Award.

Christina Sandridge, VWA Executive Director, said the award is named after the late David King, who founded King Family Vineyards in Crozet. King is known as a strong advocate for the Virginia Wine industry who championed the 2007 Virginia Farm Winery Act as well as the creation of the Virginia Winery Distribution Company, which provides wholesale wine distribution services for local farm wineries and expands their customer base.

Sandridge said the award is presented to an individual who “does the work” and demonstrates significant involvement in advocacy efforts on behalf of the Virginia wine industry.

Causey and his wife Cindi turned their love of wine into Potomac Point Winery, which opened in 2007. In 2019, Causey took on the role of winemaker at Potomac Point, collaborating with assistant winemaker Jordan Cleary. Causey is a past president of the Virginia Vineyards Association and co-chair of the Virginia Wineries Legislative Board, and has championed policies and initiatives that benefit vineyards and wineries across the state.

Potomac Point Winery won Business of the Year at Stafford’s Economic Development Authority’s Awards in 2024, and their wines won five medals in the 2024 Governor’s Cup Competition.

Past recipients of the award, established in 2020, include:
2020 George Hodson, Veritas/Flying Fox
2021 Mary Beth Williams, Williams Compliance
2022 Mitzi Batterson, James River Cellars Winery
2023 Anne Leigh Kerr, Kerr Government Strategies

The Prince William County Human Rights Commission is once again accepting nominations for its Universal Human Rights Day Awards. These awards recognize people in the community who have made significant contributions in fostering equality and advancing human rights for all people in Prince William County. All submissions are due by Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. Past awardees have been recognized for their work in combating sex trafficking, addressing homelessness and alleviating food insecurity. Others earned the award through activities such as mentoring Prince William County youth, providing health education and workshops tutoring, supporting college and career planning, and promoting informed decision-making. Past awardees have also demonstrated leadership, excellence, effectiveness and courage that advanced equality. Community members are encouraged to submit nominations for individuals, schools, community groups, organizations or businesses. Award nominees must be Prince William County residents. To submit a nomination, visit pwcva.gov/human-rights-awards and complete the form by Dec. 14, 2024. Nominations can also be mailed or delivered to the Human Rights Office at 15941Donald Curtis Drive, Suite 125, Woodbridge, VA 22191. For questions or further information, contact the Human Rights Office at 703-792-4680 during regular business hours. The awardees will be honored on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, at the McCoart Government Center, during the annual Universal Human Rights Day celebration. This year’s event will also commemorate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act. The Prince William County Human Rights Commission remains dedicated to its mission of eliminating discrimination and enforcing civil and human rights laws to establish equal opportunity for all people. Through education and advocacy, the commission seeks to cultivate a community where every resident is treated with fairness and dignity. Commission Chair Curtis Porter said it is important to recognize people for their contributions. “We want to recognize people who are making a contribution in the field of human and civil rights in Prince William County. This is an excellent opportunity for the Prince William County Human Rights Commission to do that,” Porter said.

Learn more about the Human Rights Office at pwcva.gov/humanrights.

 

This past Friday, October 4, the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber’s Leadership Fredericksburg program held its Annual Leadership Impact Awards celebration at the A & B Creative Events Center. The event brought together local business leaders, alumni, and community supporters to honor the contributions of Leadership Fredericksburg alumni who make positive impacts on the community.

Susan Spears, Executive Director of Leadership Fredericksburg, said: “The Leadership Fredericksburg program continues to cultivate leaders who not only excel in their professional lives but also make lasting, positive impacts on our community. We are thrilled to recognize these five outstanding individuals who have embodied the spirit of community leadership and commitment.”

One honoree was Paul Milde, District 64 Delegate and Founder and President of CIP Finishes. A 2021 alum of the Leadership Fredericksburg Class of 2021, Milde shared what initially inspired him to participate. “It was around 2011 when I was on the Stafford Board of Supervisors. I noticed many highly regarded businessmen and women would mention that they were alumni, and it was obvious they felt they had gotten something special out of the program.”

Though his duties on the Board of Supervisors and as a member of VRE kept him from enrolling until 2018, once he completed the program, Milde said the program has changed his communication style, it “assessed my communication and personality traits and suggested areas where I might be better off with a different style. It helped me see better how others saw me—simply put, how to improve my people skills.”

Milde believes leadership is about leaving the community better than he found it. “That could be anything from preserving large tracts of forest and farms for future generations, building up our transportation network, fostering diverse business opportunities with good jobs, or being part of the growing network of LF alumni who help keep the counties and city connected as one family of businesses and leaders.”

He now actively encourages others in his company to participate in Leadership Fredericksburg. “Based on my experience, I started sending my company’s management through LF. It is worth the return on investment.” 

Nicole Cole, Owner and President of Nicole Cole Financial Services Group and a 2017 alum of Leadership Fredericksburg, was also recognized. Cole, who moved to Spotsylvania in 2013, explained that she was inspired to join the program after hearing about it from her cousin, a Leadership Metro Richmond graduate. “She said it would be a great way to build my leadership skills, learn ways to apply them within my community and build a stronger network with fellow members of the Chamber. All these things were accomplished through my participation in Leadership FXBG.”

As a leader in the financial sector, Cole credits the program with enhancing her ability to develop leadership within her team. “The skills related to developing the leadership capabilities of my employees and trusting in delegating tasks have been most useful so we can better serve and respond to our clients,” she shared. 

