On Saturday, over 200 people stood in line to check out a new habit: Habit Burger launched its first of three soft openings before opening the new Chancellor’s Crossing store on Wednesday.

The California-based company’s char-grilled burgers are the star of a menu that also features chicken, sandwiches, and unusual side dishes. The new Spotsylvania location is the company’s fifth in Virginia, joining Richmond, Chantilly, Virginia Beach, and Ashburn.

During Saturday’s soft opening, the first 200 guests received a free burger, fries, and a drink. On Monday and Tuesday, the first 200 guests were treated to free meals with expanded menu choices as the kitchen staff practiced for full service.

Local residents standing in line were grateful for cloud cover to offset the high humidity. Celine, one of the first to leave the restaurant holding her to-go bags, shared her excitement about having a Habit Burger nearby. Having been to other locations, she said the chain stands apart from others: “It’s less greasy, and it has more variety… they’re more creative with their burgers, and if you’re vegan, you can eat here too.” She also praised their selection of healthy options and recommended the tempura fried green beans.

Jim, who works at the nearby Publix and lives just minutes away, came to try out the new spot. He said he’d been priced out of other burger chains. “I went there one day and got cheeseburger, fries, and drink. It was 21 bucks. I’m like, not again. Never again.” Jim added that the growing development in Chancellor’s Crossing has helped bring more choices to the area, and residents appreciate having more options closer to their homes.

General Manager Morgan Libert greeted guests at the door, handing out flyers and keeping the line moving. “When I run out of flyers, we’re done,” he said. “We’ll repeat this on Monday and on Tuesday, and then the grand opening is Wednesday.”

David Gneckow, Habit Burger’s Opening Coordinator, said the company chose the Spotsylvania area based on several factors. “We don’t want to go in an area where people can’t afford us, because we’re not the cheapest one. But we are the one that’s cooking it fresh, that gives you the most diversity and the most variety.” He pointed out the kitchen’s lack of a freezer and emphasized the company’s commitment to freshness and service. “I can teach them fries, but I’ll never teach them to be a nice person.”

Habit Burger was recognized in the 2024 USA Today’s 10 Best awards. In addition to “Best Fast Food Burger,” the chain won “Best Fast Food Sides” for the tempura green beans.

Habit Burger’s grand opening was Wednesday, June 18. They are open from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 5916 Plank Road in Spotsylvania.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Local hard rock band Whiskey Tango-6 brought music and heart to a special cause this weekend.

The band performed at the third annual “Burn Rubber to Help Another” fundraiser on June 14 at Dominion Raceway and Entertainment. The event, organized by teen race car driver Mini Tyrrell through his nonprofit Mini’s Mission, hosted 30 families with children battling cancer from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Children’s National Hospital. Funds raised go toward research, awareness, and support for families navigating childhood cancer.

Whiskey Tango-6 — formed in 2018 — includes Jason Garner (guitar), Dee White (vocals), Dave Koenigsberg (drums), Vitali Maya (guitar), and Neil Mullanaphy (bass). The Fredericksburg-based band is known for renditions of rock anthems, complete with pro-level sound and light shows. But it’s their heart for the community that sets them apart.

The group frequently donates their time and talent to local causes. In addition to performing for Mini’s Mission, they’ve hosted benefit concerts for families in crisis, including a Fredericksburg family who lost their home in a fire and faced a cancer diagnosis. Proceeds from those shows have gone directly to support those in need.

To learn more about the band, visit their Facebook page or check out their event listings.

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Prince William County is inviting the community to celebrate freedom, unity, and culture at this year’s Juneteenth Festival, which will be held Wednesday, June 20, 2025.  from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Prince William County Government Center, Sean Connaughton Plaza.

Organized by the county’s Office of Executive Management – Equity and Inclusion, the festival commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans while highlighting African American history, achievement, and culture.

The free, family-friendly event will include cultural performances in music, dance, and spoken word, as well as panel discussions with historians and community leaders. Children’s activities, local vendors selling food and crafts, and health screenings from local healthcare partners are also planned. Historical exhibits will provide educational insight into African American heritage.

“Juneteenth is a time to come together to reflect on our past and look ahead to a brighter future rooted in unity and respect,” said Potomac District Supervisor Andrea Bailey. “This festival allows our community to celebrate our diversity and honor the contributions of African Americans.”

Free parking is available on site. Attendees are encouraged to dress for the weather and bring water, as the celebration will take place outdoors.

For more information, visit pwcva.gov/news.

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the celebration would take place at Pftiztner Stadium, at the county government center.

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Amateur radio operators will be out in force the weekend of June 28–29, as part of the 2025 American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Field Day exercise, demonstrating how ham radio can function when modern communications fail.

