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You know the weather is turning towards Winter when ice crystals in the atmosphere give us this beautiful Moondog!
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Reminder: Please do not respond to this email. If you wish to reply, please email me at my City email address. |
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It may feel like Winter sometimes, but it's still Autumn.
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Celebrating the Holidays FXBG Style
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This is a photo of one of the Whittingham holiday windows. I love the skyline in the background.
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There is so much happening in the City this Holiday Season, I can barely scratch the surface here. To see much more, click here.
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The Christmas Parade ... and Beyond
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You don’t need me to tell you how incredibly popular and wonderful our Christmas Parade is. It's happening on Saturday December 2nd, starting at 5:30 PM in downtown Fredericksburg. This year's theme is "Under the Sea!" With many thousands of people coming to see the parade, as they have for years, you’ll want to check out the official webpage for all the information you need, like viewing information, street closures, parking, contact information, and other details.
Super-imaginative people from all over the area create lots of amazing floats. The streets are lined deep with celebratory folks dressed up for the occasion. It’s one of the very best things that happens in our City every year, and you really want to be there for it. Be sure to dress for the weather, and visit our shops and restaurants before it starts at 5:30 PM. But Wait! There’s MORE …
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Avoid the hassle of getting out of downtown right after the parade by sticking around for something new this year – Main Street After Dark: a festive late-night shopping event that follows the dazzling downtown Christmas parade. Right after the parade, on Saturday December 2nd, starting at 8:00 PM, our downtown will transform into a magical shopping experience that lasts until midnight!
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Whittingham and Window Wonderland
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Window Wonderland is in full swing when downtown businesses decorate their windows, and also compete in the Window Wonderland contest, posting more than 70 clues in their windows to solve the holiday riddles. It’s so much fun to see people (including the little kids) looking into the windows with their contest forms and pencils. It’s just one of those delightful things that happens in the City every year that I just love. And you can win $1,000 in gift cards or another wonderful prize. You can also vote for your favorite windows. Click here for more information, including the list of participating businesses and the voting form.
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Thanksgiving night also marked the annual reveal of the extraordinary Whittingham Holiday window display. Each year, it becomes even more awe-inspiring, with meticulous attention to detail and a perfect overall look and feel. I recommend that you watch this great behind-the-scenes video that Ted Schubel (of NewsTalk1230 WFVA) creates each year with Bob Whittingham and his merry band of incredibly talented helpers to see how it all comes together. Their artistry and hard work is truly impressive!
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FAMFaire: Kris Kringle Market
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The Fredericksburg Area Museum (FAM) is hosting another FAMFaire: KrisKringlMarkt in Market Square on Saturday, December 9th from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. This event is a wonderful outdoor shopping experience, modeled after traditional German-style markets (dating from the 16th century). It includes artisan booths and music by local musicians. FAMFaire is a great way to share the holiday spirit with your friends and family – strolling from tent to tent shopping and enjoying the crafts and treats from all over the area. I hope to see you there!
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Santa is Coming to Braehead Farm
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If you – or maybe someone you know – wants to meet Santa, he'll be waiting for you during the first two weekends in December in The Red Shed at Braehead Farm from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 1:30 to 4:30 PM. There are lots of other fun things to do at Braehead Farm for the holidays too. Check it all out here.
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Mistletoe Market in Hurkamp Park
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Artisans, artists, and crafters will be set up in Hurkamp Park on Saturday, December 2nd from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM for the annual Mistletoe Market.
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Have you created your #GivingTuesday plan yet? Giving Tuesday is a generosity movement focused on supporting organizations and helping them excel at what they do. Always taking place on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, we are encouraged to offer a helping hand to the nonprofits that hold special significance to us.
On Facebook, I’ve listed some possible organizations where you can contribute, providing the opportunity for people to add other organizations in their comments. Feel free to check that out here.
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Tomorrow's City Council Meetings
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You can attend the City Council meetings in person. You can also watch the Regular City Council meeting online, or on Cox Channel 84 and Verizon Channel 42.
