Teenagers from the Manassas Park Community Center teamed up with the Stafford County Animal Shelter to do some cleaning earlier this summer.

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Manassas City, Manassas Park, Stafford and Prince William counties ranked low in the U.S. News & World Report's 2024 Healthiest Communities ranking.

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Editor's note: We have corrected this post, as some responses were attributed to the wrong candidate. As early voting for the fall 2024 election approaches, Potomac Local News is dedicated to informing the community about candidates vying for one of three open seats on the Manassas City Council and the mayor’s seat. To help voters make an informed decision, we are continuing a new feature series, “One-Question Manassas City Council Candidate Survey.” This series will run throughout the campaign season, offering insights into each candidate’s stand on key issues affecting our city. Our second one, which ran on July 17, focused on the budget and taxes.

The candidates are given 10 days to respond to a Google Form, and their answers will be compiled into a single post on PotomacLocalNews.com. This format lets voters quickly compare the candidates’ views on critical issues, helping them make an informed choice come election day.

Today’s topic: City management and staff. The candidates were asked:

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August will be a busy month around Prince William County with several events and activities scheduled. The Board of County Supervisors won’t be meeting this month due to the month-long recess; their first meeting back will be Sept. 3.

Take a look at some highlighted events.

Wednesday (Aug. 7)

• KABOOM! Design Day, 5 to 8 p.m. (Manassas)

Aug. 9

• Escape the Mummy’s Curse Escape Room, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Dumfries)
• Prince William County Fair, through Aug. 17 (Manassas)

Aug. 10

• Bristow Station Battlefield Heritage Park, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Aug. 11 (Bristow)
• West County Household Hazardous Waste Event, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Manassas)

Aug. 16

• Fridays at 5: Perfekt Blend, 5 to 9 p.m. (Woodbridge)
• Walking Tours of Historic Prince William Towns, 7 to 8 p.m. (Manassas)

Aug. 17

• Rippon Lodge Bug and Bird Day, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Woodbridge)

Aug. 24

• Winged Wonders: Birding for Beginners, 8 to 10 a.m. (Woodbridge)
• Fire & Rescue Life Safety Pop Up, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Woodbridge)
• Bristow Station Battlefield Heritage Park, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Aug. 25 (Bristow)

Aug. 26

• Walking Tour of “Stonewall” Jackson’s Raid, 6 to 7:30 p.m. (Bristow)

Voodoo Brothers Cajun and Lume Asian Fusion have officially been welcomed into the Manassas community with ribbon-cutting ceremonies on Friday, Aug. 2. Both are located in the Historic District of Manassas on Center Street. Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger attended both ceremonies.

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In early July, Manassas City Public Schools named Jennifer Chapman, Ed.D., as the new principal of Osbourn High School. She was appointed by the School Board for her background in Fairfax County and Prince William County school systems as a math teacher, assessment coach, dean of students and assistant principal. Chapman holds dual bachelor's degrees in secondary mathematics education and film and video from Pennsylvania State University. She also holds a master's degree in educational leadership and policy studies from Virginia Tech and a doctorate in organizational change and leadership from the University of Southern California. Chapman officially started her tenure as principal on July 15. Potomac Local News asked her a few questions, and here are her responses. Why Manassas and why Osbourn High School?

Chapman: I grew up in (and first worked in) a small town that had a one-high-school, pyramid-style school system. I very much enjoyed the close community feel of that style of system. Having lived in the area for the last 10 years, I spend a lot of time with my family in Manassas and always enjoyed the community. When I saw the opening, I was very enticed by the idea to get back to that close-knit community school system right in the exact community in which I already spend much of my time.

How will you bring all of your experience as a teacher, assessment coach and assistant principal to your new role as principal?

Chapman: While I want to spend much of my early time in the position listening and learning about the specific needs of this school and community, I will always be willing to share positive practices that I have observed with my team. Together we will work on ways to incorporate and adapt those practices to meet the specific needs of Osbourn.

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The African American Foundation of Manassas City and Prince William County is hosting its 31st annual African American Heritage Festival tomorrow (Saturday, Aug. 3). at Metz Middle School from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

This festival has been a staple in the community for over three decades, each on the first Saturday of August. It is also a free event.

