The event featuring the Faycez-U-Know Band played from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Attendees are brought lawn chairs to enjoy the live music, family activities, and food trucks.
Additional concerts are planned for August 10 and August 24. Admission is free.
@DumfriesTownVA held a summer concert at Garrison Park, behind the town hall, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. pic.twitter.com/fSt9XwoJjo
— Potomac Local News (@PotomacLocal) July 28, 2024
The Potomac Shores Trails Committee invites the public to participate in the Historic Dumfries Trail Walk on Saturday, July 27, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. This free event will take place along the scenic paths of Heritage Ridge Trail, located at the intersection of Potomac River Blvd and Belle Isle Drive in Dumfries, VA.
Participants will have the opportunity to delve into the rich tapestry of local history, guided by experts from the Historic Dumfries organization. The walk will highlight significant events from the area’s past, including insights into the pre-colonial period, the Revolutionary War, and the Civil War.
The event is designed to be educational and engaging, allowing attendees of all ages to gain a deeper understanding of the historical importance of the Dumfries area while enjoying the natural beauty of the Potomac Shores trails.
Attendees are asked to gather at the Heritage Ridge trailhead on Potomac River Blvd by 9 a.m. on the day of the event. This unique historical outing promises to be an enlightening experience for history buffs and nature lovers alike.
The Dumfries Town Council seeks to amend the town’s charter, which dates back to 1749, making Dumfries the oldest continuously chartered town in Virginia. The proposed changes were discussed during the council’s July 3 meeting.
According to a town spokeswoman, the amendments, which must be approved by the Virginia General Assembly in Richmond, are primarily administrative and aimed at promoting greater clarity concerning the existing text. One substantive proposal would empower the Mayor to declare a local emergency if neither the director of emergency management nor the town council is available.
The council’s agenda packet for the July 2 meeting did not include supporting documentation to provide residents with more information about the proposed changes.
The proposed charter amendments came after recent criticism of Mayor Derrick Wood. Last month, a fallen tree onto a power line trapped residents of the Prince William Estates neighborhood for 14 hours. During this time, Wood visited the neighborhood before attending a gala at the White House.
“The Town Council, as part of its unwavering commitment to a well-managed government, has pledged to make periodic reviews of the Town’s Charter and ordinances,” the town spokeswoman said. “This ensures that these sources accurately reflect the powers given to the Town by the state and remain transparent and effective for Town residents. This is the Council’s first review of the Town Charter to further its strategic plan goals and provide a clear direction for the changes.”
The town’s state representatives, State Senator Jeremy McPike and Delegate Candi Mundon King were informed of the council’s intent to propose amendments during a legislative meeting on July 9. Each representative may sponsor duplicate bills in their respective legislative bodies.
Vice Mayor Nickerson commented on the proposed changes during the town council meeting, stating that the council had worked on them during a working session and continued to do so towards the end of the meeting. She emphasized the importance of the changes in reflecting the community’s needs and values.
The proposed changes also include:
- The Town Clerk will be supervised by the Town Manager while assisting the council with administrative tasks.
- A civil penalty of up to $5,000 for civil or criminal misdemeanors will be enforceable.
Nickerson raised the issue of recourse if a council member fails to attend meetings but continues to collect their stipend, which the Town Attorney suggested should be addressed in the Code of Conflict rather than the charter.
Sarah Romero contributed to this report.
The Prince William Board of County Supervisors unanimously approved a Special Use Permit for a new Starbucks near Dumfries.
The coffee shop will replace an old Ruby Tuesday restaurant. The permit allows a drive-through facility in connection with a by-right restaurant and associated sign modifications in the B-1 General Business zoning district. The project was praised for being a veteran-owned business.
At 2:25 a.m. today, Monday, July 8, 2024, emergency units were dispatched to the 17600 block of Washington Street in Dumfries after a call reported a fire at a mobile home. Upon arrival, crews found fire emerging from the rear deck area of the home.
An adult and two children had to escape the fire through a window before the units arrived. The fire was extinguished quickly. The adult was transported to a nearby medical facility with a non-life-threatening injury.
The home sustained significant damage and was declared unsafe to occupy by the Town of Dumfries Building Official. The Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents, which include one adult and two children.
The Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.
Dumfries will host a fireworks show tomorrow, Saturday, July 6, 2024.
Town of Dumfries Independence Day Fireworks Show
The Town of Dumfries is excited to announce its annual Independence Day fireworks show, which will take place on Saturday, July 6th from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM at Garrison Park, located at 17749 Main Street. This year’s celebration promises to be a memorable evening for families and friends to gather and celebrate our nation’s independence.
The event will feature a dazzling fireworks display that will light up the sky, providing a breathtaking experience for all attendees. In addition to the fireworks, a variety of food trucks will be on-site offering delicious food and refreshments to enhance the celebration.
Event Details:
Date: Saturday, July 6, 2024
Time: 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Location: Garrison Park, 17749 Main Street, Dumfries, VA
Highlights: Fireworks Show, Food Trucks
The Town Council of Dumfries received details of a new housing project presented by Reginald Tabor, the town's planning director.
The project, Harbor at Quantico Creek, will provide 125 age—and income-restricted housing units. The plan also includes a separate structure housing a daycare and cultural arts centers.
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Potomac Local has learned that WJLA-TV did not preempt its regular ABC network programming on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, to show the Dumfries fireworks display for the town’s Juneteenth celebration.
A social media post encouraged residents who could not attend the event to join the TV station at 9 p.m. to watch the fireworks. The post stated, “If you can’t make it live for the fireworks tonight! Please catch the fireworks tonight on Channel 7 at 9 pm.”
The Washington, D.C. TV station later posted a video of the fireworks show to its YouTube page. The town’s fireworks display was part of a larger Juneteenth celebration from 3 to 8 p.m., culminating in fireworks at 9 p.m. The event was free and included a VIP dinner for elected officials, children’s activities, food trucks, family arts and crafts, a petting zoo, and live performances.
The false claim follows another incident in May 2024, when the town claimed it had sold out of tickets for its 250th Anniversary event at the National Museum of the Marine Corps. However, the town had only sold 12 tickets for the event, overrunning its budget by 130%.
While more than 100 Dumfries residents were trapped inside their neighborhood without electricity, their mayor was partying at the White House.
Mayor Derrick Wood attended a Juneteenth celebration on Monday, June 10, 2024, a lively celebration full of music and dancing. Wood posed for selfies with prominent Congresswomen Ayanna Pressley (D-Massachusetts), Maxine Waters (D-California), and Virginia Delegate Candi King (D-Stafford, Woodbridge).
