Features

MANASSAS, Va. – In conjunction with ARTfactory’s annual Factory of Fear event and fundraiser, the Caton Merchant Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of “What the Walls Remember,” a juried group exhibition featuring over 80 compelling works of art by 60 talented artists from across the DMV region.

Running through November 8, this evocative exhibit explores themes that encompass the eerie, the mysterious, and the surreal. Instead of focusing primarily on traditional Halloween imagery, the exhibition casts a broader net, inviting viewers to explore the darker corners of artistic expression. Featured pieces include shadowy landscapes, haunting portraits, abstract expressions of emotion, and visual explorations of mortality and the unknown.


Police Blotter

Three masked suspects broke into Tobaccoville on Lafayette Boulevard on September 21, making off with merchandise in a late-night burglary. All were dressed in black with ski masks and hoodies.

Elsewhere in Fredericksburg, several residents reported vehicle-related crimes, including vandalism, tampering, and thefts. Vehicles were keyed or damaged on Caroline and Charlotte Streets, rummaged through on Saunders Drive, and had items like wallets, tools, and license plates stolen from locations including Carl D. Silver Parkway, Wallace Street, and Plank Road.


Police Blotter

A man riding his electric bike on Stony Hill Road in Stafford was assaulted by a group of juveniles who also yelled racial slurs at him, according to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office. The incident happened around 4:50 p.m. on September 23. The case is under investigation.

Also on September 23, a woman reported her vehicle had fresh damage and unexplained mileage after leaving it at One Stop Auto on Richmond Highway. Deputies found suspected drugs and a stray shoe inside the vehicle. The investigation is ongoing.


Event

Join us for a delightful Sunday afternoon at the BlackRock Center for the Arts as Cruise Planners Beth & Rod present a special travel-inspired matinee featuring the beloved film Under the Tuscan Sun.

Date & Time: Sunday, May 31 | 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM


Stafford

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Central Rappahannock Regional Library’s William J. Howell Branch is celebrating 15 years of service on Thursday, October 9. A brief ceremony with refreshments will be held at 4 p.m. The branch is located at 806 Lyons Boulevard in Stafford County. Howell Branch’s anniversary celebration is open to the public and free of charge.

Opened in 2010 as England Run Branch, the library was renamed in 2018 to honor William J. Howell, retired Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates and Stafford County resident. “Over the last 15 years, Howell Branch has become a community hub for inspiration, learning, and connection,” said Executive Director Rebecca Purdy. “The branch has grown and thrived—thanks to the incredible support from Stafford County.”


Stafford

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — GWRideConnect conducted its annual slug survey and observed significant activity at the Staffordboro and Warrenton Road Park and Ride lots.

At the Warrenton Road lot, surveyors counted 42 vehicles picking up 104 riders on Tuesday, September 9th. This marks the most substantial slugging presence at the Rt. 17 lot since before the pandemic. “Slugging at Rt. 17 is alive and well,” said Kerry McKenney, GWRideConnect Program Coordinator. “There is plenty of room for more commuters to join in, and many riders expressed interest in seeing greater participation.”


Prince William

BRISTOW, Va. – Fourteen new Prince William County Police officers and one Sheriff’s Deputy graduated from the county’s Criminal Justice Academy on September 24 during a ceremony at Grace Life Community Church in Bristow.

The 15 recruits completed a 24-week course covering everything from firearms and patrol tactics to legal training and crash investigations. Graduates will now begin patrol assignments across the county, with officers deployed in eastern, central, and western Prince William.


Prince William

Prince William County supervisors signed off on more than $113 million in bond sales Tuesday to fund a slate of new parks, sidewalks, homeless navigation centers, and public safety projects across the county.

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Newslinks

Virginia Mercury: Three Stafford County voters are asking a judge to remove Democratic House of Delegates nominee Stacey Carroll from the ballot, arguing she doesn’t actually live in the district where she registered to vote and is running for office.

The petition, filed in Stafford County Circuit Court, contends Carroll lives at a longtime home in House District 23 while claiming a different address in neighboring House District 64 to qualify for the race.


Breaking News

STAFFORD, Va. – For the second time in less than a week, Stafford County students experienced a school lockdown.

Stafford High School went into lockdown twice this morning, beginning at approximately 9 a.m., due to a malfunctioning alarm. Deputies and school staff confirmed there was no active threat. The lockdowns were lifted, and regular activity resumed. Parents arriving at the school were directed to nearby Chichester Park.