Every year, the ARRL hosts Field Day to spotlight the vital role of amateur radio in emergencies. In Woodbridge, members of the Woodbridge Amateur Radio Club will set up temporary transmitting stations near Old Bridge and Smoketown Roads, at the Lake Ridge Baseball and Soccer Field, to show the public how ham radio works—especially during disasters. The event runs continuously from 8 a.m. Friday, June 27 through 6 p.m. Sunday, June 29, with peak operations from Saturday at 2 p.m. to Sunday at 2 p.m.

Using only emergency power sources, operators—often referred to as “hams”—will build and operate stations that can connect with others across the U.S. and globally, independent of cell towers or internet. According to the ARRL, ham radio has supported response efforts in disasters ranging from California wildfires to tornadoes in the Midwest and even communication from the International Space Station.

Field Day also includes a special “Get On The Air” (GOTA) station, where visitors can try their hand at making real radio contacts under the guidance of licensed operators. It’s part of a nationwide event involving more than 40,000 participants and is considered ham radio’s largest annual public demonstration.

For more information about amateur radio and how to get involved, visit arrl.org.

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – Republican Gregory Lee Gorham won the GOP nomination for Virginia’s 21st House District on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, defeating two challengers in a three-way primary and setting up a November contest against incumbent Democrat Josh Thomas.

Gorham won 66.35% of the vote with 970 ballots cast in his favor. Sahar Smith finished second with 395 votes (27.02%), and Xanthe Larsen placed third with 97 votes (6.63%).

The outcome followed a weekend candidate forum hosted by the HOA Roundtable, a civic group focused on land use, transportation, school crowding, and development in western Prince William County. Gorham was the only Republican candidate to attend the June 14 forum.

“Every day in this campaign, miracles happen. I get smarter. I witness it,” Gorham said at the event. “I think I’ve got a lot of courage. I think I can demonstrate that by the things I’ve tried before.”

A Forum as a Job Interview

HOA Roundtable Chair Mac Haddow introduced the session as a “job interview” for the candidates. He criticized Smith and Larsen for not participating and noted the event’s focus on “specific issues that impact our communities,” especially the rapid expansion of data centers in the county.

“We believe that candidates have to be accountable for the decisions they make,” Haddow said. “Citizens have the right to be able to examine the candidates that are here for public office.”

Gorham’s Policy Agenda: Land Use, Ethics, and Utility Reform

Gorham devoted most of his remarks to data center oversight, campaign finance transparency, and how state legislation can support better local governance.

“Controlling data center sprawl” topped his campaign bullet points, Gorham said. “I want to come up with some different solutions.”

Gorham has opposed what he calls “non-disclosures that the county is being forced to sign,” adding that “I don’t see the necessity to keep these things as secret.” He said he would support stronger Freedom of Information Act laws and penalties for excessive secrecy in land use negotiations.

On campaign contributions, Gorham said:

“I would definitely support exploring” a ban on donations from companies with pending business before local or state boards. “There’s such a flexibility in what money can be done with their PACs… and it’s the quickest thing to get crushed.”

He also wants to block local governments from approving large projects like data centers before environmental reviews are completed. He criticized the Board of County Supervisors for approving the Prince William Digital Gateway project before completing a water impact study.

“I almost closed my eyes and saw Nancy Pelosi saying, ‘Let’s pass it and we’ll read the bill later,’” said Gorham.

Gorham also favors noise and air quality regulations targeting backup diesel generators at data centers.

“I’d like to see regular routine measurements of the air, the water, and so on,” he said. “If you tell [data center operators] with certainty what their requirements are, they will meet it.”

On Taxes: Repeal Car Tax, Replace It With Data Center Tax

Asked about repealing the car tax, Gorham said, “I would be in favor of joining my fellow Republicans in Richmond to repeal it… I definitely will go along.”

To replace the revenue, he proposed a new state tax on data centers:

“I’m all for not putting the cost of their folly on our backs,” he said. “They say we’ll get all these taxes, and they never materialize.”

He called the current method of taxing data centers “laughable” and “primitive,” citing depreciation loopholes and tax exemptions based on government tenants.

“They’re laughing themselves silly at these data center corporate offices,” said Gorham. “We have to find a way of being able to tell them no.”

Partisan Independence and Legislative Strategy

Though running as a Republican, Gorham said his campaign is rooted in local problem-solving.

“I’m going to vote with what’s right for the House District 21,” he told one attendee. “I am not looking to make this a forever job. I’m running for one term and we’ll see how that goes.”

Gorham said he planned to file legislation immediately if elected.

“When I win in November, I will have a month to get my legislation… ready to go the first week of December,” he said. “I’m not going to sit around like a typical freshman delegate and get nothing done.”

Thomas, has also made data center regulation a central issue of his term in office. In 2025, he sponsored House Bill 1601, which would have required applicants seeking to build new high-energy use facilities (HEUFs), such as data centers, to submit a site assessment examining impacts on nearby homes and schools, and potentially on water resources, agriculture, historic sites, and forests.

