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!

Business

A Studio with a Story: To Bee Blooms in Occoquan

By Kelly Sienkowski
Wyatt's earrings went viral online in 2020. (Instagram | To.Bee.Co.)

With its pastel earrings, woodland-themed accessories, and shelves full of colorful handmade creations, To Bee is more than just Occoquan’s new gift shop — it’s a deeply personal tribute to love, loss, and artistic resilience.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

Go to A Studio with a Story: To Bee Blooms in Occoquan Read more
Fredericksburg

From Suits to Sippy Cups: Fredericksburg’s Picnic in the Park Grows Up (and Down)

By Kelly Sienkowski
(Photo: Facebook | Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation & Events)

Every Tuesday, hundreds of people gather in a Fredericksburg park for one reason: lunch, music, and community. What started in the early 1990s as “Lunch at Hurkamp Park” has become a regular community event known today as Picnic in the Park. Organized by Fredericksburg Parks and Recreation, the event is held on Tuesdays in May and June at Memorial (Kenmore) Park. The event was originally created by a former Parks and Recreation Director as a way for downtown employees to take a lunch break outside. Over time, it grew into a weekly event for families, drawing larger crowds and offering a wider range of activities.

When Sammy Walker took over the event planning in 2018, attendance had already outgrown Hurkamp Park. The event was relocated to Memorial Park to accommodate more people. Walker said an average of 300 to 500 people attend in May. Once school ends for the summer, attendance rises to 500 to 800 each week.

Go to From Suits to Sippy Cups: Fredericksburg’s Picnic in the Park Grows Up (and Down) Read more
News

‘Be Ready to Commit—But Do It’: Colonial Forge’s EMT Students Reflect on Rigorous, Life-Changing Program

By Kelly Sienkowski

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

Go to ‘Be Ready to Commit—But Do It’: Colonial Forge’s EMT Students Reflect on Rigorous, Life-Changing Program Read more
Health

Lake Anna’s Summer Safety Plan: More Testing, Public Warnings After 2024 Illnesses

By Kelly Sienkowski

As Memorial Day approaches, local officials are ramping up safety efforts at Lake Anna in response to last summer’s E. coli outbreak that left two dozen people sick—most of them children.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

Go to Lake Anna’s Summer Safety Plan: More Testing, Public Warnings After 2024 Illnesses Read more
Stafford

Lighting the Way: Stafford holds First Relay for Life on May 10

By Kelly Sienkowski

For the first time, Stafford County will host a Relay for Life event, bringing the community together for a day of remembrance, celebration, and action in the fight against cancer.

The May 10 event is the result of months of work by organizer Tracey Phillips, a longtime supporter of the American Cancer Society. Phillips was inspired to bring Relay for Life to Stafford after years of participating in events in neighboring counties, including an unforgettable first experience in 2009 in Loudoun County.

Go to Lighting the Way: Stafford holds First Relay for Life on May 10 Read more
Fredericksburg

The Next Chapter for Fredericksburg Readers: Novel Opens Downtown

By Kelly Sienkowski

Fredericksburg welcomed a new novelty to its downtown business scene last week: Novel, an independent bookstore and plant shop has opened its doors at 212 William Street. 

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

Go to The Next Chapter for Fredericksburg Readers: Novel Opens Downtown Read more
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.

This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!

Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you. Thank you.

Go to Swing Into Action: Stafford’s New Playground at Duff McDuff Green Memorial Park Read more
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.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

Go to Snap, Crackle, Fall: Grafton Village Students Set Off a Chain Reaction Read more
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. 

This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!

Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you. Thank you.

Go to Stirring Up Success: Stafford’s Culinary Program Teaches Students More Than Just Cooking Read more
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. 

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

Go to Empowering Women Who Are Changing Communities: Fredericksburg’s Most Influential Women Awards Hosts 4th Event Read more
View More Stories