Author: Kelly Sienkowski

I'm the Fredericksburg Regional Editor, covering Stafford and Fredericksburg. If you have tips, story ideas, or news, send me an email!

News

Swing Into Action: Stafford’s New Playground at Duff McDuff Green Memorial Park

By Kelly Sienkowski

Parents, mark your calendars: Stafford’s Duff McDuff Green Park new playground will open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 26, 2025, at 9:30 AM.

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News

Snap, Crackle, Fall: Grafton Village Students Set Off a Chain Reaction

By Kelly Sienkowski

What sound do 1,455 cereal boxes make when they fall? Light thuds, and big cheers. Grafton Village Elementary School students filled the hallways on Friday, March 14 to cheer as cereal boxes toppled like dominoes through the school.

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News

Stirring Up Success: Stafford’s Culinary Program Teaches Students More Than Just Cooking

By Kelly Sienkowski
Students learn knife skills.

Stafford County Public Schools offers high school programs that teach students vocational skills in several fields: the Culinary Arts program, offered at Stafford, Brooke Point, and Mountainview High Schools, provides students the opportunity to learn basic cooking techniques, work in a real-world setting, and gain valuable industry certifications. 

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Fredericksburg

Empowering Women Who Are Changing Communities: Fredericksburg’s Most Influential Women Awards Hosts 4th Event

By Kelly Sienkowski

Entrepreneurs, non-profit directors, business leaders, ministers, life coaches, and more: Fredericksburg’s Most Influential Women Awards will once again recognize women who have made meaningful and lasting impacts on their communities. 

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Fredericksburg

From a Tiny Trailer to Two Restaurants: Juan More Taco Builds a Community

By Kelly Sienkowski

Maria Martin’s journey from catering her sister’s wedding to opening Juan More Taco in Fredericksburg began with a small food truck in 2016.  Juan More Taco visited community events and local businesses, serving Latin American food with a twist – the dishes incorporate Honduran flavors.

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Fredericksburg

Galvin’s Deli: A Little NYC, A Little Speakeasy, and A Lot of Flavor Coming to Fredericksburg

By Kelly Sienkowski
Galvin's Deli

A taste of New York City mixed with a little Prohibition inspiration: Galvin’s Deli will open soon at 216 William Street.

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News

A Sweeter Sound of Music: Fredericksburg Symphony Orchestra to Host Lolli-Pops

By Kelly Sienkowski
Demi-god Maui will make an appearance at the FSO's Lolli-Pops program.

The Fredericksburg Symphony Orchestra (FSO) will bring its Lolli-Pops concert, an interactive program designed to introduce young audiences to the world of classical music, to James Monroe High School on March 15.

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News

What’s on the Agenda? Stafford Supervisors, School Board Meetings Set for Tuesday, February 25

By Kelly Sienkowski

Stafford County’s Board of Supervisors and School Board will hold their respective meetings on Tuesday, February 25. Both meetings will be streamed live, with agendas available online.

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News

What’s On the Agenda? Stafford’s Board of Supervisors Meets Today, Feb. 18

By Kelly Sienkowski

Stafford County’s Board of Supervisors will hold its next meeting today, Tuesday, February 18, at 5 p.m. The meeting will be streamed live, and the agenda will be posted online.The board will review revisions to the Code of Performance for 2025. At the last meeting, on Jan. 7, the board learned that if they wished to add new language to the draft they worked on in 2024, they would have to re-review the entire draft Code of Performance and Ethical Standards which the By-laws Committee worked on over the summer of 2024 and consider it again for adoption.

The board requested an additional consideration that County employees would be required to take leave for any board activities, work meetings, or constituent outreach. Those leave requests would be submitted to the County Administrator for public review. This rule would likely have the most impact on the new Chairman of the Board, Deuntay Diggs, who is also a Deputy with the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office. The agenda states the requests will be considered and a new draft presented at a future meeting.
The board will review revisions to the Code of Performance for 2025. At the last meeting, on Jan. 7, the board learned that if they wished to add new language to the draft they worked on in 2024, they would have to re-review the entire draft Code of Performance and Ethical Standards which the By-laws Committee worked on over the summer of 2024 and consider it again for adoption.

The board requested an additional consideration that County employees would be required to take leave for any board activities, work meetings, or constituent outreach. Those leave requests would be submitted to the County Administrator for public review. This rule would likely have the most impact on the new Chairman of the Board, Deuntay Diggs, who is also a Deputy with the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office. The agenda states the requests will be considered and a new draft presented at a future meeting.
The board will review revisions to the Code of Performance for 2025. At the last meeting, on Jan. 7, the board learned that if they wished to add new language to the draft they worked on in 2024, they would have to re-review the entire draft Code of Performance and Ethical Standards which the By-laws Committee worked on over the summer of 2024 and consider it again for adoption.

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Fredericksburg

Bundled Up and Giving Back: Fredericksburg Prepares for the Coldest Night

By Kelly Sienkowski
Coldest Night of the Year (Photo | Micah)

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

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