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.

Taste of La Dolce Vita in the Heart of the City
When you walk into Orofino, you’re instantly transported to a cozy Italian trattoria where the scent of garlic and fresh herbs floats through the air, and warm golden lighting invites you to relax and savor every moment. Nestled in charming downtown Fredericksburg, Orofino offers more than just dinner—it’s a journey through Italy’s rich culinary regions, served with heartfelt hospitality and a genuine love for good food.

Three-Course Date Night Menu
Starter:
Fritto di Calamari
Lightly fried calamari, crispy on the outside and tender within, served with a house-made lemon aioli and a splash of marinara. Perfectly shareable with a glass of chilled white wine.

Main Course:
Tagliatelle al Ragu di Cinghiale
Handmade tagliatelle pasta with a rich, slow-braised wild boar ragù. Deeply flavorful, comforting, and a dish that tells a story with every bite—straight from the hills of Tuscany.

Dessert:
Tiramisu Classico
An ethereal take on the classic Italian dessert—layers of espresso-soaked ladyfingers, mascarpone cream, and a dusting of cocoa. Romantic, indulgent, and unforgettable.

Ambiance & Experience
Orofino combines rustic elegance with Italian soul. Think exposed brick walls, candlelit tables, soft acoustic music, and a staff that treats you like family. It’s a place where couples linger over wine, and the atmosphere is intimate yet lively. The open kitchen adds a touch of theater, as chefs craft each dish with precision and passion.

Standout features:
Cozy indoor seating with romantic lighting
Chef specials and rotating seasonal dishes
Occasional wine-pairing events

Reservations & Visitor Info
Address: 1006 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Phone: (540) 429-4124
Reservations: Book on OpenTable
Dress Code: Smart casual (think polished but comfortable)

Pro Tip: Ask your server for their wine pairing recommendation—Orofino’s Italian wine list is a hidden gem.

Join the Conversation
Have a favorite Orofino memory or a go-to dish? Share your date night photos and tag us with #DateNightSpotlight on Instagram.
Let us know in the comments: What’s your favorite Italian comfort dish?

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Area residents may notice a heavy presence of emergency vehicles and personnel along the Rappahannock River this weekend, but it’s not a real emergency—it’s a planned water rescue training exercise.

RIVEREX 2025 kicks off Friday, June 6, and runs through Saturday, June 7. The large-scale drill will simulate swift water rescues across more than 20 miles of the river and include live-action scenarios designed to test emergency crews’ readiness, coordination, and response tactics.

The training comes at a time when local agencies have already been busy with river rescues. So far this year, emergency crews stationed at Falmouth Beach have responded to two water rescues and assisted in five other incidents, according to Stafford County Fire and Rescue spokeswoman Katie Brady. Earlier this year, a father and son drowned at the New Post Boat Launch, one of two fatal incidents on the Rappahannock in the region in 2025.

Participating in the exercise are fire and rescue teams from Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania, and King George counties, along with the Fredericksburg Police Department, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, and regional emergency communications centers. In total, about 30 trained water rescuers and over 40 support staff will be involved in the 36-hour operation.

Residents can expect to see emergency crews using boats, drones, and other specialized equipment at parks, bridges, and boat landings. Officials emphasize that public safety will be maintained throughout the event and that this is a fully controlled and permitted training exercise.

STAFFORD, Va. – Stafford County leaders are preparing to take a major step toward easing long-standing regional traffic woes.

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After the maps were set up and the attendees had a chance to look at the city plan, two sides of the issue emerged involving parking, homeless camps, rideability, and traffic.

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Early Wednesday evening, they gather in the side parking lot and head out for a 90-minute ride on a few routes through the city before coming back to wet their whistle on the wide variety of in-house brews the brew master creates at Red Dragon. 

“The group is open to everyone,” said Red Dragon owner Mark Perry. “Some ride in from Stafford,” he added.

One of the lead riders is Bill Evans, a cyclist who went to high school with Perry. Bill’s brother Tom and another rider, Dan Baker, are part of the core group. Sometimes there are 30 riders, and in cases of rain, some riders come anyway and sit down for a cold one instead of riding. Bike Works and Old Town Bicycle support their rides in Fredericksburg.

The Red Dragon menu has a variety of beers, all brewed on site, and some locally made sodas that are frequently mixed with the beers for particular flavors. The sodas are from Maggie’s, a small business on nearby Caroline Street that features subs, hot dogs, and salads. On Maggie’s soda list, they have root beer, orange dream, cream soda, ginger ale, and ginger ale ‘heat,’ with an extra kick. 

