“The Lego Movie”–  Rated PG — 4 stars out of 5

 I just saw “The Lego Movie” and I am still trying to piece together the plot.

Emmet (Chris Pratt from “Her”) is an ordinary construction worker who is very happy just following the instructions. One day, he meets a girl named Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks from “The Hunger Games”), and she likes him because she thinks he is special. Up until then, Emmet thought he was exactly like everyone else, and he kinda is.

When a girl believes you are special and that you can do special things, you start to believe too. I learned that in seventh grade. She believes Emmet can stop President Business (Will Ferrell from “Anchorman”) from taking over the entire world. All he has to do is escape Bad Cop (Liam Neeson from “Non-Stop”) and unite all the master builders of the universe.

Emmet starts to believe he is special, but he has trouble finding his footing. It’s almost as if he was trying to put a round peg in a square hole. He is guided by Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman from “Last Vegas”), who is convinced Emmet has arrived to fulfill the prophecy.

Did I mention these were all Legos? I didn’t get that until about halfway throug. I was starting to think this movie would get an Oscar for makeup, but – spoiler alert – they are all Legos.

For Emmet to complete his journey, he must leave his home in Brickville and travel to other realms in the Lego world. For my screenwriting buddies, this is another application of Joseph Campbell’s “A Hero’s Journey” played out in plastic molded primary colors.

By the time we get to the third act in this movie, there has been such a buildup – by master builders – that I did not think there was any way this thing was going to look like the picture on the box. That’s when I realized that I did not understand the plan and that “everything could still change.”

Kudos to the director/writer team of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs) for assembling an excellent movie that kids and parents both will enjoy. The theme of the movie resonates throughout, and it all comes together in the end.

This movie made me want to be a kid again, and for that reason I must give it 4 stars out of 5. Now, I have to go to Toys R Us.

Tom Basham is an indie filmmaker. Here is a link to his movie review site:?http://bashmovies.wordpress.com/

It’s time to spring forward.

Don’t forget to set your clocks forward one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday (tomorrow).

The annual time change means we lose an hour of sleep, but it also means we can about an hour of daylight. The sun will set today, Saturday March 8 at 6:08 p.m., and will set tomorrow at 7:15 p.m. The sunrise will also be later in the mornings, rising Sunday at 7:21 a.m.

Daylight savings time ends on November 2. This switch is one of two each year, between standard time in fall and daylight savings time in spring.

Fire and rescue officials always remind us at these times of years to check the batteries in your smoke detectors. A working smoke detector could save your life in the event of a fire.

Here are some smoke detector tips from the Prince William County Fire and Rescue Department::

• Place a smoke alarm on every level of your home including the basement and inside and outside sleeping areas.

• Check smoke alarms monthly by pushing the test button. If you cannot reach the button easily, use a broom handle.

• Change the batteries in your alarms at least once a year or each time you change your clock. (spring forward, fall back).

• Do not remove the batteries from your smoke alarms to put in other appliances.

• The life span of a smoke alarm is 8-10 years and the entire alarm should be replaced during this time (consider installing a ten-year lithium battery-powered smoke alarm,

which is sealed so it cannot be tampered with or opened).

• Hard-wired smoke alarms with battery back-ups need to be tested monthly and batteries replaced yearly.

• Keep smoke alarms clean. Vacuum or dust your smoke alarms according to manufacturer’s directions to keep them working properly.

• Teach children what the smoke alarm sounds like and what to do in the event it sounds.

Smoke alarms can often sound while cooking or taking a shower that emits large amounts of steam. If a smoke alarm sounds during these types of activities, do not remove or disable the battery; creating a minor fix that can lead to a deadly mistake. Instead you should:

• Open a window or door and press the “hush” button,

• Wave a towel at the alarm to clear the air, or

· Good morning Prince William – Please join us on Saturday March 22nd for our Annual Volunteer Fair at Manassas Mall from 1pm-4pm. We will have lots of community agencies there to answer your questions and give lots of ideas of how you and your family and friends can make a difference in the community. We will be down past the food court in front of JC Penney so it’s a great location and close to all your favorite stores. We still have space available if your agency is looking for volunteers as well. Please register on volunteerprincewilliam.org to save your space.

· The Training Futures Program of Northern Virginia Family Service is looking for volunteers to help clients with their workforce development activities. Tasks include classroom instructors, tutors and computer lab assistance as well as other opportunities. This program is located next to George Mason University Manassas campus and business hours are weekdays 8am-2pm. Please call Jan at (571) 748-2621 to learn more about this innovative program.

· Spring is right around the corner and the wonderful folks at Special Olympics are gearing up for lots of sports activities. Coaches and volunteers are needed to teach golf and volunteers are needed to help the athletes in tennis, track & field, and swimming. You don’t want to miss the opportunity to get out and enjoy fresh air and super people. Please email: areacoordinator@pwsova.org for more info.

