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Thursday, April 24, 2014

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Potomac Local Wants You To Know

Bowlers See Red: Too Much Color for Dale City?

April 24, 2014 at 1:50 pmLeave a comment

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DALE CITY, Va. – A bowling alley in Dale City is painted red.

The recently painted building, which once was blue, is now a bit louder and easier to see by passersby on Dale Boulevard.

Calls to the bowling alley’s owner Bowlmor AMF Lanes were not returned, so we don’t know what the thought process was behind the repainting of the bowling alley.

The look of the new building was recently mentioned during a recent meeting of the Neabsco Action Alliance which was held at the Prince William County Government Center.

So, what do you think about the bowling alley’s tomato red appearance? Does it fit with the rest of the neighborhood filled with strip malls? Tell us in the comment section below.

Posted in: Dale CityNewsPrince William

Open Houses This Weekend

April 24, 2014 at 10:07 amLeave a comment

042414 chippenham12517 Chippenham Court, Bristow

4 BD / 3 Full, 1 Half BA

Lizbeth Voegtlin KELLER WILLIAMS CAPITAL PROPERTIES

List price: $474,900

Open Sunday 1 – 4 p.m.

042414 fig14949 Fig Court, Woodbridge

6 BD / 3 Full, 1 Half BA

Agent: Eric Stewart LONG & FOSTER REAL ESTATE, INC.

List price: $549,888

Open Sunday 1 to 4 p.m.

042414 grafton604 Grafton Street, Stafford

5 BD / 3 BA

Agent: John Lynch LONG & FOSTER REAL ESTATE, INC.

List price: $290,000

Open Saturday and Sunday 2 to 5 p.m.

042414 barnett19012 Barnette Circle, Triangle

4 BD / 3 BA

Agent: Pamela Rock WEICHERT, REALTORS

List price: $375,000

Open Saturday noon to 3 p.m., Sunday 1 to 4 p.m.

042414 lamplighter16 Lamplighter Lane, Stafford

3 BD / 2 Full, 1 Half BA

Agent: Marriah Unruh KELLER WILLIAMS CAPITAL PROPERTIES

List price: $349,900

Open Saturday noon to 3 p.m.

Find more open houses and Potomac Local Real Estate by clicking here!

Posted in: NewsReal EstateResidential Listings

Flash Cube

April 24, 2014 at 8:37 amLeave a comment

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Quantico candidates discuss security, economy – This past Saturday, the “Prince William Times” hosted a political forum featuring a panel of seven candidates running for office in the Town of Quantico. [Prince William Times]

Despite Cost, Residents Prefer Patriot Prototype Design for 13th High School – If residents could choose what the 13th high school in Prince William County will look like, it would look like Patriot High School. [Bristow Beat]

Woman scammed by man claiming to be IRS– A Stafford woman was conned out of $2,600 this week by an unknown caller who claimed to be with the Internal Revenue Service, police said. [Fredericksburg.com]

Virginia to install historical markers, including one in Stafford – An “old folks” home for former slave women, a Confederate camp that emerged as a refuge for freed slaves after the Civil War, a resort hotel and four schools built to serve African Americans during the era of segregation, and the origins of the Town of Reston are highlighted in eight new historical highway markers recently approved by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. [Stafford County Sun]

Posted in: News

Crime Watch: Pepper Spray, Pellet Gun Used in Fight

April 23, 2014 at 2:38 pmLeave a comment

Belbert

Gelbert

Police said a fight led to a man spraying a woman and two others with pepper spray, and the woman then pulled out a pellet gun in retaliation.

Here’s a look at recent, unedited crime reports from Prince William and Manassas police:

Malicious Assault by Caustic Substance | Brandishing – On April 21st at 2:45PM, police responded to the 4800 block of Kempair Dr in Woodbridge (22193) to investigate a fight with weapons. The investigation revealed that Jeffrey GELABERT and Ciera BERRY, both identified below as accused, were involved in a verbal altercation which escalated. During the encounter, GELABERT sprayed BERRY and two other victims, identified as a 26 year old

Berry

Berry

man of North Carolina and a 69 year old woman of Woodbridge, with a substance described as pepper spray. BERRY then brandished a pellet gun, which she portrayed as a handgun, which was ultimately taken from her after a physical struggle ensued. The altercation was ended when BERRY contacted police. BERRY initially fled from the area prior to police arrival, but later returned to the scene. GELABERT and BERRY were subsequently arrested without incident. The pellet gun was recovered by officers on scene. No injuries were reported.
Arrested on April 21st:
Jeffrey Emmanuel GELABERT, 30, of 4823 Kempair Dr in Woodbridge
Charged with two counts of malicious assault by caustic substance
Court date: June 2, 2014 | Bond: $4,000 secured

