Catch up on major local developments and fun events across Northern Virginia, from data center debates and national school honors to live concerts, Oktoberfest celebrations, and sweet treats from Cupcake Heaven.
They’re ready to roll, elbow, and body slam their way onto the Fredericksburg sports scene. Still, not many have heard of the Fredericksburg Roller Derby team—a volunteer group of local women who lace up skates and create chaos on the track.
“It’s a full-contact sport,” said Scerica (pronounced Scare-ick-a), a bruising member of the team who thrives on the adrenaline. Her real name is Erica, but she explained, “I’m scary, so Scerica seemed more appropriate.”
A jury has convicted a man of two counts of first-degree murder in a 2020 Dale City house party shooting that left two dead and two others seriously injured—leading a week full of serious charges, arrests, and property crimes across the region.
Separately, police made two domestic-related felony arrests:
Add to Calendar
High school students from across the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region are invited to participate in Dialogue for Democracy at George Mason University!
Hosted by the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, this event offers high school students an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations about democracy, civic engagement, and the importance of understanding different perspectives.
|
GAINESVILLE, Va. – Patrick Harders says he’s ready to carry on the legacy of the late Gainesville District Supervisor Bob Weir as he campaigns for the seat in this fall’s special election.
Harders, a Republican and longtime Manassas resident, won his party’s nomination on August 16. The Prince William County Republican Committee announced Harders’ win that evening, saying he earned 1,838 votes to Brian Landrum’s 840. He will face Democrat George Stewart in the November 4 election to fill the seat left vacant after Weir’s death in July.
|
Christopher Miller, president of the Piedmont Environmental Council, says Virginia is at a breaking point when it comes to data center growth.
On the Potomac Local News Podcast, Miller announced the launch of Virginians for a Smarter Digital Future, a new initiative aimed at bringing transparency and oversight to the state’s fast-moving data center industry. The campaign rests on four principles: transparency, state oversight, protection of families and businesses, and incentives for efficiency. “We call it a crisis by contract,” Miller said, pointing to local governments approving projects without fully considering power, water, or environmental impacts.
QUANTICO, Va. – Jazz lovers are in for a treat on Thursday, August 21, when the U.S. Air Force Band Airmen of Note hits the stage at the National Museum of the Marine Corps.
Formed in 1950 to carry on the musical legacy of Glenn Miller, the Airmen of Note is the Air Force’s premier jazz ensemble. Expect a lively mix of swing, bebop, Latin, and modern jazz—perfect for a summer night under the stars.
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The hills—and the Riverside stage—are alive with The Sound of Music as the beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein classic officially opens today in Fredericksburg.
The cast and creative team at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts say they’ve “poured their hearts into every note, step, and scene,” according to a Facebook post announcing the show’s debut. The production tells the inspiring story of Maria and the Von Trapp family, brought to life through cherished songs like “Do-Re-Mi,” “My Favorite Things,” and “Climb Ev’ry Mountain.”
MANASSAS, Va. – The folks at the ARTfactory just told Potomac Local News they’re bringing back Every Brilliant Thing—a powerful one-man play that had audiences raving earlier this year. You can catch encore performances on September 5, 6, and 7 in the Wind River Theater.
Directed by Producing Artistic Director Kimberly Kemp and starring longtime ARTfactory favorite David Johnson, the show takes a heartfelt (and often funny) look at mental health, love, and the little things that make life worth living. Think: ice cream, water fights, and staying up past bedtime. It’s all part of one child’s journey to understand their mother’s depression—and grow up in the process.
|
MANASSAS, Va. – A hearing meant to decide the future of the Prince William Education Association, the largest local teachers union in Virignia, will go forward this Saturday. It will be held virtually after George Mason University declined to host the event.
Suspended PWEA president Maggie Hansford said earlier this week that members had been left in the dark. She told Potomac Local News that members only received a single email from a state-appointed trustee saying the hearing would run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at GMU’s Manassas campus. Members were also told they must choose either to attend in person or online, but not both.