· Good morning – Happy Halloween, but just as important is Happy Thanksgiving to hundreds of families in our community. SERVE in Manassas needs your help with Operation Turkey!
You can help several ways – first of all gather your friends, family and businesses to collect food items that can be dropped off on Saturday November 8th from 10am-2pm, Thursday November 13th and Friday November 14th from 10am-5pm at the Manassas Adventist Prep School on Barrett Drive in Manassas.
Then volunteers are needed on Sunday November 16th to bring any surplus food back to the pantry. This is a super job for teens age 16+ and any of us doing a little weight lifting. There are two shifts – 12pm-3pm and 3pm-6pm. Please email Jan at [email protected] to help her on the 16th.
· SERVE also has an urgent need for new bed pillows for the residents of the family shelter. Please drop them off at the admin building at 100056 Dean Drive in Manassas anytime during traditional business hours.
· The Greater Prince William Food Council would love to know how all of our many small food pantries in churches and basements and such are doing. Kindness abounds in our community – please take a moment to fill out a quick survey if you are helping families with food needs. Please visit this beautiful website to complete the survey: www.gpwfoodcouncil.org
· Ho, Ho, Ho – Christmas is right around the corner and we are in full swing with our Un Trim A Tree Holiday Gift Program for needy kids. If you would like to sponsor a child at Christmas I can provide you their name, age and two toy wishes so you can be a special Santa to a kid. Please visit my website at: volunteerprincewilliam.org and fill out a donor form for me. You will have a blast. I’m already stockpiling Frozen characters because I’ve been told that’s the hot item.
· Area Agency on Aging is looking for a volunteer to teach a beginner’s Spanish class one day a week on either on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday for an hour or so in the middle of the day at the Manassas Senior Center. They would also love a volunteer to teach a basic computer class. Please call Melodee at (703) 792-4583 to learn more.
· Brain Injury Services needs a volunteer who can visit a client from Kenya. What a nice way to share your interest in East African culture with another. 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
· 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.
· Literacy Volunteers is gearing up for their next volunteer training On November 22nd. Come learn all the skills you need to help another adult reach their life goals. You do not need any prior experience. This is one person helping another. Please call (703) 670-5702 or visit www.lvapw.org to learn more.
· Mark your calendars for Saturday November 22nd for the BARN’s 16th Annual Festival of Trees Ball. This year’s event is at the Hilton Washington Dulles and includes dinner, dancing, auctions. Please visit their website: barninc.org for more info.
· 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
Manassas City Council will discuss a proposed tax incentive on Monday, February 10, 2025, to support Micron Technology Inc.’s planned $2 billion expansion. The deal would extend the company’s favorable semiconductor equipment tax rate through 2035, saving Micron millions annually. The expansion, backed by $275 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce, is expected to create over 400 manufacturing jobs. City officials tout the investment as a boost for local economic growth, while residents and businesses will weigh the long-term benefits.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for the region, warning of four to six inches of snow, with higher totals possible. Snow will begin Tuesday afternoon, intensify Tuesday evening into overnight, and could transition to a wintry mix Wednesday morning. The storm will create hazardous travel conditions, impacting Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning commutes. Another system this weekend could bring heavy rain or a wintry mix, increasing flooding risks. Think you can predict the snowfall? Comment your guess for a chance to win a prize.
A townhouse fire in Woodbridge displaced a family of five late Saturday afternoon after flames spread from the rear of the home into the attic.
Fire and rescue units responded at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Saturday, February 8, to the 3400 block of Aviary Way, near Lake Ridge Elementary School, after a resident reported seeing smoke coming from the back of their home. When crews arrived, they found smoke and flames moving up the rear of the house and into the attic. Firefighters quickly contained and extinguished the fire.
No injuries were reported, but the home sustained moderate damage. The Building Official declared the residence unsafe for occupancy. The American Red Cross assists two adults and three children displaced by the fire.
A suspect in a bank robbery on Route 3 was arrested thanks to a tip leading authorities to a Fredericksburg hotel.
Dawson
According to the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, the robbery occurred at Truist Bank, located at 3600 Plank Road, next to Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at 11:15 a.m. A bank employee called 911 to report that a man had entered the bank and demanded money. The employee complied with the demands, and the suspect fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Authorities confirmed that the suspect did not display a weapon during the robbery, and no injuries were reported. Witnesses at the scene provided law enforcement with a description of the suspect’s getaway vehicle, which was identified as a copper/orange pickup truck.
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.
