Good morning, everyone. How is that candy hangover hitting this morning? It was a busy weekend for politics in our area over the weekend. However, I’m happy to say my family and I had a wonderful Halloween, complete with trunk and trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. I hope you had a great weekend.Â
Sour mood?: New NBC News polling shows 7 in 10 Americans think the country is headed in the wrong direction. Will the sour mood hurt Virginia Democrats on Tuesday? A look at the final push for votes.
Tanyard Hill:Â Work to repave Tanyard Hill Road/Union Street in Occoquan, as road crews rescheduled nighttime closures for this week.
New national tree: Ahead of the holiday season, the National Park Service (NPS) planted a new National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse in President’s Park today. The new tree, a 27-foot white fir (Abies Concolor) from Middleburg, Pa. was donated by Hill View Christmas Tree Farm, and will be the first white fir to serve as the National Christmas Tree.Â
Travel hot spots:Â Check this page and see the locations of all the planned road work in Stafford County and Fredericksburg this week.
Disability inclusion:Â This past week marked the end of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), an annual awareness campaign held each October to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the contributions of people with disabilities to the workforce. NDEAM activities don’t have to end in October, however. Employers and employees in all industries can learn more about how to advance disability inclusion throughout the year.
NSHS honored:Â North Stafford High School (NSHS) has earned national recognition as a 2020-2021 Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished School for providing broad access to transformative learning experiences for students through its PLTW Biomedical Science and Engineering programs. The school is one of only 204 high schools nationwide to receive this honor.
ICYMI:Â On Friday, we learned the site used to host Vice-President Kamala Harris’ rally for Terry McAuliffe for Governor was purchased with coronavirus bailout funds 1 month before Dumfries Town Council accepted the cash. On top of that, officials have yet to tell residents how they plan to use the 40-year-old building.
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Following Monday evening’s winter storm, school divisions across the region have announced closures for Tuesday, January 7, 2025, due to hazardous road conditions and ongoing winter weather concerns. Below is a roundup of closures and policies for the affected school systems:
Prince William County Public Schools
All schools and offices will be closed Code Red on Tuesday. Inclement Weather Employees are the exception and should follow their assigned schedule.
Stafford County Public Schools
Schools will be closed on Tuesday due to adverse weather and an extended winter storm warning. All activities and events scheduled for the day are canceled. Tuesday was originally a professional learning day, so students were not scheduled to attend.
Manassas City Public Schools
Schools and offices will be closed Tuesday. Code BLUE is in effect for employees.
Fredericksburg City Public Schools
Schools will be closed, and buildings will remain closed as crews work on clearing parking lots and sidewalks. Essential personnel will be contacted by their supervisors for report times.
Manassas Park City Schools Closure for Tuesday, January 7, 2025
All Manassas Park City Schools will be closed on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, due to snowy conditions. **Code RED** is in effect for employees.
King George County Schools
Schools will be closed Tuesday. Code 1 is in effect for 12-month employees.
Fairfax County Public Schools
All schools and central offices will be closed on Tuesday.
University of Mary Washington
All UMW campuses, including Fredericksburg, Stafford, and Dahlgren, will be closed all day Tuesday following the January 6 snowstorm.
Stay tuned for updates on reopening plans and further weather developments. Stay safe!
More as we get them.
The Manassas City Council meeting originally scheduled for January 6, 2025, has been postponed to Monday, January 13, 2025. The meeting will feature the swearing-in of elected officials, administered by the Honorable Jacqueline Smith, Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger, who won re-election in November 2024, will take the oath of office for her second term. Joining her will be Councilman Tom Osina, beginning his second term; Councilman Mark Wolfe, embarking on his fourth term; and newly elected Councilwoman Ashley Hutson, serving her first term on the council. All four ran as Democrats in the 2024 election.
Manassas Park Resident Jose Rafael Lizama pled guilty Friday, January 3, 2024, to felony Involuntary Manslaughter stemming from a December 2, 2023 crash where Lizama admitted to striking and killing pedestrian Justin Burns, 39, of Blackstone, Va.
Lizama
Lizama appeared with an interpreter, and his lawyer stood before Judge Angela Horan and took responsibility for the 11 p.m. crash in front of Old Towne Sports Pub in Manassas.
During Lizama’s preliminary hearing in May 2024, Prosecutors presented evidence, including a nearby homeowner’s security camera footage that caught Lizama’s van traveling at a high rate of speed, striking Burns as he crossed the street in an unlit area of Center Street.
(FXBG Advance) – Prior to ever publicly addressing questions about the removal of Mary Becelia from the Central Rappahannock Regional Library’s Board of Trustees for alleged misconduct, the Stafford Board of Supervisors presented Becelia with a “Settlement Agreement, Release, and Covenant Not to Sue.”
Start 2024 on the right foot by prioritizing your mental health and well-being. At Peaceful Mind Solutions, we understand how challenging life can be—whether it’s managing stress from work, family dynamics, or navigating the complexities of the world around us. Our team is here to help you create balance and find the peace you deserve.
We’re offering a free 15-minute consultation to help you explore how therapy can work for you. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, looking for support, or just want to talk things through, this is the perfect opportunity to take that first step toward a healthier, happier you.
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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.
Featuring:
