With new equipment comes new beers.

The Water’s End Brewery in Woodbridge upgraded some of its brewing equipment this month. The brewery took to  Facebook to announce it had received new fermenters at its Potomac Mills location, which can ferment 20 bbls or barrels.

So what does this mean?

U.S. breweries measure beer volume in barrels. The conversion from one U.S. barrel is 31 gallons, allowing the brewery to create 620 gallons per batch.

Now, Water’s End can offer more and different beers to their customers than they have in the past. The first brews to come out of the new fermenters will be big batches of popular summertime beers ‘Trip to Tahiti’ and ‘HopDrop’. Both beers will be offered on tap and in six-packs of 12-once cans.

The brewery also announced the return of two of their classic brews, The Greatest Beer in the World (A Tribute), named after the song The Greatest Song in the World (A Tribute) folk-metal band “Tenacious D.”

Water’s End Brewery Potomac Mills location just across from the shopping mall, at 14397 Potomac Mills Road in Woodbridge. The brewery also has another nearby location at 12425 Dillingham Square in Lake Ridge.

June is Men’s Health Month.

• It’s not uncommon for men to neglect their health and let annual appointments fall to the wayside.

As a Sentara Medical Group physician, Dr. Gurwinder Singh tells us some conditions worsened with time and often men will live with the pain before addressing it.

What is a primary care provider & why is it important to have one?

• A primary care physician (PCP) is a health care professional who practices general medicine. PCPs are the first stop for medical care.
• Primary Care Providers provide preventative care, diagnose, and treat majority of acute conditions and manage ongoing chronic conditions.
• Typically, a PCP serves as a “quarterback” for an individual’s medical care, referring the individual to more specialized physicians for specialist care if necessary.
• It is important to have a PCP because they can catch potential health problems early, before they become severe. A PCP can help an individual stay healthy for long term.

When should you see a primary care provider?

• If you are healthy and have no chronic conditions, you should see a PCP once a year for routine annual physical/preventative care visit and routine labs.
• If you have ongoing chronic conditions, you might need to see your PCP more often, it may range from every month to every 6 months, depending on the severity of the condition.

What can men do to stay healthy and prevent disease?

• Following a healthy diet and exercising regularly will definitely help to stay healthy and prevent many diseases.
• Men should visit their primary care physician regularly, at least once a year, even if they feel completely healthy

What type of yearly health screenings should men get?

• Annual physicals/preventative care visits, screening for high cholesterol and diabetes, once a year prostate cancer screening and discussion with their primary care provider.
• When does a pain go from “oh, I over-extended that…” to “I better get to the doctor’s…”
• For any symptoms that is not subsiding in few days, men should seek medical attention. You never know if there might be a serious underlying medical condition that will remain undiagnosed and will get more severe if they don’t see their Primary Care Provider intime.

Should men be worried if they have a pain in their testes?

• Yes, always. If there is constant pain in the testes, it is often the result of medical issues that will require treatment.
• Various cause of testicular pain are epididymitis, or inflammation of the testicles, a hydrocele which is characterized by swelling of the scrotum, kidney stones, orchitis, or inflammation of the testicle, a spermatocele, or fluid in the testicle, a varicocele, or a group of enlarged veins in the testicle.
• In some instances, pain in the testicle can be caused by a severe medical condition known as testicular torsion.
• In this condition, the testicle becomes twisted, cutting off blood supply to the testicle.
• This can cause damage to the tissue.
• Pain in the testicle is rarely caused by testicular cancer.
• Testicular cancer typically causes a lump on the testicles that’s often painless.

Should men take testosterone supplements as they age? What about their vitamins or supplements?

• No, it is not advised to take testosterone supplements as men age.
• There is no conclusive studies to date to support use of testosterone supplements as men age, unless there are underlying medical conditions which are causing decrease in testosterone levels.
• As long as healthy diet with adequate nutrients is being followed regularly, there is also no need for any vitamin or any other supplements.

Need a Primary Care Physician? Visit iwantsentaramedicalgroup.com or call 703-523-1720 to find a provider that is right for you and schedule your appointment today.

The application deadline for restaurants to apply to the Stafford Cares: Supporting Restaurants and Families in Need project has been extended to March 19, 2021.

• Restaurants who wish to participate in the Stafford Cares program must complete an application online.

The Department of Economic Development and Tourism manages the first Stafford Cares project which will purchase meal cards or certificates from local restaurants and provide them to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients in Stafford.

This program requires Stafford restaurants to apply online.

