Fredericksburg, it's been nice knowing you. But I regret to inform you that I shall be moving north to my hometown of Hyattsville, Md. to oversee a Patch site in that community. Fear not, dear readers, Fredericksburg Patch will continue on. Northern Virginia Patch Assistant Regional Editor Dan Telvock well oversee the site on an interim basis until a permanent local editor is hired. Now, over the years, a newsman learns a number of things that for one reason or another, he just cannot report. It doesn't seem to matter now, so, I do declare: In all my career in journalism, I have never …
Treat yourself to some amazing views of the Rappahannock River and the surrounding Fredericksburg area with these stunning aerial videos. These videos were filmed by YouTube user AllenAJS back in March. Each video was shot using an electric motored radio control airplane with a small video camera strapped to its left wing. According to the descriptions, they were all uploaded on March 11, but no date is provided for the flights themselves. However, based on the date of the videos, I wouldn't be surprised if they were shot and uploaded on the same day. March 11 was the high water mark for the…
Are you passionate about something in Fredericksburg, something local? Contact us! Whether it's food, family, schools, government, business, social issues, exercise, fashion or business— if it's your thing, we'd like you to consider blogging for Patch. Anyone may apply. I am specifically interested in talking with: Musicians, Live Music Fans, Audiophiles and Artists Parents, High School Students, Teachers and Professors Bartenders, Baristas and Foodies Fashion Experts, Stylists and Crafters Volunteers, Nonprofit Workers, Conservationists Health and Fitness Experts Local Sports Fans Don't be …
The development company behind Celebrate Virginia owes $5 million to Fredericksburg and Stafford County in back taxes and other fees, according to a report published yesterday in the Freelance Star.The report, written by FLS business reporter Bill Freehling, examines how the recession has affected one of the largest commercial real estate ventures in the region. The Silver Cos., the developers behind the project, owe $3.7 million in back taxes, penalties and fees to the city of Fredericksburg and $1.3 million to Stafford County. Celebrate Virginia South, located in Fredericksburg, has fared …
Local toursim businesses, take note: Philadelphia's most prominent daily newspaper, the Inquirer, has published a glowing feature travel article highlighting local historic tourism opportunities. It's the kind of free advertising any regional tourism agency would kill for, too. According to the Pew Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism, the Inquirer and its associated website, Philly.com, reach a combined web/print audience of 2.1 million per week. Published on April 3, and written by Inquirer Staff Writer Howard Shapiro, the 1,350 word piece starts off musing about the nature of a …
Fredericksburg officials are seeking digital feedback from city residents on the quality of municipal services through an online survey. The results of the online survey will be presented as a supplement to a snail mail survey which was mailed to 1,200 city households this past winter. Both the snail mail survey and the online survey ask the same questions. A press release issued by the city on Wednesday afternoon asks that only city residents participate in the online survey. It should be noted that the online survey didn't ask for an address or present the survey taker with any other way …
In addition to the regular City Council sessions, civic-minded Fredericksburg residents will have their hands full this week with a slate of meetings on everything from road improvements on Fall Hill Ave., to voting rights act preclearance bailout as well as a meeting on a proposed local children's museum. Volunteers sought for children's museum The organizers behind the proposedCobblestone Children's Museum will be holding two meetings today, at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. at the Rappahannock Regional Library Headquarters in downtown Fredericksburg. Organizers will present an update on their …
The real estate empire built by the Silver family has earned it a place among a virginia business journal's list of the 25 most influential business leaders in the state over the last quarter century. Dot-com entrepreneur Steve Case was also honored for founding AOL, Patch's parent company, and a private investment firm. Paula Squires, managing editor of the monthly publication Virginia Business, writes in the March edition that "some of these men and women were pioneers who went on to build Fortune 500 companies, other transformed their industries. Still others helped shape the landscape of…
Recent calls to dredge the silt from the Rappahannock River have cast light on a similar but failed 2009 proposal. A letter from the Army Corps of Engineers to Terra Producs LLC, the company which sought to dredge the river in 2009, sheds light on the regulatory hurdles which a commercial dredging operation may be subject to. This letter, and the regulatory framework which it lays out, is the part of the basis for City Manager Beverly Cameron's recent proposal that city leaders replace initiatives to dredge the river with a push to stabilize the shoreline and work on erosion control. The …
The public will get a chance to weigh in on how Fredericksburg should distribute hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal assistance for the poor at next weeks City Council meeting. The council will also consider four resolutions; one on the municipal goals and initiatives for the next two years, another on bailing out of Voting Rights Act reporting requirements, and a contract for modernizing the elevator at City Hall. In a work session prior to the council meeting, city leaders will interview candidates for the Economic Development Authority and the Architectural Review Board. Explore …
