Author: Uriah Kiser

“The majority of Fredericksburg’s City Council members have announced opposition to Penzance Development’s proposed million-square-foot data center at 1500 Gateway Boulevard in the Hylton Tract,” FXBG Advance reported. Ward 1 Council Member Matt Rowe cited the site’s proximity to residential areas and required power lines near Hugh Mercer Elementary and Cowan Boulevard, while Ward 3 Member Susanna Finn, At-Large Member Will Mackintosh, and At-Large Member Jannan Holmes pointed to the project’s location outside the city’s Technology Overlay District and prior council decisions limiting data centers in the city.

Penzance has proposed financial proffers totaling tens of millions for city capital projects, schools, and public safety plus tax revenue estimates, yet the four members maintain the site remains unsuitable. The Advance is awaiting responses from Mayor Kerry Devine, Vice Mayor Chuck Frye, and Ward 2 Member Joy Crump.

Stafford County Government announced a free event for disposing of unwanted, expired or old pesticides, Stafford County Government reported. The 2026 Fredericksburg Area Pesticide Collection Event, organized with Virginia Cooperative Extension-Stafford and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, will be held September 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Greenline Service Corp., 11417 Tidewater Trail, Fredericksburg. It is open at no charge to commercial applicators, farmers and homeowners, and accepts large-volume and commercial-scale pesticides.

Pre-registration is encouraged and required for large quantities, unknown pesticides, or more than 5 gallons or 50 pounds. Residents can learn more and pre-register at vdacs.virginia.gov/pesticide-collection.shtml or contact local agent Grace Kunkel at [email protected] or 540-658-8000 during business hours.

The City of Fredericksburg and Fredericksburg Main Street will host the first Quacktoberfest on Oct. 17, 2026, from 2 to 6 p.m. as a free community festival featuring fall activities, vendors, carnival rides, live music, the rescheduled Rubber Ducky Derby and a Movie in the Park screening.

The derby, postponed from the Fourth of July due to extreme heat, starts at 3 p.m., followed by a 25-minute episode of Darkwing Duck and a dusk showing of Hocus Pocus. Residents can still adopt rubber ducks for the race at riverfriends.org/product/fxbg-rubber-ducky-2026, with prizes listed on a related Facebook post; the release notes ducks are selling quickly.