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· Good morning – Happy Fall! Volunteers are needed at the Manassas Fall Jubilee event on Saturday October 4th. This event runs all day so lots of fun opportunities available including help in the pumpkin patch from 2pm-5pm, pour beer in the beer garden from 10am-2pm, check ID’s or poor beer from 2pm-5pm or check ID’s and sell tickets at the Wine Garden fr5om 2pm-5pm. Please email Kristina at: [email protected] to learn more.
· Leesylvania State Park needs volunteers also on Saturday October 4th to stomp seeds in their wildflower garden from 11am-1pm. Sounds fun to me! come as you are with your stomping shoes to join the event. Please call (703) 583-6904 with any questions.
· The Alzheimer’s Association is having a golf tournament on October 4th at the Virginia Oaks Golf Course. Lots of great golf, prizes, contests and raffles. Entry fee is just $90 that includes 18 holes of golf, cart, drinks and BBQ lunch. Please call Dan at (571) 383-8050 for your ticket.
· Mark your calendars for the Annual Empty Bowls event on Friday October 17th to benefit SERVE in Manassas. It’s a wonderful evening with a hearty dinner of soup and bread and take home a beautiful hand-crafted bowl. Tickets are just $20 for adults and $10 for children under 12- in advance. Tickets can be purchased online at :nvfs.org/emptybowls until October 16th. Please call Pam at (571) 748-2537 to learn more
· SERVE continues to have an urgent need for volunteers to help in the food pantry on weekdays. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome. This busy place needs help stocking shelves, packing food for families and especially drivers to travel to local grocery stores in an agency vehicle to pick up food donations. You must be 21yrs old, have a good driving record and sign a driver’s agreement. Some of the boxes may weigh up to 50 pounds. Thousands of families benefit from this program every week. Please email Jan to learn more at: [email protected]
· Brain Injury Services needs volunteers to help in the office with database management, social media and public relations. Please call Michelle at (703) 451-8881 ext. 232 to learn more.
· Hogar Immigrant Services is looking for volunteers to help assist eligible legal residents complete their citizenship applications on Saturday mornings each month at their Manassas office. Please call Sabra at (571) 208-1572 ext. 102 to learn more
· Volunteer Prince William is delighted to sponsor the Volunteer Management Training series again this fall. The course starts Wednesday October 15th 9am-11:30am and continues each Wednesday morning for 5 weeks. This course is free but please register at: volunteerprincewilliam.org. Topics include planning your program, recruiting and placing volunteers, training and orienting volunteers, supervision and evaluation of your program. Many thanks to the Manassas Park Rec Center for use of their class room.
· Volunteer Prince William also invites you to Disaster Planning workshop for community organizations and small business on Friday October 24th in Woodbridge. Come learn strategies to continue serving clients and customers if your employees can’t come to work or if you lose utilities or your facility is damaged. You can register for this program at: volunteerprincewilliam.org and click on the events page or email Bonnie at: [email protected] for more info.
· Beacon Adult Literacy needs volunteer tutors to teach conversation or computer literacy to ESL students in the Manassas area on Monday mornings. Please call Caroline at (703) 368-7491 to learn more.
· The Salvation Army needs to volunteers to help register families for their annual Christmas Toy program- yes I said Christmas! Volunteers are needed from September 29th to October 23rd mornings in Lake Ridge. Please email Janus at: [email protected] to learn more. Training is provided and this is a fun short-term project that helps so many families.
· Mark your calendars for the Taste of the Town event for Project Mend A House on Wednesday October 15th. This event features food from area restaurants and great fun. Tickets are just $30 per person. Please call (703) 792-7663 for more info.
· ACTS in Dumfries invites you to their Annual 5K IWALK on Saturday October 18th benefit services to the homeless. This year’s event is at Pfitzner Stadium at 10am. Gather your friends and family for the perfect way to spend a beautiful fall day. Please visit their website: iwalkforacts.com for all the particulars.
· If you are looking for other opportunities, please don’t forget to call my wonderful team at Volunteer Prince William. Coleen can help you with the Retired and Senior Volunteer (RSVP) opportunities at (703) 369-5292 ext. 207, Shelley can help with any individual or group project and send you weekly updates if you’d like. Shelley is at (703) 369-5292 ext. 201, and Bonnie can help you with opportunities available in Disaster Preparedness at (703) 369-5292 ext. 202. Please visit our newly re-vamped website at www.volunteerprincewilliam.org. Thanks so much for all you do in our community.
Recent Stories
The preliminary hearing for Tryevon Davis, one of three men charged in connection with the fatal shooting of 43-year-old Jason Thomas Blake in Dumfries, has been delayed due to the pending completion of the Medical Examiner’s report. This critical evidence is being handled by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Northern District office.
Davis, along with Jerrome Thomas Barnes, 40, and Jackson Arthur Crisler, 30, face charges stemming from a fatal shooting on October 25, 2024. Police said Blake had gone to a residence on Cherry Hill Road in Dumfries to sell a firearm and purchase narcotics. An altercation ensued, leading to Blake being handcuffed, abducted, and taken to a secluded area along Triangle Street, where he was fatally shot. His body was discovered two days later in the backseat of his car.
The Prince William County Police Department charged Davis, 31, of Dumfries, with accessory before the fact in the commission of a felony, conspiracy to commit a felony, two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and abduction. Barnes and Crisler face additional charges, including murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. All three suspects remain in custody without bond.
The Fourth Wish Foundation invites the community to a special white belt graduation ceremony on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at 1:15 p.m. at Underground Krav Maga and Fitness in Gainesville.
The event celebrates the achievements of 54 children who have completed three months of Krav Maga training as part of the foundation’s “Healthy Kid Initiative,” a program launched in 2024 to provide extracurricular opportunities to children from financially challenged families.
“We want to ensure these children can continue with this worthy program that has already made such a positive impact on their lives,” said Sue Khalatbari, Director of The Fourth Wish Foundation. The foundation is seeking donations to sustain and expand the initiative, helping more children gain confidence, physical fitness, and critical life skills.
A debate over proposed legislation targeting panhandling in road medians sparked a spirited discussion among Stafford County Supervisors during their January 21 meeting. The proposed bill, sponsored by Delegate Paul Milde (R-64, Stafford County), seeks to impose fines on motorists and pedestrians who exchange items in roadway medians to improve safety and reduce traffic disruptions.
The legislation was also a topic of discussion on the Potomac Local News Podcast, where Milde elaborated on his rationale behind the bill in an interview with Publisher Uriah Kiser.
During the podcast, Milde emphasized the safety and traffic issues posed by panhandling in medians.
A speeding incident escalated into a high-speed pursuit Wednesday, January 21, 2025, on Interstate 95, according to Virginia State Police spokesman Matthew Demlein.
At 11:33 a.m., a Virginia State Police trooper attempted to stop a silver sedan traveling northbound on I-95 near the 157-mile marker in Prince William County for speeding—clocked at 93 mph in a 60-mph zone. The driver refused to stop, prompting a police pursuit.
During the chase, the sedan struck the mirror of another vehicle, causing minor damage, but no injuries were reported. The pursuit continued onto eastbound Interstate 495 and ultimately ended at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, marking the Maryland state line. At that point, the pursuit was terminated.
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.
