John Stallings named president of Union Bank & Trust

Veteran banker John Stallings Jr. has been named president of Richmond-based Union Bank & Trust, the bank announced Tuesday.

Stallings, who resigned last week as Virginia division president of SunTrust Banks Inc., will oversee the day-to-day operations of Union Bank & Trust.

In that role, effective Sept. 29, he will be in charge of the bank’s 111 branch offices in Virginia as well as commercial and retail banking, wealth management, mortgage, marketing and digital strategy.

“The opportunity to lead all four business segments aligns perfectly with my background,” Stallings said. “I am confident we can move even faster on a path toward greater growth and success.” Read More

UMW and Chamber Partner to Host Two Delegate Debates

The University of Mary Washington will host an 88th District Debate on Wednesday, Sept. 13, and a 28th District Debate on Thursday, Sept. 21. Both debates will take place at 7 p.m. in Lee Hall, Room 411. They are open to the public.

On Sept. 13, incumbent Del. Mark Cole, a Republican, will debate Democrat Steve Aycock, Independent Amanda Blalock and Green Party candidate Gerald Anderson.

Cole has served as a delegate since 2002. He is a member of the House committees on Finance and Education, Small Business Commission, Rappahannock River Basin Commission and is chairman of the Privileges and Elections Committee. Read More

Is civility declining? Chamber of Commerce holds panel to discuss the issue

By ADELE UPHAUS–CONNER

THE FREE LANCE–STAR 

Did Marvin Gaye have the answer 46 years ago?

In his 1971 song “What’s Going On?,” recorded just after the Civil Rights struggles and during the Vietnam War, Gaye sang: “Picket lines and picket signs/Don’t punish me with brutality/Talk to me, so you can see/Oh, what’s going on.”

Susan Spears, president and CEO of the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, played the song before a chamber event titled “Civility in the Workplace” held Wednesday at Fredericksburg Academy.

“Music is a reflection of our culture at any given time, when people can’t find the right words,” Spears said, introducing the event. “That song was written during a tumultuous time in our country. Sound familiar? Can it really be that simple [as just talking to each other]?”

The event brought together members of the local business community to begin a conversation about civility. Read More

GETTING THERE: High-speed rail proposal takes another step

By: Scott Shenk (FL-S)

THE dreadfully slow process for the proposed Washington-to-Richmond segment of the Southeast High Speed Rail has taken another step: The draft of the Environmental Impact Statement was released last week.

The draft is basically a detailed look at the plans along with the impacts and alternatives for the proposed addition of a track that would help increase capacity along a clogged rail system.

Some people probably don’t give a hoot about it, but a bypass alternative for the Fredericksburg area sure kicked up a lot of dust a year ago. Caroline and Spotsylvania residents who found out the bypass would run through their properties came out in droves and lambasted officials with the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. Read More

Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer opens an office in Charlottesville

Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer has opened an office in Charlottesville. It’s located at 600 East Water St. in the old train station building, one block off the Downtown Mall.

John Pritzlaff, vice president, joined Thalhimer in October 2014 and has focused solely on commercial real estate services in and around the Charlottesville area. With the opening of its new office, Thalhimer recently added a broker in Charlottesville, Jenny Stoner, who will focus on sales and leasing of retail properties throughout the region.

Since entering the Charlottesville market, Thalhimer said it has completed more than 120 sale and lease transactions, totaling more than 1.34 million square feet and with more than $84.3 million in value. Read More

Community Bank of the Chesapeake Launches Annual Calendar Contest

Community Bank of the Chesapeake is now accepting submissions for its annual Calendar Contest. The public is invited to submit original photographs of the local communities within the bank’s service area which includes the Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s Counties and Annapolis in Maryland, as well as, Fredericksburg, Virginia. A total of 13 winners will be selected and will have their winning photographs featured in the Bank’s 2018 calendar. The cover winner will receive a $50 gift card and all other winners will receive a $25 gift card. Find Out More

Thom Watkins Named Vice President Cox Business for Virginia

Cox Communications recently announced that Thom Watkins has been promoted to vice president of Cox Business for Virginia. Watkins will be responsible for leading Cox Business operations, providing small, medium and enterprise businesses, including healthcare providers, K-12 and higher education, financial institutions and federal, state and local government organizations across the Cox Virginia service area with voice, data and video solutions. Watkins will lead approximately 375 employees. The Virginia region includes Northern Virginia (Fairfax and Fredericksburg), Hampton Roads and Roanoke. Watkins will be based at the Hampton Roads headquarters in Chesapeake. 

DMV Connect coming to area libraries

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles is bringing its DMV Connect program to select branches of Central Rappahannock Regional Library.

DMV Connect was developed to serve Virginians who may not be able to travel to a DMV office. Customers can get and renew ID cards, licenses, and learners' permits. Customers can also take care of titles, vehicle registrations, transfers, and plate returns. Please note: DMV Connect is not able to perform any testing or provide birth, death, or marriage certificates.

On September 15, DMV Connect will be at Snow Branch from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.They will return to Snow Branch on December 1, from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

On November 20,  Fredericksburg Branch will host DMV Connect, from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., in the Library Theater. They will be back at Fredericksburg Branch on December 15, from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., in Meeting Room 1.