Call to Action: Comcast Cares Day, U.S. 1 Clean Up Coming

April 19, 2014 at 9:29 amLeave a comment

· Good morning  – The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) has an urgent need for volunteers’ age 55+ to drive veterans to their doctors’ appointments. We have one lady who also needs a ride to dialysis several times a week. This lovely lady lives in Bristow and needs a ride to Gainesville on Monday and Friday’s. Either take her at 10am and/or pick her up at 3:30pm. This life saving task is easy and at very civilized time of day- please come join our team of volunteers to help folks with a ride. They are depending on us. Please call Coleen at (703) 369-5292 ext. 207 for more info.

· Leesylvania State Park needs volunteers on Sunday April 27th from 11am-1pm to build a Pollinator Garden for the Monarch Butterflies. Bring a pair of work gloves to pull weeds, plant host and nectar plants to give the butterflies a Way Station as they migrate across the country. It’s sure to be a super fun time.

· Don’t forget about the big Comcast Cares Project in Manassas on Saturday April 26th from 9am-1pm. Tons of volunteers will be cleaning up at the Boys & Girls Club, Jennie Dean School, the SERVE Shelter and the Winter Branch Trail. This is a wonderful community partnership and you can register with the project at: leadershipprincewilliam.org.

· Keep Prince William Beautiful needs volunteers for the Annual Route 1 Clean-up on Saturday April 26th from 9am-noon. It’s safe and fun and easy way to complete your community service hours. Please call (571) 285-3772 or visit: www.kpwb.org for more info.

· The Prince William SPCA is looking for 2-3 volunteers to pick up donated pet food from the Manassas Mall Wal-Mart and drop them off at the City of Manassas Animal Shelter. Great job for anyone with a flexible schedule as pick-ups are on Tuesday anytime between 7:30 and 2pm. Please email them for more info at: volunteercoordinator@pwspca.org

· The Training Futures Program is looking for volunteer to tutor and assist students in their computer lab on weekdays between 8am and 3pm. This 6 month program works with unemployed and underemployed students to learn office skills to improve their employability. Please email Jan for more info at: jhawkins@nvfs.org

· BEACON Adult Literacy needs volunteers to work with ESL adult learners. No prior experience is needed as you will be given all the tools needed to make a successful partnership with your student. Please call Caroline at (703) 368-7491 to learn more as the next tutor training is April 26th.

· You don’t want to miss Compost Awareness Day on Saturday April 26th from 10am-2pm at the Balls Ford Yard Waste Composting facility. The Master gardeners will be there as well of lots of other neat exhibits. Please visit: pwcgov.org/trashandrecylcing for more info.

· Attention Golfers – mark your calendars for the Senator Charles Colgan Charity Golf Tournament on Monday May 12th at Evergreen Country Club. This event benefits the women and children living at BARN Transitional Housing. Lots of prizes, contests, lunch and all for just $150 per player. Gather your friends and family for this event. Please email Tammy at:adminmanager@barninc.org for more info.

· Literacy Volunteers of Prince William are looking for volunteer tutors to work with adults. The next training is May 17th. Please visit: lvapw.org for more info.

· The March for Babies is right around the corner on Sunday April 27th in Old Town Manassas at 9am. Gather your family, friends and colleagues to join in the fun exercise for a great cause. Please call (571) 257-2330 to learn more

· Brain Injury Services needs a volunteer to take a gentleman fishing in the Manassas area. All that is involved is getting together a couple times a month for a super fun outing for fishermen. Please call Michelle at (703) 451-8881 ext. 232 to learn more

· Please don’t forget that Hurricane season is right around the corner so mark your calendars for our annual Hurricane preparedness sales tax holiday – May 25th-31st. It’s a great time to stock up on chainsaws, ice packs, batteries, light sources, first aid kits, radios, tarps and fire extinguishers to name just a few. I will have more to come so mark your calendars!

· 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.

Advance My Community Contest Results

April 18, 2014 at 3:35 pmLeave a comment

Greetings to all and on behalf of Advanced Title and the “Advance Your Community Campaign” I am reporting our results and following up on the overall success of the campaign.

Advanced Title in conjunction with the opening of their location in Manassas launched a campaign to give back to local not-for-profits that operate in our community. Our goal was to celebrate our grand opening and at the same time launch a campaign to give back to those that are making a difference locally.

We included 15 local not for profits that were designed to make an impact in different areas including, Anne Clark Dollard Memorial Foundation, Blue Ridge Assistance Dogs, Boys and Girls Club, Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), Leadership Prince William, Manassas City School Education Foundation, Coalition of 100 Black Women, Serving Our Willing Warriors, Project Infusion, Special Olympics, Volunteer Prince William, Voice for Justice, Workhouse Arts Center, and finally Write By the Rails.

