Many newly graduated college alumni like the familiarity of the college town, so they stick around after they get the degree for one reason or another. Itâs still known as âhome,â making escaping hard.
âI love this area,â said Katie Ambrosini, a senior at the University of Mary Washington who is graduating in a few weeks with an English degree and currently works at a nearby Starbucks. I want to try to get a full-time job if I can,â she said, putting her degree to work.
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Stafford County is making history with the launch of the Stafford African American Heritage Trail, a new initiative designed to highlight the countyâs rich African American history. The trail, developed in collaboration with the University of Mary Washingtonâs Department of Geography, local historians, and community members, officially debuts this week as part of Black History Month celebrations.
Chairman of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors, Deuntay Diggs, announced the trail’s opening at the board meeting on February 18, 2025. “This trail system is part of Discover Stafford’s commitment to sharing the complete story of the county’s history,” Diggs stated. “By walking this trail, residents and visitors can learn about the powerful contributions of African Americans to our community and honor their legacy.”
The Stafford African American Heritage Trail features centuries-old landmarks, stories of local African American leaders, and sites of historical significance. Among the highlights is the burial site of John DaBatiste, a Revolutionary War veteran who served aboard the Dragon, a ship known for employing more African Americans than any other vessel during the war. The trail also recognizes stories of resilience, including the founding of a volunteer fire department after a devastating house fire in 1963, which led to the creation of a thriving community rescue squad.
A special dedication ceremony for unveiling the Stafford African American Heritage Trail historical marker has faced multiple postponements due to inclement weather. Initially scheduled for Wednesday, February 12, from 4:00 â 6:00 p.m. at Stafford Hospital, the event was postponed to Wednesday, February 19, due to an upcoming storm. However, as another round of winter weather approached, organizers were forced to cancel the unveiling event again. They now hope to reschedule the dedication for sometime in March.
Preserving and Celebrating African American Heritage
Connie Hiker, President of Discover Stafford, emphasized the importance of preserving and sharing these stories. “At Discover Stafford, our mission is to research, document, and share Stafford County’s rich history through storytelling tied to specific locations. By honoring the labor, struggles, and contributions of those who came before us, we recognize the courage of Staffordâs Black communityâboth enslaved and free,” Hiker said. “We also celebrate the resilience of entrepreneurs like the Walkers, who created spaces of joy in challenging times.”
Visitors can explore the trail using resources on Discover Staffordâs website, which provides interactive maps, historical background, and video content. During the board meeting, a special video presentation showcased key locations along the trail, encouraging residents to explore and reflect on the history that has shaped Stafford County.
The project is a result of strong community partnerships. Xavier Richardson, Chief Development Officer of Mary Washington Healthcare and President of the Mary Washington and Stafford Hospital Foundations, acknowledged the collective effort in bringing this initiative to life. “This project is a testament to the collaborative efforts of many community organizations, including the Walker Family, Stafford Hospital, and Stafford County Board of Supervisors,” Richardson stated. “It is our honor to bring this important piece of history to light and to celebrate the rich heritage of our community.”
Vice Chairman Tinesha Allen echoed the importance of this initiative. “We encourage everyone to take the tour, share the stories, and remember the importance of honoring the contributions of African Americans in Stafford,” Allen said.
The University of Mary Washington (UMW) has reopened Goolrick Pool for the spring 2025 semester following a six-month, $1.5 million renovation. The upgraded facility, which first opened in 1969, now boasts modern features designed to enhance functionality and extend the life of the historic pool.
The reopening came just in time for the Eaglesâ first home varsity swim meet of the season on Saturday, Jan. 18, which was also Senior Day.
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Prince William County Public Schools
All schools and offices will be closed Code Red on Tuesday. Inclement Weather Employees are the exception and should follow their assigned schedule.
Stafford County Public Schools
Schools will be closed on Tuesday due to adverse weather and an extended winter storm warning. All activities and events scheduled for the day are canceled. Tuesday was originally a professional learning day, so students were not scheduled to attend.
Manassas City Public Schools
Schools and offices will be closed Tuesday. Code BLUE is in effect for employees.
Fredericksburg City Public Schools
Schools will be closed, and buildings will remain closed as crews work on clearing parking lots and sidewalks. Essential personnel will be contacted by their supervisors for report times.
Manassas Park City Schools Closure for Tuesday, January 7, 2025
All Manassas Park City Schools will be closed on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, due to snowy conditions. **Code RED** is in effect for employees.
King George County Schools
Schools will be closed Tuesday. Code 1 is in effect for 12-month employees.
