Features

We were first in flight: Aerodrome No. 5 reproduction unveiling to mark milestone in aviation history

By Uriah Kiser
Stafford Regional Airport Terminal [Photo: Rick Horner]

The project was made possible through a public/private partnership between Stafford County, the Langley Flight Foundation, the Stafford County Historical Society, the Stafford Regional Airport, and private donors. The aircraft will be on permanent display at the airport, along with interactive kiosks with educational programming on the science and history of flight.

The Foundation is hosting a community open house on May 11th from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm at the Stafford Regional Airport with aviation activities for kids and aerodrome demonstrations every half hour. Aerodrome No. 5 was one of several experimental aircraft developed by Samuel Pierpont Langley, the Secretary of the Smithsonian, in the mid-1890s to demonstrate heavier-than-air mechanical flight. Powered by a 1.5 hp steam-powered engine, the unmanned aerodrome weighed just over 24 pounds and flew 3,330 feet over 1 minute and thirty seconds on May 6, 1896, in Stafford County. T

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The City of Manassas honors community volunteers

By Amelia Breeden
City of Manassas 2024 Outstanding Volunteer Award winners (front row, left to right): Myra Brent, Mike Crump, Ross Snare, IV; (top row, left to right) Harriet Carter, Pete Rockx, Sheila Sunday, Robyn Johnson; (not pictured) Yvonne Greenberg.

City of Manassas Press Release: The City of Manassas honored eight volunteers for their extraordinary contributions to the community in 2023 during a volunteer reception and dinner on Tuesday, April 23.

Those honored are:

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Carson Eubank and Ashlee Waldbauer shine in Riverside’s ‘They’re Playing Our Song’ – A musical comedy delight

By Uriah Kiser
Carson Eubank and Ashlee Waldbauer and play Sonia Walsk in "They're Playing Our Song" at the Riverside Center of the Performing Arts.

In “They’re Playing Our Song” now at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts, Carson Eubank and Ashlee Waldbauer command the stage with a dynamic energy that transports the audience into the heart of the comedic journey. Eubank’s portrayal of Vernon Gersch, a wisecracking composer in search of a new lyricist, is solid, and his piano playing is so authentic that you’d swear he’s actually at the keys (which he proved he could really do at the Stafford County Business reception held at The Riverside on Wednesday, April 24, 2024).

Meanwhile, Waldbauer’s portrayal of Sonia Walsk, who experienced early songwriting success and is and is in awe of Gersch’s accomplishments, exudes energy, pulling the audience right into the passenger seat of his car on the dramatic drive out to Long Island and on to her moving rendition of “I Still Believe in Love,” (with which Waldbauer also wooed the crowd during an impromptu performance at the business reception).

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Stafford County student wows judges during national TV appearance on ‘The Voice’

By Kevin Sandell
Raina Chan, a student at Mountain View High School in Stafford, performs on a recent episode of NBC’s “The Voice,” which left the show’s judges amazed.

Raina Chan has a knack for singing – a knack her parents noticed when she was just two years old. From performing the national anthem at several capital area-area sports events to singing at the Philippine president’s visit to Washington, D.C. in 2023, Chan has wowed audiences for years.

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Rappahannock Education Farm grows produce for Fredericksburg Food Bank, plans 9-acre expansion

By Chas Chappell

Rappahannock Education Farm (REF) Manager Rich Larochelle said he and a squad of volunteers prepped a 360-square-foot plot of Fredericksburg farmland to plant hundreds of seeds of produce last week.

Nearly 3,000 people in the Fredericksburg area suffer from food insecurity, according to Stacker, a government data-collection website. Food-insecure households can’t afford regular access to healthy meals. The Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank supplies food to 31,000 people every year.

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National League of Cities to showcase Dumfries

By Uriah Kiser
Dumfries is Virginia's oldest continually chartered town.

“The Town of Dumfries of Virginia is honored to announce its participation as an official stop on the National League of Cities (NLC) Centennial Roadshow: 100 Years, 100 Cities. This initiative is part of NLC’s year-long celebration, marking a century of commitment to advancing local government and advocating for the interests of cities, towns, and villages nationwide,” notes a press release from the Dumfries Town Government.

“During the roadshow stop in the Town of Dumfries, we will have the opportunity to tour the new construction site of the Rose Gaming Resort, a testament to our Town’s growth and development. Additionally, we will visit the Town’s outdoor fitness court, a vibrant space that promotes wellness and community engagement, reflecting our commitment to a healthy and active lifestyle.”

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Goolrick’s Pharmacy: Restoring history, refreshing tradition for the next 100 years

By Mike Salmon
In a shot from their construction videos, the old beams are being used where possible.

In 1892, K.N. Goolrick opened the Goolrick pharmacy on Caroline Street in Fredericksburg, specializing in things people wanted, like milkshakes and medicine.

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Crimson Coward brings fiery flavor to Fredericksburg: Hot chicken joint opens next to Mary Washington University

By Uriah Kiser

Crimson Coward, a new restaurant specializing in hot chicken, has recently opened in Fredericksburg next to Mary Washington University.

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OmniRide driver places 4th in ‘Virginia Bus Roadeo’

By Uriah Kiser

OmniRide: OmniRide hosted the 2024 Virginia State Bus Roadeo April 5 – April 7 at the organization’s Western Facility near Manassas. Thirty-four bus operators and seven maintenance teams from across the state took part in this safety and operations competition

The top operator was Nathan Harris from the Greater Lynchburg Transit Company (GLTC). The maintenance team winners were from Fairfax Connector: Oscar Matamoros, Mario Llanos, Martin Lopez. They will now test their skills at the national competition in Portland, Ore., on April 26-30.

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Jurassic Quest comes to Fredericksburg

By Amelia Breeden
Photo: Jurassic Quest on Facebook

Jurassic Quest press release: Jurassic Quest® has been thrilling millions of guests for over 10 years, and Fredericksburg-area residents will soon get the chance to walk among the nation’s biggest herd of photorealistic dinosaurs when it visits the Fredericksburg Expo Center on May 10-12.

Friday, May 10: Noon – 8 p.m., Saturday, May 11: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 12: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

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