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Work Session: 5:00 PM, Large Conference Room, 2nd floor of City Hall (NOTE CHANGE IN TIME)
We will interview two applicants for the Planning Commission, jointly review (with the Planning Commission) the FY 2023 Annual Land Use Report (more on this below), hear an update on planning projects, and receive the Annual Update from Parks, Recreation and Events. The agenda is here.
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Regular Session: 7:30 PM, City Council Chambers, City Hall
The agenda for the Regular Session is here. Among other things, we will:
- hear a presentation from Friends of the Rappahannock by Bill Micks
- hear an update on the Clean and Green Commission by George Solley, Chair
- vote on a resolution (second reading) to amend the FY 2024 budget to provide funding for a study and action plan on homelessness in Fredericksburg (this item is on the Consent Agenda)
- vote on a resolution (second reading) to change the Purpose and Mission Statement of the Clean and Green Commission to reflect its focus on sustainability and renewable energy (this item is on the Consent Agenda)
- vote on a rezoning request (second reading) to change 0.18 acres of land from R-4 to C-T, which would allow would allow for the Barking Barley to open a dog friendly restaurant with outdoor seating on the property, and if approved, proceed to vote on a related request for a Special Use Permit (SUP) (one reading) to the Barking Barley for the sale of alcoholic beverages in its restaurant
- vote on a rezoning request (first reading) from Planned Development-Commercial (PD-C) to Planned Development-Mixed Use (PD-MU) and Planned Development-Residential (PD-R), at two vacant parcels (GPIN 7860-50-3126 and 7860-40-5307) in Celebrate Virginia South (the Neon Project)
- vote on a resolution (first reading) amending the FY 2024 budget by appropriating various fund balances or other revenues for various City projects approved in prior fiscal years, for a grand total of $115,000,231 in carryover appropriations
- vote on a resolution (first reading) amending the FY 2024 budget to advance the FXBGo! Fiber & Security project and FXBGo! fleet purchases; the Virginia Resource Authority (VRA) Revenue Bond R-Board Landfill Construction Project; and recognize Fredericksburg City Schools additional revenue
- vote on a resolution (first reading) to amend the pay scales and provide for increases to the City's Department of Social Services
- vote on a resolution (one reading) to amend the FY 2024 budget to provide funding for the City's share of a project that would provide access through the Fredericksburg Convention Center property to the Southbound I-95 Welcome Center and Rest Stop for public safety vehicles and personnel
- vote on a resolution (one reading) to initiate amendments to the 2015 Comprehensive Plan to adopt a new Small Area Plan for Planning Area 10, which will refer the matter to the Planning Commission for public hearing and recommendation within 90 days
- vote on a resolution (one reading) to initiate the consolidated rezoning of numerous properties in certain neighborhoods (Braehead Woods, Twin Lake, and Fox Run) from R-2 to R-4 as part of the Area 10 Small Area Plan, which will refer the matter to the Planning Commission for a consolidated public hearing and recommendation
- vote on a resolution (one reading) to initiate a rezoning of several parcels of land in the Area 10 Small Area Plan to Creative Maker District, which will refer the matter to the Planning Commission for a consolidated public hearing and recommendation
- vote on a resolution (one reading) to adopt Form-Based regulations for several parcels of land in an area south of the Blue-Gray Parkway and west of Emancipation Highway as part of the Area 10 Small Area Plan, which will refer the matter to the Planning Commission for a consolidated public hearing and recommendation
- vote on a resolution (one reading) approving the City's Legislative Agenda for the upcoming 2024 General Assembly session
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About Public Comments
Citizens who wish to participate in the public hearing or public comment period during a Regular City Council meeting (not a Work Session) will be able to speak in person or send their comments in writing. Please click here for public comment guidelines.
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- School Board Meeting: Monday, December 4th at 6:30 PM (closed session) and 7:30 PM (open session) in the School Board Chambers at the Walker-Grant Center, 210 Ferdinand Street. When available, can find the agenda here
- Economic Development Authority (EDA) Meeting: Monday, December 11th at 8:30 AM at the Executive Plaza, Third Floor (601 Caroline Street). When available, you can find the agenda here.
- Architectural Review Board (ARB) Meeting: Monday, December 11th at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers at City Hall. When available, you can find the agenda here.