Some tidbits on Alum Springs from Fredericksburg Remembered - "Alum Springs has a fairly complex history. Beyond the springs themselves–in the upper end of the park and once productive of waters believed to be curative–Alum Springs was the site of one of Fredericksburg’s few upland mills, the scene of at least two duels, and by legend a refuge for refugees during the Battle of Fredericksburg. " February's First Friday from Britney A. Kriener - "I entered 5 paintings that I just had lying around into the Young Fredericksburg exhibit. I was all amped up all week waiting for Friday, thinking …
The Fredericksburg City Council will consider an incentive package for Castigilia's Italian Restaurant, an $85,000 software upgrade for the fire and rescue services and two budget amendments. Also, the council will discuss their long term goals and objectives for the city, as they hash out a biennial planning document at their next work session. See the agenda and associated documents below. The council gathers for a work session on Tuesday, Feb. 8. at 6 p.m. followed by the council meeting at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall. Throughout the day, I'll be highlighting some of the agenda items for more …
I'm going to depart from my usual style and instead highlight the work of a single local beer blogger whose regular postings are invaluable to any fans of finer barley sodas in Fredericksburg. Meet David Turley, the man behind the blog Musings Over a Pint. Within its pages, Turley writes mostly about the regional beer scene here in Northern and Eastern Virginia. Over the last month, his blog has been particularly active and topical. He most recently spent some time at the Dogfish Ale House in Fairfax, Va., but returned disappointed after slurping some soapy brew. He also has two recent …
In a lighthearted ceremony at the start of last nights city council meeting, former Public Works Superintendent Jack Roberts was honored with a proclamation praising Roberts for his loyalty and dedication to public service. Roberts was humble in his acceptance of the award, in turn praising his co-workers and superiors for giving him the opportunity to serve his community. "I've been very blessed," said Roberts after Mayor Thomas Tomzak presented the proclamation. "I've said before, I've worked with and for great people, and with their support it's made me what I am today." Congratulating …
This week's blog roundup has the usual suspects: a tantalizing local history post from local history blog Mysteries and Conundrums, and former councilman Matt Kelly's work shows up again, but in a different vein of posts than what I've profiled here before. Buckle up, the list is below: A Stafford County Photograph and Sketch Give Faces to Wartime Freedom - From Mysteries and Conundrums - "How soon after the first battle of Fredericksburg, in mid-December 1862, did Northern photographers resume documenting the area’s wartime scenes? Pursuing answers to this relatively straightforward …
A public hearing on a proposal to increase fines for parking violations, amendments to the mixed use ordinance and a measure which would make zoning violations a criminal penalty are among the agenda items for next week's meeting of the Fredericksburg City Council. Parking Fines Get Public Input As Scott Shenk reported earlier in the week the proposal to increase parking fines would not change the zero-fee warning for first-time offenders of time-restricted parking or the $15 citation for second-time offenders. But subsequent offenses would increase $10 a pop: a third offense would jump …
This week's blog roundup includes a the blog of a former Frederickburg city councilor who wonders how the press can more effectively inform the public debate over building new courthouse facilities, as well as a local real estate blogger offering unique takes on the restaurants featured in the Fredericksburg Restaurant Week. Fredericksburg Restaurant Week 2011 | Fredericksburg Homes Blog - From Fredericksburghomesblog.com - Local real estate blog previews Fredericksburg restaurant week. The Fourth Estate and the Courts Issue - From Question Everything - "The local press has done a good job …
Former City Councilor Matt Kelly attended last nights working session at the Fredericksburg Circuit Court which saw the City Council speak with circuit court Judge Gordon Willis about the need to upgrade the city's court facilities. After the meeting, he blogged about it. His most makes seven observations about the meeting, mostly summarizing Kelly's interpretations of the statements made by Willis and members of the Council. It also asks 11 questions which Kelly says remain unanswered so far in the debate over the need for upgrades to the court facilities. Well worth a read.
Update - 12:41 p.m. - The city Parks and Recreation Department has announced that all evening activities are cancelled. The Dorothy Hart Community Center will close at 5 p.m. today. As a Winter Weather Advisory has looms ahead from 1 p.m. this afternoon through 1 a.m. Wednesday morning, several flurries have dotted about Fredericksburg as early as 10:30 a.m. Around 11:45 a.m., the city public schools announced that all after school activities have been cancelled. In preparation for the weather, the Fredericksburg Public Works Department has crews working through the first 12 hour shift in …
This edition of the Weekly Blog Roundup features civic involvement from the College Terrace Neighborhood Association, a restaurant review from Fredericksblogger, along with three fascinating local history posts you do not want to miss. Check 'em out below. Dog Park Feedback Sought - From College Terrace Blog - "The City asked for more feedback from the residents before proceeding to improve the lighting at the Dog Park. To help facilitate this, on January 2nd, I leafletted about 3 dozen homes that I judged to have a line of sight on the Dog Park, directing comments to Mike Ward of Parks and …
