Fredericksburg
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Elizabeth Rehm is returning to the Fredericksburg City Public Schools board after being unanimously appointed to fill the Ward 3 seat vacated by Jennifer Boyd. The appointment was made during the board’s meeting on October 6, and Rehm will serve through the end of 2025.
Rehm brings more than nine years of experience, having previously served on the board from 2012 to 2021. Her return offers stability and familiarity during a time of continued growth for the school division, officials said.
Jacqueline Odalis Cruz Juarez was last seen at 4:35 a.m. on October 7 near the intersection of Sam Perry Boulevard and Mary Washington Boulevard. She is described as a white/Hispanic female, 5’1”, 135 pounds, with black hair and black eyes. She was wearing a pink sports bra and gray sweatpants and is believed to be on foot.
Virginia State Police issued a CODI Alert early Tuesday morning on behalf of the Fredericksburg Police Department. Anyone with information is urged to call police dispatch at 540-373-3122 or visit alerts.vsp.virginia.gov.
Fredericksburg’s Planning Commission will meet Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, to consider a request for a drive-through coffee shop at Cowan Station and review its annual land-use report, even as two major redevelopment projects on Fall Hill Avenue highlight the city’s shifting growth patterns.
Coffee Shop Planned for Cowan Station
In an October 6 opinion column published in The FXBG Advance, Gerlach said no city council candidate “has received donations from any data center company,” calling the suggestion “a deliberate attempt to confuse and deceive voters.” His remarks come amid heightened tensions in the city’s election season, with several candidates facing accusations of taking “data center money” following the appearance of anonymous campaign signs last month.
As Potomac Local News reported on September 19, state campaign finance records confirm that Matt Rowe (Ward 1), Joy Crump (Ward 2), and Susanna Finn (Ward 3) each received donations from Charlie Payne, a Richmond-based attorney with the law firm Hirschler who represents developers involved in the Celebrate Virginia South project, and data center development projects in surrounding jurisdictions. Payne is not a developer himself, and the contributions came from him personally — not from a data center company or political action committee.
FALMOUTH, Va. – Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Sears delivered a fiery speech Saturday evening outside her campaign bus in Falmouth, near Fredericksburg, condemning what she described as a “culture of hate and violence” taking root within Democratic politics.
The event came just days after National Review first reported 2022 text messages sent by Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for attorney general. In the messages, Jones joked about violence against then–House Speaker Todd Gilbert, writing, “Gilbert gets two bullets to the head,” and later referencing Gilbert’s children, saying, “Only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy,” according to The Washington Post. The Associated Press and Politico later confirmed the authenticity of the exchange, which Jones has since acknowledged and apologized for.
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – On Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, voters filled Dodd Auditorium at the University of Mary Washington to hear Delegate Joshua Cole (D) and Republican challenger Sean Steinway debate issues shaping the 65th House District race.
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Downtown Fredericksburg is full of fall spirit as Scarecrow Fest returns now through October 31. The annual event transforms the city into a festive, family-friendly destination with creative displays, activities, and Halloween-themed events.
The Scarecrow Contest is already underway, featuring more than 30 handmade scarecrows on display outside local businesses and organizations. Visitors can pick up a map from participating spots or download one online, then vote for their favorite display through the end of the month.
The vacancy follows the resignation of Jennifer Boyd, who stepped down on September 8 after moving out of the city. The Board must appoint someone to serve out the remainder of her term, which ends December 31, 2025.
Four city residents have applied for the interim seat: Christopher James Butz, an attorney and city schools parent with advisory committee experience; Caitlin Finlayson, Ph.D., a University of Mary Washington geography professor; Elizabeth Rehm, a former nine-year School Board member and physical therapist; and Keon Toyer, an education technology executive currently serving on the board of a national literacy nonprofit.