It was a lobster fest at the Silver Diner in Fredericksburg on July 16, 2026, led by a well-known chef and founder in the Silver Diner world, Ype von Hengst.
He knew the exact portions by memory — except for the fresh tarragon that he threw in there for taste. “I hate measuring,” he said as he shook the pans over a gas flame in front of a large audience that had eyes on the lobster.
There was one person on board the single-engine plane. Rowland A. Babcock, Jr., 78, of Ruther Glen, Va., died as a result of injuries suffered in the crash.
The aircraft came down in the parking lot of Greenline Service Corporation, a John Deere dealership located across the street from Shannon Airport on Tidewater Trail. The plane had taken off from Shannon Airport around 10:49 a.m. and was airborne for approximately 16 minutes before the crash.
Alcohol impairs judgment, balance, vision, and reaction time, with effects intensified by sun, wind, noise, and motion on the water. The risk of death in boating incidents is similar for drinking operators and passengers.
In 2025, DWR officers arrested 10 individuals for boating under the influence, issued 255 citations, gave 160 warnings, and contacted over 3,500 boaters.
It looks like this will be the last summer of barbecue and live music on Caroline Street as Billikens Smokehouse opts not to buy the antique house it operates from and closes the restaurant when the lease expires in November.
It’s a loss for everyone — including the diners, the bands that play in their outdoor venue, and especially the Shalawylo family: Greg, Sharon, and Ashlie — who have put the final touches on their special barbecue for more than 10 years.
In response to booming data center growth and population increases in the Fredericksburg area, Dominion Energy has launched a power line upgrade project along Falls Run near the canal crossing and Friends of the Rappahannock headquarters.
Passersby on the road can easily spot the cleared space beneath the power lines, now equipped with temporary roads and a temporary bridge. Dominion crews are steadily advancing on the initiative known internally as “Project TL29.” A major component involves replacing aging power lines installed in the 1950s.
The City of Fredericksburg celebrated the University of Mary Washington’s national basketball championship with a drive-thru parade through downtown on Saturday, complete with blue and white balloons, smiling basketball players, and streets lined with enthusiastic onlookers.
At the first corner where the trolley full of players turned onto Princess Anne Street, Chloe Paino was waiting to greet them. Paino’s father is Troy Paino, president of UMW, and she wore a UMW sweatshirt.