· The Osbourn HS After Prom Party Committee needs door prizes for their super party on Saturday May 10th at the Freedom Center. The After Prom Party is the perfect way for kids to have fun, be safe and the community shares a little fun with them. Cool door prizes include gift certificates to your restaurant of choice, movie passes, athletic event tickets and certainly monetary donations for the committee to pick up these fun things for you. Don’t miss the opportunity to give these kids a memorable time. Please email them at: afterprom@mcpsva.org for more info.

· The Habitat ReStore is in need of donations including furniture, appliances, cabinets and all the other items that can be used in anyone’s home. It’s the perfect time to update your home and give your donation a new home. Please call (703) 369-6145 for free donation pick-up.

· Don’t forget about our Eagle Scout Project to benefit unsheltered homeless folks in the eastern part of our community. This scout is collecting tents, tarps, sleeping bags, quilts, ponchos backpacks non-perishable items and certainly personal care items to help these individuals be warm. This is a fabulous project and huge Cheers to this young man. He will be at Grace Baptist Church on March 10 to collect donations or you can drop them off at Supervisor Frank Prinicipi’s office at the Ferlazzo Building up until March 20th. Please call Charles with any questions at (703) 473-6868.

· Volunteers are needed to help Keep Prince William Beautiful Annual Route 1 Clean Sweep on Saturday April 26th from 9am-noon. This is a perfect opportunity to get your hands a little dirty and make a great impact on our community. Volunteers will receive snacks, refreshments and even a t-shirt if you register by April 1st. Please call Anna at (571) 285-3772 to learn more.

· Brain Injury Services needs a volunteer to visit a gentleman in Fairfax. All that is involved is stopping by a couple times a month for a friendly visit. Please call Michelle at (703) 451-8881 ext. 232 to learn more

· The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program – RSVP is looking for volunteers age 55 and older to drive veterans or their spouses to local doctor’s appointments. You’ll have lots of notice to be matched up with your passenger and it’s a super way to lend a hand to a vet. Please call Coleen at (703) 369-5292 ext. 207 to learn more about this and many more opportunities.

· Literacy Volunteers of America-Prince William needs you to help an adult learn to read and write. The next Tutor Training Workshop is March 22, 2014. There is a one-time fee of $35 for materials. Imagine the difference you can make in someone’s life! Contact at lvapw@aol.com.

· Habitat for Humanity needs volunteers to help in the office so if construction isn’t your thing you can still be part of this organization. Please call (703) 369-6708 to learn more or visit their website at: habitatpwc.org. Habitat for Humanity also has a great volunteer program for scouts and middle schoolers by distributing door hangers in this neighborhood during the workdays. These door hangers have lots of good info on the Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, the Restore and the Cars for Homes Program and give Habitat a special link to this neighborhood.

· If you are looking for other opportunities, please don’t forget to call my wonderful team at Volunteer Prince William. Coleen can help you with the Retired and Senior Volunteer (RSVP) opportunities at (703) 369-5292 ext. 207, Shelley can help with any individual or group project and send you weekly updates if you’d like. Shelley is at (703) 369-5292 ext. 201, and Bonnie can help you with opportunities available in Disaster Preparedness at (703) 369-5292 ext. 202. Please visit our newly re-vamped website at www.volunteerprincewilliam.org. Thanks so much for all you do in our community.

NORTH STAFFORD, Va. – A child was found barefoot and sitting by a creek in North Stafford.

A man called 911 just before 3 p.m. Thursday and told authorities he had seen a small girl try to approach him while he was working in the garage at his home in the area of Garrison Woods Drive and Onville Road.

But the child then went into some nearby woods and did not approach the man who called 911. Deputies were called to the scene and found foot prints on the ground that looked like they belonged to a small child.

“They could see the toes of the feet in the footprints, and that told us that the child was barefoot,” said Stafford sheriff’s spokesman Bill Kennedy.

Deputies then brought in K9 units and set up a perimeter around the wooded area where they thought the child could be.

About the same time, a woman called 911 and reported that her daughter was missing from her house on Garrison Woods Drive. The woman said she had left the child in the care of her father at their home earlier that day before going out to run errands.

In the woods, the deputies followed trail of footprints that lead to a stream where they found the small girl sitting on a small sandbar. They wrapped the child in blankets to warm her, gave her a medical evaluation, and then returned her to her mother.

Deputies then charged the child’s father, 28-year-old John Fuller, of Garrisonville Woods Drive, with felony child neglect, said Kennedy.

He was taken to the Rappahannock Regional Jail.

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – Police say three teenagers posted inappropriate images of girls onto the Instagram social network to harass their victims.

Three teenagers are charged with computer harassment.

Here’s more in an unedited police press release:

Computer Harassment – On February 17th, detectives from the Special Victim’s Bureau began an investigation into computer harassment allegations involving the social image sharing application, Instagram. The investigation revealed that the below listed juveniles had created several Instagram accounts which exploited other female juveniles from multiple schools within the Prince William County public school system. The juvenile suspects obtained inappropriate images of other juvenile students which were then posted on the application. Once discovered by police, the accounts were immediately shut down and owners identified. Detectives further learned that no county school equipment was used by the suspects and no photos were taken within the schools or on school property. Following the investigation, three of the identified owners of the accounts were charged.