- Planning Commission Meeting: Wednesday, December 13th at 6:30 PM in Council Chambers at City Hall. When available, you can find the agenda here.
- After tomorrow, the next regular City Council meeting is on December 12th at 5:30 PM (Work Session) and 7:30 PM (Regular Meeting). When available, you can find the agendas here.
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Folks have been asking me for an update on excessively loud vehicles on our streets. I first wrote about loud mufflers in June 2022.
We adopted a new loud vehicle ordinance that went into effect in July 2022. Enforcement of our Loud Vehicle Ordinance began that month. So, how is it going, and is it making any difference?
The Loud Vehicle Ordinance made the following exhaust systems illegal in the City:
- gutted muffler (where the packing material is removed to increase loudness)
- muffler cutout (these can allow the driver to alter the muffler's sound by remote control or a switch)
- straight exhaust (straight-through perforated core surrounded by a narrow, fiberglass-packed chamber, for a "throaty" sound)
- chambered pipes (these have a series of strategically placed walls and baffles that interrupt the exhaust flow and increase its loudness)
Note that the noise level - in decibels - is NOT what triggers a violation, it's the hardware of the exhaust system, pure and simple. This makes enforcement much easier, no "noise tests" are needed.
So far, Fredericksburg PD has issued 59 charges for violating the Loud Vehicle Ordinance. Looking at the numbers, I want to point out two things:
- enforcement went up in 2023, a four-fold increase in tickets written compared to 2022 (47 vs. 12 charges)
- enforcement is happening citywide, with particular emphasis on our more-traveled streets
Nearly one-third of all tickets written City-wide were for loud vehicles on Caroline Street (17 out of 59). Violations have also been charged on William Street, Plank Road, and Lafayette Blvd., and in residential neighborhoods too, as well as in Central Park.
As for whether it's making a difference, that's a bit subjective at this point (it's only been slightly over a year ago since the Loud Vehicle Ordinance went into effect). We still have some excessively loud vehicles on our streets, but they seem less frequent now. Maybe word is getting out that you WILL get pulled over for an excessively loud exhaust system. Stay tuned for more on this.
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Sophia Street Parking Garage
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image from www.fredericksburgva.gov
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The numbers are in for FY 2023: revenue from the Sophia Street Parking Garage has nearly tripled since last year (over $217K vs. $77K). No doubt this is related to the new fee schedule which now charges for the first hour - it does not seem that the fee has been a deterrence to people parking in the garage. I'm also sure the fact that many folks come downtown to enjoy everything we have to offer, helps fill up the garage. A side benefit of the new fee schedule is a substantial reduction of loitering in the parking garage, which is helping people feel safe using the garage and, in turn helps local business. Until the fee was instituted, we received many complaints about the activity in the garage. Those complaints have disappeared. We are a very welcoming city, and we need to stay vigilant about protecting that unique aspect of Fredericksburg.
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image from www.fredericksburgva.gov
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This used to be just a pipedream, but it's getting closer to reality. The Comprehensive Plan envisions a small City park where Canal Street ends at the river. Slated for development in FY 2027 at a cost of $200,000, this project would include a historical marker for Jean DeBaptiste. He was among 10 Black men said to have served military duty aboard the Dragon, a warship made in Fredericksburg by Fielding Lewis, that saw service by more African-Americans than any other ship during the Revolutionary War.
As a free Black man in Falmouth after the war, DeBaptiste became a successful businessman, amassing property holdings and running the Rappahannock River ferry at Falmouth until his death in 1804. A valuable collection of stories of black history in Falmouth can be found in “Virginia Shade: An African American History of Falmouth, Virginia,” by Falmouth resident and historian Norman Schools.
Being the site of his historic river ferry, the Canal Street Wharf is also a good location for another canoe/kayak launch for folks enjoying a float down to City Dock or a paddle upstream to Old Mill Park. It's part of activating the riverfront (a key goal of the Comprehensive Plan), and I join a lot of river enthusiasts in saying this is a great idea.
