On Tuesday, May 1, maintenance work on the UMW Pedestrian Bridge will require closure of the northbound right lane of Route 1 from 9 a.m. through approximately 3 p.m. The road will open to traffic as soon as work is completed.

On Tuesday, May 1, modification of the traffic signal at the intersection of Amelia Street and Washington Avenue will require traffic detours around the work zone from approximately 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Westbound traffic on Amelia Street will be able to go through intersection, but Washington Avenue traffic will have to follow detours around the intersection

Greenlaw

Vice Mayor and mayoral candidate Mary Katherine Greenlaw has received the endorsement of the Citizens United for Action organization, according to a press release.

The organization is led by former Fredericksburg Mayor Lawrence A. Davies.

Marguerite Young, the group’s secretary, described the group below.

Rev. Lawrence A. Davies organized Citizens United for Action (CUA) in the early 1960′s to mobilize African Americans to become involved in the political process.  It changed the political history of the area, drawing Blacks into the mainstream of community affairs.  Some African Americans were appointed to local boards and commissions.  Rev. Davies was elected to City Council with the help of CUA and later was elected Mayor of Fredericksburg.  Because of the work of the CUA, more African Americans were registered to vote; many more voted and worked at the polls; some worked on candidates’ election committees.  During its existence, though not every year, the CUA has endorsed local and state candidates for elected office.

Mayoral candidate and City Councilman Fred Howe III received endorsements from four city officials, according to a press release from his campaign.

He received endorsements from City Treasurer Jim Haney; Dana Herlong, a member of the Economic Development Authority; Shawn Lawrence, a member of the Planning Commission and Brad Ellis, a member of the City Council.

Howe is running against Vice Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw and Matt Paxson.

The election will be May 1.

At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Mayor Tomzak again told the public his thoughts on the recent Oktoberfest controversy.

Listen to his comments by clicking below.

Mayor Tomzak’s comments on Oktoberfest from the April 24 City Council meeting

Do you agree with Tomzak?

Have a question for the mayor? Well, you can ask him Thursday at noon, in our live web chat with him.

Submit your questions early here. 

The City Council Tuesday night made the following appointments:

• Steven Hubble to the Clean and Green Commission
• Steve D’Lugos to the Economic Development Authority
• Bradley Hedrick, James McGhee, William Thornton and Thomas Wack to the Building Codes Appeals Board

The candidates for the City Council and Mayoral elections filed their second campaign finance reports Monday. You can see the reports in their entirety below.

Fred Howe’s report

Matt Paxson’s report

Mary Katherine Greenlaw’s report (and this additional page)

Matt Kelly’s report

Kerry Devine’s report

Roy McAfee’s report

Paul Quinn’s report

The statuesque icon of Fredericksburg Trolley Tours, a conductor named “Herman,” is now headless.

Sometime Friday night, vandals broke off the head of the wooden statue that stands in front of the visitors center on Caroline Street in, said Fredericksburg police spokeswoman Natatia Bledsoe.

She said it was a random act and there was no apparent motive.

“Herman” was used  to advertise the trolley company and the  times and days that tours are offered.

He also frequently appeared in photos with visitors toFredericksburg, said Dave Hurt, the manager of Fredericksburg Trolley Tours.

Herman started with the company when Butch Wimmer founded it in 1994, Hurt said.

Over the years, he’s been replaced due to damage from  age and weather.

Hurt said the company plans to replace the statue and that it will cost more than $1,000 to do so.

He said Herman was a conductor for the trolley, decked out in a conductor’s uniform and hat. Herman was named for Wimmer’s silent partner, he said.

Want to know what the candidates think about a certain topic? The videos below are from Wednesday night’s forum. They are labeled accordingly.

Opening Statements

HFFI/Citizen Input

Central Park/Development

The city’s biggest challenges

Which city departments need improvement?

The incentives program

Parking

Zoning 

Closing statements

Council candidates: Click here to view the video breakdown of where the at-large candidates stand.

MORE: Guide to the Fredericksburg city elections

Here are videos of the mayoral forum from last Wednesday night. Each video is a different topic and the views of the candidates.

Opening statements

Courthouse

School Compliance

Low Voter Turnout

Public nuisance law/UMW

The Economy

The Arts

Train Station

Toll Road

Transparency

Closing Statements

The Fredericksburg City Council will vote Tuesday night to appoint a new member to the city’s Economic Development Authority.

Steve D’Lugos would fill the soon-to-be-empty seat, if the council approves the appointment.

Dana Herlong’s four-year-term is due to expire on April 30.

The EDA is tasked with fostering city economic development and has done so by awarding grants to promising businesses, projects and events.

The council will also vote to appoint Steven Hubble to fill the Ward 3 vacancy on the Clean and Green Commission. Linda Thornton resigned her seat.

The council will also vote to appoint four people to the Building and Zoning Appeals Board. Seven people applied for the four seats available. The applicants are: Robert Hale, Bradley Hedrick, Raymond Herlong, James McGhee, Tommy Mitchell, William Thornton and Thomas Wack.