The campaign kicked off with a voting period that incorporated the base of each group voting for a percentage of the overall funds that would be raised. All groups jumped in with zeal and literally crashed the website in an effort to tally up votes. It was great to see such enthusiasm and dedication to the voting process and it is clear that the organizations have a very loyal base that want to make a difference.

The campaign was launched and we originally scheduled to sunset on Nov. 4, 2013 but we extended the date to March 31, 2014 to try to raise additional funds. The total that we have raised is $2,000 and although we were hoping to take advantage of a busier spring market to increase the total funds, we have still faced a very dramatic downturn in real estate.

In addition to the funds raised, PotomacLocal.com has agreed to donate 30 consecutive days of complimentary banner advertising on the website’s sidebar to each of the non-profit organizations who participated in the event. The offer amounts to a $300 value to each of the organizations involved.

To take advantage of the complimentary advertising offer, a authorized representative from each organization must claim their advertisement no later than May 31, 2014. Please contact Potomac Local News Publisher Uriah Kiser for details.

I appreciate the efforts of every single person that was here to help launch the event, the efforts of all individuals that voted and the efforts of the organizations to get the word out overall. I specifically want to thank Uriah Kiser for being such a gracious partner and the efforts of Glenn Vickers from Leadership Prince William to help orchestrate the overall campaign. Funds for the groups will be available after March 31st, 2014 and I will reach out to each organization personally.

Thank you to everyone again for your participation. The results were not as dramatic as I had hoped but we were literally facing an unexpected dramatic downturn in the real estate market that unfortunately directly affected this campaign. As in life, the key is to put one foot in front of the other and move forward and make a difference. I was honored to serve all of the organizations and I thank you all so much for your assistance.

And the results are… 

 Please contact Heather Mergler at Advance Title and Settlement to inquire about funds distribution.

Decorative Banners Promote Occoquan Craft Fairs

April 18, 2014 at 10:24 amLeave a comment

OCCOQUAN, Va. – Banners now hang on the gaslight street lamps in Occoquan.

Mayor Earnie Porta announced the banners this week in an email. They alternate color and help promote the town’s spring and fall craft fairs – the two largest annual events in the town. There’s also hung in the town’s “historic district” along Mill Street, though it seems like its steeped in history.

Here’s what Porta had to say about the new banners in an email to constituents:

The decorative banners announced in the April newsletter have arrived, and as part of today’s FOTO/Occoquan River Cleanup we began installing them on the town’s gaslights. Long-requested by a number of town residents, and long-featured in other towns, the banners represent the collaborative effort of a number of individuals and groups. Our gaslights are unusually short relative to those in other historic towns, so banner placement has been a challenge. We believe, however, we have employed an approach that makes the banners attractive to those strolling through the historic district. Over time we will be evaluating feedback and making adjustments as warranted. In the meantime, enjoy the new splash of color in the historic district!

Thank you to everyone who worked constructively to make this happen, including those on the initial installation team shown below.

How Planning for Death Made One Mother’s Experience Easier

April 18, 2014 at 8:30 amLeave a comment

STAFFORD, Va. – Shannon Broom was killed in a car crash 16 years ago.

Fresh out of college, the 23-year-old had a lot of life left to live. But when it suddenly came to an end her mother, Jan, knew she wanted to share that unlived life with someone else.

Four of Shannon’s organs were donated to others: 2 kidneys, her heart, and liver. The heart went to an 18-year-old who was hospitalized in Richmond, the liver to a patient in North Carolina, and the kidneys to patients in North Dakota and Minnesota.

The question of whether to donate her organs so others could live was never a question for the Broom family. Shannon was in third grade when someone came to speak to her class about the importance of organ donation. Afterward, the child knew it was what she wanted to do.

“I can still see her coming up the front steps. She was all excited about this lady who had gotten a new kidney and that if anything ever happened to her she still wanted to help people so they could still live because if she went to heaven she wasn’t going to need those parts anymore and she wanted somebody who did need them to get them,” said Jan Broom.

Jan on Wednesday joined doctors and administrators at Stafford Hospital who invited the community to come and have what many would consider an awkward conversation – what they want to happen in the event patients can no longer make decisions for themselves.

Called “advance directives,” it’s when a patient indicates ahead of time that, if hospitalized, they don’t want things actions like being placed on a breathing machine, a feeding tube, and they also designate who should carry out the patients’ final wishes in the event of death.

“Usually families are struggling with grief, and if they have to make a decision they might feel guilty about, you put guilt on top of grief and it’s a bad combination,” said Stafford Hospital Administrator Cathy Yablonski.

