Fire at Montpelier’s Archaeology Lab
The fire occurs just as Montpelier’s public archaeology expeditions are getting under way. Monday evening a fire broke out at James Madison’s Archaeology Lab at Montpelier in Orange County. The cause of the fire is currently unknown, but an investigation is underway. “The speed of first responders from five regions of Orange County demonstrated the […]
COMMENTARY: Spotsylvania Votes for Stupid
With a school system in crisis from more than a decade of underfunding, the Board of Supervisors took the low road Monday night and voted for willful ignorance. Appearing on the New Dominion Podcast recently, Dr. Janet Gullickson – President of Germanna Community College – chalked up her school’s success to one simple thing. “We don’t do […]
Stafford School Board’s Provisional Budget Will Provide Raises to Support Staff
by Adele UphausMANAGING EDITOR AND CORRESPONDENT Stafford County Public Schools’ support staff—the bus drivers, cafeteria workers, maintenance workers, administrative assistants, bookkeepers, and other employees who aren’t teachers but who are essential to the day-to-day functioning of the school division—will receive long-awaited raises under the provisional budget adopted Tuesday by the School Board. These employees, who […]
ANALYSIS: School Facilities and Public Trust
In Spotsylvania and Stafford counties, school facilities are underfunded, and the impacts include safety, academic performance, and community involvement. Addressing the problem requires a new way of thinking. by Martin DavisEDITOR-IN-CHIEF School facilities have become major issues in Fredericksburg city, as well as Spotsylvania and Stafford counties. This should be a surprise only to those […]
Stafford Theater Teacher Honored by Longwood University
by Adele UphausMANAGING EDITOR AND CORRESPONDENT The 2024 Longwood University High School Theater Teacher of the Year is a middle school teacher. Aidan Brown, a sophomore at Longwood, wrote in the letter nominating his middle school theater teacher Andrea Candea-Carroll for the award that he’s usually a rule-follower, but in this case, he had to […]
Celebrating the Activity Book Art of Anna Pomaska
by Adele UphausMANAGING EDITOR AND CORRESPONDENT Anna Pomaska has written and illustrated more than 100 books for children in the past 45 years—possibly more than beloved children’s authors Maurice Sendak and Dr. Seuss. Her art was so prevalent in the childhood of those who grew up in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s that it seemed […]
Spotsylvania School Board Votes to Reprimand Lee Hill Representative Lisa Phelps
by Adele UphausMANAGING EDITOR AND CORRESPONDENT Spotsylvania School Board member Lisa Phelps will receive a written letter of reprimand from the Board for violating the governing body’s Code of Ethics. The Board approved sending the letter by a vote of 5-to-0 at Monday evening’s regular meeting. Phelps had been participating in the meeting via phone […]
Stafford to Receive Federal Grant to Fix Frequent Flooding on Brooke Road
by Adele UphausMANAGING EDITOR AND CORRESPONDENT Stafford County will receive $10.2 million in funding through a federal grant program to reduce flooding on Brooke Road. The offices of Virginia Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner announced the funding in a press release Monday afternoon. Brooke Road, or State Route 608, is the only access point […]
COMMENTARY: Renwick and James Monroe, a Natural Fit
Once envisioned for the old Maury School, could the University of Mary Washington be the perfect partner for a world-class presidential library? Editor’s Note: This column by Shaun Kenney appeared in June, while the Fredericksburg Advance was operating under a different name. With spring fully upon us, and the future of the Renwick building again […]