Join us for an in-depth, inspiring conversation with Mayor Derrick Wood of the Town of Dumfries, Virginia’s oldest continuously chartered town. Hosted by Uriah Kiser, publisher of Potomac Local News, this live podcast dives deep into the major transformations reshaping the town—making it a destination rather than a drive-through.

📌 Topics We Cover:

🏗️ Major development projects, including the closure and transformation of the landfill into The Rose Gaming Resort

🏞️ The town’s ambitious plans to reclaim and revitalize the Quantico Creek waterfront

🚧 Progress on the Route 1 (Fraley Boulevard) widening project, paving the way for a new Main Street

🍽️ What’s inside The Rose: Restaurants, off-track betting, and Dumfries’ own fine dining 1609 Steakhouse

🏨 Upcoming hotels, convention space, and community growth

🦅 A vision for ecotourism, vocational learning, and reconnecting Dumfries residents with their historic roots

🚀 The economic boom: 500+ jobs, millions in new revenue, and the potential return of iconic establishments like Tim’s Rivershore

✨ Whether you’re a Dumfries resident, local history buff, or someone interested in smart town development, this conversation is a must-watch!

🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more local coverage!
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Sharon L. Bassarab (Age 80)

Sharon Louise Henderson Bassarab, 80 of Orchard Park, entered into rest on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 in her home. She was born on October 8, 1944 in Houston, Texas to the late James and Shirley Ward Henderson. Beloved wife of the late Joseph James Bassarab; devoted mother of Laurisa (Mark) Goergen and the late Erik Graybill; stepmother of Joanne Smith and James Bassarab and one daughter-in-law, Kristy Graybill; cherished grandmother of Andrea Goergen, David Goergen, Katrina Goergen, Vanessa Goergen, Hayden Graybill, Tiffany (Mark) Bowers, Daniel (Robyn) Hayzlett, Joshua (Aaris) Hayzlett, Connor Smith, Jenifer (Jonathon) Griffith, Hanah Bassarab, and Emma Bassarab; adored great grandmother of Devon Goergen, Makenzie Bowers, Logan Bowers, Makayla Hayzlett, Madison Hayzlett, Haley Hayzlett, Hannah Hayzlett, Kyleigh Hayzlett, Evie Griffin, Allie Griffin, Gabriel Griffin, and Michael Griffin; dear sister of Linda (Stephen) Jenkins, Candy Henderson, and Kim Henderson and three sisters-in-law, Margaret (Frank) Grabiec, Wilma (Peter) Stevens and Linda (Walter) Bassarab; also loved by numerous nieces and nephews.

Sharon graduated from Fremont High School in Fremont, Nebraska. She studied business at Alvin Community College in Alvin, TX and was a licensed Real Estate person. Sharon was an executive assistant contractor at the Defense Advanced Research Development Agency in Arlington, Virginia. Sharon was loved by so many of those around her; family, friends and co-workers.

She was devoted to her large family. She regularly called and texted, engaging with friends and family members throughout the day. She always took time to send birthday, anniversary and special occasion cards. She will be remembered for the many Christmas ornaments and other presents she gave to family and friends. She was a generous and caring person. Her social media posts were alive with photos and discussions of her loved ones.

Her funeral was held at the LOMBARDO FUNERAL HOME (Southtowns Chapel) 3060 Abbott Rd. near Lake Ave. on Friday (June 6) from 1-3:30 p.m.

A celebration of life will be held July 31, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at the Semper Fidelis Memorial Chapel at the National Museum of the Marine Corps. It will be followed by burial at The National Memorial Cemetery at Quantico, 18424 Joplin Rd Triangle, VA 22172.

The following memorial events are planned.

Celebration of Life

Thursday, July 31, 2025 from 11 am-12 pm

Semper Fidelis Memorial Chapel at the National Museum of the Marine Corps
1775 Semper Fidelis Way, Triangle, Virginia, 22172

Burial

Thursday, July 31, 2025 from 1 pm-2 pm

The National Memorial Cemetery at Quantico
18424 Joplin Road, Triangle, Virginia, 22172

HAYMARKET, Va. – The Haymarket-Gainesville Kiwanis Club has proposed installing a Little Free Library in the town park near the bulletin board, a plan shared during the Haymarket Town Council work session on May 27, 2025.

Carl Davis and Terry Flight, representing the Kiwanis Club, introduced the idea to councilmembers as part of the club’s mission to support literacy and education in the community. “We’re just starting and we want to start with Haymarket,” said Flight, noting that the club is just two and a half years old. “Our focus is on children and families, health and nutrition, education and literacy, and youth leadership development.”