• The deadline for that application will now close on March 19, 2021. The extension of the application deadline will allow more time for restaurants to complete the application.
• “As a federally-funded program, a DUNS number is required and we are finding our local restaurants need more time to get that in place,” said John Holden, Director of Economic Development and Tourism.

Depending on restaurant participation, Stafford County will purchase a minimum of 99 meal certificates valued at approximately $7,400 worth of meal certificates from each restaurant.

• The total number of participating restaurants will impact the number of meal cards or certificates purchased from an individual restaurant. Roughly 3,500 SNAP recipient families in Stafford County will be served by this program and receive meal cards to local restaurants.
• The minimum benefit to any SNAP recipient family is $150.

This program is funded through a $782,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).

• The grant is made possible by the partnership with DHCD, Stafford County Social Services, and the Stafford County Department of Economic Development and Tourism.

Stafford Social Services Director Michael Muse adds that the “Stafford County Social Services’ mission is to strengthen the family structure while promoting self-reliance, responsibility for family, and empowerment by building on family strengths.

• We appreciate community participation and this alliance to bring revenue and meals to our community.”

Stafford Cares is a county wide initiative that includes a number of new programs and projects fostering the well-being of Stafford citizens and businesses.

• These programs are designed to help many in need, as the Stafford community recovers from the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic.
• For more information and to apply, visit GoStaffordVA.com/Stafford-Cares.

The hospitality industry has experienced extensive economic impacts during the Coronavirus pandemic.

• In an attempt to aid Stafford local restaurants, the Stafford County Economic Development and Tourism Department in partnership with the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has created the first Stafford Cares program aimed to support local restaurants and families in need.

Stafford Cares is a county-wide initiative that includes a number of new programs and projects fostering the well-being of Stafford citizens and businesses.

• The first program for Stafford Cares, “Helping Restaurants and Families in Need,” funded through a Community Development Block Grant, will purchase meal certificates from local restaurants and give them to Stafford families enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Approximately 3,500 SNAP recipient families in Stafford County will be served by this program and receive meal cards to local restaurants. The minimum benefit to any SNAP recipient family is $150.

• The participation of 75 to 100 restaurants is needed for this program. Approximately $7,400 worth of meal cards or certificates will be purchased from each restaurant.
• The total number of participating restaurants will impact the number of meal cards or certificates purchased from an individual restaurant.

The direct benefit serves two audiences.

• First, Stafford restaurants will get a critical infusion of cash, attract more customers, and increase sales.
• Second, the program addresses food insecurity concerns for families in need who are part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Stafford.
• Additional indirect benefits include increased local restaurant sales, workforce retention, and increased County tax revenue. Additional meals tax revenue supports Stafford public schools.

To participate, restaurants must apply online by noon on March 8th, 2021. Click here for more information gostaffordva.com/stafford-cares-restaurant-application

Okras is my favorite restaurant to visit in Downtown Manassas.

When I was working at CenterFuse, before covid, I would walk across the street and order the Cajun Chicken BLT, with just the right amount of kick. And I’d always bring something home for my wife, who loves Okra’s Shrimp and Grits.

Well, now I can get that same great Okras taste delivered to my door. And you can, too.

Visit Okras.com to order hot food now, or get Meal Bundles and Special Event Kits delivered to your home.

Order Okras today and find out why, for over 22 years, thousands keep coming back for the best in Cajun and Creole cuisine!

Uriah Kiser
Founder and Publisher
Potomac Local News

Regular eye exams are an invaluable tool in maintaining your eyes’ health by detecting and preventing disease.

• Some diseases develop slowly without causing pain or vision loss.
• Early detection of any problems can reduce the risk of further harm and allow for a choice of treatment options.

Children should have regular tests to ensure the proper development of their vision and prevent any interference with their academic achievements.

• Older adults are often at a higher risk for eye conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts.
• Even if your eyes are healthy, you should still have a regular eye exam to detect any problems as soon as possible and begin necessary treatment.

Making an eye exam appointment is easy.

• You can do it TODAY by calling our friendly staff in our Woodbridge and Manassas offices at 703-494-1766 or by visiting our website LateefEye.com.

When I started my Potomac Local News 10 years ago, I knew I wanted a job that would allow me to work from anywhere.

That’s why the UPS Store is a great option for a busy guy like me.

At The UPS Stores, they can help me with everything for my business!

The UPS Stores at Sowder Village Square, near to Super Target near Manassas and at Potomac Town Center at Stonebridge in Woodbridge, next to Wegmans, owned and operated by Didlake, are the right choice for all of my printing, packing, and shipping needs.

Whether it’s shipping, faxing, notary services, or a physical mailbox where I can get my mail when I’m on the go, they’ve got me covered with the services you rely on to help my business grow.