Fairfax County Public Schools
All schools and central offices will be closed on Tuesday.
University of Mary Washington
All UMW campuses, including Fredericksburg, Stafford, and Dahlgren, will be closed all day Tuesday following the January 6 snowstorm.
Germanna Community College: Due to inclement weather, all Germanna locations will be closed on Tuesday, January 7.
Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA)
Code Purple for Tuesday, January 7, 2025. All NOVA campuses are operating virtually, with classes and services available online only.
Spotsylvania County Public Schools
All schools and offices will be closed on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. Code 1 is in effectâessential personnel should report to perform emergency services as necessary. All school-sponsored activities, including student externships, are canceled.
Regular classes will begin on Monday, January 13. In an earlier version of this post, we incorrectly reported that classes would be canceled on Monday, January 6.
The Sunday, January 5, 2024 message stated:
âDue to the forecasted winter storm later today, Sunday, January 5, 2025, all UMW campuses (Fredericksburg, Stafford, Dahlgren) will be closed all day Monday, January 6.â
UMW is home to approximately 4,000 undergraduate students and 600 graduate students, with campuses located in Fredericksburg, Stafford, and Dahlgren. The university comprises three colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Education, and the College of Business. UMW is known for its strong emphasis on liberal arts and personalized learning experiences.
The closure affects all classes, campus events, and administrative operations across the university. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to stay safe and monitor UMWâs social media channels and website for further updates on campus operations and weather conditions.
No announcements have been made regarding rescheduling classes or events impacted by the closure. Additional updates are expected as the storm progresses.
Stafford County Public Schools (Stafford Schools) is pleased to announce the 14th annual Band Together to Fight Hunger, organized by Stafford Countyâs five high school marching bands, raised $27,593 and collected 3,778 pounds of food this year, equating to 58,333 meals for the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank. The culminating event featured individual performances by each marching band from Brooke Point, Colonial Forge, Mountain View, North Stafford, and Stafford High Schools. Nearly 400 student musicians performed in a combined finale, led by North Stafford High School Assistant Principal Brandon Neal, showcasing unity and talent while supporting local families in need.
Contributions at a Glance:
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Press release:
The University of Mary Washington and George Mason University have renewed existing partnerships designed to accelerate student success and open the door to additional agreements between the two schools beginning as early as next year.
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From The Center Square:
Large, âflagship,â and more selective schools have generally gained enrollment over the same time. Virginia Tech, George Mason University, James Madison University, the University of Virginia and Norfolk State University all grew in the past 10 years, with the first five averaging growth of more than 18% (NSU grew by just 1%).
All other commonwealth universities have seen a decrease in enrollment, with the smallest decline occurring at Virginia Commonwealth University (5%) and the greatest happening at Radford University (29%) and the University of Mary Washington (20%).
Press Release:
Jacob Long, an experienced leader in public university administration, finances and budgets, has been named the vice president for administration and finance and chief financial officer at the University of Mary Washington. With more than two decades of experience in state higher education, Long joins the University as a member of the cabinet leadership team. He will begin Oct. 25.
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The University of Mary Washington will conduct a test of its UMW Alert system on Monday, August 19 at 1 p.m., with sirens and test messages audible on and near the Fredericksburg campus.
This is a follow-up summer test that will focus solely on the area warning system and will not include other communication channels, like emails or text messages.
A comprehensive test, including all communication methods, is scheduled for October 17 during the Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill. UMW Alerts, which also relays National Weather Service warnings, automatically enrolls students, faculty, and staff, with updates managed through the Emergency Alerts website.
University of Mary Washington:Â
The University of Mary Washington will test the area warning system of the UMW Alert system on Monday, Aug. 19 at 1 p.m. Anyone on or near the Fredericksburg campus may hear sirens and test messages at this time.
This follow-up summer test is not scheduled to include additional communications channels such as email, text messages, desktop alerts, phone calls, social media posts or website updates.
A complete fall test of the system is scheduled during the Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill on Oct. 17 at 10:17 a.m.
Students, faculty and staff are automatically enrolled in UMW Alerts with contact information registered with the University, including UMW email address and cell phone number. The University adds new community members weekly and resets the system with new students on the first day of classes for the fall semester. Campus community members can update their information at any time by visiting the Emergency Alerts website.
UMW Alerts connects with the National Weather Service to share storm warnings and watches, so users also received these notices directly on registered devices. This subsequent summer test will further test the speakers and sirens which are one of the primary communication channels for severe weather alerts.
If you’re downtown or on campus and you hear the tests – let us know what you hear. Do you think they’re effective? Comment below!
