By URIAH KISER
WOODBRIDGE, Va. — There’s a group of made moms who gather for dinner at an Italian restaurant in Old Town Manassas.
Known as the “mommy mafia,” these women are wise girls when it comes to what activities to take their children to, and how to share information about those events with other moms.
Kristina Schnack Kotlus, who founded and writes the popular website Prince William County Moms is one of the women at the dinner table. While there, she meets other women who are writers, who work on social media campaigns directed at moms, and some who work to improve sleep habits for mothers with military families. They come to Carmellos Little Portugal restaurant to swap stories over martinis, relishing in mom time.
“We don’t really have a better option than that, does it get any better? You can’t have a mafia dinner at Olive Garden,” said Kotlus.
It’s a group open to anyone who wants to network and, most importantly, sympathizes with the plight of other moms.
Kotlus’ website, PWCMoms.com, was recognized as Northern Virginia Magazine’s Blog of the Year. She didn’t think she had enough readers of her own to be voted by the magazines’ readers as Blog of the Year. When she got the message that she’d won, she replied back and asked if they were joking.
Kotlus’ site is chocked full of ideas and event listings targeted to families, all designed to keep mothers and, more importantly, their children busy. Through her own website and a dedicated following on Facebook, PWCMoms.com has become a destination for many. When promoting it, Kotlus says she uses a playground pitch vs. an elevator pitch, one she gives to other moms while out in the community.
“I look at a woman who may be looking up at rain clouds wondering what she’s going to find for her kids to do indoors, and I’ll be like ‘hey, I’ve got this website and it’s full of stuff for you and your kids to do. I do reviews, I do giveaways…’ it’s really designed to make your life a little bit easier,” said Kotlus.
Kotlus is also a mother of three, and along with her husband, lives with her family in Lake Ridge. In addition to maintaining her site, she also keeps sports commitments for her children, homeschools them, keeps church commitments for the family, and has done freelance work for this website, PotomacLocal.com. It’s a life with little sleep, and lots of juggling between family activities and updating her website.
“I always joke that it’s the hobby that got away from me,” she said.
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OmniRide has announced its service schedule for Monday, January 20, 2025, coinciding with both the Presidential Inauguration and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Riders are encouraged to plan ahead as some services will not be operating.
Service Schedule for January 20, 2025
OmniRide Express: No Service
OmniRide Metro Express: Regular schedules to both Franconia-Springfield and Tysons. Rides will be free.
OmniRide Local & East-West Express: Regular Service
OmniRide Access Paratransit & OmniRide Connect Microtransit: Regular Service
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has announced significant highway changes and closures to support the Virginia State Police during the upcoming Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump. Drivers traveling from Virginia into Washington, D.C., on Monday, January 20, are urged to plan ahead and use alternate routes as multiple bridges and ramps will be closed. Portable and overhead message signs will provide reminders of the closures.
The closures will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, January 20, and remain in effect until the conclusion of inaugural events. Here’s what drivers need to know:
Prince William Times – For Heather Payne and her family, paying their annual car tax bill has been difficult. Together, she and her husband owe about $600 a year on two older cars, one of which is a 2014 model.
The Paynes have five children, and they’ve struggled since the pandemic. Payne said her husband was laid off from his job in sales, and she has juggled up to four jobs at a time to pay the bills.
Now, Payne has two jobs but she and her husband are still behind on their car tax payments. In June, she was surprised when her wages were garnished to pay the bill.
The Center Square — Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares hosted a press conference Tuesday with other state leaders and advocacy groups supporting legislation that would only allow biological females to compete on women’s sports teams in Virginia.
“Virginia will never roll back Title IX under the guise of false equity,” Miyares said. “Let us stand firmly with every girl and woman in Virginia to protect fairness, ensure safety, and uphold the opportunities they have earned.”
Women from the Roanoke College women’s swim team were also in attendance, as a transgender student temporarily joined their team in 2023. So was Riley Gaines, the former University of Kentucky swimmer who became a voice for the Save Women’s Sport movement after competing against transgender athlete Leah Thomas.
Start 2024 on the right foot by prioritizing your mental health and well-being. At Peaceful Mind Solutions, we understand how challenging life can be—whether it’s managing stress from work, family dynamics, or navigating the complexities of the world around us. Our team is here to help you create balance and find the peace you deserve.
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Experience the passion and drama of Puccini’s “The Girl from the Golden West”.
Featuring special guest musicians from The Chesapeake Youth Orchestra, this performance brings Puccini’s masterpiece to life with an extraordinary cast.
Featuring:
