By KJ Mushung
Triangle, Va. — The unexpected 5.8 magnitude earthquake in Mineral, Va., on Aug. 23 led to numerous evacuations across the Potomac Communities and beyond.
Even hours after the earthquake, many buildings remained closed until any damage could be assessed.
Locally, Stafford County closed its courts and libraries early. Additionally, area parks and recreation and community facilities, such as the Carl Lewis Community Center and the Rowser Building were closed.
Northern Virginia and Germanna community colleges were also evacuated and closed for the day. Germanna remained closed on Wednesday.
At the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Robert Rose and girlfriend Olga Reed were visiting from Lambertville, N.J., with their children when the ground shook.
Nine-year-old Victoria Reed thought that one of the life-size airplanes hanging on display must have fallen. Her sister, Alexandra, 7, said it felt like being on top of a washing machine. Aside from Victoria, the Reeds and Roses thought it was just a special effect that the museum had, like part of a war-related display.
And they weren’t the only ones. Mike DiCicco, a reporter for the Quantico Sentry, said that when the earthquake first hit, everybody was “zen about it” because they thought it was part of the display.
Then an employee or volunteer with a dead-serious face yelled, “We’ve got to evacuate. Everybody out!,” said Rose, a former active-duty U.S. Marine.
In addition to Reed’s daughters, Rose’s two sons, Robert Jr., 11, and Daniel, 5, accompanied them. All of the children said they were scared when they realized it was a real emergency and not a drill.
The museum was closed for the rest of the day as a precaution. Calls to the museum today to find out if it will reopen under normal business hours have yet to be returned.
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The Prince William County School Board is considering a proposal that would redistrict three new residential developments in the Brentsville District due to overcrowding at The Nokesville School, Insidenova.com reports.Â
The School Board in November directed division staff to develop a redistricting proposal related to the three developments. The division brought the proposal to the board at its Jan. 22 meeting.
The three developments – Bristow Corner, Bristow Crossing and Thomas Farm at Bristow Station – have already been approved by the Prince William Board of County Supervisors and would be districted to The Nokesville School.
Flanked by UVA Health-branded bags filled with pregnancy supplies beside a table of neatly-aligned cupcakes, nurse Teresa Baltuano-Post addressed a crowd of expectant mothers and their families, alternating between English and Spanish, Insidenova.com reports.
“I’ve been doing the baby shower for about 24 years,” Baltuano-Post told InsideNoVa. “The goal … is to educate our moms and to make sure they know what to do when they need to come to the hospital.”
Get ready for a windy Wednesday across the region, as conditions are expected to be quite blustery throughout the day. The National Weather Service is forecasting a more widespread wind event, with gusts reaching between 40-50 mph in most areas, except for parts of central Virginia and southern Maryland.
A Wind Advisory will be in place from late Wednesday morning into the early evening as a potent front drops south across the area. The gusty conditions will be accompanied by lower relative humidity, raising concerns for fire weather in central Virginia. The winds will slowly subside by late evening but be prepared for sustained gusts during the day.
Weems Elementary School in Manassas has seen remarkable progress in recent years, particularly in reducing chronic absenteeism and improving student literacy. Under the leadership of Principal Michelle Huppman, the school has created an environment focused on equity, achievement, and community involvement, leading to academic improvements.
One of the school’s most notable achievements is reducing chronic absenteeism. In the 2022-2023 school year, Weems faced a concerning % chronic absence rate of 28%. This figure, which emerged after the pandemic, reflected the challenges many schools faced. However, the school has halved that number through dedication and hard work. “I am so happy to share with you that Weems’ current chronic absence rate, as reflected in the school quality profile, is half of that number, down to 14%. This is a school community that rose to the challenge,” said Sarah Brescia, a Manassas City school board member.
The improvement in attendance has had a direct impact on student achievement. Huppman explained, “Last year, we had a 24% increase in literacy pass rates for our students in kindergarten through second grade. For the Virginia Standards of Learning reading test, we had a 6% increase in pass rates for our students in third and fourth grade.” While math scores dropped slightly due to virtual instruction during the pandemic, Principal Huppman is optimistic about the future. “This year, we are fully staffed in all classrooms and in all instructional support positions without the need for virtual instructors,” she said.
Travel to French soil and join us for a night filled with two of the most beloved French traditions—no plane ticket required! ?
On January 25th, we invite you to experience the magic of Galette des Rois, a 700-year-old tradition celebrated across France throughout the entire month of January (and even beyond!). This sweet, almond-filled puff pastry topped with a golden crown isn’t just a treat—it’s a celebration! The lucky person who finds the fève (a porcelain charm hidden in one of the slices) becomes the King or Queen for the Day, and don’t worry—there will be plenty of royalty to go around! ??
But that’s not all! In France, Les Voeux (New Year’s wishes) continue throughout January, often accompanied by Champagne and good cheer. We’re bringing that festive spirit to you, with a lively evening packed with French food, wine, and music.
What’s in store:
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.
