🎓 Hats off to the Class of 2025!
Superintendent Dr. LaTanya McDade is celebrating the resilience and achievements of PWCS seniors as they prepare to graduate and step into their futures. She also shared updates on a new bus tracking app, EZ A2B, and honored Neabsco Elementary’s Lydia Larimore as Virginia’s Elementary School Counselor of the Year.
👉 Read Dr. McDade’s full message here
🗑️ Got junk? Prince William’s Dumpster Day is here to help
The Occoquan District Area Cleanup is happening Saturday, June 7 at Bethel Church—bring your unwanted items between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and let Public Works handle the rest.
👉 See what you can dump and learn more
🎉 Rec2U is rolling back into town for summer fun
From June 2 through August 15, Fredericksburg’s Mobile Recreation Van will bring free games, sports, and crafts to parks and neighborhoods all over the city—perfect for school-age kids and families looking to get active.
👉 See the full weekly schedule on Facebook
🎭 Make it a field trip to remember with Riverside matinees
Riverside Center for the Performing Arts is welcoming students this fall for special school-day shows of The Sound of Music, White Christmas, and Junie B. Jones the Musical—a perfect arts outing for classrooms and youth groups.
👉 Details and booking info on Facebook
🦁 Got a creative spark? Help name two new schools
Stafford County Public Schools is seeking your ideas for naming, mascot, and school colors for its upcoming Elementary Schools 18 and 19.
👉 Submit your suggestions here
🎸 A Stafford staple hits a high note!
BANG! Music in North Stafford has been serving the community with music lessons, instrument sales, and rentals since 1997—check out the latest Biz Beat video feature from Bill Freehling.
👉 Watch the video and read the story
🏆 Neabsco Elementary’s Lydia Larimore earns top state honor
Lydia Larimore, school counselor at Neabsco Elementary in Prince William County, has been named Virginia’s Elementary School Counselor of the Year for 2025, recognizing her outstanding support for students and families.
👉 Read the full story on InsideNoVa
🌫️ Nature’s mystery: Ghost pipe blooms in Prince William Forest
These pale, bell-shaped flowers may look like something out of a fairytale, but ghost pipe is a real—and parasitic—plant that thrives in the shady, fungal-rich soil of Prince William Forest Park.
👉 Learn more and join the conversation on Facebook
Monday (June 2)
- Manassas City Council Meeting, 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday (June 3)
- Lifelong Learning with Yorkshire Volunteer Fire & Rescue, 1 p.m. (Central Library)
- Prince William Board of County Supervisors Meeting, 2 p.m.
- Acoustic Tuesday Concert (Chesapeake Sons), 7 p.m.
Wednesday (June 4)
- Friends Book Sorting, 1 p.m. (Montclair Library)
- The (Plant) Stakes are High, 5 p.m. (Central Library)
- Prince William School Board Meeting, 7 p.m.
Friday (June 6)
- Manassas City First Friday, 6 p.m.
Saturday (June 7)
- Fishing Derby, 7:30 a.m. (Triangle)
- 31st Annual Manassas Railway Festival, 9 a.m.
- Circuit Court Clerks Seals on Wheels, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Occoquan)
- Puzzling with a Purpose, 12:30 p.m. (Potomac Library)
- The Road to College, 1 p.m. (Montclair Library)
- Zine Club, 1:30 p.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)
June 9
- Meet and Make: Summer Tote Bags, 1 p.m. (Potomac Library)
- Manassas City Council Meeting, 5:30 p.m.
June 10
- Prince William Board of County Supervisors Meeting, 2 p.m.
- Manassas School Board Meeting, 6 p.m.
- Acoustic Tuesday Concert (Natalie Brooke), 7 p.m.
June 11
- Bugman, 3 p.m. (Manassas City Library)
June 12
- Chinn Chats, 1 p.m. (Chinn Park Library)
- Summertime Mocktails, 6:30 p.m. (Virtual)
June 13
- Make a Book Flower Bouquet, 2 p.m. (Chinn Park Library)
- “Lend Me a Soprano,” various times until June 22 (Manassas City)
- Fireflies and the Full Moon, 7:30 p.m. (Woodbridge)
- Family Movie in the Park: “Captain America,” 8:30 p.m. (Woodbridge)
June 14
- Menopause Cafe, 10 a.m. (Dale City Library)
- Creating Butterfly Origami, 10 a.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)
- Wonder Wanders: Story Time Hike and Craft, 10 a.m. (Independent Hill Library)
- Third Annual Puerto Rican Festival, 11 a.m. (Manassas City)
- Crafting with Pride, 11 a.m. (Dumfries Library)
- Beautiful Binding Basics, 11 a.m. (Independent Hill Library)
- Drawing 101, 1 p.m. (Central Library)
June 16
- Animal Therapy Petting Zoo, 11 a.m. (Independent Hill Library)
- Friendship Pins, 2 p.m. (Potomac Library)
- Once Upon a Crime, 2 p.m. (Montclair Library)
- Manassas City Council Work Session, 5:30 p.m.
