Occoquan Town leaders are set to make a big decision on what could be the tallest building in town.
The Town Council is scheduled to vote on Tuesday on whether or not to approve The Mill at Occoquan, a planned 5-story building that would be built on Mill Street, across from Town Hall. The building would include 52 apartments, and street-level retail space, as well as a space for a restaurant and terrace overlooking the Occoquan River.
The Fredericksburg Comic and Toy Show will return to the Fredericksburg Expo Center after being canceled last year due to the pandemic.
“We’re super excited to bring the show back to Fredericksburg. It feels like a family reunion, we haven’t seen people in a long time, and now we get to shake hands, give hugs, the whole bit. It’s exciting to see the world come back to life.” Mike Federali, showrunner for the event.
Although pandemic protocols have been lifted, the show’s runners are taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of those attending the show. According to their guidelines, attendees over the age of two will be required to wear masks and expect attendees to keep six feet apart and avoid direct contact with strangers.
In addition, they’re asking for attendees to wash their hands, and surfaces will be cleaned before and during the event.
The show will have guests from the comic world, such as writer Gary Cohn, who created DC Comics character Blue Devil and artist Bill McKay. The show will also hold a cosplay contest and a video game tournament where participants will play Injustice 2, which stars characters from DC Comics.
The show will also have vendors from the local and regional areas to sell comics, books, memorabilia, and other items related to comics and toys.
The show will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 10, at the Fredericksburg Expo Center, at 2371 Carl D. Silver Parkway in Fredericksburg. General admission tickets are for sale for $10 on the show’s website.
Fire and recrews crews across Prince William County and the Greater Manassas area were called to multiple fires last night.
The cause of many of them: People didn’t property dispose their fireworks and they caught fire in a trashcan.
Updated at 5 p.m. with new information.
Visitors looking to learn about our nation’s history got an eyeful this Independence Day.
A former member of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors is trying to stall a vote on a redevelopment project to remake the county’s historic courthouse area.
Cord Sterling, who represented the Rock Hill District until he stepped down six years ago, sued the Board of Supervisors, asking a judge for an injunction to delay a vote set for Tuesday, July 6, on the Fountain Park project. The development would sit on six acres of privately-owned land, just across the county courthouse, with four buildings, 94 apartments, and street-level commercial space.
More graduates, better facilities legacy of outgoing Prince William County School Superintendent
For the first time in 16 years, Dr. Steven L. Walts is not the Prince William County Schools Superintendent.
It took only three months to plan and execute, and by all accounts, the first Manassas Bee Festival was a resounding success.
About 2,500 attended the day-long event held this past Saturday at Liberia House Planation.
A Manassas man was killed on Tuesday in a motorcycle crash in Warrenton.
The victim, 22-year-old Jose Manuel A. Delgado Alva, was killed while riding his motorcycle on Route 29, near an Outback Steakhouse.
The Independence Day holiday will be observed this year on Monday, July 5. That means some closures for local government offices in our region.
In Prince William County, local government offices will be closed there.
After over a year, Fredericksburg reggae band The Transmitters are ready to take the stage once again.
The band, John Buck on bass and vocals, Alan "Mo" Marsh on percussion and harmonica, Larry Hinkle on guitar, Jay Startling on keyboards, Brian Barbre on drums, have taken time during the coronavirus pandemic to pursue other interests, not an easy idea for a band that has been active no just in the Fredericksburg scene but has been touring since 2005.
The Transmitters’ beginnings started with Larrk Hinkle’s studying of woodworking while living in Humboldt, Calif., while there he found a radio show on station KZYM called The Blue Beat Lounge which would play rocksteady groups like Toots and the Maytals, Alton Ellis, and the Heptones. Once Larry linked up with the rest of the members of what would become The Transmitters those groups would become the foundation for their music.
The Transmitters will now bring that music back to the stage, Potomac Local News talked to bassist John Buck about the band’s return, what they’ve been up to during the pandemic, and what the future holds for the band.
Why did the band choose to play again?
"Not playing anymore was out of the question. I know how much not seeing live music has affected me during this time so I can't wait to get out there and play for people again."
How did the pandemic affect members of the band?
"The pandemic affected all of us greatly but some members took the opportunity to step back and refocus on entrepreneurial endeavors.
"Alan has started a soup delivery company, Mo's City Soups. It has downtown delivery just like the old-fashioned milkman. Fresh, homemade, heat to serving vegetarian & vegan soup delivered right to your front door. Larry continued making ukuleles from local wood at Hinkle Ukulele and began teaching woodworking at University of Mary Washington.
"Brian has made huge strides in his business Piper Percussion which produces custom-made drums and offers restoration. Jay has taken the time to care for his family while still keeping active in music. A recent show saw his amazing 80's bluegrass band Love Cannon play with Keller Williams.
"I’ve taken the time to dedicate myself to the upright bass, practice, practice, practice. We are talking about practice. I’ve continued to be an active musician in the jazz scene in DC where I now live. I miss Fred very much but I enjoy being able to pop back in town for shows and to see friends."
How has the time away changed the members of the band in terms of their music? What new ideas will they bring to the band?
"Musically, I don't think we have changed. We are ready to just pick up where we left off."
What will the future hold for the band going forward?
"The future should yield a recording of some kind. We have an older bootleg that we might try to make into an album and of course more shows in Fred and beyond."
The Transmitters will hold their return show on Friday, June 25 at the J. Brien’s Tap Room which will start at 9 p.m.
