Signs like this started popping up in Fredericksburg this past weekend. What’s it all about? I’ll have a full story soon.

In the meantime, if you come across one, you’re encouraged to share  your thoughts using the chalk provided.

The right lane of the 900 block of Princess Anne Street will be closed for gas utility work until Friday.

Starting on Wednesday, motorists in downtown Fredericksburg will see a week-long detour for the left lane in the 600 and 700 blocks of Caroline Street, the city announced today.

Livestrong recommends hydrate, hydrate, hydrate on Day 1, rest and more rest on Days 2 and 3 (plus healthy foods), light exercise on Days 4 and 5 (especially cross-training, and yoga), and a return to easy running after that if you want, though they suggest one day of rest for ever mile run.

Congratulations to everyone who ran Sunday’s three races. To coin a phrase, no rain, no gain.

Haney

Fredericksburg Treasurer G.M. “Jim” Haney will retire at the end of the year after more than four decades of service, he announced.

Haney was first elected in 1970 and ran unopposed in his last race in 2009.

City treasurer is a constitutional office that is elected every four years. Haney earns more than $100,000.

He is endorsing Chief Deputy Brenda Wood to become his successor in November’s election. Wood has nearly 12 years of service to the office and has been involved in all aspects of the Treasurer’s Office operation, Haney said in his announcement.

Here are the changes:

Original Walker Grant:

Breakfast current price: $1, new price: $1 (no increase)

Lunch: current price: $2.10, new price: $2.15

Hugh Mercer:

Breakfast current price: $1, new price: $1 (no increase)

Lunch current price: $2.10, new price $2.25

Lafayette Upper Elementary School:

Breakfast current price: $1.25, new price: $1

Lunch current price: $2.25, new price $2.35

Walker Grant Middle School:

Breakfast current price: $1.35, new price: $1

Lunch current price: $2.30, new price $2.45

James Monroe High School:

Breakfast current price: $1.50, new price: $1

Lunch current price: $2.4o, new price: $2.50

A la carte price changes:

Ice cream – currently 75 cents, going up to $1

Breakfast sandwich- currently $1.25, going up to $1.50

Main Dish, breakfast sandwich and soup bowl all currently $1.50, going up to $2

Adult Breakfast – $1.80 going up to $2

Adult Lunch – $3 going up to $3.25

Adult Salad- $3.75 going up to $4

They have a large-scale plan ready to unfold as I report this morning.

They also have the asset of the two decades of specialized experience of Marine Corps Marathon Race Director Rick Nealis. I have a feature on the retired Marine major today that lays out his background and expertise.

Security has been uppermost on the minds of organizers and extra precautions and preparations are being put in place in the wake of the bombs near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on April 15.

Check out full details online soon and in Friday’s Free Lance-Star.

Astin will fire the starting pistol for Sunday’s Historic Half at 7 a.m. and then run in the 13.1-mile race, organizers announced today.

NBC4 meteorologist Chuck Bell will serve as the official starter for wheelchair and hand cycling participants who begin one minute ahead of the Historic Half.

Bell has completed four Marine Corps Marathons and will run in his first Historic Half.

No vote is needed on the tax rate since it is unchanged.

She read from several emails and faulted her colleagues for the electronic conversations among a small group.

Specifically, she referred to Council members Matt Kelly, Bea Paolucci, Fred Howe and Brad Ellis.

She noted that they have communicated among themselves, not always including all council members.

“Is it illegal? Possibly. Is it wrong. Absolutely,” Devine said.

Kelly is responding, saying it is not an open government issue. He noted that he doesn’t include all members on all emails.

“The fact that you quoted from our emails is open government,” he said, noting that the general public can look at council emails.

Ellis acknowledged he had sent an email saying he was concerned a series of emails were “tantamount to a meeting.” He also said he can’t control the number of emails he receives.

Howe told Devine, “I applaud you for bringing it up.”

He, however, faulted the other three who don’t communicate with the four Devine named.

He also said that the four have discussed among themselves that they are making sure they are not violating the state’s Freedom of Information Act by, essentially, holding an electronic meeting.

He ended his statements by saying, “I think it’s a very good dialogue. We need to learn from it.”

Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw said, “I do not want to belabor this point at all but I cannot respond to an email I do not receive.”

Paolucci responded that she has sent out messages to all members but hasn’t gotten a response except from the three people Devine named – Kelly, Howe and Ellis.