The bill preserved local zoning authority and exempted minor expansions of existing facilities. Though the legislation passed both chambers, Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed the bill.

Gorham described his opponent, Delegate Josh Thomas, as someone who “really doesn’t know the district” and who “sticks to party line issues.” Gorham specifically criticized Thomas’ handling of his bill on data center siting, saying the delegate should have accepted Governor Glenn Youngkin’s amendments instead of turning the bill into a political fight.

“They’re going to try doing the same things over and over again,” he said. “I want to do things that are going to pass and succeed.”

Gorham expressed interest in working across the aisle with Senator Danica Roem, a Democrat whose Senate district overlaps with House District 21.

“I think there’s a lot of things that Senator Roem and I agree on,” he said. “We could be very potent getting things done.”

Campaign Ethics and Conflict of Interest

Gorham pledged to remain independent from data center influence and challenged his former primary opponents to do the same.

“I have not signed a sales contract or any legal agreement that prevents me from fully discussing data centers,” Gorham said. “I have not signed a nondisclosure agreement, and I will not sign any nondisclosure agreement that will prevent me from fully engaging this data center subject in Richmond.”

He said he has no other conflicts of interest:

“I have all the money I need to live the rest of my life in comfort,” he said. “I’m not going to be vulnerable to someone throwing a sack of cash at my table.”

Voters will head to the polls on November 4, 2025, for the General Election. Early voting begins September 19 and continues until November 1, 2025.

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – Prince William County Public Schools is asking families to notify the division whether their students will require bus transportation for the upcoming 2025–26 school year, a move aimed at improving routing efficiency and service reliability.

While some families may see this as an “opt-in” process similar to what neighboring Stafford County implemented earlier this year, PWCS says that is not the case.

“All students will be provided with a bus, if they qualify (e.g., the student is not a walker), unless the family indicates otherwise,” said PWCS spokeswoman Meghan Silas. “To help us plan better bus routes and improve on-time service, PWCS is asking families to let us know if their students will need bus transportation for the 2025–26 school year.”

Parents are asked to log in to their ParentVUE accounts and complete the transportation update as soon as possible. Silas emphasized that even if students don’t need a bus—such as high schoolers who drive themselves to school—it’s still important for families to report that information. If plans change later, families can contact their child’s school to update transportation preferences.

The goal, according to PWCS, is to collect more accurate data about ridership and eliminate unnecessary stops, which can delay service across the county’s large bus network.

Following Stafford’s Lead?

In nearby Stafford County, public school officials rolled out a similar request earlier this year—though theirs came with more urgency and a new opt-in policy following a transportation crisis at the start of the 2024–25 school year. That crisis left more than 3,000 students without assigned buses on the first day of school due to rushed implementation of routing software and staff shortages.

As a result, Stafford officials revamped the system. Beginning with the 2025–26 school year, families there must opt in for bus service. By early June, nearly 30,000 students had declared their transportation plans, with thousands opting out of morning or afternoon rides. Families who fail to submit their preference in Stafford must work with school registrars to reapply for transportation.

While Prince William is not requiring an opt-in, the similarities in timing and communication have drawn attention.

Prince William County Public Schools transports more than 60,000 students daily. Officials say collecting accurate ridership data early will allow them to fine-tune routes, reduce delays, and better serve all students.

Families can access the transportation preference form via ParentVUE and are encouraged to update their responses soon.

🌧️ Bummer, but safety first
The Town of Dumfries has canceled its Juneteenth Celebration scheduled for Thursday, June 19, due to forecasted bad weather.
👉 Get the official announcement here.

🗳️ Lateef comes up short, but proud of the campaign
Prince William County School Board Chair Dr. Babur Lateef fell short in his bid for lieutenant governor, earning just over 8% of the vote despite winning locally in Prince William.
👉 Read his full remarks and what’s next.

🗳️ Gorham wins GOP nomination in western Prince William
Gregory Lee Gorham took more than 66% of the vote in Tuesday’s primary, securing the Republican nomination in the 21st House District and setting up a race against Del. Josh Thomas this November.
👉 See the full breakdown of the primary results.

☀️ From landfill to light source
Fairfax County and Madison Energy are kicking off a 5-megawatt solar project atop the old I-95 landfill in Lorton, aiming to power 1,000 homes from land once thought unusable.
👉 Read how the project is bringing new life to the site.

🎥 Meet your mayor, Haymarket-style
Haymarket Mayor Tracylynn Pater is starring in a new video series exploring the town, local businesses, and its history—airing every two weeks on social media and the town website.
👉 Watch the first episode now.

🌳 Parks update and beach day coming up
Old Mill Park, City Dock, and the dog park in Fredericksburg are open again, but Alum Spring Park stays closed; meanwhile, next week’s final Picnic in the Park promises a sunny Beach Day bash.
👉 Get all the park details and event info here.

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