STAFFORD — Stafford County is ranked No. 12 on Forbes magazine’s 25 richest localities in the United States.

Las Palmas Café is moving

STAFFORD — Las Palmas Café in Fredericksburg will move to a new location in March.

STAFFORD — Crazy 8 children’s apparel store is set to open in May at Spotsylvania Towne Centre, near Fredericksburg.

The Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative is encouraging customers to participate in its Load Management Program.

STAFFORD — Maj. Richard Spooner, who owns the Globe and Laurel in Stafford County, went smoke-free at his business 12 to 13 years ago.
Spooner said that customers complained about the smoke so non-smoking areas were designated, but the complaints still came. “Artifacts” in the restaurant also began to turn yellow from the smoke, he said.

STAFFORD — The McDonald’s fast food restaurant located on Shelton Shop Road, near North Stafford High School, has been torn down.

STAFFORD — Pohanka Honda of Fredericksburg opened July 1 at its south Stafford location in the Carter’s Crossing shopping center.

STAFFORD — The Sports Booth Athletic Center planned to hold a grand opening July 11, but was unable to as it is waiting for occupancy.

SERVPRO, a national leader and provider of fire and water cleanup, and mold mitigation and remediation, offered tips to Stafford residents in honor of National Home Safety Week.

STAFFORD — The Orange County Planning Commission voted 5-4 late last week, backing a proposal from Walmart that seeks to build a supercenter near a Civil War battlefield in Orange.

STAFFORD — The Surgi-Center of Central Virginia is heading to Fredericksburg, after receiving the OK from the Virginia Department of Health.

FREDERICKSBURG — PermaTreat Pest Control has been designated a Virginia Green Partner Organization by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

FREDERICKSBURG — PermaTreat Pest Control has been designated a Virginia Green Partner Organization by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

STAFFORD — Last week, it was announced that First Market Bank in Richmond and Union Bankshares in Bowling Green, would merge.

ALEXANDRIA — The VRE Operations Board took another step last week toward fulfilling its commitment to improving Virginia Railway Express operations.

STAFFORD — Virginia Congressman Rob Wittman visited The Reger Group in North Stafford on Monday, touring the facility and meeting with employees.

This year, the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control turns 75.

STAFFORD — Navy Federal Credit Union debuted its newest branch at the newly opened Quantico Corporate Center on Monday.

RICHMOND — At least three Richmond-area residents received calls recently from someone in Jamaica claiming to be associated with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) in Central Virginia. They were told they won $3.8 million dollars in a lottery, but they first needed to send $380 before they can get the winnings.

STAFFORD — On Jan. 29, The Reger Group received a 2009 SmartCEO/Future 50 Award and was recognized as one of the fastest growing companies in the Washington, D.C. region by “Washington SmartCEO” magazine.

Business in Stafford County are ringing in the new year with new ideas, from Goodwill Industries’ new electric van to Ben & Jerry’s new partnership.

STAFFORD — Applications from HCA and Medicorp Health System to build cancer centers at their new hospitals in Stafford and Spotsylvania counties by obtaining radiation equipment for the facilities were rejected last week.

Tastefully Simple comes to Stafford and Giant prepares to celebrate Black History Month.

FALMOUTH — Iron Mountain, an information protection and storage service, will be moving soon into more than 140,000 square feet at the Virginia Gateway Distribution Center, built in 2007 and located at 2031 International Parkway.

STAFFORD — Sen. Richard Stuart was the keynote speaker at a Legislative Appreciation Reception held earlier this month.

FREDERICKSBURG — Del Webb, a leader in active-adult living, has announced that Celebrate, its Fredericksburg-based active-adult community, has been honored with two Silver Awards from the National Association of Home Builders for outstanding marketing materials.

FREDERICKSBURG — Fredericksburg’s Jabberwocky has become one of the nation’s top retailers of a popular family game called Ruckus, according to Dan Levy, president of Funstreet Inc.

STAFFORD – Adam and Denise Moody placed No. 16 in September 2008 sales volume among more than 55,000 U.S. distributors for Reliv International, Inc. Reliv International is a direct selling company that markets nutritional supplements.

DMV offices to close

STAFFORD — In honor of Veterans Day, all Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) customer service centers will be closed on Nov. 11.

Saxon Shoes’ footprint is expanding.

The family-owned retailer, which operates a store in the Short Pump Town Center in western Henrico County, plans to open a second location in the planned The Village at Towne Centre in Fredericksburg next spring.