Standard Communities is developing 240 apartments on Route 1 in Woodbridge. The development aims to remake Jefferson Square, the dilapidated shopping center next to Marumsco Plaza.

The development will be considered low-income housing. Residents must spend no more than 60% of what they earn annually on housing to live there.

Read more in a Standard Communities press release:

The Prince William County project, Jefferson Plaza Apartments, is capitalized at approximately $67.5 million. Nationally, Standard currently has more than 2,000 units in its new construction pipeline. Funding for Jefferson Plaza Apartments was secured through Virginia Housing as the issuer of
tax-exempt bonds, and Freddie Mac provided Low Income Housing Tax Credits through Hudson Housing Capital.

Jefferson Plaza Apartments, at 1305 Jefferson Plaza, will comprise seven 3-story buildings with 147 one-bedroom and 93 two-bedroom units. The community, being built on a 7.6 acre site of a former shopping center, is a transit-oriented development in the Route 1 Corridor within walking distance of the Woodbridge Virginia Railway Express station and close to I-95, with nearby shopping, restaurants and more.

The property will be income-restricted to 60% of the Area Medium Income, making the units affordable to middle-income families and essential workers.

Jefferson Plaza will feature 354 parking spaces for residents, a 3,000 square foot club room, co- working space, a fitness center, bike storage, a playground and recreational area, greenspace and
a dog park. Residents will have direct access to an adjacent park to be built out as part of the project.

“We are proud to provide financing and vital housing tax credits that will help make the construction of 240 new apartment homes a reality,” said Janet Wiglesworth, Interim CEO of
Virginia Housing.

Based in New York and Los Angeles, Standard has a national portfolio of almost 20,000 apartment units and has completed more than $4.7 billion of affordable housing acquisitions, rehabilitation and development nationwide.

Greetings, Prince William – Animal lovers, the Pet Food Pantry at City of Manassas Animal Shelter needs donations of pet food to help those who temporarily need assistance in feeding their pets. Donations of dry and canned pet food plus treats for dogs and cats, pet food for small animals (rabbits, guinea pigs, etc.) and cat litter are welcome! Items can be brought to the animal shelter at 10039 Dean Drive, Manassas 20110. If your kids are looking for a Spring Break service project, they could hold a pet food drive! Please call 703.257.2420 for more information and shelter hours.

• Prince William County Police Department is holding a Fill the Cruiser event for the County’s Animal Services Center March 28, 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. Come load up the police vehicle with your donations of pet food, pet toys, kitty litter and more to feed those furbabies! Please visit https://bit.ly/3TkJF9W for a list of requested items. Please email [email protected] or call 703.792.6465 for more information.
• The wonderful staff at Boxes of Basics reports they have a critical shortage of boys’ pants in sizes 6 & 12, girls’ tops in sizes 14 & 16, and girls’ size 8 pants. If you’re clearing out closets and have clean, gently used kids’ clothing in these sizes, they would welcome your donation! You can also purchase clothing from their Amazon Wish List or make an online donation and they’ll do the shopping! You’ll feel great knowing you’re helping disadvantaged children in the local community get the clothing they desperately need! Please email [email protected] to learn more.
• You can make a difference in the life of a child! CASA Children’s Intervention Services needs volunteers age 21+ who care about children growing up in a safe, permanent and loving home. The staff will hold their next Virtual Information Session on March 27, 6 p.m.- 7 p.m. Learn how you can help protect abused and neglected children in your community by becoming a volunteer advocate. Please email [email protected] or call 703.330.8145 to receive the link to the meeting or to inquire about alternate dates.
• If you need service hours for school, church, etc., the Town of Dumfries is holding their Dumfries Spring Clean-Up on April 6, beginning at 9am. Everyone’s welcome! Volunteers will meet at 17757 Main Street in Dumfries for check-in. Fresh air, volunteering with friends and family, cleaning up the community – what a wonderful way to spend a Saturday morning! Please visit https://bit.ly/48E96Ka to register, call 703.221.3400, ext. 119 or email [email protected] to learn more.
• Come out April 6 and be a River Hero! Friends of the Occoquan is holding their Spring River Cleanup at 5 different sites in Prince William County, 9 a.m.- 12 p.m. Preregistration is recommended by emailing [email protected]. Bottled drinks and snacks will be available. Enjoy your Saturday morning with friends by doing your part to keep the source of our drinking water safe and pristine! Please visit www.friendsoftheoccoquan.org and scroll down the Home page for more information.
• Keep Prince William Beautiful is holding a March Cleanup March 23, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.! They’ll be picking up litter in an area along Sudley Road and Battleview Parkway. Volunteers should meet in the rear parking lot of Cracker Barrel, 10801 Battleview Parkway, Manassas 20109. Supplies provided, please bring a water bottle. Here’s another way to get those service hours and clean up litter in our community! Please visit https://bit.ly/49tRBMP to sign up, email [email protected] or call 571.285.3772 to learn more.
• Save the Date and get a jump on spring cleaning! Prince William County Solid Waste Division will hold a Free Document Shredding Event March 30, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. or until trucks reach capacity. The event is located at Pfitzner Stadium parking lot, 7 County Complex Court, Woodbridge. This is for residents only, unavailable for businesses and commercial patrons. Please visit www.pwcva.gov/events/free-paper-shredding-residents for more information, email [email protected] to learn more.
• If you love working with special needs youth and horses and you’re at least 14 years old, Rainbow Therapeutic Riding Center, 16198 Silver Lake Road in Haymarket, wants to meet you! Please attend their Volunteer Open House March 23, 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. to learn how you can support this wonderful program. No horse experience necessary, training provided, and you’ll feel great as you help this organization achieve their mission of “Changing Lives One Hoofbeat at a Time!” Please visit www.rainbowriding.org to fill out an online volunteer application, email [email protected] or call 703.794.5308 for more information.
• StreetLight Community Ministries still needs volunteers who can provide a nourishing dinner for 30 people each night at the Bill Mehr Drop-In Center, 14716 Potomac Mills Road in Woodbridge through March 31. Meals should be prepared at home and provided in disposable aluminum pans or serving trays; drop off is between 6:15 p.m. – 7 p.m. only. Desserts and sides are also appreciated but not required. It’s a fantastic group project, and you’ll feel great knowing you are providing a delicious homecooked meal for our homeless neighbors! Please visit https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/lowvd4/ to sign up. If you sign up to bring a meal and cannot honor your commitment/make it on time, please email [email protected] or call 571.677.2883.

Prince William County Circuit Court Clerk Jacqueline Smith, Esq. called for student artwork from students in Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park cities.

Read more in a press release from the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office:

The Clerk is celebrating Law Day with her 4th Annual Artwork Contest. The contest is open to all local students in grades 1st – 12th enrolled for the 2023-2024 school year, including private, home, and public schools.

The Clerk encourages all students to embark on illustrating the theme, “Voices of Democracy.” The deadline to submit artwork is Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

Law Day is celebrated every year in the month of May since its inception by President Eisenhower in 1958 to increase awareness about the role of law in a free society.

This year, “Americans will address fundamental questions about democracy and the rule of law” through the United States’ presidential election. Interweaving the ideals of civics and democracy, the American Bar Association developed the Law Day theme, “Voices of Democracy”.

To incorporate these ideas, the Clerk’s 4th Annual Law Day Art Contest is intended to be an exciting and educational way for students (1st-12th) and their respective schools to illustrate civil discourse, participation and fair elections in a free society within the theme “Voices of Democracy” in a creative way. The presentation of artwork and award announcements will be made at the Clerk of Circuit Court’s Law Day Ceremony and Open House, TBD.

For Artwork Entry Rules and Information, please click here.

Potomac Mills, Virginia’s largest retail, entertainment, and dining destination, announced the addition of several exciting dining options coming this year.

The new eateries feature food with Mexican and Middle Eastern fusion, Vietnamese cuisine, and a sub shop.

