Happy Friday, everyone. One more day until the weekend. Thanks for starting your day smarter with us here at Potomac Local News. Here’s what’s happening in our communities today.Â
Flood warning: We’re under a coastal flood warning until 8 a.m. Saturday, as a strong storm will bring flooding not seen since Hurricane Isabel in 2003. Prince William outlines the areas affected in that county. Stafford is under the same warning, too.
Barnstorming:Â Political candidates Glenn Youngin (R) and Terry McAuliffe (D) are crisscrossing the state during the campaign’s final days. Lt. Gov. candidate Hala Ayala (D) was in Woodbridge last night, and Youngkin is scheduled to be in Fredericksburg and Manassas Park tomorrow. Early voting ends Saturday. Election Day is Tuesday, November 2.
Mass exodus:Â Prince William County has lost several top planning officials in quick succession as the county is tackling potentially sweeping land-use issues.
Progressive challenge: In one of Prince William Countyâs most competitive races for a local House of Delegatesâ seat, a moderate Republican who says he supports COVID-19 vaccine requirements for public sector workers and K-12 students is challenging one of the commonwealthâs most progressive lawmakers.
Manassas vets parade:Â After taking a year off, the Northern Virginia Veterans Parade returns to Manassas on Saturday, November 6, at 11 a.m. The parade will begin at Prescott Avenue and Quarry Road and proceed to Center Street to the Harris Pavillion. All veterans are invited to march.
Head of the class: Jennifer Taylor, President, and CEO of the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC), has been awarded George Mason University’s School of Business Distinguished Alumni Award. Due to Jennifer’s commitment to strengthening the technology industry’s workforce and closing the region’s skill gap, GMU has honored her with this recognition.
Native tongue:Â Stafford County Public Schools is increasing its commitment to global diversity and reaching its families in their native languages by hiring 10 international teachers, recognizing 30 staff members with the global seal of biliteracy, and launching Spanish versions of its division-wide social media sites.
Top librarian: The Virginia Council on Economic Education (VCEE) has selected Schenell Agee, supervisor of Library Media Programs and Research for Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS), as the 2021 Virginia Outstanding Economic Educator of the Year.
Community health:Â Erik Shannon has been named Interim Chief Executive Officer of UVA Community Health. UVA Community Health includes an integrated network of outpatient services across Culpeper and Northern Virginia, with UVA Culpeper Medical Center, UVA Haymarket Medical Center, and UVA Prince William Medical Center.
QUBE:Â The Quantico Corporate Center is expanding and will be home to leading defense & technology companies, the US government, and top academic programs in business, forensics, and cyber-related degrees.
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Legislation to provide free breakfast to public school students across the state is moving forward in the General Assembly with committees set to review the cost, Virginia Mercury reports.Â
Sen. Danica Roem, D-Manassas, and Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, D-Alexandria, are leading the charge after a similar effort fell short last year. Bennett-Parkerâs bill was shelved by the House Appropriations Committee due to competing priorities while Roemâs Senate bill was following an amendment by Gov. Glenn Youngkin directing a work group to evaluate the programâs potential impact.
More than two weeks after a power outage set off a series of events that crippled Richmondâs water treatment plant, Virginia regulators are putting the city on notice that it may have violated state law and are launching their own investigation into what went wrong, the Richmonder reports.
âThe water crisis should never have happened and was completely avoidable,â wrote an official with the Virginia Department of Healthâs Office of Drinking Water in a notice of alleged violation issued Thursday. âThe City of Richmond could have prevented the crisis with better preparation.â
A majority of the residents who spoke during Wednesdayâs public input session about Fredericksburgâs proposed Technology Overlay District acknowledged or even supported the cityâs pursuit of data centers.
Rather, itâs the terms and timetable governing said pursuit that comprised most of their questions asked during a joint meeting of the Planning Commission and City Council.
More than one speaker noted that adjacent jurisdictions, such as Stafford County, have taken up to six months from initiating the public process to voting for a data center. By contrast, Fredericksburgâs city council first discussed a Technology Overlay District in detail on Dec. 10 and could vote on related resolutions and ordinances as early as its Feb. 25 meeting.
On Thursday, January 23, 2025, members of the Fredericksburg Fire and Rescue Water Rescue Team conducted ice rescue training at the Twin Lakes Community. This rare opportunity was made possible by the recent sustained low temperatures that allowed waterways to freeze.
âWe are rarely able to conduct this training, as the temperatures have to be low for a sustained amount of time for the waterways to freeze enough,â stated Fredericksburg Fire and Rescue in a Facebook post.
Officials caution that the ice remains dangerously thin. âAs a reminder, the ice is still not thick enough for there to be no risk of falling through. Temperatures will warm throughout the next few days, making the ice even more dangerous. Please stay off the ice and encourage others to do so as well,â they advised.
Travel to French soil and join us for a night filled with two of the most beloved French traditionsâno 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 treatâit’s a celebration! The lucky person who finds the fĂšve (a porcelain charm hidden in one of the slices) becomes the King or Queen for the Day, and donât worryâthere will be plenty of royalty to go around! ??
But thatâs not all! In France, Les Voeux (New Yearâs wishes) continue throughout January, often accompanied by Champagne and good cheer. Weâre bringing that festive spirit to you, with a lively evening packed with French food, wine, and music.
Whatâs in store:
Experience the passion and drama of Pucciniâs âThe Girl from the Golden Westâ.
Featuring special guest musicians from The Chesapeake Youth Orchestra,
this performance brings Pucciniâs masterpiece to life with an extraordinary cast.
