Prince William County Schools (PWCS) Superintendent LaTanya McDade, Ed.D., unveiled her fiscal year 2026 budget proposal to the School Board on Feb. 5, aiming to increase employee pay, fund strategic initiatives and add hundreds of new staff.

McDade proposed an operating budget of $1.9 billion, a 6.2% increase — or $111.3 million — from what PWCS received in fiscal year 2025 at $1.8 billion. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of January, the national inflation rate is 3%.

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The Wildcat Battalion Marksmanship Team at Mountain View High School has secured a spot in the All-Service Championship—and they’re not stopping there.

Cadets Wallace Hogan, Brooke Hartcopf, Marisa McDonough, Elizabeth Gunn, and Caeleigh Brown, under the guidance of Sergeant Major Allen Tanner, are sharpening their skills as part of the Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC). Their hard work and dedication have propelled them to this impressive milestone.

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The Manassas City Public School Board (MCPS) has met to form an advisory committee dedicated to immigrant and refugee students in the district.

On Feb. 5, the Board formally met for the first time to discuss the intent, purpose and goals of the committee. The first mention of the committee in the new Board term was at the Jan. 28 meeting by Board member Sara Brescia.

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Although the area has already braved several winter storms in 2025, Fredericksburg’s Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) is still eight days away. 

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The Manassas City School Board met on February 5, 2025, where members discussed the Manassas Education Association’s (MEA) decision to initiate a collective bargaining campaign. The discussion revealed concerns about funding, legal implications, and the potential impact on the school division’s ability to retain teachers.

Board Chair Suzanne Seaberg opened the discussion by acknowledging the Manassas Education Association notification that they intended to begin their campaign: "The MEA would like to initiate their collective bargaining campaign. So we can talk about that in the future, or if you have any questions now, we can try and address them. We’re gonna have to budget more money for the attorneys. It’s gonna be a lot."

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The Fredericksburg City Council has appointed Susanna Finn to fill the vacant Ward 3 seat following the resignation of Dr. Timothy Duffy earlier this year. The decision was made during a Special Session Meeting on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 2 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Judge Gordon Willis, Presiding Judge of the Fredericksburg Circuit Court, administered the Oath of Office.

Finn, an urban planning professional and Chair of the Fredericksburg Planning Commission, brings a decade of experience in city planning and holds a certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners. She also has an educational background in historic preservation from the University of Mary Washington.

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Four female athletes from Prince William County were among those who attended the February 5, 2025, signing ceremony, where President Trump issued an executive order barring transgender athletes from participating in women's sports.

The president framed the order as a defense of women's athletics against unfair competition, stating, "Under the Trump administration, we will defend the proud tradition of female athletes, and we will not allow men to beat up, injure, and cheat our women and our girls. From now on, women’s sports will only be for women."

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In a unique and chilly demonstration, residents of Fredericksburg gathered Wednesday to protest a proposed data center development near the Rappahannock River by building snowmen.

Organized by the Rappahannock Community Coalition, the “Snowmen Against Data Centers” rally took place just one day after nearly 10 inches of snow blanketed the region. The snowmen were erected on the Mary Washington University Campus, City Hall, and a house off Harrell Road in Stafford County.

The protest comes on the same day of the Fredericksburg Planning Commission meeting, where commissioners took up a proposal to endorse a Comprehensive Plan Amendment, a Zoning Map Amendment applying the Technology Overlay District, and a Zoning Proffer Amendment — which would clear the way to build the city’s first data center. The city council announced it would pursue the data center on an “accelerated” timeline in December but has yet to disclose which firm would develop the project.

A staff report presented at the meeting outlined the city’s rationale for the Technology Overlay District, emphasizing its potential for economic development while balancing environmental concerns and urban planning considerations.

The report detailed discussions on the environmental impact, including protections for the Rappahannock River, increased setbacks from residential areas, and proposed water usage restrictions. Additionally, concerns were raised about noise levels from emergency generators, electricity availability, and impacts on the existing trail network. The proposal also includes measures to promote green energy initiatives and climate goals while ensuring that the development aligns with the city’s broader comprehensive plan.

Environmental and Transparency Concerns

Leading the protest effort was Alexanna Hengy, a local activist and outspoken critic of the proposed comprehensive plan amendment that would allow for constructing a data center next to a nursing home and the Fredericksburg Nationals baseball stadium.

“We’re 100% against it,” Hengy said. “The data center campus would at least double our city’s energy use, making it impossible for us to meet our climate goals—not just as a city, but as a planet.”

Hengy and the coalition argue that the environmental impact of the proposed data center cannot be ignored. Data centers require vast amounts of electricity, which is still derived from fossil fuels.

“They’re trying to build this data center only about 120 feet from apartment buildings and a nursing home,” she said. “That poses a direct health risk to our most vulnerable residents.”

Beyond environmental concerns, Hengy and her fellow activists have expressed frustration with Fredericksburg’s city leaders’ lack of transparency and accountability.

“In August, we attended a city council meeting where they were supposed to vote on spending $200,000 on a feasibility study for the data center,” Hengy explained. “We showed up, but midway through the meeting, they said they didn’t need to vote anymore because they were just going to take the money from the Economic Development Authority instead.”

Despite assurances that this was just a study and that construction was years away, Hengy alleges that city officials soon after began quietly laying the infrastructure for the project. Additionally, she criticized the city for not disclosing the developer behind the project, though through independent research, activists believe it to be Stack Infrastructure—a company with ties to the city’s Economic Development Authority.

“The process has been fast-tracked, which is not their usual procedure,” Hengy said.

Panel Discusses Future of Data Centers in Fredericksburg

As community debate over the Technology Overlay District continues, a panel discussion on January 29 at the Dorothy Hart Community Center examined the potential impact of data centers in the region. Sponsored by Friends of the Rappahannock and other advocacy groups and covered by the Fredericksburg Free Press, the event brought together environmentalists, engineers, commercial developers, and city officials, including Fredericksburg Mayor Kerry Devine.

Key Takeaways from the Discussion:

• Economic Growth vs. Environmental Impact: Panelists acknowledged the growing demand for data centers due to AI and digital expansion. If approved, the proposed site at Celebrate Virginia South could generate up to $60 million in tax revenue annually. However, critics argue the increased energy consumption would undermine the city’s goal of being fossil fuel-free by 2035.
• Energy Demand and Sustainability: Experts noted that renewable energy alone cannot meet the power demands of large-scale data centers, meaning facilities will likely rely on natural gas. “The big question is: Where are we getting the power?” said Daren Shumate, an engineering consultant.
• Zoning and Development Concerns: While the proposed Technology Overlay District would allow data centers as “by-right” developments—eliminating the need for special-use permits or public hearings—no official project has been approved yet. Another potential data center site near the Hylton Track and Gateway Blvd has not been formally proposed to city staff.

The discussion highlighted ongoing concerns over transparency and environmental protections, though Devine argued that revenue from data centers could help the city meet its climate goals.

The following public hearing on the Technology Overlay District is scheduled for February 25, 2025, City Council meeting at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall and will be streamed online.

Fredericksburg’s Riverside Center for the Performing Arts has welcomed a new force in its kitchen: Chef Stefan Boutchyard. With a rich culinary background spanning Fredericksburg, Culpeper, and high-profile catering events—including the inauguration of President Donald Trump—Boutchyard is breathing new life into the dinner theater’s menu.

A Culinary Journey to Riverside

Boutchyard’s journey to Riverside was as unexpected as it was serendipitous. “I was a chef in Culpeper working at a bistro, and I wasn’t making a whole lot, but I was sustaining myself,” he said. Then, a call from a friend, local restaurateur Daniel Orofino, founder of Fredericksburg’s Orofino Restaurant, set the stage for a major career shift. “Daniel told me, ‘I don’t know if it’ll be a job, but I want you to call my friend Patrick,’” referring to Riverside’s CEO, Patrick A’Hearn.

After meeting with Ahern, the opportunity became clear. “They wanted to move forward, felt a little stagnant where they were at,” Boutchyard explained. “So they offered me a position, and here I am. I really jumped headfirst into the deep end—on purpose.”

Reinventing the Menu

Boutchyard wasted no time infusing his personal touch into Riverside’s offerings, beginning with the menu for Heartbreak Hotel, an Elvis Presley-inspired musical on stage now. “I know a little about Elvis, so I said, ‘Let’s look at his early years—Tupelo, Nashville, and Vegas.’ That’s how the Viva Las Vegas shrimp cocktail made its way onto the menu.”

Southern flavors took center stage. “I wanted to do a nod to his roots, so we brought in shrimp and grits and fried chicken. But I thought, ‘Let’s do chicken and waffles—with cornbread waffles.’ Then we added a smoked maple syrup with Tabasco to give it a little different flavor.”

Boutchyard’s creativity doesn’t stop at entrées. Even a simple veggie pastry has meaning: “I had a dream about it. The marinara sauce I make for it is my little homage to Danilo Orofino—it’s not his recipe, but it’s a thank-you to him for introducing me to Riverside.”

The Future of Food at Riverside

With Riverside’s transition to a nonprofit, discussions about reimagining the theater space have been ongoing. Some plans suggest shifting to a more traditional theater seating arrangement and moving food service to a separate banquet area.

But Boutchyard is clear on one thing: “Food is not leaving Riverside. Food will always be a part of Riverside in some form.” Whether through a restaurant model or an event-style format, he insists, “There will always be some kind of culinary experience here.”

He’s already looking ahead to Jesus Christ Superstar, featuring Mediterranean-inspired dishes starting March 12, 2025. “We’re doing a saffron yogurt chicken kebab, roasted garlic Israeli couscous, and grilled curried zucchini with sun-dried tomatoes,” he revealed. “And we’re partnering with Sweet Reasons in Spotsylvania for a pistachio chocolate cheesecake that is absolutely amazing.”

“Super Fun Time” Sushi Class

Beyond the dinner theater experience, Boutchyard is launching an interactive culinary event: Super Fun Time Sushi Class. “It’s part cooking lesson, part comedy act,” he said. Drawing from his experience teaching sushi classes in Atlanta, he aims to offer a relaxed, entertaining introduction to sushi-making. “It’s a great way to introduce new people to Riverside. Maybe they’re not ready to commit to a full show, but they can come for a fun night, learn something, and have a great time.”

The hour-long class will show foodies how to make and and eat three types of sushi rolls. The class starts at 6 p.m. Monday, February 17, 2025. Tickets are $40 each.

As Riverside enters its next chapter, Boutchyard is determined to keep the flavors fresh and the experience unforgettable. “I want my food to complement the show,” he said. “I’m here to make Riverside something really special.”