OCCOQUAN — Visit Occoquan on May 18 for a celebration filled with activities from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Admission to the annual Discover Occoquan event is free as is on-street and public lot parking in town. In addition, off-site parking with shuttle bus service sponsored by Patriot Scuba is available from the Route 123 Commuter lot at the intersection of Old Bridge Road and Gordon Boulevard.
The shuttle service will collect patrons from the lot on the half hour beginning at 11 a.m. and will drop them off at 305 Mill Street. The shuttle is free, but donations to the non-profit organization Patriots for Disabled Divers are appreciated.
Businesses will host a variety of free drop-in classes including yoga in the park, candle pouring, painting, fiber arts, and more. Demonstrations on art and glass, personal style, puzzle making, food preparation and sampling, textile image transfers, and SCUBA will also take place.
Art on the Block will showcase the works of Occoquan’s many talented artists. Enjoy light refreshments, meet the artists, watch art demos, and enter to win an Occoquan gift basket.
There will be a scavenger hunt, and you can even enter your kids in the Occoquan Kids Council raffle to become a council member for a day—or even the mayor.
Throughout the day, the town will sponsor a silent auction featuring donations by local businesses.
You’ll have the opportunity to see a 3D printing demo and hear Occoquan resident Henry Brinton read from his new and locally set book, City of Peace. Stay for a special presentation of Will Rogers’ U.S.A. presented by Kaleidoscope Theatre Company.
At Mill House Museum there will be a history tour led by Mayor Porta and a dedication a new historical marker. A pop-up tea room, sponsored by Lady D’s Traveling Tea Party, will be available at Rockledge Mansion between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
A schedule of all of these events is provided below so that you can plan your trip accordingly.
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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.
Scheduling is simple and convenient. Choose the option that works best for you:
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:
