On February 6, the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce played host to nearly 550 high school students hailing from King George, Spotsylvania, Caroline, Stafford, and Fredericksburg, as well as homeschool and private school attendees, along with college students from Mary Washington University and Germanna Community College.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

The soon-to-open The Rose gaming resort operators are about to ask the Dumfries Town Council for permission to install more gaming machines than planned, even if the greenspace they promised residents as part of the development won’t be built yet.

Churchill Downs, Inc., owners of the Rose, a 310-room hotel, video slot gaming parlor, restaurant, and entertainment destination, have submitted their original development package adjustments to Dumfries Town Council. The town council will hold a special public meeting on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at 7 p.m., at Town Hall, 17739 Main Street, to rule on the matter.

Part of the original agreement was constructing a park on top of the old Potomac Landfill, a construction debris trash heap off Interstate 95. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has yet to authorize the public park to be built, requiring the park to be located atop the now-closed construction debris trash heap next to Interstate 95.

The 62 acres of green space are expected to include seven acres of a public park, consisting of a multi-sports field, dog park, and children’s play area with restrooms and parking. The Gaming resort may proceed with opening its resort even if the delay in the park’s opening is beyond Churchill Downs, Inc.’s control.

Churchill Downs spokesman Michael Kelly announced the new commitments in a press release on February 9. He reiterated the allegiance between Churchill Downs, Inc. and Dumfries. Modifying the original plans includes a binding agreement to the opening of Phase Two of the project and $2 million to support the design of a new community center in exchange for branding rights to the community center.

As a nod to the building delay, Churchill Downs, Inc. will pay Dumfries Town Council $3.6 million in lost tax revenue and $400,000 monthly if the gaming resort fails to open by July 31, 2024. Churchhill Downs has not provided a reason for the delay.

In September 2023, Potomac Local was the first to tell you The Rose would be delayed six months from its original opening date of late 2023.

Churchill Downs, Inc. will also guarantee that it will hire local staff as much as possible and provide a starting salary of at least $15 per hour.

Kelly describes the new package as “an exciting development of new commitments as we approach the opening of the Rose, ”which further cements the relationship between the Dumfries and Churchill Downs, Inc. In exchange for the new package of concessions, Churchill Downs seeks to install additional slot machines in their gaming parlor.

Dumfries Planning Commission will hold a public meeting tonight, Monday, February 12, at 7 o’clock. to discuss the revised application and will report its recommendations to Dumfries Town Council. The Council has been asked to react to the Planning Council recommendations and the proposed proffer amendment “based on public necessity, convenience, general welfare, and good zoning practice,” according to a staff report in the Dumfries Town Council agenda.

Town Mayor Derrick Wood stated in a press release the new changes are positive and “reflect a shared dedication to the growth and enrichment of our town,”

Rosies Gaming Emporium opened in January 2021, putting Dumfries on the map as a gambling destination and a home for video slot machines. When its much larger predecessor, The Rose, eventually opens, it will feature video slot machines, bars and restaurants, conference space, and 310 hotel rooms.

Sarah Romero is a freelance reporter for Potomac Local News.

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.

Ironclad Distillery Co., renowned for its bourbon whiskey production in Newport News, has made waves in the hospitality industry with its recent acquisition of the historic Kenmore Inn in Fredericksburg.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

We asked our readers, "What should replace Best Buy at Stafford Marketplace" and the survey results are in.

Potomac Local broke the news that the store was closing on March 2, 2024, prompting discussion in our website comment section and social media about what should replace the big-box electronics store that opened 16 years ago.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

In an exclusive interview with Will King, AI Strategist and founder of MF Growth, Potomac Local News uncovers the insights that will take center stage at Stafford County's Beer & Business event on February 7. The event promises a unique exploration of AI's integration into businesses, offering a blend of valuable information and networking opportunities.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

Punxsutawney Phil saw didn’t see his shadow yesterday, and apparently, so neither did his cousin in Virginia, Arthur, who is friendly with Fredericksburg police. Spring is on the way.

Hello and welcome to the Publisher’s Post for Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. I hope your weekend is off to a great start. It’ll be cold and sunny today. Water’s End Brewery has your weekend forecast and your first look at the start of next week.

Police in Prince William County are searching for a killer after a North Carolina woman was found shot to death inside her car early Friday morning. A dog also inside the car is OK and is now in the care of animal control.

