News

Kenmore’s Annual Gingerbread Contest Returns with a Sweet Take on “Past, Present, and Future”

By Kelly Sienkowski
A previous contest theme was "Architectural Wonders of the World."

The George Washington Foundation’s (GWF) 38th annual Gingerbread House Contest & Exhibit returns to the Visitor Center at Ferry Farm this December, inviting creative confections with the theme “Holidays: Past, Present, & Future”. 

GWF Public Programs Manager Allison Ellis said the event began at Historic Kenmore, the foundation’s first historic property, in the 1930s after the Kenmore Association and the Washington-Lewis Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution found Mary Washington’s gingerbread recipe. The pair collaborated with the Dromedary Cake Mix Company to produce mixes based on the original recipe, with a portion of the proceeds returning to the Kenmore Association and its efforts to preserve Historic Kenmore. 

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Spotsylvania Bus Drivers Help a Sick Fox Catch a Ride Back to Health

By Kelly Sienkowski

Several Spotsylvania County Public Schools (SCPS) bus drivers noticed a regular visitor with a shabby coat. The team saw a fox that seemed to be missing a lot of fur and sent a video to FoxTales Wildlife Rehab. CEO and Founder Elizabeth Negron said the video confirmed the fox was in moderately bad condition, so her team helped set up a trap and coordinated with the transportation crew to make sure the trap was checked regularly. 

After weeks of waiting, the Spotsylvania bus team let Negron know the fox was trapped around 7 a.m. on Nov. 18. She had just finished a 12-hour overnight shift as a hospital imaging technician and drove straight to the trap by 9 a.m.  Spotsylvania County Public Schools did not respond to a request for comment.

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Public Input on Additional Federal Funding Ends Soon

By Caitlyn Meisner
[cottonbro studio via Pexels]

According to county documents, the federal funding will go toward the demolition of the existing county-owned building at 14716 Potomac Mills Road in Woodbridge and construction of a new 30,000-square-foot homeless center. The new center will provide overnight, temporary and emergency sheltering as well as a multitude of services for up to 50 adults experiencing homelessness.

The county is requesting $2 million Community Project Funding (CPF) grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Community Planning and Development. This funding is given through HUD’s Congressional Grants Division, which is responsible for administering congressionally directed spending grants.

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Health Dept., Hospital Seek Community Input for Health Assessment

By Teresa Davidson

Press release:

 The Rappahannock Area Health District (RAHD) and Mary Washington Healthcare (MWHC) invite community members aged 15 and older to take a quick, anonymous survey about important health issues. The survey is open to those who live in the City of Fredericksburg and Caroline, King George, Orange, Prince William, Spotsylvania, Stafford and Westmoreland counties.

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Tito’s Continues Reign As Virginians’ Favorite Spirit

By Teresa Davidson

Tito’s Continues Reign As Virginians’ Favorite Spirit

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There’s A Lot to do this Holiday Season in Occoquan

By Rosa Rivera
[Photo: Occoquan Holidays 2024]

Press release:

Shop and dine at your favorite Occoquan businesses for a chance to win $1,600+ in Occoquan business gift cards! Occoquan merchants have unique offerings of home decor, clothing, gourmet food, fine art, beauty, chocolates, jewelry, stationery, and gifts for all ages. See a list of participating businesses and rules for play at visitoccoquanva.com/holiday.

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Fredericksburg Celebrates Lafayette Bicentennial

By Potomac Local News

Fredericksburg spent the weekend commemorating the 200th anniversary of General Lafayette’s historic 1824 visit. The Lafayette Bicentennial Commemoration Weekend featured two free public events that closely mirrored the original activities hosted in Lafayette’s honor.

Today will begin with a special Masonic Welcome at Fredericksburg’s historic Masonic Lodge No. 4, located at 803 Princess Anne Street. From 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., General Lafayette, portrayed by Mark Schneider of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, was made an honorary Lodge Member in a ceremony that highlighted artifacts from his original 1824 visit, including the very punch bowl used during the reception two centuries ago.

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Montclair’s Giorgio’s Family Restaurant Mourns Founder Chef George Lampros

By Jazbia Chaudhry

Giorgio’s Family Restaurant is mourning the loss of its founder, Chef George Lampros, whose passion for food and community built the establishment into a local institution. Chef Lampros passed away this week, leaving behind a legacy of culinary excellence and community connection that has spanned more than two decades.

Chef Lampros, a proud Greek immigrant who fulfilled the American dream, opened Giorgio’s in 1999. Starting as a small 12-seat deli, the restaurant expanded over the years into a bustling 130-seat full-service establishment, complete with banquet and catering services. In 2008, Lampros further enhanced the dining experience by integrating WineStyles of Montclair, a wine shop and bar offering an extensive selection of wines from around the globe.

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Delegate Paul Milde Introduces Bill to Close Tobacco and Vaping Loophole in Schools

By Jazbia Chaudhry

Delegate Paul Milde (R-64, Stafford County) has introduced legislation aimed at closing a loophole created last year by HB 790, which inadvertently allowed underage students to possess tobacco and vaping devices on school grounds without facing legal consequences.

The proposed legislation comes in response to growing concerns from law enforcement and community leaders who have noted the impact of the loophole on schools and extracurricular activities. While Stafford County schools reported a 21% decrease in vaping incidents over the past year, with 23 incidents in 2024 compared to 29 in 2023, officials remain vigilant about preventing access to these products by minors.

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