The proposed Little Free Library would feature a structure two levels high and two books deep to maximize book capacity. Built with durable materials like PVC to minimize maintenance, the library would be designed and constructed by Scout Troop 1882, which the club sponsors. The build may also qualify as an Eagle Scout project.

“The Kiwanis Club will fund the project and handle the ongoing maintenance,” Flight explained. “We’ll regularly check and restock the books. It says ‘take a book, leave a book,’ but mostly they just take.”

To ensure proper installation and safety, the club requested that a town staff member or licensed contractor complete the physical installation. “We don’t want the Boy Scouts to install it. We’d prefer a qualified town employee or a class A contractor to ensure it’s done to standard and avoids any liability,” Flight added.

Councilmembers expressed strong support for the initiative. One member, who works in children’s literacy, praised the idea: “I love the idea of getting books into any child’s hands.” Council and town staff agreed the park is a suitable and visible location, especially with its regular use by local families and children.

Emily Kyriazi, the town manager, noted that the town already has a small Little Free Library near the museum, which is frequently used. She said the park location would serve as a complementary addition and recommended installing it near the existing bulletin board. She also confirmed that the proposed installation could proceed under administrative approval, avoiding the need for review by the Architectural Review Board, as long as it follows the town’s preferred color scheme.

Flight noted that the project could be completed in mid-to-late fall 2025, given the Scouts’ current summer commitments.

The Council concluded the discussion by agreeing to allow town staff to work directly with the Kiwanis Club to finalize the details and move the project forward.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – A political postcard-writing session hosted by the Fredericksburg Republican Committee at Wegmans ended prematurely on Sunday, June 8, after store staff asked the group to leave, citing company policy.

According to a statement released by Fredericksburg GOP Chair Scott Vezina, several members of the committee gathered at the 2nd-floor market café in the Fredericksburg Wegmans to eat, socialize, and write postcards in support of Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Sears. Vezina said a Wegmans employee had given verbal approval beforehand, provided the group remained non-disruptive and refrained from soliciting.

However, after about 30 minutes, a manager allegedly approached the group and, upon learning about the postcard-writing activity, asked them to leave. Vezina said the group was told their actions constituted solicitation and were therefore not permitted.

“The manager was aggressive and rude in her tone and demeanor,” Vezina said in the statement. “This was an unfortunate situation that could have been easily resolved with basic courtesy and respect.”

The committee said it observed other groups using the same space for non-commercial gatherings and raised concerns over inconsistent enforcement of store policy. They called on Wegmans to clarify its rules regarding group use of seating areas and to train staff on conflict resolution.

In response to an inquiry from Potomac Local News, :

“We are aware of an incident at our Fredericksburg store yesterday,” wrote Wegmans spokeswoman Marcie Rivera in an emailed statement. “While we allow gatherings in our market cafes for customers who are socializing and enjoying our products, there are occasions when groups may be asked to leave. As a private company, we do not allow any solicitation on our property and on this occasion, the group conduct was deemed to violate our non-solicitation policy.”

The Fredericksburg Republican Committee said it would hold future postcard-writing events at a different location and reaffirmed its commitment to “peaceful civic engagement and dialogue.”

Virginia voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, to elect the Commonwealth’s next governor. The race features two high-profile candidates: Republican Lt. Governor Winsome Sears and Democratic former U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger. With Governor Glenn Youngkin unable to seek re-election due to Virginia’s one-term limit for governors, the contest is expected to draw national attention as a potential bellwether for political trends heading into 2026.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The Silber family, long-time owners of the Fredericksburg Nationals, announced today they have agreed to sell the Minor League Baseball team to Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH), a company that owns and operates select Minor League Baseball clubs affiliated with Major League Baseball.

The FredNats will remain the Single-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals and continue to call Virginia Credit Union Stadium in Fredericksburg home. The team will also join DBH’s growing portfolio, which includes the Nationals’ Double-A affiliate, the Harrisburg Senators. General Manager Robert Perry and the current front office staff will stay in place, while Seth Silber will remain as club president and minority shareholder.

“Our family’s experience in Fredericksburg since first coming to the community in 2018 has been nothing short of a dream come true,” said team founder Art Silber. “DBH prioritizes honoring community ties and lifting clubs to new heights, making them the perfect organization to build on our existing momentum.”

A New Chapter in Fredericksburg

The announcement marks a new chapter for the FredNats, a team that has rapidly become a fixture in the Fredericksburg community since relocating from Woodbridge. The franchise was previously known as the Potomac Nationals, and played at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge from 1984 through 2019. In July 2018, Fredericksburg city leaders signed a letter of intent with the Silbers to relocate the team to the city.