Coming soon this summer is Shawarma Taco, a Mexican and Middle Eastern fusion dining concept. This is the second location for the locally owned business, and it offers a tantalizing blend of flavors, where traditional Mexican ingredients meet the rich and aromatic spices of the Middle East in a selection of tacos, burritos, and bowls.

Notably, all meat served is halal, ensuring inclusivity and respect for diverse dietary preferences. It will be located in the Food Court.

Pholicious, another locally owned gem, has recently opened its doors in the Grand Court, offering visitors a taste of authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Renowned for its exceptional flavors and fresh ingredients, Pholicious has quickly gained a reputation for excellence, serving up not only the tradional noodle soup dish, but also other Vietnamese favorites including bahn mi, spring rolls, and bubble tea.

Firehouse Subs is also set to open at Potomac Mills this summer, offering its array of hearty subs. It will be located in the Food Court.

On Friday, March 8, 2024, units were dispatched to the 6100 Block of Oust Lane in Dale City for a reported house. Crews arrived at about 1:30 p.m. to find the occupants out of the home and located the fire in a second-floor bedroom.

Find more information in a Prince William County Fire and Rescue press release:

Hose lines were advanced quickly, and extinguishment was performed. The structure unfortunately sustained moderate damage. No injuries were reported.

The Building Official declared the home unsafe to occupy. The Red Cross responded and assisted the family of 5 adults and 15 children who were displaced. The Fire Marshal’s Office determined the fire was caused by a candle igniting bedding material.

Allowing an open flame near any combustible material is dangerous. The Fire Marshal’s Office warns against the use of candles. If candles are used special precautions should be taken.

• Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Never positioned a candle where it can be easily disturbed or knocked over. Keep the candle at least 3’ from any combustible material.
• Ensure the candle is secured in a sturdy holder where the flame is contained and protected.
• Children and pets should always be monitored in the vicinity of a burning candle.

The Manassas City Police Department Employee of the Year will be recognized with the Sergeant John Conner Memorial Award at a special ceremony later this year. The recipient of this award is an individual who consistently honors Sergeant Conner’s sacrifice in their daily duties by dedicating themselves to the ideals of police service.

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ARTfactory Rooftop Productions is set to present the psychological drama, and one of the most acclaimed plays in American theater history, Doubt: A Parable by John Patrick Shanley.

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Greetings, Prince William – Volunteer Prince William has moved to a new office! Our new address is 8621 Breeden Avenue, Manassas. Our phone numbers and website address will remain the same. Questions? Please email [email protected].