“[The festival is] a cherished tradition that brings our community together in celebration of our shared culture and history,” Curtis O. Porter, vice chairman of the festival, said. “Through art, music, food and fellowship, we pay tribute to the resilience and achievements of African Americans while also giving back to our neighbors in need. We invite everyone to join us for a day filled with joy, unity and empowerment.”

This year, the festival will present two initiatives: distributing school supplies to local children and Empowering S.E.L.F., a nonprofit, is offering more than 500 free books.

There will also be a wide array of activities and entertainment at the festival, including live music, interactive exhibits, cultural demonstrations and food. Pop Middle Male Chorus from Ebenezer Baptist Church, True Soul Band, 7-Step Hand Dance Academy and Jimi Smooth and Hit Time Band are some of the acts lined up.

Manassas Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger and Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chair At-Large DeShundra Jefferson will be in attendance.

The schedule of the event is below.

• 10:55 a.m.: Introduction by Curtis Porter with David-Younger and Jefferson
• 11 a.m. to noon: Rev. Isaac Howard and Singers, Howard Ministries Church (Centreville)
• 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.: Pop Middleton Male Chorus, Ebenezer Baptist Church (Woodbridge)
• 1 to 1:20 p.m.: Posh Hair Studio (Gainesville)
• 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.: True Soul Band
• 2:45 to 3 p.m.: Classic Car Show awards
• 3 to 3:30 p.m.: 7-Step Hand Dance Academy (Manassas Park)
• 3:40 to 3:55 p.m.: Martial Arts, Premier Martial Arts (Manassas)
• 4:15 to 5:30 p.m.: Jimi Smooth and Hit Time Band

If you go to the event, feel free to send in your photos to [email protected] to be featured on Potomac Local News!

The Manassas Dunkin (8985 Centreville Road) is celebrating 25 years with a 25-cent donut offer with a purchase tomorrow (Saturday, Aug. 3). From 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, guests who make a purchase will also get a 25-cent donut. Throughout the day, Manassas Dunkin' customers will also receive a coupon for a $1 medium iced coffee. Vigario Management, a local franchisee group, opened the Centreville Road location in 1999. Andy and David Cabral lead Vigario and when they first opened, they were the youngest franchisee owners in the DMV. Now, in 2024, the Cabrals own 24 Dunkin' locations in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. and are developing 13 more. According to a press release sent by Vigario Management, the same store manager, Maria Granados, has been with the location since it opened in 1999. She's originally from Honduras and started with the baking team preparing donuts and bagels. She's grown in the restaurant to become store manager who oversees dozens of employees.

“Our team is incredibly fortunate to be part of such a wonderful Manassas community that has allowed us to serve them for the past 25 years,” Andy Cabral said. “Today’s celebration is much more than a birthday party for our restaurant, it’s about recognizing and giving back to the community that we call home. Here’s to keeping the Manassas community running on Dunkin’ for another 25 years!”

Camilo Medina, 14, of the Manassas Young Marines, was named the honor graduate from the 2024 National Leadership Academy's Senior Leadership School (SLS) for his exceptional leadership abilities. The school, at Naval Station Newport in Newport, R.I., focuses on developing leaders through education and service. It's also the highest level of leadership training offered by the Young Marines, who gathered from around the country in Rhode Island for the academy from July 13 to July 20. Young Marines has been a national youth organization for boys and girls ages 8 through high school graduation since 1959. According to its website, the programs aims to promote the mental, moral and physical development of its members. "The program focuses on teaching the values of leadership, teamwork and self-discipline," the website continues. "The Young Marines strengthens the lives of America’s youth by teaching the importance of self-confidence, academic achievement, honoring our veterans, good citizenship, community service and living a healthy, drug-free lifestyle." Medina is a rising freshman at Randolph-Macon Academy and plans to attend the United States Naval Academy for engineering and business once he finishes high school. The SLS provides mentorship experiences and guides attendees on growing into bigger leadership roles. "The leadership and planning courses will be of great benefit to me in running a business and being an effective leader and team player in the military,” Medina said. Col. William P. Davis USMC (Ret.), national executive director and CEO of the Young Marines, said graduation from SLS

"As the highest level of Young Marines leadership training, the graduates of the National Leadership Academy’s Senior Leadership School have excelled in their units," he said. "Completion of each leadership school is a major accomplishment for each of these young people. They gain unequaled new skills that they will utilize as they return to their communities and units.”