- Gardening Book Club, 5:30 p.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)
- FROGbots Robotics Demonstration, 5:30 p.m. (Montclair Library)
June 17
- Rock Painting, 1 p.m. (Dale City Library)
- Mythology in Modern Day with REscape Rooms, 4 p.m. (Montclair Library)
- Tween Summertime Art Workshop, 5:30 p.m. (Central Library)
- Acoustic Tuesday Concert (Shane Gamble), 7 p.m.
June 18
- Crochet and Coffee, 11 a.m. (Nokesville Library)
- Peaceful Painting, 2 p.m. (Manassas City Library)
- DIY Pride Keychains, 5 p.m. (Montclair Library)
- Perler Bead Cup Covers, 5 p.m. (Potomac Library)
June 19
- Juneteenth & Me Festival, 4 to 9:30 p.m. (Woodbridge)
June 20
- Play All Day VA, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Manassas)
- Native American Mythology with Star Lab, 10 a.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)
- Animal Therapy Petting Zoo, 11 a.m. (Manassas City Library)
- Bull Run Ukulele Players, 1 p.m. (Bull Run Library)
- Family Movie Night, 7:30 p.m. (Nokesville Library)
June 21
- Manassas Bee Festival, 10 a.m.
- Teen Quilt Morning Series, 10:30 a.m. (Central Library)
- Make Your Own Stamps, 11 a.m. (Chinn Park Library)
- Gardening in Colonial Times, 11 a.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)
- Murder Mystery, 2 p.m. (Central Library)
June 23
- Twin Pattern Stamp Take and Make, All day (Dumfries Library)
- Creepy Crawly Critters, 10:30 a.m. (Potomac Library)
- Pigeon Appreciation Day, 10:30 a.m. (Bull Run Library)
- Deputies in Flight, 2 p.m. (Montclair Library)
- Manassas City Council Meeting, 5:30 p.m.
June 24
- Bookmaking, 10:30 a.m. (Potomac Library)
- Prince William Board of County Supervisors Meeting, 2 p.m.
- Beginner Sourdough, 5:30 p.m. (Montclair Library)
- Manassas School Board Meeting, 6 p.m.
- Acoustic Tuesday Concert (Jason Masi), 7 p.m.
June 26
- Tech in Color, 10:30 a.m. (Nokesville Library)
- Reptile World, 10:30 a.m. (Triangle)
- Water Bead Splatter Art, 11 a.m. (Dumfries Library)
- Kindergarten Camp, 1 p.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)
June 27
- Creepy Crawly Critters, 10:30 a.m. (Bull Run Library)
- Wine Glass Etching, 11 a.m. (Bull Run Library)
- “Legally Blonde: The Musical,” 7 p.m. (Manassas City)
June 28
- Ident-a-Child, 10 a.m. (Chinn Park Library)
- Swift Escape with REscape Rooms, 11 a.m. (Lake Ridge Library)
- Rodney’s Raptors, 11 a.m. (Chinn Park Library)
- “Legally Blonde: The Musical,” 2 and 7 p.m. (Manassas City)
June 30
- Marines Through History, 10:30 a.m. (Nokesville Library)
- Deputies in Flight, 2 p.m. (Haymarket Gainesville Library)
- Peace and Self-Exploration, 6 p.m. (Chinn Park Library)
- Books Alive, 6 p.m. (Virtual)
After the maps were set up and the attendees had a chance to look at the city plan, two sides of the issue emerged involving parking, homeless camps, rideability, and traffic.
“Aaron” was one of the bicyclists who saw the value in the trail, which would connect Caroline Street and the old town area of Fredericksburg with the communities and businesses on the other side of Route 3 and the pool during the summer.
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MANASSAS, Va. – Prince William County leaders will consider a rezoning request on Tuesday, June 3, that could transform the aging Manassas Mall into a new urban-style community with more than 1,000 apartments and tens of thousands of square feet in new commercial space.
A developer is asking to rezone about 60.5 acres surrounding the mall—from General Business (B-1) to Mixed Use District–Urban (MXD-U). The plan includes 1,041 multifamily residential units, around 47,000 square feet of new retail and service space, structured parking, and pedestrian promenades to better connect new buildings with the existing shopping center.
Case #REZ2024-00039 covers four parcels near Rixlew Lane and Ashton Avenue, including the current Manassas Mall property at 8300 Sudley Road. County planning staff say the request aligns with the long-range plan for the area, designated as Mixed Use–Urban (MU-6) and classified as T-6—encouraging walkable, high-density development.
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"I felt happy, excited, grateful, valued and above all blessed," Riveron-Wong said of winning the award. "Being recognized with this award has a very big and important meaning because it shows that I’m on the right path, that I’m doing things well and that my work is valued and appreciated by others."
The RISE, or the Recognizing Inspiring School Employees, Award is given to support staff who "go above and beyond in their service to students, staff and the broader school community," an MCPS release stated. Nominees from each MCPS school, central office and the Transportation Department are evaluated in five areas: work performance, school and community involvement, leadership and commitment, support from colleagues and community members and enhancement of the public image of classified employees.
