- Prince William Soil & Water needs volunteers on Saturday November 10th, 9am-noon at the waterway near Bull Run Shopping Center and Costco. Please wear boots and they will provide gloves, grabbers and bags. Please email the office at: [email protected] to learn more.
- Leesylvania State Park needs volunteers for their monthly shoreline cleanups to pick up trash and drift wood. The work days are November 10th, December 1st, January 19th, February 16th, March 23rd, April 13th and May 18th. Please register by calling the visitor center at (703) 583-6904 so they have your name to waive the entry fee of the park.
- The Lake Jackson Lions Club is having their Annual Shrimp Sale and Florida Citrus Sale. Please order the shrimp by November 11th with a pick-up date of November 17th. Please order the fruit by November 14th with a pick –up date of December 6-8th. Please call Joe at (703) 368-1096 for all the details. It’s very easy to support these great folks who do so much good in our community.
- Prince William SPCA is collecting pet food to support needy families this time of year. The Pet Food Drive runs through November 12th. Please visit their website at http://www.pwspca.org for all the drop off locations.
- The City of Manassas Parks, Culture & Recreation need volunteers to decorate the Manassas Museumon November 13th & 14th. Please call (703) 368-1873 for all the details.
- The Woodbridge District invites you to their Big Cleanup & Education on Plastic Pollution event on Saturday November 17th 9am-12pm at Veterans Memorial Park. Please register on line at: http://www.pwtsc.org.
- Virginia Cooperative Extension is having a First Time Buyers Seminar on Saturday November 17th in Manassas given in Spanish and in Woodbridge given in English. Please call Joanne at (703) 792-5891 to register.
- Wreaths Across America invite you and your family to the Annual Wreath Laying event on Saturday December 15th at both Arlington National Cemetery and our own Quantico National Cemetery. You can register to volunteer on their website: http://wreathsacrossamerica.org. Come Remember, Honor and Teach our youngsters these values.
- The Center for the Arts needs volunteer docents Monday – Friday during the day. This volunteer opportunity includes greeting visitors and sharing the Center’s history and programs. Please call Jordan at (703) 330-2787 to learn more.
- House of Mercy also needs lots of help and food donations year-round to feed over 400 families a month. Hold a food drive, share this on all your outlets and give them a call at: (703) 659-1636 to learn more.
- Court Appointed Special Advocates needs volunteers to advocate for a child who has been abused or neglected. Come join one of their information sessions to learn more about this outstanding program. You’ll receive extensive training to match your special heart for a child. Please email Suzanne at: [email protected] for the times and locations of the information sessions for November and December.
- Keep Prince William Beautiful has lots of fun clean-up events this fall. Come get your hands dirty and have fun. November 10th they are at the Woodbridge Senior Center, November 17th they are at Veterans Park and lastly, December 5th is the quarterly litter survey. Please call Nicole at (571) 285-3772 to join in where you can.
- Catholic Charities Hogar Center is looking volunteers to assist students with job applications, resumes, and mock interviews to prepare them for the workforce. Please email Arielle at: [email protected] to learn more.
- Virginia Service invites you to nominate your favorite volunteer for the 2019 Governor’s Award inVolunteering Excellence. The categories include Adult, youth, senior, family, faith-based organization, educational institution, community organization, small business and corporation. Nominations are due by December 15th. Please visit http://www.virginiaservice.virginia.gov for all the specifics.
- The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is looking for volunteer’s age 55+ to deliver noon meals through the Meals on Wheels Program. Shifts are just 2-3 hours and available in throughout the greater area. RSVP members receive a mileage reimbursement and additional insurance coverage at no cost to the volunteer. Please call Jan at (571) 292-5307 to learn more.
Recent Stories
Crews from Stafford Utilities are repairing a water main break on Route 1 southbound near Centreport Parkway. The far-right and center lanes of the highway will be closed to traffic as repairs are made, though the far left lane remains open. Drivers are advised to proceed with caution through the area.
Stafford County spokeswoman Shannon Howell said one customer remains without water due to the break. The cause of the water main rupture is still under investigation.
The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) Operations Board meeting on January 17, 2025, saw several significant discussions aimed at enhancing service and infrastructure across the transit system. Among the most talked-about topics were the introduction of Saturday service, a crucial funding agreement for the Manassas Line, solutions for parking challenges at stations, and major infrastructure projects, including the redevelopment of Seminary Yard and the Long Bridge upgrades. Each of these initiatives is designed to improve the commuter experience and accommodate a growing ridership base.
One of the highlights of the meeting was the ongoing development of Saturday service, a long-awaited addition that has been approved and included in VRE’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget. Set to feature three round-trip trains on the Fredericksburg and Manassas lines, this service is expected to cater to weekend commuters, offering a much-needed alternative to the crowded roads in the region.
Stafford County’s Board of Supervisors will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at 5 p.m. The meeting will be streamed live, and the agenda will be posted online.
The board will review revisions to the Code of Performance for 2025. At the last meeting, on Jan. 7, the board learned that if they wished to add new language to the draft they worked on in 2024, they would have to re-review the entire draft Code of Performance and Ethical Standards which the By-laws Committee worked on over the summer of 2024 and consider it again for adoption.
A Manassas man who brought a Uzi to Manassas Mall got a lenient sentence after Commonwealth Attorney Amy Ashworth offered him a sweetheart deal to close out two separate cases related to the mall shooting that left an innocent bystander and one of the combatants injured and another case where, while in custody where charging documents allege he participated in a jailhouse beating with five other men who cornered and beat three members of a rival gang.
Daevon Russell, 19, of 9306 Taney Road in Manassas, who was free on a cash-free bond for a 2023 Manassas City shooting that left another teen paralyzed from the neck down, was on pre-trial probation when he went to the Manassas Mall on July 9, 2024, armed with the Uzi and got into an altercation with another group of teens in the food court. The altercation spilled outside into the parking lot when the shooting began. The stipulations of his pretrial release required him not to possess weapons, and Virginia law bars those under 21 from possessing handguns.
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.
