From an email: 

Queueing is when passengers stand at the doorway, making it difficult for others to detrain at their stop. Queueing on VRE trains is an ongoing issue that is frequently brought to our attention. As our ridership has risen, the problem has intensified.

Starting Monday, July 3rd, VRE will be enforcing a new policy:

All passengers standing at each stop will detrain.
This is to ensure that everyone who wants to get off can. Those who wish to resume the train ride will be let back on, but they must first detrain. Once everyone has boarded, the train can depart.

We appreciate your cooperation.

Nina Virginia Good Laws, age 101, a resident of Caton Merchant House, Manassas, Va., passed away Wed. June 14, 2017. She was born in Swanton, Md., on March 9, 1916, the daughter of William Preston Good and Minnie Grandstaff Good. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 63 years H. Layton Laws, Sr.; two sisters; one brother; and two sons-in-law. She is survived by one son, H. Layton Laws, Jr. (Sue) of Manassas and one daughter, Carolyn M. Harman of Ellenton, Fla; two grandsons, H. Layton Laws III (Dawn) of Manassas and Troy Preston Laws (Tracey) of McLean; four great grandchildren, H. Layton Laws IV, Anna Virginia Laws, William Preston Laws, and Lauren Alexis Laws.

Nina was graduated from Nokesville High School in Nokesville, Va., and resided in Manassas for over 30 years. She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, where she was a soloist and choir member. She was active in community affairs and events, performing annually in the Manassas Kiwanis Capers. She and her husband retired to Florida where they lived for over 30 years. At the death of her husband she moved back to Manassas to be near family.

The family will receive friends on Monday, July 3, at 1pm, at Pierce Funeral Home, 9609 Center Street, Manassas, Va,, with memorial service at 2pm.

ZACHARY HASSO WALES (Age 20)

Passed peacefully into Heaven on June 19, 2017. Zach was immensely overcome by grief after the loss of his brother Alexander on September 23, 2016 and to our very deepest sorrow, he ultimately succumbed to that grief. Both boys were diagnosed with Adrenoleukodystrophy.

Zachary Hasso Wales was born at Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, NV. He then moved with his family to San Antonio, TX, and finally to Bristow, VA. Zach attended Olympia Elementary in Universal City, TX, Franconia Elementary in Alexandria, VA, Bristow Run Elementary, Marstellar Middle School and Patriot High School.

He was an outstanding student, very involved with the Building Trades Program gradating with a seal on his diploma and a Principals Awards for his work in the program. He was a Cub Scout and Boy Scout, a member of the Gainesville United Methodist Church Youth Group, Youth Group Leader after graduating High School, and a Confirmation Mentor.

He is survived by his Parents, Michael and Kathleen (Cardew) Wales, Grandparents Jerry and Marilyn Cardew and Great Aunt and Uncle Joe and Kay Van Dosen.

Services will be held at Gainesville United Methodist Church this Saturday, July1, 2017 at 11 a.m.

Flowers can be sent to the church, or a donation in Zach’s memory can be made to the Gainesville United Methodist Church Youth Group by calling them directly.

Obituary Pending

Erika Campbell was born February 17, 1939 in Usenborn Germany and died on June 25, 2017 in White Post, Virginia surrounded by her family. She is survived by 4 children – Linda, David, Jackie (Ken) and Thomas. She is also survived by 4 grandchildren Christiana (Kim), Joseph (Tara), Norman (Anna Belle) and Samantha (Matthew) and 10 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by 3 siblings – Irmgard, Hotwich and Ditmar and many nieces and nephews living in Germany. She was an avid and talented bowler and a member of the Woodbridge “Prime Timers League” and the team on which she played was the “Be Happy.” She was also an avid gardener a skill that she learned from her mother while living in Germany. She worked for decades at Dart Drug and Lowes. In Germany she attended University and earned her degree to teach Kindergarten. Once she retired she babysat at the St. Paul United Methodist church as longer as she was able.

The Manassas Economic Development Authority is prepared to pay $1,500 to recoup $5,000 in public funds.

A $10,000 city grant to the now-closed “The NEW School” stipulated the non-profit had to remain open for five years or pay back the funds.

The now-defunct after-school program for children paid back half of the money. The full grant was meant to be used for scholarships for city children to attend the center’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics program. 

The NEW School closed last fall after six months in operation in a shopping center on Liberia Avenue. Representatives from the closed business did not return requests for comment.

The EDA ordered the Manassas City attorney to explore legal options and costs — up to $1,500 — to recoup the funds, according to EDA Chairman Board member Holmes Smith who voted against pursuing a lawsuit.

The majority of the board voted to proceed with a 4-2 vote.

“The EDA signs these performance agreements with the company, and the performance agreements state that if the company does what is says it’s going to do, that we are obligated to pay them and, in some cases depending upon how the agreement is written, there are recapture provisions that if the company does not stay in business or does not meet its obligation, they’re obligated to pay us back,” said Manassas Economic Development Director Patrick Small.

The agreement differed from others, like retail shop “Totally Vintage” in Downtown Manassas, where the business agreed to move to a new corner location, invest in new store fixtures to improve the business, and then afterward be rewarded with a $6,000 EDA grant for which the business applied.

The city attorney is expected to return to the EDA if the cost to pursue a lawsuit exceeds $1,500. If it does, the EDA will take a second vote on the matter, said Holmes.