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This update on both the public campaign and outreach into the community follows more than a year of discussion at the Board level. In February 2024, a team was developed to find strategies to reduce panhandling in the county; the team determined public safety and the need for social services were a top priority.
Panhandling, according to county staff, is "someone that is out on the corner and on the median, and they are asking for money." County staff does not consider those selling items on the side of the road as panhandlers.
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🎓 Hats off to the Class of 2025 in Prince William County
Graduates from all 14 high schools in the county recently walked the stage, and proud moments from each ceremony are now online.
📸 Check out the graduation photo albums on PWCS’ Facebook page
🎓 Big cheers for Stafford County’s newest graduates
Families and friends celebrated the Class of 2025 this weekend, and now you can relive the joy with photos from each high school’s ceremony.
📸 View the graduation albums on Stafford County Public Schools’ Facebook page
🌬️ Late May brought a surprising chill
If you felt more like reaching for a hoodie than sunscreen this past weekend, you weren’t alone—temps dipped unusually low for this time of year, catching many off guard.
🧊 Here’s the chilly weekend recap from the National Weather Service
📚 Tour Germanna’s new Stafford County Center this summer
Explore the future of learning with high-tech labs, spacious classrooms, and top-tier student support during guided campus tours.
🗓 Tours: June 10 & 26, July 8 & 22 at 5:30 p.m.
✨ Register now to attend or learn more on Facebook
🎭 Outdoor fun at Locust Shade Park’s amphitheater
Prince William County’s Jean C. Smith Amphitheater is hosting a lineup of family-friendly shows all summer long—from puppet acts to magic and even a Broadway-style review.
🎟️ Find show times and plan your visit | See the full post on Facebook
👋 Meet Tammy Hassett—Occoquan’s new Events Director
Tammy’s energy and creativity are already making waves, and she’s ready to lead Occoquan’s beloved events into an exciting new chapter.
💬 Give Tammy a warm welcome and learn more about her new role
🇺🇸 Heads up: Training noise expected near Quantico through June 13
Marine Corps Base Quantico will conduct live-fire exercises and aircraft movements, including overnight training on May 30 and a series of operations from June 3–13, which may result in loud booms and vibrations.
📅 Check the full advisory and stay updated | Follow MCBQ on Facebook
🏳️🌈 Pride Month kicks off in Fredericksburg
The city is showing its love and support for the LGBTQIA+ community with Pride flags flying downtown from June 23 to 29, leading up to Pride Day on Saturday, June 28.
📖 Learn more about how Fredericksburg recognizes Pride Month
💰 The City of Manassas Park just dropped its proposed budget for FY2026, and let’s just say… your water, sewer, and stormwater fees are going up, but there’s a tiny silver lining when it comes to your real estate taxes.
Here’s the scoop in plain language👇
🏠 Real Estate Tax: A Penny Saved…
Good news first: your real estate tax rate is going down… barely.
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Current: $1.405 per $100 of assessed value
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FY26: $1.395 per $100
Don’t go spending that windfall just yet—it’s about $10 less per $100,000 of property value. But hey, we’ll take it!
🚗 Personal Property Tax: No Change
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Still $3.50 per $100 of assessed vehicle value.
Cars continue to hit your wallet the same way they did last year.
💦 Water & Sewer Rates: A Steady Climb
Residential Rates (per 1,000 gallons):
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Water: $4.07 → $4.68
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Sewer: $6.77 → $7.79
📈 That’s a 15%+ increase—so if your family’s running the laundry and sprinklers nonstop this summer, expect a noticeable bump.
Commercial Water/Sewer: Tiered Increases
Depending on usage, you’ll pay more across the board:
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Example (0–10,000 gallons):
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Water: $6.14 → $7.06
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Sewer: $8.88 → $10.21
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ERU fees (based on meter size) also jump—larger businesses will feel this more.
💧 Stormwater Fee: Raining on Your Budget
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Annual Stormwater Management Fee:
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$182.88 → $210.31 per ERU
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That’s about a 15% increase
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This fee helps the city manage runoff, drainage, and environmental protection. Necessary, but not exactly thrilling.
🗑️ Trash & Recycling: Slight Hike
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Curbside pickup: $24.86 → $27.35
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Dumpster service: $20.29 → $22.32
That’s roughly $2 more a month to take out the trash.
👵 Senior Tax Relief: More Savings
Seniors get a bit of relief:
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Discount: $6.77 → $7.44
A small gesture, but every dollar counts.
🧾 Final Word: What’s the Budget Outlook?
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City budget is shrinking this year:
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FY25: $142M → FY26: $97.5M (↓31.5%)
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Schools get a slight boost:
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Up about $2.3M to $64.8M
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Total budget drops by $45M overall—down 21.7%Agenda June 3 2025-2-4…
📣 Public Hearing: June 3, 2025
Your Weight Matters National Convention
Hosted by the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) since 2012, this highly-anticipated gathering is the nation’s leading gathering focused on empowering individuals with science-based education, support and practical tools for managing weight and improving health.