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Each year, City Staff prepares an annual land use report which tracks recent development projects and puts them in context of trends we're seeing over the past few years. The annual report is required by State law, and it's always an interesting read. This year is no exception. You can read the full report here.
The Planning Commission's annual land use report underscores the need for City transportation projects to reconsider the traditional primacy of the automobile. As the Planning Commission says, "[g]oing forward, the City should employ a more balanced approach that considers the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, and motor vehicle operators with respect to the use of the City's road network for through travel, emphasize certain major arterial roads and highways and deemphasize city streets."
Related to this effort, the City is studying the feasibility of converting certain existing one-way pairs to two-way streets to permit them to return to their historical usage as commercial and neighborhood streets while deemphasizing through-street usages. Expect to see the results of that study in the next few months.
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chart from fredericksburgva.gov
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Here are some highlights of the FY 2023 Land Use Report:
- we're in a five-year trend of no new major residential rezonings or special use permits being approved by City Council, despite continued high demand for residential units in the City
- no new residential development projects were approved in FY 2023 (all approved site plans were for commercial or educational uses)
- residential lot infill construction has decreased substantially from FY 2022 (as measured by grading plans)
- over 264 enforcement actions to enforce the maintenance code and nuisance ordinance (including two spot blight designations to combat demolition by neglect)
- 67 sign ordinance violations were corrected
- only two Special Use Permits were issued (Mary Washington Monument Caretaker Lodge project and VFW expansion)
There is a ton of interesting information in the Annual Land Use Report. Clearly, the City's Community Planning and Building Department and Building Services Division had a busy year, as did the folks who graciously volunteer their time and talents on the City's Boards and Commissions. We're all in this together. I hope you'll check out the full report here.
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By-Right Development vs. Entitlement Process
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I get a lot of questions about managing growth, as all City Council members do. It's a topic near and dear to my heart. How do we grow as a City, while the region around us experiences massive population growth, without spoiling the special sauce that brings people to Fredericksburg? This question keeps us up at night.
One viewpoint I hear a lot from well-meaning people is this: don't build any more apartments. As much as we might like to ordain something like that, we cannot slam the brakes on new construction across the board. A moratorium on new construction is flatly illegal in Virginia, so "stop building new apartments" is not a realistic approach.
When talking about managing growth, knowledge IS power and it's important to keep a key distinction in mind. Namely, residential construction falls into one of two buckets: by-right development versus the entitlement process.
When a developer can build a project "by-right", that simply means there is no public hearing required: approval can be granted administratively by the Community Planning and Building Department. Entitlement projects must follow every applicable legal requirement of City Code and State law, so it's not like a free pass to build whatever the heck you want. A recent example of a by-right large residential project is Highlander Park which contains 91 attached dwelling units (it's located on the bend in Lafayette Boulevard just downhill from the National Cemetery). Neither the Planning Commission nor City Council play any role whatsoever in approving by-right projects.
On the flip side, you have the entitlement process. That's where authorization from City Council is required - following a public hearing and input from the Planning Commission. When land is rezoned, or a project requires a variance or special use permit, that triggers the entitlement process. The public is invited to comment on entitlement projects at the Planning Commission and at City Council, and in fact, it's vital to the work of both bodies.
Here's a real-world example of the entitlement process and how residents of the City can play a pivotal role in new development. Currently, the Gateway Project is working its way through the entitlement process. This is a large mixed-use (commercial and residential) project that would be located on land next to I-95 where the VA Clinic was originally proposed. Part of the project would involve transportation improvements, specifically the extension of Gateway Boulevard from Route 3 (Plank Road) to Cowan Boulevard. The Comprehensive Plan envisions Gateway Boulevard eventually connecting all the way to Fall Hill Avenue.
If you're familiar with the frustrating traffic problems caused by heavy congestion on I-95 and the resulting diversion of cars onto our City streets, you'll understand the concerns of Normandy Village and Old Fairgrounds residents who oppose the extension of Gateway Boulevard. Linking Route 3 to Fall Hill Avenue would create an alternative route for traffic seeking to avoid Northbound I-95 backups, but this would directly increase congestion in already burdened areas. Considering these concerns, I cannot support the Gateway Project or any other project that would turn Gateway Boulevard into a cut-through for rerouted interstate traffic. As responsible members of the City Council, we value public input and are already hearing residents' concerns before public hearings begin.