Charged on March 7th:

A 15 year old female juvenile of Woodbridge, a 14 year old male juvenile of Woodbridge, and a 13 year old male juvenile of Manassas

Each juvenile was charged with 1 count of computer harassment

Court date: unavailable | Status: unavailable

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This post sponsored by: HomeTowne Auto Repair & Tire

On a Saturday morning, 24 women were ready to start their engines at HomeTowne Auto Repair and Tire’s Women’s Car Care Clinic. The women came from varied locations, ages, and experience but one thing was unanimous they all wanted to learn more about their cars.

Enter Lori Johnson, founder of Ladies Start your Engines. Lori spent over seven years as a technician and editor for automotive manuals. Her goal is to give women the tools and the vocabulary they need to create informed consumers and conduct their own light vehicle maintenance.

In the two-hour course, Lori covered battery basics, shocks and struts, changing tires, changing windshield wiper blades and more. She even got in a few laughs.

The lucky ladies were treated to appetizers by Grill Gourmet of Woodbridge and a raffle prize drawing.

 “Not only did I enjoy myself but I learned a lot and feel empowered. It was an awesome day,” said one participant.

If you are interested in attending HomeTowne’s next car care clinic please send an email to Margo Schlossberg at margo@hometownetire.com

Manassas real estate assessment notices mailed  – The Commissioner of the Revenue’s Real Estate Division mailed 12,482 real estate assessment notices to City taxpayers on Friday, March 7, 2014. The notices are sent to all property owners of taxable parcels in the City. [Manassas City Government]

Trial of FBI agent Arthur Gonzales, accused of Slaying wife inside home, enters third day – Gonzales, 42, was charged in May with one count of second degree murder and one count of the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in the shooting death of his 42-year-old wife, said Bill Kennedy, Stafford Sheriff’s Office spokesperson. [Fredericksburg.today]

Lake Ridge Ridge Runners open registration for May Day 5K – Sometime in the 1980s, members organized two annual races: the Turkey Trot 10K and the May Day 5K. These races attracted new members and the club grew gradually. [Lake Ridge Ridge Runners]

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. – A case of Tuberculosis is being investigated at Northern Virginia Community College.

Virginia health officials said a student who attends classes at the Annandale and Alexandria campuses of the college has a tuberculosis, or TB, infection and has potentially infected others at the college. Health officials said those who are suspected of being exposed to TB have been contacted.

Here’s more in a statement from the Fairfax County Health Department:

When an individual is diagnosed with active TB disease, as part of our routine investigation we investigate who may have come into close contact with that individual. When others are considered potentially exposed, we contact them and recommend screening and testing for TB.

We have already contacted those individuals on the Annandale campus who are considered potentially exposed in this case. If students, faculty, and others who attend class or work at the Annandale campus did not hear from the Health Department, then there is no action that they need to take.

Officials said the public is not considered to be at risk. The Fairfax County Health Department conducts about 90 investigations like this one each year.

No campuses of Northern Virginia Community College in Prince William or Loudoun counties are included in this investigation.

TB is spread through the air when someone cough, sneezes, speaks, or sings. When infected, TB can cause prolonged coughing, chest pain, fatigue, chills, and loss of appetite.

1502 Frances Drive, Woodbridge

4 BD / 2 BA Single Family Detached

Agent: Andrea Whittiker Exit Bennett Realty 

List price: $325,000

Open Saturday 1 – 4 p.m.

3700 Fidelis Court, Triangle

4 BD / 3 Full, 1 Half BA Single Family Detached

Agent: Krikor Kolandjian / Realty World Select

List price: $539,000

Open Sunday noon to 3 p.m.

14731 Barksdale Street, Dale City

3 BD / 1 Full, 2 Half BA Townhouse

Agent: Jennifer Dorn / Realty World Select

List price: $216,000

Open Saturday noon to 2 p.m.

6502 Shamrock Road, Manassas

3 BD / 2 Full, 1 Half BA Single Family Detached

Agent: Gary Gabriel /Long and Foster Real Estate

List price: $365,000

Open Sunday noon to 3 p.m.

17 Larkwood Court, Stafford

4 BD / 2 Full, 1 Half BA Single Family Home

Agent: Timothy Brewster / Weichert Realtors

List price: $415,000

Open Sunday noon to 3 p.m.

Get more Potomac Local Real Estate by clicking here!

MANASSAS, Va. – Someone broke into Wireless Jungle in Manassas.

Here’s more in a Manassas police report:

Breaking and Entering

At approximately 9:31PM on March 4, 2014 Manassas City Police responded to an alarm at Wireless Jungle located at 9526 Liberia Ave. Upon arrival, officers discovered that someone(s) had gained entry by breaking the glass of the locked front door with a red brick-like object. Several cabinets had been opened inside the store, but no merchandise was reported missing.