In November 2018, the Fredericksburg City Council unanimously approved a public-private partnership to finance and build a $35 million stadium. Ground broke in mid-2019, and by 2021, Virginia Credit Union Stadium opened to fans, though the team’s inaugural 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are proud of the success the FredNats have had under their leadership, and we look forward to continued growth as we enter a new relationship with Diamond Baseball Holdings,” said Mike Rizzo, President of Baseball Operations and GM of the Washington Nationals.

Since arriving in Fredericksburg, the team has quickly established itself as one of the top-performing Single-A clubs in Minor League Baseball. It has consistently ranked among the top five in attendance, achieved strong merchandise and sponsorship sales, and, in 2023, clinched the Carolina League Championship—their fifth league title in franchise history.

“Joining DBH is an exciting step for the FredNats,” said General Manager Robert Perry. “DBH has demonstrated their ability to elevate clubs while staying true to what makes each club special. We are excited to grow with them going forward.”

National Investment, Local Roots

DBH, led by Executive Chairman Pat Battle and CEO Peter Freund, is on a mission to modernize and grow Minor League Baseball by leveraging national scale while preserving local community identity. They plan to expand the FredNats’ presence as a year-round destination for entertainment in Fredericksburg.

“This is a team that has quickly become a cornerstone of the Fredericksburg community,” said Battle and Freund in a joint statement. “We’re excited to build on that foundation by delivering even more year-round fun for fans, deepening our community ties, and continuing our strong partnership with the Nationals.”

The sale remains subject to league approval and other standard closing conditions. It is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.

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Interstate 95 Northbound

• Exit 118 (Thornburg) to Exit 126 (Spotsylvania)
  Sunday – Thursday, 9 p.m. – 4:30 a.m.: Alternating lane closures between mile markers 121-126 for milling and paving mobile operation.
• Exit 140 (Courthouse Road) to Exit 143 (Garrisonville Road)
  Sunday – Thursday, 9 p.m. – 4:30 a.m.: Alternating lane closures for milling and paving between mile markers 140-142.
• Exit 143 (Garrisonville Road) to Exit 148 (Quantico)
  Sunday – Thursday, 9 p.m. – 4:30 a.m.: Alternating lane closures for milling and paving between mile markers 146-147.

Interstate 95 Southbound

• Exit 126 (Spotsylvania) Off-Ramp
  Sunday – Saturday, 7 p.m.-10 a.m.: Alternating single lane closures on the off-ramp to Route 1. Final construction activities to widen the ramp and build an additional right turn lane to Route 1 southbound.

Spotsylvania County

• Route 1 at Arcadia Road
  Monday – Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.: All travel lanes will remain open, but Route 1’s travel lanes have shifted slightly between Arcadia Road and Mudd Tavern Road for road improvement work.
• Route 1 at I-95
  Sunday – Monday, 10 p.m.-5 a.m.: Traffic signal work at the Route 1 and I-95 intersection at the Exit 126 interchange. Flaggers will direct drivers through the intersection.
• Route 1 at Southpoint Parkway
  Sunday – Thursday, 7 p.m.-7 a.m. and Friday – Saturday, 10 p.m.-6 a.m.: Alternating single lane closures on Route 1 between the I-95 southbound off-ramp and Southpoint Parkway for final construction activities.
• Route 1 Northbound
  Sunday – Thursday, 9 p.m.-5 a.m. and Friday – Saturday, 10 p.m.-6 a.m.: Alternating single lane closures on Route 1 northbound between Southpoint Parkway and Market Street for construction.
• Route 1 Resurfacing
  Monday – Thursday, 8 p.m.-6 a.m.: Mobile operation with alternating lane closures on Route 1 northbound and southbound between the Ni River bridge and Filter Lane for milling and paving.
• Route 620 (Harrison Road)
  Monday – Friday, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.: Alternating lane closures between Old Plank Road and Gordon Road for road widening.
• Route 620 (Spotswood Furnace Wood)
  Monday – Thursday, 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.: Road CLOSED between River Road and U.S. Ford Road for pavement repair. All traffic will be detoured to Route 3 and Elys Ford Road.

City of Fredericksburg

• Fall Hill Avenue
  Monday – Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.: Alternating lane closures between Route 1 and Bridgewater Street. Flaggers will direct traffic through the work zone.
• Lafayette Boulevard
  Monday – Wednesday, 4 a.m. – 6 a.m.: Alternating lane closures between St. Pauls Street and Kensington Place for paving work.
  Monday – Friday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.: Right lane closure on Lafayette Boulevard between Twin Lake Drive and St. Paul Street.
• Route 1 at Fall Hill Avenue & Princess Anne Street
  Intersection improvement projects are underway. Expect intermittent single lane and shoulder closures, mostly overnight. Completion by June 2026.