The program helped Cole evolve her own leadership style, particularly in becoming more visionary and collaborative. “The program helped me to add more ways to involve others, recognize leadership capabilities in others, and inspire others to work together to develop the plan and take ownership of the work required to achieve our common goals,” she said. She also noted the importance of mental health and self-care for leaders, a lesson that resonated deeply with her: “Leaders take on so much, often very selflessly, and it can take a toll. We must remember self-care or, better, creating harmony, is a must for us to be able to do the work we do and stay healthy.”

Cole also emphasized the value women bring to leadership. “While in the past, finance hasn’t been an area women were encouraged or supported in engaging, much less becoming leaders, it is a great industry in which women can thrive. The industry needs the diversity of thought, temperament, and understanding that women bring to the table as leaders.”

Other recognized alums were Veronic Curry, of Germanna Community College; Meghann Cotter of Micah Ecumenical Ministries; and Martha Hutzel of Central Rappahannock Libraries.

Stafford County announced its third-place finish in the 2024 Digital Counties Survey for the 150,000-249,999 population category; Arlington won first place. Stafford and Arlington were the only Virginia counties in the top ten. The survey, developed by the National Association of Counties and conducted by the Center for Digital Government, recognizes counties that use technology for efficient and responsive government services.

“We are enhancing our services for residents by leveraging technology to improve government,” stated Craig Meadows, Interim Stafford County Administrator. “I take pride in the achievements of Stafford’s Information Services team and the benefits that come with it for our citizens.”

Chief Director of Information Services Andrew Spence added, “Winning ninth place last year fulfilled a goal for our County. Our new goal is to continue to enhance the interface between our community and local government through new technology. Moving up to third place shows we are moving in the right direction.”

Stafford was recognized for its improved IT strategy, governance, cybersecurity, and disaster recovery efforts. Innovations include the Ask Blu chatbot and citizen request management system, powered by ChatGPT, which assists residents via the county website, mobile app, and text messaging.

The Center for Digital Government focuses on state and local government technology policy, while the National Association of Counties advocates for county government priorities and best practices.

Stafford County won three National Association of Counties (NACo) 2024 Achievement Awards. The NACo Awards recognize outstanding government programs and services. Stafford won two awards in the Human Services category and one in the Civic Education and Public Information category.

“Having our efforts recognized by NACo is high praise indeed,” said Stafford County Board of Supervisors Chairman Meg Bohmke. “We work daily to achieve excellence on behalf of our residents, but it is certainly nice to have our peers validate our work.”

Stafford County’s Rappahannock Regional Solid Waste Management Board (R-Board) bicycle restoration program won in the Human Services category. The R-Board initiated a bicycle restoration program in October 2023. The program aims to reduce waste by providing a drop-off location for gently used bicycles that need minor repairs at the residential side of the Regional Landfill. By refurbishing and repairing bicycles that are still in good condition, the program encourages reuse and prevents them from being landfilled. The bicycle restoration program is overseen by Francesca Johnson, Recycling Manager, in partnership with Stafford Crossing Community Church who refurbishes and repairs collected bicycles before distributing them to children in need.

Stafford’s Human Resources department won for policy changes that improve efficiency in the Human Services category. Human Resources maintains several policies related to the organization and administration of Stafford County Government’s human resources and associated programs. Stafford County Leadership team members worked to identify specific policy amendments that the County Administrator could authorize. This concept was discussed with individual members of the Board of Supervisors to gauge openness to delegating their authority during these identified areas of policy amendments before bringing the program to the full Board of Supervisors for a resolution. The goal of delegating authority to the County Administrator is to create efficiency and flexibility for the County to maintain its Human Resources policies.

Stafford County Utilities, in partnership with the Community Engagement Department, won in the Human Services category for creating a superhero character that fights clogs. The utilities infrastructure is an aging system that the County is working to upgrade and maintain. Clogs from fats, oil, and grease (FOG) are a real problem that impacts operations and costs. The department initially created a superhero theme for the annual FOG campaign to increase awareness about how residents can help protect the sanitary sewer system. The main character, Captain Clog, was used on billboards, social media posts, and videos for the FOG campaign. Since then, he has become a vehicle to communicate various awareness and outreach topics. Two comic books have been created for outreach editions—the first about water and wastewater treatment processes and the second about water conservation.

The Prince William Conservation Alliance held its “People Who Make a Difference” Awards on Saturday, June 22, 2024.

This year’s event recognized four community members whose efforts have significantly contributed to the local environment’s preservation and enhancement. The awards honor individuals who embody the principle that people who care can make a difference.

Giuseppe’s Ristorante Italiano was acknowledged for being a consistent community partner. The restaurant has supported local events and initiatives, providing space and sponsorship to foster community gatherings and environmental stewardship.

Judy Gallagher was celebrated for her work in connecting people to the world of insects. Her photography has been featured in educational documents and field guides nationwide, helping to educate and inspire a greater appreciation for these creatures.

Joyce Hudson was honored for her efforts to protect The Settlement from a Dominion transmission line. She educated herself and her community about transmission lines and organized a successful campaign against the proposed line.

Julie Flanagan was acknowledged for her work in preserving mature trees and reforesting lands throughout the county. As the county arborist, her advocacy and educational efforts have highlighted the importance of trees to local officials and the community.

“These places, your homes, your neighborhoods, this land, and the nature around us don’t have a voice. But we do. And these are people who use their voice to make this community better,” said Ashley Studholme, Executive Director of the Prince William Conservation Alliance.

Their contributions to Prince William County serve as a reminder that anyone can make a difference. The Alliance hopes these awards and the accomplishments of the honorees inspire others to stand up for their communities and the natural world.

For more information about the Prince William Conservation Alliance and the “People Who Make a Difference” Awards, please visit pwconserve.org.