Tables were set up in the hospital’s lobby where residents could come in and speak to a counselor about their wishes, as well as fill out Virginia’s Advance Directive for Health Care so they could make those wishes known. It’s a conversation the hospital encourages every family to have at anytime, not just during special events like this one.

“No one knows mom better than you, and no one knows what decision would she want better than you do,” said Victor D ‘Addio, one of two vascular surgeons at Stafford Hospital.

Jan Broom was at those tables, and has come to events like these since her daughter passed away to communicate the importance of advance directives. She’s also kept in close contact with the recipients of her daughter’s recipients through letter writing.

“I kept worrying that they would feel guilty, and that the letters would somehow impair their healing process, thinking that someone had to die for them to be alive,” said Broom.

But she quickly learned that the letters were appreciated because some other mother had been praying for a miracle for their own child. That miracle was Shannon.

Flash Cube

April 18, 2014 at 8:08 amLeave a comment

One year after skydiving crash, Woodbridge family celebrates – It was April 6, 2013 — just about a year ago — when Austin Glover’s life changed radically. [Prince William Times]

Rappahannock River crossing funded in roads plan – A draft of the state’s next six-year transportation plan has less money than last year, but still includes funding for some of the Fredericksburg area’s major road projects. [Fredericksburg.com]

Prince William capital improvements plan includes 20 new schools – In the next 10 years, Prince William County school officials plan to build 20 schools, complete an extensive renovation at one school and build additions to 11 schools.[Insidenova.com]

Google Street View Car Spotted on Parkway

April 17, 2014 at 3:09 pmLeave a comment

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 WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Smile. You could soon be on an updated version of Google Street View.

One of the Subaru Imprezas used by internet giant Google to capture street-level views of neighborhoods and highways, and a panoramic camera that does the job, was seen driving on Prince William Parkway and later on Caton Hill Road in Woodbridge this afternoon.

The company reports it is currently surveying counties like Fairfax and Arlington but does not list Prince William or Stafford at this time. But who knows when the Google car will return to your street?

The imaging equipment appeared to be encased and not in use while traveling on Prince William Parkway. The driver was the only person inside the car.

The images produced by the car and its equipment can be seen on the Google’s popular Maps feature. While capturing the 3-D images, the car also uses lasers to help show how tall a building is, as well as its location and distance from the Google car, according to Google’s website.

Since rolling out the Street View feature in 2007, Google has captured images across the U.S., and in portions of Canada, South America, South Africa, Russia, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

Knife Used to Cut Finger in Assault

April 17, 2014 at 12:25 pmLeave a comment

WOODBIRDGE, Va. – Police are investigating an argument that turned violent Wednesday in Woodbridge.

Prince William police provided the following unedited press release:

Malicious Wounding – On April 16th at 7:46PM, officers responded to a residence located in the 14200 block of Chesterfield Dr in Woodbridge (22191) to investigate an assault. The victim, a 45 year old man of Woodbridge, reported to police that he and the accused, a known acquaintance, were involved in a verbal altercation which escalated physically. During the encounter, the accused assaulted the victim and, at one point, pulled out a knife and cut the victim to his finger. The accused was still on scene when officer arrived at the home and was arrested without further incident.

Arrested on April 16th:

Timothy Justin CASTILLO, 21, of the 14200 block of Chesterfield Dr in Woodbridge

Charged with malicious wounding

Open Houses This Weekend

April 17, 2014 at 12:07 pmLeave a comment

15344 Inlet Place, Dumfries

3 BD / 3 Full, 1 Half BA

Agent: Jared Lilly WEICHERT, REALTORS

List price: $264,999

Open Saturday 1 – 4 p.m.

112 Short Branch Road, Stafford

3 BD / 2 Full, 1 Half BA

Agent: Wendy Nast CTI REAL ESTATE

List price: $288,900

Open Sunday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

14913 Gaines Mill Circle, Haymarket

4 BD / 4 Full, 1 Half BA

Agent: Carla Brown TOLL BROTHERS REAL ESTATE INC.

List price: $939,000

Open Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

110 Waters Landing, Stafford

3 BD / 2 Full, 1 Half BA

Agent: Patricia Gonzalez WEICHERT, REALTORS

List price: $342,500

Open Saturday 1 to 5 p.m.

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

Purse Snatched Outside Potomac Mills Mall

April 17, 2014 at 11:42 amLeave a comment

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – A woman was robbed at Potomac Mills mall outside a JCPenney store.