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ABOUT HISTORIC PRESERVATION
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Renwick Courthouse Complex
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Fredericksburg’s iconic skyline is studded with architectural gems. Among them is the magnificent bell tower of the Renwick building. The Renwick Courthouse building is actually part of a complex of three historic buildings owned by the City that include the Old Jail (1928) and the Wallace Library (1910). I hope you’ll watch this video showing how extraordinary the Renwick Complex is:
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Renwick Courthouse Complex
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The future of all three buildings is uncertain. The City has prioritized the adaptive reuse of these buildings (they sit vacant now).
A Historic Structures Report from 2016, conducted by Commonwealth Architects, provided documentary, graphic, and physical information about the history and existing condition of the buildings. It highlighted some problems with the Renwick building, primarily moisture infiltration in the bell tower and the building’s cracked stucco, as well as problems with structural members.
A feasibility study in 2019 by Frazier Associates looked at three options for adaptive reuse of the Renwick building: offices, performance and event venue, and a boutique hotel. The options were viewed through the lens of market demand, best fit for downtown Fredericksburg, income generation and the costs of rehabilitation.
When COVID arrived in 2020, work on finding solutions was put on hold. Now, things are moving forward again. In June of 2023, City Council created the Renwick Working Group in an effort to clarify the goals and expectations for reuse of the Renwick Complex. Since then, the Working Group has met monthly in July, August, September, October and November, assisted in the effort by Norfolk-based Commonwealth Preservation Group, which was hired to lead the discussion. The members of the Working Group are:
- Matt Kelly, City Council
- Jon Gerlach, City Council
- Eric Mink, National Park Service
- Beth Black, Economic Development Authority
- Danae Peckler, Historic Fredericksburg Foundation Inc.
- Kelly Penick, Architectural Review Board
- Christine Henry, University of Mary Washington
- Jon Van Zandt, Historic Preservation Contractor
- Melissa Colombo, Fredericksburg Main Street
- Melanie Johnson, Fredericksburg Arts Commission
- Philip Pierce, Banker
- Tim Baroody, City Manager
- Bill Freehling, City Staff
- Kate S. Schwartz, City Staff
- Ray Regan, City Staff
- M.C. Morris, City Staff
- Paige Pollard, Consultant (Commonwealth Preservation Group)
Much of the Working Group’s discussion focused on the City retaining ownership of the Renwick Courthouse space, and working with a partner to operate it. Ideas for the courthouse itself include putting an event/performance space on the second floor and artist studios on the first floor.
The Working Group has also considered a variety of uses for other sites in the Complex – the Wallace Library and the Old Jail – including the possibility of selling, gifting or leasing those two structures (which could provide equity for the Renwick adaptive re-use project). For more on the progress of the Working Group, click here.
A draft Request for Proposals for the adaptive reuse of the Renwick Courthouse complex will come to City Council for approval soon, and I hope you will follow how things unfold from there. It's an incredibly important architectural gem in Fredericksburg that requires immediate repairs and ongoing preservation work.
A Little History
Why are we focusing so much attention on the Renwick Complex? Because it’s beauty and historic significance cannot be overstated. Designed by James Renwick, Jr. – the architect of the Smithsonian Castle in Washington DC and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City – the Renwick building is a unique example of English Romanesque public architecture in Virginia. Built in 1852 as a courthouse, the building’s proposed $14,000 cost was shocking. An unheard-of amount, the proposal spurred a petition of 172 signatures by local residents seeking a more modest cost of $6,000, according to historian John Hennessy in the online Mysteries & Conundrums blog: A Beleaguered Courthouse.
The bronze bell in the Renwick cupola was cast in 1828 by the Revere Company, of Paul Revere fame. Prior to the Civil War, the building housed the court and the Hope Fire Company. Early in the war, the courthouse was a Confederate barracks. Later during the Union occupation, it served as housing for escaped slaves. On December 13, 1862, Major General Darius N. Couch, watched the destruction of his forces from his vantage point high up in the bell tower. After the Battle of Fredericksburg, and again following the battles of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania, the Renwick Courthouse was used as a hospital for wounded soldiers. Other interesting tidbits about the Civil War history of the Renwick building are found in the book, Fredericksburg Civil War Sites, by Noel Harrison.