When mixed with Red Dragon’s beers, they become drinks on the menu like “Orange Creamsicle Sour,” “Here Be Dragons,” or “Black Jack,” to name a few. They also serve a beer called the “Road Rash Red,” a name connected with the biking world.

Perry served as a military pilot and owns a stake in the Rail House Brewery in Aberdeen, N.C.

Red Dragon is part of the Fredericksburg Area Beer Trail, an established route beer connoisseurs use while making a beer run into a day trip. There are 11 area breweries on the trail, and there’s a passport all trail users can download to keep abreast of happenings along the trail. At each brewery, the passport can get stamped, and once it’s full, prizes are awarded.

Soon, the Red Dragon cyclists can ride on a new trail portion along Lafayette Boulevard between Twin Lake Drive and St. Paul Street in the City of Fredericksburg. This $2.37 million project includes a new section of path that will connect with an existing shared-use path on Lafayette Boulevard that currently terminates at St. Paul Street.

The path will be accessible, with ramps and crosswalks built where the route intersects with Twin Lakes Drive, Springwood Drive, Kensington Place, and St. Paul Street. It is expected to be completed this November.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Fredericksburg’s multi-year upgrade of its wastewater treatment plant continues to move forward, with city officials reporting steady progress on financing and construction—and more than $105 million in grants secured to ease the burden on local taxpayers.

At a May 27 City Council work session, members reviewed the project’s timeline, scope, and estimated $185.6 million total cost.

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FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The City Council is in the final stages of selecting members for a special committee that will plan Fredericksburg’s 300th anniversary in 2028.

During a May 27 work session, council members reviewed a list of 25 candidates to serve on the “Fredericksburg 300 Committee.” The goal is to reduce that list to about 10 people who will lead efforts to celebrate the city’s tricentennial.

The committee will be central in organizing year-long festivities highlighting Fredericksburg’s rich history and future direction. It is also expected to support commemorations tied to the United States’ 250th anniversary in 2026.

Mayor Kerry Devine shared that she had already narrowed down her preferred list of committee members and invited other council members to call her on Thursday evening with their rankings. Members agreed to reconvene informally by phone on Friday to finalize the roster.

However, the city has not announced or published a meeting notice for Friday on its website, leaving the public without a way to observe or listen to the council’s deliberations.

In Virginia, the state’s open meetings law generally requires that deliberations among elected officials on public business be accessible to the public when a quorum is involved. Council members did not clarify how their informal phone discussions would comply with these requirements during the work session.

Fredericksburg’s plans for its 300th anniversary are already generating excitement among historians, civic leaders, and residents. In a recent episode of the Potomac Local News Podcast, Fredericksburg Area Museum Executive Director Sam McKelvey said the city’s dual milestones in 2026 and 2028 will offer an unprecedented opportunity to reflect on Fredericksburg’s role in shaping the nation.

“We’re looking at multi-year commemorations that engage the entire region,” McKelvey said. “From Revolutionary War to Civil War history, Fredericksburg has always played a central role in American identity.”

The museum is preparing special exhibits, including the display of a recently recovered 19th-century bateau found in the Rappahannock River. McKelvey said the committee’s work will help coordinate exhibits, festivals, and community events across multiple years.

The Fredericksburg Area Museum is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on Wednesdays. Admission is free.

Council members emphasized the need to move quickly so the committee can begin its work. However, several expressed concern that not all nominees had been contacted to confirm their willingness to serve. The final list is expected to be shared internally this week and could be announced at a future public meeting.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Germanna Community College will host the Germanna Gala on Friday, May 30, 2025, at 6 p.m. at the Fredericksburg Convention Center, located at 2371 Carl D. Silver Parkway, Fredericksburg, to celebrate President Dr. Janet Gullickson as she prepares to retire. 🎉

Dr. Gullickson, Germanna’s first female president, announced her retirement earlier this year after eight years of leadership. During her tenure, she oversaw significant enrollment growth, national recognition by the Aspen Institute, and the distinction of being the first college to host Amazon Web Services’ mobile classroom. She also spearheaded work-based learning initiatives, including paid internships, to enhance student career readiness.

The gala will feature fine dining, live entertainment, dancing, and opportunities to engage with students and supporters. All proceeds will support Early College, Germanna Guarantee, and the Germanna Cares Fund .

For more details and to RSVP by May 21, visit germanna.edu/gala.Germanna Community College+3