Stafford County

• Route 1
  Thursday, Midnight – 5 a.m.: Intermittent full traffic stops for up to 15-minute intervals between Telegraph Road and Merryview Court for utility work under permit.
• Route 3 (Kings Highway)
  Monday – Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.: Single lane closures between Route 607 (Cool Springs Road) and Route 3 (Blue and Gray Parkway) for fiber installation under permit.
• Route 17 Southbound
  Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.: Intermittent right lane closures on southbound Route 17 between Village Parkway and Hartwood Church Road for waterline and sewer line installation under permit.
• Route 607 (Cool Springs Road)
  Monday – Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.: Single lane closures between Route 3 Business and Route 218 (White Oak Road) for fiber installation under permit.
• Stefaniga Road
  Tuesday – Friday, 9 a.m.- 7 p.m.: Trench widening work between Poplar Road and Mountain View Road. Flaggers will alternate one-way traffic through the work zone.

MANASSAS PARK, Va. – Manassas Park’s 50th Anniversary celebration is well underway, with a lineup of events that will continue into the fall and a focus on honoring the city’s history while engaging its community in meaningful ways.

The next big event will be a ceremonial anniversary flag raising on July 1, now set to take place at City Hall instead of Costello Park. Officials shifted the venue due to low RSVPs and a lighter entertainment schedule than expected. The ceremony will resemble the city’s annual Memorial Day and Pride flag raisings and will include a light reception in the City Hall banquet room. The gathering will lead into the regular Tuesday night council meeting.

On July 5, residents can look forward to the city’s official 50th Anniversary Parade, which will begin on East Carambola and proceed downhill along Manassas Drive, ending near City Hall. The parade will run from 9 to 11 a.m. and will feature a children’s bike brigade, community floats, and performing arts groups. Prizes will be awarded for Best Bike Decoration, Most Creative Float, Best Performing Arts Group, and Best in Show.

Later that evening, residents can enjoy the Independence Day celebration at Signal Hill Park, making July 5 a full day of community festivities.

The final signature event of the anniversary year will be the Fire & Fiddle Fest on October 4 at Costello Park. Headlined by bluegrass band Seldom Scene, the event will include smaller musical acts, a food truck competition in place of a previously planned BBQ contest, and activities for all ages—including bounce houses, vendor tents, and a possible car show. Food trucks will compete for prizes, and tasting tickets will allow attendees to vote for their favorites. Organizers are also working through Virginia ABC guidance to determine if alcohol tastings can be offered.

Throughout the year, the city is also working on legacy projects. A digital “online museum” is being assembled with contributions from residents, including old photos, bills, and documents. Officials are also searching for the city’s longest-residing resident, not necessarily the oldest, who will be invited to raise the anniversary flag and serve as the Grand Marshal of the parade.

A 50th Anniversary time capsule is also in the works. Its goal is to be sealed later this year and reopened in 25 years, during the city’s 75th anniversary.

Residents can find submission forms and event details on the city’s website by clicking the “50th Anniversary” banner at the top of the homepage.

In March, the Manassas Park Governing Body voted 4–3 to disband the 50th Anniversary Planning Committee, prompting backlash from former officials and residents. The decision was made without public comment, and critics said the move disregarded the work of volunteers who had been organizing the celebration for more than a year. Former Councilmember Laura Hampton, who served on the committee, said the group was never consulted before the vote and that the governing body acted on misinformation.

DUMFRIES, Va. – A chaotic early morning on Monday, June 9, 2025, began with a violent crash on Interstate 95 and was followed just an hour later by a shooting at a nearby motel.

Shortly after midnight, a semi-truck barreled through a police traffic stop on southbound I-95 near Exit 150 at Quantico Marine Corps Base. The truck struck multiple Virginia State Police county police cruisers and injured several officers, one of whom suffered serious head and arm injuries. At least five cruisers were reportedly damaged, and at least two vehicles caught fire. Authorities shut down all southbound lanes as emergency crews responded.

Just after 1 a.m., while police were still working the crash scene, officers were called to the Red Carpet Inn on Dumfries Road for a reported shooting. They found a 20-year-old man who had been shot in the stomach following a fight at the motel. Police reportedly found the victim in a conscious state in the motel lobby when they arrived.

Police say the two incidents are unrelated, but both remain under investigation.

No arrests have been announced in the shooting, and the cause of the crash involving the semi-truck is still unclear.

This is a developing story. Check back with Potomac Local News for updates.

OCCOQUAN, Va. – The Occoquan Town Council voted on May 20, 2025, to tighten rules for its waterfront amenities after recent safety concerns and misuse of public property.

The council unanimously agreed to limit overnight stays at the town dock to three consecutive nights. Anyone wishing to stay longer must now obtain a special permit from Town Hall. The change follows an incident where an inoperable boat was docked for several days, during which the owner left fuel containers on-site while making repairs—raising safety alarms.

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