Please stay tuned for more as this process continues to unfold; this incredible building is important to each and every one of us.
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You know this doesn’t happen every day… It’s only happening on December 6th in Harlem! Marcus Samuelsson, the renowned chef behind a dozen acclaimed restaurants around the world, is turning over is famous Red Rooster Harlem restaurant to our own Joy Crump and Beth Black, co-owners of Foode + Mercantile, to launch a brand new event series, Open Kitchen, where veteran chefs like Marcus will open up their restaurants and share resources with up-and-coming Black culinary talents. Joy and Beth will also collaborate with Marcus on a signature dish highlighting their Virginia roots. The event will celebrate Black culture through food, music, community, and storytelling. The cost of your ticket includes what you know will be an incredible dinner! I can’t wait for this!
Details:
Date and time: Wednesday, December 6th at 5:15 - 11:00 PM
Location: Red Rooster Harlem, 310 Lenox Avenue New York, NY 10027
Tickets here.
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Save All the Dates for UMW's Great Lives
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Another wonderful season of the William B. Crawley Great Lives Lecture Series begins in January 2024. Admission is free, and the public is invited to attend. Lectures typically start at 7:30 PM in Dodd Auditorium at UMW. Mark your calendars now! Here's the schedule:
- Jan. 16: Spymaster Wild Bill Donovan, presented by Douglas Waller. A World War I hero and lawyer, Donovan headed the Office of Strategic Services, precursor to the Central Intelligence Agency.
- Jan. 18: Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and Sacagawea, presented by Dale Blanshan.
- Jan. 23: William Shakespeare, presented by Elizabeth Winkler.
- Jan. 25: George VI and Elizabeth, presented by Sally Bedell Smith. The remarkable marriage of George and Elizabeth saved the British monarchy, biographer Smith contends. They were the parents of Queen Elizabeth II and grandparents of King Charles.
- Jan. 30: Sam Shepard, presented by John J. Winters. An actor, director, author and playwright, Shepard lived in Virginia for many years. UMW Theatre will present Shepard’s play True West Feb. 15-24 at Klein Theatre in duPont Hall.
- Feb. 6: George Washington, presented by Alexis Coe.
- Feb. 8: Mary Lumpkin, presented by Kristen Green ’95. Lumpkin was an enslaved woman who later turned a notorious slave jail into a school for Black men, the precursor to Virginia Union University. Alumna Kristen Green is the author of Lumpkin biography The Devil’s Half Acre.
- Feb. 15: Franklin Delano Roosevelt, presented by Jonathan Darman.
- Feb. 20: Pablo Picasso, presented by UMW Professor Emerita of Art History Marjorie Och.
- Feb. 22: Stan Lee, Marvel Comics legend, presented by Bob Batchelor.
- Feb. 27: Martin Luther King Jr., presented by Jonathan Eig.
- Feb. 29: Rosemary Kennedy, presented by Kate Clifford Larson.
- March 12: First lady Edith Wilson, who quietly ran the country during the illness of President Woodrow Wilson, presented by Rebecca Roberts.
- March 14: Billie Jean King, presented by Johnette Howard.
- March 19: Elizabeth Taylor, presented by Kate A. Brower.
- March 21: Jazz Age bootleg king George Remus, inspiration for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s fictional Jay Gatsby, presented by Abbott Kahler.
- March 26: Ten Caesars (Augustus to Constantine), presented by Barry Straus.
- March 28: Edgar Allan Poe, presented by Mark Dawidziak.
I'm really looking forward to this. There is such diversity and depth to Great Lives, and this season is no different. See you at Dodd Auditorium soon!
Did you know that the previous Great Lives lectures, going back as far as 2012, are available online for you to watch on demand from the comfort of your home? You can watch all of them here!
Great Lives is funded by donations and free to the public. To learn more about supporting Great Lives, please click here.