Prince William police provided the following information and a photo taken from a surveillance camera:

Strong Armed Robbery – On April 15th at 9:30PM, officers responded to the 2700 block of Potomac Mills Cir in Woodbridge (22192) to investigate a robbery. The victim, a 39 year old woman of Fairfax, reported to police that she was walking to her vehicle in a parking lot just outside the JC Penny’s when she was approached from behind by two unknown men. The men grabbed the victim’s purse and immediately fled on foot. No injuries were reported. A police K-9 was used to search for the suspects.

Suspect Descriptions:

2 black males, both between 16 & 20 years of age, 5’10”, 145lbs with thin builds

1st suspect was last seen wearing a hooded red jacket with a white zipper, tan colored pants, and black & white shoes

2ns suspect was last seen wearing a hooded black jacket with white stripes down the arms, dark colored pants, and dark colored shoes

Forty Under 40 Nominees Honored at First ‘Cupcake’ Charity After Hours

April 17, 2014 at 10:08 amLeave a comment

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MANASSAS, Va. – The regional Forty Under 40 Awards held its first nominating “Cocktails and Cupcakes” after hours event at Okras in Manassas. A dozen nominees came to have their photos taken and to mingle among other young professionals who all work in the fields of education, finance, law, media, and government.

But more than just a social hour, the event was also used to educate attendees about two community causes – the need to help local military veterans, and the finding solutions to the lack of information technology workers in Northern Virginia.

To help with the latter, the U.S. Labor Department has spent at least $12 million, and has tasked Northern Virginia Community College, in part, to help produce more skilled IT workers to fill critical job openings in our area.

“The labor market index says we need IT workers. There are over 600,000 IT jobs in Northern Virginia,” said Judith James, with the college’s Credentials to Careers Gateway Learning Community. “Between George Mason University and the big NOVA, which is the second largest community college system in the country with over 70,000 students, between the two of those institutions we’re only producing 1,200 people a year in IT.”

James distributed literature in hopes of recruiting more students to the college program.

All of the proceeds collected from ticket sales and donations taken at last night’s event went to Final Salute, Inc., an organization founded to help reduce the problem of homelessness among the U.S. vets. Director Denyse Gordon talked about the need to draw attention to the work of her non-profit organization through beauty pagent started by Final Salute, Miss Veteran America.

“When you walk in with a crowd and sash you get noticed, and someone walks up to you and says ‘wow, that’s really pretty,’ and then the conversation starts about Final Salute and the work we do” said Gordon.

An Air Force Airman, she was the first to be crowned Miss Veteran America in 2012 and now serves as the event’s director.

Potomac Local News is the media partner for the Forty Under 40 Awards. Another “Cocktails and Cupcakes” nominating after hours event is planned for Wednesday, April 23 at Bahama Breeze at Potomac Mills Mall in Woodbridge from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The final nominating event will take place Wednesday, April 30, at the Embrey Mill House at the newly built Embrey Mill community from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. The House, Inc., and Stafford Emergency Relief Through Volunteer Efforts (S.E.R.V.E.) will be the charities to benefit from those events, respectively.

The awards committee will continue to accept the names of nominees to be considered for the Forty Under 40 Awards until April 20, said awards committee chairman Glenn Vickers.

The final Forty Under 40 winners will be honored in May at a special event hosted at the newly built Potomac Shores neighborhood in Prince William County.

Flash Cube

April 17, 2014 at 8:01 amLeave a comment

Man facing possible life sentence found not guilty – A Stafford jury took about 20 minutes to find a man who Keep Reading...

Posted in: News

26 Plots Available in New Dumfries Community Garden

April 16, 2014 at 4:18 pmLeave a comment

DUMFRIES, Va. – The construction of the first community garden at Ginn Memorial Park in Dumfries is well underway. The Keep Reading...

Posted in: DumfriesNewsPrince William

Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center Expansion Completion Expected in 2015

April 16, 2014 at 7:45 amLeave a comment

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – When it’s complete, it’ll be a more modern building in which to have surgery. Sentara, operators of Keep Reading...

Posted in: Business Health NewsWoodbridge

Flash Cube

April 16, 2014 at 7:36 amLeave a comment

In Prince William budget process, focus is on libraries – At Tuesday night’s public hearing on Prince William County’s fiscal 2015 Keep Reading...

Posted in: News

Virginia Bluebells, Prince William’s Official Flower, Reach Peak Bloom

April 15, 2014 at 12:39 pmLeave a comment

NOKESVILLE, Va. – One of the most unique wildflowers to bloom each year in our area will peak today. The Keep Reading...

Posted in: Guide NewsPrince William

Fire Crews Douse Blaze at House on Dumfries Road

April 15, 2014 at 11:55 amLeave a comment

Update From Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue: At approximately 10: 30 a.m., fire and rescue units were Keep Reading...

Posted in: ManassasNews