Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 12, 2024, the Fredericksburg City Council is set to vote on a resolution that supports the continued exploration and attraction of data centers to the city, mainly targeting the Celebrate Virginia South area near the Fredericksburg Nationals baseball stadium. This decision follows recent adjustments in Fredericksburg’s tax policies, which align the city’s computer and peripheral tax rates with those in surrounding Stafford and Spotsylvania counties, part of Planning District 16.

According to city documents, efforts to lure data centers to Fredericksburg have been in the works for over a decade. In 2018, the council began publicly discussing the possibility of voting on amendments to the city code to designate data centers as a by-right use in specific zoning areas. Last month, the council unanimously agreed to a reduced tax rate of $1.25 per $100 of assessed value on all computer and peripheral equipment used in data centers, a move mirrored by other surrounding localities.


Uriah’s note: Welcome to another installment of our History and Heritage Feature Series, which was made possible through the support of Sentara. This series celebrates the rich cultural heritage and history of Prince William County, Stafford County, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Fredericksburg.

Through articles on crucial historical events, profiles of notable landmarks, and personal stories from residents, we aim to connect you to the past meaningfully. Sentara’s commitment to community involvement helps bring these stories to life, preserving our region’s heritage for future generations.


His Democratic opponent, Eugene Vindman, claimed victory on Election Night, securing 50.94% of the vote in Prince William County compared to Anderson’s 48.79%. Prince William, the district’s most populous jurisdiction, played a crucial role in the outcome.

Anderson’s campaign focused heavily on voter outreach across the district, particularly in Prince William County. He noted his efforts to connect with voters in the area, saying his team “did well in Prince William” by visiting locations like Todos and other local businesses to address issues such as rising electricity costs. His strategy resonated strongly in precincts like Colgan and Quantico, where he led with 54.90% and 54.70% of the vote, respectively.


Early Monday morning, November 4, at about 3 o’clock, an infrequent customer of Hyperion Espresso had a crisis and felt a cup of coffee was in order. So he went to Hyperion with a broomstick and broke 72 windows and the glass door.

The alarm went off, and the Fredericksburg police made a quick arrest. “I have a coffee emergency,” could be heard on the surveillance camera recording.


Fredericksburg will host its annual Veteran’s Day procession on Monday, November 11 at 10 a.m. The walk will begin at Memorial Park (also known as Kenmore Park) on Kenmore Avenue and end at the Fredericksburg Area War Memorial on George Street.

The procession will travel down Washington Avenue from Mary Ball Street to George Street, ending around 10:30. The Veteran’s Day Commemoration will begin at 10:45 at the War Memorial. Streets will not be closed for the procession, but a rolling police escort will accompany the walkers.


In Virginia’s highly contested 7th Congressional District race, Democratic candidate Eugene S. Vindman currently leads Republican Derrick M. Anderson by a narrow 12,750 votes, with Vindman tallying 152,136 votes to Anderson’s 139,386.

However, Anderson’s campaign has emphasized that the race remains undecided, with significant numbers of ballots still uncounted and Orange County’s Election Day results not yet published.


Updated 11:52 p.m — In a tightly contested race, Eugene Vindman emerged victorious over Republican Derrick M. Anderson in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, securing a seat that will keep the district under Democratic control. Vindman’s win fills the seat previously held by Abigail Spanberger, who chose not to seek re-election and is widely speculated to be considering a run for Virginia governor in 2025.

However, Anderson has not conceded the race. “The media calling the #VA07 race before all votes have been reported is premature. This is still too close to call,” Anderson posted to X.  “Over ten thousand votes – including Election Day votes, early votes, & mail-in votes – are yet to be reported. This race & the voters deserve more time.”


Press Release:

The City of Fredericksburg and the Fredericksburg Police Department are introducing school zone speed enforcement cameras to protect students and enhance road safety. These cameras will be installed in two city school zones in late 2024 to ensure drivers follow posted speed limits, creating a safer environment for children.


On Monday, November 4, Senator Tim Kaine (D) and Eugene Vindman spoke briefly to a small gathering in downtown Fredericksburg. Kaine is running again for Virginia Senate, and Vindman, a Democrat, is for the 7th Congressional District.

Kaine said, “Virginia is going to send a message,” noting that the state is often among the first to report election results and saying, “Virginia’s looking solid for Kamala.” Kaine noted that his campaign has held around 220 events this season, not including interviews, fundraisers, and Senate duties.


Early Monday morning, Fredericksburg Police responded to reports of a break-in at Hyperion Espresso, where a man allegedly smashed windows to enter the coffee shop.

According to the report, 66-year-old Roger Ruffner, dressed in a trash bag and armed with a plastic pole and broomstick, claimed he needed to make himself a cup of coffee and broke the window to protect himself,  believing he was being followed. Ruffner was taken into custody on charges of breaking and entering to commit larceny and felony vandalism and is currently held without bond.


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