Ciera Traci BERRY, 20, of 3656 Stewart Ln in Dumfries
Charged with brandishing a firearm
Court date: June 2, 2014 | Bond: $4,000 secured

060513-pwc-policeAttempted Armed Robbery – On April 20th at 11:50PM, officers responded to the Bank of America located at 4191 Dale Blvd in Woodbridge (22193) to investigate an attempted robbery. The victim, a 23 year old woman of Woodbridge, reported to police that she was using the ATM at the above location when she was approached from behind by an unknown man. The man displayed a handgun and demanded the victim’s property. The suspect fled the area on foot into a nearby wooded area before taking anything from the victim. Officers responded to the area quickly and set up a perimeter. An officer, while on perimeter, heard a male voice calling out for help from the wooded area. Upon checking the area, officers located a man lying on the ground complaining of an injury to his leg. The man, identified as the accused, was determined to have been the suspect involved in the robbery. Officers learned that the accused discarded his outer clothing and the handgun used in the robbery. After a search, officers located the clothing and the gun a short distance away from where the accused was located. No injuries were reported by the victim. Following the investigation, the accused was arrested.
Arrested on April 20th:
Andrew Marcus ARMSTRONG, 22, of 14407 Artery Ln #22 in Woodbridge
Charged with attempted armed robbery and use of a firearm in a commission of a felony
Court date: June 10, 2014 | Bond: held WITHOUT bond

103012-Manassas-policeVandalism to Auto — On April 18, 2014 Manassas City Police met with a resident on the 9500 block of Oakenshaw Dr for a report of a vandalism. The victim told officers that between 8:00PM on April 17th and 9:00AM on April 18th his vehicle had been scratched from the rear tail light to the middle of the driver’s door, causing $500.00 in damage to the vehicle.

Larceny — On April 16, 2014 Manassas City Police met with a resident on the 9700 block of Bragg Ln for a report of a larceny. The reporting party told officers that between 4:02PM and 4:18PM on April 16th someone(s) stole 13 parakeets and 6 unhatched eggs from her backyard. The cage in which the birds were stolen was a white wire cage with a blue bottom.

Posted in: Crime ManassasNewsPrince William

Grayson Property Chosen for National Earth Day Beautification Project

April 23, 2014 at 11:39 amLeave a comment

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WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Landscapers donated time on Earth Day to beautifying a home that provides many homeless a place to live.

New trees, shrubs, flowers were planted, and new mulch beds laid Wednesday at the Good Shepherd Housing Foundation’s Woodbridge center on West Longview Drive.

Known as the Grayson Property, where William Grayson – one of Virginia’s first two Senators  who served from 1789 to 1790 – is buried

Today, the house was in need of beatification as it was overgrown with old brush and trees. So, the National Hispanic Landscape Alliance chose to this project as their annual, national Earth Day charitable activity.

“They took away everything that was dead and planted a lot of new color,” said Pam Berrios, of Alexandria Lawn Service, one of five companies that donated manpower, supplies, and time to the project.

Many of the old records for the property burned after the Civil War, along with other county records that were kept at Prince William Courthouse. There a tomb that sits on the 5-acre property once known as Belle Air Plantation, and once overlooked the Potomac River before Woodbridge developed.

“I can’t even believe the project came together in this way,” said Valerie Hayslett, of Morelli and Associates.

Hayslett began organizing this day of service in November, bringing together the five local landscaping firms as well as the National Hispanic Landscape Alliance.

Though the Grayson Property is historic, it is not noted as an historic property like the ones on Prince William County’s website.

Posted in: News Prince WilliamWoodbridge

Rocky Pen Run Reservoir Filling Up

April 22, 2014 at 11:52 amLeave a comment


STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. – A lake is forming in Stafford County.

It took two years to complete the dam for the Rocky Pen Run Reservoir, and now the 503-acre lake is filling with water.

The largest public works project in Stafford County’s history, the reservoir will hold 5.5 billion gallons of water. It started to fill in January when officials allowed water to flow into the man-made lake bed.

The lake will provide water for the county’s more than 130,000 residents and join two other reservoirs, Abel Lake and Smith Lake.

Rocky Pen Reservoir also be used for fishing, non-motorized boating, and kayaking when it’s completely full.

[Video: Ricky Moorefield]

Posted in: NewsStafford

Prince William Budget Proposals: 1 Holds the Line, Next Funds More Police

April 22, 2014 at 11:03 amLeave a comment

The Seal of Prince William County, Va.