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If you’ve been following the latest FXBG phenom as he progresses through the contests on the VOICE, you know that Huntley made it to the Voice “Lives”, which means that the next time you see him, he’ll be performing Live on the Voice. And what’s different about that is that we, as viewers, will get to vote for him to continue on. After the initial blind auditions, there were 56 contestants, there will be only 12 going to the Lives – including Huntley! Whether he wins or not is up to us! To find out how to vote for Huntley, click here. You’ll also be able to vote through the Voice App, which you can get from your Appstore.
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December First Friday and Sip + Stroll
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December brings another fun First Friday and Sip & Stroll. This is a great time to do some shopping and visit with friends. And the store windows are beautifully decorated for the Holidays. Check them out!
As always, galleries and shops will be open late, and many participating restaurants will be selling alcoholic beverages for adults to enjoy while strolling downtown. Click here to download the street map to see which restaurants are participating in Sip & Stroll and which art galleries and shops will be open late.
Remember these important details:
- Free Trolley Shuttle run from 5:00 PM until 8:30 PM
- Sip and Stroll starts at 5:00 PM and ends at 9:00 PM (with last call at 8:30 PM)
- Lots of art galleries, retailers and restaurants are open late.
Get all the information you need about participating restaurants/bars, how sip & stroll works, volunteer opportunities, art galleries and shops that are open late, and more right here.
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For much more information about what's happening in Fredericksburg City Public Schools, please click here.
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Merry Trees Exhibit at FAM
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Through December 23rd, The Fredericksburg Area Museum’s galleries will feature fourteen miniature trees decorated beautifully by second-grade students at Hugh Mercer and Lafayette Elementary Schools. Each tree is inspired by FAM’s 2023 exhibit SEEN: Viewing the Work of African American Artists in Fredericksburg, VA, and the works of African-American authors and illustrators. Everyone is invited to the free Merry Trees Open House on Friday, December 1st from 5:00 – 7:30 PM, when visitors will have an opportunity to see each class’s tree, and pick up a book from the Bookmobile Fredericksburg.
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Superintendent Community Roundtable
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The next Roundtable is scheduled for this Wednesday, November 29th from 8:00 – 10:30 AM at the Walker-Grant Center, 210 Ferdinand Street. The topic is “Fueling Education Excellence through School Finance.” Register here or email or call Sandy Gillenwater at 540-372-1130, ext. 2570 if you have questions.
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- 4-Hour Parking: All two-hour parking spacing downtown are now four-hour parking spaces until Tuesday, January 31, 2024.
- Leaf Collection Program: it's that time of year again. Starting now, City crews will be picking up bagged leaves that residents place on the curb. This year's leaf collection is expected to move through neighborhoods faster and finish early due to our new machinery put into use late last year. For general information click here, and for schedules and a map go here.
- Boards and Commissions: The City is seeking City resident volunteers to serve on its very important boards and commissions. It really is a great way to be involved in the City. I started as a member of the Architectural Review Board and look what happened! If you’d like to serve your City on a Board or Commission, visit the City’s Boards and Commissions page here.
- Things to know about holding an event: Some things have changed lately about holding block parties or other events in the City. As you begin making plans, be sure to click here to get the most updated information.
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Feel free to reach out to me anytime. I want to hear your ideas, priorities, and concerns. If you have a City issue you need assistance with, please don’t hesitate to let me know and I’ll see if it’s something I can help with as an elected official.
I was contacted recently by residents who have a problem with cars speeding through their neighborhood. I reached out to City Staff, who with assistance from the Police Department, are monitoring the vehicle speeds remotely. We’re going to stay on top of this situation because, for those residents, it is a serious matter. In my experience, the City makes the safety of our neighborhoods a priority.
The next newsletter is scheduled to come out on December 11th. Previous editions of my newsletter can be found here.
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As always, take care and be good to each other,
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Note the email address from which this newsletter was sent is not monitored. If you wish to email me, please use my City government email address. I’d be happy to talk to you about your priorities for the City.
Please be aware that all email correspondence to and from my City government email address is subject to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and the Virginia Public Records Act which may result in monitoring and disclosure to third parties.
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