Dozens of Flood victims in Woodbridge’s Holly Acres Mobile Home Park in Sept. 2011 dealt with homes that had been condemned, and foul stench of sewage and rotting food that has permeated the area after flood waters receded. (Mary Davidson/PotomacLocal.com)
The Woodbridge Workers Committee and others in the Woodbridge and Manassas communities are joining together to create a toy drive for low income families in our community.
This has been a very difficult year for many families in our community due to very harsh economic economic conditions and the tragic flood of the Holly Acres Mobile Home Park.
Most of the Holly Acres families still have no permanent housing and are sharing very cramped quarters with several other families. Christmas will be a very tough time for these families and we are hoping to bring some joy into the lives of the children.
This year the Woodbridge Workers Committee will be collecting toys for the Holly Acres families as well as other families in the Woodbridge and Manassas areas. The toys will be distributed on December 24th. We are hoping to distribute 500 toys.
We are looking for monetary donations or toy donations. The toys should be new toys valued between $15 -$20 each for children ages 3- 14. They should be unwrapped. They can be dropped off at Belmont Elementary School, 751 Norwood Lane, Woodbridge, VA 22191 or at the Americana Grocery, 13215 Occoquan Road, Woodbridge, VA 22191.
Tax deductible monetary donations can be made out to Woodbridge Workers Committee, PO Box K, Woodbridge, VA 22194.
All toys and monetary donations should be made by Wednesday, December 21, 2011.
From left to right: Eric Brent, Ed.D., MCPS Culturally Responsive and Equitable Practices Lead; Craig Gfeller, Deputy Superintendent; Kevin Newman, Ed.D., Superintendent; Tracy Hammond, Special Education Teacher at Haydon Elementary…
Members of the community gathered to honor the Manassas Park police department for their diligent efforts in the investigation of Mamta Kafle Bhatt, a mother who has not been seen since July 2024. The recognition ceremony highlighted the role of law enforcement in uncovering key evidence in the high-profile case.
During the ceremony, 11 officers from the Manassas Park Police Department were presented with traditional Topi headdresses provided by Kafle Bhatt’s Nepalese family. Sunita Basnet Thapa, a coworker and mentor to Kafle Bhatt during her nursing career, explained the cultural significance of the Topi. “The headdress is traditionally presented to Nepalese men to identify them as honorable and hardworking,” she said.
This ceremony represents how far the police relationship with the community has developed. Early into the disappearance, residents harbored animosity toward what they perceived as police inaction and organized rallies and search parties to put pressure on local officials during the 22 days of her disappearance before police arrested the missing woman’s husband, Naresh Bhatt, on August 22, 2024.
Dr. Janet Gullickson, the first female president of Germanna Community College, will retire in July 2025 after eight years of leadership.
During her tenure, Gullickson oversaw significant enrollment growth, national recognition by the Aspen Institute, and the distinction of being the first college to host Amazon Web Services’ mobile classroom. She also spearheaded work-based learning initiatives, including paid internships, to enhance student career readiness.
Dr. David Doré, Virginia Community College System chancellor, praised Gullickson for fostering innovation, fiscal strength, and community partnerships at Germanna, positioning it for continued success.
Gullickson, a graduate of the University of Minnesota and South Dakota State University, expressed pride in Germanna’s role in creating opportunities for students and driving regional economic growth. A nationwide search for her successor begins this fall.
One of Virginia’s largest community colleges, Germanna serves a diverse population across a region larger than Delaware, supported by over 800 employees and an annual budget exceeding $55 million.
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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.
