Community News

‘Tis the season for…school field trips?  That’s right; the EDT group tours team has recently hosted a flurry of year-end school field trips. 

Tuesday night, the City Council’s Work Session began with a visit to Oberle Academy.  The Academy serves special need students from the region and works with 22 area businesses for job placement. The Academy boasts a 98% graduation rate and believes in the power and potential of all students. 

Dr. Gaila Sims was recently promoted to Vice President of Programs and Interpretation for the Fredericksburg Area Museum (FAM). She was hired by FAM, to fill a position created in 2022, Curator of African American History.  This position is co-funded by the City of Fredericksburg.  She is still doing this important work in addition to her new responsibilities at the Museum.

The 2024 Fredericksburg Christmas Parade will be held along Caroline and Princess Anne Streets in Downtown Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Can you guess which countries visitors show up in our Visitor Center here in Fredericksburg?

A year’s worth of events leading up to this weekend – Saturday, November 23 and Sunday November 24 – are reaching a crescendo – and EVERYONE is invited!  Fredericksburg’s culminating commemoration of the 200th Anniversary of General Lafayette’s visit to the young America in 1824 – is finally here. 

On Tuesday January 21, 2025, the University of Mary Washington will begin the 22nd season of its lecture series, Great Lives: Biographical Approaches to History and Culture. This year’s program schedule will consist of 15 lectures running from January 21st though March 20th. These lectures are free and open to the public.

Our local community businesses are being amazingly generous and reaching out with help for those devastated by Hurricane Helene. Thankfully, there are many examples of this, in the region.  A business that frequently sees a need and rushes to help is Ristorante Renato. 

U.S. News & World Report has released its 2025 “Best Colleges” with the University of Mary Washington tying for No. 9 on the list and tying for No. 132 in national liberal arts.  

Perhaps I’m bit biased, though it was little surprise while reading a recent September 10, 2024 article published by WorldAtlas listing Fredericksburg amongst the “9 Towns In Virginia Have Bustling Main Streets”.

The Central Rappahannock Regional Library Board of Trustees has selected Deputy Director Rebecca Purdy as the new Executive Director.  After a nationwide search and over 40 applicants. Ms. Purdy was the strongest choice.

With the “official” first week as the new City of Fredericksburg’s Director of Economic Development & Tourism in the rear view mirror it feels great taking a moment to take share my reflections on memorable and rewarding first week as well as my excitement about the adventure ahead.