Uriah Kiser
Founder / Publisher
Potomac Local News

The health and safety of our patients, families, and team members is a priority here at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center.

That’s why Sentara Healthcare has enacted policies and procedures regarding hospital visitation. COVID-19 confirmed patients (not at end-of-life) or patients awaiting COVID-19 test results are not allowed any visitors.

These guidelines are subject to change. Please call 703-523-1000 or click here to view Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center’s visitation guidelines.

Hello, I’m Heather Mitchell. I’m running to represent hard-working citizens in Virginia’s 2nd House District, in Prince William and Stafford counties.

Despite all the recent focus on the pandemic, we can’t forget the need to improve our roads.

• We live in the 5th most-congested region in the country.
• People spend an average of 124 hours a year sitting in traffic.
• That’s a loss of more than $1,800 per driver per year.

In recent months, however, our former Delegate, Democrat Jennifer Carroll Foy, voted to take away millions of dollars that would have been used to improve our roads.

Before she stepped down last month to seek higher office, she voted to approve HB 1414 and HB 1726.

• Those two bills undercut our share of the state’s recordation tax money — funds used for transportation improvements in our region.
• Because of those bills, the first $20 million in recordation revenues collected won’t come here to Prince William and Stafford but will instead go to Hampton Roads.

Our former Democrat Delegate voted for both of these bills knowing that Stafford County would lose an estimated $1 million in transportation funding.

There are plenty of transportation improvements to be made in our area.

• We need a Delegate who understands those concerns and does not vote to take away funding from such a crucial need of our community.

I’ve got the experience needed to lead.

• I most recently served as a senior aide to the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, where I gained an incomparable amount of knowledge about our region’s transportation, education, and financial needs.
• I also served as a legislative aide to Delegate Emily Brewer.

When my family moved to Stafford from Okinawa, Japan, my husband and I chose to finish raising our children here in Virginia. I know that our area is a miniature version of the entire state.

• Prince William County is a growing community that, for years, has been ingrained in the fabric of Northern Virginia.
• Stafford County, a powerhouse in the Fredericksburg region, is a growing community that doesn’t view itself as fully a part of “NOVA.”

I live and work in these communities, and I know the issues there are essential to you.

• Most importantly, I know how to work with the prominent list of elected leaders from Congress, the Virginia General Assembly, and in the halls of Prince William and Stafford county governments, all of whom have endorsed my campaign.

Before becoming a proud military wife, I worked three jobs to provide a better life for my daughter.

• That experience led me down a path of public service.

And I know what it means to support those who serve our country.

• It’s the most personal level of sacrifice that someone can take to protect our freedom.

I’m asking for your vote in our Special Election on Tuesday, January 5.

Please take a moment to learn more about me and what I stand for.

• Visit my website: mitchellforva.com
• Follow me on Facebook: facebook.com/MitchellforVA
• Connect with me on Twitter: twitter.com/mitchellforva

I Back the Blue because our police officers and sheriff’s deputies work hard to make our community a better, safer place.

The lockdowns have had a devastating effect on local businesses. That’s why I will fight for a Smart COVID Policy in Richmond based on science and common sense.

The lockdowns have also had a substantial negative impact on children, many of whom struggle to learn from home. I’ll fight for working families who want the Best Education for their children and Support School Choice.

Early in-person voting ends Saturday, January 2.

Vote early in Prince William County at the following locations, from 9 a.m. to. 5 p.m.

• Prince William County Office of Elections, at 9250 Lee Avenue in Manassas
• Veterans Memorial Park, at 14300 Veterans Drive in Woodbridge.

Vote early in Stafford County at the following location, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Stafford County Voter Registrar’s Office, at 1300 Courthouse Road at the George Gordon Administration Building next to the county courthouse.

On Tuesday, Election Day, your regular polling place will be open.

• Click here to find your polling place.

Together, we can make our community and Virginia a better place for us all.

Thank you,

Heather

Paid for and authorized by Friends of Heather Mitchell

Let’s be honest. Not everyone is going to like their gift.

Maybe teal polka dots wasn’t the best color choice. Maybe that waist size wasn’t as large as you thought.

Whatever the reason, you can bring your holiday returns to the Certified Packing Experts at the UPS Store. While you’re there, they’ll handle all of the packing and shipping of your holiday returns so you’ll have more time to enjoy the New Year.

There are two UPS Stores in our region to serve you.

• Center At Innovation
  9994 Sowder Village Square
  Manassas, Va., 20109
• Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center
  15000 Potomac Town Place
  Ste 100
  Woodbridge, Va. 22191