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – There are two very different budget proposals on the table for Prince William County.

The first, released last week by Gainesville District Supervisor Peter Candland, who says the county’s current tax rate of $1.126 is enough to fund the needs of county government.

The rate is 5.4% lower than the advertised tax rate officials agreed upon earlier this year at $1.158 per every $100 of assessed property value. The advertised rate would not be able to be increased in the required time it takes the county to pass a budget, but it can be lowered.

“The dramatic increase in taxes on Prince William County families that some on the Board of County Supervisors want to impose at as high a rate as 5.5%, is simply unfair and unsustainable. The recently mailed property tax assessments clearly demonstrate that low-to middle-income wage earners will be disproportionately hurt by this tax rate because the assessment increases hit them the hardest.  Homes with assessed values between $300,000 and $500,000 are seeing assessed values as high as 10% or more, and that will dramatically increase the average tax bills above even the 2.5% set in the approved budget,” said Candland.

Candland says his budget proposal also funds the construction of two libraries — in Montclair and Gainesville — which were approved by voters during a 2006 bond referendum.

But others on the Prince William County Board of Supervisors say there are other unment needs  that amount to more than just libraries. They include more police officers and fire and rescue crews.

Woodbridge District Supervisor Frank Principi says his budget proposal, released this morning, will do just that.

“Due to the budget cuts over the past few years, we have accumulated more than $40 million in critical unmet needs.  Many of our economic indicators are showing improvement; housing values are rising and new homes are being built, companies are again hiring and expanding operations, and the employment rate is trending downward.  The time is now for our elected leadership to begin adequately funding schools, public safety and programs for those suffering from mental illness,” said Principi.

Here’s some of what his budget proposal includes:

  • $3,103,140 for the Police Department to hire an additional 20 new sworn officers.

  • $2,460,000 for the Fire Department to hire an additional 20 new firefighters.

  • $500,212 for the Community Services Board for Mental Health Adult Outpatient Services.

  • $1,115,000 to match the School Board’s investment to lower class sizes.

Principi stated Prince William fire and rescue crews are not meeting the demands of responding to house fires and other emergencies within the required targeted time frame of under four minutes. More funding would help them do that, he says.

The Board will meet at 7:30 p.m. in Woodbridge for their budget markup session, the last meeting prior to the Board approving a final budget and ratifying it for adoption.

 

Posted in: PoliticsPrince William

Exchange Student Charged with Sex Crime

April 22, 2014 at 10:25 amLeave a comment

042214-Alsuwat

STAFFORD, Va. – Authorities in Stafford County say they stopped an exchange student from boarding a plane bound for his native Saudi Arabia and then charged him in connection to a sex crime.

The county’s Sheriff’s Office states the incident occurred on April 19. A location of the alleged crime was not provided.

Here is the unedited press statement released by the Sheriff’s Office:

The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office is reporting the arrest of Hamad Mastour Alsuwat, age 20, currently of Stafford County on Sunday, April 20, 2014.  Alsuwat is charged with 1 Count Object Sexual Penetration.

On Saturday, April 19, 2014 Stafford Deputy Thomas Grasso responded to an address in Stafford County for a possible domestic disturbance.  While investigating the domestic disturbance Deputy Grasso learned that Hamad Alsuwat, a foreign exchange student residing at the residence, had sexually assaulted a 17- year-old female resident.  Alsuwat was not on scene when Deputy Grasso first arrived.

Detective Tim Covington initiated an investigation and when learning that Alsuwat was a foreign exchange student, contacted the Department of Homeland Security in the chance that Alsuwat was a flight risk.  Members of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection arrested Hamad Alsuwat as he was preparing to board a flight out of Washington Dulles International Airport bound for Saudi Arabia on Sunday, April 20.

Due to the sensitive nature of this ongoing investigation no additional information will be available at this time.

Posted in: CrimeNewsStafford

Flash Cube

April 22, 2014 at 10:01 amLeave a comment

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Prince William police officer leads Northern Virginia in DUI arrests – Officer Jeremy Schenck started his law enforcement career on the wrong side of a police car. [Washington Post]

Moncure lists 97 creditors in bankruptcy case – A Fredericksburg-area real estate investor under investigation for fraud claims he owes money to 97 different individuals or organizations. [Fredericksburg.com]

Lawson Vows to Listen to Brentsville Constituents– Republican Jeanine Lawson of Bristow is running for Brentsville District Supervisor for a second time. She wants Brentsville residents to know she plans on listening to their concerns and being a leader they can trust. [Bristow Beat]

 

Posted in: News

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