• BEACON for Adult Literacy is recruiting teachers and subs for their Spring Session which begins March 18th. Their current needs are for in-person morning and evening volunteers, as well as substitutes for both online and in person morning and evening classes. No experience necessary, they will train you! Please visit https://bit.ly/4bOEUxw to sign up for an information session. Please email [email protected] for more information.
• The wonderful staff at Boxes of Basics reports they have a critical shortage of boys’ pants in sizes 6 & 12, girls’ tops in sizes 14 & 16, and girls’ size 8 pants. If you’re clearing out closets and have clean, gently used kids’ clothing in these sizes, they would welcome your donation! You can also purchase clothing from their Amazon Wish List or make an online donation and they’ll do the shopping! You’ll feel great knowing you’re helping disadvantaged children in the local community get the clothing they desperately need! Please email [email protected] to learn more.
• Do you love going fishing? Brain Injury Services (BIS) is searching for a volunteer to be a PALS (Providing a Link for Survivors) for a brain injury client who would like to go on occasional fishing trips. PALS is a one-to-one friendship program for brain injury survivors; the program connects BIS clients with volunteers who can help them socialize in the community and rebuild social skills through friendship. You’ll feel great as you enjoy a day at your favorite fishing hole while helping a client get their life back on track following such a traumatic occurrence! Please visit www.braininjurysvcs.org/volunteer/ for more information, email [email protected] to learn how you can help.
• You can make a difference in the life of a child! CASA Children’s Intervention Services needs volunteers age 21+ who care about children growing up in a safe, permanent and loving home. The staff will hold their next Virtual Information Sessions on March 13 and again on March 27, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. each session. Learn how you can help protect abused and neglected children in your community by becoming a volunteer advocate. Please email [email protected] or call 703.330.8145 to receive the link to the meeting or to inquire about alternate dates.
• If you need service hours for school, church, etc., the Town of Dumfries is holding their Dumfries Spring Clean-Up on April 6, beginning at 9am. Everyone’s welcome! Volunteers will meet at 17757 Main Street in Dumfries for check-in. Fresh air, volunteering with friends and family, cleaning up the community – what a wonderful way to spend a Saturday morning! Please call 703.221.3400, ext. 119 or email [email protected] or learn more.
• Play Bingo, Fight Hunger! Haymarket Regional Food Pantry is holding their Soup-er Bingo Fundraiser March 16, 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. at Piney Branch Elementary School, 8301 Linton Hall Road in Bristow. You can’t beat the price – $1.00 per Bingo card or 1 non-perishable food donation for each card! Early Bird tickets are available through March 9. It’s a great fundraiser and will help to feed food-insecure families in our community! Please visit https://bit.ly/49fPzzP for more information and to purchase your cards.
• Keep Prince William Beautiful is holding a March Cleanup March 23, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. They’ll be picking up litter in an area along Sudley Road and Battleview Parkway. Volunteers should meet in the rear parking lot of Cracker Barrel, 10801 Battleview Parkway, Manassas 20109. Supplies provided, please bring a water bottle. Here’s another way to get those service hours and clean up litter in our community! Please visit https://bit.ly/49tRBMP to sign up, email [email protected] or call 571.285.3772 to learn more.
• Nature Lovers! Leopold’s Preserve is holding their next monthly Saturday Volunteer Day March 16, 8:30am-11:30am and 1pm-3pm. Volunteers age 13+ are welcome; volunteers age 13-17 must volunteer with a parent/guardian. Rotating activities include trail maintenance, invasive plant management, and brush clearing. It’s great for the whole family, and you’ll learn about the natural wonders of this facility! Please visit https://bit.ly/47E4u5n for more details, register at www.leopoldspreserve.com/calendar. Please email [email protected] or call 571.358.2098 to learn more.
• Save the Date and get a jump on spring cleaning! Prince William County Solid Waste Division will hold a Free Document Shredding Event March 30, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. or until trucks reach capacity. The event is located at Pfitzner Stadium parking lot, 7 County Complex Court, Woodbridge. This is for residents only, unavailable for businesses and commercial patrons. Please visit www.pwcva.gov/events/free-paper-shredding-residents for more information, email [email protected] to learn more.
• Saved Hands Foundation is marking their 35th anniversary this year, and they have a busy schedule ahead! If you enjoy event planning, they need your skills to help them prepare for their upcoming Community Health Fair/Backpack Giveaway in August and their Gala to celebrate 35 years in October. Admin skills are a tremendous help and a desire to connect with the community will do much to make these events successful! Please call Pam at 571.406.5112 or email [email protected] to learn how you can get involved.
• StreetLight Community Ministries still needs volunteers who can provide a nourishing dinner for 30 people each night at the Bill Mehr Drop-In Center, 14716 Potomac Mills Road in Woodbridge through March 31. Meals should be prepared at home and provided in disposable aluminum pans or serving trays; drop off is between 6:15 p.m. – 7 p.m. only. Desserts and sides are also appreciated but not required. It’s a fantastic group project, and you’ll feel great knowing you are providing a delicious homecooked meal for our homeless neighbors! Please visit www.mealtrain.com/trains/lowvd4/ to sign up. If you sign up to bring a meal and cannot honor your commitment/make it on time, please email [email protected] or call 571.677.2883.

—Information submitted by Volunteer Prince William

Stafford Schools announced Brooke Point High School has received a Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) School Breakfast Club Award.

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