The building where those animal control officers work, a $17 million animal shelter that opened less than a year and a half ago, is under scrutiny after social media outcry prompted county officials to address reports of HVAC issues at the facility.

• The anonymous poster said the ventilation system in the new animal shelter has not functioned properly since the shelter opened, and animals and staff have been suffering unnecessarily.
• The accusation prompted a letter from County Executive Christopher Shorter to elected officials. The county says it’s working on a fix.

A sweeping policy to give Stafford County a one-hour lunch at all county high schools break is under review following a lockdown at Brooke Point High School earlier this week. While the fights that prompted the lockdown and a big police response occurred during the morning hours, a school spokeswoman tells us “Power Hour” is under review.

• The school division stripped power-hour privileges from Colonial Forge High School students last year. Parents told Potomac Local students use the time to sneak into school bathrooms to vape.

Also, Stafford schools’ division plans to introduce a virtual learning option for sixth through twelfth-grade students starting next year. The initiative has sparked varied reactions from parents, some expressing frustration on social media.

• The virtual learning will be offered at no cost to students, and private or homeschooled students can also enroll in their zoned school to access this option.

Thanks to the excellent work of Manassas City and Prince William police, along with federal agents, who nabbed four people they say were aimed at distributing drugs. In all, 66,000 Fentanyl pills are off the streets.

The Stafford County Fire Marshal needs your help identifying who set fire to a work truck parked off Route 17 on Tuesday night.

Something appears to be happening at The Garrison at Stafford, the long-awaited mixed-use development on Garrisonville Road., which promised a mix of apartments, retail, and a 12-screen movie theater. Right now, it looks like the development might start with chicken tenders.

A new coffee shop and housing units are proposed for Woodbridge’s Featherstone Square shopping center on Route 1, one of the oldest in the area (who remembers when the Safeway was located here)? A public meeting is scheduled to talk about the changes. Today, Gabe’s and a McDonald’s call the center home.

And, because it seems we’re stuck on shopping centers today, we have to bring you this good news story Canterbury Village in Manassas, where shop owners have experienced a significant improvement in safety through a collaborative effort involving the Manassas City Police Department, private security firms, and local businesses. Kenny Loveless, the proprietor of Tangs Alterations, praised the proactive response.

Moving on to Local Spotlight member news now, don’t miss live music tonight at the Water’s End Brewery Lake Ridge Taproom (the one that started it all) from 6 to 9 p.m. with John Burton, a native Virginian and accomplished fingerstyle guitarist.

• After a night of fun at the brewery, head over to Dixie Bones BBQ in Woodbridge for an all-you-can-eat buffet from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Special price for kids.

Earlier this week, I promised you a big announcement about Local Spotlight, the affordable, local advertising solution that puts your business in the spotlight. I’m proud to announce we’ve added a full membership to the growing list of benefits for Local Spotlight members, giving them access to 100% of the local news and information on Potomac Local News.

• Purchasing a Local Spotlight membership is now just as simple a one-click process, the same as purchasing our Local’s Only membership. Let me know if you have questions, and let’s grow your business together.

I want to say thank you to our seven new Locals Only members who joined in January — the individuals who help support our reporting. Welcome, Katherine, Howard, Robyn, Kara, Matthew, and the Stafford County Economic Development Department — your Locals Only memberships go a long way to help us tell the stories of heroes in our communities.

Thanks for reading today. Enjoy your weekend.

Read this online.

A collaborative effort between the Manassas City Police Department, private security firms, and local businesses has significantly improved Canterbury Village shopping center safety. The positive developments were spotlighted in an email from Kenny Loveless, proprietor at Tangs Alterations, to the city government.

Loveless commended the proactive response from the landlord, Rick Whealen, and the dedication of officers like Lt Plourde, stating, "Lt. Plourde constantly walks the beat and always makes a point to pop into the store to ensure all is well. His 'feet on the street' approach is a crucial part of our community's safety."

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

In a surprising turn of events, the Best Buy store located at 1455 Stafford Market Place in North Stafford is set to close its doors on Saturday, March 2, 2024. This closure marks the end of an era, as the Stafford Best Buy has been serving the community since its grand opening in 2008, becoming a significant milestone for the county.

We want to hear from you about your vision for Stafford Marketplace's future. What type of business or establishment would best serve the community and contribute to its growth?

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.